Brian Nagele
The city of Chicago is different than most of its mid-west neighborhoods.
To make the most of the Windy City, you need to know all the best food places, especially as the city offers endless mouthwatering gourmet options to choose from.
Contrary to popular belief, some of the best food eateries in Chicago aren’t brick-and-mortar; for that matter, they are mostly found roaming the streets on a bright sunny day or rolling through the downtown lights.
There is a good truck out there for every craving. To help you find the food truck that fits your food needs well, I have compiled a list of some of the very best food trucks in Chicago.
Be mindful, this isn’t just any list; I’ve tried and tested every one of these food trucks, listing some of their best dishes to make it easier for you to order on the go.
Aztec Dave’s Truck
2300 S Throop St, Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 708-717-7522
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Whether you’re a local looking to explore new food options or are new to the glorious Chi-Town, you’ve probably already heard about the Aztec Dave’s Truck and its mouthwatering Mexican flavors with a modern twist!
I think this food truck’s unique selling point, which definitely sets it apart from the others, is that each ingredient is homemade and freshly prepared daily.
Their menu is HUGE for a food truck, and I’ve tried almost everything there. At this point, I always end up ordering their giant fat burritos precisely because the flavors and textures are well-balanced.
Plus, they come served with avocado! Aztec Dave’s Truck could be a great place to take someone out for the first time; however, be wary that you might need to take some extra change because the prices are not taco cart prices.
They’re significantly higher, but the quality of the ingredients, the taste, and the customer service makes every penny spent justified.
La Cocinita Food Truck
Phone: 773-234-6676
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If you spot a food truck with a line longer than any restaurant on the Street, know that it’s the La Cocinita Food Truck; most of the time, the truck is found in the Chicagoland area.
La Cocinita is exceptionally famous and for all the right reasons! I don’t think I have ever come across such a well-organized food truck in the city, especially given that they have quite a crowd waiting to place an order, which is why this truck is my go-to during office hours.
The food truck serves contemporary Venezuelan-inspired street food with flavors that will knock your socks off.
Their menu primarily consists of tacos, arepas, and Caribbean bowls, in addition to salsa and rice. The Caribbean bowl is their best seller.
While you can choose between chicken, pulled pork, and vegetables, I went for the classic chicken Caribbean bowl with salsa verde and jalapeño salsa.
The generous serving size does justice to your hunger pangs quite well.
The Tamale Spaceship
2296 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 773-630-9665
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The Tamale Spaceship is Chicago’s oldest food truck, and they’ve been cruising around the city streets for quite some time and serving thousands of happy customers for years.
Once you’ve had one bite of their tamales, you will be coming back for more every other day. I urge that you try Al Pastor Tamale before any other – it is bursting with pork sizzled in spicy tomatillo Arbol sauce and is served with grilled pineapples, packing quite a punch in every bite.
If you still have space for more, maybe pack up a Dynamic Tamale drizzled with garlic Morita sauce and goat cheese.
But hey! Tamales aren’t all they serve. Their Baja Tacos are exceptionally flavored, full of beer-battered fish with pico de gallo and chipotle mayo.
Yum Dum Truck
1924 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 847-376-1925
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Yum Dum Truck gives you a food experience like no other. Their cross between Chinese food and fast food makes for some of the best fusion street foods in the city, especially with flavors that are sweet, salty, spicy, sour, and bitter.
I found their staff to be extremely courteous and friendly, especially in helping you choose the right dishes for your palate from the menu.
I was served fresh, authentic handmade steamed dumplings and signature bao-witches. I ordered their Pork Belly Bao, which certainly threw me for a run!
The salty pork blended with the Tarte pickled mustard greens was a great combo to munch on. Don’t forget to try their rice balls.
The Yum Dum Truck’s rice balls have been voted the #1 food item by TimeOut Chicago!
They’re super good on their own, but the jalapeno and sriracha mayo dipping sauce takes them over the top.
Taco Boom Chicago
Multiple locations
It takes every fiber in my being not to end up going to Taco Boom Chicago every day. It is undoubtedly a great addition to the Lincoln Square neighborhood.
Their portion sizes are big and I mean BIG enough for two people to share one meal.
I am all for the quesabirria taco trend; however, I haven’t found many restaurants that could replicate one closest to its authentic Mexican form – apart from Taco Boom Chicago of course.
The meat is so flavorful, and no matter what iteration it shows up in, it is true fire.
I added a little lime to the consomé, and it was an amazing mixture of flavors: savory, salty, and slightly tangy.
Other than the classic quesbirria, don’t forget to order the pizzadilla and thank me later!
The Taco Truck
3129-3199 E 83rd St, Chicago, IL 60617
Phone: 773-704-8160
The Taco Truck keeps it simple, and that’s something to celebrate! It does street tacos, burritos, tortas, and quesadillas – and boy do they do them well.
This food truck brings you fresher ingredients, especially in their carne asada, pollo, carnitas, and chorizo bites.
If you’re a fan of the delicious Mexican cuisine, you need to come down to 83rd Street to grab a bite from this food truck. Something I often find myself sipping on from their menu is their Mexican Coke.
The Fat Shallot Lincoln Park
2468 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: 773-661-6335
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The Fat Shallot provides made-to-order sandwiches to every one of its customers. This unique little sandwich shop is an excellent find in Chi-town’s densely populated food parks.
The Fat Shallot offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with their outdoor seating being my personal favorite due to their charming décor.
Spicy sesame fries are a MUST try! They aren’t all that spicy, but they are topped with a flavorful sesame aioli.
The same goes for the truffle fries. The truffle BLT and turkey sandwich on a pretzel roll were real contenders.
Another great thing about this food truck is that they offer an expansive kid’s menu, making it easy for parents to indulge in their lip-smacking food while their kids do the very same thing.
My kids love their grilled cheese sandwiches. They’re oozing with delicious, melted Muenster cheese and caramelized onions between two perfectly toasted sourdough slices.
Jarabe Mexican Street Food
1835 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-725-0507
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Some people are searching for authenticity; others are looking to get adventurous. Flavor explorers, make your way down to Harrison Street, and grab a big bite of the scrumptious snacks served at Jarabe Mexican Street Food.
My friends and I often find ourselves at the food truck where we order their famous Mojo Mushrooms Tacos and Garlic Shrimp Tacos.
The best part about this food truck is that you can customize your meals, choosing between 5 different proteins, sauces, and sides.
My favorite is their Elotes, especially because they’re topped with fresh and delectable ingredients.
Alos Tacos Food Truck
2001 W 43rd St, Chicago, IL 60609
Phone: 773-937-7647
Are you frantically searching for some authentic Mexican cuisine in the heart of Chicago? Calm yourself, and head down to Also Tacos Food Truck at 43rd Street.
The truck is typically parked right in front of the laundry mat and is at its best during the weekend nights when the city lights and bold souls are making the most of their palates.
Alos Tacos Food Truck serves up authentic Mexican food through various customizable options.
You can customize your tacos, tortas, huarache, or quesadillas with choices of seven proteins and let the taste do the rest of the talking!
However, be wary of the sauces you choose. Their red ones are extremely hot- you have been warned!
There is no shortage of food trucks in Chicago, especially in the downtown area, no matter the time of the day.
People splurge on food trucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, especially as they are the perfect to-go option for locals and tourists alike.
Food trucks in Chi-Town are ephemeral. One minute, they’re on 83rd Street, and the next minute, poof, they’re gone!
I have tried to track down the best food trucks in Chicago and hope you love their food just as much as I do. Here are some great places to get a drink around town as well!
Did we leave a restaurant off of the list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
Serna’s Grill Food Truck – The home of the Monster Gyros! Chicago-style food to-go! @sernasgrillfoodtruck
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