I may be biased because I live here, but I really do think the best Seattle food trucks rival the Portland food cart pods. I mean, there are over 300 food trucks in Seattle on any given day!
With so many food trucks roaming the Seattle metro area, it can be hard to pick which ones are worth seeking out. That’s where this article comes in.
Whether you’re looking for the best street tacos, smash burgers, or sweet treats, this list will break down the must-try food trucks in Seattle.
Best Seattle Food Trucks
Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll add more of the best food trucks in Seattle when I discover them!
Smash That
website | permanent location: Lake City – 8500 Lake City Way NE (get directions) | cuisine: smash burgers
Plenty of places claim to make smash burgers, but I’d argue few do it right. Smash That, located outside The Growler Guys, makes the thinnest patty I’ve ever had in Seattle. This results in a crisp edge and caramelization that adds so much flavor, easily making them one of the best burgers in Seattle.
Their meat comes from Double R Ranch in the Okanagan Valley and is never frozen. Each burger comes with two patties and creative toppings. My favorite is the Oklahoma Smash, which has razor-thin onions, American cheese, pickles, and their signature smash sauce.
Blackstar Kebab
website | location: varies, but mostly north Seattle rotating between Saleh’s & Ballard/Magnolia breweries | schedule | cuisine: Ghanaian
Blackstar Kebab is owned by a former Ghanaian professional soccer player who, in 2015, decided to bring his favorite flavors to Seattle as the city lacked good African street food.
Blackstar’s kebabs are some of the best cheap eats in Seattle, with a plate of jollof rice, plantains, and beef, chicken, or lamb kebabs costing about $13. The meat is organic and comes beautifully seasoned in a proprietary spice blend. There are no wrong answers here, but whatever you do, order extra plantains!
Off the Rez
website | permanent brick & mortar location: U-District – inside the Burke Museum (get directions) | truck location: varies, but often at Stoup Brewing in Ballard/Cap Hill & Ravenna Brewing | schedule | cuisine: Native American
Off the Rez was the first native food truck to open in the city and quickly became one of my favorite Seattle lunch spots. They have a brick and mortar now, but the truck continues roaming around different Seattle neighborhoods.
Their flagship menu item is fry bread, which is pillowy light and flavorful. You can get it plain, sweet, as a taco, or as a burger bun. Their BBQ pulled pork taco is my favorite because the meat literally melts in your mouth and the cabbage slaw adds a crisp bite.
Bella M’Briana
website | permanent location: Georgetown – 303 S Michigan St (get directions) | cuisine: Italian
I first tried Bella M’Briana at a concert when another concertgoer saw me checking out their menu. Unprompted he said, “You must go here. Get the meatball sub, trust me.” I don’t usually listen to strangers on the street, but he was so dead serious I had to abide.
Well, that stranger I never got to thank is right. Bella M’Briana is one of my favorite food truck bites in the area. As an ex-east coaster, I’m super picky when it comes to my meatballs. But Bella M’Briana makes them just like my brother-in-law, soft and fatty. While I typically don’t mix my sauces, I secretly love how they also slather on pesto to add some brightness to the marinara sauce. I’m so happy they’ve found a permanent home because now I know where I can always get my beloved Italian comfort food.
Impeckable Chicken
website | location: varies, but often in SLU and north Seattle breweries | schedule | cuisine: fried chicken
I’m always on the hunt for Seattle’s best fried chicken and was surprised to learn one of them is from a food truck. But that’s just what Impeckable does: serves no-nonsense fried chicken sandwiches either plain or with spicy sauce.
I prefer their plain “Impeckable” fried chicken sandwich because you can really taste the flavors from their slow brine. You’ll get hints of cayenne and that distinct juiciness that you can only get after marinading chicken in buttermilk for hours.
But everyone knows fried chicken isn’t only about the juiciness of the bird. It also needs to be coated in a batter that’s well seasoned and shatters with each bite. Well, Impeckable passes that litmus test as well. Their version has great crunch.
Taqueria la Fondita
website | permanent locations: White Center – 9811 and 10050 15th Ave SW & Northgate – 8953 Aurora Ave N (get directions) | cuisine: Mexican
Insiders know that Taqueria la Fondita makes some of the best street tacos in Seattle. They have three trucks around the city where they serve no-nonsense mini tacos for ~$3 each.
You can get them stuffed with all the classic Mexican meats, but my go-to is the pork carnitas. Their version is both juicy and crispy, which is a difficult texture to accomplish. Only the best Mexican restaurants in Seattle can get it right, and Taqueria la Fondita is leading the pack.
Good Morning Tacos
website | location: varies, but often at Chuck’s in Greenwood/Central District, Project 9 Brewing in Lake City, & Ravenna Brewing | schedule | cuisine: breakfast tacos
I love Seattle’s street food taco scene, and when I find a truck that’s switching things up, I’m all for it. Good Morning is an Austin-style truck serving breakfast tacos with classic flavors like bacon, egg, and cheese alongside Tex-Mex ingredients like smoked brisket, migas, and chorizo-spiced tofu. They remind me of Matt’s BBQ Tacos, one of the most fun places to eat in Portland, but obviously way closer to home.
The brisket is the unanimous favorite since the juicy, tender meat complements the tangy salsa. If you’re in a more breakfast-y mood, stick with the bacon and egg, which has cheese broiled into the soft tortillas.
Wood Shop BBQ
website | permanent brick & mortar location: 2513 S Jackson St (get directions) | truck location: varies, but often at the Ballard breweries, Bizarre Brewing in Magnolia, or Chuck’s in Greenwood/Central District | schedule | cuisine: BBQ
Wood Shop has some of the best BBQ in Seattle. They started as a food truck pairing the best of Texas and Kansas BBQ. They were such a hit that they opened a brick and mortar in the Central District, though the truck still hops around Seattle’s breweries.
These guys take BBQ seriously, importing hickory wood directly from Kansas and Texas. They cook with stick burners and source their meat from Painted Hills in Fossil, OR. People rave over their smoked jalapeño mac and cheese bowls, which come with brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken, chili, or BBQ mushrooms.
I’m partial to their ribs. They fall off the bone and have the quintessential meaty fatty flavor tinged with sweet smoke.
Mr. Gyros
website | permanent brick & mortar locations: Ballard – 5522 20th Ave NW (get directions) & Wallingford – 256 NE 45th St (get directions) | truck location: varies, including the Eastside | schedule | cuisine: Mediterranean
Mr. Gyros opened in 2002 by two brothers who wanted to share their culture through food. Today it’s a Seattle staple, so much so that I had to include them on my Ballard self-guided food tour.
While I often get chicken shawarma as a lighter meal, their lamb-beef gyro is a must-order. The meat is addictively juicy and well-seasoned, and the ratio of veggies to pita to meat has been nailed down to a science. It’s surprisingly filling and easily one of the best Mediterranean spots in Seattle.
Where Ya at Matt
website | location: varies, including on the Eastside | schedule | cuisine: Creole
Where Ya at Matt is one of the top-tier Black-owned restaurants in Seattle. Owner and chef Matt grew up in New Orleans and learned his love of food from watching his mom and grandmother in the kitchen. Today, he makes classic New Orleans Creole dishes like po’boys, gumbo, and jambalaya.
Customers rave over his po’boys, which come on crusty French bread with an abundance of toppings and fillings like cornmeal breaded catfish, fried chicken, oysters, or creole pork with apple slaw. However my go-tos are the cornbread, beignets, and jambalaya. Matt’s sides are seriously underrated, but if you get enough of them they can constitute a full meal. 😂
MexiCuban
website & schedule | permanent brick & mortar location: White Center – 1622 SW Roxbury St (get directions) & Renton – 15279 Maple Valley Hwy unit 100 (get directions) | truck location: varies, including on the Eastside | cuisine: Mexican and Cuban
As the name suggests, MexiCuban is a fusion spot with a menu of Mexican and Cuban-inspired dishes. They’re widely popular and currently have two restaurants and multiple food trucks bopping around Seattle.
Their signature dish is their fluffy tacos, which are crisp on the outside and soft in the center–totally unlike any tacos I’ve had. I also like their conchita pibil, which comes with Yucatan roasted pork, yellow rice, black beans, fried plantains, and handmade corn tortillas with an assortment of toppings.
Tat’s Delicatessen
website | permanent brick & mortar location: Pioneer Square – 159 Yesler Wy (get directions) | food truck location: varies, but often at Skyline in Bellevue, Chuck’s in Greenwood, Stoup in Cap Hill, & South Lake Union | schedule | cuisine: sandwiches
Tat’s Delicatessen used to be one of my go-to sandwich spots in Seattle when I worked downtown. When I found out they had a food truck, I knew they deserved to be on this list.
Their sandwiches are reminiscent of the ones I grew up eating on the east coast, piled high on Italian subs with house-roasted meats, scratch-made sauces, and fresh veggies. I’m a sucker for their Tats’trami, which is essentially a Rueben with pastrami added. I can still close my eyes and picture the tangy Thousand Island oozing out of its doughy roll.
Sugar + Spoon
website | location: varies, but often on the Eastside | schedule | cuisine: edible cookie dough
You’ll see Sugar + Spoon coming from a mile away in their brightly colored blue and pink food truck. Their Instagram feed alone is enough to convince any skeptic that their cookie dough is one of the best desserts in Seattle.
Since I’m a purist, I usually stick with the chocolate chip cookie dough, but they have a variety of dough options which you can get in a bowl or on a cone with ice cream or a multitude of toppings.
El Camion
website | permanent locations: Sand Point – 4529 Sand Point Way NE (get directions), Roosevelt – 6319 Roosevelt Way NE (get directions) & Shoreline – 11728 Aurora Ave N (get directions) | cuisine: street tacos
El Camion has not one but three food trucks across Seattle, each making some of the best street tacos in Seattle. They were one of the first taco spots I fell in love with, especially their carnitas and grilled fish tacos.
The carnitas are super juicy yet have that essential crispiness you only get from frying them after slow cooking. The fish tacos come with an addictive spicy salsa that’s delicious enough to enjoy on its own.
Falafel Salam
website | permanent brick & mortar location: West Seattle – 4746 California Ave SW (get directions) | truck location: varies, but often in SLU | schedule | cuisine: Middle Eastern
Falafel Salam has been one of the best healthy restaurants in Seattle ever since 2009, when they had a little booth at the Fremont Sunday Market. Today they have a restaurant in West Seattle and a food truck where they crank out gyros on freshly baked pitas with housemade hummus and locally sourced lamb.
As for what to order, I love the Hesitator, which is perfect if you’re as indecisive as I am. It’s literally a little bit of everything piled high in one box, and it’s a killer value too, costing only $18 for a ton of food.
Lowrider Cookie Company
website | permanent brick & mortar locations: Central District – 2407 E Union St (get directions) & Burien – 216 SW 153rd St (get directions) | permanent food truck location: Georgetown – 5805 Airport Wy S (get directions) | cuisine: cookies
If you’re a fan of big, cakey, soft cookies, I suggest you check out Lowrider. They’re some of the best dessert delivery in Seattle, and their converted airstream in the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall open only on weekends is freaking adorable.
One thing I love about Lowrider is they have a good balance of “typical” cookie flavors, like chocolate chip and lemon crinkle, along with seasonal flavors like stuffed strawberry rhubarb and caramel pretzel. If you can’t make it to their food trailer or permanent location, they also offer free shipping nationwide!
9th & Hennepin Donuts
website | location: varies, but often at Urban Family Brewing in Ballard & Capitol Hill | schedule | cuisine: doughnuts
9th & Hennepin was inspired after owner Justin Newstrum visited the historic Cafe du Monde in New Orleans and fell in love with the idea of selling piping hot donuts. What started as a farmers market gig has since become one of the best restaurants in West Seattle being run out of a commissary kitchen.
As mentioned, these donuts are served as fresh as possible and made using local produce from the farmer’s markets. The truck doesn’t accept pre-orders, so you’ll want to arrive early to guarantee your donuts. However, be prepared to be surprised, as they don’t always have the chance to update their food truck menu on social media. But don’t worry—I guarantee you’ll love whatever they’ve got!
Tres’ House of Cheesesteaks
website | permanent location: Ballard – 1447 NW 65th St (get directions) | cuisine: sandwiches
Tres’ is one of my favorite restaurants in North Seattle, hands down. They used to pop up in various dive bars around Ballard, Greenwood, and Phinney Ridge. But they’ve since returned to their roots in a food cart and are permanently parked near Ballard High School.
I always get Tres’ OG Philly sandwich. It has thin-sliced ribeye steak smothered in gooey cheese and just-caramelized-enough onions. I love how every bite has a bit of everything, unlike other cheesesteak spots that just put whiz on top of the sandwich.
Pro tip: They also operate a second location out of The Lamplighter in Greenwood if you want to try them sitting down.
Outsider BBQ
website | location: varies, including on the Eastside | schedule | cuisine: BBQ
Outsider BBQ wins for being one of the more out-of-the-box BBQ spots in Seattle. It’s essentially Texas BBQ but with a subtle Turkish twist that pays homage to the owner’s heritage.
Their pulled pork is a fan-favorite, and I like how it’s not overly saucy so you can really taste the smoke flavor. However, the housemade BBQ sauce is so savory and tangy that I can’t help but slather it on everything. Oh, and whatever you order, please do yourself a favor and get the jalapeño cheddar sausage. It’s so juicy and oozes with cheese in every bite.
Sunny Up
website | location: varies, but often at Chuck’s in Greenwood | schedule | cuisine: breakfast sandwiches
Sunny Up has been voted Seattle Magazine’s Best Food Truck since 2020 for their breakfast sandwiches. Each comes on a soft ciabatta-like roll (gluten-free available) with an assortment of breakfast fix-ins.
I really like their Pastrami Cline, which is a breakfast Reuben with flavorful meat that’ll put pastrami cold cuts to shame. That said, my favorite sandwich is the Josephine Baken, which comes with bacon, tomato jam, and thyme aioli. I also love that you can get your egg over easy instead of the mandatory scramble.
This place also low key has amazing donuts. They’re not overly sweet or greasy and have the perfect pillowy bounce. If you’re uncertain, get ½ dozen as a low-commitment side.
Dump Truck
website | permanent location: Ballard – 5456 Shilshole Ave NW (get directions) | cuisine: Sichuan
Dump Truck is owned by Plenty of Clouds, a popular Capitol Hill Sichuan restaurant. The truck lives in Ballard outside Cloudburst Brewing and focuses on Chinese street food staples. Think dumplings, noodles, and unique sides like chrysanthemum salad and silky chickpea curd.
The noodles are good, but what I really come for is the pork belly sandwich, which you can also get with mushrooms, tofu, or chicken. The pork is buttery soft and not overly crispy, and the pickled cabbage adds that crunch factor. The garlicky cucumbers are another must-order, namely for the addictive toasted garlic chili oil.
More places to eat in Seattle
After you make the rounds at the best Seattle food trucks, eat your way through these other restaurants.
