Last Updated: August 15, 2024
In the world of food trucks, there’s practically no limit to what you can sell from the convenience of your step van. From French fries to falafel, from vegan pizza to Vietnamese banh mi, customers can enjoy just about every cuisine imaginable from these mobile eateries.
Even with all of those choices, there will always be fan favorites. To narrow down the top-selling food truck items nationwide and determine what’s selling like hot cakes (or should we say French fries?), we asked our food truck policyholders to tell us what’s on their menu.
Which of these foods will you add to your offerings this year?
The Most Popular Food Truck Items Across the U.S.
1. French Fries/Potatoes
21% of our survey respondents said they sell French fries or a similar type of potato dish on their food truck. And honestly, we’re not surprised! Who doesn’t love a side of fries?
Pro Tip: Are the top-selling menu items also the most profitable? Not always! While French fries do tend to have high profit margins, many of your best-selling dishes bring in buyers who then pair those offerings with more profitable items.
Fountain drinks are the most profitable fast food with a typical markup of 1,125%. When people come to your food truck for a savory slice of pizza, they’ll likely want a soda on the side. That’s where the bulk of your profits will come from.
2. Burgers
Burgers are an American staple, so not hard to see why 19.2% of people surveyed said they’re on the menu at their food truck.
3. BBQ
15.3% of FLIP policyholders reported selling some type of BBQ dish from their food truck, with pulled pork coming out ahead as the most popular type.
4. Fried Chicken
11.7% of FLIP food truck owners sell fried chicken, making it the fourth most popular food truck item on our list. While many people think of the American South as the birthplace of fried chicken, its origins are widely contested, with some claiming fried chicken has Scottish origins.
5. Tacos
With 10.2% of our survey respondents selling tacos, this tradition is alive and well despite the wide variety of other cuisines we see on food trucks today.
The first taco truck started in 1974 when Raul Martinez transformed an old ice cream van into his food truck, King Taco. The Los Angeles entrepreneur is widely credited for pioneering the modern food truck as we know it.
6. Macaroni and Cheese
Coming in at number 6 on our list is none other than mac ‘n cheese, with 9% of food truck owners including it on their menu! This timeless classic is so popular in the United States, it has its own holiday on July 14 every year: National Macaroni and Cheese Day.
7. Coffee/Tea
9% of FLIP food truck owners who answered our survey reported selling coffee and/or tea, either as a beverage option to drink alongside food or as the focal point of their operation.
It’s no secret that Americans love their coffee, drinking a whopping 400 million cups per day. Tea is also becoming increasingly popular. In 2023 alone, the U.S. imported $508 million worth of tea — $350 million more than was imported 30 years ago.
8. Seafood
7.8% of our policyholders sell seafood from their food trucks, which makes sense because this cuisine is on the rise throughout the country. In fact, the average American eats 18% more seafood now than they did in 2020.
Among our respondents, the most popular types of seafood sold on food trucks are poke, fish, and shrimp.
9. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Originally dubbed the “Cheese Dream” and prepared open-faced, grilled cheese sandwiches are sold on 7.5% of our survey respondents’ food trucks.
10. Vegan/Vegetarian Cuisine
7.2% of our food truck policyholders reported selling vegan and vegetarian options. It’s a great way to maximize profits by ensuring more people can enjoy your delicious offerings, regardless of dietary restrictions or choices. After all, roughly 5% of Americans identify as vegetarians, and 4% identify as vegans.
11. Mexican Cuisine
6.6% of survey respondents sell some type of Mexican cuisine other than tacos from their truck, including fusion dishes like Tex-Mex.
Mexican food is one of the top 5 most popular types of cuisines in the U.S., garnering an average of 1.22 million Google searches per month.
12. Ice Cream
For many of us, our childhood summers are set to the soundtrack of the ice cream truck rolling through the neighborhood, and the 6.3% of FLIP policyholders who sell this sweet treat from their food truck keep those nostalgic feelings flowing.
13. Pizza
5.7% of our survey respondents sell pizza out of their food truck, offering a plethora of toppings and options for everyone from meat lovers to vegans.
Pro Tip: Want to learn more about what’s hot in the food and beverage world? Check out our 2024 food trends report for tons of industry-wide and food truck-specific stats you can use to inform your business decisions this year.
Serve Up Food Truck Favorites This Year
Now that you know the most popular food truck items around the country, you can start incorporating them into your menu before you apply to your next food truck festival.
Don’t be afraid to put your own twist on some of these classic dishes — customers may be more inclined to try your one-of-a-kind menu items if there’s a familiar aspect to them.
Apart from having solid menu options, there’s another thing all successful food trucks have in common: food truck insurance! Many events, markets, and festivals even require proof of insurance before they allow you to participate.
Insurance is also the best way to shield your business from the financial burden of accidents — like someone getting food poisoning from something you served them or tripping around your food truck and injuring themselves.
Learn more about the three most common food truck risks and how you can protect yourself with insurance today!
