Over the last few years, food trucks have blown up in popularity. No longer are they associated with bland, pre-wrapped, food with generic drink options. But rather, they’ve become an “experience” for consumers looking for unique takes on foods such as burgers, tacos, and even vegan meals.
According to CNBC’s, Susan Caminiti, Technomic– a research firm that specializes in research for the food industry– says the food industry’s popularity will only continue to spike. And based on numbers from independent food truck operators, their sales are continuously growing roughly 15% each year.
A lot of the popularity of the food truck industry came after the recession when people were laid off from their jobs. And once people were laid off, they took a chance at running their own businesses, said Brett Lindenberg. Brett is the founder of the food truck industry website, Food Truck Empire. And the reason food trucks are so easy to get into is that they’re so much more affordable than traditional restaurants. So, while traditional restaurants cost upwards of $1 million, food truck conversions can cost anywhere between $150,000 – $200,000.
Top 5 Most Popular Food Truck menu Ideas For Entrepreneurs Outfitting Their Vans
And with all that information said and done, here are the top 5 most popular food truck menu ideas for entrepreneurs outfitting their vans
5. Fried Cheese Curds
Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Fried cheese curds, what?” I love cheese curds, but even I thought it sounded a little strange until I saw The Cow and the Curd food truck. It’s one of the most popular food trucks in America right now, and a lot of it has to do with people loving deep-fried-goodness.
Cheese curds are basically one of two parts (the other being whey) of traditional cheddar cheese before its formed. It’s the youngest state of cheese, and it’s unprocessed but completely edible– and people have taken advantage of this and created a bunch of crazy deep fried dishes and sauces dedicated to the idea.
4. Korean and Mexican BBQ….or both?!
As for this food truck concept, it’s a little less out there– well maybe. The Korean BBQ scene has been gaining a ton of traction in the U.S. in the last few years. Even I’ve seen pop-up Korean BBQ chains here and there in areas that aren’t quite as diverse as Los Angeles’, Kogi BBQ. Roy Choi, the owner of Kogi BBQ, and godfather of the food truck movement came up with the idea of blending foods from two different cultures– Mexican and Korean.
This isn’t to suggest you need to do a blend, but both Mexican and Korean food are crazy popular in the food truck industry. Kogi BBQ offers foods like spicy pork tacos and kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage) quesadillas. And if you’re feeling ambitious enough, who’s to say you couldn’t make a stand-out cultural blending of your own?
3. Grilled Cheese
Let’s be honest, America loves cheese, and a staple meal in all of our childhoods involved grilled cheese at one point or another. Even to this day, I occasionally cook up my own grilled cheese from time to time. It’s a dominating force in the world of court food and food trucks like Ms. Cheezious have taken complete advantage of the idea.
Not all food truck ideas need to be crazy unique or out there, and with the success of grilled cheese food trucks, it’s safe to say some people just want some old-fashioned comfort food. However, variety is key when it comes to appealing to consumers. So, while old-fashioned is great, it’s also important to offer things such as buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwiches as well. Plus, you can never go wrong with offering a bunch of different types of bread.
2. Vegan food
Believe it or not, Vegan food has ascended from the stereotype of angry-hipster-food and into a crazy popular movement. Food trucks like Cinnamon Snail have proven this by offering a variety of plant-based foods such as sandwiches, burgers, tortillas and even BBQ.
Each year, the vegan food market has been growing in sales and popularity. And, to be completely honest, the trend is expected to continue for years to come.
The cool thing about Vegan food is that while it requires a bit of creativity to make delicious food, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than purchasing meats on a regular basis, and it’s also helpful for the environment.
1. Traditional BBQ
It’s really no surprise that traditional American BBQ is the most popular food in the U.S. It’s savory, sweet, comforting, messy, saucy, and– need I say more? I think it’s pretty easy to guess how much I love me some good old-fashioned BBQ. And if there’s any food truck to look at for BBQ, it’s the Oink and Moo. They are singlehandedly the most popular food truck in the U.S. and offer pulled pork sliders, chicken tacos, ribs, brisket, coleslaw, cornbread– and, well, the whole 9 yards.
To me, the biggest part of good BBQ comes down to the sauces. This isn’t to say having well-cooked meats isn’t a massive part of the appeal, but unique and delicious sauces are a good way to set yourself apart from the competition.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, the food truck industry can be crazy lucrative for entrepreneurs. And while there are wild spins on food, it’s all about the quality of what you provide and bringing your own personal touch. However, even though you may have an amazing idea, you likely still need a truck to convert and outfit. The most popular vehicles for food trucks are RVs and Sprinters, and both can be converted pretty easily with a little professional help.
The Sprinter Center provides high-quality food truck conversions quickly and efficiently
The Sprinter Center has a team of highly trained professionals experienced in repairing, modifying, and converting Sprinter Vans and other large vehicles. We have stations designed specifically for larger vehicles and offer quick and efficient work like nowhere else in Dallas, TX.