Our list of 16 must-try food trucks for the summer
Summer is here, which means food truck season. Taken from our the Summer 2025 issue of Stock & Barrel, we’ve put together a list of 16 Columbus food trucks that you may not have heard of before, but are definitely worth a stop.
(614) Fully Loaded
Photo by Evan Frere
While working in property management years ago, Danielle Reed’s longtime boyfriend Ron Petty asked her what she would do if she could do anything.
“I said I’d open a food truck, because feeding people is my love language,” she said. “I’m usually busy in the kitchen when I’m not working anyway.”
Fast forward to 2022, and that dream became a reality when Reed launched the (614) Fully Loaded, a Columbus food truck that features a concept as unique as its color-packed branding. The truck rolls around The Arch City serving a wide variety of maxed out baked potatoes.
According to Reed, the truck’s best seller is The Steakhouse, which tops a baked potato with steak, A1 Sauce, cheddar cheese, bacon bits and sour cream.
Another customer favorite is the NashDILL Clucker. The dish starts with fresh cut fries, and adds fried popcorn chicken pieces, sliced dill pickles, coleslaw and Nashville hot sauce.
“It’s like a Nashville hot chicken sandwich on a bed of fries,” Reed said.
AJ’s Tacos & Birria
Photo by Jen Brown
While AJ’s Tacos & Birria has its roots in traditional Mexican cuisine, the up and coming Columbus truck is, at times, at least, anything but traditional, serving Birria Nachos, Birria Grilled Cheese, Birria Ramen and even Flaming Hot Birria Balls as a rotating special.
“I come up with the ideas and tell my husband to make them,” said Rachael Aguirre with a laugh. “Most of the time I’m looking on TikTok for recipes that go viral.”
Combining her social media process with the knowledge of traditional Mexican street cuisine held by her husband Agustin Aguirre, AJ’s was born. It was launched, she said, in 2020, during the heart of the pandemic, after she and Augstin–who relocated from Mexico 10 years ago–went all-in on the truck.
And they haven’t looked back since, serving everything from carna asada taco to birria quesadillas, balancing TikTok with tradition the whole way.
Big Mouth Egg Rolls
Photo by Sarah Pfeifer
Sang Boley is proving that egg rolls can be the entire entree.
Born and raised in Vietnam, Sang moved to Ohio in 1973, sharing her expertise and lifelong passion of cooking homemade food for the past 50 years. After perfecting her unique recipes, she founded the food truck Big Mouth Egg Rolls in 2017.
These aren’t your typical egg rolls though. Each of them are hand-rolled by Sang herself, and they’re much larger than an average appetizer size of egg rolls. They’re stuffed with pork, seasoned cabbage, and fresh vegetables, and served with your choice of a dipping sauce. Sang has also mastered the art of the rangoon, offering a choice of a hand-folded cream cheese & scallion option, or ones with apple pie filling and drizzled with a homemade caramel sauce.
For the past 7 years, it’s been a favorite at the annual Columbus Food Truck Festival, where you can catch them on August 16-17. They’re also a staple at many community festivals, and you can check out their website, bigmoutheggrolls.com, to see their schedule.
Booming Banging Food Truck
Photo by Sarah Pfeifer
We’ve all been here before: Considering food from one restaurant versus another, and not being able to decide if either is as good as it seems.
Customers of Columbus’ Booming Banging Food Truck luckily don’t have this problem.
Multiple times each week–shared with the concept’s nearly 15,000 Instagram followers–the truck posts fresh videos of diners digging into wings, smash burgers and more, capturing authentic reactions as each dish receives the stamp of approval, over and over again.
The Booming Banging Food Truck and owner “Ant” aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, nor are they overcomplicating a good thing, offering a concise menu focusing on Loaded Fries, Wings, Smash Burgers, Fish, Hot Dogs and a small assortment of other items, some of which are rotating. And that’s because everything is done well. Really well.
But don’t make our word for it, go check out the video evidence from hundreds of happy customers on their Instagram (@theboomingbangingfoodtruck).
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Buckeye Crepes
Photo by Jordan Posner
While most of us likely associate crepes with France, one Columbus food truck is flipping the script.
We came from Russia, actually. In Russia we have the same things as crepes, and our recipes include all Russian ingredients, although we’ve adopted some French cooking techniques,” said Hassan Ganiev, the son of Zukhra Ganiev, who owns the Buckeye Crepe food truck.
You can find the Ganievas sliming crepes all across Columbus, with both sweet and savory options.
The truck offers options like S’mores, Dulce de Leche, Honey, Gyro, veggie options and many more.
Don’t know where to start? According to Hassan Ganiev, their Chicken Twist variety is the truck’s best-selling savory crepe, and its Smores and O-H-I-O (a combination of their O-H and I-O flavors that features a strawberry banana mix alongside Nutella or peanut butter) options are its most popular sweet crepe.
Follow along with where Buckeye Crepes plans to be next at Streetfoodfinder.com.
El Catrin
Photo by Evan Frere
While cashing out your 401k to follow your dreams isn’t on everyone’s 5 year plan, the Elizarragas knew it was part of theirs.
Alex and Velda Elizarragas weren’t waiting for their retirement to start a new chapter. Instead, they quit their jobs and opened Comida El Catrin in 2017, where they first parked in front of a mechanic shop on Morse Road.
Due to their ever-growing popularity, now, you can find El Catrin at local breweries, at large events, festivals, and farmers markets, serving some of Columbus’ favorite tacos.
The Elizarragas offer authentic Mexican food with everything handmade and fresh upon order. Their street tacos may sound simple, with just your choice of meat and onions & cilantro, but the flavors speak for themselves. They also offer burritos, bowls, and quesadillas, loaded with vegetables, cheeses, proteins (optional), and house-made sauces.
Find them all around town, almost every day of the week! Check out their Facebook to see where they’re going next.
The Elote Man
Photo by Evan Frere
Do you know the Elote Man, the Elote Man, the Elote Man? (Please re-read this to the tune of “The Muffin Man,” please and thanks!)
Well, if you don’t, you’re about to.
While not necessarily considered a “food truck,” this roasted corn-centric business sells corn on the cob and in a cup via push cart/tent. You can choose from regular butter elote, or more exciting flavors infused with Hot Cheetos and Takis. We suggest The House Special, with chili, lime, mayonnaise, jalapeno popper Doritos, and Rico’s Liquid Cheese. If you’re not feeling corny, opt for some chili cheese nachos and a blue raspberry lemonade.
Many elote trucks in Mexico roast the corn right there on the spot, and so does The Elote Man. See for yourself at the Worthington Farmers Markets on Saturday mornings, and “parked” at the Clintonville Autozone on Saturday evenings, 4:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Fat Kid Burgers
Photo by Heidi Oliver
It could be the outrageously groovy tie-dye painting on this food truck, or the burgers with names like Carbzilla and Notorious P.I.G., but this burger mobile will have you talking about it days after your visit.
Fat Kid Burgers is a veteran and family owned food truck that serves gourmet smash burgers, all made from scratch. It first opened in 2022, but when it went up for sale in 2024, restaurateurs (and huge fans of Fat Kid Burgers) Lisa and Jason Rosebrough couldn’t resist snagging the concept. Their other food trucks, Grilled Cheese Gangsters & Bada Bing Bada Wing, gained a sibling.
The over-the-top burgers all feature smash patties, and you can choose from burgers served on artisan buns, to toasted Texas Toast, and even on warm Krispy Cream Donuts. Pro tip: ask for extra house-made XXL sauce!
Follow Fat Kid Burgers on Facebook to see where they’re slinging some of the best smash burgers in town next.
The Galaxy Coffee
Photo by Sumner Howells
Since their launch in 2022, The Galaxy Coffee has been building community outside Virtue Vegan Salon in Clintonville at 3283 High St. one cup at a time. Owned by Jevonna Morris and Kels Wilson, the coffee truck was created in the spirit of the LGBTQIA+ scene in Columbus.
“We love gay bars, and wanted to capture that inclusivity, but with another sort of vibe,” Morris said. “We think a coffee shop or truck can be for all ages, races, whatever; a place where younger members of the queer community can meet each other and people of all ages.”
The venture has a mission of being “A coffee truck for everyone,” serving coffee, tea, lattes, breakfast bites, and pastries–many options made vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. Among their menu are standout items like lavender lemonade, matcha and chai lattes, homemade poptarts and gluten free donuts.
The Galaxy Coffee prioritizes working with other queer-owned and local businesses, with their name coming from the concept that gender is “more than a binary, more than a spectrum, and more like a whole galaxy of possibilities.”
All milks are free (so no upcharge for that oat milk) and in an effort to share resources and help others, visitors can also find a Community Jar, where the workers take their tips and make them available for anyone in need to use for drinks or food orders from the truck.
The coffee truck can be found most mornings at Virtue Vegan Salon, from 7:30 A.M.- 2:00 P.M.
Hogs’N’Hunnies BBQ
Photo by Heidi Oliver
When the concept of Hogs’N’Hunnies BBQ food truck first came to fruition, it looked a bit different than it does today.
“The name was originally supposed to be my biker bar,” said owner Jason Tipton. “I was an owner/operator and truck driver for 20 years.”
In 2019, Tipton faced semi-truck issues with parts hard to secure. During that time, he hung out at a small winery in Canal Winchester where his wife was a partner. Since Tipton was often smoking hogs for graduations and other large parties, the couple decided to try a food truck business. They opened in the summer of 2022.
Today, Hogs’N’Hunnies serves up brisket, burgers, and fries, often selling upward of 24 locally-sourced briskets a week. The truck does its own homemade rubs and sauces, making the brisket “Texas-style.” Pulled pork, chicken, and desserts can also be found on the menu, along with homemade mac n’ cheese.
“I like being small. I like putting my heart into everything,” said Tipton. “My wife is the same way. She goes above and beyond. If a customer comes and it’s their birthday, she will go out of her way to make it something special.”
Hogs’N’Hunnies can be seen all over Columbus, notably at Grove City’s regular summertime Food Truck Fridays and at the Fortress Obetz. The truck is also available for private lunches and events.
La Baia Italian Food
Photo by Evan Frere
There seem to be two ways to eat authentic Italian food: one would be across from your lover, sharing a tiramisu under candlelight. And the other would be grabbing a Neopolitan-style pizza, folding a piece in half, and getting back to your day.
La Baia Italian Food definitely offers the latter.
The authentic Italian food truck features a variety of Italian, wood-fired pizzas, along with lasagnas and paninis. Every sauce is handmade right there in the truck, influenced by the iconic culinary traditions of Italy, where the owners are from. Their tagline, “From Italy, With Love,” isn’t just a quirky way of saying they serve Italian – owners Anajd and Brisida Dokaj grew up in a small town right between Naples and Rome. The family moved here in 2014.
Although La Baia is relatively new to the Columbus food truck scene (2020), foodies around town are saying it serves some of the best pizza in the entire city. Try the Pizza Italia, with homemade sauce made from San Marzano tomatoes, plus pesto and fresh mozzarella. Although it sounds simple, sometimes the best things really are. And if you’re wanting to try something a little more gourmet, try the Pizza Diavola, loaded with Italian salami, crushed chili pepper, and basil.
They post their schedule (and mouthwatering pictures of pizza) on their Instagram. Follow @la_baia_italian_food to see what they’re all about.
LB’s Golden Fried Fish & Chicken
Photo by Tyler Jamison
When it comes to fried foods, Lance Burgess doesn’t play around.
The owner of LB’s Golden Fried Fish & Chicken, Burgess’ prowess for frying chicken and fish didn’t start when his hens did (as a ghost kitchen in 2021, before hitting the road as food truck in 2023) – it’s been a part of his life for much longer.
In fact, the concept grew out of regular cookouts for family and friends that Burgess would hold, with guests raving about his food and insisting that he open his own eatery.
“People love my food. It’s good. It’s really good,” he said with a grin,
And he’s not lying. In addition to crispy, juicy fried chicken, LB’s serves pretty much everything under the ocean, including catfish, salmon, perch, walleye and many more. Add these to their famous fries, sides like baked beans, their Magnificent Mac and Cheese, cole slaw and green beans, and you end up with one of the heartiest meals on four wheels in Columbus.
And we didn’t even mention the cobbler sweet potato pies for dessert.
Follow along on their Facebook, as their weekly schedule often varies.
Mordisco
Photo by Evan Frere
When Caracas, Venezuela-born Yohalex Medina moved to Columbus just before the pandemic, Medina said “knew I wanted to bring a taste of my home here.”
Three years later, he did. Medina, along with co-founder Angel Di Frisco, are on a mission to provide authentic Venezuelan food they’re proud of, all made with the highest quality of products and ingredients possible. Plus, they adapt to the preferences of all of their customers, with vegan, vegetarian, or even gluten-free options available.
Guests can pull up to Mordisco Food Truck, parked right outside of Olentangy River Brewery, and enjoy breakfast options such as their number one seller Breakfast Burrito, loaded with scrambled eggs, bacon, tater tots, cheese, and avocado, with cilantro and spicy sauce on the side, or a Venezuelan Breakfast Bowl with shredded chicken or beef, scrambled eggs, sweet plantains topped with cheese, black beans, avocado, and two small arepas.
If you’re in the mood for lunch fare, Mordisco offers delicious appetizers, such as Tostones (fried green plantains topped with cheese, pico de gallo, and pink sauce), Tequeños (breaded cheese sticks served with cilantro sauce on the side), as well as a variety of Arepas (crispy yet fluffy cornmeal cakes that Medina and Di Fresco stuff with meats, vegetables, beans, cheese, and sauces). Their noteworthy bowls use meat or veggies as a base, with rice, beans, avocado, sweet plantains, and a variety of other toppings, keeping you satisfied all day, and their empanadas pair perfectly with a light beer from the neighboring brewery.
Place an online order and check out Mordisco Food Truck’s menu at mordisco.us.
The Sisig Experience
Photo by Evan Frere
While Columbus has a thriving international food scene, Philippines natives Farzanah Kalis and Roderick Asuncion realized that The Arch City was lacking in prominent Filipino options, outside of Bonifacio.
So they took action.
After living in the U.S. for 15 years, the married couple launched The Sisig Experience last summer, offering Columbus a taste of their native country.
Named after sisig, a Filipino dish that traditionally features pork, peppers, onion and a spicy, tangy sauce, the truck has partnered with Beer Zone, which is located at 4658 Kenny Rd., in order to offer the most authentic dining experience possible.
“We’re located next to Beer Zone because sisig is usually paired with beer in the Philippines,” Kalis said. “Here. it’s pizza and beer. There, it’s sisig and beer.”
The truck purposefully offers a concise menu in order to focus on its namesake dish, and just a handful of other authentic Filipino offerings.
You can find The Sisig Experience outside of Beer Zone from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
Smoked on Chai
Photo by Aaron Massey
While pork may be a staple in the lineup of pitmasters across the country, Columbus barbeque veteran Max McGarity does just fine without.
Why, you ask? Because he operates the City’s first kosher barbeque concept, Smoked on Chai.
Chai, which is the Hebrew word meaning “to life,” is pronounced like “High,” which plays off the name of McGarity’s long-standing (non-kosher) Brewery District barbeque spot, Smoked on High.
McGarity, a lifelong follower of Judaism, knew he was in position to bridge a gap in the city’s culinary scene, which can be lacking in kosher options despite a sizable Jewish community.
“They’ve been wanting this. There’s not kosher barbeque here, there’s not much of kosher anything,” he said.
While some dishes and techniques from Smoked on High remain in large part the same, pork products will be replaced by beef ribs, turkey and more smoked poultry, and sides like mac and cheese and cornbread are replaced with other options.
The Smoked on Chai food truck doesn’t have a single operating area, but you can check where it will be on its social media pages (@smokedonchaibbq), or hire it for a private event.
What the Float
Cotton candy burritos. Unicorn Yak. Monster Mucus. These sugar-fueled concoctions can all be found at What the Float (WTF) float truck.
Founded by Mike Strawser in 2021, WTF takes whacky soda flavors from Alien Snot to classic root beer and serves hand-dipped floats with a twist. The idea came after taking note of the unique soda and candy offerings at the Columbus Rocket Fizz location.
“We heard about the music festival WonderBus, and it was really hot,” recalled Strawser. “There’s nothing to drink, and we were like, ‘What if all those weird pops that were there, we turned them into floats? Like that would be kind of cool.’”
After the WTF trailer came Strawser’s, an old-school candy and soda store with locations in Grove City and Circleville, and Conundrum Escape Rooms, also owned by the Strawser family. Together, the various ventures work together to keep Central Ohio creatively engaged and full of sweets. WTF followers can even join in on the fun to help name new floats, like voting to call the blue raspberry flavor “Smurf Blood.”
WTF can be spotted at events around Columbus and at The Ohio State University’s campus on select days. The trailer is available for rent for large parties, graduation celebrations or other events through strawsers.com.
Want to read more? Check out our print publications, (614) Magazine and Stock & Barrel. Learn where you can find free copies of our newest issues here!
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