SF is known for being on the cutting edge of food and culture, and its food truck scene reflects just that. Check out the city’s diverse cuisines.
LessFormerly known as SOMA Streat Food Park, outdoor fitness classes and a barber shop add a community feel to this food truck park. Flat screens, beer, wine, and heat lamps add ambiance for the dozen rotating food trucks. Taste chowder from Half Moon Bay favorite Sam’s Chowder Mobile, modern comfort food from It’s All Gravy, and Philly-style Izzy’s Cheesesteaks. Sundays they host a family- and dog-friendly Sundaze Brunch from 11am-4pm with live DJs, local vendors, and of course, more food trucks.
Order ahead, walk in (check their social media for menus and the rotating truck line-up), or reserve a space at the fire pits with a fully stocked s’mores cart. Must-try dishes include Al Pastor Papi’s Mexico city-style al pastorta, Lomo Libre’s Peruvian fusion, and Senor Sisig’s Filipino street food. Grab a beverage from the beer/sangria garden or a pick-me-up from SPRO coffee lab. All but 1-3 trucks close between 3-5pm (to prep for dinner service), so time your visit accordingly.
With a lineup of savory and sweet trucks and a full bar, Parklab Gardens (across the street from SPARK Social) is also home to the city’s only outdoor miniature golf course, Stagecoach Greens. Enjoy “feel good Filipino flavors” from vegan favorites The Sarap Shop (like Impossible lumpia) and brightly colored mochi doughnuts from Hookt Doughnuts. Keep in mind only 1 truck is open between 3-5pm (as trucks prep for dinner service) plus the Watering Hole bar.
A well-known market for the city’s chefs, the Saturday Ferry Plaza farmers market is home to nearly 100 vendors. Locals flock to RoliRoti’s glistening spits roasting porchetta, pork knuckle, and chickens. The Bi-Rite Creamery ice cream truck serves up farm-inspired flavors like strawberry balsamic and honey lavender. Other favorites include Bini’s Kitchen’s Nepalese momos and Primavera handmade tamales. Soak in views of the Bay Bridge and the iconic SF Ferry Building while you eat.
Need one last food truck fix before flying out of SFO? Off the Grid, known for gathering SF’s best food trucks together to create unique dining experiences, now greets travelers at the SF airport with it’s Terminal 1 market. Located on the departures level, it features a two-truck rotation of local favorites. Think Mozzeria pizza, Korean Bobcha’s bulgogi burgers and kimchi fries, and Oaxacan Mobile Kitchen’s fish tacos and chipotle prawns. Open weekdays from 11am to 2pm.
Off the Grid takes over the Serramonte Shopping Center parking lot for Tuesday night dinners from 5-8pm. SF favorite The Chairman’s baked or steamed pork buns, Curveball Sliders, Capelo’s Barbecue, and Cielito Lindo Mexican Street Kitchen are part of the rotating roster of trucks. For dessert, try one of Humphrey Slocombe’s small-batch ice cream flavors like their famous secret breakfast or malted milk chocolate.
Behind the bandshell in Golden Gate Park is a hidden food truck lineup for park goers. Weekdays, grab an Annie’s hot dog before visiting the California Academy of Sciences, or tuck into Annakoot’s samosas and pakoras after exploring the Japanese Tea Garden. Weekends get a little sweeter with Twirl and Dip soft serve plus appearances from La Cochinita’s Yucateca tacos and panuchos. It’s the perfect spot to picnic in the park.
El Tonayense has been serving up some of the Mission’s favorite tacos for going on 30 years. They’ve been holding down the corner of 14th Street and Harrison with their spicy al pastor, crisp carnitas, and lengua. The secret ingredient? The family recipes for their salsa roja and salsa verde. Two additional trucks are parked a few blocks away on Harrison at 17th and Harrison and 19th if the line gets too long.
SF’s Mission neighborhood is home to some of the city’s finest Mexican cuisine, and the El Gallo Giro truck is a local favorite. Tucked on a quiet corner off the beaten path, El Gallo Giro serves tacos, burritos, tortas, and quesadillas with vegetarian options in addition to the classic carnitas, steak, and pollo asado choices. They no longer have outdoor tables, but grabbing a seat on a nearby curb and enjoying your tacos fresh is the way to go.