The first time I tried a food truck meal years ago in Portland—the food truck capital of America—I instantly fell in love. Dedicated chefs maximizing tiny workspaces to share their passion with passerbyers—no glitz, no glamour, no white-table-clothed tables. The only thing between you and your next meal is a window and an outstretched arm. That’s pretty cool. Since then, I’ve been chasing the best meals on wheels wherever I go. Thankfully, San Diego has no shortage of amazing food trucks. If you’re looking to try something new, here are 7 of the best food trucks in San Diego, no reservations required.
Shawarma Guys
The Shawarma Guys food truck is no longer a secret. Their inclusion as the critic’s pick for the “Best Food Truck” in SDM’s Best Restaurants of 2024 list is evidence of San Diego’s love for them. They have also gained national fame—they were awarded Yelp’s Restaurant of the Year in 2020. Even our own content chief, Troy Johnson, teamed up with Guy Fieri to feature them on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Helmed by Bryan Zeta, the South Park–based food truck offers a variety of Mediterranean flavors, including favorites like shawarma wraps, falafel plates, and their irresistible beef shawarma egg rolls. Like another truck on this list, they have achieved enough success to build upon their mobile operation with two new brick-and-mortar locations in La Mesa and Mira Mesa.
Address: 3012 Grape Street, South Park | Brick-and-Mortar locations at 5525 Jackson Drive #B, La Mesa and 9690 Reagan Rd #103, Mira Mesa
Hours: South Park – Daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | La Mesa – Daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | Mira Mesa – Daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
What to Order: Wagyu beef shawarma egg rolls and falafel
Kiko’s Place Seafood
Kiko’s Place Seafood brings classic Baja California cuisine and seafood to Mission Valley just off of Mission Center Road. Shrimp ceviche, fish tacos, clams, octopus, it’s a seafood lover’s paradise. Many of their entrees are topped with a creamy chipotle sauce with just the right level of spice to tantalize your taste buds. During lunchtime the wait can be long, but the generous portions and service make this food truck well worth the wait. Try Kiko’s the next time you’re stuck at work daydreaming of your last trip to Baja and enjoy some of the best ceviche San Diego has to offer.
Address: Corner of Hazard Center Dr. and Mission Center Rd, Mission Valley
Hours: Daily 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
What to Order: The OG Fish Taco
Birria El Rey
The aroma of sizzling, slow-cooked birria permeates 25th Street in Golden Hill thanks to Birria El Rey. The menu consists almost exclusively of birria options (sorry, vegans and vegetarians), ranging from quesadillas, burritos, and tacos to fries and even ramen. The truck’s enormous popularity has allowed its owners to open their first brick-and-mortar location this summer in Golden Hill. Make sure to order a side of consome (a traditional beef broth with cilantro).
Address: 1015 25th St, Golden Hill
Hours: Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
What to Order: Quesabirria with consume
Taco Love
Taco Love takes food-truck dining to the next level. Like a choose-your-own-adventure book, their menu offers a vast assortment of options for entrées (tacos, burritos, enchiladas, plates), each with your pick of protein or veggies, plus your choice of two sides (including poblano rice, green salad, charro beans, and pumpkin soup). Carnivores can select from a variety of expertly seasoned meats, such as carne asada, pollo adobado, and braised carnitas; meanwhile, vegetarians can opt for calabacitas with rajas or soyrizo with nopales. If you’re dining with a group, try their street taco sampler, potato taquitos, and loaded fries. And don’t forget to order their fried ice cream buñuelo, a local favorite.
Address: 4637 Market St, Chollas View
Hours: Daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
What to Order: Birria or soyrizo & nopales tacos
Mariscos Mi Gusto Es
Mariscos Mi Gusto Es is an unsuspecting food truck that brings more flavor than meets the eye. Their menu is written in Spanish (always a good sign) and features tacos, tostadas, shrimp cocktails, oysters, soups, and clams, often capped with a creamy tartar sauce, avocado, and tomato. While they offer many meat options, we recommend sticking to their seafood favorites, such as battered fish, marlin, and shrimp tacos along with their excellent ceviche tostadas or a rich seafood soup like caldo de camarón (shrimp soup), perfect for curing that Saturday morning hangover. If you’re feeling ambitious, order a tower of seafood and wash it down with a Mexican coke in true Baja fashion.
Address: 4425 Home Ave, Chollas Creek
Hours: Thursday-Tuesday 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Closed on Wednesdays
What to Order: Fish tacos or aguachile tostada
Full Metal Burgers
Another food truck bursting at the seams with angst and style, Full Metal Burgers is as metal as you’d imagine. Picture pentagrams on the burgers in the form of sauces and toppings and merchandise to rival that of your favorite hardcore band. With locations in Escondido and Oceanside, the truck grills up quarter-pound burgers featuring accompaniments like grilled onions, mushrooms, pickles, jalapeños, bacon, cucumber, and peppers, plus flavorful sauces like the house thousand-island or the bear sauce (Full Metal’s take on béarnaise sauce). While the outpost does have a couple of veggie options, this food truck is the real deal for the meat-lovers and metalheads in your life. Rock on.
Address: 2550 Jason Ct, Oceanside | 239 E Valley Pkwy, Escondido
Hours: Oceanside – Wednesday – 5:00–8:00 p.m.; Thursday 4:00–8:00 p.m.; Friday 3:00–9:00 p.m.; Saturday – 12:30–9:00 p.m.; Sunday 12:30–6:30 p.m.; Closed Mondays and Tuesdays | Escondido – MondayThursday 3:00–8:00 p.m.; Friday 11:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
What to Order: South of Heaven Burger or Legion of Shrooms burger
