There’s so much to love about food trucks. Made-to-order deliciousness. Punny names. Creative combinations. Whether you’re in the mood for loaded tots, gooey cheese curds, sweat-inducing chicken or tasty tacos, you’ll find your favorite meal on wheels here...sometimes all at the same truck. Here are the best food trucks in Greater Des Moines, as voted by locals. Make sure to give each one a follow so they’ll be easy to follow around town!
Veggie Thumper
They say you should add more color to your diet, and with Veggie Thumper, they oblige in spades. Look for the bright, colorful school bus serving up organic vegan food that is so popular it was also voted the top vegetarian option in town. This is food that not only tastes good but will make you feel good. Whether you want a Smokey Red Bean Burger, Philly “Cheesesteak” or BBQ “Chick’n” Nachos, you’ll use colorful words like “amazing,” “fresh,” and “life-changing.” Fun Fact: They also sell organic skincare!
Sabores de Mexico
When you think of food trucks, the mind often wanders to tacos (if not, you clearly don’t eat enough tacos). With Sabores de Mexico, it can be Taco Tuesday every day (petition to start Torta Thursday, please). Usually located on the corner of 73rd and Hickman, this burgundy truck sells no-frills authentic street tacos, nachos, tostadas, and other delicious Mexican food staples that will leave those taco kits in the pantry in the dust.
Top Bun
With one of the punniest names around, you can meat your heart out at this at Des Moines’ flyest food truck. This stalwart of the food truck scene regularly wins Best Food Truck in the metro (including a nod from Food Network) and the accolades are well deserved. Take burgers like the Flyin’ Hawaiian and Stonearelli for a spin, or if you feel like hot doggin’ it, try the Fry Dog, topped with french fries, queso, bacon, and BBQ sauce. Is a hot dog a sandwich? Discuss.
515 Pi
515 Pi makes it known that their pizzas are “irrationally delicious.” But do the hand-crafted fire pizzas live up to the hype? Absolutely. This is one of the original Des Moines food trucks, and its continued popularity speaks volumes to the quality. Featuring personal pan pizzas running the gamut from pepperoni and sausage to rotating specials like Jalapeno Popper and Caprese, these pizzas can’t be topped!
Sooks Korean Kitchen
If you’re looking for authentic Korean Food, Sook’s Korean Kitchen is the truck for you. Specializing in Bulgogi (translating to “fire meat” - thinly sliced chicken, pork, and beef), you can get it as a bowl or a sandwich. Pair with an order of egg rolls and fried cream cheese puffs (crab rangoons minus the crab) and make sure you save room for some of those fried apple dumplings for dessert.
Charlotte’s Kitchen
Named for the owners’ grandmother, Charlotte, Charlotte’s Kitchen takes pride in creating food that she would be proud of. With a creative twist on chicken sandwiches, this truck is sure to make your taste buds do the chicken dance. There are five different chicken sandwiches, grilled or fried, from Nashville Hot to Crab Rangoon and Thai, along with cheese curds that are to die for. Counting carbs? All the options are available as salads as well. Now with a brick-and-mortar location in Johnston with a drive-through.
Chicken Heat
Looking to spice things up? Chicken Heat is the hottest food truck in town, both figuratively and literally. Serving up Nashville Hot Chicken sandwiches, you can take on a heat level anywhere from mild to XXX (if you dare). Think you can handle the spice? Attempt their Holy Heat Challenge, where you must finish the sandwich in just five minutes, no drinks allowed. Bring wet naps and a change of clothes.
Flame
Ah, the age-old quandary, “taco or cheeseburger?” Thankfully, Flame takes the anxiety out of the decision, by offering superior versions of both. Grab some of their shrimp or steak tacos or if the mood strikes, the Flame Burger, topped with jalapenos and their signature flame sauce. It just might be the best burger in town. They also have a restaurant location called Flame the Taqueria in Johnston where they offer buzzy birria tacos, the best thing you’ll discover all year.
Hotsy Totsy
Who doesn’t love crispy tater tots? Say hello to Hotsy Totsy, the ultimate appetizer truck. Their specialty is very clearly tater tots, but these are no ordinary tots. Parmesan truffle tots, loaded tots, BBQ pork tots, and tots more. They also have rotating selections like gyros, cheese curds, tacos, you name it. Whatever you pick, you’ll be hot to tot.
Outside Scoop
Remember when you were a child and would chase the ice cream truck down the street? That’s how we feel when we see The Outside Scoop out and about. With storefronts in Indianola and Ankeny, nothing screams "summertime” more than The Outside Scoop’s bright pink ice cream truck. The Outside Scoop has been creating small-batch, homemade flavors since 2010, creating combos you wouldn’t expect to work. Sweet Corn, Dill Pickle, and Goat Cheese with Roasted Cherry are just a few of the unique but delicious options. They do have a rotating menu, so you’ll just have to go every week to try them all!
Pho Wheels & Sushi
Looking for sushi to go? Head on over to Pho Wheels & Sushi. Offering several specialty rolls, Pho Wheels & Sushi focuses on freshness. Warm-up with a bowl of pho (beef, veggie or vegan) or keep it cool with a poke bowl or sushi burrito. Make sure to pair it with an order of crab rangoons, because duh.
WTF – What The Fries
One of the newest food trucks in Greater Des Moines, WTF will have you exclaiming “Fry-yay!” What the Fries gives customers the opportunity to build your own set of loaded french fries, or you can choose one of their signature creations. We don’t know what you’ll choose (Buffalo Chicken, Jerk Chicken, Pizza Fries, the options are endless!), but we do know that carb loading has never been so fun.
