Miami Food Trucks Events & History

Few folks were familiar with the food truck movement sweeping across the U.S. when the rumblings started in Miami. I had seen pictures and read about the growing scenes in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, and New York.

I was excited to see what kind of flavor Miami would bring to the food truck scene.

Flavor House Grill Food Truck
Flavor House Grill Food Truck

Miami Food Trucks Events

The Miami Food Trucks
Miami Food Trucks logo by Burger Beast

Every Tuesday

Food Truck Fest
Haulover Park from 5-9:30 PM
10800 Collins Avenue
Bal Harbour, Florida 33154

Every Wednesday

Food Truck Wednesdays
Pelican Harbor Marina from 5-10 PM
1275 NE 79th Street
North Bay Village, Florida 33138

Wednesday Food Trucks
Volunteer Park from 5-9 PM
12050 W Sunrise Boulevard
Plantation, Florida 33323

Every Thursday

Wellington Food Truck & Music Series
Wellington Amphitheater from 5-9 PM
12100 Forest Hill Boulevard
Wellington, Florida 33414

Every Friday

Food Trucks Fridays Fiesta
Tropical Park from 5-10 PM
7900 SW 40th Street
Miami, Florida 33155

Second Friday of the Month

Food Trucks in Jupiter
Abacoa Town Center from 5:30-10 PM
1200 Town Center Drive
Jupiter, Florida 33458

Permanent Locations

Food Truck Backyard

Food Truck Backyard in West Miami, Florida

Food Truck Backyard
1325 SW 70th Avenue
Miami, FL

Weds, Thurs, Fri & Sat: 2-11:30 PM
Sun: 5–11:30 PM

Grand Central Food Station

Ten trucks Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Grand Central Food Station
12701 SW 137th Avenue
Miami, FL
(786) 499-5924

Fri & Sat 11 AM-1 AM
Sun 11 AM-11 PM

Miami Food Trucks

Between Two Buns

Cheese Sliders from Between Two Buns Food Truck
Cheese Sliders from the Between Two Buns Food Truck
12005 SW 129th Court
Miami, FL
Tues-Sat
6:30 PM-11:00 PM
Sun
5 PM – 10 PM

Fat Boy Ricks

Burger Cheese Fries from Fat Boy Rick's Food Truck
Burger Cheese Fries from Fat Boy Rick’s Food Truck
14275 Sw 139th Court
Miami, FL
Tue-Fri
11 AM – 3 PM
5355 NW 27th Ave
Miami, FL
Fri & Sat
6 PM – 11 PM

Fatman Hot Dogs and More

Griddled Sausage from Fatman Hot Dogs in Miami, Florida
Griddled Sausage from Fatman Hot Dogs
14275 Sw 139th Court
Miami, FL
Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri
& Sat
1 PM – 7 PM

Hot Dog Maracay

Hot Dog Maracay Food Truck on Flagler
Loaded Hot Dog with hand-shredded cheese from the Hot Dog Maracay Food Truck
4790 W Flagler Street
Miami, FL
Every Day
6 PM – 12 AM
5731 NW 74th Avenue
Doral, FL
Every Day
7 PM – 12 AM
490 SW South River Drive
Downtown Miami, FL
Every Day
6 PM – 12 AM

Miami Food Truck Beginnings

gastroPod, Miami's Original Trailblazing Food Truck
gastroPod, Miami’s Original Trailblazing Food Truck

The gastroPod ushered in the food truck revolution in South Florida with his temporary trailer nicknamed The Shiny Twinkie. However, the gastroPod‘s 1962 Airstream Trailer, closely associated with the early days of Miami’s mobile food scene, did not debut until January 2010.

Jeremiah Clauser, chef and owner of the gastroPod, had been planning its debut since late 2008. However, it would take almost a year to realize his plans.

On November 3rd, 2009, Chef Jeremiah could finally post this comment on his Twitter account.

welcome everyone to Miami’s food revolution

gastroPod twitter account on November 3rd, 2009 at 5:07 PM

Latin Burger & Taco (who at the time had celebrity chef Ingrid Hoffman behind it) and the Yellow Submarine food trucks followed not too long afterward.

Miami Food Truck Events History

By the summer of 2009, vehicles were hovering around ten. A few months later, on September 12th, 2009, I curated the 1st food truck event in Florida, the Fall for the Arts Festival.

It started the craze of events that led to the weekly Miami Street Food Court, B.T.T.R.Hard Rock Cafe, and the now-legendary event Lexus of Kendall. The latter was a mega event where thousands descended upon a car dealership with their families to eat on a Friday night.

One of the coolest things happened when we had visiting trucks from Tampa and Orlando, like the Korean BBQ Taco Box.

We even did a co-event with Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow!

Guinness World Record for the Largest Food Truck Parade

Guinness World Record for the Largest Food Truck Parade

On April 20th, 2013, the Miami Food Trucks set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Food Truck Parade with 62 mobile vehicles at Magic City Casino (in alphabetical order):

2 Jive TurkeysArepa Box
B.C. TacoBest French Fries
Big Belly’s DeliThe Big Ragu
Bite GastrotruckBoba Station
Los ChamosChe Grill
Cheeseburger BabyCold Stone Creamery
CraveCrazydilla
CubanCubeDaddy’s Grill
The Daily SpecialDolci Peccati Gelato
Don MofongoDough Food Truck
The Empanada TruckFireman Derek’s Pies
Food JunkiesFrankie’s Pizza
Friar Tuck’sFrozen Drink Company
Grill Master CaféHipPOPs
Il FiorentinoJefe’s Original
Joji YogurtKiller Pasta
La Nostra PizzaLove at First Bite
Mangia MiaMarlie’s Delights
Miami PressMobile Culinary Kitchen
Mojo on the GoMonster Burgers
Monte’s Country Cajun CookinMr. Good Stuff
Munch CakesMushaboom
Nacho BiznessPalate Party
Pescados UnidosPotoffee Chips
Purple People EateryEl Rey De Las Fritas
The Rolling StoveRoyal Wings Truck
Slow Food TruckSnow Caps
Sugar Yummy MamaSweet Sensations
Taco FreshTaco Heat
Taste of South AfricaTop Fries
WaffleosophyZombie Ice

I must include honorable mentions for A.C.’s Icees, who has been serving lemonades in Coconut Grove for over 30 years, and Pincho Man, the original Miami food truck megastar. Both are still around today.

Unfortunately, at the moment, there are very few recurring Miami-Dade County events.

Burger Beast Approved Food Trucks

4 thoughts on “Miami Food Trucks Events & History”

  1. BTTR, by Johnson and Wales. Those were the days! Blanket, BYOW, and lots of great food truck food. I’m so glad the Tropical Park one of Fridays has made a return.

    Reply
  2. Is there any way you could bring your fabulous food somewhere close to Hollywood again? We really miss going there every Monday.

    Reply

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