We've come a long way since the days when food trucks only doled out greasy fries or soggy tacos out of its side door. Today, mobile eateries serve fare just as delicious as you'd find in a restaurant, and the lack of overhead means they can take creative risks while keeping prices low. Talented chefs can be "at the wheel" and food truck villages have found a sort of permanent impermanence in cities like Portland, Oregon. With all that in mind, a new Yelp round-up lists the 100 best food trucks in the country and, surprisingly, 25-percent of these on-the-go restos can be found in Hawaii.
RECOMMENDED: The definitive ranking of America’s best fast-food restaurants
Yes, the Aloha State dominated the Yelp ranking, even claiming the No. 1 spot with Tony’s Catch of Kapa’a, Hawaii—the easygoing vendor is a local favorite for its seared ahi tostadas, carne asada fries, mahi sandwiches, poke bowls and more. It's conveniently located near both the beach and a bike path, making it the perfect quick, no-frills meal that lets you keep surfing, swimming or biking.
Outside of Hawaii, Austin, TX, Portland, OR and Los Angeles, CA revealed themselves to be fellow food-truck strongholds—it obviously helps to have a warm climate, with diners lining up al fresco for their food. The roundup also shows that Yelpers appreciated fusion foods that creatively merge cuisines to form a new mashup, like JoJo's Hot Chicken (No. 4 on the list), which serves finger-licking Nashville hot chicken but with a zesty Ethiopian flair.
The number two spot, Jim's Smokehouse, is located in a small park in Austin and serves barbecued Angus brisket that has been smoked for 12 hours. Taco Libre on Kauai rounds out the top three, known for its signature dish the "Mexi Moco," which is inspired by Hawaii's traditional loco moco dish (rice layered with hamburger patties and egg that's smothered in a savory gravy), but done up with Mexican flair.
View this post on Instagram
You can check out Yelp's full list of 100 best food trucks here, and the top 25 on-the-go options below:
1. Tony’s Catch, Kapa’a, Kauai, Hawaii
2. Jim’s Smokehouse, Austin, Texas
3. Taco Libre, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii
4. Jojo’s Hot Chicken, San Jose, California
5. La Jalisciense, Santa Nella, California
6. La Piñata Taqueria, Vallejo, California
7. Capitol Burger, Torrey, Utah
8. T-Loc’s Sonora Hot Dogs, Austin, Texas
9. Mike’s BBQ 101, Key Largo, Florida
10. Nico’s Burgers, Los Angeles, California
11. Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos, Juneau, Alaska
12. Taqueria Mi Guadalajara, Bishop, California
13. Mariscos Mi Gusto Es, San Diego, California
14. Aloha Shrimp, Hauula, Oahu, Hawaii
15. Yoshi’s Sushi, Portland, Oregon
16. Pit Stop Hawaii Food Truck, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
17. Ragga Surf Cafe, St. Augustine, Florida
18. Bake on the Run, Portland, Oregon
19. Paprika ATX, Austin, Texas
20. Iolani’s Plate Lunch, Portland, Oregon
21. Bomb Burger, Northridge, California
22. Frogtowns Gourmet Tacos, Los Angeles, California
23. Bodhi Viet Vegan, Austin, Texas
24. Chochu Local, Portland, Oregon
25. HI Thai Food, Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii