The Best Food Trucks in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has a weird relationship with food trucks. Due to archaic food truck laws, it's tough for trucks to park near other restaurants. The hungry public, however, loves its food on wheels, and the laws changed in December, allowing food trucks to stay in a metered spot for more than 30 minutes. All right! Despite this small victory, these rolling food havens can still sometimes be elusive. So when you do spot one, either at a supportive business or a highly anticipated truck roundup, expect long lines. But you'll be rewarded by expertly crafted food made in the confines of a four-wheeled trailer. Here are the best that you should seek out on the road this spring and summer.

Stickler's
Todd Saulle/Stickler's Ice Pop Co. 

Where to find it: Check Twitter for its daily whereabouts.
Stickler's makes gourmet popsicles, like the Elvis, with peanut butter, banana, and honey, or sweet potato pie. These frozen confections hit the spot on a warm, sticky Pittsburgh afternoon.
 

Where to find it: Check Twitter for its daily whereabouts.
The ‘Burgh essentially exploded when this truck started slinging tacos in 2012. People lost their minds over the corn tortilla tacos with fillings like jerk chicken and vegan chorizo. Four years in, and the people still can’t get enough. The truck has a pretty solid schedule rotation at The Brew Gentlemen, Coffee Buddha, and Station, but check Twitter for daily stops.

Second breakfast waffle
Courtesy of Second Breakfast

Where to find it: Check Twitter for its daily whereabouts.
It's always time for waffles, thanks to Second Breakfast. The truck specializes in sugary liege waffles and -- wait for it -- duck fat-fried hash browns. We're very down with breakfast all day, especially when that means endless fresh chicken & waffles that come with a scoop of ice cream.
  

Where to find it: Check Twitter for its daily whereabouts.
Pittsburgh Po’boy is brand-new to the streets. Formerly set up in the now-defunct Pittsburgh Public Market, this truck is hotly anticipated for its taste of New Orleans, including the namesake po-boys and muffulettas. We're keeping our fingers crossed for beignets.

Driftwood Oven
Courtesy of Driftwood Oven

Where to find it: Check Twitter for its daily whereabouts.
Not a truck, per se, but a literal oven on wheels, Driftwood Oven cranks out crazy-good wood-fired pizza and bread. Try the Bianca pizza with mozzarella, black truffle pecorino, and ricotta.

Berlin Street Food
Courtesy of Berlin Street Food

Where to find it: Check Twitter for its daily whereabouts.
This cart may be smaller than your usual truck, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flavor. German bites like bratwurst, currywurst, and potato salad are all solid choices. The Das Lamb is a standout, with marinated lamb on flatbread with cabbage.
  

Where to find it: Check Twitter for its daily whereabouts.
Because it's really hard for grilled cheese to not be good, Oh My Grill provides the public with a menu full of options for gourmet, gooey handhelds. Every sandwich comes with a side of dipping sauce paired with the sandwich -- tomato soup is so over.

The Steer and Wheel
Courtesy of The Steer and Wheel

Where to find it: Check Twitter for its daily whereabouts.
Jonesing for a big, juicy burger with toppings like boursin and bacon jam? Look no further than Steer & Wheel, which sources the meat for its patties from a local farm alliance. Get that order of fries, too -- russet potatoes are double-fried, as all the best potatoes are.
   

Where to find it: Check Twitter for their daily whereabouts.
Macaroni & cheese gets serious at this gold-hued vehicle. Speciality dishes rotate regularly, with whatever the chefs are feeling like dishing up that day. Lump crab mac? Sure! Turkey muffuletta mac? Why not? Create your own concoction, starting with plain mac & cheese and adding toppings.

Southside BBQ Co.
Courtesy of Southside BBQ Co.

Where to find it: Find a calendar of its locations here.
One word: BAR-BA-CONE. South Side BBQ Co. is known for this concoction of barbecued meat piled into a waffle cone. Order one and it comes with the signature bar-ba-cone call, like a meaty siren song. Also, not getting your sandwich with the simple, vinegary North Carolina slaw on it officially qualifies you as a jagoff. Their words, not ours.

Where to find it: Find a calendar of its locations here.
What started as a food cart in the streets of Shadyside has transformed to a glorious truck of gourmet eats, including a selection of sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, chili, and tortilla chips with fixins (but don't call 'em nachos). It’s all here, and it’s all good.

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Laura Zorch wishes her car had a donut-maker in the back. Keep up with her at @eatpgh.