From the staple meal of casseroles, beans, and crackers, we’ve come a long way and expect much more than the old cellophane-wrapped sandwich from the ’50s and ’60s, along with stale coffee. Ethnic cuisines and hot meals made to order are now commonplace for busy office workers and we are willing to pay top dollar for convenience.

In the 1950s, mobile canteens served US Army troops on bases and maneuvers, but they were little more than regulation food. Americans expect much more, and creative vendors are happy to answer the call. From early ice cream trucks to hot dog vendors with their Viennese beef umbrellas, thousands are pouring out of offices, factories, and stores, heading for that truck down the street where they know what they’ll find and don’t care what to do next. tail. it’s. Who needs vending machine food or fast food burgers when we can get fresh falafel packed in pita bread, a plate of nachos, or authentic fish and chips wrapped in newspaper? Evolved from the “cockroach trainer” of the past to a place that launched the careers of many executive chefs, food trucks now even cater to special events, college campuses, conferences, and weddings.

Let’s take a look at the latest and most popular offerings of these meals on wheels across the country. Most of these truck operators also have restaurants in multiple locations, and many are chefs and culinary school graduates:

The Grilled Cheeserie: From Basic Sandwiches to Designer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Nashville

The Taco Truck – A variety of tacos and toppings as well as burritos, Hoboken, NJ

Fukuburger Truck – real surname of its Japanese owner, burgers feature unusual Asian dressings and sauces, Las Vegas

Mac Mart Truck – Take Mac & Cheese to a New Level with Creative Ingredients, Philadelphia

Luke’s Lobster: Lobster, crab and shrimp rolls for around $17 (clearly not for those on a budget) New York City

The Cow and Curd – Cheese curds, battered and fried, with dipping sauces, Philadelphia

Kogi BBQ: Creative and Diverse Korean Cuisine, Los Angeles

Ms. Cheezious – More Designer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, One of America’s Favorite Comfort Foods, Miami

Cinnamon Snail – Vegan food for the more health conscious, meatless crowd, without a snail in sight (go figure) NYC

Oink and Moo BBQ: Award Winning Pork and Beef BBQ with all the trimmings, NJ

If you venture into ethnic neighborhoods, like a big city’s Chinatown, you’ll obviously find a preponderance of their native cuisines on the streets, but in general, these are the most common menu items across the country:

grill
Burgers
hot dogs
Coffee and coffee drinks
Healthy smoothies/drinks and juices
Grilled cheese sandwiches “for adults”
sliders
cupcakes and desserts
Street tacos and burritos
Sushi
lobster rolls
Mediterranean menus / Gyros
Crepes with special toppings
Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches
Pizza
Ice cream and soft serve
Shaved Ice / Italian Ice
Indian food
hawaiian food
chicken wings

In the US, food trucks are a $1.2 billion industry. Despite obvious challenges such as a lack of hot running water, strict regulations, licensing, and health laws, food trucks play an important role in our society, providing a vital service to thousands of workers everywhere. While the dumped cars may just be nostalgia, the concept lives on. Food trucks. When you just can’t wait to eat.