Mobile food trucks are incredibly popular nationwide. They are a great way for up-and-coming chefs and bakers to introduce their offerings to new audiences at various locations. Custom food trucks are often seen at private events, public gatherings, concerts, or outside of office buildings at lunchtime as a much-needed service to hungry individuals. If you want to start a food truck, and you're curious about the origins of these mobile services, review their history below.

Origins of Food Trucks

As early as the 17th century, street vendors selling pre-made food were found in bigger East Coast cities like New York. The concept of mobile food trucks that drive longer distances and cook meals remotely dates back to the 19th century when Charles Goodnight invented the Chuck Wagon. 

During Old West cattle drives across the country, Chuck Wagons would feed cowboys and cattlemen along the journey. These wagons were outfitted with the tools to cook biscuits, beans, and meat for various meals on the road. In the decades that followed, the Army would begin to set up mobile kitchens to feed troops and food cart vendors began to pop up around universities to feed hungry students simple items like sausages. 

20th Century Evolution

With the invention of the automobile, fuel-powered engines, and new electrical components in the 20th century, mobile food trucks began to modernize. In 1936, Oscar Meyer debuted the famous portable hot dog truck, the Weinermobile. In the 1950s, ice cream trucks hit the streets with freezers in the back to store frozen offerings and speaker systems to alert neighborhoods of their arrival. 

Throughout the last half of the 20th century, trucks with grills, deep fryers, and flat tops allowed for items like tacos, hot dogs, burgers, and fries to be served easily at job sites and sporting games. 

Modern Versions 

Today, mobile food trucks are seen across the nation in cities of all shapes and sizes. While ice cream and taco trucks may be the most popular and recognizable foods to eat on the go, a movement in gourmet food trucks has also come to fruition with items like lobster rolls, wood-fired pizza, and sushi burritos on the menu.

In 2010, a nationally broadcast television show known as The Great Truck Race debuted. It added more public awareness and appreciation for the mobile food industry. Four years later, in 2014, the National Food Truck Association was founded to support food truck owners and share knowledge. 

If your dream business is running a mobile food truck, Shanghai Mobile Kitchen Solutions is your go-to team for the perfect vehicle. Based in Brooklyn, NY, this custom food truck company travels up and down the East Coast, from Boston to North Carolina, to help customers with innovative design and repairs. To discuss your project, call (718) 599-4583. For more information on their 25 years of experience and commitment to quality craftsmanship, visit their website.