Over the past year, Ontario's burgeoning food truck scene has exploded into a full-on food culture that has Canadians salivating at street corners. Our comprehensive guide captures the best trucks and their must-try dishes
Heirloom Toronto’s chicken sandwich. Photo, @heirloomtoronto.
Food trucks in Toronto line busy downtown streets,serving up an assortment of sweet and savoury goodies curb-side for lunch, dinner or to satisfy midnight munchies. They’re alsoa staple at music and cultural festivals across the GTA. Here are 10 of them we can’t wait to try.
Eva’s Original Chimney’s
Husband and wife team Justin and Kristen Butler drive all around the GTA serving up sweet and savoury Hungarian treats.
On the menu: Hungarian chimney cakes and ice cream-filled chimney cones.
What to try: The Chocolate & Caramel S’mores Chimney Cone, a classic campfire treat made Hungarian-style.
Where to find this food truck: At festivals around the GTA or at Eva’s bricks-and-mortar location at 454 Bloor Street West. Follow @ogchimneys on Twitter for truck locations.
Mr. Pierogi
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This food truck will change how you see pierogies, by combining traditional recipes with creative and unique toppings from around the world.
On the menu: Sweet and savoury dumplings plus the option to choose your own toppings.
What to try: Poutine pierogies for a uniquely Canadian experience.
Where to find this food truck: Across Toronto selling curbside and at festivals. Follow @mrpierogi on Twitter for locations.
TDots Naansense
A father and son duo serve up delicious Indian food.
On the menu: Indian food with a twist.
What to try: Fried butter chicken mac and cheese.
Where to find this food truck: At festivals and events across Toronto.
Food Dudes
BBs first Brewers Backyard Beer Fest with @fabianaproto 🙆🌮🍺 #fooddudes
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Founders Adrian Niman and Brent McClenahan bring fresh and creative takes on street food with a popular and inventive menu.
On the menu: Think street food favourites from around the world.
What to try: The famous mac-and-cheese balls, along with Cap’n Crunch fish tacos, which can be made gluten-free.
Where to find this food truck: Festivals across Toronto. Follow @TheFoodDudesTO on Twitter for updates.
The Kathi Roll Express
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Born out of a passion for street food and Toronto, TKRE serves Indian fusion.
On the menu: Indian classics with a twist featuring burritos, tacos and kathi rolls.
What to try: The butter chicken burrito is a fan favourite.
Where to find this food truck: Curb-side around Toronto. Follow @tkretoronto on Instagram for location updates.
The Untamed Chef
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This is a family run truck with Chef Michael Skan at the helm, serving up comfort food classics with inspiration from seasonal ingredients.
On the menu: An eclectic roster of food from around the world, like poutine, spring rolls and deep-fried pie.
What to try: Sweet potato tater tot tacos, avocado fries and deep-fried sour cherry pie has us drooling at our desks.
Where to find this food truck: Curb-side and at festivals. Follow @untamedtruck on Instagram for updates.
The Egg Man
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For Toronto’s first breakfast food truck, Chef Tom creates farm-to-street meals.
On the menu: All things breakfast!
What to try: The breakfast poutine is jaw-dropping.
Where to find this food truck: Curb-side around Toronto as early as 7 a.m. Follow @TheEggMan on Twitter for daily updates.
Dirty South
The Crawfish Grilled Cheese #caeats #hamiltoneats 🍴 @thehungrygnome_ 👨🍳 @dirtysouthtruck
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Food truck-preneur Brett Liersch brings his love for BBQ to the streets of Hamilton and the GTA.
On the menu: BBQ favourites with gourmet twists.
What to try: Fried chicken poutine. The fan favourite Louisiana fried chicken-and-waffle sandwich, Dirty Southern Love, looks mouth-watering.
Where to find this food truck: Curb-side across the GTA and at festivals. Follow @dirtysouthtruck on Instagram for their locations.
FeasTO
Owners Cam and Ada bring Canada its first dumpling truck.
On the menu: Dumplings (and some other delicious Asian snacks).
What to try: We cannot wait to get our hands on the Korean chicken dumplings. They also have red curry sweet potato dumplings as a veggie option.
Where to find this food truck: Curb-side and festivals. Follow @feastoronto for their locations.
Heirloom
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Armed with local, organic and sustainable produce, Heirloom brings inventive dishes to the streets of Toronto.
On the menu: Anything and everything, as long as it’s in season.
What to try: Fried Brussels sprouts and pork belly banh mi. We’d be remiss not to mention the famous cheesecake-on-a-stick. Bonus: they have delicious sounding vegetarian options.
Where to find this food truck: At Toronto festivals all summer long. Follow them @heirloomtoronto on Instagram for updates.
Queen Arepa
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This entirely women-run truck that serves gluten-free Venezuelan food.
On the menu: Venezuelan street food.
What to try: Tequenos, which are basically next level mozzarella sticks, and La Vaca Real, their signature arepa with beef and cheddar cheese. Vegan options, complete with vegan cheese, are available from time to time.
Where to find this food truck: Curb-side and at Toronto festivals. Follow them @queenarepatruck.to for updates.
Curbside Bliss Cupcakes
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This is a completely mobile bakery bringing cupcakes to the streets of Toronto.
On the menu: A rotating menu of 30 different cupcake flavours.
What to try: Fluffernutter, a chocolate sponge filled with marshmallow cream and topped with peanut butter frosting.
Where to find this food truck: At Toronto events. Follow @curbsidebliss on Twitter for updates.
FILED UNDER: In the Kitchen Instagram
FAQs
Are food trucks profitable in Toronto? ›
Business owners can expect their food truck company to bring in around $500,000 per annum with a start-up cost of around $40,000 and upwards. This is great news for foodies who want to hit the ground running in a sector that has positive projections as far as profitability and growth are concerned.
Based on the Government financial performance reports of the mobile food-service sector in 2018, food truck businesses can expect an average revenue of over $155,000 per annum with a start-up cost of around $40,000 and $200,00.
What is a normal revenue and markup for food trucks? ›While a high-end catering business can pull in profits of 15% or more, the overall average profit margin for a food truck is 7-8%.
- Challenging mobile vending laws.
- Need for parking permits.
- Health codes.
- Rules about distances from other businesses.
- Needing a commissary for food preparation.
- Insurance costs and challenges.
- Fire codes.
- Rival food trucks.
Food trucks make an average of $250,000-$500,000 annually, or $20,000 - $42,000 monthly. That might seem like a big range – so this guide will help you to calculate your food truck's revenue and profit potential. Along the way, you'll develop some strategies for maximizing your restaurant's income.
- Barbecue.
- Amped-up Hamburgers.
- Reinvented Hot dogs.
- Coffee Trucks.
- Smoothie / Healthy Drink Trucks.
- “Grown-up” grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Beef Sliders (Variation on hamburgers.)
- Cupcakes and desserts.
According to federal government data from 2018, food truck businesses in Canada can expect an average revenue of about $155,000 per year.
On an average day, a food truck can earn anywhere between 7,000-10,000 INR. Food trucks are also a staple of events and college fest. In a day, a food truck can earn up to INR 35,000-40,000 easily. Food truck owners usually prefer to station themselves at such events where the footfall of people is high.
What attracts customers to a food truck? ›Food trucks attract customers due to their convenience, signature cuisines, and community aspect. You can be wildly successful with a food truck if you know how to promote it and take advantage of its unique features.
- The Most Underrated Quality Of Them All: Reliability.
- Customer Service Guru.
- Knowledge Of The Industry And In The Kitchen.
What is the main reason food trucks fail? ›
Excess Cost of Operations
Most food trucks fail because they don't get the cost of operation under control. Some owners enter the industry expecting food, labor, and the vehicle to be their initial costs. However, other expenses can slowly add up, especially if you do not have an established budget.
Food and Supplies
Experts in the restaurant industry state that to remain profitable, food costs should be 28% – 35% of the price for which the product sells. For most food trucks, food cost can be around $1,000 – $2,000, with serverware expenses being an additional $300.
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, Restaurant Resource Group claims that, on average, restaurant profit margins are between 2% and 6%, with full-service restaurants at the lower end of the spectrum and limited-service (or quick service) restaurants at the higher end.
The industry standard for food costs is 28% to 32% of a menu price, according to research by Baker Tilly. That means the markup should be at least 200%, but for a daily special it could be much higher.
Who eats at food trucks the most? ›According to an article by Statista, the National Restaurant Association reported that consumers ages 18-34 were the most likely to purchase a meal from a food truck, followed by those ages 35-44.
- Permits and Regulations. So, you're excited about your food truck and you can't wait to park your truck and serving customers. ...
- Location, Location, Location. ...
- Inventory and Menus. ...
- Wearing Many Hats. ...
- An Inefficient Kitchen.
Since NYC is largely responsible for popularizing street food in America, it's no surprise that it is a top food truck city in the modern food truck craze. We've examined three of NYC's best food trucks and provided tips on how to run a successful food truck.
However, according to IBISWorld, profit for a food truck may be around 7.7% of your entire revenue, after accounting for overhead costs and wages. That means a food truck making $400,000 in sales each year would pull in just over $30,000 in profit.
How successful is a food truck? ›However, achieving success in the food truck world is much more complex than is often perceived. Just like restaurants, food trucks have a very high rate of failure with 60% going under within three years of opening. Various factors can contribute to food truck failure, but the main reason is likely oversimplification.
Food franchises are among the most profitable, and food trucks are a good investment. Most food truck franchise owners generate close to or over six figures every year. Food trucks trends are taking off. The industry is worth millions of dollars and continued growth is expected.
How many food items should a food truck have? ›
A good rule of thumb is that most food trucks can handle five to 12 different menu items at any given time. The fewer the better to keep your quality top notch.
- Be clear about what food you sell.
- The reality is people don't like to think too hard or guess what you are trying to sell. ...
- Make it memorable. ...
- Make sure people can easily pronounce it. ...
- Be specific. ...
- Be general if doing different types of food. ...
- Think ahead. ...
- Keep it short and catchy.
Annual Salary | Weekly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $41,296 | $794 |
75th Percentile | $34,331 | $660 |
Average | $25,679 | $493 |
25th Percentile | $20,897 | $401 |
How much does a Food truck make in Canada? The average food truck salary in Canada is $35,978 per year or $18.45 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $32,175 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $67,235 per year.
How much does a food truck cost Ontario? ›We'll explore the various costs in more detail below, but keep in mind that the startup cost for a food truck in Canada is typically between $40,000 and $200,000.
Current statistics, taken from average restaurant figures, suggest 40 percent of food carts are still in business after three years. With an average revenue stream of $250,000-$500,000 a year, managing a successful mobile kitchen can be a lucrative endeavor!
What percentage of food trucks make it? ›What is the success rate of food trucks in the US? Data shows that around 40% of food truck businesses are still in business three years after launch.
Yes, food trucks are a good investment.
Just like any business, you'll need to have a lot of time, energy, and money to run successfully, but it can also bring joy and monetary profit.
- Simple Strategies to Draw People to Your Food Truck. ...
- Get Your Name Out There. ...
- Go Where the People Are. ...
- Offer Samples. ...
- Offer Mobile Ordering and Payment. ...
- Develop A Loyalty Program. ...
- Run Specials. ...
- Make it an Experience.
Yet another reason for the huge popularity of food trucks is their convenience. They tend to go where the people are, so you can often find fresh, hot food where there was none before. It's not uncommon to see food trucks turn up at big events, like festivals, sporting events, and even weddings!
What skills do you need to run a food truck? ›
- Work Ethic. It doesn't matter where you work — having a good work ethic is a must. ...
- Be Prepared For Anything. This is basically the case for the restaurant industry in general. ...
- Customer-Is-Always-Right Approach. ...
- Patience. ...
- Knowing The Menu. ...
- Being Positive No Matter What. ...
- Time Management.
- Keep An Eye On Your Numbers Analytically. The first of our management skills food truck vendors need is the ability to use data, not intuition to make tough decisions. ...
- Use Progressive Thinking. ...
- Be Creative.
- Potato Chips.
- Donuts.
- Ice Cream.
- Chicken Tenders.
- Soft Drinks/Soda.
- Pizza.
- Oreo Cookies.
- French Fries.
Many businesses in addition to food trucks are hesitant to accept card payments because of the added fees. Payment processors typically charge a certain percentage per transaction. For example, a business might pay 2.5% to the payment processor on any purchase.
How much do food trucks make in Ontario? ›Annual Salary | Weekly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $41,296 | $794 |
75th Percentile | $34,331 | $660 |
Average | $25,679 | $493 |
25th Percentile | $20,897 | $401 |
Toronto's got a booming food truck scene that reflects its melting pot culture, combining big ideas with diverse influence to craft dishes like none other. Below's a list of over 110 food trucks in Toronto, ON.
How much does an average food truck make in Canada? ›How much does a Food truck make in Canada? The average food truck salary in Canada is $35,978 per year or $18.45 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $32,175 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $67,235 per year.
How Much Do Food Truck Owners Make Annually in Canada? According to federal government data from 2018, food truck businesses in Canada can expect an average revenue of about $155,000 per year.
How much do food truck owners make a year? ›On an average day, a food truck can earn anywhere between 7,000-10,000 INR. Food trucks are also a staple of events and college fest. In a day, a food truck can earn up to INR 35,000-40,000 easily. Food truck owners usually prefer to station themselves at such events where the footfall of people is high.
Food franchises are among the most profitable, and food trucks are a good investment. Most food truck franchise owners generate close to or over six figures every year. Food trucks trends are taking off. The industry is worth millions of dollars and continued growth is expected.
What is the profit margin for food trucks? ›
The profit margin on food trucks depends upon many factors, including labor costs, food waste, the weather, commission, or parking fees at specific events and accounting issues. On average, a typical fast-food truck can expect a margin anywhere between 6% and 9%.
Food trucks attract customers due to their convenience, signature cuisines, and community aspect. You can be wildly successful with a food truck if you know how to promote it and take advantage of its unique features.
What type of food truck is the most popular? ›- Barbeque. It's hard to beat well-made barbeque. ...
- Sliders. White Castle might have made sliders famous, but food trucks perfected the art of making these delicious, tiny burgers. ...
- Ethiopian Food. ...
- Tacos. ...
- Pizza. ...
- Cupcakes. ...
- Grilled Cheese. ...
- Lobster Rolls.
If you're looking for a money-making business idea, a food truck is a great one. Successful food trucks can bring in more than $500,000 per year, with startup costs around $40,000.
Is food business profitable in Canada? ›The national average salary of a restaurant owner in Canada is $49,785 per year. Restaurant owners have a lot of influence over their pay and profits because they're entrepreneurs who run their own businesses. Restaurant owners can usually afford to pay themselves a greater wage as the restaurant gets more prosperous.
What is the success rate of food trucks in the US? Data shows that around 40% of food truck businesses are still in business three years after launch.
How do I start a food truck in Toronto? ›- Buying Your Food Truck. There are two main routes most aspiring food truck owners go when buying a truck. ...
- Business License. If you plan on preparing food on your truck then you need a Refreshment Truck License. ...
- Public Health Inspection. ...
- Food Handler Certification. ...
- Propane License.
Current statistics, taken from average restaurant figures, suggest 40 percent of food carts are still in business after three years. With an average revenue stream of $250,000-$500,000 a year, managing a successful mobile kitchen can be a lucrative endeavor!