We may be opening a can of worms by writing about the best food trucks in Raleigh; to say we have a few is an understatement! While Raleigh is not well known for its food scene, we have a feeling this is about to change, as more and more culinary artists are popping up all over the City of Oaks, and many of them don’t have a brick-and-mortar establishment.
It’s just so typically Raleigh to be ditching white tablecloths for food trucks. The casual roadside bites you find here are perfect for people on the go – tech entrepreneurs and researchers needing to fly back to their labs, or for people who enjoy low-key dining where parking lots become hangout spots, where the conversations with other diners are as good as the tacos.
Raleigh’s food trucks aren’t places to find cheap, oily burgers outside football games, but where chefs experiment, communities come together, and where the menus are evolving at the same pace as the city. Of course, if you’re looking for cheap food, it probably will no longer come from a food truck, and some would say, having a sit down mean at one of Raleigh’s restaurants is better value. Food trucks are trendy, and they come with a price tag, but for those who enjoy the street food experience, there are some worth paying the price for. They also add an extra element of local discovery at our many festivals!
We asked our local community, and spent our own days (and more than a few nights), tracking down Raleigh’s best meals on wheels, and these food trucks are what we locals discovered…
Hot Chix Hotcakes And Chicken
- What you should try: chicken tots with queso, the original hot chix (of course!)
- Website: hotcakesandchicken.com
The most recommended place by our Raleigh community was Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken, a North Carolina food concept that perfectly balances sweet and savory fried chicken. There’s a beautiful Southern alchemy at work at Hot Chix. You get the comfort of a classic chicken and waffle dish, but they put a playful Latin spin on it that turns it into something altogether more playful, portable, and, frankly, addictive…