9 North Carolina Grilled-Cheese Trucks Worth Finding

I’ve spent the last six months chasing grilled cheese trucks across North Carolina, and trust me, my waistline has the gooey, delicious evidence to prove it! These mobile melt masters are redefining what a grilled cheese can be, turning humble bread and cheese into extraordinary handheld creations.

From the bustling streets of Charlotte to the artsy corners of Asheville, talented chefs are elevating this classic comfort food with inventive combinations and locally-sourced ingredients.

Think pimento cheese with pulled pork or sourdough stacked with heirloom tomatoes and smoked gouda. Here are the grilled cheese trucks that truly deliver melt-in-your-mouth magic.

1. Carolina Smash Truck: Where Gourmet Meets Gooey

My first encounter with Carolina Smash left me speechless, literally, as I was too busy savoring every bite of their Southern Porky Mac.

Operating since 2017 between Charlotte and Mooresville, this truck sources breads locally before transforming them into cheese-laden canvases. Their signature creation combines creamy mac ‘n’ cheese with tangy pimento and smoky pulled pork for an unforgettable flavor explosion.

The owners, a husband-wife duo, started the business after winning a local cooking competition with their unique take on grilled cheese. Their passion shows in every perfectly golden-brown sandwich they serve.

2. Praise Cheeses: Heavenly Melts on Wheels

The name alone had me giggling, but the sandwiches at Praise Cheeses are no laughing matter.

This Charlotte-based truck delivers handcrafted melts that border on religious experiences. Their spicy pimento cheese sandwich kicked my taste buds into high gear, while the Cuban-style melt transported me straight to Miami.

What sets them apart? The attention to cheese quality. The owner, formerly a cheesemonger, sources specialty cheeses from small producers across the Carolinas. The truck’s bright yellow exterior makes it easy to spot, just follow the crowds of cheese devotees with napkins tucked into their collars!

3. Papi Queso: From Truck to Permanent Cheese Paradise

“Hold onto your taste buds!” shouted the chef as he handed me my first Papi Queso creation back when they were still exclusively a food truck.

Since 2012, this Charlotte institution has been stretching the boundaries of what a grilled cheese can be. Now permanently parked at Optimist Hall, they haven’t lost their food truck spirit or creativity.

Their buffalo chicken melt delivers the perfect balance of heat and creamy relief, while their burger melt somehow improves on two American classics simultaneously. The nostalgic vibes of their classic grilled cheese transport me straight back to childhood, except with cheese that’s infinitely better than those plastic-wrapped singles mom used.

4. CheeseSmith: Crafting Melts Like Works of Art

“Not Your Momma’s Grilled Cheese” proclaims the side of the CheeseSmith truck, and boy, they aren’t kidding!

Roaming between Raleigh-Durham and Landfall, this mobile melt factory puts on quite a show. I watched, mesmerized, as the chef blowtorched cheese to bubbly perfection atop sourdough bread.

The menu changes seasonally, but their truffle mushroom melt haunts my dreams with its earthy richness. The truck’s blackboard menu features cheeky sandwich names that’ll make you chuckle while waiting in line. Pro tip: order their homemade potato chips, the perfect crunchy companion to all that gooey goodness.

5. Cheez Boss: Ruling the Charlotte Grilled Cheese Scene

Yelp reviewers don’t lie, Cheez Boss reigns supreme in Charlotte’s competitive food truck scene.

My first encounter happened on a rainy Tuesday when I was desperately craving comfort food. Their grilled cheese with caramelized onions and short rib meat delivered exactly what my soul needed. The bread? Perfectly crisp. The cheese? Melted to stretchy perfection.

The couple running the truck remembers regular customers by name and sandwich preference, a personal touch that makes waiting in line actually enjoyable. Their secret weapon? A proprietary blend of cheeses they refuse to divulge despite my shameless begging and attempted bribery with homemade cookies.

6. Melt Your Heart: Asheville’s Cheesy Love Affair

Picture this: sitting outside Highland Brewery with a drink in one hand and Melt Your Heart’s triple cheese sandwich in the other. Pure mountain bliss!

This Asheville favorite has become my Wednesday ritual whenever I’m in town. The truck’s vintage aesthetic, complete with twinkling string lights, creates the perfect atmosphere for indulging in comfort food.

Fans track their schedule religiously between Highland and New Belgium breweries. The owner, a former fine dining chef, abandoned white tablecloth restaurants to pursue his true passion: elevating grilled cheese to an art form. His signature sandwich combines three local cheeses with house-made tomato jam that’ll make you forget ketchup ever existed.

7. Oven One Grilled Cheese: Charlotte’s Evening Melt Maestros

Talk about a delicious identity crisis! Oven One started as a breakfast truck before discovering their true calling: evening grilled cheese.

Charlotte’s night owls and post-work crowd now flock to this hidden gem for dairy-based therapy. Their jalapeño popper grilled cheese, stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar, and fresh jalapeños, provides just the right kick after a long day.

The truck’s conversion story fascinates me: breakfast sales were slow, but a grilled cheese special one desperate afternoon sold out in record time. The owner took the hint and rebranded overnight. Now they’re developing quite the cult following, with some fans creating social media accounts dedicated solely to tracking their whereabouts across Charlotte.

8. Mun-Cheez Gourmet Soul Food: Where Comfort Traditions Collide

Soul food meets grilled cheese? Count me in! Mun-Cheez brilliantly marries two comfort food traditions into one mouthwatering concept.

Ranked among North Carolina’s elite grilled cheese purveyors by Roaming Hunger, this statewide wanderer serves up sandwiches with serious soul. Their collard green and pimento cheese melt blew my mind, somehow capturing the essence of Sunday dinner between two slices of buttery bread.

The family-run operation brings three generations of soul food recipes into the grilled cheese universe. Grandma’s secret spice blend elevates every sandwich to heirloom status. When you visit, don’t skip their sweet potato fries dusted with cinnamon sugar, the perfect sweet counterpoint to their savory sandwiches.

9. American Cravings: Classic Comfort with Creative Twists

Sometimes you want innovation; sometimes you just need nostalgia. American Cravings delivers both with spectacular results.

This statewide roamer earned its spot on Roaming Hunger’s top-12 list by perfecting the classics while gently pushing boundaries. Their apple-bacon-cheddar melt captures North Carolina’s agricultural bounty between two slices of sourdough, sweet, savory, and utterly addictive.

The truck’s retro Americana design feels like a warm hug before you even taste the food. The owner, a former school cafeteria cook, started the business to show kids that school lunch could actually taste good. Each sandwich comes with a tiny American flag toothpick, a kitschy touch that somehow makes everything taste even better.