10 North Carolina Food Trucks Giving Southern Classics A Street-Food Spin
North Carolina’s food scene has hit the road—literally—and it’s serving up a delicious twist on tradition. Across the state, from the bustling streets of Charlotte to the artsy corners of Asheville and the vibrant food hubs of Raleigh, food trucks are reimagining classic Southern dishes in bold, creative ways.
I’ve spent the last few months chasing down these mobile kitchens, sampling everything from smoked brisket tacos to pimento cheese-stuffed burgers. These innovative chefs are blending comfort and convenience, turning beloved regional flavors into unforgettable street eats.
Join me on this flavorful journey through North Carolina’s most mouthwatering food trucks.
1. Union Barbecue Truck: Charlotte’s Tex-Mex BBQ Revolution
Last summer, I stumbled upon Union Barbecue Truck while exploring Charlotte’s vibrant food scene. The aroma of slow-smoked pork literally stopped me in my tracks!
Their signature pulled pork sandwich comes with a surprising Tex-Mex twist – think smoky meat topped with fresh pico de gallo and a tangy lime crema that’ll make your taste buds dance. The slow-smoked pork ribs deserve special mention too, with a dry rub that perfectly balances sweet and spicy notes.
What makes Union truly special is how they honor traditional smoking techniques while fearlessly incorporating southwestern flavors. Don’t miss their jalapeño cornbread – it’s the perfect sidekick to any meat order.
2. The Happy Belly: Asheville’s Burger Slap-Down
Y’all won’t believe what I found nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills! The Happy Belly food truck has revolutionized burger culture with their ‘slap burgers’ – thin patties smashed on a scorching griddle until the edges crisp up perfectly.
These aren’t your average burgers though. The ‘Southern Comfort’ comes topped with pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and a secret sauce that had me licking my fingers shamelessly.
Their bacon-loaded fries might be even more impressive, hand-cut and smothered in a homemade cheese sauce with crispy bacon bits, green onions, and a drizzle of Carolina honey. The owners, a husband-wife team, greet everyone like family while slinging these incredible eats.
3. Mountain View Barbecue: Asheville’s Smoky Tradition on Wheels
Goodness gracious! I nearly shed a tear when I first tasted Mountain View’s authentic Western North Carolina barbecue. This unassuming truck parked near downtown Asheville preserves time-honored smoking traditions that date back generations.
The pitmaster, a third-generation barbecue expert, slow-smokes pork shoulders for 12+ hours over hickory wood. Unlike eastern-style vinegar sauces, Mountain View serves their chopped pork with the region’s signature tomato-based sauce – slightly sweet with a subtle kick of heat.
Their hush puppies come out piping hot, crispy outside and fluffy inside. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to consistency. Rain or shine, their smoke rises at 4 AM, ensuring that perfect bark on every meat portion.
4. The Rice Wagon: Hawaiian-Southern Fusion Genius
Picture this: I’m wandering through an Asheville food truck rodeo when I spot The Rice Wagon’s colorful tropical-meets-mountain aesthetic. Their menu had me scratching my head – Hawaiian-fusion mac-n-cheese? In North Carolina? Turns out, this culinary mashup is pure genius!
Their signature ‘Aloha Mac’ combines creamy Southern-style macaroni with kalua pork, pineapple bits, and a sprinkle of furikake seasoning.
The sweet-savory balance knocked my socks off! Another standout is their ‘Mountain Loco Moco’ – a Southern biscuit topped with a beef patty, gravy, and a perfectly fried egg. The chef spent years in Hawaii before returning to his Carolina roots, bringing this unique fusion concept with him.
5. Root Down: Asheville’s Daily Creole Surprise
My first Root Down experience left me speechless! This Asheville gem rotates their Creole-Southern soul food menu daily, which means you might find completely different offerings depending when you visit. One sunny Tuesday, I savored their crawfish étouffée served over stone-ground grits – a beautiful marriage of Louisiana and Carolina traditions.
The next week, they were serving buttermilk fried chicken with collard greens simmered in a vegetable broth that rivaled my grandmother’s recipe.
The chef sources ingredients from local farms, ensuring everything tastes garden-fresh. What makes Root Down extraordinary is their refusal to cut corners. Their roux for gumbo simmers for hours, and their cornbread comes out of cast-iron skillets right in the truck!
6. What The Fries: Huntersville’s Loaded Potato Paradise
Holy potatoes! My taste buds nearly exploded when I discovered What The Fries parked outside a Huntersville brewery last month. This truck has transformed the humble french fry into an art form worthy of gallery display.
Their ‘Carolina Gold’ creation features hand-cut fries smothered in pulled pork, mustard-based BBQ sauce, coleslaw, and crispy fried jalapeños. For cheese lovers, the ‘Southern Comfort’ option comes loaded with homemade pimento cheese sauce, bacon jam, green onions, and a sprinkle of their secret spice blend.
Each batch of potatoes is double-fried to achieve that perfect crispy-outside, fluffy-inside texture. The owners started with just one fryer and a dream – now they have lines wrapping around parking lots wherever they park!
7. Mama’s Soul Food Truck: Raleigh’s Breakfast Comfort
One foggy Raleigh morning, the heavenly scent of cinnamon and butter led me straight to Mama’s Soul Food Truck. Let me tell you – this breakfast experience changed my life! Mama (that’s what everyone calls the owner) serves traditional soul food morning staples with such care you’d swear your grandmother was in that kitchen.
Her buttermilk biscuits come drenched in sawmill gravy studded with country sausage. The chicken and waffles feature free-range poultry marinated overnight before being fried to golden perfection.
For lunch, don’t miss her oxtail stew served over Carolina rice. What makes this truck special is Mama herself – she comes out to chat with customers, remembering regulars’ names and preferences with remarkable warmth.
8. The Wandering Moose: Raleigh’s Biscuit Sandwich Wizardry
My weekday morning routine completely changed after discovering The Wandering Moose truck parked near my Raleigh office. Their breakfast sammies have ruined all other breakfast sandwiches for me! The ‘Mountain Sunrise’ features a scratch-made buttermilk biscuit stuffed with thick-cut country ham, a farm-fresh egg, and apple butter made from North Carolina orchards.
For lunch, their ‘Carolina Comfort’ sandwich combines slow-roasted turkey, sweet potato spread, and cranberry chutney on sourdough. Every ingredient tells a story of local partnerships with farmers and producers.
The truck’s interior glimpses reveal a tiny but immaculate kitchen where two chefs perform a beautiful culinary dance, crafting these incredible comfort foods with precision and care.
9. Crave Food Truck: Research Triangle’s BBQ Innovation
Stumbling upon Crave Food Truck during a work lunch break in Research Triangle Park completely salvaged my Monday! Their Southern BBQ sandwiches showcase North Carolina’s diverse barbecue traditions with modern twists.
The ‘Triangle Triple’ combines eastern-style vinegar-based pulled pork, western tomato-sauced brisket, and mustard-mopped chicken on a single brioche bun – a BBQ tour on bread! Their sides deserve equal praise – especially the jalapeño-cheddar cornbread muffins and sweet potato salad with candied pecans.
Everything comes with house-pickled vegetables that provide the perfect tangy counterpoint. Founded by a former software engineer who traded coding for cooking, Crave represents the innovative spirit of the Research Triangle in delicious, edible form.
10. El Querubin: Asheville’s Highland Brewing BBQ Fusion
My Highland Brewing visit took an unexpected culinary turn when I spotted El Querubin’s vibrant truck in the brewery’s outdoor space. This fascinating fusion concept blends Southern BBQ traditions with surprising international influences.
Their ‘Carolina Cubano’ reimagines the classic Cuban sandwich with Western NC pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard BBQ sauce, and house pickles pressed between locally-baked bread. The ‘BBQ Arepa’ stuffs slow-smoked chicken into a corn cake pocket with avocado crema and pickled red onions.
Every sauce is made from scratch, including their signature ‘Mountain Mojo’ – a cilantro-lime concoction with hints of smoky chipotle. The chef learned barbecue techniques from his Asheville grandfather while incorporating flavors from his Venezuelan heritage.