San Diego Convention Center – Food Trucks

The growing food truck trend has been gaining traction throughout the entire country. These portable food stands bring funky new creations to outdoor events, fundraisers, parks, office buildings, breweries, and more. They’re a quicker option than a sit-down restaurant and offer inventive dishes you wouldn’t find at a run-of-the-mill restaurant. In addition, visiting a food truck usually means you’re supporting an independently-owned small business, operated by local entrepreneurs. For all these reasons, food trucks are a welcome addition to the local food landscape.

Food trucks are especially popular in warmer areas, where they can bring their unique fare to outdoor locales year-round. This is part of the reason San Diego has a wide array of them. Since the city is usually warm and filled with sunshine, you can regularly see food trucks around town. Food trucks also attend a variety of San Diego events throughout the year.

While you’re visiting San Diego Convention Center, make sure to explore the city and hunt down a truck. There’s something for every palate, and we’ve narrowed down 10 to get you started.

Bosnian Grill

The Bosnian Grill food truck specializes in fresh, piping hot gyros filled with delicious meats. Bosnian Grill has a signature spit roast where chefs slice the roasted lamb beef to order. You can also substitute this with chicken or vegetables, since something’s always freshly fired up on the grill.

Customers often recommend the cevapi, a traditional Bosnian dish that consists of minced beef sausage and feta on a flatbread. Less adventurous eaters have options as well, with Philly cheesesteaks and hot dogs on the menu at Bosnian Grill. Customers have commented on the relatively long wait times, but that’s because Bosnian Grill makes their food fresh.

This truck travels to events all throughout San Diego, and can also be found at various farmers markets. So after your visit to the San Diego Convention Center, give Bosnian Grill a call to see where they’ll be next.

Dang Brother Pizza

You’ll be able to spot Dang Brother Pizza from a distance, because they don’t drive your average food truck. Dang Brother Pizza operates out of a pastel yellow 1974 American LaFrance fire truck! The founders imported their wood-fire oven from Italy, and installed it directly into the fire truck. In addition to their incredible oven, they make their dough from scratch, and the results have been amazing.

Dang Brother Pizza’s commitment to authenticity and quality has made them a popular food truck throughout San Diego. Their menu features awesome flavors like chipotle barbecue chicken; “Sexy Pepperoni” which consists of pepperoni, Parmesan, feta, and garlic; and a classic Margherita. The pizzas are enough to share, but multiple customers have mentioned how they could have eaten the entire thing themselves.

Check the Dang Brother website to see what event they’ll be attending next, and keep in mind that you can hire them for your next big event.

Devil Dogs BBQ

What began as a small barbecue competition team has grown into an outstanding food truck. The Devil Dogs BBQ team was so successful in their competitions that they decided to bring their award-winning food for the people of San Diego to enjoy.

This red, white, and blue food truck is a veteran-owned business; Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Jeremy Putts is living his dream after retiring from a long military career. Devil Dogs BBQ specializes in smoked meats and handcrafted sides made daily. Their meat-smoking process is “slow and low,” which infuses their food with a delicious, traditional flavor.

At their food truck, you can order dishes like pulled pork, brisket sandwiches, ribs, spicy mac and cheese, and brisket tacos. Add a side of Country Boy Fries, which are fries covered in meat, barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and more.

Since beer and barbecue are a match made in heaven, Devil Dogs BBQ frequents many local breweries.

Devilicious

Gourmet food truck Devilicious does food trucks proud by serving up crazy creations that are both intriguing and satisfying. Live a little and get devilish with incredible sandwiches you’ve never tried before. Devilicious’s buttery lobster grilled cheese with caramelized onions is one of those amazing dishes. Another funky option is the asparagus grilled cheese, filled with melted goat and Brie cheeses. The owners suggest you add bacon to the asparagus to punch it up.

Devilicious’s pork belly melt features shallots, cheeses, crispy Brussels sprouts, and a fig balsamic reduction. One reviewer said Devilicious’s turkey club was one of the best they have ever tried. Order the popular Parmesan truffle fries to go along with any meal, and you won’t be disappointed! For dessert, try the Strawberry ‘Wich, with balsamic strawberries, Brie, and cheesecake filling on toasted sourdough.

Devilicious has been featured on the Food Network and was elected to the A-list in San Diego by CityVoter. They say “life is too short to eat bad food,” and help you indulge in some delicious dishes. Check on their social media to see if Devilicious will be near San Diego Convention Center during your visit.

Eat Your Heart Out

Eat Your Heart Out takes a playful approach to their menu. You can be “good” by ordering a vegetarian, health-conscious, and wholesome dish. Or you can be “evil” by ordering one of their tasty, meat-centric meals that focus on nothing but flavor. Because of this balance, Eat Your Heart Out has something for everyone to enjoy.

Every day they have two tacos of the day, one vegetarian and one non-vegetarian. You can order a vegan kimchi quesadilla, sweet potato or crispy chicken rolled tacos, a smoked bacon BLT, and more. No matter what you choose, make sure to grab an order of potato bites which are a fan favorite.

This food truck uses locally sourced ingredients and is perfect for a group of varied eaters. You can find Eat Your Heart Out at events throughout the San Diego area, and potentially nearby San Diego Convention Center.

Haad Sai Thai

If you’re in the mood for Thai after a long day at the San Diego Convention Center, Haad Sai Thai food truck is the perfect place to go. Their portion sizes are generous; many customers were able to bring their food home as leftovers.

Drunken Noodles are a classic choice, with wide noodles and spicy kick. You can also try Haad Sai Thai’s fried rice, egg rolls, various types of curry, garlic chicken, and more. Customers commend the food truck for its friendly staff and ability to accommodate people with dietary restrictions.

One of Haad Sai Thai’s fun and creative traditions is to give guests a superhero playing card instead of an order number. You’ll know when your food is ready when they call out your hero!

If you’re on the hunt for an impressive Thai food truck, check Haad Sai Thai’s Twitter so you know where to find them.

Lil’ Miss Shortcakes

Lil’ Miss Shortcakes is an endearing and highly rated cupcake food truck that brings its wonderful treats all over the San Diego area. Holle and Amy, two longtime friends, founded the company after leaving the corporate food industry. Their friendship brings a congenial vibe to Lil’ Miss Shortcakes, and many customers have commented on the quality of their staff.

Lil’ Miss Shortcakes never uses preservatives in their light and moist cupcakes, and their frosting-to-cake ratio is one of the aspects that they get complimented on the most. Some have even gone as far to say that Lil’ Miss Shortcakes has the best cupcakes they have ever tried!

Some of their most popular flavors are Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with a homemade cookie inside it, Caramel by the Sea with salted caramel, and Milk Mustache, which features lots of Oreo pieces.

You can find their bright pink food truck at fundraisers, weddings, and festivals. Perhaps they’ll even stop by an event at San Diego Convention Center!

Marcel Waffles

Marcel Waffles brings their traditional and delicious waffle dessert straight from Europe. Chefs create the waffles in Belgium and ship them right to the United States, where Marcel Waffles bakes them to order. The owners are proud to use their grandmother’s original recipe and hold their waffles to the highest standards.

Delicious options include Strawberry Love, which comes topped with strawberries, ice cream, and freshly made whipped cream. You can also get waffles with bananas and chocolate or various berries with delicious toppings. While you may be craving a sweet treat after your visit to San Diego Convention Center, you can also go the savory route instead and order chicken and waffles.

One of the most exciting parts of visiting the Marcel Waffles food truck is that every 100th customer gets a free waffle! Test your luck and indulge your taste buds by tracking down the Marcel Waffles food truck.

Simply Fresh

Simply Fresh was inspired by the fresh, delicious produce grown in California year-round. Chef Blake Duplass created the Simply Fresh food truck in 2010 and has been serving nutritious soups, salads, sandwiches, and wraps ever since. You can feel good about Simply Fresh’s all-natural ingredients and freshly made food. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will find something to love.

Popular choices include the Green Goddess Wrap, award-winning Cubano Panini, and Diego Grilled Cheese. A Simply Fresh original, the Diego Grilled Cheese features Cheddar and mozzarella, tomato, homemade slaw, and house-made Thousand Island dressing. The California Wrap is also a fan favorite at Simply Fresh.

They’re one of the top-rated food trucks on Yelp, and you can find them by referencing the schedule on their website. Enjoy a fresh and healthy meal in the California sunshine by grabbing a meal at Simply Fresh.

Sushi Uno

Sushi Uno is the only food truck in the country offering made-to-order sushi. Since 2014, San Diego residents have been able to get a sushi restaurant experience on the go. This trailblazing food truck is family-owned and -operated business, and Chef Bertin brings 20 years of sushi-making experience.

Traditional rolls include a California roll with crab, avocado, and cucumber, or Spicy Fish made of your choice of tuna, salmon, or yellowtail with cucumber and spicy sauce. Specialty rolls kick it up to the next level. The Fire Tuna roll contains tuna, avocado, and cilantro with lemon and jalapeno on top. The Tiger roll features tempura shrimp, crab, cream cheese, and jalapeno with salmon, avocado, spicy mayo, and tempura crunchies on top. This is unlike any dish you’ll find at the San Diego Convention Center.

You can find Sushi Uno at Balboa Park, local breweries around North Park, and lucky office buildings in La Jolla.

Instead of sitting down for a traditional eating experience, soak up the San Diego sunshine by ordering from a funky little independently owned food truck. There are dozens in the city, so chances are there may be one near the San Diego Convention Center.