Harrisburg is full of delicious dining options perfect for anyone’s taste buds. From corner cafes to downtown favorites and international cuisine, Harrisburg foodies can find whatever they’re looking for right around the corner from their home. However, if you stick to brick and mortar restaurants, you might miss out on some of the very best food in Harrisburg — which can be found on four wheels.
Harrisburg’s food truck scene has been growing in recent years and now boasts everything from barbecue to burritos to baked goods. Food trucks are a popular choice for catering at the office, feeding patrons at city festivals and simply popping up on corners to for Harrisburg locals to enjoy. Read on for a list of the top food trucks in Harrisburg and where to find them.
Catching one of these top food trucks can sometimes require planning ahead. These popular restaurants tend to drift between the East and West Shore, attending events all across Central Pennsylvania. However, there are a few places you can frequently find these Harrisburg-based food trucks:
If you’re hosting your own event or party, you’ll be happy to know that many of these trucks are also available for catering and will come right to you. The Harrisburg Food Truck Feast Facebook page is also a great way to stay on top of food truck locations in the Harrisburg area. No matter where you find them, you won’t want to miss these top food trucks in Harrisburg.
Mexican-inspired food trucks are a favorite of Harrisburg locals, with these three burrito and taco trucks winning the title of “Best Food Truck” for the last five years. MAD Sandwiches took the crown on Susquehanna Style’s “Best of Harrisburg” list in 2014 and 2015, Soul Burrito snatched the title in 2016 and 2017, and 717 Tacos took the lead in 2018. With extensive menus featuring sauces from scratch and toppings to die for, it’s no wonder Harrisburg’s taco and burrito trucks are some of the best.
717 Tacos features an impressive menu of 19 different gourmet tacos served on a corn tortilla or lettuce wrap. Each taco puts an international twist on a traditional favorite, such as The Marrakesh with Moroccan-style lamb and Taco Bahn with Bahn Mi style chicken and vegetables.
With gluten-free tortillas and several vegetarian options, 717 Tacos has a delicious taco for everyone. With so many options, 717 Tacos lives up to their slogan, “Living every day like its Taco Tuesday!” If you aren’t in the mood for a taco, 717 Tacos also serves chips, salsa and queso as well as brisket nachos featuring secret spices.
This unique taco truck sources many of their fresh ingredients from local farms and makes their tortilla chips from scratch. Their community focus and creative menu earn them a reputation as a must-try taco truck. Catch up with 717 Taco on Facebook or Twitter, or find them at one of their events in the Harrisburg area.
This family-owned and operated food truck opened in June 2013 with the dream of selling Caribbean-style burritos to the Harrisburg area. Soul Burrito’s menu includes burritos stuffed to the brim with marinated meats, homemade sauces and as many toppings as you can handle.
Make it a meal with a side of their crispy and gooey oven-baked mac and cheese. Menu favorites include the Jamaican Sensation, filled with coconut curry sauce and marinated chicken, and the Sweet Mama, featuring grilled chicken smothered in homemade honey barbecue and packed with tortilla chips for an enjoyable crunch. Each of their burritos is crafted to tickle the taste buds and is sure to please any palette.
If you want to dig into a soul-filled burrito, you can keep up with Soul Burrito on Facebook or Twitter.
MAD Sandwiches Tacos & Latin Cuisine provides a unique fusion experience of Latin cuisine and sandwiches crafted by owner and operator Rodrigo Madrigal. MAD’s menu reflects Madrigal’s Mexican heritage as well as his time spent in Philadelphia and his love of sandwiches.
Bite into a Philly-style cheese steak, Italian roast pork sandwich or traditional Mexican taco. MAD also serves beef as well as vegetarian empanadas and Italian chicken cutlet sandwiches. A favorite at MAD Sandwiches is their classic Cuban, a gooey roast pork sandwich with ham, swiss cheese and pickles that has quickly become their best-seller. Wash down your meal with a tropical Mexican soda available in pineapple, guava, mango or mandarin.
MAD Sandwiches food truck can be found serving lunch at two downtown Harrisburg locations on Tuesdays and Thursdays — On Tuesdays, you can find them at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Forester Street, and on Thursdays, you can grab a taco at the D & H Distributing on 2525 North 7th Street. To catch MAD another day of the week, check out their event schedule, Facebook page or Twitter.
Despite being above the Mason Dixon line, Harrisburg still sports an impressive collection of slow-roasted and smoked barbecue served with warm homemade side dishes. Get your fill of comfort food on the go from one of these killer barbeque food trucks.
For classic comfort food with a bold smoky kick, Mel’s Rock N’ BBQ is your place. They smoke chicken, ribs and sausage and slow-cook pork to tender perfection.
A favorite on the menu is the massive Smack Yo Momma Twice Pulled Pork. This sandwich is made to be eaten with two hands and a lot of napkins, as it’s piled high with juicy pulled pork. Mel’s “Big Daddy’s” Baby Back Ribs are another fan favorite that can be devoured in a full or half rack. If you aren’t stuffed yet, Mel’s Rock N’ BBQ offers an assortment of traditional southern-style sides, including baked beans, corn on the cob, mac and cheese and coleslaw.
Mel’s Rock N’ BBQ food truck can be found at events throughout the Harrisburg area as well as hired for catering at your office or private party. Luckily for BBQ-lovers, you don’t even have to track down Mel’s truck to enjoy their delectable barbecue. Mel’s Rock N’ BBQ now has a stationary location in the Broad Street Market at 1233 N 3rd St. every Thursday through Saturday.
Serving mouthwatering sandwiches, platters and meats by the pound, One Love Cafe is sure to fill your stomach and your soul. One Love Cafe’s menu features some unique variations on a classic pulled pork sandwich, such as Hot Honey Crunch with honey, buffalo sauce and crunchy dust and Angry Dutchman with honey, dutch relish, Alabama sauce and jalapenos. Pair these with a side of Hobo Beans, Infamous Mac & Cheese, collard greens or mashed sweet potatoes.
However, what really draws people to One Love Cafe is their burnt ends — Nicknamed “meat candy,” their burnt ends are double-smoked brisket points served in One Love Cafe’s signature sauce. Order burnt ends as a platter or sandwich, or dive into them by the pound.
You can track down One Love Cafe’s food truck on their Facebook page or Twitter, or visit their restaurant in Elizabethtown at 346 Hershey Road.
This mobile barbecue trailer serves up ribs, chicken, brisket, pit beef and more, all smothered in homemade sauces and rubs. Everything on their menu is made from scratch for a truly authentic barbecue experience. Up in Smoke BBQ features a variety of dishes that make their food truck perfect for any catered event or party. You can balance the filling barbecued meats with a light starter, like antipasto salad or a vegetable platter.
Find Up in Smoke BBQ’s next public event on Facebook, or hire them for your own private party!
Sometimes your taste buds need a rest from bold flavors, or you’re simply craving a regular sandwich. Luckily, Harrisburg has food trucks for that too. Whether you want a basic sub or a saucy hot sandwich, these food trucks have you covered.
Mad Dash food truck is a family-run food truck that was the dream of Julian and Jess, a couple that’s passionate about making delicious, gooey grilled cheeses. Their Artisan grilled cheese features unique ingredients such as apple butter, mac and cheese, artichoke hearts and pressed garlic. Mad Dash’s simple menu features five cheesy sandwiches with the option to add bacon, ham or tomato. Pair your favorite grilled cheese with a slushie, iced cappuccino or milkshake to get your sweet and salty fix all in one place!
Mad Dash is an active food truck that can be found all over the Central Pennsylvania area almost any day of the week. You can locate their truck on their find us page or by following Mad Dash on Facebook.
Rapid Sandwiches and More Co. serves exactly what their name implies: every sandwich you could ever want and more, ready to eat lightning fast. From subs to Reubens to sausages, Rapid Sandwiches and More Co. has almost too many sandwiches to choose from.
Many of their dishes, such as their shrimp and catfish sandwiches, feature Cajun spices that add some heat to their American-style menu. To make it even more difficult to decide what to order, any sandwich can be served on a salad, in a wrap or on a pretzel roll instead of a traditional sub roll. The “and More” part of Rapid Sandwiches and More Co. accounts for their wide selection of burgers and loaded fry baskets.
Rapid Sandwiches and More Co. can often be found at the corner of 27th and Walnut Street in Harrisburg, or you can check their location on their Facebook page.
After stuffing your face with burritos, barbecue and sandwiches, it’s time for some dessert. These sweets and coffee food trucks will satisfy your sweet tooth with homemade treats and drinks.
The owner of Sugar Whipped learned how to bake from her grandmother and mother as they would whip up a variety of sweets from scratch in their kitchen at home. Now Stephanie, the owner of Sugar Whipped Bakery, serves cupcakes, whoopie pies and specialty marshmallows to happy customers in Lititz, PA.
Her menu features new cupcake flavors each month as well as gluten-free and vegan options for cupcakes and whoopie pies. A favorite on the menu is her whoopie pies, which take a traditional Lancaster County favorite and put a twist on it by incorporating unique flavors such as banana pecan and lemon blueberry. Sugar Whipped uses only local and natural ingredients to serve honest from-scratch sweets.
The Sugar Whipped food truck attends festivals and events in the Harrisburg and Lancaster areas, so you can get your sugar fix on the go. Check out their Facebook page, Twitter or truck schedule for where to find them next.
On My Grind Coffee (OMG) is your local cafe on wheels. Serving coffee and espresso beverages as well as tasty baked goods, this food truck is the perfect stop for breakfast, dessert or an afternoon treat. They offer hot, iced and frozen drinks perfect for any season.
If you don’t like coffee, try pairing a tea or smoothie with your tasty treat. OMG uses freshly roasted fair trade coffee beans from Leg Up Farmers Market in York, PA. Their menu offers a variety of flavors you can add to your coffee. You could also try one of their daily special drinks.
On My Grind Coffee has a calendar of events and locations, and you can catch them on Facebook or Twitter.
Some of the best food trucks in Harrisburg resist categorization with their assortment of hot and cold meals that are sure to surprise you. Allow their unique combination of ingredients to tickle your taste buds and leave you wanting more.
Potato Coop was the dream of entrepreneur Allen Peck Jr., who wanted to serve delicious fresh cut fries to his friends and family. His business quickly expanded and now features a full menu with fries, pierogies, loaded baked potatoes, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, wings, pizza and more.
Fries are still one of the biggest hits on Potato Coop’s menu, with six different types of fries available. The fresh-cut fries that started it all can now be ordered with “Coop seasoning,” garlic Parmesan, Cajun, barbecue or ranch.
The Potato Coop food truck caters at offices, events and parties in Harrisburg and beyond. Every week, the truck features a different combination of items from the menu, including three different entrees, three potato choices and three side dishes. If you want to sample their whole menu, you’ll have to come back for another taste!
You can follow the Potato Coop food truck on their online schedule or check them out on Facebook or Twitter. If you love their fries and other delicious dishes, join the Coop Club to get exclusive updates on where to find the truck and what it will serve at each stop. Coop Club members also receive discounts and exclusive meal specials that are available only for them.
Roost Uncommon Kitchen is a cozy restaurant in downtown York, PA that serves lunch seven days a week. Their full menu features brunch, benedicts, sandwiches, barbecue and salads. Their food truck features a special selection of southern-style breakfast dishes that are sure to satisfy.
Each breakfast dish on their menu begins with flaky biscuits made from scratch and topped with Korean fried chicken, signature smoked pulled pork, sausage gravy, hash browns, apple butter and more! Each gooey dish can be topped with a fried egg or served with a side of homemade pickles.
While their Roost Special and Garbage Biscuit are served at their restaurant, you’ll have to track down their truck to try their other unique breakfast combinations. Check out Roost Uncommon Kitchen on Facebook or Twitter to keep up to date with their next food truck location or event.
Owner Pete Psichogios started his authentic Greek food truck in 2015 because he saw how popular the annual Greek Fest in Camp Hill is every year. He knew that Central Pennsylvania residents had a love for gyros and kabobs, so he designed a food truck menu to feature Greek favorites year-round. Dig into some spanakopita, rice pilaf and moussaka, all crafted from Pete’s family recipe. For dessert, enjoy a sticky and sweet slice of baklava.
Its All Greek To You can be located through their Facebook page as they take their Greek cuisine across the Harrisburg area.
This list is a great place to start for sampling some of the best food trucks Harrisburg has to offer. However, once you’ve checked these trucks off your list, here’s a few more to give a taste. While these trucks may not have made our top list, they’ll still make your mouth water and are definitely worth a visit.
Tasting the best of Harrisburg’s dining scene may require you to track down food trucks at festivals or weekly events downtown. But when you live in a Harrisburg community, you won’t have to travel far for these delicious treats. Triple Crown Corporation has many Harrisburg communities conveniently located near shopping centers, restaurants and local food truck festivals.
If your neighborhood doesn’t have awesome food trucks nearby, maybe it’s time for an upgrade. Move to one of our Harrisburg communities for quick access to all the best food trucks Central Pennsylvania has to offer.
