Where the Food Trucks Roam in Philadelphia

Food truck culture has truly taken off in Philadelphia. Night Markets are supported by than 60 food trucks and on any given day, there are as many on the streets of the city and not just in University City. Nowadays, food trucks find their way to Love Park and City Hall as well as down to the Navy Yard. Open air markets like PHAIR and Brooklyn Flea Philly also make use of mobile food vendors.

Below is our listing of where to find food trucks, from daily lunches to farmers’ market snacks. Among the spots you might not know about:

• Food trucks become a daily occurrence at the Navy Yard starting on July 1st. 
• Eakins Oval on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway gets food trucks as of Wednesday, July 17th.

Love Park

The first location for Philadelphia’s food truck revolution is still going strong. Look for three vendors every weekday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Full schedule (PDF)

City Hall Courtyard

Trucks are serving lunch weekdays (and till 7 p.m. on Wednesdays when there will also be live music from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) from within the City Hall courtyard. Here is the schedule,

The Porch at 30th Street Station

Each Wednesday and Friday food trucks make the Porch at 30th Street Station their destination. And on Wednesdays the trucks are joined by a farmers’ market.

Navy Yard

Every Thursday, about six food trucks set up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. And starting on Monday, July 1st, the Navy Yard will become a daily destination for food trucks.

33rd and Arch

This stretch of University City is one of the richest locations for food trucks in the city. Look for Rival Bros. in the a.m. and Little Dan’s, Spot Burger and more for lunch.

Brooklyn Flea Philly

The Brooklyn Flea comes to Philadelphia and the Piazza at Schmidt’s each Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trucks and other mobile vendors set up shop.

PHAIR

Food trucks are a significant part of PHAIR, Philadelphia’s homegrown weekly open air market. The market runs each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 23rd and Arch Streets.

Eakins Oval

Being billed as Philadelphia’s new “park on the Parkway,” Eakins Oval will have daily food trucks between July 17 through August 20, 2013.

Trestle Inn

The Trestle Inn hosts sidewalk go-go and barbecue every Friday night. Food trucks support the effort from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and there is even the opportunity for a free whiskey sour.

Farmers’ Markets

Clark Park – On Thursdays the market is joined by Mini Trini and Local 215. On Saturdays, Little Baby’s Ice Cream and Yumtown vend. And they are joined by Lil’ Pop Shop on the first, third and fifth Saturdays.

Headhouse Square Farmers’ Market – On Sundays the Food Trust’s marquee farmers’ market gets support from Lucky Old Souls, Zsa’s Ice Cream and the wheel-less but excellent Los Taquitos de Puebla.

Fairmount Farmers’ Market – The Thursday market has the Farm Truck and popsicles from Lil Pop Shop.

Germantown Farmers’ Market – Lil’ Pop Shop shows up on the first market of the month. Zea May’s makes the Germantown Farmers’ Market a stop on the first and third Fridays of the month.

Fitler Square Farmers’ Market – Lil’ Pop Shop makes appearances on the first and fourth Saturdays.

Other Events

Night Market is the biggest Philadelphia food truck event with 60 food trucks and carts descending on a Philadelphia neighborhood, four times over the summer. The next Night Market is set for Thursday, August 15th. And the final Night Market will be in Chinatown sometime in October.

Food trucks will set up shop at SugarHouse on Thursday, July 18, August, 15 and September 19. Eight to ten trucks will be on site at the riverfront casino from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On many Saturdays, Yards Brewing hosts a Mobile Food Association food truck. Check Yards web site for details. Yards is also hosting Country & ‘Cue on July 5th with three barbecuing food trucks.

And two days earlier than the Yards Country & ‘Cue celebration, the Piazza at Schmidt’s is hosting a day of music, art, fashion and food. And that food comes in the form of seven food trucks.

Food Truck Resources

Chowspotter – An interactive map of local food trucks. Great resource to find out who is vending right now.

@Foobooz Food Truck Twitter List – If it’s mobile and has a twitter feed, it’ll be in our food truck twitter list.

The Food Trust – The Food Trust runs 25 farmers’ markets throughout the area, many of which featured food trucks and food carts.

Mobile Food Association – The PMFA provides a strong communal voice and shared resources to support Philadelphia’s many food truck and food cart operators, while eliminating unnecessary barriers to entry and operations.

Penn Food Trucks – Web site dedicated to covering the food trucks and carts of University City.