Chattanooga Food Trucks

Edited 11/16/20 – There are a few food trucks that have died since I first wrote this – if you have one in your area, be sure to check it out! Safely, of course – don’t get Covid. If you know of any new ones, let me know!

It seems I can’t stop talking about the restaurants around Chattanooga–because we have some awesome mobile food trucks as well! Most of them show up at the Chattanooga Market on Sundays, some other markets around town, Chattanooga Football Club games, business parking lots, and at special events. A few are more permanently placed with some picnic tables nearby. Check them all out!

CALIFORNIA SMOTHERED BURRITO

This school bus with the surfboard on top features burritos smothered in green chili sauce, plus nachos and quesadillas. I like that you can get a “sissy” size burrito!

CSB can be found at the Chattanooga Market (with many other area food trucks) parked at businesses or charity events, and I’ve seen it around South Broad a few times. See their Facebook page for their location daily.

FAT BOY’S ROADSIDE EATS

I covered this one in my restaurant tour of East Brainerd, and it *is* a food truck, but I don’t think it ever goes anywhere. Get burgers, Philly cheese steak, burritos and more at this bright yellow truck. There is some picnic seating out front, I believe.

Fat Boy’s is located at the divide of Standifer Gap Rd and Bill Reed Rd. If you are in the Hamilton Place Mall area, take Gunbarrel towards Shallowford Rd and keep going for about three miles and you’ll find it on the left.

TACOS EL CUNAO

While there is a permanent location of this taco restaurant on Lee Highway, they also have a food truck in Cleveland, TN, on Keith St., a little south of Inman. The food truck seems permanently parked with some covered seating nearby.

Stop by and try their tacos, sopas, tortas, gorditas, pambazos, huaraches, quesadillas, and burritos. The menu seems to be pretty broad for a food truck! There are pictures of menu items all over the side of the truck.

CHEW CHEW CHATTANOOGA

Billing themselves as “a good food food truck”, you can get sandwiches like meatball subs, shrimp po’boys, beef sliders, and some vegan options too.

It seems like they park around the Bessie Smith Cultural Center a lot and are at the local markets in Chattanooga and Collegedale.

OFF THE GRILL EXPRESS

Ok, I’ve figured it out–Off the Grill is a restaurant on Signal Mountain, and since it is in its second location, it’s “Off the Grill 2”, especially when you are looking at Google Maps. Off the Grill Express is their food truck serving some of the same BBQ ribs, catfish nachos, pepperjack mashed potatoes, and even some salmon entrees, plus a “tea du jour.”

The food truck is usually parked at the Amazon fulfillment center in Ooltewah.

FRIOS GOURMET POPS

Ok, this breaks all the rules for this list…Frios is NOT a food truck (though maybe it once was) and is even a chain location, but it’s too cute not to mention. Here, you can get popsicle flavors such as avocado lime, fruity pebbles, birthday cake, chocolate hazelnut, strawberry mojito, key lime, and blackberry ginger lemonade. Located in the knitting mill on Manufacturer’s Rd in North Chattanooga.

POPS DOGS

This isn’t so much a food truck as your typical hot dog stand, like what you might find on the sidewalks of New York City. And Pops Dogs usually makes its home on the streets of Downtown Chattanooga as well, around Unum or EPB on Broad & MLK or 5th and Walnut. Keep your eye out for Joe!

SUNNYSIDE CUP

*This* is one food truck I’m familiar with. On South Broad, it is perfectly located to catch the morning traffic from Lookout Mountain towards downtown and anyone out running errands from 6 am to 5 pm on a weekday, 7:30 to 3 on Saturdays. Get your Goodman’s roasted coffee and Neidlov’s pastries at either side of the drive-through trailer.

I think they might be opening (or have opened by now) a stationary location next to the Walmart on Signal Mountain Blvd to serve that side of town.

MONKEY TOWN DONUT COMPANY

I think I may have had these in the past as well–sweet little donuts that ride along in a little lazy river of oil, are automatically flipped and continue on their way as they cook. They’re so cute!

You can find them every Sunday at the Chattanooga Market.

CHATTANOOGA MOBILE MARKET

This is a great idea! Chattanooga’s Mobile Market brings fresh foods and produce into neighborhoods that don’t have many healthy food options available. They believe everyone should have access to fresh food no matter where they live.

See their website for locations–they are in 2-3 locations every weekday.

ROLLING J’S MOBILE BISTRO

The Rolling J’s orange trailer serves up gourmet southern food and it looks like they are gearing up to start a storefront location! They currently stop at the Chattanooga Market, Finley Stadium on CFC game days, and some business parking lots. Check out their facebook page for each day’s stop.

THE GREEN TAMBOURINE

You can find this all-vegan food truck at the Chattanooga Market on Sundays, serving sandwiches, salads, and smoothies, and an array of hot entrees, like lasagna, burritos, stuffed squash and more. And everything is plant-based! I love their little retro camper!

CHATTER BOX

Check out the Chatter Box for hardwood-smoked meats and appropriate sides. You can find Brandon manning the smoker on Thursdays & Fridays on Market & 17th streets, and at the Nightfall concerts series on Friday nights. I also think I’ve seen them at the West Village weekend parties.

BAYOU BITES STREATERY

At Bayou Bites, you can get all your southern creole favorites, like shrimp tacos, po’boys, fried catfish and more. You can find them in some business parking lots (like US Express) and they were recently at the Choo Choo for a rail and hops brewers festival.

CHICK-N-NOOGA

The menu at this food truck is pretty simple. Buttermilk-fried chicken and beer-battered waffle fries. You can get yours hot and fresh at the Chattanooga Market, Nightfall, and sometimes around the Westin–check their facebook page for upcoming dates. (NOTE: Chick-n-nooga still exists but then seem to have moved to Florida.)

RUSTY’S NUTZ OF CHATTANOOGA

Here you’ll find Cajun-spiced boiled peanuts at this truck at the Chattanooga Market and other venues around town. Keep up to date on Facebook.

PETUNIA’S SILVER JALAPENO

I went here last week! I got a cheap turkey hot dog, but you should try the rest of the menu of smoked pork butt, quesadillas, fish tacos, salads, burgers, and more.

The Silver Jalapeno RV is permanently parked on Main Street in front of Adelle’s Creperie.

R.I.P.

We used to have two grilled cheese sandwich food trucks in Chattanooga, I think. The Grilled Cheese Emergency was in a renovated ambulance, and The Muenster Truck just had an awesome name! I never got to try either of these and I can’t see that they still exist.

So if you see something in the list above, make sure to check them out and keep them open!!