Food truck season is back, and so is our largest annual article.
This guide has it all (or at least every truck we could find), including past favourites (several dating all the way back to our inaugural 2013 guide), plenty of past ManyFest Food Truck Wars champions and several newbies who are already out slinging curb-side culinary creations.
***
A Little Pizza Heaven
That garlic-buttered crust is a godsend, bringing standard pies like double pepperoni, buffalo chicken and Heavenly Veggie to a higher plane. Its mobile unit isn’t always in use (so find it on Insta below), but you can always catch individual slices and full pies at its storefront locations in Osborne Village (for your post-bar snack) and on Ness, Regent, St. Anne and Pembina (Fort Richmond).
Check out Little Pizza's
Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Baekho–Taste of Korea
Winnipeg's sole Korean food truck is so good. Baekho's white tiger logo would make for a badass tattoo (our buddy Jun informs me that Baekho indeed translates to white tiger, based originally on a Chinese character), while the truck slings bowls featuring bulgogi, je-yuk (spicy pork) or sam-gyeop-sal (pork belly) that come with rice and all those fabulous fermented, crunchy Korean condiments. The meats are cooked to order, while the pickled radish and Korean sweet chilli sauce are "insanely delicious" and "bananas," according to Mike's wife. She also says the glass noodles with shiitakes and crunchy radish are “amazing.” No social media — making this truck as elusive as its namesake — but we have seen it on Broadway during happier times by the Legislative Building.
Bao House
Its first summer season in 2018 was so successful that it led to the opening of Bao House restaurant on Corydon Avenue, located in the former home of Bisita (637 Corydon, which, interestingly enough, was also a spin-off of the food truck Pimp My Rice). The restaurant has been serving steamed buns, Japadog-inspired hot dogs, sliders and sushi towers since March 2019. From now through October, the bun mobile is in action, slinging baos done in the style that David Chang made famous in North America. Check its Instagram for locations.
BBK’s
BBK’s operation has been on the festival and special event circuit since 2005, which is where you’ll find them once again this summer. This place is all about barbecue, with applewood-smoked brisket and pork shoulder, signature apple-butter barbecue sauce and all the classic sides. Be sure to grab napkins. Check out its Facebook here.
Best Meal
This truck first appeared in 2017 on Broadway, specializing in Middle Eastern dishes like kibbe, lamb and beef kabobs, shawarma and falafel. The extensive menu also includes fries and burgers. No social media for locations.
Bigg Smoak BBQ
Steinbach’s serious barbecue joint, Bigg Smoak BBQ, Smokehouse and Grill, has had a mobile unit since 2021. On it, you’ll find the same award-winning brisket, along with plenty of smoked meats and sides. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming dates and locations.
Blank Slush
Drink it up! This colourful number just got started at the end of the 2021 season, offering a range of bubble tea and slushy drinks. Its fruit-forward flavours include taro, mango, strawberry smoothies and classic milk tea with plenty of boba (aka tapioca pearls; for those of you who aren't in the know when it comes to bubble tea). You can find them all on Instagram along with the Tyndall Community Market (2255 King Edward St.) every weekend on Saturday (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m. to 8 p.m.) to keep you cool.
Blue Haze BBQ
Established in 2019, Blue Haze BBQ’s "rib mobile" is a catering extension of its barbecue shop in Beausejour, MB. Its award-winning meats (including a slew of first, second and third-place finishes for its chicken, ribs and brisket, respectively, at the now defunct Winnipeg BBQ & Blues Festival) are rubbed with a blend of spices and seasonings then smoked over select hardwoods for around 16 hours. Follow its
Instagram and Facebook to keep up with locations and dates.
Bright Side Kitchen
One of the city's newer trucks just got going in time for Le Burger Week 2022, offering a wide array of plant-based burgers. Owner Kirstie Brooks' truck is all about vegan comfort food, with an ever-changing menu featuring dishes like vegan breakfast tots with tofu eggs and hollandaise, along with the Le Burger Week entry, which is a nod to Winnipeg's classic Fat Boy burgers called the Plant Boy, with the chilli sauce made from Impossible-brand ground "meat". Find this fresh pink truck's location on Instagram.
Casama Food Truck
The newest concept from Charlee’s Restaurant & Lounge, this Filipino-Mexican food truck, started rolling in August 2021. The menu features items like sinigang tacos, kilawin, campechana and loaded elote (corn with calamansi butter rolled in chicharon and flaming hot Cheetos — now say that three times fast!). Catch this blue truck with LED lights and a sleek feathered design at the Tyndall Community Market every Saturday and Sunday with free admission and free parking. Check out its
Instagram for updates.
Champs
This sleek Filipino food truck (we love the black matte design with the yellow logo) served its first customers on May 18, 2019. Champs is by the same owners as Charlee's Restaurant and Lounge, and its street eats include BBQ pork skewers, chicken wings, kare kare poutine, sisig poutine (sunny side up egg and all!), rice bowls, pork lumpia and sandwiches, along with cool treats like calamansi slushies and numerous types of halo-halo. During its first ManyFest Food Truck Wars, Champs took the “Most Original” title. Follow on Instagram for updates on locations.
Cinder Hill Barbecue – Winkler-based, but on the food truck circuit
If you're a fan of delicious BBQ and smoked meats, check out the massive Cinder Hill BBQ food truck. Its menu features a variety of BBQ classics, including brisket, pulled pork and ribs, but the star of the show that sets Cinder Hill BBQ apart is their signature Pig Wings – tender, juicy pork shanks smoked to perfection and served with your choice of sauce. If you're early, they might even have their fresh farm watermelon on deck. Use Instagram for locations.
The Choripan Stop
The Churro Stop family (that being Jacko and Tara Garcia) has entered the savoury market with The Choripan Stop, specializing in the sort of Argentinian street food you’d find in co-owner Jacko Garcia’s homeland. Along with the namesake choripan sandwich (Jacko makes his own chorizo for it), they also serve popular South American sandwiches like Milanese and lomito, along with Garcia’s signature empanadas. Craving Argentinian, and the truck is not out? Head to Fusion Stop in Saint-Boniface which is run by the Garcias and Island Fusion owner-chef Richard Mohammed. Follow on Instagram here.
The Churro Stop
One of the original new school trucks, The Churro Stop, is all about handmade, hand-cut Argentinian churros that are so good that they took the Judge's Gold Award in both 2015 and 2017 for "best bang for your buck" at ManyFest Food Truck Wars. The dulce de leche, Bavaria cream-stuffed, and raspberry-stuffed versions are pretty incredible, while the owners, Jacko and Tara Garcia, are total gems. In 2018 they also started making four flavours of empanadas, in case you need something savoury before you hit the sweetness, while there are several vegan items too. This truck is often spotted at the Tyndall Community Market on Saturdays and Sundays, FreshCo Niakwa on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; FreshCo Henderson on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., FreshCo Jefferson from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m; and FreshCo Henderson from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays. Check out Instagram and Facebook for updates, and if they aren’t out, you can also get the Garcia’s food at Fusion Stop in Saint-Boniface.
Donna’s Food Truck
Donna’s Food Truck does all things comfort food. New to the Winnipeg scene in 2022, this truck offers burgers (beef+pork and beyond meat), hot dogs, bagels, poutines and, of course, the perfect duo: grilled cheese and tomato soup. Cool off with drinks like the sparkling honey hibiscus lemonade and coffee from Thom Bargen. Catch this truck from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stephen Juba Park (229 Waterfront Avenue). Check out their Instagram and website to keep up with locations and updates.
Donut Forget Your Coffee
Coffee, doughnuts and lemonade? Talk about a triple threat. This truck is back for summer 2023, serving all of the above, replete with the best rooftop mascot you’ll see in the city with its angry doughnut chasing a jaunty cup of coffee. Follow their Instagram to keep up with various locations in the city.
Driven Kitchen
This green truck team started wheeling gourmet burgers (using certified Angus ground chuck or a Beyond Meat patty), chicken wings, chicken fingers and fries. We’ve seen it at FreshCo on Jefferson, while they also update locations daily on Instagram. Follow them here to find this slick green trailer.
Egnocha Ethiopian Eatery
The city's newest and first-ever Ethiopian food truck serves authentic Ethiopian cuisine that will transport your taste buds to the bustling streets of Addis Ababa. The menu features a variety of traditional dishes, including injera (a spongy sourdough flatbread) served with savoury stews like their signature dish, doro wot, a spicy chicken stew made with berbere spice, onions, garlic and ginger. The super friendly owners are passionate about sharing their culture and cuisine with others and are always happy to answer any questions about the food or Ethiopia. If you're craving something unique and delicious, head over to the Engocha food truck and experience the flavours of Ethiopia for yourself! Find their location here.
Euro Donair
A regular participant at ManyFest Food Truck Wars, you can normally typically find this food truck parked at the Home Depot by CF Polo Park. It doesn’t appear to have any social media accounts, so go with the intention of eating meat wrapped in pita served with a yogurt-based sauce.
Extreme Fries
Homecook Bobbie Mack had been selling her sweet pickle relish for over a decade at Pine Ridge Hollow before getting into the food truck game with this bright pink truck. On top of some pretty serious burgers (often featuring said relish), Extreme fries and a large selection of poutine like chicken bacon ranch poutine and maple bacon poutine are also on offer. This graffiti-ed truck will be all over the city, so best to follow its
Facebook and Instagram for live updates. You may also have even seen it in a music video with Al Simmons and Rusty Matyas.
Feastro Global Bistro
This multi-cuisine truck is back serving up eastern and southern Mediterranean items like a chickpea curry feast box, butter chicken naan tacos, falafel, chicken shawarma and beef kebab (available as a wrap or plate with salad, rice, hummus and pita). Don’t get us started on the hot garlic crispy potatoes. Often found at the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market, while you can follow it on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Firebird Grilled Chicken and Smokies
This new truck from 2022 has a blazing orange facade and one amazing logo featuring a chicken skewering a smokie over a flaming grill. The menu is all about flame-kissed meats, namely chicken breasts prepared in a number of styles all served on their award-winning potato bun. Along with loaded smokies (using Old Country Sausage) and a double patty smash burger, you can also get a grilled chicken salad for a gluten-free option. Find them on Facebook.
Fire and Ice
Often located on Wellington Crescent under the St. James Bridge, Fire and Ice is ready to provide you with ice cream and coffee before you explore beautiful Assiniboine Park, Operating from noon to 6 p.m. daily.
Fired Up-Mobile Wood Fired Pizza
Fired Up has been blazing since the original guide of 2013 and is one of Winnipeg’s OG new-school trucks. On the taste front, we’ve always been big fans of the chewy charred crust and simple ingredients, while as a show, you'll often see one of the chefs come outside to grab more wood from the little cubby hole located near the window where you order. If you see the pear, cambozola and balsamic crema pizza on the menu that day, you must order it! The chefs also occasionally do a beet and kubasa pizza with a white garlic sauce that is out of control. This spring, it's been at Shelmerdine Garden Centre and in front of The Fairmont at Portage and Main. Check
Facebook for location updates.
G.G. Gelati
This beachy, colourful orange trailer is an extension of the iconic Italian gelato shop at 705 Corydon Avenue that opened in 1995. This summer, they’ll once again use this mobile version to showcase the dozens of flavours you can find at the shop – from the fruity to the decadent. We usually go for lemon and raspberry or hazelnut and vanilla, while the shop also offers milkshakes and a selection of boba. Check out its website for menu updates.
Goldie’s Fries
For 28 years now, Goldies’s has been serving everything from burgers to poutine, fries, hotdogs, chicken burgers and perogies. You can spot owner Darryl Leiman (#legend) and The Goldies truck at Old Market Square every day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., bringing all those positive vibes to The Exchange. Check Facebook for updates.
Ice Cream 4 Tacos
Food trucks with pun names will always be winners, particularly when they combine two of our favourite things. On the sweet side, this yellow truck serves waffle cone tacos (yes, they make the waffles) stuffed with things like Oreo ice cream. On the savoury, there's a taco in a bag and flour tortilla burritos. It started in June 2021 and you can find it on Instagram.
The Indigenous Kitchen – new look and name for 2023
Owner and chef Tara Hall is from the Pinaymootang First Nation and is a Red Seal graduate of Red River College Polytechnic Culinary Arts. Her truck was originally called Aboriginal Fusion, running from 2019 to 2022 with its unique take on bannock tacos, bison burgers, taco fries and fish and chips using local walleye (pickerel). For 2023, Hall has rebranded it as The Indigenous Kitchen, with a whole new menu featuring a wide selection of bannock burgers, a bannock taco, and a large selection of burgers. For hours and locations, go to the Facebook page.
Island Fusion
Chef Richard Mohammed’s Trinidadian food truck has been a staple on the local scene since 2015. The vibrant red truck always has a tasty selection of jerk dishes and West Indian curries (served with fresh house-made roti), all served up in style and often alongside some dancehall jams. You can also expect tacos, curried poutines and our personal favourite, Chef Mo’s jerk pork sliders, served on fried plantains. Craving some Trini flavours and the truck’s not out? Head to Fusion Stop in Saint-Boniface, which is a joint concept with Caribbean and Argentinian cuisine from Island Fusion and The Churro Stop.
Jojo’s Wood Fire Italian Kitchen – new for 2023!
On top of wood fired-pizzas that are cooked right in the truck, this new concept also does a selection of paninis and a wide variety of fruit smoothies. If you’re looking to snack, there’s arancini and several crocchettes (deep-fried balls), including mac and cheese bites and tuna with potato and jalapeño. No social media for locations, but the website lists all the forthcoming festivals it will be at.
Just a Little Squeeze
Made with real fruit and no syrups, this lime-green coloured lemonade serving truck is the go-to on hot summer days. You can spot this truck at a variety of locations across the city, including the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market, St. Adolphe Market, Winkler Harvest, Summer in the City (Steinbach), Gimli’s Icelandic Festival, ManyFest Food Truck Wars and Fun with Family Day just outside of Portage La Prairie. Check out
Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Knapsack Coffee
Owner-operator Quinton Anderson has created Winnipeg's mobile coffee sensation. Operating out of a retro 1978 Boler camper and often set up along Winnipeg's bike routes, Knapsack Coffee offers a delightful and energetic coffee experience. Whether at community events or private gatherings, this full-service coffee shop on wheels serves drip coffee, espresso, friendly vibes and often doughnuts from Oh Doughnuts too. When winter arrives, its indoor mobile espresso bar continues to deliver exceptional brews. Wherever you are, Knapsack Coffee is dedicated to bringing joy and a caffeinated dimension to your day. Find it on Instagram, along with location listings on its website too.
KYU Grill
KYU Grill is the city’s most decorated food truck, having been the perennial People’s Choice ManyFest Food Truck Wars Champion from 2015 to 2021 and the Food Truck Warz Brandon Champion from 2019 to 2021. It is back for another season with those signature robatayaki-inspired skewered heroshima sandwiches, along with a range of Japanese-Hawaiian fusion dishes and birria tacos that have proved to be a storefront hit. If you can’t make it to the trucks (they now have multiple mobiles in Winnipeg, along with a cart), you can find KYU Snack Box at 260 Henderson Highway, KYU Bochi at 870 Logan Ave., 1928 Eatery and Pub (1719 Portage Ave.), KYU Snack Box at 260 Henderson Highway and the original KYU Bistro at 185 Isabel St. Check Instagram, Facebook and website for more.
Just Loaded
While Just Loaded's name refers to how much they stack between two slices of bread, it would also be fitting for that other version— that one that involves searching out food after the last call as this menu is drunk food at its finest. Its specialty is The Zinger, a house-made Montreal-style smoked brisket sandwich with all the fixings on rye, while the ever-changing menu features heavily loaded things like Winnipeg Old Country hotdogs covered with perogies and kraut or pulled pork with crushed chips and loaded baked potatoes. There are also plenty of sides to choose from, along with old-school Pic-A-Pop and slush puppies to quench your thirst. You can spot this truck at Upper Crust Bakery in Selkirk Monday to Wednesday and venturing into Winnipeg for the weekends. Check out
Instagram for updates on locations.
Little Bones Wingery
Alex Goertzen, Transcona's "King of Wings," is certainly no chicken when making big flavours fly. His Little Bones company started as a food truck in 2012 and has since grown to include the shop at 123 Regent Ave E, where they do more things to wings than you can imagine. The truck features 40-plus flavours of wings and will start the season in Goertzen's hood during the High Neighbour Festival. Look to Facebook for up-to-date locations of the truck, including a list of festivals it will be at.
The Little Eggplant
This Italian food truck is back for summer 2023, having first started in 2018 with a unique concept that focuses on ultra-fresh paninis. How fresh, you say? Well, they press the raw dough right on the truck, creating the most pillowy base that is then loaded with house-made pesto, cheeses and cured meats. It also serves Italian desserts like gelato tarts and cannoli. The truck offers services for private parties as well. Check out its website and Instagram.
Mighty Micki’s Mini Donuts
Ah, the sweet smell of childhood. Unlike standard mini doughnuts, these puppies are made using a signature dough that gets hit with Mekong River cinnamon sugar after frying. Catch these buckets of mini donuts at Investors Group Field on game day, and check out its
Instagram for updates and other locations.
Mikkys
This old-school truck has stood the test of time as one of the city's original food trucks dishing out burgers (with fried onions), fries and various other comfort food bites. Look for the white truck with red trim and fun food pics at 333 Broadway.
Minnie's Pierogi Truck
Since the closure of the could-have-been-legendary Better than Baba's, Winnipeg's streets have been missing quality food truck pierogis. Enter Minnie, an extension of Minnie's Handmade Ethnic Treats in Lundar, Manitoba, that went to wheels in late 2020. It specializes in steamed pierogis, with two staples – classic cheddar potato and pulled pork – also available deep-fried. Find it here on Facebook.
Miss Tiny’s Jamaican Food Truck
There is nothing tiny about the flavours coming out of this large, colourful truck. Established in 2018, Miss Tiny is back for the summer serving an authentic Jamaican menu featuring patties, jerk chicken served on rice and peas, ackee and plantain, and even a jerk poutine. The truck is most often parked at the Wholesale Club on Ellice (11 p.m. to 4 p.m.). Check out its Instagram and Facebook for location updates.
Nacho Mama’s - MacGregor-based, but comes to the city for festivals.
The Nacho Mama's food truck is a vibrant and colourful local favourite, serving up some of the best nachos in town. But don't let the name fool you, Nacho Mama's offers so much more – from burritos to tacos to loaded fries from a menu packed with bold and flavorful options. With plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options available, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Plus, this truck sets the tone with lively music and colourful decor for extra curb appeal. Find it on Facebook.
Oh! Good! Path!
This Japanese food truck and ghost kitchen has all the goods for summer 2023. It serves sushi burritos, like the salmon lover and the shrimp masago roll; skewered scallops; takoyaki; and rice bowls. Check out its Instagram to stay updated on locations, which range from The Maples to Saint-Boniface.
Pacific Spring Roll Catering
You can catch this family-owned food truck serving all things spring rolls (pork and veggie—incredible bang for your buck), as well as burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken strips, fries and poutine. They are usually located at the St. Norbert Farmers Market every Saturday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can find its Instagram here.
Pippy’s Schnitzel – Steinbach-based, but comes to the city for festivals.
Pippy's Schnitzel is the epitome of home-style cooking on the go. This beloved family-run truck has been serving delicious schnitzel to Manitobans for years, and it's easy to see why they've developed such a loyal following. Each schnitzel is made to order, using only fresh ingredients and traditional techniques. Whether you prefer classic pork or chicken or want to try something different with their daily special, Pippy's has you covered. With generous portions and affordable prices, it's easy to satisfy your hunger without breaking the bank.
Pop Cart
This storied cart was first started by Angela Farkas and Alana Fiks, two culinary stars who own and run the successful (and amazing) Black Market Provisions. Popcart was their first venture, which they started as a side project in 2015 that quickly became a mobile cart phenom of sorts because everything they made was so damn tasty and colourful. In 2018, after opening Black Market, the pops took a backseat, but recently they’ve been resurrected by Ryan Wiebe and Shawn Vidal from Bones and Marrow Broth Company (one of our favourite local makers), who purchased the biz. These fellas are now pumping out plenty of pops, so much so that they are available at quality retailers across the city, including – you guessed it – Black Market Provisions! The pops are made with quality ingredients and kept simple using natural fruit, cane sugar, coconut milk, vanilla, fresh herbs and spices. Since its inception in 2015, there have been over 75 flavours sold! Keep up with the cart’s locations on Instagram and the website.
PoachT
This circa 2021 comes courtesy of WestJet pilot-turned-food entrepreneur Erin Popoff, who can now be found putting poached eggs on vibrant creations in her truck that is currently located within Cargo Bar at Assiniboine Park. These plates are about as pretty as you're going to see coming out of a food truck, with daily specials like the "next level fish n' chips" Eunoia, featuring pan-seared walleye spiced with an everything bagel, slow-roasted potatoes and dill pickle carrot slaw on a crispy wonton base (with a perfectly poached egg on top, of course). You can follow Erin's personal Instagram for updates and menu items.
Potoba
Potoba is the newest Indian food truck to hit the streets of Winnipeg, having started in spring 2022. Its specialty is katori chatt – a fried shredded potato basket filled with curried vegetables. There’s plenty more too, like butter chicken poutine, peri peri seasoned cheese fries and even a selection of bao. You can catch this truck at the FreshCo on Jefferson (no times listed yet). Check out its website and follow its travels.
PVG Street Eats
PVG first hit Winnipeg in 2016 as PVG’s Breakfast Club, with all the members of the Brat Pack emblazoned on the truck to accompany your eggy sandwiches. While breakfast is gone, Molly and the gang remain (including a blazin’ Brian Johnson – he was “the brain”) beckoning you for a selection of burgers that’s as diverse as those kids in weekend detention. This summer, you might not see the truck as much as the PVG team just opened up a new kiosk at The Forks called Crafted Crust. That said, they’ll still be announcing food truck locations on Instagram and Facebook.
The Red Ember – after a year off, it's back!
The Red Ember food truck, founded by Steffen Zinn, returns for an eleventh season, defying rumours of its retirement. Like Clifford the Big Red Dog, this big red truck is enormous – once North America's second-largest food truck – and was handcrafted by Zinn from a shipping container. The pizza, featuring local organic flour, local fire-roasted tomatoes, and a unique spice blend, has always been a hit, often resulting in lines at St. Norbert Farmers’ Market and various festivals. Zinn and business partner Quin Ferguson also operate Red Ember Common and Wienerpeg in The Forks Market, along with Wall Street Slice (with co-owners Edelman Miranda and Michael Sung) – a New York-style pizza joint. Find them on Broadway, opposite the Manitoba Legislature Building and St. Norbert Farmers’ Market. Check out their website for updates here.
Ruby Red’s Kansas City Barbeque – New name coming soon
This newish truck from 2020 specializes in smoked meat in a variety of genres—from straight- up brisket to Carolina-style pulled pork, Caribbean pork belly, to Mexican smoked pork loin with pineapple salsa verde. All of these meats are served within a Gunn's Bakery bun and come with a salad, "Craig's famous beans," and a choice of drink for a great price. Owner/operator chef Craig Guenther is also the chef of Schnitzelhaus in The German Society of Winnipeg. Find its location on Facebook here.
Simba Safari Grill
Representing foods from all over Africa (particularly the Serengeti), Simba specializes in grilled meats and super flavourful curries. This summer, they have been regularly at the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market rocking out dishes like mahamri (coconut doughnuts), samosas, and an assortment of curries served with their house made chapati. Don't sleep on the beautiful sukuma wiki, which traditionally uses collard greens but here they use spinach and kale that is simmered with onions, tomatoes and coconut cream. Simba is the 2016 Food Truck Wars winner for "best bang for your buck." Find them regularly updating locations on Instagram.
Smoked and Sauced Mobile BBQ
While technically a Brandon-based food truck, we're still putting this meaty machine on the list as it often makes it to Winnipeg to join the festival circuit. Since 2017, this family-run biz from owner Jayson McCallum utilizes a large smoker that gets towed around on an even larger trailer behind the flaming food truck. McCallum has over 20 years of experience in the kitchen and his truck specializes in barbecued ribs, pulled pork poutine, brisket and all those essential sides that bring out the barbecue experience. Use its Facebook account for locations and updates.
Smoke'n Bob's Hot Dogs
The age-old question, "Is a hot dog cart technically a food truck?" is one we've debated for years when making this guide. Normally we'd say no, as it would mean this guide could start to grow as long as the lines that Smoke'n Bob produces from its six trucks located downtown as they beckon office workers with that sweet smell of fried onions. This family-run business has been at it since 1990, using only top dogs (aka Winnipeg Old Country Sausage products) between City Bread buns. It's this commitment to local, along with being a "taste sensation" that not even Mo Willems' pigeon would dare share (sorry, Duckling),* that ensures it makes this guide. Plus, there are gluten-free and vegetarian options available too. For locations, check out its Instagram account.
Street Delights
Winnipeg’s first Indian-fusion food truck is back for summer 2022. The menu offers traditional items like aloo tikki, panipuri ,and chicken momos, along with burgers like the Angry Bird Burger, which features a deep-fried buffalo chicken patty topped with lettuce, onions and mayo. The spring rolls are also said to be incredible. You can spot the white and purple truck at 1295 Pembina Highway. Follow them on Instagram.
Sweet and Salty Concessions
When it comes to a food truck fleet, you can’t beat salty and sweet. Owner/operator Marcel Petit runs four truck/trailers under the Sweet and Salty umbrella, bringing with him 19 years of food truck experience running this family company. For the 2023 season, Petit will provide three mini-doughnut trailers, The Meltdown (a deep-fried cheese curds mobile) and a Beavertails truck. Talk about range! See its Instagram and website.
La Taqueria Mexican Street Tacos
Our newest authentic taqueria and food truck has been garnering rave reviews since it opened in the summer of 2021, with no signs of stopping. La Taqueria’s food is by Cristhel Pipper, who came to Winnipeg from Córdoba, Veracruz, in 2019 after she married her husband (a resident of Sunny St. James) Lyle Jackman. Together, this couple is knocking it out of the park when it comes to meticulously crafted, authentic cuisine from pozole to Yucatan-style cochinita pibil and a mushroom al pastor that is going to blow you away (take note, vegans). You can find them at the Unicity Canadian Tire parking lot (3615 Portage Ave. on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Be sure to visit Instagram to keep up with locations and updates.
Trendy Treats
Ice cream, you scream. We all scream for boozy ice cream! Trendy Treats specializes in hard ice cream and Swiss Ice (somewhere between a sorbet and a slushy). Adult (aka booze-infused) ice cream flavours include Bailey’s, Amaretto, port and sweet bourbon, while for Swiss Ices, you’ll find sangria, peach Bellini and Piña Colada. All of this sounds terribly exciting, while you can also purchase numerous kid-friendly flavours from the truck in both ice cream and Swiss Ice form. See its trendy website here.
Tot Wheels
A perennial favourite on Broadway and at ManyFest Food Truck Wars, Tot Wheels is one of Winnipeg's OG nouveau trucks, starting in 2013. Its honours include "Best Presentation" at 2015's Food Truck Wars (Mike judged that year and also had it at #1 for taste), while in 2018, it took the "Most Original" trophy. The crispy hand-rolled tots put anything that Napoleon Dynamite kept in his pocket to shame while the Tot team loads them up to create dishes like maple bacon poutine and The Beetle (applewood smoked chicken, pico de gallo, pickled onions, roasted corn, cilantro and spicy many) — all using local ingredients too. Along with tots, the truck offers burgers, with 1/3 pound beef patties, chorizo/beef, and more recently, the honeybird (buttermilk chicken dunked in a Manitoba honey butter and topped with lettuce, pickles, pickled onions and dill aioli on a Gunns Bakery potato bun), all served with a side of tots. Along with posting its location on Insta and Facebook, you can order directly from the truck to your house via DoorDash.
Tulum Treats
For the past six years, Tulum Treats has been hitting the festival circuit, along with the occasional appearance on Broadway. This green truck, replete with a moustachioed sombrero-sporting man as a logo, specializes in tacos on flour tortillas, plenty of cool treats and some deep-fried fare too, including jalapeño poppers and hand-cut fries topped with Latin-inspired fixin's. Follow it on Instagram here.
The Walleye Wagon
This truck, which started rolling in 2014, is owned and operated by David Jonasson. He’s a commercial fisherman in Riverton, Manitoba, on Lake Winnipeg, so you better believe he knows his product. The walleye fillets are beer battered and available individually or inside a taco, while the truck also serves fries using Manitoba potatoes. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook here.
Willy Dogs
This small but mighty hot dog cart has been operating since 2018. Owner Will Gault has over two decades of experience in the biz and he only uses quality local meats from Winnipeg Old Country Sausage Ltd. and buns from City Bread (veggie dogs available too). Outside of special events, Willy Dog's operates Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of Saint-Boniface Hospital on Tache and Rinella Place. Check out its Instagram here.
Za Pizza Bistro
This booming Manitoba-based casual pizza chain went mobile in 2022, adding to its roster of 10 storefronts found across the province. Owned by local entrepreneur Blair Mckibbon – who has been in plenty of these Winnipeg Food Truck guides with his retired concepts Healthy Eats and Burgers are Us – Za's truck brings the same 11" pizza format to the streets, allowing customers to choose between the thin(ish) regular crust or gluten-free cauliflower crust, with numerous sauce, cheese, and topping options too. Follow it on Instagram for truck locations and all the various storefronts.
*Cool parents of young children will appreciate this joke.
Know of a truck we are missing? Email info@tourismwinnipeg.com or DM us on Instagram.
