New Jerseyans love food trucks! Food truck festivals are extremely popular here in New Jersey. For a lot of people I know, it’s a “Must Go To” event. When I attend one, I usually can determine who has the goods by the length of the line of people.
Back in 2022, my colleague, Jimmy Steal mentioned attending the Food Truck Festival at Monmouth Park Racetrack and that on one of the hottest days of the year, Cousin’s Maine Lobster had, without a doubt the longest line out of any other food truck. If there are 40 people in line waiting to order food on a day you can literally fry an egg on the pavement, then you know the food is to die for.
Ocean County’s Best Chicken Francaise Can Be Found On This List
When I compile and post these lists on social media, I always get called out for “forgetting” a crowd favorite. I really do appreciate the heads up, and the introduction to a place I either didn’t know existed or a place that I haven’t heard much about. So thank you for any feedback you post.
Owning a food truck is no easy job. There are lots of moving parts and many expenses.
Licenses & Permits
You’ll need a business license to operate your food truck in a specific city or state, and a health permit from your local health department. If you want to sell alcohol, you’ll also need a liquor license.
Equipment
You’ll need a food prep area, washing station, and storage space for dry goods and paper. You may also need a POS system to manage transactions and inventory, which can cost between $1,500–$3,000.
Operations
You’ll need to consider how to manage your day-to-day operations, including staff, inventory, and technology. You’ll also need to make sure customers can pay you however they want.
Marketing
Food truck marketing is important to help your business succeed, and it involves more than just advertising. You should focus on your product and what makes it unique and consider the value your customers get and how to price accordingly.
Business Plan
A business plan can help you define your goals, identify your target market, and map out the steps you need to take to achieve success.
Other considerations include:
Upkeep, maintenance, gas, and rental payments
Supplies and ingredients
Insurance & other expenditures.
I may be missing a few and I’m sure food truck owners will let me know. Please keep in mind that if you don’t like a particular food truck on the first try, don’t slam them on social media, they may have had a bad day. Either give them another shot or just move on. The public will let them know they aren’t doing a good job by not showing up. Running any small business is stressful enough, being a hater makes it worse. Like I said earlier, if people don’t like it they won’t come back.
Let’s take a look at the favorite food trucks of our fellow New Jerseyans.
Dan's Waffles - Based in Pennsauken, N.J.
Dan’s Original Liege Pearl Sugar Waffle is out of this world. My friends in South Jersey rave about Dan’s award-winning Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffle-24 hr buttermilk brined chicken tenders fried to perfection and placed atop a signature fresh baked waffle with your choice of sage-sausage gravy & cheddar or maple buffalo glaze. Not to mention Dan’s pièce de résistance, Triple Coconut Cream Pie featured on the Food Network’s”The Best Thing I Ever Ate”.
Whole Pies Available with 48 hour Notice Call Dan at (856) 566-6650 & Follow them on Instagram to see where they’ll be next. See Dan’s Menu by clicking HERE.
