Ensuring your mobile kitchen business is decked out with the right cooking equipment is the first step to becoming a successful member of America's bustling food truck nation. But, what do you need beyond the serving window?
Whether you run a casual lunch restaurant that sells classic hot dogs and french fries, a gourmet food truck offering unique street food delicacies, or a catering service on wheels, it is key to ensure your mobile kitchen trailer is just as equipped inside as it is outside with the right equipment.
In this article, we reveal just what your customers need to enjoy your menu items. Keep reading to learn how you can take your food truck services to the next level!
Food Truck Supplies That Every Food Truck Should Be Equipped With
Here's a checklist of essential supplies that all lunch wagons and gourmet food trucks need for serving customers:
#1 Disposable Serving Plates and Bowls
Disposable serving plates and bowls are a no.1 must-have when operating a mobile food service. There are many types of food containers to choose from, each suited to different serving needs and types of foods.
Paper bowls and plates , such as the Boardwalk Deerfield Printed Paper Bowl , are ideal for serving lightweight, cold-serve meals and snacks , such as salads and pastries.
Non-laminated foam bowls and plates , such as the Dart Container White Non-Laminated Round Foam Plate , are among the best insulating options , making them perfect for hot meals like pasta, soups, and stews.
#2 Disposable Cutlery
Pre-packaged disposable cutlery is an easy and hygienic serving solution that ensures your customers can enjoy their meals comfortably. You can get individually wrapped knives, spoons, forks, and even sporks alongside pre-packaged sets that feature everything needed to eat a meal, like the Three-Piece Cutlery Kit by Boardwalk .
#3 Disposable Beverage Cups, Lids, and Straws
If your food truck offers beverages, be it cold drinks like soda and juice, or hot options, such as tea and coffee, it's important to provide customers with decent beverage cups , lids, and straws.
If you're serving cold drinks, standard plastic cups, such as Boardwalk's Translucent Plastic Cold Cups , are the perfect serving solution.
For hot beverages, it's important to go for insulating cups, like Boardwalk's Paper Hot Cups , with lids, and even cup sleeves, to ensure drinks stay warm while ensuring customer safety and comfort.
#4 Napkins
Eating and drinking on-the-go can get messy, so it's best practice to always offer napkins with your food truck meals and beverages.
The eco-friendly 100% Recycled Luncheon Napkins by Marcal are super absorbent and free of harmful chemicals, making them perfect for serving meals. The compact and economically priced Beverage Napkins by Hoffmaster are brilliant for serving drinks.
#5 Condiments, Salt, and Pepper
Providing condiments, salt, and pepper with meals allows customers to season their food to their liking while saving your busy staff the extra effort of accommodating customers' special requests - it's a win-win!
You can create a condiment station where customers can season their food or provide a handful of complimentary condiments and seasonings with each order.
#6 Sugar and Creamer for Beverages
If your food truck offers hot beverages, ensure you offer customers with complimentary extras , like sugar and creamer , and dairy. This will allow customers to customize their drink order to their liking , ensuring they are satisfied with their order.
#7 Menu Board
You can't run a food truck without a food menu!
Ensure you have a food board that's big enough for customers to read and easily order meals and drinks. You can alternatively have a custom QR code that allows customers to scan for a menu. This is a great option if your food truck has limited space for a physical menu board.
#8 Trash can
It's standard practice for food trucks to have a customer trash can with durable trash can liners . This offers a designated space for customers to dispose of their cutlery, cups, napkins, and plates, which, in turn, fosters a more comfortable mobile dining experience and prevents littering .
Extra Equipment Worth Considering
If you want to take your mobile food service to the next level, consider providing customers with these extra equipment options:
Pop-up Seating Area: Ensure your customers enjoy a comfortable meal, drink, or snack by setting up a pop-up seating area. Consider adding foldable bistro tables and chairs, like the Molded Resin Folding Chair by Alera , which are easy to assemble and pack away.
Condiment Dispensers: Rather than offering pre-packaged condiment packets with meals, consider adding a condiment dispenser that allows customers to customize their meals with their preferred amount of sauce.
Guest Pagers: Guest pagers are small, handheld devices that vibrate when an order is ready. By giving your customers pagers, you can avoid an overcrowded food truck while offering customers peace of mind that they won't miss their orders.
Get All Your Food Truck Equipment for Unbeatable Wholesale Prices at Buy Direct!
Buy Direct is your one-stop shop for all your food truck necessities. From kitchen supplies and disposable dinnerware to condiments and cleaning products, we have everything you need to equip your food truck and deliver a winner-service.
Shop hundreds of leading brands for unbeatable wholesale prices at Buy Direct today!
FAQs:
Explore these ready-answered FAQs to learn more about choosing the right equipment for your food truck business:
Where To Buy Wholesale Food Truck Snacks?
You can shop wholesale food truck snacks for super low prices at Buy Direct . We have a huge selection of to-go snacks available to order in bulk from leading brands, including Kellogg's, Nabisco, Pringles, and loads more!
Stock up your food truck on the best quality snacks for unbeatable value with our complete Food Service Food collection.
How Do I Serve Hot Food From a Food Truck?
Insulating hot food containers, such as aluminum containers, are the best way to serve hot food from a food truck because they keep food warm for longer periods.
If you're after insulating solutions to serve your food, head over to our Food Trays, Containers, and Lids range at Buy Direct . We have a huge selection of budget-friendly containers suited to every type of food, be it saucy stews, hearty soups, burgers, or hot dogs. Shop in bulk today and enjoy unmatched wholesale prices.
How Do You Keep Food Warm on a Food Truck?
Equipping your food truck with a steam table or heat lamps and insulating aluminum surfaces are some of the best ways to ensure you keep food fresh and warm. You can also keep food in warming trays or even invest in a mobile hot box food warmer.
If you need insulating solutions for your food truck, head over to our Food Warming range to discover loads of ways you can insulate your to-go meals.