Kansas City’s streets are alive with the smells of sizzling street tacos, fragrant curry and crepes hot off the griddle. These food trucks aren’t just slinging snacks; they’re serving up bold, regionally rooted and internationally inspired fare around town.
See our picks for the can’t-miss food truck dishes, served up curbside, that will take your taste buds on a journey far beyond state lines.
Thompson Bros Cubanos
Cubano
“You can’t fake food,” says Clint Thompson, owner and operator of Thompson Bros Cubanos, Kansas City’s first food truck dedicated entirely to the iconic sandwich. The Tampa native grew up on Cubanos and started making them during Covid. When fellow Florida transplants told him his version tasted just like home, he knew he was onto something.
For Thompson and many others, the secret to an authentic Cubano starts with the bread. Thompson sources his from La Segunda Bakery, a century-old institution in Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood, known for its chewy spring wheat loaves that are essential to the sandwich’s signature flavor and texture. From there, Thompson builds each sandwich with all the essential elements—ham, Swiss cheese, garlicky mojo pork and sour pickles—and panini-presses it until there’s barely an air pocket left. The result is a sandwich with unparalleled tang and a delightful crunch. Thompson adds his own twist on it, however, with a swipe of honey butter on the bread for a sweet, melty finish.
At Thompson Bros Cubanos, a Cubano comes with saffron rice and beans, but Thompson doesn’t stop there. There’s the Barbecuban, layered with smoked brisket, onion straws and barbecue sauce, and the Breakfast Cubano, stacked with fried eggs, ham, bacon, Swiss cheese and a dollop of guava jelly.
Although Thompson is also a barber by trade, he dove into the food truck business three years ago and quickly learned it’s “a lot harder than it looks.” But lately, he’s found his groove—and a growing local following. You can now spot his truck at festivals and breweries around town. This winter, he’ll be slinging sandwiches at Bartle Hall Convention Center.
Irvzilla’s Hawaiian Grill
Hawaiian Plate Lunch
Irvin Der grew up in restaurants, most notably his mother’s well-known Chinese restaurant Tao Tao in KCK, where Der also worked as a chef for more than 20 years. Still, he describes buying his first 18-foot food trailer five years ago as “super scary.”
“It was a learning curve,” Der says of the first few years of his mobile food business Irvzilla’s Hawaiian Grill. Der’s food truck serves Hawaiian fare with a Chinese twist.
When Der opened his food truck in 2022, there was a dearth of Asian or Pacific Islander food trucks serving the metro. Hawaiian Bros had just entered KC’s market, but GOCHEW and the pho-slinging Dragon Wagon had yet to arrive. Der saw an opportunity and teamed up with his Hawaiian-born partner to launch Irvzilla.
Irvzilla is known for its Hawaiian plate lunches. Its best seller is the grilled teriyaki chicken served alongside fresh rice and a creamy dill mac salad. As the menu expanded, Der fused Hawaiian flavors with dishes inspired by his time at Tao Tao, adding chicken katsu, shrimp plates, teriyaki meatballs and his signature spring rolls.
Today, Der owns five trucks all together, including the Hawaiian-inspired Da Poke Wagon, and has become something of a food truck elder. He’s called “the Mayor” by others in the food truck game and frequently buys, sells and helps others launch mobile food businesses. Later this month, he’s even teaching a seminar for aspiring food truckers. He attends all sorts of events and festivals around town, but you can almost always find him in the Crossroads during First Fridays.
“Food trucking isn’t easy,” Der says. “I’ll start work at eight in the morning and sometimes not get home until past eight at night. But I try to teach and mentor other food truckers because if I can help create a community of other food truckers that can make their own way and grow, I think I can leave something behind that way. And, hey, it’s fun.”
Julita’s
Chicken In Waffle Cone With Red Beans & Rice
Julita’s is one of the few soul food trucks serving the Kansas City metro. Chef Julita Latimer’s signature fried chicken is served pan-fried and paired with classic sides like mac and cheese, but we suggest getting it tossed in smoky, spicy maple syrup and served in a waffle cone for a savory treat like no other. Head to Julita’s website to learn where they will be next.
Miranda’s Mexican Food Truck
Tacos De Canasta
There are lots of things you can grab at Miranda’s, like chicken flautas, tortas, even the lesser-seen masa and bean dish of huaraches. But it’s the tacos de canasta, stuffed with stewy pork shoulder and smothered with a zesty red sauce, that keep customers consistently lined up outside the truck’s window. You can find Miranda’s along Southwest Boulevard throughout the week (3029 Southwest Blvd., KCMO) or on Facebook @mirandas-mexican-food-truck.
Ragusa’s Italian Cafe
Italian Crepes and Cannolis
Soft, sweet Italian crepes are Ragusa’s signature item, but you’ll find their menu is filled with other Italian delights and specials. One day the special might be a homey lasagna made from scratch, and the next day the special could be imported cannolis and homemade tiramisu. This Italian cafe on wheels doesn’t stick to a regular location, but you can book them for your next event by checking out their website.
Amruta Vilas
Masala Dosa
Posted up at the Flash Petro gas station in Olathe is Amruta Vilas, a truck serving a blend of South Indian and Chinese flavors (16610 W. 135th St., Olathe). This means you can snag pani puri, chicken fried rice, green chili-stuffed mirchi and more until midnight every day of the week. A blend of South Indian and authentic Chinese flavors, Amruta serves dishes that “celebrate the rich culinary heritage of India while also embracing the zest of Chinese flavors,” they say.
Babushka’s Kitchen
Chicken Kiev Skewers Plate With Piroshky
It’s not easy to find crispy chicken kiev in KC—or any other kind of Slavic food for that matter—but Babushka’s Kitchen aims to change that. Pull up to the food truck, often stationed in Lee’s Summit’s in an At Home parking lot (601 Route 291, Lee’s Summit, MO), and you can snag borscht, pork kebabs and even perogies on the go.
