Washington food trucks offer a bounty of tasty and creative options for meatless meals, including many from our Top 25 list. Don’t see your favorite here? Leave a tip in the comments.
Falafel wraps with spicy feta spread at Fava Pot
Forget bland, tough falafel. Fava’s crispy rounds are bright with parsley and mint and not overly filling wrapped in thin lavash. Add spicy feta spread for a more decadent meal, or try it as a dip with lavash chips.
Find it: In Virginia @FavaPot.
Vietnamese tofu salad from Lemongrass Truck
Crispy blocks of spiced tofu make a tasty contrast to a cooling salad brimming with greens, pickled carrots and radishes, cucumber, cilantro, and lemongrass dressing. You can also order the tofu tucked into a bánh mì or tacos and over vermicelli noodles.
Find it: In DC and Virginia @LemongrassTruck
Kik alicha (yellow split pea stew) and beet salad from Mesob on Wheels
Order any two items from this Ethiopian truck’s menu for just $7 (additional dishes are $2). A variety of vegetarian stews and salads includes delicious slow-cooked split peas, beets tossed with jalapeños and tangy vinaigrette, and plenty of injera.
Find it: In Maryland @mesobonwheels.
“Thrilled cheese” sandwich from Big Cheese
While it’s hard to argue with a grilled cheese sandwich, the addition of zesty chipotle cheddar and guacamole make this version even more difficult to refuse.
Find it: In DC and Virginia @bigcheesetruck
Barbecued jackfruit from Randy Radish
The best vegan food truck in the area dishes up tasty eats, even by a carnivore’s standards. A great option for anyone who doesn’t love mock meats: tender, barbecued jackfruit—similar in texture to butternut squash—served in a sandwich with tangy slaw.
Find it: In Virginia @therandyradish.
Spinach-feta crepes from Choupi Crepes
Thin, perfectly made crepes can be filled with a variety of ingredients, including several savory meatless options. Start the day with scrambled eggs and cheese, opt for delicious feta and spinach at lunch, and save room for simple-yet-divine lemon-sugar crepes come dessert.
Find it: In Rosslyn @Choupicrepes.
Falafel salad platters from DC Ballers
Generous platters arrive heaped with superb falafel, tomato-cumber salad, tabbouleh, and hummus drizzled with high-quality olive oil for added richness. The warm, za’atar-spiced pita served alongside is some of the best on the road.
Find it: In DC @DcBallers.
Jerk “chick’n” wings with mac and cheese and kale from Woodland’s Vegan Bistro
Make like Stevie Wonder and hop on the vegan soul food train at this spinoff of the popular Park View spot. Granted, if you don’t like the texture of faux-chicken, these wings won’t be your favorite. Still, they’re seasoned with a bracing amount of spice, better than many poultry dishes. Add on sides like creamy mac and “cheese” and garlicky kale.
Find it: In DC @WoodlandsVB.
Tofu tacos with spicy kimchee slaw from Takorean
While many Korean taco trucks have launched since this early pioneer, their caramelized tofu “takos” with house-made hoisin sauce are still the best. Top them with spicy kimchee and the works, which include Sriracha, cilantro, and more.
Find it: In DC @TaKorean (as well as brick-and-mortar locations in Union Market and Navy Yard).
Indian veggie platters from Saran’s Vegetarian Truck
This mobile spinoff of Arlington’s Saran Indian Cuisine serves veggie platters with two ($6) or three ($8) choices, like tasty spinach with mustard greens, chickpea curry, and paneer makhani.
Find it: In DC @SaransVegiTruck.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
