BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — The food truck industry is alive and thriving, business owners and culinary experts say.
After a coronavirus pandemic-era boom, on-the-go food service has proved it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Rather, more one-time and recurring events keep popping up throughout the Lehigh Valley, promoting business for food truck owners — and variety for their hungry customers.
"The other thing is you don't have to wait for people to walk through your door. You go to the business, you go to the brewery, you're going to the event."Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech Culinary Events and Manager Instructor James Gurcsik
Enough that Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School will hold Food Truck Tuesdays for the second year in a row, and with a growing number of participating students and rotating food trucks.
Convenience and cost are a driving factor, Vo-Tech Culinary Events and Manager Instructor James Gurcsik said. Gurcsik also serves as the food truck instructor.
"It's a lower cost to start," Gurcsik said. "So you're looking at $60,000-$80,000 to start a food truck or mobile food business, whereas a brick and mortar, you're looking at $200,000 and more for building your own or outfitting an area.
"The other thing is you don't have to wait for people to walk through your door. You go to the business, you go to the brewery, you're going to the event."
Five to eight food trucks will fill the vo-tech parking lot. This week, trucks such as DonutNV, La Frikitona, PFG Pizza, Sweet Scoops, Uno Taqueria, Why Not Burgerz, Hungry Hound Express and the vo-tech food truck joined its second Food Truck Tuesday of the year.
A crowd usually fills the remaining spaces between dinnertime, Gurcsik said.
An up-and-coming industry
If that's not enough evidence the food truck industry still is up and coming, the increasing number of students enrolling in the food truck program might be.
Last year, Gurcsik said the school hired four students to work the vo-tech food truck. That number has grown to 20 this year.
It's a similar increase in interest for food truck owners.
"Everybody who owns a food truck definitely wants to be around the Valley."Armando Rodriguez, manager of La Frikitona food truck
Armando Rodriguez, whose wife owns La Frikitona, said business still is booming.
"This year, we noticed a change in the winter season," Rodriguez said. "Normally, it's a little slow season for food trucks, and we had a pretty steady winter."
Rodriguez, manager of the food truck, said it opened in 2021 and has gained notoriety from attending various food truck festivals in the area.
Since it opened, food truck popularity hasn't wavered. Rather, Rodriguez said he's noticed more friends and food truck owners flocking to the Lehigh Valley for business.
"Everybody who owns a food truck definitely wants to be around the Valley," he said.
Here are food truck events planned for the Lehigh Valley.
Recurring events
Food Truck Tuesdays — Alburtis
Two Food Truck Tuesdays will be held in the Lehigh Valley this year.
From 5 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday, various food trucks will gather at the Alburtis Area Community Center pool parking lot. The event, which started in March, may continue into August.
Updates are available on the center's Facebook page, which includes participating food trucks and days.
Food Truck Tuesdays — Bethlehem Township
Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech Truck Tuesdays will continue each Tuesday into the fall.
From 4 to 7 p.m., patrons can trek down to 3300 Chester Road in Bethlehem Township to grab a bite to eat.
Food trucks will rotate on a weekly basis, but always feature the culinary student-operated BAVTS food truck. Find out what food trucks will be there each week by visiting the BAVTS Facebook page.
Wednesday Food Trucks in the Park
Macungie Memorial Park holds food trucks from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday from April to October at 50 Poplar St. The event is free to the public.
Registration is open for May vendors here.
Food Truck Thursdays
South Mall's famous Food Truck Thursdays started back up on May 16 and run through Sept. 12, according to the mall's website. The festival is open from 4 to 8 p.m.
Food Trucks at the Food Bank
Nazareth Area Food Bank will feature food trucks from 5 to 7 p.m. each Thursday for the next three weeks. Scarlet Fire Pizza and DonutNV will set up shop at the food bank, at 529 S. Main St., on April 18.
Check the food bank's Facebook page for updates detailing featured food trucks that week.
"You are welcome, but not required, to bring nonperishable food or monetary donations with you!" the food bank said in a Facebook post.
"The Nazareth Area Food Bank would not survive without the kindness and generosity of individuals and businesses."
Food Truck Fridays
Lehigh Valley Mall also has hopped on the food truck bandwagon.
From 4 to 8 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month, from April through October, the mall will hold a food truck festival in its Macy's parking lot.
The event will feature some recurring partners, such as Uno Taqueria, Hungry Hound Express, Chef Alpaca, Puerto Pinay Delites and Mediterranean King.
Single-day food truck events
One-off food truck events also will take place into the summer throughout the Lehigh Valley.
Find out when and where — and maybe even who will be there — below:
Catasauqua's EATS Fest
When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 27.
Where: Catasauqua Park Complex, 501 American St.
Who: Mon & Mel's Sweet Scoops, Slide on By, Greek Street, Easton Wine Project, Ce-Ce's Lemonade, Leremiloosweets, Smokehouse Food Truck, Take a Taco, Grubnight Food Truck, Taylor House Brewing, Rollz & Bowls, Mattie's Studel Haus, Estelle's Catering and Cakes and Uncle Louie G's.
Easton Street Eats Food Truck Festival
When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 11.
Where: West Ward N. 12 St., Easton.
Who: The vendor list is not yet available, as the application portal closes on May 3. At the time of writing, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce events webpage reads, "no longer accepting: ice cream, Spanish cuisine or donuts."
Food Truck and Book Fair Night
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 15.
Where: Parkway Manor Elementary School, 768 Parkway Road, Allentown.
Who: PFG Pizza, Kitchen Outlawz, Taco Town, Ridge Runner BBQ and Batch Ice Cream.
More: The parent-teacher organization also will have water and soda for sale there. PTO Co-president Nicole Reed said the event is organized for Parkway Manor students, families and friends, but the public is welcome, as well.
Nazareth Food Truck Festival
When: From 2 to 6 p.m. June 8
Where: Downtown Nazareth
Who: AK Farms, Donut NV, Greek Street, HC Mobile Foods, Mon & Mel's Sweet Scoops, Naz-O-Nut, RK Mobile Foods and Easton Wine Project.
Food Truck Festival at the Winery!
When: From 1 to 4 p.m. June 22.
Where: Stony Run Winery, 150 Independent Road, Breinigsville.
Who: Hungry Hound Express, Spuds Events and Catering, Twisted Pita Food Truck, J Rads Wood Fired Pizza, Momma's Belly Buster, Mamas Majik Kitchen, Jenny Jump's Junction, Chino's Place, Endless Empanadas, Omayra Bites and Oomie Zoomies.
Lehigh Valley Food Truck Festival
When: From noon-6 p.m. Aug. 26
Where: 1050 IronPigs Way, Allentown.
Who: Smokehouse Food Truck, Kennedy's Kitchen, Taco Town, Philly Pretzel Factory, Charlie's Italian Sausage, Holy Smoked Meats, The Flying V Food Truck, Kona Ice, The Nacho Depot, Greek Street, Auntie Ann's Pretzels, Local Harvest Pizza, The Popcorn Pit, Humpty's Dumplings and Angels on Wheels.
Admission to the event — which will showcase a variety of food trucks, live music, entertainment and drinks — is free.
