2026 Milwaukee Food Truck Catering Guide: 12 Top Trucks for Your Next Event

### 1. Smokin' Jack's BBQ Milwaukee's premier BBQ operation combines a mobile food truck with two brick-and-mortar locations, specializing in Texas-style smoked meats with authentic family recipes passed down through generations. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Texas-style BBQ – brisket, pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken | | **Website** | smokinjackbbq.com | | **Phone** | (262) 420-4269 | | **Email** | jack@smokinjackbbq.com | | **Service Area** | Greater Milwaukee (locations: 3rd Street Market Hall, Brown Deer) | **Catering Capabilities:** On-site catering for weddings and special events with pick-up, delivery, and full setup services. Build-your-own packages available through their Tripleseat booking portal. **Signature Dishes:** Famous "melt-in-your-mouth" brisket sandwich, loaded BBQ nachos, BBQ tacos, loaded brisket baked potato, house-made BBQ sauce. **Recognition:** Restaurant Guru Recommended 2023, Expertise.com Top Catering 2024, listed on TheKnot.com for wedding catering. --- ### 2. Sweet Smoke BBQ Established in 2022, this Texas-style operation uses a **500-gallon offset smoker** with 100% hickory wood. All sides made entirely from scratch. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Texas-style BBQ – brisket, spare ribs, turkey, smoked chicken | | **Website** | sweetsmokebbqmke.com | | **Email** | hello@sweetsmokebbqmke.com | | **Operating Hours** | Fri 11am-2pm, Sat 1pm-6pm, Sun 10:30am-2pm | **Detailed Pricing:** - 1 meat + 2 sides: **$18/person** - 2 meats + 1 side: **$21/person** - 2 meats + 2 sides: **$23/person** - 3 meats + 2 sides: **$25/person** - Whole Brisket (feeds 10-12): **$160** **Lead Time:** Minimum **7 days notice** required for catering orders. --- ### 3. Firewise Barbecue Company Competition-quality BBQ founded in 2016 by Alex Obradovich, a certified **Kansas City Barbeque Society judge and competitor**. All products are gluten-free. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Competition-style BBQ – slow-smoked over hickory | | **Website** | firewisebbq.com | | **Phone** | (414) 403-1375 | | **Email** | firewisebbq@gmail.com | **Regular Locations:** - Tuesdays: Elliot's Ace Hardware, West Allis - Wednesdays: Burghardt's Sporting Goods, New Berlin - Thursdays: Menards, Franklin - Hours: 11am-6pm (or sold out) **Pricing:** 5-meat sampler ~$30; large sandwiches ~$20; sides ~$2.50 each. **Recognition:** Featured in OnMilwaukee's "Must Try Milwaukee: BBQ" and "Food Truck Faves."

### 4. Denson's Catering & Event Planning Family-owned soul food operation since 2013, founded by Sylvia Denson with the motto "Great Food That Feeds The Soul." Over 12 years serving Milwaukee's diverse communities. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Soul food, Southern comfort, BBQ, burgers, tacos, seafood | | **Website** | densonscatering.com | | **Phone** | (414) 803-8980 | | **Address** | 4102 W Fairmount Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53209 | **Catering Capabilities:** Full-service event planning for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and on-set catering. Has catered events of **1,000+ attendees**. Buffet-style or sit-down options with fully customizable menus. **Signature Dishes:** - BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cilantro-Lime Coleslaw ($12) - BBQ Brisket Sandwich ($13) - Cajun Catfish Tacos - Surf N Turf Pineapple Pico Tacos - Shrimp Buffalo Nachos ($13) **Booking:** Available through Best Food Trucks and Roaming Hunger platforms.

### 5. Chucho's Red Tacos Milwaukee's most acclaimed **birria taco specialist**, known for authentic slow-cooked beef birria with rich consomé for dipping. Operates both food truck and restaurant locations. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Authentic Mexican birria tacos, street food | | **Website** | chuchosredtacos.com | | **Phone** | (414) 261-4225 | | **Email** | chuchosredtacos@gmail.com | | **Social Media** | Instagram: @chuchosredtacos (16K+ followers) | | **Locations** | 4511 S 6th St, Milwaukee; 6751 W National Ave, West Allis; Fiserv Forum | **Catering Packages:** - Family Tray Red Taco (12 corn tacos, 16oz consomé): **$43.95** - Fiesta Family Box (40 red tacos, 32oz consomé): **$145.90** **Recognition:** Praised as "best birria in Milwaukee," **4.6/5 stars on DoorDash** (5,000+ ratings). --- ### 6. Taco Mikes Founded in 2020, this modern downtown taco bar focuses on discovering unique flavors worldwide. Known for creative vegan options and late-night hours. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Gourmet street tacos, birria, vegan options | | **Website** | tacomikes.com | | **Phone** | (414) 763-3325 | | **Location** | 1001 N Dr Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Milwaukee | | **Hours** | Tue-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-2am | **Signature Dishes:** Fried Chicken Birria Taco ($7), El Pastor Taco, Chicken Tinga, Camarones, Churro Delight ($13). **Note:** Cashless establishment—credit/debit only. --- ### 7. Falafel Guys Started as a food truck in 2012 by Ron (Israeli-born) and Chrissy Stroli, sharing authentic Middle Eastern recipes. Now operates both mobile truck and brick-and-mortar location at Mequon Public Market. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Authentic Israeli/Mediterranean – falafel, shawarma, kabobs | | **Website** | falafelguysmke.com | | **Phone** | (414) 732-7631 (truck) • (262) 302-4122 (Mequon) | | **Restaurant** | 6300 W Mequon Rd, Mequon Public Market | **Food Truck Locations:** Schlitz Park, Westown Farmers Market, Milwaukee County Courthouse, US Bank downtown, Whitefish Bay. **Signature Dishes:** Falafel, Chicken Shawarma, Kefta Kabob, Israeli Salad, Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Schnitzel. **Seasonal Note:** Food truck operates **March through fall**; restaurant open year-round.

### 8. Ikigai Izakaya Opened May 2024 at Zócalo Food Park, this pan-Asian truck is run by brothers Ivan and Oscar Rubio. Chef Oscar trained with **Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto** and brings 13+ years of culinary expertise. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Japanese-Korean fusion – rice bowls, Korean dishes | | **Website** | ikigaifoodtruck.com | | **Phone** | (414) 238-3818 | | **Location** | Zócalo Food Park, 636 S. 6th St., Walker's Point | | **Hours** | Tue-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm | **Signature Dishes:** Combo IKIGAI ($14.50)—breaded chicken rolled with cheese, carrots, onions, served sushi-style; Bulgogi; Bibimbap; Gochujang Shrimp; Mandu. **Recognition:** Featured on Telemundo Wisconsin, Urban Milwaukee, OnMilwaukee. --- ### 9. Lumpia City Filipino fusion pioneers established in 2015, relocated from San Diego to Milwaukee in 2016. Now operates a **Fiserv Forum concession stand** and sells products at **60+ retail locations**. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Filipino fusion – creative lumpia (egg rolls) | | **Website** | lumpiacity.com | | **Phone** | (414) 630-0084 | | **Commercial Kitchen** | 770 N. Jefferson St., Milwaukee (produces 8,000-10,000 units monthly) | **Signature Dishes:** Five-Cheese Mac Lumpia (bestseller), Sriracha Pork Lumpia, Korean Beef Lumpia, Philly Cheesesteak Lumpia, Dutch Apple Pie Lumpia, Cinnamon Roll Lumpia. **Recognition:** Featured in BizTimes Milwaukee "Made in Milwaukee." --- ### 10. Tigerbite One of Milwaukee's **pioneering Asian fusion trucks** since 2010, owned by W. Chang and Noel Ly, a Hmong-American couple. Blends Vietnamese, Korean, and Hmong flavors with Mexican-style tacos. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Asian-Mexican fusion, Hmong-American | | **Website** | tigerbitetruck.com | | **Booking** | roaminghunger.com/tigerbite-truck | **Signature Dishes:** "Phonita" (Vietnamese pho-braised pork with basil, onions, cilantro, bean sprouts), Classic Korean BBQ steak taco, Award-winning Hmong-style egg rolls. **Recognition:** Won **"Best Egg Roll in Milwaukee"** at Silver City Asian Festival—the only commercial source of authentic Hmong-style egg rolls in Milwaukee.

### 11. C.O.W. (Curds of Wisconsin) "The COW Truck" is Wisconsin's premier **cheese curd specialist**, described as "A Wisconsin Icon." Dedicated exclusively to beer-battered, deep-fried Wisconsin cheese curds. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Wisconsin cheese curds – original and flavored varieties | | **Website** | curdsofwisconsin.com | | **Phone** | (715) 432-2011 | **Catering Capabilities:** Large-scale events of **3,000+ guests** (minimum for truck booking). Ideal for major festivals, fairs, and corporate gatherings. **Recognition:** Featured on Wisconsin Dairy News, won Wausau Rafters CurdFest, regular at Beer & Bacon Fest. --- ### 12. Flour Girl & Flame Women-owned, LGBTQ+-owned **wood-fired pizza truck** based in West Allis. Uses Wisconsin kiln-dried cherry wood, local organic heirloom flour, wild yeast, and Wisconsin cheese. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Wood-fired artisan pizza with Wisconsin ingredients | | **Website** | flourgirlandflame.com | | **Location** | 8125 W National Ave, West Allis, WI 53214 | | **Hours** | Wed-Sun 4-8pm | **Catering Capabilities:** Intimate gatherings to **300 guests**. Weddings, corporate events, rehearsal dinners. Mobile wood-fired oven with exhibition-style cooking. **Pricing:** - 30-Person Package: ~**$28/person** (1 salad + 4 pizza selections) - Premium Package: ~**$39/person** (2 appetizers, 1 salad, 4 pizzas) **Signature Dishes:** "Pep in Yer Step" with house-made giardiniera, Detroit Style Pizza, Hot Honey Buffalo Wings. **Recognition:** Award-winning Milwaukee pizza. Contributes **5% of wedding catering profits to charity** of couple's choosing.

Milwaukee's **first and most decorated food truck**, operating since 2009. Named **"#1 Food Truck in the U.S."** by Bloomberg Businessweek. | Detail | Information | |--------|-------------| | **Cuisine** | Gourmet pizza with Wisconsin cheese | | **Website** | streetza.com | | **Minimum** | $750 (includes 2 hours service) | **Detailed Pricing:** - Pizza Only: **$10/person** ($750 minimum) - Pizza, Salad & Garlic Bread: **$12.50/person** - Pizza, Pasta & More: **$16/person** ($1,000 minimum) - "Fancy-Pants Pizza Party": **$25/person** ($1,250 minimum) **Recognition:** - **#1 Food Truck in the U.S.** – Bloomberg Businessweek - **Best 25 Food Trucks in America** – Food Network - **10 Best Food Trucks in the U.S.** – GQ Magazine - Featured in Forbes, TIME, Smithsonian Magazine

### Licensing Requirements Operating a food truck for catering in Milwaukee requires permits from both the **City Clerk's License Division** and the **Health Department**: - **Food Peddler License:** $305/year for motorized vehicles; $275/year for pushed/pedaled vehicles - **Mobile Seller's License:** $75 (required if licensed in another Wisconsin jurisdiction) - **Food Manager Certificate:** Must be on truck at all times - **Health Department Food License:** Posted in window facing out - **Mobile Service Base:** Licensed facility required—trucks must return every **24 hours** ### Insurance Requirements - **General Liability:** $300-$800/year for $1 million coverage - **Commercial Auto Insurance:** $2,000-$4,000/year (required) - **Workers' Compensation:** Required if 3+ employees (~$1,000-$1,500/year) - **Major events** (Wisconsin State Fair): Minimum $1 million per occurrence, $2 million aggregate ### Operating Restrictions Milwaukee divides food truck zones into **Type 1 (time-limited)** with maximum 6 hours in any 12-hour period, and **Type 2 (density-limited)** requiring permits assigned by seniority. Trucks **cannot operate within 50 feet of restaurants**. Private event catering on private property with landowner permission does not require additional city permits. **Official resources:** city.milwaukee.gov/cityclerk/license/FoodTrucks

### Permanent Food Truck Parks **Zócalo Food Truck Park** (636 S. 6th Street, Walker's Point) serves as Milwaukee's **first permanent multi-food truck park**, opened July 2019. Features 6-8 resident trucks, indoor tavern with craft cocktails, and **heated outdoor huts for year-round operation**. ### Major Festivals | Event | Details | |-------|---------| | **Summerfest** | Late June-Early July, world's largest music festival | | **Wisconsin State Fair** | 11 days in August, 1 million+ attendees, 32+ food trucks | | **MKE Food Truck Fest** | Annual July event, 20+ vendors | | **West Allis Food Truck Fridays** | 6501 W. National Ave., 18+ trucks | | **Milwaukee Taco Fest** | 30+ trucks/restaurants at Henry Maier Festival Park | ### Regular Locations Food trucks serve regularly at Schlitz Park (Take-Out Tuesdays), Milwaukee County Courthouse (Thursdays), Aurora Health Care locations, and various corporate parks.

The **Milwaukee Food Trucks** collective (milwaukeefoodtrucks.org) acts as the primary regional organization, featuring member directories, booking services, and hot spot maps integrated with the StreetFoodFinder app. **Roaming Hunger** maintains the largest network with **98+ trucks registered** in the Milwaukee area, offering full-service booking and Just-in-Case Support programs. **Booking platforms serving Milwaukee:** - Roaming Hunger: roaminghunger.com/milwaukee - Street Food Finder: streetfoodfinder.com/milwaukee - Best Food Trucks: bestfoodtrucks.com **Want a simpler booking experience?** [Edesia Catering](https://edesia.catering) offers a modern platform to discover, compare, and book food trucks for any event size—from corporate lunches to large festivals.

Milwaukee food trucks operate primarily **May through October**, with peak demand during summer festival season (June-August). Booking **2-3 months in advance** is recommended for popular trucks during peak season. Wisconsin's harsh winters significantly limit outdoor operations from November through March. **Winter alternatives:** - Zócalo Food Truck Park operates year-round with heated facilities - Many trucks offer **drop-off catering** as a cold-weather alternative - 3rd Street Market Hall provides year-round indoor options - Holiday parties (November-December) remain viable for indoor venue catering

### Per-Person Rates by Cuisine Type | Cuisine | Per-Person Range | Typical Minimum | |---------|------------------|-----------------| | Tacos/Mexican | $10-18 | $500-800 | | BBQ | $14-22 | $700-1,000 | | Pizza | $15-25 | $650-950 | | Asian Fusion | $14-22 | $700-950 | | Gourmet/Premium | $25-45 | $1,000-1,500 | The **Milwaukee market average is $1,541 per event**, slightly higher than the national average due to operating costs. Most trucks require **$1,200-$1,500 minimums** for full-service catering. ### Cost-Saving Strategies Event planners can reduce costs by booking **off-peak seasons** (fall, winter, weekdays), meeting minimum guest counts, booking 2-3 months ahead, and considering food carts for smaller budgets. Wedding catering through food trucks typically runs **$20-45 per person**—50-70% savings compared to traditional catering averaging $65-75 per person.

1. **Book early**: 2-3 months minimum; 6 months for peak summer dates 2. **Verify licensing**: Confirm valid Wisconsin Food Peddler License 3. **Use trusted platforms**: Milwaukee Food Trucks or [Edesia Catering](https://edesia.catering) for vetted trucks 4. **Consider seasonality**: May-October for outdoor events; year-round at Zócalo 5. **Understand minimums**: Budget $750-1,500 for typical events 6. **Confirm logistics**: Power needs, flat space, load-in times 7. **Plan for weather**: Wisconsin climate requires contingency plans 8. **Check insurance**: Major events may require proof of coverage