Meals on the Move: 5 Tokyo Food Trucks

Food trucks are internationally known and often synonymous with a wide variety of cuisines, from domestic dishes to the globally adored flavors of tacos, Mexican rice bowls, East Asian bao buns, and so much more — Japan’s food truck scene is no different! 

There’s a food truck for every kind of cuisine, but if you’re walking around Tokyo and getting confused looks in response to asking if there are any food trucks nearby? Well, that’s because food trucks are called “kitchen cars” in Japan, which is as interesting as it is adorable.

Follow in the footsteps of Shizuka and explore some of Tokyo’s best food trucks.

Based in the new seafood haven of Toyosu — taking the reins from Tsukiji in 2018 — this chef is taking the food truck scene by storm with his unique sushi food truck, harking back to the history of Edomae sushi, originally sold in stalls along the side of the road in Edo (now known as Tokyo).

One of the interesting dishes sold at Sushi Sakigake is bara chirashi, an assortment of raw fish on top of vinegared rice. You can also enjoy the premium experience of omakase sushi, something you might not expect to find in a food truck, whereby the chef will choose either three, five, or 10 pieces of sushi for you based on seasonal ingredients and the produce available at the Toyosu Fish Market that morning.

This sushi food truck changes location every day, so head to the Sushi Sakigake Instagram to find out where they’ll be!

Fun fact: Edomae sushi exists because back in the Edo Period, when refrigeration was yet to be fully utilized and food had a shorter shelf life, vinegar was used to extend the use-by-date of the sushi on sale.

Located in the food truck haven known as Neo-Yataimura, or “Food Truck Park” as it’s known locally, get a mouthful of Mexican cuisine at Pieni Kissa. Choose one of their taco rice options and dive into a world of cheese, meat, crisp salad and a gooey onsen egg, should you choose to add it as a topping.

Take a walk around Tokyo’s Food Truck Park!

For that Tokyo-based taste of Taiwan, line up at Okaka Kitchen for a squishy BBQ pork bao bun filled with chashu pork and coriander — perfect for pairing with one of their imported sweet apple ciders.

You’ll also find food trucks that exist to give back to society, like eat for. With every meal they sell, they donate money to local farmers. Additionally, they practice the art of “food rescue,” in which they make use of vegetables and ingredients that are at risk of being thrown out due to cosmetic defects. 

As you might expect from such a socially conscious food truck, they sell a delicious vegan curry that’s ideal for hungry vegans in Japan — you can even add eggs or cheese for an extra hit of protein if you happen to be vegetarian — a tomato-based curry with a kick of spice and sweetness.

Over in the backstreets of Shibuya, make time to stop at La Cabina for authentic Mexican tacos. There are six different taco toppings to choose from, including Carnitas, Al Pastor, Chorizo, Lemon Chicken, fish and vegetable, plus quesadilla, guacamole and chips, jalapeno poppers and Mexican rice bowls.

Is anyone else suddenly really craving tacos in Tokyo? Head to La Cabina in Shibuya.

Craft beer bonus: La Cabina is located on the terrace of OL, a craft beer spot with 20 different options from around the world on tap. They even have recommendations for beers that complement Mexican cuisine, so be sure to pop in for a paired pour.

Wondering what else Tokyo has for you? Check out Shibuya’s best street foods, or see all of Tokyo with the city’s best street foods, taking you from yakitori grilled chicken to takoyaki octopus balls and beyond to karaage fried chicken.

There may not be as big a food truck scene in Tokyo as in other places of the world, but there’s certainly a growing food truck scene with a variety of options to choose from and it increases every year.

The best place for food trucks in Tokyo is probably Food Truck Park, with new food trucks — or “kitchen cars” — every day. You’ll also often find food trucks in Yoyogi Park, Shinjuku, and elsewhere in Shibuya when there’s a festival going on.

As you can tell from this blog, there’s no end to the types of food trucks you’ll discover in Tokyo. From classic Japanese cuisines like sushi and ramen to flavors from further afield, like tacos, rice bowls, bao buns and craft beer, there’s a food truck for everyone.

Bad news! Despite the name, the Tokyo Hibachi food truck is actually based in the US, serving all manner of Asian-inspired dishes, steaks, and more.