Whether you’re looking for quick and easy snacks, a late-night bite, or dessert, Des Moines has plenty of options on wheels.
Many food trucks are weather-dependent and have changing schedules, so it’s best to check their websites or social media before stopping by. Cory Mitchell, who runs foodtrucksdsm.com, keeps a running list of area food trucks and updates their dates and hours weekly.
Here’s a look at six not-to-miss food trucks in Des Moines:
Big Taco Truck
Coated in neon green with bright words that read “Big Taco Truck,” it’s hard to miss this food truck. Big Taco Truck, situated in the MLK Coin Laundry parking lot, serves street tacos of all kinds, including steak, chicken and al pastor, along with tortas, burritos, and chicken flautas. Try their birria ramen, ramen cooked in birria broth, meat, cilantro and onion, or their quesabirria, which comes with cheese, cilantro and onion. Note: This spot accepts cash only, according to the truck’s Facebook page.
Location: 2600 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Des Moines, MLK Coin Laundry
Neighborhood: Prospect Park
Cuisine: Mexican
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays
Follow them: On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/Big-Taco-Truck-LLC-100083511004662/.
2nd Ave Sandwich
Looking for a late-night bite? Parked next to the Beechwood Lounge, 2nd Ave Sandwich is the perfect stop after a late night at work or after hitting up the East Village bars. Co-owner Matt Linford opened the truck in 2021 to provide unique bites for food industry employees and bar-goers. 2nd Ave Sandwich features an “in the moment” menu largely made up of hot, pressed sandwiches that rotates every two weeks, Linford says. About 80% to 90% is made from scratch, Linford says. One constant is the chopped cheese, which comes with a beef patty, onion and the truck’s chopped sauce. A recent menu features sandwiches like a garlic chicken po boy, aji chicken and Mediterranean artichoke.
Location: Next to the Beechwood Lounge, 416 E. Walnut St., Des Moines
Neighborhood: East Village
Cuisine: Sandwiches, late-night bites
Hours: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday to Friday
Follow them: On Instagram at @2ndavesandwich
Veggie Thumper
Veggie Thumper is a colorful bus that offers a blend of “conscious cuisine” that’s vegan comfort food, says owner Lyssa Wade. Opened in 2017, Wade locally sources her produce to serve up dishes like the Philly “Cheesesteak” and the Pineapple Shroom N Cheese Bean Burger, which come with root wedges. A fan favorite, Wade says, is the BBQ “Chick’n” & White Bean Nachos, though the Frisco Melt is a “hard second.” For dessert, the truck recently has been selling oatmeal chocolate chip sweet potato cookies and chocolate chip oatmeal cream pies.
Location: Varies. Veggie Thumper spends most weeks alternating between the Ace Hardware Store at 4808 University Ave., Des Moines, and Franklin Center at 4801 Franklin Ave., Des Moines. They’re also a regular at the Beaverdale Farmers Market on Tuesday nights, June through September.
Neighborhood: Varies
Cuisine: Vegan, comfort food
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Ace Hardware and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Franklin Center
Follow them: On Instagram at @veggiethumper; on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Veggiethumper/. Visit their site at https://www.veggiethumper.com/.
+58 Venezuelan
While this food truck isn’t technically in Des Moines, it’s worth a mention. Opened in 2024 by Lenin Rivas and his father-in-law, Rafael Zabala, +58 Venezuelan food truck is named for the country code for their home country. The bright yellow food truck, which sits under an awning that once housed a gas station, features classics from Venezuela and other South and Central American countries, including arepas, empanadas, tequeños and cachapas.
Location: 980 73rd St., Windsor Heights
Cuisine: Venezuelan food
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Follow them: On Instagram at @58venezuelanfood; on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555865027012&sk=about.
Taqueria Los Pinos
Parked in a lot near Aldi in Des Moines’ Highland Park neighborhood, Taqueria Los Pinos’ red truck features an array of street tacos like chorizo, al pastor and steak, as well as burritos and elote in a cup, also called esquites. The menu also includes tortas, pork tamales and quesadillas, according to the truck’s website.
Location: 3920 E. 14th St., Des Moines
Neighborhood: Highland Park
Cuisine: Mexican
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
Follow them: Visit their site at https://taquerialospinosia.com/
Peggy-O’s Food Truck
Grateful Dead references are abound in local, farm-sourced Peggy-O’s Food Truck, a nod to how truck owners Patrick Elliott and Stephanie Petersen met. Opened by the couple in 2021, this retrofitted yellow school bus is home to the signature Peggy-O Pork Sandwich, which comes with a toasted bun, garlic spread, pulled pork, melted cheese, hash green chili sauce and a tomato. “It’s an immaculate sandwich” once the heirloom tomatoes are ready for harvest, Elliott says. You also can skip the bun and get a New Potato Caboose over a bed of potatoes.
Location: Varies. Can be found weekly from April to October at Confluence Brewing Co., 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines
Neighborhood: Gray’s Lake
Cuisine: Sandwiches, gluten-free, vegan options
Hours: At Confluence Brewing Co. on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Follow them: On Instagram at @Peggyosfoodtruck; on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peggyosfoodtruck/.
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