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From the Blog

Top 20 food trucks and pop-ups in Devon and Cornwall

Posted by Sophie Hesp on Updated on
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Coffee from a horsebox and tacos by the sea

A South West staycation and great local food go hand in hand, so we set out to find the top 20 food trucks and pop-ups in Devon and Cornwall. Perfect for evenings on the beach or breakfast watching the sunrise, these unique ‘on the go’ options promise plenty of foodie inspiration ahead of your next escape.

Dine with a view

Hungry Horsebox Co | Gwithian, West Cornwall

 

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© Hungry Horsebox Co

On Gwithian Beach in West Cornwall, you’ll find a vibrant blue horsebox serving everything from tacos to tea and cake. Hungry Horsebox Co is the place to be if you’re looking for al fresco dining with a view. 

For lunch, menu options include Cornish brie or beef brisket ciabatta, sweet potato and lentil dhal and five bean chili nachos. If you’re stopping by after a day on the sand, buy a taco ticket online and choose from line caught mackerel or bang bang cauliflower – both served with homemade kimchi, crispy onions and sriracha carrots. 

The horsebox is open seasonally on fair weather days, evening meals are served between 6pm and 9pm and you’ll find the nearest car parks at Godrevy and Gwithian Towans. 

HarbourQ | Charlestown, South Cornwall

 

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An extension of Charlestown’s Longstore restaurant, HarbourQ is the perfect spot to enjoy a laid back dinner by the water. Open every evening when the Cornish weather allows, this South Cornwall eatery specialises in elevated barbeque food. Think dirty fries, hot dogs, soft tortilla tacos and towering burgers, served alongside a frozen strawberry margarita or a pint of draught beer.  

Place your order, find a spot on the harbour and take in magical views over one of Cornwall’s most iconic locations – HarbourQ will take care of the rest. 

Gastrobus Beach Food | Bantham and Thurlestone, South Devon

Visiting some of Devon’s most picturesque locations, look to Gastrobus for gourmet sandwiches, freshly baked pastries, fresh coffee and everything in between. With four pastel-coloured food trucks – Gastrobus, Gastropizza, Gastrobar and Gastro Treats – this lovely local business is based between Bantham and Thurlestone on the south coast.

For a seaside tipple, head to Thurlestone where the pretty in pink Gastro Treats bus will be parked up to serve prosecco, pints and Pimms in the sunshine. 

Barricane Beach Café | Woolacombe, North Devon

Based on Woolacombe Beach, this café is loved for its Sri Lankan curry nights. There’s no need to book, just find a place on the sand, get in line and place your order at the hatch. On the menu you’ll find a choice of meat or vegetable curries, as well as the usual accompaniments like poppadoms, rice, mango chutney and coconut sambol. 

Generally, the café is open Thursday to Saturday from Easter until September, and in true Devon fashion, closing time is when the curry runs out. It’s worth liking the Facebook page to make sure they’re open before heading down, and don’t forget to take cash. 

Perfect for pizza night

Flour Power Pizza Parlour | West Cornwall

 

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© Flour Power Pizza Parlour

Finalists in the British Street Food Awards in 2019, this mobile pizzeria fills its fantastically decorated food truck with fresh and healthy artisan pizza. Covering four locations across the county from Portreath to Hayle, Rebecca and Simon moved to Cornwall after training in Florence to become professional pizzaioli, or pizza makers.

Their ingredients are seasonal and sometimes foraged, bringing a taste of Kernow to an Italian classic. We love the sound of their pomodoro – made with homemade San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, fresh chilies, sundried tomatoes, fresh rocket and balsamic glaze. Gluten free bases are also available, alongside a dedicated vegan menu. 

Wild Bake | North Cornwall

Celebrating wood-fired street food, Wild Bake bring their authentic handmade pizzas to the people of Cornwall at local pitches four evenings a week. From their classic margherita to tempting veggie and cured meat options, the truck’s ‘less is more’ approach sees owner Lewis use only the best local ingredients to create his signature sauce and perfectly puffed up crusts.

Set to park up in new seasonal pitches throughout the summer, the distinctive green Wild Bake trailer will delight pizza lovers of all ages. Keep an eye on their social media pages for specials that change weekly, then drop Lewis a text to place your pick-up order.

Something sweet

Kern | Cornwall

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© Kern

This pastel pink pop-up is run by twin sisters Maren and Kris, founders of the Coppafeel charity. Travelling across Cornwall serving fresh locally roasted coffee and German-inspired sweet treats, Kern’s iconic Citroen H van (fondly named Beyoncé) has most recently enjoyed a stint above The Boathouse in Newquay. 

Kern’s beautiful Bundt cakes are always in high demand, served with edible flowers, perfectly ripe fruit and a generous dollop of Moomaid ice cream. Flavours include chocolate, cherry and pistachio and raspberry, lemon and rose. The blueberry option is another must-try if you ask us.

Beetle Juice South West | Devon and Cornwall

 

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© Beetle Juice

Holidaying cocktail lovers need look no further than Beetle Juice South West this summer. Driving their VW fleet across Devon and Cornwall, this unique family-run company was set up in 2012, and their drink-filled campers now feature everything from champagne bars to DJ booths.

Cornwall favourite Ellie is usually parked up on Perranporth Beach for Tunes in the Dunes festival, while previous South West spots include Mount Edgecombe Country Park, Plymouth Seafood Festival and St Mawes Carnival. Drinks-wise, you can look forward to picante margaritas, golden mojitos, blackcurrant brambles and of course the namesake beetle juice.

Pink Flamingo Ice Cream | Newquay, North Cornwall

 

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© Pink Flamingo Ice Cream (left)

When the sun’s shining, you’ll find Pink Flamingo at South Fistral Beach in Newquay – just look out for the bunting-clad blue and white van. Flavours include rhubarb and custard, raspberry ripple, strawberry clotted cream and orange and mascarpone. For our vegan and dairy-free readers, we’d recommend the gin and tonic sorbet – perfect for when summer's in full swing.

Cornish cuisine meets flavours from afar

Fat Cat Cornwall | Cornwall

 

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© Fat Cat Cornwall

Bringing fresh ramen and zingy katsu to the Cornish coast, Fat Cat have taken the county by storm over the last few months. Their pop-ups at Newquay Boathouse, The Portreath Arms and Padstow Farm Shop have seen their Asian-inspired dishes selling out at record speed, and it’s easy to see why.

We visited on a sunny May weekend to sample their small but mighty menu and their the ‘OG paitan’ and katsu curry both come highly recommended. Think charred vegetables, slow braised meats, sticky rice and fresh Tokyo style noodles, all wrapped up to take away. Follow along on Instagram @fatcatcornwall for the best chance of securing a space at their next Cornwall take-over later this month.

Fal Falafel | Falmouth, South Cornwall

 

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© Fal Falafel

Winner of ‘Best street food in Cornwall' at the What's on Cornwall Awards, Fal Falafel brings a feast from the Middle East to the streets of Falmouth. The food truck’s completely vegan menu is a meze haven of pittas, salad boxes, hummus, falafels and stuffed vine leaves – made with rice, lemon juice, oil and spices.

Everything is served fresh in biodegradable packaging and the company support Cornwall’s local farmers wherever they can, with pittas made on the same farm the wheat is grown on.

The Shellfish Pig and Bango Kitchen | Penryn, South Cornwall

 

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© The Shellfish Pig

Sharing their award-winning dishes with Devon and Cornwall’s festival scene, The Shellfish Pig pride themselves on ‘tasty street food on the move’. Their ‘Bango Kitchen’ in Penryn is open for takeaway from 11am, cooking up fresh sushi, bao buns, dumplings and ramen. 

With a menu that showcases the South West’s finest produce, we’d recommend ordering ahead on the app and swinging by on the way to Swanpool or Gyllyngvase in nearby Falmouth to enjoy your #BangoOnTheBeach.

Big Pan Parties | Polzeath, North Cornwall

Having set up shop in Cornwall, Big Pan Parties are here to bring paella to Polzeath, Harlyn Bay and beyond. They’re a family-run business with a background in weddings, festivals and corporate events, now serving everything from seafood paella and jambalaya to Thai chicken curry.

The proud owners of the largest paella pan in the UK, through summer 2022 you’ll find Big Pan in Harlyn Bay Beach car park – perfect for supper on the sand or to take back to your holiday home. 

New to the scene

Craftworks Secret Garden | Padstow, North Cornwall

 

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Having settled into a brand new Padstow location, Craftworks’ Secret Garden promises casual al fresco dining beneath the stars. Think towering pine trees, beautiful tipis and their signature shipping container-turned-kitchen, plus burritos, burgers and tacos aplenty.

We love the look of their drinks menu too, with Knightor Negronis and Tarquin’s gin waving the flag for Cornwall. 

Wild Artichokes | Kingsbridge, South Devon

Already an established event and food planning business, Wild Artichokes have recently diversified their range to offer feasts, treats, bakes and boxes to take away from their Kingsbridge HQ. 

Whether it’s a midweek meal or one of their Friday Curry and Spice Nights, everything is cooked up fresh and ready to collect, just bring along a cool box and you’re set for the evening. If destination dining is more your thing, Wild Artichokes’ summer pop-up locations include Coombe Farm Studio in Dittisham and Michael Sutton’s Cellar in Riversbridge.

Bait Shed

The team at Bait Shed in Portreath are just starting out for the 2022 season, serving blackened monkfish, seared scallops and even dog-friendly ice cream by the harbour. Open from 12pm most days, they're constantly evolving their menu to make the most of the fisherman's catch, and well worth a visit.

 

If that's not enough...

We've heard good things about The Wild Food Kitchen, who serve 'rustic style catering created with locally sourced produce influenced by the seasons'. Another Cornwall favourite of ours is Bangers on the Go while in Devon, you'll find Hook, Line and Fish Finger and Flour and Flame - recommended for fish finger sandwiches and wood fired pizzas.

Please note many of these food trucks and pop-ups are seasonal and will only be open from April - October.

Image creditsHungry Horsebox CoFlour Power Pizza Parlour | Kern | Beetle JuicePink Flamingo Ice CreamFat Cat CornwallFal Falafel | The Shellfish Pig | Screenshots from Instagram via HarbourQ and Craftworks. Main image courtesy of Hungry Horsebox Co. Ice cream image from Unsplash.

Last updated: 16th July 2022.

 

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Posted by Sophie Hesp

When she's not out for a roast by the coast, Sophie loves exploring with her partner and their golden retriever pup, Obi. She writes about all things Cornwall and is a strong believer that there’s no such thing as too many house plants.

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