The best food trucks in New Plymouth cover everything from a quick weekday poke bowl in the city centre to a summer burrito by the beach at Ōakura. Food trucks in New Plymouth also do a lot of private work, bringing pizza, Mexican street food and gourmet trailer menus to weddings, birthdays and work functions across Taranaki. Kahakai Poke Bowl and Kickflip Pizza show that range, one parked up daily on Liardet Street and the other booked for events.
1Kahakai Poke Bowl
Kahakai is a Hawaiian-style poke bowl food truck parked at the Liardet Street Projects courtyard in central New Plymouth. Owner Annie Foley opened the truck after discovering poke bowls on family trips to Montreal, and the menu is built around marinated raw fish served over sushi rice, spinach or a mix of both. It suits anyone after a fresh, healthy takeaway lunch or early dinner in town.
Services
- Poke bowls with marinated raw fish
- Plant-based poke bowls
- Choice of sushi rice, spinach or half-and-half base
- Takeaway lunch and evening service
- Phone orders for pick-up
Highlights
- Entire menu is gluten free and dairy free
- Owner-operated by Annie Foley
- Based at the Liardet Street Projects food truck courtyard
- Open for lunch Tuesday to Saturday and evenings Thursday to Saturday
Location & Contact
Name: Kahakai Poke Bowl
Address: 21 Liardet Street, New Plymouth 4310
Phone: 022 368 4245
Website: kahakaipokebowl.com
2Kickflip Pizza
Kickflip Pizza is a mobile pizza truck inspired by California skate culture, operating out of New Plymouth and Wellington since 2018. The team makes its own slow-fermented dough and cooks thin-crust pizzas fresh on site, keeping them coming until guests are full. It is set up mainly for weddings, parties and private events across the lower North Island.
Services
- Food truck wedding catering
- Pizza catering for private parties and events
- Classic catering with pizzas served at the truck window
- Premium catering with a waiter delivering pizzas
Highlights
- Operating since 2018
- Dough made in-house using a slow fermentation process
- Sauce made from Italian sun-ripened tomatoes with New Zealand-made mozzarella
- Gluten free, dairy free and vegan requests catered for
- Published per-head pricing, with a minimum of 40 guests
Location & Contact
Name: Kickflip Pizza
Address: New Plymouth
Phone: 021 069 9134
Website: kickflippizza.com
3Holy Guacamole
Holy Guacamole is a little green Mexican food caravan parked on the grass at the Keyhole on Tasman Parade in Ōakura, on the coast southwest of New Plymouth. Run by owners Laura and Tom, it trades through the summer months, serving burritos, bowls and quesadillas a short walk from the beach. The truck is also available for weddings and business functions around Taranaki.
Services
- Burritos and burrito bowls
- Nacho bowls and quesadillas
- Phone orders for pick-up
- Mobile wedding catering across Taranaki
- Business function catering
Highlights
- Trading since 2014
- Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options
- Beachside location near the Ōakura holiday park
- Seasonal evening trading from January to March
Location & Contact
Name: Holy Guacamole
Address: The Keyhole, Tasman Parade, Ōakura
Phone: 027 694 6594
Website: holyguacamole.co.nz
4The Silo
The Silo is an Airstream-style gourmet food trailer run by qualified chef Charlotte, who started the business in late 2023 and has since opened the Crop & Brew deli on Gill Street in New Plymouth. The trailer is booked for weddings, workplace functions and private events anywhere in Taranaki, serving street food straight from the window or supporting larger buffet and grazing menus. It suits couples and event hosts who want a food truck with full catering options behind it.
Services
- Street food served from the onsite trailer
- Buffet and family-style dining
- Gourmet hot grazing tables
- Canapés and street-style desserts
- Crockery hire
Highlights
- Chef-owner qualified for over 10 years
- Trailer can be decorated to match a wedding or event theme
- Menus built around any dietary requirement
Location & Contact
Name: The Silo
Address: 73 Gill Street, New Plymouth
Website: thesilo.co.nz
Food Trucks in New Plymouth at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Kahakai Poke Bowl | Entire menu is gluten free and dairy free |
| Kickflip Pizza | Operating since 2018 |
| Holy Guacamole | Trading since 2014 |
| The Silo | Chef-owner qualified for over 10 years |
How to Choose the Right Food Truck in New Plymouth
- Walk-up or booked: some trucks trade daily from a fixed spot, while others work mainly by booking for weddings and events, so check which model suits you.
- Seasonal hours: beachside and summer trucks often close over winter, so confirm opening months before making the drive.
- Dietary needs: ask about gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options, and whether guests with requirements order separately at events.
- Event logistics: for private hire, check power needs, setup time, travel fees, minimum guest numbers and deposit terms.
- Service style: decide between food served at the truck window, a waiter bringing food to guests, or a buffet or grazing setup.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Plymouth Food Trucks
Where can I find a food truck in New Plymouth city centre?
The Liardet Street Projects courtyard at 21 Liardet Street in central New Plymouth hosts a group of food trucks trading several days a week, making it the easiest spot to find a food truck in New Plymouth without a booking. Other trucks appear at markets, festivals and summer beach spots such as Ōakura.
Can I hire a food truck for my wedding in Taranaki?
Yes. Many food trucks around New Plymouth take wedding bookings, serving pizza, Mexican food or gourmet street food on site. Book well ahead for summer dates, as the peak season fills quickly.
How much does food truck catering cost?
Pricing is usually per head, with minimum guest numbers, a booking fee or deposit, and a travel charge for venues outside town. Some operators publish their rates online, while others quote per event based on menu and guest count.
Do food trucks need power at an event?
Often, yes. Many trucks need a standard household power socket within cable reach of where they park, while others are self-sufficient. Confirm power, parking and access with the operator before the day.
Are food trucks open all year round?
Not always. Trucks in fixed city locations tend to trade year round on set days, while beach and holiday trucks often run only over summer and take private bookings the rest of the year.
Can food trucks cater for gluten-free or vegan diets?
Most food truck operators offer gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan options, and some menus are gluten free throughout. For events, give the operator guest numbers for each dietary requirement in advance.
Do food trucks need to be registered?
Yes. Mobile food businesses operate under the Food Act and must follow a food control plan or national programme. New Zealand Food Safety explains the rules, and New Plymouth District Council handles local food registration and verification.
How We Chose the Best Food Trucks in New Plymouth
Every business in this guide was found by searching for food trucks in New Plymouth, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving New Plymouth, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.