food trucks

Maiz de la Vida

Making tortillas is an art form at Maiz de la Vida. The food truck serves a variety of delicious offerings — tacos, quesabirria, elote and more — that split the difference between traditional and innovative. Find it outside of East Nashville’s tiki-themed bar Chopper every Tuesday through Sunday.

King Tut’s

King Tut’s has been turning heads and turning people into falafel fans for years, and it stepped up a notch by setting up permanently on Nolensville Pike with a charming shaded patio. It takes a master of techniques and seasonings to make us daydream about sautéed eggplant, creamy-crunchy falafel and tender, flavorful shawarma.

Bag Lady’s

Get hand-cut fries, chips or cauliflower-loaded protein, vegetables, cheese and sauce at Bag Lady’s, which sets up around the city each week. The unique menu includes pizza fries, hot chicken fries, Philly cheesesteak fries and gyro fries, plus burgers, gyros, lamb and more.

Caracasville

Pulling up at the Nashville Farmers’ Market, Caracasville offers a variety of empanadas, cachapas stuffed with homemade cheese and other Venezuelan foods, but the star of the show is undoubtedly the stuffed arepa.

Mac Shack

Think you know mac-and-cheese? The Mac Shack will expand your mind. They add pesto, Buffalo chicken, Memphis-style barbecue and more to your favorite comfort food. They’ll also add a hefty dollop to your chicken-and-waffles or hot dog.

Retro Sno

The Retro Sno truck takes those snow cones you loved eating as a kid and makes them even better. The shaved ice is soft, more like snow, and the syrups are made in house so they taste much better than the sugar water of yesteryear. But you’ll have to wait till summer.

Cousins Maine Lobster

The main event at Cousins Maine Lobster is, of course, the lobster roll. Served on a toasted New England split roll, the sandwich can be ordered in two varieties: traditional New England chilled with a touch of mayo or Connecticut-style, warmed with butter and lemon.

Steaming Goat

Despite the name, this truck serves not goat but steamed sandwiches and appetizers. Among the specialties are spinach balls, made using the chef’s grandmother’s recipe and served with a dipping gravy that brings the taste of Thanksgiving stuffing to your mouth year-round.

BEST OF NASHVILLE WINNER:

The Grilled Cheeserie

The Grilled Cheeserie was one of the earliest food trucks to earn notice in Nashville, and as the operation grew, it always seemed to deliver what people wanted — a cheesy, melty, satisfying sandwich, with a side of house-made soup and a dessert. The truck pulls up at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and around the city — and you can check out the brick-and-mortar in Hillsboro Village (see p. 19) and East Nashville (see p. 12).

tailgatebeer.com

24. TENNESSEE BREW WORKS tnbrew.com

25. TURTLE ANARCHY turtleanarchy.com

26. SMITH & LENTZ smithandlentz.com

27. YEE-HAW BREWING CO. yeehawbrewing.com

28. YAZOO BREWING CO. yazoobrew.com

Distilleries

29. BIG MACHINE bigmachinevodka.com

30. CORSAIR corsairdistillery.com

31. HEAVEN’S DOOR heavensdoor.com

32. NASHVILLE CRAFT nashvillecraft.com

33. NELSON’S GREEN BRIER greenbrierdistillery.com

34. OLE SMOKY 6thandpeabody.com

35. PICKERS VODKA pickersvodka.com

36. PENNINGTON DISTILLING penningtondistillingco.com

37. TENNESSEE LEGEND tennesseelegend.com

Wineries

38. AMBER FALLS WINERY amberfallswinery.com

39. ARRINGTON VINEYARDS arringtonvineyards.com

40. CITY WINERY citywinery.com

41. LOVE & EXILE WINERY & BAR loveandexile.com