Tasty trucks

The mobile food scene is continuing to grow in southern New Hampshire, featuring trucks, trailers and pop-ups serving up all kinds of unique eats. Here are 11 on-the-go eateries to try.

 Messy Mike's Barbecue & Catering Co. - Best of the Best

Derry, messymikesbbq.com

Messy Mike’s reopened for the season on March 16 — find them in the parking lot of Rockingham Acres Greenhouse (161 Rockingham Road, Derry) most Thursdays through Sundays, serving up smoked meats, ribs, sandwiches and more. Veteran barbecue caterer Michael “Messy Mike” Massiglia launched the 30-foot mobile food trailer in September 2020 and also makes and bottles his own sauces.

 B's Tacos & More

Londonderry, nhtacotruck.com

Ken Spilman established B’s Tacos in 2013 as a side hustle before later taking the venture on full-time. Find the original B’s Tacos trailer outside the BP gas station (2 Mohawk Drive, Londonderry) from May through October serving Tex-Mex tacos, burritos and bowls (this location is walk-in service only). Spilman has a second truck he brings to local events throughout the season, and also operates a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Manchester’s West Side, at 372 Kelley St.

When he’s not catering for an event, DeCourcey can often be found in some areas of town, like Vault Motor Storage (526 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) or Able Ebenezer Brewing Co. (31 Columbia Circle, Merrimack) — the dates and times vary but are regularly updated on Facebook.

 The Sleazy Vegan

Multiple locations, thesleazyvegan.com

Nashua native Kelley-Sue LeBlanc — a.k.a. “KSL” — launched The Sleazy Vegan last year as a ghost kitchen in Manchester before expanding into a food truck a couple of months later. She’s known for offering a rotating menu of seasonally inspired whole-food plant-based breakfast and lunch items. In addition to maintaining a regular schedule of public appearances in southern New Hampshire, The Sleazy Vegan participates in events and offers catering services. The dates and locations vary but are regularly updated on the website and on Facebook.

 One Happy Clam Seafood & More

Multiple locations, find them on Facebook @onehappyclam

 Up In Your Grill

Merrimack, upinyourgrill.com

Dan DeCourcey of Merrimack was an award-winning competitive barbecuer for several years before launching Up In Your Grill, a trailer specializing in smoked meats like brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken, often available as either sandwiches or combo plates with sides like seasoned fries and coleslaw.

Operated by longtime former Clam Haven owner and Derry native Rick Metts, One Happy Clam has multiple public events on the schedule this spring and summer across southern New Hampshire. Metts ran Clam Haven for more than three decades before passing the torch on to Lisa DeSisto of Rig A Tony’s in early 2020. He returned to the local food scene the following year with One Happy Clam, and he uses the same seafood suppliers he has been in touch with since his first season at Clam Haven in 1987.

 Buxton's Pizza

Multiple locations, buxtonspizza.com

This mobile brick-oven pizza truck specializes in Neo-Neapolitan-style pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, garlic knots and cannolis. Since the launch of his business in the summer of 2020, owner and Derry native Josh Buxton has appeared at private events and parties all over southern New Hampshire. The truck is a 13-foot retired FBI mobile command center from New Haven, Connecticut, that Buxton found at a local auction. His menu includes multiple types of 12inch pizzas cooked fresh on the truck, with traditional toppings like cheese, pepperoni and margherita in addition to some specialty offerings.

 603 Smok'n Que

Merrimack, 603bbq.com

Josh Hilyard, the owner and pitmaster of 603 Smok’n Que, got his start in food service working his own concessions outside of Manchester HarleyDavidson, where he sold hot dogs and Italian sausages, as well as at New England Dragway in Epping, where he sold pulled pork sandwiches and barbecued foods. Hilyard decided to focus on barbecue cuisine, and in 2014 he drove to Georgia to buy his own smoker. From there he started developing his own recipes and practicing barbecue parties for his family and friends. Originally launched as a slow-smoked barbecue catering business, 603 Smok’n Que expanded into a mobile food trailer last year, now specializing in barbecue options and smash burgers.

 Rico's Burritos

Multiple locations, ricosburritosfoodtruck.com

Rico’s Burritos is a food truck specializing in street tacos, burritos, burrito bowls and other authentic Mexican options with a Central American twist. The truck launched in June 2022, but owners Danilo Portillo and his wife, Amanda, of Plaistow, have worked in the restaurant industry since they were teenagers. Rico’s Burritos gets its name both in inspiration from the couple’s son, Ricardo, and for the Spanish word meaning “tasty” or “delicious.” The truck has a regular presence at venues across northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, perhaps most notably at Griffin Park (101 Range Road, Windham).

 Puppy Love Hot Dogs

50 N. Main St., Concord, puppylovehotdogs.com

A Concord tradition for more than four decades, Puppy Love Hot Dogs relaunched for the outdoor season in early May. The business opened its first hot dog stand in Plymouth in 1976 before expanding to Concord two years later. Over the years it has also operated in stands in Ashland, Hanover, Franklin and North Conway.

 Deadproof Pizza Co.

Multiple locations, deadproofpizza.com

This mobile pizza pop-up company launched in May 2022 and now regularly appears at local breweries, events and private catering gigs. The menu often changes, and in addition to pizza Deadproof will offer smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings and more.

 Walking Gourmet NH

Windham, find them on Facebook @walkinggourmetnh

Based in Windham, this food truck launched in 2019 and is owned and operated by chef Adam Wactowski. While he can create a personalized menu on the truck, Wactowski will most often dabble in items like specialty burgers, chicken sandwiches and vegetarian wraps.