Love At First Bite: Couple-Owned Food Trucks To Check Out This Valentine’s Day
Roses are red, violets are blue, food trucks are better when they’re run by two! This Valentine’s Day, we’re shedding a light on the best couple-owned food trucks in New York City. Each of these food trucks offer delicious foods and memorable dining experiences that are sure to make you fall in love this February 14th.
Let’s get started.
#BAONANAS
#BAONANAS was founded by Lloyd and Trisha, a happy couple who decided to use their love of baking as a creative way to raise money, quick. But once they saw how much praise their take on banana pudding was met with, they decided to take their temporary business idea and turn it into a legitimate business, eventually blossoming into three storefronts and a Bao-mobile cart for weddings and corporate events.
#BAONANAS continues to be so widely adored by NYC because it reimagines banana pudding using the couple’s Filipino background, substituting traditional pudding and custard to whip up their unique version. If you’re looking for coupled-owned food trucks in New York City, #BAONANAS should definitely be at the top of your list. After all, nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like sweet banana pudding.
HOLD MY KNOTS
Power couple Shayna and Jimmy founded Hold My Knots back in 2016.
Beginning at street fairs with a tent and table, the two took the risk of opening up a food truck to continue brining their delicious dishes like chicken, eggplant, and meatball parm, chicken fingers, and mozzarella sticks to NYC as a serious, long-term business. Their venture of course paid off, as they continue to be the #1 food truck for fried, garlicy comfort food.
KINWICH
The Kinwich food truck serves up some of the juiciest, most delicious sandwiches in New York City— and when you’re in a deli capital (behind maybe only Los Angeles), that’s saying a lot. So, how did this top-tier food truck get its start? Well, couple Keith and Lauren combined their 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry to create their mobile sandwich shop, and since then, they’ve been treating the city to 5 staple menu items: The Burger, Reuby, Grilled Chick, Banh Mi Wrap, and Shroom Boy.
If your love language is sandwiches, Kinwich food truck is one of New York’s best couple-owned food truck businesses to visit for V-Day!
LOS VIAJEROS
Los Viajeros (The Travelers) food truck offers a one-of-a-kind fusion of Dominican, Cuban, and Mexican flavors. Initially opened by a young foodie couple Caitlyn and Carlos, the Latin-fusion food truck has made a name for itself in New York with all kinds of menu items, including the best-seller, El Jefe Burrito, served with brown rice, ropa vieja (Cuban steak), sweet plantains, jack cheese, jalapeños and chipotle aioli, all rolled up into one heavenly wrap of deliciousness. Now, Los Viajeros has been nominated for multiple awards and was named Food Network’s Chopped Champion in 2017.
NAO'S
Opened by husband and wife Tony and Carline, Nao’s is New York’s first and only Haitian food truck. Responsible for introducing so many New Yorkers to authentic Haitian dishes like Griyo (fried pork), Poul Fri A Diri Djon Djon (fried chicken with black rice), and Stuffed Plantain Cups, the chefs makes sure to pour the same attention-to-detail and care into every meal so that Haiti’s cuisine is well-represented in the US.
Looking to give your SO an a unique and memorable food experience? Visit or book the Nao’s couple-owned truck!
COLD STONE CREAMERY
Cold Stone Creamery was founded in 1988 by married couple Donald and Susan Sutherland.
The Sutherlands were huge ice cream fans who traveled all over the world trying to find the perfect ice cream. Unsatisfied with their discoveries, they decided to take matters into their own hands. Thanks to their courage, Cold Stone is a household ice creamery enjoyed all over the US!
Enjoy their elaborate ice cream creations this Valentine’s Day with your special someone.
KONA ICE
In March of 2021, Kristin and Erick decided to join the Kona Ice franchise and be one of the 1200+ Kona trucks that hit the road daily across the United States.
The couple loves bringing smiles to people’s faces and bringing joy to the community with the coolest dessert option in NYC.
POKE MOTION
Upon discovering poké, a trendy food concept that originated in Hawaii, Martin Casino had a vision: bring poké bowls to places where people couldn’t get their hands on them. Martin partnered with his wife Dael to invest in a food truck business and create the very first poké truck in the Northeast, now serving happy customers in Westchester and surrounding areas. As an avid sushi eater and creative thinker, Dael and Martin developed a unique menu and signature sauces that make Poke Motion’s poké bowls stand out from the rest.
NUCHAS
Nuchas is an American-made but Argentinian-inspired food truck started by a native Argentinian Ariel Barbouth and his wife, Leni, who invested $9,000 to start the company as a small kiosk in Times Square. When New York had a taste of their deliciously baked and perfectly shaped hand-held pies, their little kiosk was followed by food trucks and push carts, with plans to expand to additional locations throughout the Northeast. Let Nuchas’s quick success serve as a testament to how delicious these empanadas really are, and support a couple-owned business today.
MEATOSS
Meatoss is a couple-owned, modern BBQ fusion food truck that serves the finest, juiciest meat cooked on a professional Brazillian churrasco grill, topped with delectable sauces and herbs.
Enjoy your choice of meat, including chicken, steak, brisket, and chorizo, on a fresh French baguette or a platter served with a side of crispy fries and coleslaw.
BUTCHERY & BEYOND
After huge success with Meatoss, the husband and wife duo, Daniel & Marina, expanded their food truck empire to include a food truck called Butchery & Beyond.
Their offerings include ribs, cheesesteak, pulled pork sandwiches, birria fries, and so many more flavorful meat options.
CREPE IT
Crepe It food truck was started in Queens by husband and wife team Nick and Helen. Nick operated and owned his own restaurant in Greece, and after moving to New York, Nick continued pursuing his dreams in the food industry alongside his wife. With Nick’s passion for serving delicious cuisine and the support from his wife Helen, Crepe It food truck was born.
Today the food truck is famous for its delicious, high-quality treats, both sweet and savory.
GREY'S DONUTS
Jeremy and Christina have been active in the food truck industry for over 10 years. In 2021 their son Greyson was born, and soon after, so was Grey’s Donuts.
Grey loves “his” funfetti donuts and enjoys visiting “his” truck around different hotspots in the city. Mia, the family dog, even has some treats onboard that she loves to share with all her doggie friends.
This is a true family-owned business with a menu that is created and inspired by so much love, perfectly suited for the Valentine’s Day occasion.
HOUSE OF CUPCAKES
Meet Ron & Ruthie, the couple that started one of the tastiest food trucks in New York City: House of Cupcakes! The two started the cupcake shop first as a storefront, but after winning on Food Network’s popular show, Cupcake Wars, their newfound popularity encouraged them to open the truck!
House of Cupcakes continues to be met with incredible success, catering countless events every year with chocolatey, lemony, and creamy cupcakes alike.
WANNA EMPANADA
Wanna Empanada is a family-owned food truck business launched by husband and wife Philip and Kenelyn Gioio, and Philip’s mother Doreen. Philip’s tech-savvy skills and go-getter personality, combined with Kenelyn’s professional culinary background and Doreen’s special Italian touch, make up the dynamic Gioio trio who whip up some of the best fried and flaky empanadas in the game.
Visit this food truck for dozens of delicious empanada options!
WESTCHESTER BURGER
Since Angelo opened Westchester Burger Co.’s first brick-and-mortar in 2010 with his wife, Michelle DiFeo, they have expanded throughout Westchester to 4 brick-and-mortar restaurants and a food truck.
Together, they’ve been working hard to tackle the burger craze and serve all of Westchester and beyond with Westchester’s most famous burgers.
Visit this food truck for a greasy treat on Valentine’s Day.
WRAP UP
At The New York Food Truck Association, food is our love language, so for Valentine’s Day, we wanted to honor the loving couples that started some of the best mobile restaurants in the city! Visit any and all of these food trucks for a dining experience that makes you fall in love at first bite.
