Study: Philly is Food Truck Heaven!

Philadelphia has somewhat of a rep for being a haven for foodies (especially Center City), but a new study has conferred upon the city a tremendous distinction: being the fourth-friendliest city in the whole country towards food trucks! The food truck fad is one that shows no signs of dying out any time soon. Millennials love themselves a good food truck, whether it’s geared towards tacos, hot dogs, Philly cheesesteaks (you betcha!), or shawarma. And, if you love the casual, folksy vibe that comes from strolling down the street, noshing on goodies from random food trucks, then Philly is the place for you.

Philly’s a great place to be for food truck owners!

Food Truck Nation, a project of the United States Chamber of Commerce, surveyed 288 food truck owners and their first-hand accounts along with rules governing food trucks in 20 U.S. cities. They found that food trucks have a major economic impact, bringing in $2.7 billion in revenue last year alone. Philadelphia came in fourth, just behind Portland, Denver, and Orlando, respectively, as the city most amenable to mobile food vendors. Philadelphia was able to boast first place when it came to compliance with local regulations regarding food trucks, and third in terms of how simple it was to obtain food truck licenses and permits.

Philly’s not quite perfect, however. As per the Daily Pennsylvanian: “But despite the relative ease of obtaining a license, the permit comes with a cost. The city was ranked no. 13 in barriers to operating a food truck, which can cost upwards of $25,292 in fees each year. Last September, food trucks around campus hiked up prices, citing high merchandise costs, which prompted a strong reaction from students and staff on campus.”

Philly’s food truck scene was compared in the article to being something of a Wild West, where some trucks are allowed to do business after midnight, while others are forcibly shut down. In some areas of the city it’s okay for one truck to park within 30 feet of another, but in another, it’s not.

Despite a few areas for potential improvement, Philly’s food truck scene is winning. “Philadelphia shows brotherly love to the city’s food trucks,” Food Truck Nation reported.