Foodie News

Watch out LA! Three Houston food trucks ranked among the best in America

Bernie's Burger Bus is Houston's best-ranked food truck at No. 22.
Photo by Max Fields
Oh My Gogi! BBQ made the list at No. 58
Coreanos, with trucks in both Houston and Austin, came in at No. 35.
Photo via CoreanosTX/Twitter
Eatsie Boys comfort food offerings include Frank the Pretzel and ice cream.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller

Los Angeles was the epicenter of the modern food truck movement in 2008, with Roy Choi's Kogi BBQ single-handedly redefining street food in America. It makes sense, then, that when The Daily Meal set out to rank America's 101 best food trucks, Los Angeles trucks dominated, with Kogi BBQ coming in an unsurprising first place.

But even though Houston's food truck scene may have been a bit slower coming out of the gate, H-Town still boasts three trucks that earned spots on the national list.

Coming in at No. 22 is Bernie's Burger Bus — technically buses, as chef/owner Justin Turner presides over a mini-empire of three repurposed school buses. Bernie's is a permanent contender for the best burger in Houston, a title that doesn't come easy. (If Houston has the best burgers in the country and Bernie's has the best burgers in Houston, does that mean a Bernie's burger is the best in the world? Please discuss.)

Bernie's is a permanent contender for the best burger in Houston, a title that doesn't come easy.

Oh My Gogi! BBQ might owe a debt of inspiration to Choi's concept, but owner Eric Nguyen's version of Korean BBQ tacos and kimchi quesadillas have inspired a rabid late night following in Rice Village (and a less enjoyable following from HPD as well), and are good enough to get the Houston truck on the list at No. 58.

Another Korean-fusion truck on the list that Houstonians might recognize is Coreanos, which came in at No. 35, although the Daily Meal only mentions the Austin version of this two-city truck.

Local fave Eatsie Boys are the final Houston entry on the food trucks list, representing at No. 68. As Daily Meal notes, chef Matt Marcus is a CIA-trained chef who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and now sells completely addictive comfort food like pork snuggies, Frank the Pretzel and an array of unexpected ice creams.

What other Houston trucks deserved a spot on the list? Pick your faves in the comments.

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two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q