Food Trucks in Provence Delivering World Cuisine

Provence Food Trucks

When you think of Provence, it’s unlikely that a food truck is a culinary image that springs to mind. However, the number of food trucks in the region is exploding. Most of these trucks are mobile, available to travel to private venues, public gatherings, markets and festivals. A few of these tiny kitchens are parked in set locations. The globally-inspired menus cover the full range of world cuisine from burgers and fries to bento boxes and well beyond. Since the 1960s in Provence, it is quite common to find pizza trucks at markets, but now there is even a Food Truck Association.

Camion Bleu Hameau des Baux @lionelmoulet

The Evolution of Food Trucks

Street food exists in every culture.

Often Portland, Oregon is considered as a food truck centre. However, the city did not invent food trucks, but rather a favourable urban environment where mobile kitchens converge.

Head to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where pho is cooked on camping stoves. Classic New York City images include hot dog carts and vendors selling warm chestnuts. Stretch back to the late 17th century, food carts and street kitchens filled a void for the poor. However, it was not until 1866 that Charles Goodnight had the idea to feed cowboys and the wagon trains from a “chuck” wagon. Here, is a brief timeline the evolution of food trucks in North America.

Fast-forward to present day, Stacey’s Pita Chips, which eventually sold to the Cocoa-Cola Company for $250 million, started with a refurbished hot dog cart in Boston. Listen to this interesting NPR podcast on the story behind Stacy’s Pita Chips.

Fait Camion

Restaurants in France are obligated to indicate whether their food is “fait maison” – made in house. This statement is not a guarantee of quality, but at least some assurance that what you are ordering did not come from a package. Smart food truck owners have expanded on “fait maison” to include “fait camion.”

Although, hardly exhaustive our list of food trucks is broken down by department within Provence, type of cuisine, and contact information.

Bon appétit!

Aix-en-Provence

Mana Espresso is a tiny coffee shop at 12 rue des Bernardines, Aix-en-Provence. The coffee is excellent, and they are open daily. The coffee beans are roasted by the owners and available for sale onsite or online. Why not take Mana Espresso on the road? They offer catering for private events from an adorable van. Telephone: +33 (0)6 89 78 56 84

Head to Parc Rambot for la Street Food Party on Thursday nights (18h to 23h) throughout the summer months until the end of August. The collection of trucks changes weekly, and along with the food expect entertainment in the form of music, yoga, and massages! Details and updates on the Facebook Page.

Food Trucks Villages Gourmands – PACA covers several villages including Aix-en-Provence, Aix-Les Milles, Aix La Durance, Gardanne, Marseille and Vitrolles. Daily at each location, there are 3-5 food trucks and the food selection changes. There are currently 32 trucks under this umbrella organization offering fresh, fait camion, cuisine from around the globe.

Alpilles Food Trucks

Chateaurenard:

Bento Truck owner says, “Il n’y a pas que sushi au Japon” (there is more than just sushi in Japan) and the owner is here to prove it to you. The menu includes several hearty versions of bento boxes with chicken, beef, pork and a vegetarian option. There are also noodle bowls and curries. Enjoy your meal with a Japanese beer, saki or specialty lemonade. Book the bento truck for your next event.

Locations:
Monday mornings at the Cavaillon market
Tuesday – Friday for lunch and dinner at 971Blvd Ernest Genevet, Chateaurenard
Saturday lunch at the same location
Telephone: +33 06 12 66 87 41

Eygalières and St Remy:

Noëlla et ses Pizzas

Noëlla et ses Pizzas is an adorable, vintage food truck serving 100% gluten-free pizzas. It took three months to convert the old truck, previously used by a veterinarian to transport cows. The first pizzas came out of the oven in February 2017. Noëlla shared that the choice of vehicle was important as her family’s values are linked to nature and animals. The menu is 100% gluten-free. As a celiac, Noëlla serves only what she can eat from her food truck. All the ingredients are additive-free and organic (bio) whenever possible. She works with local suppliers and features top-quality products. The menu changes seasonally depending on the availability of ingredients. Available to cater for private functions.

Locations: Weekdays in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence at Station de Lavage K-Wash, Route de Maillane. Eygalières for the Friday morning market
Telephone: +33 (0)6 99 18 30 20
Noëlla et ses Pizzas Facebook Page check for updates on locations

Eygalières:

The Pizza David truck is on Rue de la Republique almost every night. The mother and daughter team offer a full menu of made-to-order thin crust pizzas. Call ahead to order or when you arrive. The pizzas are sizzling hot and delicious.

Hours: Evenings in Eygalières starting at 17:30 except Mondays.
Telephone: +33 (0)6 70 13 07 15
Pizza David is available for private events.
Note, there is a “sister” truck by the same name in Maussane.

Paradou:

Camion Bleu Hameau des Baux @lionelmoulet

Le Camion Bleu at Hameau des Baux is a vintage Citroën type H truck parked at the hotel. Completely retrofitted this truck, painted blue, is open only during summer months. Order off the menu created by chef Christophe Chiavola and enjoy your meal shaded by Plane trees. The rotisserie oven in the truck turns out delicious roast chicken, pork and lamb. Alternatively, there are fresh salads, cheese plates and charcuterie for sharing.

Hours: Summer only, Friday – Tuesday (19:30 – 22h)
There is a program of musical entertainment on Friday evenings It is recommended to reserve in advance, and you can book online.
Location: 285 Chemin de Bourgeac, 13520 Paradou
Telephone: +33 (0)4 90 54 10 30

Camion Bleu Hameau des Baux @lionelmoulet

St-Rémy-de-Provence:

La Cabane à frites is parked, located by the municipal pool on the D99. This cantine concept comes from Belgium; they serve fries and burgers. It may not be a light lunch, but there is steady clientele.

Hours: Closed on Mondays. Open Tuesday – Sunday for lunch and dinner.
Location: Parking Piscine Municipale, 1 Avenue du 19 Mars 1962, 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Telephone: +33 (0)4 90 92 05 76

Food Trucks: Côte d’Azur  – French Riviera

Rebecca at Access Riviera shared her list of favourite food trucks near Cannes:

Antibes:

Pura Vida Food Truck delivers healthy fare. Two friends Aude Declercq and Alexandra Weitten serve budda bowls, soups, and smoothies from the refurbished Renault Estafette (circa 1980). Book Pura Vida for your next event.

Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 – 15h
Location: 47 Boulevard Edouard Baudoin, 06160 Antibes
Telephone: +33 (0)6 99 80 04 55

You can’t miss the bright red panel on the My French Burger food truck. They serve burgers and fries from Location: Les Portes d’Antibes 1880 Chemin des terriers, 06600 Antibes
Telephone: +33 (0)7 62 90 93 83

The Siam Food Truck focuses on delicious cuisine. Often parked at the Casino Antibes, you can’t miss this black truck with an elephant logo. The menu changes regularly but includes delicious options like curried calamari and pork sautéed in ginger with Thai rice. Catering is available for private functions.

Hours: Monday – Friday at lunch (11h – 14h) and dinner (17:30h – 20:30h)
Location: 13-15 Avenue Nicolas Aussel, 06600 Antibes
Telephone: +33 (0)6 14 15 14 69

Cagnes-sur-Mer:

What would you expect from a food truck called The Mother Trucker? Gourmet burgers! Check the Facebook page for weekly locations. Telephone: +33 (0)6 52 43 73 94

Le Cannet:

Look for The Juice Box a refurbished Renault truck serving smoothies and juices on the Côte d’Azur. They also offer a vegan/vegetarian brunch on weekends at a permeant location.

Location: 93 rue saint sauveur, 06110 Le Cannet
Telephone: +33 (0)6 19 93 48 42

Nice Area:

Les Farcis de Sophie is a food truck designed to look like a produce box. This food truck offers a healthy, seasonal menu and it’s powered by solar panels. Book the truck for your next event.

Hours: 11-14h
Locations: Check the Facebook page for actual locations.
Telephone: +33 (0)6 62 94 45 41

Ramen Ta Faim is where Magali and Christophe create Japanese fare from the heart of their food truck. Bento boxes, ramen noodle bowls made-to-order, yakisoba noodles with toppings of your choice and more.

Locations: vary check the Facebook page
Telephone: +33 (0)7 82 43 21 04

Hectors Food Truck serves an Indian menu with vegans and vegetarians in mind. Are you craving a curry with all the trimmings? If so, track down Chef Marty and the team.

Hours: 11:30 – 14:30
Locations: Mondays Les Vaisseaux, Tuesday Nova Sophia, Wednesday Sundesk, Thursday IBM, closed on Fridays
Telephone: +33 (0)7 67 63 51 18

Food Trucks of the Luberon

Bonnieux:

L’Avenue Gourmande is in the village several days serving burgers (vegetarian option too) and daily specials. Sylvain studied hotel school in Lyon. He is a food professional with 20 years of experience, which he leverages to create a tasty menu. Inside the kitchen of this red truck, he produces delicious menu items using products. The ingredients for the L’Avenue Gourmande recipes are seasonal and come from producers in the Luberon. They cater for private functions.

Locations: Bonnieux and around the Luberon
Telephone: +33 (0)4 65 09 00 59

Coustellet:

Pierre qui roule “foodtrip” – From his shiny, refurbished caravan Pierre takes you on a culinary food adventure from Mexican to steak tartare.

Hours: Lunch until 15h
Locations: Find this caravan in various locations around the Luberon, near Coustellet
Telephone: +33 (0)6 29 21 72 22

Isle sur la Sorgue:

Grab a snack at Le Cri des Crocs food truck. Great tasting organic salads, tasty hamburgers and croque monsieurs that you can eat at the little tables in front of the river, a picturesque spot. Oh, and they have onion rings too!

Hours: Daily 10h to 21h30 except Mondays and Tuesdays
Location: 871 Route d’Apt, 84800 L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Telephone: +33 (0)6 03 31 13 90

Var Food Trucks

Cotignac:

Susana of Provence Living shared the following, “The best food truck, in my opinion, is the Vietnamese Food truck on the Place Neuve during the market day (Tuesdays) here in Cotignac. Others come and go, but this one is amazing and “authentic.”

Cotignac @ProvenceLiving

Tuula of Belle Provence Travels shared her list of go-to food trucks near Toulon and Sanary-sur-Mer.

La Seyne-Sur-Mer:

Le Veggy Van serves gourmet vegetarian burgers and fries. There is a burger special each week or try one of the regulars – Popeye or Le Colonel Moutarde.

Hours: check for the weekly schedule
Location: rue de Lisbonne, 83160, Provence-Alpes-Cote D’Azur
Telephone: +33 (0)6 67 07 79 05

Sanary-sur-Mer:

La cuisine d’Élisa is both a food truck and caterer offering a menu prepare by Élisa Leriche and her team with exclusively French ingredients. The menu is “fait maison.” Chef Élisa brings her culinary talent – 2nd place finish (2016) as best culinary apprentice in France – to the mobile kitchen. Available to eat onsite or to take away this food truck offers fresh salads, gourmet sandwiches, kinds of pasta and daily specials.

Hours Open Monday-Friday over the lunch hour 11-14h.
Location: Allée du Figuier 1, 83110 Sanary Sur Mer
Telephone: +33 (0)6 59 46 22 14

School Burger

School Burger started serving in May 2018. This food truck’s name is meant to evoke a return to your carefree school days. Their menu includes made-to-order burgers and hotdogs served on fresh buns from the local bakery.

Hours (summer): Lunch and dinner daily except Sunday lunch
Hours (winter): Lunch Monday to Saturday and dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturdays
Location: Quartier Les Prats 762 route de la Gare, 83110 Sanary-sur-Mer
Telephone: +33 (0)6 61 56 51 21

Le Camion Bleu is a cute blue food truck serving gourmet pizza. There are some classic flavours, including 4-cheese and Margherita. Or venture into their specialties such as the Corsican or Provencale.

Hours: evenings starting at 17h:30
Location: 130 Route de la Gare, 83110 Sanary-sur-Mer
Telephone: +33 (0)6 07 19 59 47

Toulon:

La Fourchette qui Roule serves generous burgers and sandwiches. Vegetarian options are available, and they cater.

Location: 1 rue Henri Poincaré, 83000 Toulon
Telephone: +33 (0)6 58 62 71 67

Near Toulon:

Since 2015 the team at La Vache Folle includes Gilles at the grill and Elsa taking your order. They deliver gourmet beef burgers, including one called the “Texas Longhorn.” There are a vegetarian burger and a kid’s menu too. Order sides of fries and coleslaw to round out your meal. All burgers are made with fresh ingredients. Did we mention the tempting desserts? La Vache Folle is available for private events.

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday (11h30-14h30) and (19h30-21h30) Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Check the Facebook page for schedule updates.
Location: Find La Vache Folle at the Centre Commercial des 4 Chemins à La Garde
Telephone: +33 (0)7 83 06 90 60

Le Bistronomade is a food truck that is serious about fresh, local and seasonal. Julien and Eléonore create a varied menu of salad bowls, tartine (open-faced sandwiches), soups and burgers. The menu often changes at this black Citroën truck, and they are only available for private events. Telephone: +33 (0)7 69 80 00 04

Food Trucks in the Vaucluse

Please check back in a while. We are out sampling.