The Great Food Truck Race is an American reality television and cooking series that debuted on August 15, 2010, on Food Network, with Tyler Florence as the host. Billed as a cross between Cannonball Run and Top Chef, this late summer show features several competing teams of three who drive across the United States in their food trucks and make stops every week to sell food in different cities.
The show's nineteenth season premiered on July 26, 2026.
Format Every season, between six and nine food truck teams compete in a race where they must cook, sell, and adapt to different challenges in the hopes of winning $50,000 (and in some cases, their own food truck). While taking a journey through a specific region or route, every week the food truck that makes the least profit is eliminated and sent home, while the rest of the food trucks continue on to the next city. They're usually given "seed money" at the beginning of each episode that goes towards grocery shopping. The teams are assigned different challenges every week for a chance to earn more money (usually in the form of selling the most of a special dish or making a version of a local delicacy for Tyler and a guest judge). They're also thrown obstacles that hinder their ability to make normal sales (for example, switching their menu to vegan food or being unable to restock supplies for the day).
In the first two seasons, the competitors were seasoned, professional food truck operators who were competing for a cash prize (first season was $50,000 and second season was $100,000). In the following seasons (save for season six), food trucks were provided to novices (from home cooks to former restaurateurs) who have dreamed of owning and operating their own food truck. In seasons three, four, and five, the winning team got the money and got to keep the food truck they were provided by the show. In season six and onward, the show reverted to awarding the winning teams only the $50,000.
Competition results + Season Winner Runner-up 3rd Place 4th Place 5th Place 6th Place 7th Place 8th Place 9th Place1Grill 'Em AllNom Nom TruckSpencer on the GoAustin Daily PressCrepes BonaparteRagin' CajunNana Queens2The Lime TruckHodge PodgeRoxy's Grilled CheeseKorilla BBQSeabirdsCafé Con LecheDeviliciousSky's Gourmet Tacos3Seoul SausageNonna's KitchenettePop-a-WaffleMomma's Grizzly GrubCoast of AtlantaPizza Mike'sBarbie BabesUnder the Crust4Aloha PlateTikka Tikka TacoPhilly's Finest SambonisThe Slide ShowBowled and BeautifulFrankfootasBoardwalk Breakfast EmpireMurphy's Spud Truck5The Middle FeastLone Star Chuck WagonLet There Be BaconBeach CruiserMadres Mexican MealsMilitary MomsThe Gourmet GraduatesChatty Chicken6Pho Nomenal DumplingsWaffle LoveGlobally Delicious Stuffed Burgers"GD Bro"PostcardsSpice It UpDiso's Italian Sandwich SocietyThe Guava Tree7Grilled Cheese All-StarsCarretto SicilianoLei-Away LeidiesSweet Southern SoulBigMista's Fatty WagonFortune Cooking8Braised in The SouthMr. Po'BoysThe Breakfast ClubThe Southern FrenchieStick 'Em UpPapi Chulo's EmpanadasWicked Good Seafood9Just Wing ItNew England GrillMobile Moo ShuChops' ShopBuns N' ThighsHeroes on a Half ShellSassy Soul10NOLA CreationsBrunch BabesRolling IndulgenceFrank-n-SlidesMadea MadeBaby Got MacSol Food CollectiveThe People's FryMake It Maple11Big StuffLia's LUMPIACreole QueensMagical Mystery HeroesSlapshot12Mystikka MasalaLunch LadiesSuper SopeBachelor KitchenTeam Fat KidCrystal's Comfort FoodEat My Crust13The Lime TruckSeoul SausageWaffle LoveAloha PlateThe Middle FeastNOLA CreationsMystikka Masala14Tasty BallsBreakfast for DinnerSome Like It TotMeatball MamasQuerencia MiaMetro ChiliThe Oink Mobile15SeñoreataMaybe Cheese Born With ItEso Artisinal PastaAmawele'sSouthern Pride Asian FusionFood FlightSalsa QueenSauté KingzGirl's Got Balls16The Easy VeganKhanaD'Pura CepaDa Bald GuyLisa's Crêperie2 Girls Jamaican TacosPaisani4 Hens Creole KitchenThe Block17Wally's WafflesBao BeiArgentina's EmpanadasFishnetSOLA Po'BoysPlates on DeckDown to Get TacosCooks with PassionKalye18NishaanGood Fortune CompanyCooking with QueStop Drop N RollFat Kid Food Co.G's CheesesteaksBurger WallaRising TigerEat My Biscuits19Stuph'd Beignets & BurgersHele RollsCason Funnel CakesJollof BowlWaffadillaBug & Bear's CannoliDeadproof Pizza Co.Grounds Donut House
Episodes
Production Bob Tuschman, general manager of the Food Network, had gotten several pitches for a food truck themed competition show before settling on the show that would become The Great Food Truck Race. He believed it to be ideal because it combined the Survivor-style reality show competition with the rising trend of food trucks. Tyler Florence was immediately on board and as the show grew and got renewed, so did the food truck scene. Florence believed the food truck trend grew in large part because of the economic slump around the early 2000s, and his show "helped invent an entirely new genre of restaurants".
Seasons 4 and 13 participated in the San Francisco "Scene in San Francisco Incentive Program" administered by the San Francisco Film Commission.
Reception Melissa Camacho of Common Sense Media gave the show a 3 out of 5 stars.
References
External links Official website