Best food trucks and coffee vans in the Darling Downs, Toowoomba area revealed
From sweet treats to savoury delights, we’ve scoured the region’s markets and festivals to find the 15 best food trucks and coffee vans in the Darling Downs and surrounds, and now the winner of our poll to name a favourite can be revealed.
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Ever get the craving for a hot filled potato at a big day out, or a delicious cup of coffee at the footy on a crisp morning? I think it’s safe to say we all do.
Fortunately, the Darling Downs has been blessed with a variety of food trucks and coffee vans lining the trendiest markets and hottest events happening in the Garden City.
The question is, which vendors are a must-try in the Toowoomba region? We’ve done the digging for you and found the top 15 best food trucks and coffee vans in the Darling Downs and surrounds.
We also ran a reader poll to help decide which of the vendors was the region’s favourite and with 20 per cent of the vote, Leisa Wilson’s Runnin’ on Hot Spuds and Coffee was the winner.
Top five Darling Downs food trucks as voted by you
1. Runnin’ on Hot Spuds and Coffee
A qualified pastry chef, Ms Wilson was always looking to go her own path. Seven years ago, she opened up Runnin’ on Hot Spuds and Coffee, a food truck van that has been a major success among Toowoomba locals.
Specialising in hot-filled spuds with dry slaw, sour cream and bacon, Ms Wilson also said the hot-filled sweet potatoes were a favourite.
“Before the van, I always loved to eat hot spuds at the Toowoomba show, but no one was doing sweet potato,” Ms Wilson said.
The menu also features delicious nachos in full and kids sizes, hot coffee and drinks, pies, sausage rolls, and an assortment of sweets. All of her products are gluten-free, and 100 per cent tasty.
“I just love the independence I get from running my own business,” Ms Wilson said.
“I love talking to people and getting to travel to different events, gigs, and locations.
“I’m local and born and bred in Toowoomba, so I support locals by getting all my ingredients from around the region.”
2. Two Moos Specialty Coffee
Now if you want specialty coffee, Two Moos is the place to go. Owner and barista, Michael Oo has been working alongside the Australian Specialty Coffee Association for close to 20 years.
Mr Oo previously competed in ASCA competitions and has been a judge for nine years, so he certainly knows a thing or two about the coffee industry.
Deciding to open his own business, Mr Oo produces high-standard coffee and service to every customer.
“The product that I render and sell wholesale and retail is of a much higher grade than commercially roasted coffee,” Mr Oo said.
“I do not cut corners, I buy and give the best grade and best quality possible.
“My objective is to raise the standard in Toowoomba.”
Supporting local businesses and farming families, Mr Oo said that Two Moos Specialty Coffee has a high traceability with their products, meaning customers always know where their produce is from.
3. Flaming Knights
Dynamic duo Nick Myatt and Mark Aboud know a thing or two about serving up quality smoked meats. In 2021, the pair saw an opportunity to begin their business journey, and with Mr Myatt’s flair for business, and Mr Aboud’s skills as a qualified chef, the pair created Flaming Knights.
Parking their food truck at farmers markets, and catering events, Mr Myatt said their customers kept coming back for their smoked meats.
“We pride ourselves on good quality food,” Mr Myatt said.
“Our quality of food sets us apart, plus having a business partner who has been working as a qualified chef for 15 years.”
Flaming Knights also dishes up brisket, smoked chicken wings, arancini balls, and tacos.
The success of their food truck and delicious products led the pair to open their Flaming Knights cafe in Drayton. The food truck, of course, is still thriving.
“The food truck community is growing, there’s a lot more variety,” Mr Myatt said.
“We are just trying to build and grow the food truck community in Toowoomba.”
4. Abundant Organic Life
Trina Southwell said her business began at the Toowoomba Farmer’s Markets at a stall four years ago, serving up three jugs of iced tea.
Now, Abundant Organic Life sells the deliciously juicy burgers and chips Garden City locals rave about.
Operating five days a week with the food truck, Ms Southwell said upgrading to the van allowed for an expanded menu.
“We can do more events with the food truck, and it is much easier for setting up and offering more options,” Ms Southwell.
“I use a lot of organic and local ingredients, with reasonable prices for my products.”
Abundant Organic Life sells their “Toowoomba Farmers’ Market burger”, a nod to where they first started. The burger represents five different market stall holders, having five different local ingredients in it.
For those who aren’t too keen on a burger, Abundant Organic Life also sell their iced tea, coffee, and chips, with vegan and gluten-free options.
Growing up in Brisbane, and moving around before settling in Toowoomba, Ms Southwell said she wouldn’t live anywhere else now.
“Toowoomba has got everything you need but is still a small town, a real friendly place with such good quality produce, cafes, night-life,” Ms Southwell said.
5. OMG Decadent Donuts
Rob Sampson and Robert Gillis know the secret to a classic cinnamon sugar doughnut.
Serving up doughnuts with 12 delicious sugar coatings to choose from, you simply cannot resist these decadent desserts at OMG Decadent Donuts.
Mr Gillis said all their doughnuts were certified gluten and coeliac-free, vegan-friendly, halal-certified, and kosher.
“We offer peace of mind because we are certified,” Mr Gillis said.
“Two years ago, there was a coeliac customer who hadn’t eaten a doughnut for 45 years until they came across our shop.”
“I’ve lived in Toowoomba for under 10 years, it’s been great to become a part of the community with our business.”
Full list of food trucks here:
Cara-Bean Coffee
Owner Leesa Sheedy always wanted to have her own coffee shop, so a coffee van built just for her was the next best thing.
Ms Sheedy said the Cara-Bean Coffee van was one-of-a-kind, and completely hand built. There, she serves up delicious, high-quality hot beverages to her loyal customers.
“I love everything about it and the buzz that you get when customers keep coming back and thank me for the amazing coffee,” Ms Sheedy said.
Ms Sheedy said customer interactions and meeting new people while working the Cara-Bean Coffee van were the best parts of her working day.
Melek’s Baklava
Arriving in Australia from Istanbul in 2008, Melek Onugoren’s business began when her friends asked her to make baklava, which they loved.
Since then, Ms Onugoren has been selling her delicious baklava and other traditional Turkish foods across Toowoomba.
Ms Onugoren said she always used “top of the range products” mixed with a few secret ingredients from her grandmother’s recipe book.
Melek’s Baklava has now become a well-known business across the Toowoomba region. Ms Onugoren said her baklava was “quite unique as you can’t stop yourself once you have a bite”.
Afghan Traditional Sweets
When Sita Nabizada started making her delicious sweets for the first time at a multicultural festival, she got an overwhelming response from customers.
“Their enthusiastic support inspired me to continue and expand, ultimately leading to the start of my business,” Ms Nabizada said.
Afghan Traditional Sweets’ products were meticulously handmade with love and care.
Ms Nabizada said she was deeply passionate about what she did, and genuinely loved baking and crafting her sweets as it fueled her motivation.
“This personal touch infuses our offerings with a distinct quality and authenticity that you won’t find elsewhere in the Toowoomba region,” Ms Nabizada said.
“I wanted to contribute positively to the Toowoomba community and beyond by using Afghan sweets, pastries, and foods to introduce people to the rich culture of Afghanistan.
“It’s truly rewarding to see people appreciating and learning about Afghan culture through our products.”
Rolling Espresso
Jason Newton knows all too well what it’s like to be a parent stuck on the sidelines watching your kid’s football game.
He also knows what it’s like to get a below-average coffee at that exact same game.
So, he decided to change that by opening up Rolling Espresso in 2019. Mr Newton started making quality coffee at the Maker’s Markets and at local sporting games.
“A lot of our feedback is that we make great coffee,” he said.
“We use City Roasters beans and quality milks … and if you do that right there’s not a lot you can do wrong.
“We get a lot of repeat customers, it’s always great building a relationship with them.”
Mr Newton said Rolling Espresso will sometimes donate proceeds to the sporting clubs that the coffee van attends.
“We get to go to a lot of different events and places. It’s something great to do on the weekends,” Mr Newton said.
Twisted Potatoes And Dutch Poffertjes
Francina Van De Ligt’s Twisted Potatoes and Dutch Poffertjes are hard to beat, always packed full of flavour and love.
“We are the only ones in Toowoomba that make Dutch pancakes and twisted potatoes,” Mrs Van De Ligt said.
The vendor visits several markets, with schools even asking if Mrs Van De Ligt can come to their events.
“You get regular customers and get to have a chat with them. You even get to build great relationships with the neighbouring stallholders at the markets,” Mrs Van De Ligt said.
There is a range of toppings, sauces, and ice sugars to choose from for your next plate of Dutch pancakes. Mrs Van De Ligt said sometimes she makes her sauces from the fresh fruit she grows in her backyard.
Having lost her husband a few years ago, Mrs Van De Ligt said her friends and children came together to help her out at the stall.
“I enjoy it a lot … it is hard work and I can’t do it alone. My friends and their spouses and even my children come in to help. Everyone is really helpful at the markets too, they are like my family,” Mrs Van De Ligt said.
Valicha
It all started when Melisa Valencia prepared Peruvian charcoal chicken for a family party. Her partner, Phill Routledge said it was the first time he had tried the chicken and he was blown away.
“I said to her, you know what, we can sell this at the markets,” Mr Routledge said.
“Melisa is the person who says ‘Oh no nobody will like it’ but we kept encouraging her.”
Safe to say everybody liked it. Now a fully-fledged business taking on the food truck scene, Valicha has been serving up Peruvian-style cuisine for more than 18 months.
Beginning at the PCYC markets with a stall, Mr Routledge explained their new food truck allowed them to expand the menu and do it in their stainless steel kitchen inside the van.
Food options include golden fried Inca wings, Peru subs, Peruvian-style potato croquette called Papa Rellena, sweet biscuits called Alfajores, and plenty more.
“Melisa is Peru-Native, so customers get to buy into and see a different culture,” Mr Routledge said.
“We are the only Latin-American mobile food vendor in Toowoomba, nobody is doing what we do.
“We get a lot of really good feedback, slowly building ‘our tribe’ our group of regular customers.
“We love what we do and we are very passionate about it. We often get customers coming back and saying how amazing it is.”
Mr Routledge said leftover usable food gets donated to Tony’s Community Kitchen which actively supports the homeless.
Lil D’s Pumbaas Mobile Coffee
Amanda and Troy Devine wanted to start up Lil D’s Pumbaas mobile coffee van to help their 13 children gain experience in the workforce.
“We wanted to teach our kids communication and work skills, and help them gain confidence to deal with customers and handle money,” Mrs Devine said.
Mrs Devine’s kids take the reins in the van at most events, serving customers, and selling products and coffee.
“We have a lot of regulars and people who follow the van whenever we announce where we will be for the day on our social media,” Mrs Devine said.
“We’ve made so many friendships and connections along the way.”
Lil D’s Pumbaas also sells iced tea, and frappés in addition to delicious coffee.
Flaming Good
From olive farmers to mobile caterers, Tony Lamdon and Danielle Gordon set up their business, Flaming Good on a farm before moving down to Toowoomba.
“We were using fresh farm produce sold through our catering and it just grew from there,” Ms Gordon said.
Starting off with public events, Flaming Good quickly grew in popularity now catering to private events, and weddings.
Consistently providing premium service and excellent catering, Ms Gordon said the team was more like a family to herself and Mr Lamdon.
“All of our food is wood-fried which always adds an extra layer of theatre for the event,” Ms Gordon said.
“The catering community is really friendly, and our focus is to provide a really, good solid product and have a really good team of family.”
Flaming Good specialises in wood-fired pizza, tacos, sliders, and American-style BBQ.
The Encouraging Cup
There’s no coffee van more likely to put a smile on your face than The Encouraging Cup. Owner Wayne Logan began his business eight years ago and now regularly stops at different areas in Toowoomba for customers to pop in and grab a morning cup of coffee.
Starting off slowly, Mr Logan explained that his main goal was to encourage others, hence the name of his business.
“I thought it was just serving coffee but it is really about the customers and building those connections,” Mr Logan said.
As well as serving delicious, specialty coffee, Mr Logan sticks encouraging sayings on the top of each coffee cup.
“At first I was thinking ‘does anyone even read these’, but then a regular customer came in and said they had peeled off all of the sayings and kept them,” Mr Logan said.
“And I had around 50 to 100 sayings at that point.
“Some are trivial, some are thought-provoking … now I don’t press (the sayings) on too hard so people can take them off them stick them on something.”
The Encouraging Cup trades in the morning, using local syrups, and great coffee beans, and of course always providing people a lift to start their day.
As well as coffee Mr Logan has his own counselling business called The Encouraging Space. He explained the coffee business helped him get on the right track.
“To have control over my work was a great thing for me, I needed flexibility,” Mr Logan said.
“Bit by bit I have become a different person from when I started my business.”
2nd Shot Espresso
Starting in 2016 as part of BASE services, the 2nd Shot program was created to help those who are homeless or out of work gain skills to get back on their feet.
2nd Shot Espresso serves the community through food and coffee while also providing essential training to its staff.
The coffee vans and food trucks are taken to local and school events, and sporting carnivals serving delicious coffee to the community.
BASE services social worker Tiffany Spary said workers can earn a certificate one in hospitality, and receive training in first aid, and responsible service of alcohol.
“It is really awesome to see people exit homelessness and get back into work in cafes and in retail,” Ms Spary said.
“Lots of people are looking for hospitality workers, so we can help train up those workers.
“To see people who, a few years back didn’t have a job, to now going to having a house and a job, and they are healthy and happy, that’s why we do what we do.”
2nd Shot also has a cafe, which opened up in early 2022.
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