Cape May County is the shore food truck capital of South Jersey. From the Wildwood boardwalk to the quiet streets of Stone Harbor and the Victorian resort blocks of Cape May City, mobile kitchens set up from Memorial Day through Labor Day to serve one of the highest-traffic tourism regions on the East Coast. If you're planning a shore trip, a beach wedding, or a private event anywhere in Cape May County, this is what you need to know.
The Shore Season Calendar
Food truck season in Cape May County tracks closely with the resort season. Most trucks operate from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with some running a shorter season from late June through early August. The Wildwood boardwalk is the most consistent location — trucks appear there nightly from June through September. Ocean City, Cape May City, Stone Harbor, and Sea Isle City have rotating truck appearances tied to local events, farmers markets, and weekend programming.
For shore trip planning, follow trucks on Instagram a week before you go. The schedule changes based on weather, event bookings, and operator decisions, and Instagram is the most reliable real-time source of stop information.
Costa Tacos — Wildwood
The best taco truck at the Jersey Shore, full stop. Chef Mariana Ortiz grew up between Ensenada and Vineland, and her menu reflects both: beer-battered local flounder tacos, slow-braised barbacoa on hand-pressed corn tortillas, and salsas that add heat without the gimmick. The al pastor is made with a traditional trompo with a pineapple crown — a preparation that most shore boardwalk food wouldn't bother with. By 8pm on a Saturday in July, the line for Costa Tacos extends well past neighboring trucks. Worth every minute of the wait.
Cape May Lobster Co. — Cape May
The definitive lobster roll south of New England. Cold Maine lobster, toasted brioche, clarified butter, nothing else. The restraint is the point — the product is good enough that embellishment would only diminish it. Seasonal specials include lobster bisque and a lobster grilled cheese that has developed a separate following among return visitors. The truck sells out regularly; get there before 7pm if you want to be certain.
Weckerly's Ice Cream — Wildwood
Philadelphia's most thoughtful ice cream operation runs a seasonal truck through the Cape May County shore circuit from late spring through early fall. The flavors are built around locally sourced seasonal ingredients — goat cheese with strawberry preserves in June, peach with ginger snap in August, roasted beet with chocolate when the season turns — and the small-batch approach means every flavor is worth trying. Ice cream sandwiches between house-made cookies are the signature format. A premium shore dessert experience that has earned devoted repeat customers.
Shoreside Scoops — Ocean City
Small-batch ice cream made weekly using milk and cream from Wyebrook Farm and fruit from South Jersey farms. The flavors rotate with genuine seasonal fidelity — peach cobbler in July, salted blueberry in August, sweet corn in September — and the truck's Ocean City and Stone Harbor appearances have built a following among families who time their shore visits to find specific flavors. Available for private shore events, outdoor wedding dessert service, and seasonal pop-ups throughout Cape May County.
Cucina Zapata — Wildwood
One of Cape May County's most creative trucks, fusing Thai spice traditions with Mexican street food flavors into something genuinely original. Lemongrass-marinated carne asada wraps with green papaya slaw and peanut sauce, green curry braised pork tacos with kaffir lime crema, and Thai-spiced elote corn make up a menu that earns Cucina Zapata devoted regulars across the Wildwood circuit. The fusion concept rewards adventurous eaters and creates a memorable shore dining experience.
Big D's Grub — Cape May
Asian BBQ fusion bowls with wok-kissed proteins — bulgogi beef, teriyaki chicken, char siu pork — over jasmine rice with a fried egg, pickled cucumber, and house chili oil. Bold, satisfying, and different from anything else on the Cape May County truck circuit. Available for shore festivals, beach event catering, and private bookings throughout the county.
Taco Riendo — Cape May
Classic Mexican taqueria flavors done properly: fresh masa tortillas daily, vibrant salsas made in small batches each morning, proteins seasoned and cooked with care. The al pastor is marinated and charred. The barbacoa is braised until it falls apart. The grilled fish taco reflects the shore setting perfectly and is consistently one of the most ordered items on the Cape May City circuit.
Planning a Shore Event with Food Truck Catering
Cape May County's outdoor venues — beach properties, vineyard events, farm weddings, waterfront celebrations — are well-suited for food truck catering. Most truck operators with Cape May County experience know how to handle shore venue logistics: parking on soft ground, operating in wind and humidity, service windows that accommodate beach-going crowds.
For weddings and private events at Cape May County venues, book 12–16 weeks in advance for summer dates. Shore wedding season is competitive, and the best trucks fill their peak-season calendars early. Submit a quote request with your event date, location, and cuisine preferences and we'll connect you with available trucks.
Planning Your Shore Food Truck Calendar
For a Cape May County shore trip optimized around food trucks, the ideal plan looks something like this: arrive on a Friday, hit Costa Tacos on the Wildwood boardwalk for dinner. Saturday morning, find Weckerly's or Shoreside Scoops for breakfast-adjacent ice cream. Saturday evening, get to Cape May Lobster Co. before 7pm. Sunday, try Cucina Zapata or Big D's Grub before the drive home. Add Taco Riendo if you're in Cape May City. That's a weekend's worth of South Jersey's best shore food, all within a reasonable radius.
For private shore events — beach weddings, graduation parties, outdoor celebrations at Cape May County venues — the trucks listed above all have experience with the specific logistics of shore catering: soft-ground parking, salt air and humidity management, and the service pace that outdoor shore events require. Submit a quote request with your venue address and event date to connect with available operators.
Shore trucks in our directory: Costa Tacos · Cape May Lobster Co. · Shoreside Scoops. See all Cape May County trucks →