COVID-19: How the pandemic has affected Toronto food trucks

🕒 8 min read

The hospitality industry has been decimated by the COVID-19 crisis. Food trucks, it turns out, are facing a similar struggle.

Food trucks, food carts,, and ice cream trucks and were given the go-ahead to operate over two weeks ago, but good luck finding them. Due to the majority of the workforce still working at home and staying in due to the pandemic, there isn’t much foot traffic to speak of.

Street food at a standstill

The Toronto Food Trucks website indicates only one of 59 trucks out today, while Ontario Street Food‘s roster is more promising - 30 in the GTA yesterday, with the majority now offering delivery.

Ada Mok of “Canada's first dumpling food truck” Feasto Foodtruck told Toronto Restaurants via email that her truck isn’t out due to a number of factors including waiting on Toronto Public Health and Municipal Licensing & Standards.

Though Mayor John Tory announced on June 3 that “all licensed street food vending, food trucks and ice cream trucks in the city of Toronto are permitted to operate,” Mok says, “Toronto Public Health had to take the last two weeks to come up with their new process on how to do health inspections, which are necessary for the business license. I called them on June 3, and finally heard back last Friday.” She then had to submit an application and payment, and is currently waiting for an inspection time from Toronto Public Health. In the meantime, she contacted Road Allowance “regarding a prorated curb-side license due to the shorter season, and they are not considering it,” she says. The shortest license is six months.” 

As Ontario emergency orders were extended until June 30, most offices remain closed or at reduced capacity, translating to “most of the usual profitable spots are currently not available,” Mok continues. “With all events cancelled, as well as catering, as the gathering rule still applies - we are definitely not able to operate in any way until we are able to get the license.” 

Hooman Bazdar - aka Chef Henry - of Mustache Burger, says that despite taking a “permanent spot at 512 Church Street in the last few days, we didn't get any business.” He described the downtown as “a ghost town right now.”

Adapting to new rules

The Food Dudes Inc. have a decidedly sunny outlook to the current licensing restrictions.

Renee Rebelo of the events team told Toronto Restaurants via email, “We have been so excited to fully open our food trucks,” after the Mayor’s announcement. “With the licensing in Toronto, many trucks are only able to park on private property, as the guidelines are a little more strict for this type of service,” she said. “Due to this, we are able operate private bookings for clients at their homes on their driveways, and have also created our own Food Truck Market in our commissary parking lot on Saturdays as a public event, as well as at Steam Whistle Brewery on Sundays. For our company, we have decided to offer this public service on weekends where we can gain the most amount of foot traffic possible.”

With a short season of warm weather, food truck operators face a small window – in which to operate – getting smaller with each passing week, and at least ten more days on lockdown, banding together for markets and festivals might be their only chance of survival.

‘New normal’ includes pre-orders

Just as restaurants and other foodservice businesses have had to adapt to the “new normal” by implementing strict social distancing and sanitizing protocols, food truck events also have a different look and feel now. Take the popular Food Truck’N Friday series for example. Newly minted Food Truck’N Event Series, kicked off their “virtual kitchen series” in the city’s west end on Wednesday.

The pop-up bash now includes pre-orders and delivery. To ensure timely service, organizer Jason Bellissimo has implemented a 2-lineup system: one for pre-orders, another for walk-ups. While walk-ups are permitted, pre-orders are “strongly” encouraged. The series returns next Wednesday with The Arepa Republic, El Bosco Catering, Funnel Cake Dream, and Mustache Burger parked curbside at Markland Wood (4258 Bloor St. W. behind Bloordale United Church).

Similarly, a “drive-thru” food truck event is being held this weekend in the north parking lot at Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The Street Eats Market features 12 mobile kitchens over the two days - BeaverTails, Bubba's Butterfly Chips, Choco Churros, Eva's Original Chimneys, Gogi, Jerk Brothers, Johnny Rocco’s Pizza Wagon, Mary Browns, Meltwich, Rebozos Taqueria, The Smoke Stop, and Tiny Tom Donuts - with all donated proceeds going to the Baycrest Foundation. Instead of placing your order at the window, lining up and eating nearby as you would pre-COVID, now you place and pay for your order in advance, pick up your food during the assigned 15-minute window, and proceed to the nearest exit - eating on the premises is currently not permitted by Public Health (gatherings and tailgate parties are also not allowed).  

Market director Philip Suos, the organizer behind The Mac and Cheese Festival, The Fried Chicken Festival, and other food-centric gatherings, has also put together Eats Theme Park - the “world's first food theme park” taking place at Markham Fairgrounds every Saturday and Sunday in July. It will combine all six of his food festivals including the aforementioned above, in addition to BBQ Eats Festival, Ice Cream Festival, Donut Festival and Poutine Festival.

The future of food trucks

As with restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and other foodservice businesses across the province, food trucks have a lot of obstacles to overcome in the coming days, weeks and months. With the public’s continued support, they may be able survive this upheaval and come out the other side stronger than ever. But the city must come to their rescue first.

For starters: relaxed and expanded rules on where they can park, expedited permits and applications, waived fees, and other leniencies similar to the recently launched CaféTO program to help bars and restaurants and bars install or expand a sidewalk or curb lane café quickly.

In the meantime, for where to find food trucks near you, follow Ontario Street Food.

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