ABOUT THE TEXAS FOOD TRUCK SHOWDOWN

TFTS History

In 2015, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce introduced the very first state-wide food truck competition, The Texas Food Truck Showdown, an experience that would become one of Waco’s signature events.

The Chamber's special events team anticipated around 5,000 people to be in attendance for the inaugural event and hoped to secure 20 food trucks from around the state to compete. The first Showdown blew the team's goals out of the water, boasting an impressive 35 food trucks traveling to Waco from all over the state to compete while serving upwards of 15,000 people who attended.

After an outpouring of support from the community, the City of Waco, sponsors and food trucks alike, the Greater Waco Chamber knew The Texas Food Truck Showdown was here to stay. After several successful years, The Texas Food Truck Showdown is a regular spring event for Waco, welcoming up to 40 food trucks from around the country and over 25,000 people each year!

Get your belly ready for some good eats, we'll see you in Heritage Square on Saturday, April 13 for The Texas Food Truck Showdown 2024!

We are excited to announce that The Texas Food Truck Showdown will be back on April 13, 2024. Below is the Schedule of Events, but please check back regularly as we will be adding information as we get closer to the event. Follow us on Facebook for the latest information!

  • Celebrity Judging | 8 - 10 a.m.
    • Food trucks will begin selling their signature dishes to the public at 10 a.m.
  • Competition & Public Voting | 10 a.m - 4 p.m.
    • Only Tasty Tickets are accepted during this time. Tickets will not be available for purchase after 3:30 p.m.*
  • Pop Up Market | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
    • Featuring local artists with unique pieces and products.
  • Beer and Wine Garden | 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
    • Tasty Tickets will not be accepted at the Beer and Wine Garden. Cash or card only.
  • Live Music | 12 - 8 p.m.
  • KidsZone | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
    • To include children’s activities throughout the day.
  • Awards | 4:45 p.m.
    • Stick around to see who becomes the Grand Champion!
  • Full Menu Sales | 5 - 8 p.m.
    • Trucks will offer their full menu for cash/card purchases. *No Tasty Tickets will be accepted after 4 p.m.*

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance.

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The key to happiness at The Texas Food Truck Showdown is Tasty Tickets.

To get food from ANY of the trucks at The Texas Food Truck Showdown you’ll need to purchase Tasty Tickets. During the competition, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tasty Tickets are required to purchase a signature dish. Only signature dishes will be served during the competition and trucks will not accept cash or cards. Tasty Tickets must be purchased at the ticket booths located near the event entrance using cash or card. Once you have Tasty Tickets, you are free to use them at any truck you want! 

One Tasty Ticket costs $6 and will buy you one 4-ounce signature dish from any truck.

*Please Note: Tasty Tickets will not be sold after 3:30 p.m. and they become invalid after 4 p.m.; no refunds for unused tickets. The food trucks will open their full menu at 5 p.m. for cash/card purchases.

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Bottled water and soda will also be available for purchase directly from the drink trailer with cash or card from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (drinks cannot be purchased from food truck vendors). Beer and Wine Garden will be available from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

NO tasty tickets will be taken for drinks, beer or wine.

We're excited to have live music for The Texas Food Truck Showdown 2024! 

Live music will begin at noon and end at 8 p.m. 

12-1 p.m. | MCC Jazz Band 

1:15-2:15 p.m. | MCC Country Band 

2:30-3:30 p.m. | MCC Rock Band

3:45-4:45 p.m. | Sharp Shooter

5-6 p.m. | Suede

6:30-8 p.m. | Zamora County Line

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The 2024 Texas Food Truck Showdown Champion will feature five celebrity judges.

The judges will sample each truck’s signature dish and determine the overall champion and category winners. Once the celebrity judging is complete, the public is invited to taste each truck’s signature dish and vote on the People’s Choice Award winner from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Our full judging panel will be complete soon!

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Miguel Angel Lara Jr

Chef, Pignettis
Waco native Miguel Angel Lara Jr. is a rising star in the local culinary scene. Pivotal to his jumpstart in culinary and his successes in his daily life as a chef has been the many disciplines and skills Angel has learned in his continued service with the US Marines Corps. The inspiration for his culinary creativity stems from his family tree, dating back to his great grandparents who made their farm-to-table recipes the root of his family’s heart and home. To these aspects of his journey, Angel attributes his absolute honor in providing and serving his community. Angel’s combination of talents can delight your palette nightly at Pignetti’s, located at 401 South 3rd Street. Among his aspirations as a chef, Angel hopes to help bring culinary excellence and pride to his hometown of Waco. Also dishing up hot and hearty breakfast and lunch, Angel’s savory skills are available to enjoy at Harvest on 25th.
 
 
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Chris Flores

Chief Tasting Officer, Favor

Chris Flores is the creator behind the social media brand @Eatmigos. He travels around Texas showcasing the state's best foods as the Chief Tasting Officer for HEB-owned Favor Delivery and is an Ambassador for Yuengling, The Oldest Brewery in America. He loves his hometown of San Antonio, TX, where he has been covering the diverse food scene since 2018. Chris has been creating content locally, nationally, and internationally for over 10 years for social media and broadcast.

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Tomas Pratt

Executive Chef, BLVD
Tomas Pratt is the Executive Chef at the BLVD, a new Steakhouse here in Waco.  This steakhouse, found in the Cambria Riverfront Hotel here in Waco, has boasted to be an amazing culinary adventure with great steaks and amazing dishes from start to finish.  Chef Tomas has more than twenty years of professional kitchen management and Executive Chef experience and enjoys fast-paced work environments where his high standards for customer service and meticulous attention to detail can shine. Tomas likes to say that he has passion which encompasses several variables. He credits his children, and his desire for them to grow with knowledge and skills to be successful in life and business, with the first variable in his passionate drive. His grandmother and father, having shown him at an early age how amazing and diverse food could be, are credited with the second variable.  His final, and as he says most important variable, comes from an amazing and encouraging wife, supporting him in this pursuit.  From them and his training comes the ability to compose meals and plating that not only taste and look amazing but also tell a story with flavors. Chef Tomas doesn’t just have a love for food and cooking, but a passion for reaching people with amazing food and challenging the culinary boundaries.
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Cody DeRosett

Chef, Hotel 1928

Chef Cody came hails from Lexington, Kentucky where he was a part of the Ouita Michel group.  Something that was instilled in him from Chef Outa was an emphasis on local community and trying to be an intricate part of bettering the local community.  Hotel 1928 is a unique opportunity for Chef Cody and is professionally challenging.  Rooted in refined southern cuisine, Hotel 1928 is a great place to hone his skills with simple familiar food executed at a high level.  He is excited to be a part of the Waco community and looks forward to getting to know Waco and the culture it entails.

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Jackie Williams

Bakery Manager, The Olive Branch

Jackie started working at The Olive Branch 2 years ago and has taken on the role of bakery manager. As such, she coordinates the baking schedule for 4 bakers, keeps up with restaurant par levels and inventory, she decorates specialty bakery products and she discovers and demos new recipes and products for catering, special events and the restaurant. She hires and trains new bakery employees and she loves every minute of what she does! The Olive Branch prides itself on their freshly baked breads, pastries and desserts, which use a variety of baking techniques from old world European pastry process to modern, gluten-free and vegan processes.

Jackie is married and she has 2 kids and 2 beautiful grandchildren, all of whom she is very proud.

NOTE: By attending the event, you consent to be filmed/recorded as part of the audience for security and broadcast without payments.

Still have questions? Use the contact form below.

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A special thank you to The Texas Food Truck Showdown sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Additional Sponsors

Baylor University | Craft Law Firm, P.C. | PNC

Volunteer registration for The Texas Food Truck Showdown 2024 is open now! 

There are multiple volunteer positions for this event. The jobs are broken down into shifts of 2-3 hours and volunteers can sign up for just one shift or multiple shifts (any help is appreciated). Each of these positions will play a huge role in helping attendees with questions, greeting them as they enter the venue, assisting them with directions and making sure that each guest is having a great time. Volunteers will receive an event shirt.

You will receive more information regarding your volunteer position in the weeks prior to the event.

We are all excited to work with you again on another great event! Your hard work and dedication make a huge impact on our guests and we greatly appreciate it!

To join us as a volunteer, please click the volunteer button below.