After a year off, the Owensboro Food Truck of the Year competition sponsored by VASS CDJR is rolling back into town July 9-11, this time with three categories. Voting will be held exclusively on owensborotimes.com.
Editor’s note: Bookmark this page and check back on July 9-11, when the official voting survey will be added here.
This year’s competition will feature three categories:
- Food Truck of the Year — Mobile businesses whose primary focus is savory meals or entrées.
- Dessert Truck of the Year — Mobile businesses that specialize in desserts, baked goods, frozen treats, or other sweet menu items. Food trucks that offer desserts as a secondary part of their menu are also eligible.
- Drink Truck of the Year — Mobile businesses that specialize in beverages such as coffee, tea, lemonade, smoothies, shakes, specialty sodas, or similar drinks. Food trucks that offer specialty beverages as a secondary part of their menu are also eligible.
Eligible businesses include food trucks and trailers that are based in Owensboro or regularly serve the Owensboro community. A business may be entered in multiple categories if it offers qualifying menu items, and voters may support the same business in more than one category.
Voting will take place exclusively on OwensboroTimes.com, with the community deciding the winners in all three categories. Winners will be determined by public vote.
The competition coincides with the 30th anniversary season of Friday After 5, giving the community a chance to sample and support multiple local trucks in one place.
The event, hosted by Owensboro Times, first launched in 2023, when J’s Good Grub claimed the inaugural title. Sunny Daze Cruisin’ Café won in 2024, and the contest paused in 2025 as OT merged with Tanner Publishing into Black Box Media.
Now, the competition returns with renewed focus on highlighting Owensboro’s growing and diverse food truck scene.
From burgers and chicken tenders to barbecue, Italian, Filipino, and Mediterranean cuisine, food trucks continue to expand their presence across the city.
Regular stops include dedicated locations like Street Eats and Treats on Parrish Avenue and The Lot on Fourth Street, along with rotating appearances at gas stations, schools, factories, and community events.
Leading up to and during voting, Owensboro Times’ Forks Up coverage will spotlight featured trucks, must-try menu items, and where to find them. (You can follow the Forks Up Facebook page for all the tasty details.)
Voting will take place exclusively on OwensboroTimes.com, with the community deciding which truck earns the 2026 title.
Support your favorite, cast your vote, and help crown this year’s winner.
So, what’s for dinner?
