Food trucks in Palo Alto

Palo Alto is not a food truck town in the way San Jose or San Francisco can be. There is no permanent truck lot downtown and no weekly truck night run by the city. The trucks are here, though. They cluster where large numbers of people work without many restaurants nearby. In Palo Alto that means the Stanford campus. On any weekday you can find a truck parked by the medical school, plus others near the engineering and environment buildings. Trucks also turn up at private events, office parks and school fundraisers across town.

This guide covers where trucks gather, what the regular Stanford trucks serve and the rules that decide where a truck can sell. Truck schedules change from week to week, so always check the schedule link before you walk over. Details below come from Stanford's official food truck page and the trucks' own websites, checked in late October 2026.

The Stanford School of Medicine Food Truck Market

Stanford's dining and hospitality group publishes a weekly calendar for the School of Medicine Food Truck Market. It sits at the intersection of Discovery Walk and Governor's Lane, in the medical school area near the hospital. Trucks serve from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, which makes it a lunch stop rather than a dinner one.

The posted lineup for the week of November 2 to 6, 2026 shows how the rotation works:

Stanford notes that vendor schedules may change. The trucks do not accept meal plan dollars or Cardinal Dollars. If you are visiting a patient or attending a meeting at the medical center, our School of Medicine visitor guide and Stanford Hospital visitor guide show the layout.

Other truck spots on campus

Stanford also lists a recurring schedule for a Food Truck at Stanford on South Services Road, near the Y2E2 building, or outside EVGR Building B in the graduate residences. These spots serve the science and engineering side of campus and the graduate housing area, which have fewer cafes than the central campus. Check the schedule on the Stanford food truck page before you go. For sit-down options and campus cafes nearby, see where visitors can eat on campus.

Getting there is the hard part for visitors. Campus parking is paid and enforced. Our Stanford parking and transit guide explains visitor parking. The free Marguerite shuttle runs from the Palo Alto Caltrain station into campus on weekdays.

Meet the regular trucks

NaanUp

NaanUp calls itself an Indian street food truck that also works farmers markets, pop-ups and catering. Its menu centers on bowls such as chicken tikka masala, loaded samosas, naan, chai and mango lassi. The website has a Find Us page and a meal subscription.

Oaxacan Kitchen Mobile

Oaxacan Kitchen Mobile cooks the food of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. Its website lists empanadas, molotes, chilaquiles and aguas frescas and posts a weekly truck schedule and daily menu. It also runs catering and team-building events.

Waffle Roost

The Waffle Roost puts it plainly: chicken and waffles is what it does. The truck says its locations are sporadic and spread across the Bay Area, so follow its social pages to find it. It takes private truck bookings and drop-off catering.

BBQ Kalbi

BBQ Kalbi links only to a social media page from Stanford's schedule. Kalbi is the Korean name for marinated short ribs. Check its page for the current menu.

Palo Alto's rules for street vendors

California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, which took effect in 2019, limits how much cities can restrict sidewalk vendors. Cities may still set health, safety and location rules. Palo Alto adopted its sidewalk vendor ordinance in 2024 (Ord. 5610). According to the municipal code, sidewalk vendors are allowed except:

• Within 100 feet of a certified farmers market or swap meet during its operating hours. That covers the Saturday downtown market and the Sunday California Avenue market.
• Within 100 feet of an area with a city temporary special permit, such as a parade, concert or film shoot, for the length of that permit.
• Within 100 feet of a school during in-person instruction.
• In exclusively residential zones, for stationary vendors only.
• In city parks where a concessionaire holds exclusive rights to sell food or merchandise.

That ordinance covers sidewalk vendors such as carts and stands. Trucks that sell from the street or a private lot also deal with parking limits, zoning and permission from the property owner. We did not find a single city page that sets out every rule for trucks, so a vendor should call the city's Planning and Development Services department before choosing a spot. The municipal code section on sidewalk vendors is the place to start. Our guide to starting a business in Palo Alto covers the city's business registry.

County health permits

Food safety for trucks is handled by counties, not cities. A truck selling in Palo Alto needs a permit from the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. Under state rules a truck must also operate from an approved commissary, a permitted kitchen where it is cleaned, stocked and stored. At least one person on a truck must hold a food safety certificate. A permit sticker on the truck shows it has passed inspection. A truck permitted only in San Mateo County, just across San Francisquito Creek, would need a Santa Clara County permit to sell on the Palo Alto side.

Farmers markets and events

The two farmers markets are the closest thing Palo Alto has to a weekly street food gathering. They are stall markets rather than truck rallies, but both sell food to eat on the spot. The downtown Saturday market's 2026 vendor list includes Bao Bao Express for dim sum and buns and Crepes Divine for crepes made to order. NaanUp says it works farmers markets too. Our farmers markets guide has hours and locations.

Trucks also appear at one-off events, from school carnivals to company parties and summer concerts. Watch event listings for a food truck line-up.

How to hire a truck

1. Decide on the setting. On Stanford property, Stanford's dining group handles requests for trucks, stands and tents through an inquiry form on its food truck page. Elsewhere, you need the property owner's permission.
2. Contact trucks directly. NaanUp, Oaxacan Kitchen Mobile and the Waffle Roost all list catering or private bookings on their websites.
3. Ask about minimums. Trucks often set a minimum sales guarantee for private events.
4. Check the permit. Make sure the truck holds a current Santa Clara County health permit.
5. Plan the space. A truck needs level ground, room for a line and space away from doorways and fire lanes.

For indoor or drop-off options, our catering guide lists restaurants that feed groups.

Frequently asked questions