Road-Side Must Eats - San Diego
Traveling by bike, motorcycle or car down the 101 through the bohemian beach town of Leucadia is a right of passage come summer. Motorcycle themed Moto Deli is an ideal spot to pull over when hunger strikes. Known for their chef-driven hand-crafted sandwiches, Moto Deli features a menu of worldly and locally inspired fare between two pieces of bread. Dive into a Chicken Bahn Mi, the cult favorite Turketta with house smoked turkey, bacon, cheddar and avocado, their classic tuna salad and plenty of spicy pickle spears. There is even a kids menu to keep little ones from getting hangry. With motorcycles parked out front, plenty of patio seating and cold drinks it's a must stop for roadside eats.
Waypoint Café - Camarillo
Waypoint Cafe serves all-American breakfast and lunch options the whole family will enjoy and is unlike any other dining experience around town. This spot is perfect for a road trip pit stop. Located next to the Camarillo airport, you will get views of the plane's land and take off while enjoying their buttery Belgian waffle, breakfast burrito, or a juicy burger and fries. Don’t forget to try their signature milkshakes which are crowd favorites.
Food Truck at Rosewood Miramar Beach - Montecito
Located at Rosewood Miramar Beach, the resort's charming food truck serves up a selection of elevated yet approachable fare including Cali Cobb Salad, Crispy Fish Tacos, Hank’s Double Diamond Burger and Dungeness Crab Fritters, as well as inspired craft cocktails, beer and wine by the bottle. Led by Executive Chef Massimo Falsini, lunch options from Rosewood Miramar Beach’s food truck are available daily for walk up service only.
Dine in the Ocean Breeze - San Simeon
Settle in at the outdoor patio of Hearst Ranch Winery, overlooking San Simeon Cove, and enjoy a glass of wine with a bite to eat from their food truck located at the winery Thursday – Sunday. After your fill of fun in the sun in San Simeon, wind your way up the coast to the Gateway to Big Sur: Ragged Point. Raved about by locals and tourists alike, Ragged Point Inn’s roadside Sandwich Stand is the perfect refueling destination. Grab one of their famous burgers or sandwiches, with fries and a shake of course, and enjoy the scenic views from atop the cliff. On summer weekends, enjoy a free concert from local musicians.
Feed My Seoul Food Truck - San Luis Obispo County
Feed My Seoul is a husband and wife team bringing thoughtfully sourced Eastern BBQ to San Luis Obispo. Specializing in artisanal Asian meat, their clean grill mobile kitchen is the ultimate food truck experience on your road trip through the Central Coast. Stop by and try their affordable lunch assortment or pick up some of their Take-N BBQ if you’d rather cook the meal yourself! Check to see where they’re parked for the day on their Instagram channel: @feedmyseoul805.
Food Trucks and Farmers Markets - Visalia
A road trip through California’s Central Valley or to Sequoia National Park should include a stop in Visalia, where seasonal crops from nearby farms inspire local chefs all year long year long. One of the best places to explore the local bounty is the food truck scene at Visalia’s farmers market. Every Saturday, food trucks roll-up alongside the farmers with options such as Quesadilla Gorilla with their Keep Calm + Curry On ‘dilla, and Pita Kabob Truck serving up their Mediterranean breakfast favorites. Wesley’s Wheatless, offers tasty gluten free options. Taylor Brother’s Hot Dog Stand in downtown Visalia offers hot dogs with a big side of nostalgia. Opened in 1952 by Jimmy Taylor and his wife Pauline (the “Notorious Ma Taylor”) this walkup with its iconic neon sign offers a slice of Americana along with their hot dogs.
Casa de Fruta - Hollister
Casa de Fruta Orchard Resort started out as a roadside cherry stand over 120 years ago and, today, is an iconic destination that draws over 2 million visitors each year. Any time you're travelling between SoCal and the San Francisco Bay Area, be sure to make a pit stop for fresh-from-the-farm produce, dried fruits and nuts, gourmet gifts, homemade candy, wine tasting, and more. Kids love riding the antique carousel and "Casa de Choo Choo" train ride and panning for "gold" in the Miner's Sluice. Casa de Fruta was selected by USA Today as the "Most Delicious Place for Pie in California," so be sure to enjoy a slice or take a whole pie to go!
Stocklandia Food Truck Park - Stockton
Looking for flavor and variety while on your summer road trip? Stocklandia, Stockton's only dedicated food truck park, features an array of diverse truck offerings from Cambodian to Pilipino and Mexican. Beat the summer head with El Futal's frozen chocobanana, or a quick burger and fries at Kozmos. Stocklandia enables small businesses to thrive and prosper, by serving as a platform of multiculturalism showcasing their passion, and their team are active members of the Stockton community.
Apple Pie Drive-Through at Cover’s Ranch - Tuolumne
Cover's Apple Ranch in Tuolumne County is a destination for family fun, offering miniature train rides, gift shop, visits with farm animals, and all things apple. Cover's Apple Ranch also offers educational programs to teach children how an apple pie is made from seed to oven. Visitors can enjoy their entire menu, or road trippers can just grab one of their famous apple pies in the drive-through to enjoy on the way to their next destination.
Yak's On The 5 - Sensory Nirvana! - Dunsmuir
What started as a small artisan coffee roaster and delivery service has matured into one of Northern California’s premier destination eateries. Although coffee is still roasted on site in small batches, Yaks on the 5’s gourmet burgers, craft beers, and world famous sticky buns with a caramel Baileys bourbon sauce have helped make this a must stop in Dunsmuir. Recently named by Yelp as one of the top 100 food destinations in the nation, it's the roadside must-eat that shows what homemade from scratch really means.
Handsome John's Speakeasy - Mt. Shasta
Located just off of I-5, Handsome John's Speakeasy is the "locals only" watering hole in Mt. Shasta. But the funky charm at John's belies the fact that Handsome John himself is serving up a delicious, unexpected treat: the best sushi this side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Whether you're looking for a pit stop on a long road trip or a weekend getaway, the beers are always cold and the sushi is always fresh at Handsome John's. Whatever your reason for stopping by, you'll lose yourself in the friendly atmosphere and warm welcome, and that's before you even try some of John's signature, unique rolls like the Lime Caviar or Hellfire.