How Much Does Food Truck Catering Cost?
The Short Answer
Food truck catering with Food Trucks Catering by Tin Lizzy Concessions is booked to a minimum spend of $1,500–$2,200, plus tax and a 15% gratuity, depending on the day and season. The minimum is not an extra fee or a charge added on top of your bill — it is simply the amount your food order needs to reach, and everything we serve counts toward it. Most events clear it comfortably once the full guest count is fed, and your written quote confirms the exact figure for your date before you commit.
What the Minimum Covers
The minimum exists because a food truck event carries real fixed costs before the first guest is served. It covers:
- Staffing — a trained, uniformed crew on site for your whole event
- Travel and fuel — getting the truck to your location in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley
- Propane and generator power — our trucks are self-contained kitchens that bring their own utilities
- Setup and teardown — early arrival, setup, service, and a complete cleanup at the end
- The truck and crew on site — a licensed, insured commercial kitchen on wheels, cooking fresh for your guests
In short, the minimum guarantees the truck, the crew and the service — your guests' meals build the total.
What Drives Your Final Number
- Guest count — the biggest factor; more guests means more food and a higher total
- Menu choices — a single truck prices differently than a multi-truck lineup. Our flagship package — burgers with fries or poutine, plus mini donuts for dessert — is the most popular corporate choice
- Service hours — a focused two-hour lunch window versus an all-day festival
- Distance — events near our Port Coquitlam base versus the far end of the Fraser Valley
- Date and season — peak summer weekends and popular Fridays sit at the higher end of the range
- Number of trucks — one truck for a team lunch, or several of our own concepts at once — plus partner taco/Mexican and Greek trucks we coordinate with one call — for a large festival
How It Compares to Traditional Catering
Traditional caterers usually build a bill from many separate lines: a per-person food price, plus staffing charges, equipment and linen rentals, delivery fees and service charges. A food truck folds most of that into one structure. There are no rentals to arrange, no delivery or setup fees, and no kitchen to provide — the truck arrives self-contained and takes everything away at the end. For most corporate and outdoor events, that simpler structure lands the total in the same range or lower, with food cooked to order in front of your guests instead of transported and held.
Two Examples
A 150-guest staff appreciation lunch. One truck, the flagship burger package, a focused midday service window. Feeding 150 guests reaches the minimum on food alone, and the whole site is served and back to work on schedule.
A 600-guest festival or company picnic day. A multi-truck lineup across several hours — burgers and poutine at one window, mini donuts and bubble tea at another. The total scales with the crowd and the hours, well past the minimum, while every guest still gets food cooked fresh, not held in trays.
How to Get an Exact Quote
Three details get you an exact number: your date, your city, and your guest count. Send them through our quote form or call us, and we will confirm availability, the exact minimum for your date, and a menu plan that fits your crowd. Quotes are free, with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum an extra charge on top of the food?
No. The $1,500–$2,200 minimum is a spend your order reaches, not a fee added on top. Everything served counts toward it, and most events pass it on food alone.
What is added to the bill besides the food total?
Tax and a 15% gratuity. That is the full picture — there are no separate delivery, setup or rental charges.
Does the price change by day or season?
Yes. The minimum sits in the $1,500–$2,200 range depending on day and season, with peak summer dates at the higher end. Your quote confirms the exact figure.
Can you work within a set budget?
Usually, yes. Tell us your budget and guest count and we will shape the menu and service window to fit — adjusting concepts, hours or truck count is often all it takes.
How far do you travel, and does distance change the price?
We serve the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Longer trips factor into the final quote, which is why we ask for your city up front.
Get an Exact Quote for Your Date
Tell us your date, city and guest count — we reply fast.
Call 236-808-8000 | Email [email protected] | Get a Quote
Ready to Book Your Event?
Tell us your date, city and guest count — we reply fast. Get a Quote or call 236-808-8000.