From barbecue, potatoes, steak and gourmet tacos to coffee, decadent desserts and so much more, food trucks are the ultimate on-the-go dining experience — and not just in big cities.

Join us as we hit the streets to discover the numerous mobile kitchens that abound in Lake and Sumter Counties. Hope you’re hungry, because you absolutely have to try three of our favorite trucks . . . and there’s plenty of good eats at other food trucks we discovered along the way!

Potato, Potatoe

No matter how you spell it, this spud truck puts the comfort in comfort food.

J.C. Mrosek moved from his native Puerto Rico in 2016 to seek new opportunities, a pursuit that took him through Orlando, Newport News, Virginia, New Orleans and Dallas in his effort to find a place that aligned with his lifestyle and professional goals. 

Leesburg turned out to be the place where his craving struck.

“One evening my cousin Christian and I were talking about the loaded baked potatoes they loved back home in Puerto Rico,” J.C. says. “We realized that there wasn’t a single place that offered it, so we ended up going to the store, buying the ingredients and making them ourselves.”

JC and Christian then hosted a dinner party for their cousins to get some honest feedback. The verdict was unanimous: The baked potatoes were a hit, and they needed to be shared with the world.

They decided to take a chance and quickly pooled their savings to buy a food truck that they wrapped with a custom designed logo bearing the name “Mr. Potatoe King.” 

“In Puerto Rico, we like to use slang and stretch words to make them sound cool or unique,” J.C. explains. “That’s why we decided to make the spelling of potato different, so it would stand out and start a conversation.” 

Once you taste the product, you won’t be talking spelling; you’ll be raving about the tasty toppings available for enormous potatoes that are literally the size of a small nerf football. Where they source the spuds, how they steam them and why they stay so fresh is a closely-guarded secret. 

Looking ahead, the cousins envision turning the Mr. Potatoe King food truck concept into a nationwide franchise empire ala Chick-fil-A success. For now, they are happy to craft their skills and cultivate a following at their Leesburg location. They also offer half-sized “Jr. Potatoes,” loaded fries and wings.

From Grill to Go

Lake Tech grad’s culinary passion fuels success for ‘restaurant on wheels.’

Mike Conover, owner of Steak Shack Bistro & Catering in Leesburg, has turned his lifelong love of cooking into a successful food truck business, or his restaurant on wheels as he likes to call it.

Mike’s passion began in childhood when he cooked for his family.

“I don’t know why, but cooking has always been my thing,” he says. “By the time I was 13 or 14, I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

Mike set his sights on owning a food truck after graduating from Umatilla High School, earning a culinary degree from Lake Tech in 2018 and enduring several setbacks. 

“I saved every dollar I had, but the company I invested in to be my first food truck went out of business,” he says. “All the money I had saved up was gone.”

Undeterred, Mike started again in 2023 with a small tent and grill and eventually worked his way up to his current food truck.

Steak Shack Bistro & Catering sets itself apart by delivering restaurant-quality meals. 

“I use all fresh Angus prime beef—no frozen patties here,” Mike says. “Everything is fresh-cooked to order, like you’d get in a restaurant.” 

Mike offers mouthwatering options featuring fresh, high-quality ingredients and bold flavors. The fan-favorite Philly Cheesesteak headlines the menu, featuring shaved ribeye steak, grilled onions and peppers, melted white cheese, and a garlic Amoroso’s roll. Other popular items include the prime Black Angus burger topped with smoked Gouda and the sirloin tips served over garlic mashed potatoes with brown gravy.

Rotating specials add variety, with highlights like the Mac n Tips bowl, the loaded Steak Poutine and the Chicken Bacon Ranch Philly Cheesesteak. Side dishes, including smoked Gouda mac and cheese, Creole French fries and garlic mashed potatoes perfectly complement the main dishes, delivering a hearty dining experience.

Mike’s food truck also offers customizable menus for catering events. 

“If you want chicken sandwiches or something unique for your event, ‘I’ve got you,’” he says.

His adaptability was showcased when he created a Regency-era dinner menu during a recent Jane Austen festival.

“There are a hundred food trucks out there,” he says. “I want people to choose me because they know they’re getting fresh, high-quality food every time.”

Any Way You Slice It

Uncle Kenny’s BBQ and Pizza make a double comeback in South Lake.

For over a decade, Kenny Nadeau delighted the community at Uncle Kenny’s BBQ and St. Louis Style Pizza near Clermont’s Citrus Tower. 

Known for award-winning barbecue and unique pizza creations, Uncle Kenny’s became a local hotspot before closing in June 2022 due to skyrocketing operating costs and a depleted post-pandemic workforce. 

But Kenny’s passion for barbecue burned hotter than ever. When a friend loaned him a food truck, Kenny seized the opportunity and launched Uncle Kenny’s Take-Away that November.

“I started out doing some catering, but when I saw that people were still looking for us in the community, I decided to go the food truck route,” Kenny says.

Uncle Kenny’s Take-Away—with a menu totally independent of the restaurant’s old menu—serves Kenny’s most popular creations, including slow-cooked pulled pork, chopped brisket, Nashville hot & spicy chicken sandwiches, burnt ends and smoky ribs. He also features homemade barbecue sauces, baked beans, coleslaw and his signature pulled pork egg rolls, a fan favorite.

“We’ve brought back some of the classics everyone loves and added fun new menu items like mac and cheese and chicken tenders for the kids, all at reasonable prices,” Kenny says.

Uncle Kenny’s Take-Away sets up at Lowe’s, Ford of Clermont, Toole’s Ace Hardware, Kroger, First Friday Food Trucks in downtown Clermont, Pig on the Pond, the Lake County Fair and more.

Head pitmaster Kenny and his competition team also participate in sanctioned BBQ competitions throughout Florida and across the country. A recent achievement was being named State Champion in Apalachicola’s 2024 Butts and Clucks Cookoff on the Bay against 62 other teams. 

And that’s not all. Kenny opened a stationary food truck last month at The Patio at Ax-Caliber (524 West Avenue) in downtown Clermont. 

With outdoor seating, live music, and Kenny’s barbecue classics and St. Louis-style pizza, locals have plenty of reasons to stop by or use DoorDash for delivery.

“It’s nice that so many people are excited to see that we’re still around and supporting us,” Kenny says.

Owning and operating a restaurant on wheels isn’t without challenges, but seeing satisfied smiles through the food truck window motivates him to keep the smoker rolling.

More Food Truck Options

*Food truck hours, menus and locations may change, and this list may not include every local option. Check with vendors for the latest updates, and let us know if we missed one of your favorites!

Photos: Akers Staff