Taco cart catering vs a food truck
A taco cart caterer is hired for your party: you pay one price by head count and your guests eat free for 2 hours. With a food truck, first ask who pays — the guests or you — and where it will park.
Our Taco Bar: $630 for up to 29 guests, $700 for 50, $1,400 for 100, before 8.75% tax. Family-run in Placentia since 2001.
- Guests pay
- $0
- 50 guests
- $700
- All-you-can-eat
- 2 hours
- Setup
- 30–60 min
Updated · Written by the family that runs B&C Burgers in Placentia (since 2001). Prices are the ones the booking form charges.
The short answer
Book a taco cart when you are hosting and want everyone fed. You pay once, by head count; a cook sets up a cart in your yard or lot and makes tacos, burritos and quesadillas to order for 2 hours. Nobody reaches for a wallet.
A food truck can work when it parks easily and you are clear on who pays. Trucks differ — some sell to guests one order at a time, some charge the host. Get the head count, hours, what’s included and the total in writing before you compare.
Side by side
- Who pays
- B&C Burgers: The host, once, by head count. Guests never pay — $630 for up to 29 guests, $700 for 50, $14 a guest past 50.
- Food truck — Ask: do guests buy their own orders, or do you charge the host a package or a minimum? What happens if sales fall short of it?
- Where it sets up
- B&C Burgers: A cart, a griddle and tables — in a backyard, a driveway or a parking lot.
- Food truck — Ask: where exactly will the truck park, and does it fit the street, the lot or the driveway?
- How guests are served
- B&C Burgers: Cooked to order at the cart and all-you-can-eat for 2 hours. People go back for seconds.
- Food truck — Ask: is it one order per guest or unlimited, and how many hours does the price cover?
- What’s included
- B&C Burgers: Carne asada, chicken & al pastor · Tacos, burritos or quesadillas — guest’s choice · Rice & beans · Full salsa bar: mild, medium & hot · Fresh limes, onion & cilantro · Plates, napkins & forks · 2 hours all-you-can-eat
- Food truck — Ask: are rice, beans, salsas, plates and napkins included, or extra?
- Knowing the price
- B&C Burgers: Published by head count, with a calculator. Tax 8.75%; travel free within 10 miles of Placentia, then $75 to 20 miles, $125 to 30, $200 to 40 and $250 to 50.
- Food truck — Ask for the total in writing: food, travel, service fee, tax and tip.
- Setup
- B&C Burgers: The crew arrives 30–60 min before your start time; setup and clean-up are included.
- Food truck — Ask: when do you arrive, and how long before food is ready?
- Big crowds
- B&C Burgers: One setup feeds up to 150 guests per 2-hour service; we bring more for bigger days — up to 1,500 guests at one event.
- Food truck — Ask: how many people per hour can the window serve?
We don’t quote other caterers’ prices — they change and they differ. Use the food-truck questions as your question list, and ask us the same questions.
Before you book anyone
Six questions, and our answers
- Is the price for the host or per order? Host, by head count.
- How many hours? 2, all-you-can-eat; an extra hour can be added.
- What does the total include? Food, salsa bar, plates, napkins and forks, setup and clean-up. Tax (8.75%) and travel past 10 miles are added.
- Can you set up where my party is? Backyard, driveway or parking lot. In a park, check the city’s rules first.
- Do you carry insurance? Yes — a certificate for your venue on request, with a few days’ notice.
- What is the deposit and refund policy? $100 books the date and comes off the total. 14+ days before: full refund. 7–13 days before: 50% refund. Less than 7 days: non-refundable.
Taco cart or food truck?
Everything you need to know about catering with us.Todo lo que necesitas saber sobre nuestro catering.
Catering guides
More straight answers
- How much does taco catering cost in Orange County?Taco bar prices for 25 to 150 guests, what is included, tax, travel and the deposit — with a calculator.
- How much taco bar food for 25, 50 or 100 guests?Why an on-site taco bar has no quantity math, and what trays, drinks and dessert to order for your head count.
- Office holiday party catering checklist (Orange County)Head count, date, the parking lot, insurance, payment and the holiday packages — in the order to do them.
Ready when you are.Ready when you are.
Price it by head count, book your date with a $100 deposit, and the crew is there 30–60 min early with the griddle.Price it by head count, book your date with a $100 deposit, and the crew is there 30–60 min early with the griddle.
Rather serve it yourself? Taco-bar trays to collect are $10 a person from 5 guests —Rather serve it yourself? Taco-bar trays to collect are $10 a person from 5 guests — build a tray pack →build a tray pack →