Food Trucks in Canada: Montreal, Toronto and the Rules

Food trucks in Canada arrived late in two of the biggest cities. Montreal banned street food in 1947 and allowed a trial of food trucks again in the summer of 2013, and Toronto tried a pilot of ethnic street food carts in 2009 before calling it off in 2011. Rules still differ from city to city.

Why did food trucks in Canada arrive late?

Many Canadian cities set their street food rules decades before anyone imagined a truck serving Korean tacos. Hot dog carts were the usual street meal, and each city decided where a vendor could stand and who could sell what. When trucks became popular elsewhere, Canadian rules were slow to adjust.

Two cities tell the story well, and both are documented in news coverage from the time. They also explain why a food truck in one Canadian city can look quite different from one in another, even when the food is similar.

What was the Montreal street food ban?

The Montreal street food ban dates to 1947, when the city banned its chip wagons. The reasons given were litter, broken traffic rules and unfair competition with small businesses, and established restaurants also pressured the city to keep vendors off the streets. It lasted for decades.

Then in 2013 the city allowed a trial. Food trucks were limited to a small number of downtown sites, and the city oversaw the type of food. Vendors had to be linked to existing caterers or restaurants, and most food preparation had to happen off site. The rules for any city today are on the city's own licensing page, so check it before you plan a stop.

What was Toronto a la Cart?

Toronto a la Cart was a city pilot, started in 2009 to increase the ethnic and cultural variety of street food. Spacing reported carts at Nathan Phillips Square in front of City Hall, serving dishes such as Persian chicken biryani and Greek souvlaki. The carts were more open than traditional hot dog stands, with a small kitchen inside.

It was a hard project to make work, because the cost of the standard carts, the location fees and the rules for vendors were heavy. The city said it was discontinuing the program and forming a working group on licensing for street vending.

How do street food rules differ by city?

Street food rules by city still vary widely, with different permits, spots and limits. A truck that works in one city may not be allowed to park the same way in the next, and some cities restrict trucks to certain sites. For an example of a city where trucks became part of the scene, see our Calgary food trucks guide.

If you want to know the rules where you live, check your city's own page, since the rules change. Reading the rules also helps you understand why a truck sits where it does, and why it might not be there on a Tuesday.

How to follow a food truck

Trucks move, so following one takes a little habit. Most post their next stop on social media or their own site. Arrive early, because lines grow and a popular dish can run out, and have a second plan in case the truck is closed. In winter, many trucks cut hours or pause, so check before you go out in the cold.

Ask what the truck is known for before you order, and note the corner and the day you found it, since trucks change spots. If you are on a road trip, remember that a city's rules decide where trucks can be, so a truck you saw at home may not be where you expect in another province.

How can Mosey help you keep track of a truck?

Mosey is a place to remember what you ate. Rate the dish you ordered, not just the truck, because a main and a side can deserve different scores. Add the tag Food Truck and a cuisine tag, and use tags to narrow a search later.

Keep a list of trucks you want to try, with a note such as the corner and the day. Share the list with friends by link, even if they are not on Mosey yet, and follow friends to see where they rate and save. Mosey is free to list, with no hidden fees, so a truck owner pays nothing for you to rate their dish. A rating also counts toward the province and territory Explorer badge.

What should you ask at a truck?

Ask what is in a dish and how it is made, because a truck's menu can change by the day. If you have an allergy, tell the person at the window before you order. Mosey can hide dishes that a place lists an allergen for, but a truck that has not filled in its dishes shows "Allergens not listed, ask the place", so ask it directly.

What should you remember before you go?

Bring a card and some cash, and bring a napkin. Rate the dish while it is fresh, because trucks change menus.

Download the Mosey app, rate your last street food meal by the dish and start a list called Trucks I want to try, so the next hunt starts with your own notes. More reading is in the Canadian food guides.