Food trucks aren’t just found at music festivals. The mobile kitchens offer a unique culinary experience to visitors to Jackson, businesspeople on their lunch break, and families enjoying a day on the road.
Food Truck Fridays at Smith Park brings some of the area’s best trucks to downtown Jackson on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of each month, usually around lunchtime.
Read on to learn more about the trucks that frequently appear on Food Truck Friday and how to find them elsewhere in the Jackson metro area.
Smokey’s Meals on Wheels
De’Shannon and Harvey Williams are a husband and wife team who operate Smokey’s Meal on Wheels. Smokey’s offers classic Southern cuisine, including smoked chicken wings, ribs, baked beans and homemade lemonade.
When they’re not serving chicken and pork on Jackson’s sidewalks and festival grounds, De’Shannon and Harvey park their food truck near their home in Terry.
De’Shannon and Harvey organize Food Truck Fridays. De’Shannon said she and Harvey took over the events, which began nearly a decade ago, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The pandemic was hard on the food truck industry as people were hesitant to gather in crowds, even outdoors.
This year marks the second year in a row that the couple has run the Food Truck Friday events, and De’Shannon said they are still working to restore it to its former glory.
On Friday, August 16, De’Shannon put up the sign with the truck’s menu on the sidewalk around 10:45 a.m. By 11 a.m., there was already a small but steady stream of people. Some arrived with their children in their cars, others dressed in suits and coming from nearby offices, lining up in front of the various trucks in the hot midday sun.
On a typical food truck Friday, about 300 people come to get food over the course of three to four hours, De’Shannon said.
Smokey’s food truck is Harvey’s long-held dream come true. Harvey is also a pastor in Jackson. De’Shannon said Harvey has wanted to open a food truck for nearly 20 years and finally achieved that dream about 10 years ago. Smokey’s was one of the first successful examples in Mississippi’s growing food truck industry.
Operating a food truck is not an easy job, De’Shannon said, and it involves a lot of financial risk. But the job is fulfilling. De’Shannon also works a corporate job in Jackson and said Smokey’s offers much-needed “slowed-down living” and an escape from the office routine.
Smokey’s Meal on Wheels is not only a staple of Food Truck Fridays, but can also usually be found at various festivals in the area.
De’Shannon and Harvey will post the truck’s next locations on the Smokey’s Meal on Wheels Facebook page.
The opening hours of the next Food Truck Friday can usually also be found on Smokey’s Facebook page.
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Mississippi Tailgators
Jackson native David Watkins cooks classic Southern football tailgating food right on the back of his food truck – hence the name Mississippi Tailgators.
Watkins cooks and fries on the tailgate and then prepares the meals in the truck.
Guests at Mississippi Tailgators can expect dishes and snacks traditionally found under the tailgating tents on a busy Mississippi college campus during fall football season. That means ribs, fried catfish, fried trout, pork chops and more.
The slogan printed on the truck’s logo reads: “We bring the game to you.”
Watkins, who is also a DJ by trade, said he remembers the first time he ate at a food truck about eight years ago. He was working as a DJ at a festival when he bought a shrimp po-boy and a Coke from a food truck for $16.
“I thought, ‘I’m in the wrong business,'” Watkins said, laughing.
Since that festival, Watkins has worked to found and manage Mississippi Tailgators, which is now his full-time job.
Like De’Shannon, Watkins said people should stop by his truck for the best lemonade around.
So which truck really has the best lemonade? There’s only one way to find out.
Mississippi Tailgators can typically be found Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at 3165 Robinson Road.
The best way to track the truck’s nearest location is on the Mississippi Tailgators Facebook page. The truck also offers catering and phone orders.
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Mr Turkey Leg
If you’re standing on the sidewalk anywhere within a two-block radius of the Mr. Turkey Leg truck, you’re probably wondering where that delicious smell is coming from. Attached to the back of Mr. Turkey Leg is a smoker that cooks, you guessed it, turkey legs.
Lana and Marcus Catchings run the truck and offer a range of house-made condiments including Jamaican Jerk, Sweet Cajun Bourbon, Spicy Honey Glaze, Garlic Butter and Lemon Pepper.
Mr. Turkey Leg can usually be found in front of the Residence Inn in Ridgeland at 855 Centre Street on Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
To not miss the next location, follow Mr. Turkey Leg on Facebook under the name MrTurkeyLeg and on Instagram under the name @mr.turkey_leg_llc.
Did we miss your favorite Jackson food truck? Let us know. Email Mary Boyte at [email protected].
