LA, Orange County and San Diego
Food Truck Rental for Parties and Events
Rent the two-time Food Network champion truck for your next party. We bring the truck, the crew, and the food, and we clean up after.
Yes, you can rent The Lime Truck for your party or event anywhere in Southern California. A rental with us means the whole package shows up: the truck, our cooks and service staff, the food, and setup and cleanup. You pick the menu and the time, we cook California-Mexican food to order at the window, and your guests eat as fresh as if they'd walked up to the truck on the street.
We've been doing this since 2010 from Orange County, and we now have locations in Irvine, Glendale, and San Diego. We're also two-time winners of Food Network's Great Food Truck Race, which tends to come up in conversation once the line forms.
What a Lime Truck rental includes
Nobody gets handed the keys. Our crew always runs the truck, which is what keeps the food and the line moving. Every rental includes:
- The truck, parked and set up before your service window
- Cooks and service staff for the whole service
- The food, cooked to order on site from the package or menu you choose
- Plates, utensils, and napkins, using compostable materials
- Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, plus planning for other dietary needs
- Cleanup when service ends, so the spot looks the way we found it
- Insurance paperwork for your venue when they ask for it
If you're trying to decide between a truck and a traditional caterer, our post on food truck rental vs. catering breaks down the differences and the questions to ask any truck you're comparing.
Events people rent our truck for
- Birthday parties. From backyard 40ths to milestone parties at a rented venue. See birthday party catering.
- Graduation parties. One of our busiest stretches every May and June. See graduation catering.
- Weddings. Full receptions, cocktail hours, and late-night snacks. See wedding catering.
- Office lunches and company parties. One-off thank-yous, recurring lunches, and holiday parties. See corporate catering.
- Brand activations. Product launches, sampling events, and pop-ups. See brand activations.
- Festivals and public events. We can bring more than one truck for big crowds. See festival catering.
- Film and TV sets. Crew meals and wrap parties. See film and production catering.
Packages you can choose from
Instead of a bare rental fee plus food costs, you choose how your guests eat:
- Taste Le Truck Package. Our most popular. It's unlimited, so guests can come back for more mains and sides during service.
- Signature TLT Package. One trip per guest with two tacos or an entree, a side, guac, and chips and pico.
- Taco Package. One trip, two tacos, plus chips and pico. A good fit for big crowds and tighter budgets.
- Appetizer Package. Four items from the appetizer menu for cocktail hours and mingling events.
- A la carte. Pick any items from the menu, with a 25-piece minimum per item.
Every package can be customized. The current details are on our catering packages page, and the full lineup is on our menu.
How much does it cost to rent a food truck?
We don't publish a flat rental rate, because a rate that covers a 300-person festival would overcharge a 60-person backyard party. Your quote is built from five things:
- How many guests you're feeding
- Which package or menu you choose
- How long you want us serving (most packages include two hours, and you can add more)
- The day and season, since Saturdays in peak months and December dates are in highest demand
- Where the event is and how far we travel from Irvine, Glendale, or San Diego
Minimums vary by day, season, and location. Weekday events and off-peak months tend to be more flexible. Parties under 50 guests can often still work, the per-guest cost is just higher because the truck and crew cost about the same to send either way. For a closer look at the math, read our private party catering cost guide, or request a quote and we'll give you a real number.
What you need for the truck
- A level spot about 30 feet by 12 feet. Driveways, parking lots, lawns with firm ground, and street spots with permission all work.
- About 14 feet of overhead clearance. Trees, awnings, and parking structures are the usual problems.
- Power. A standard outlet nearby, or we'll run a quiet generator.
- Permission for the spot. Your venue, HOA, or property manager may have rules for vendor trucks. We'll send a certificate of insurance if they need one.
Fully indoor venue with nowhere to park? We can sometimes set up a serving station inside while the truck parks nearby. In Orange County, drop-off catering without the truck is another option.
Where you can rent The Lime Truck
We work from three locations and travel across Southern California from each one:
- Orange County from our home base in Irvine. See Irvine food truck catering and Orange County catering.
- Los Angeles from our Glendale location. See Los Angeles catering.
- San Diego from our Market Street location. See San Diego catering.
We also take events in the Inland Empire, Ventura County, and the desert. Travel fees depend on the distance, and we'll include them in your quote up front.
How to rent the truck
- Check your date early. We book first come, first served.
- Send your date, guest count, address, and event type through our catering request form, or call (949) 232-0690.
- We reply within 24 hours with a custom proposal.
- A 50% non-refundable deposit by check or card holds the date.
- We confirm the spot and timing, then show up, cook, serve, and clean up.
Two to four weeks of notice works for most parties. Weddings and big corporate events usually book two to three months ahead. Our step-by-step booking guide covers the details people tend to miss.
Food Truck Rental FAQ
Rent the truck for your event
Tell us your date, guest count, and address. We'll reply within 24 hours with availability and a custom quote.