How Many Food Trucks Do I Need for My Event?

Short answer: for most weddings, office parties and private events, one Lime Truck with our catering crew is plenty. We comfortably handle events from 50 to 500+ guests with one full truck setup. You start needing a second truck, or a second service line, when a big crowd all wants to eat at the same moment, or when the event is a festival or public event with people coming and going for hours.

The number of guests matters, but it isn't the whole story. What really decides it is how many people show up at the window at once. Here's how we think about it when someone asks us to size their event.

Guest count vs. service window

Two events with the same guest count can need completely different setups.

Picture 150 people at a backyard party that runs all afternoon. Guests wander over when they're hungry, grab a plate, go back to the lawn games, come back later for churros. The line stays short the whole time.

Now picture 150 people at a company lunch where everyone gets a 30-minute break at noon. Same headcount, but most of them walk out the door at once. That's a very different job.

So when you're trying to figure out how many food trucks you need, start with two questions:

1. How many guests, roughly? A range like "120 to 150" is fine.
2. How long is the window, and do people eat all at once or spread out?

Most of our packages include a two-hour service window, and you can add time when you book. A longer window with guests arriving over time is the easiest way to keep one truck moving smoothly. A short window with everyone eating together is when we start talking about more capacity.

Why one truck is usually enough

Most of the events we cater are a single truck and our crew. A few reasons that works:

• Everything is cooked to order. The food comes off the truck hot, so there's no tray of tacos sitting under a heat lamp while the line inches forward.
• We build the menu around your crowd. A tighter menu moves faster. Our packages are set up so each guest makes one trip to the truck, and we can trim or swap items to keep the line flowing.
• The crew is there to run it. Our team handles setup, service and cleanup. You don't need to manage anything on the day.
• One truck fits more venues. A single truck needs a flat, level spot about 30 feet long by 12 feet wide with around 14 feet of overhead clearance. That fits a lot of driveways, office lots and event lawns.

If your event is a wedding reception, a holiday party, a birthday or a corporate lunch in the 50 to 300 range, one truck is very likely the right call. We'll tell you if we think otherwise.

When it makes sense to add a second truck or service line

There are real situations where more than one service point is worth it. From what we've seen, these are the big ones:

• Festivals and large public events. Crowds are big, hungry people show up in waves, and a single line can turn into a bottleneck. For festivals and big public events, we can bring multiple trucks or add a second service line so the wait stays short. See our festival catering page for how we handle those.
• Everybody eats at the same time. A large wedding where dinner opens right after the toasts, or a big office event with one fixed lunch break.
• A spread-out venue. If guests are split between two areas, like a main lawn and a far patio, a second service point keeps people from crossing the whole property to eat.
• Multi-day or recurring events. For weekend festivals or a recurring event series, we plan each day on its own.

Not sure which side you're on? That's normal, and it's our job to figure out. Tell us how the event flows and we'll recommend one truck, two trucks or one truck with an added line.

A second truck vs. a second service line

These solve the same problem in slightly different ways, and the right answer depends on your space.

A second truck gives you a second kitchen. It needs its own flat, level spot with the same clearance as the first one. It's the strongest option for big public events and festivals.

A second service line adds another place for guests to order and pick up food without bringing another truck. It can work well when your venue only has room for one truck.

Either way, it's not something you need to decide on your own. Send us the details and we'll suggest what fits.

What changes in December

It's mid-November, and holiday party season is right around the corner. December dates fill fastest, and holiday events are a classic "everyone eats at once" situation. A team gathers, someone gives a quick thank-you speech, and then the whole room heads for the food.

If you're planning an office holiday party, a few things help:

• Stagger it if you can. Letting departments come out in waves, or opening food before the speeches instead of after, keeps one truck moving.
• Give us a longer window. Even an extra half hour can change the plan.
• Book now. December weekends and weekday lunches go quickly. Our holiday catering page has more on how we handle the season.

What to send us so we can size it right

The faster we know these, the faster you get a real answer and a quote. Our catering team usually replies within 24 hours.

• Date and venue address, plus anything odd about access (a gate, a height limit, a hillside driveway)
• Guest count range
• Service window, meaning when food should start and how long you want us serving
• How people will eat: all at once, in waves or spread out
• Event type: wedding, corporate lunch, holiday party, festival, birthday
• Dietary needs, roughly how many vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free guests

If you've never booked a food truck before, our step-by-step guide on how to book a food truck walks through the whole process.

What's on the truck

We serve elevated Cali-Mex cooking, plus bold Mexican, Asian and Mediterranean flavors, made from scratch. Think fresh tacos, epic burritos, loaded nachos, hand-cut fries and our famous churros. Every menu includes vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, and we cook with zero seed oils on all our trucks through our partnership with Zero Acre Farms. So whether you have one truck or two, the vegan cousin and the steak lover are in the same line and both leave happy.

FAQ

How many guests can one Lime Truck serve?

We comfortably handle events from 50 to 500+ guests with one full truck setup and our catering staff. How many people eat at the same time, and how long you want us serving, matter as much as the total.

Can you bring more than one truck?

Yes. For festivals and large public events we can bring multiple trucks or add a second service line so the wait stays short. Share your guest count and format and we'll confirm what's feasible.

Is there a minimum?

Our events start at 50 guests. Beyond that, minimums vary by day of the week, season and location, and weekday events tend to be more flexible. Send your details and we'll tell you the current minimum for your date.

How far ahead should I book?

Two to four weeks is enough for most events. Weddings and large corporate events often book two to three months out, and festivals should book as early as possible. Spring and fall weekends and December holiday dates fill fastest.

How do I lock in my date?

We take a 50% non-refundable deposit to secure your date. The first deposit we receive for a date is the one we honor.

Do you need power?

We need a standard outlet, or we can run a quiet generator.

Why The Lime Truck

We've been cooking for Southern California events since 2010, and we're a two-time Food Network champion: The Great Food Truck Race Season 2 in 2011 and the All-Stars edition in 2021. We cater weddings, corporate events, private parties and festivals across Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, the Inland Empire and surrounding areas. See our corporate and wedding pages for more.

For more answers, see our full food truck catering FAQ, or read how food truck rental works with our crew.

Get a quote

Send your date, location, guest count and service window, and we'll come back with a recommendation and a custom proposal. Get a Quote or call Ethan at (949) 232-0690.