Campus dining and meal prepping can feel predictable at times. But Gainesville’s food truck scene offers a flavorful escape — from oxtail platters to Korean lunch boxes — that brings new culture and comfort to the community.
Not your Mammy’s soulfood & BBQ
A nonprofit on wheels, Not Your Mammy’s serves family-style recipes rooted in tradition. Staples like the $23 oxtail dinner and $18 turkey wings keep weekend crowds’ tummies full with Southern flavors.
Angela Harris, one of the owners of the family business, said the dishes are part of her family’s generational heritage — the recipes have been passed down or created to provide a unique cultural experience.
“It just kind of poured over into the dishes that we serve on the food truck,” she said.
The truck opened in 2023 and a year later began using sales to support Gainesville’s homeless community. Customers who can afford the meals keep the business running, while others are fed at no cost.
Along with her husband, daughter and grandson, the family spends its Saturdays and Sundays providing a taste of soul food to everyone, regardless of monetary boundaries.
“People come out there like, ‘Oh, we’re so thankful that you guys are here every weekend, we really don't have anything,’” Harris said. “They’re just very grateful that we stepped up to provide something for this area.”
Not Your Mammy’s is located at 3845 NE 15th St.
Popular dish you can’t skip: Oxtail dinner
Tony Dillas
Brothers Joshua Johnson and Vincent Sangineto bring recipes inspired by their grandfather, Tony, and his travels across Mexico. Since 2019, their menu has grown to more than 15 entrées, from $5 egg rolls to $10 nachos.
Their signature $18 Chef Style meal features four quesadillas — barbacoa, carnitas, shrimp and chicken — with rice, beans, sauces and a drink.
“We try to bring something that most food trucks don’t bring: We have a really wide menu,” Johnson said. “We feel like we bring high quality, exceptional food to the community.”
Johnson said the Chef Style is perfect for those who want to try a variety of flavors.
The brothers said they parked around Gainesville trying to find the right place to share their dishes with the community. In the past year though, Johnson said they’ve remained comfortably at 5221 NW 43rd St.
Popular dish you can’t skip: Chef Style meal
K-INACUP
A newer addition to the food options in Gainesville, K-INACUP offers a daily taste of Korean culture.
The family-owned business opened in summer 2024 and serves a mix of familiar Korean-styled dishes and new concoctions, according to 21-year-old Day Lee. Her parents own the restaurant, and she typically helps take orders and prep food.
The dishes served provide a number of flavors and textures, Lee said.
“I always hope that people can have food they can enjoy,” she said.
Customers can order from a variety of Korean options ranging from about $10 to $15. Dishes include tteokbokki, which are spicy rice cakes, japchae, or glass noodles, and cupbap, which Lee described as Korean street food.
Along with delicious food, Lee said she hopes that customers can get a sense of Korean cuisine.
“Experiencing new culture is always good,” Lee said. “We try to play Korean music that can add to this atmosphere”
K-INACUP is located at 931 SW Second Ave., in Midtown Park and Eatery.
Popular dish you can’t skip: dosirak (lunch boxes)
From mac and cheese to dumplings, Gainesville food trucks offer more than a meal — they’re a gateway to community, culture and comfort beyond the tired campus eats.
Contact Victoria at vriccobono@alligator.org. Follow her on X @vickyriccobono.
Victoria is a junior sports journalism student and an El Caimán reporter in her first semester with The Alligator. In her spare time, she enjoys sports photography, reading, spending time with her friends and family, and trying new restaurants.
