Truck stop food around the world

From stir-fried noodles at roadside stalls to fresh home-made salads enjoyed in the cab. Truck driver food is rich and varied around the globe. We ask six drivers from six different countries to share their favorite dishes from when they’re out on the road.

What comes to mind when you think about trucker food? Greasy truck stops and deep-fried fare? Well, put aside the stereotypes and hear what truck drivers have to say. 

India: “A meal here is more than just food on a plate”

For Indian long-haul truck driver Sandeep Singh, a roadside Dhaba (truck stop) is more than just a place to eat – it’s a place to enjoy the company of fellow truck drivers.

What is your favorite truck stop food?

“My favorite meal on the road is Dal Makhni, Palak Paneer and Tandoori roti – a classic North Indian meal. It may seem ordinary to some, but for me it’s perfect. It reminds me of where I come from and offers a sense of belonging, even hundreds of kilometers away.”

Where is your favorite place to eat?

“I often enjoy this meal at a roadside Dhaba (truck stop) located in Gurugram, India. It’s not fancy and it doesn’t need to be. The food is simple, desi (local), full of flavor – just like how it’s cooked back home. The wooden benches, the smell of hot rotis straight from the tandoor (clay oven), the warm welcome – everything feels right. A meal here is more than just food on a plate. It captures the true spirit of local life.

“If there are other drivers around, we always end up sitting together. It doesn’t matter where we’re from, food brings us to the same table. There’s a strange comfort in eating with people who understand the road like you do.”

Indonesia: “A meal isn’t just about eating – it’s about connecting with people”

After a long shift operating a truck in a hot, dusty mine, Karly Irvan Pratama finds locally cooked street food a welcome respite.

What is your favorite truck stop food?

“Nasi Goreng Kampung (village-style fried rice). It’s a humble dish, but it’s full of flavor – rice stir-fried with fragrant shallots, garlic, red chilies, and sweet soy sauce, sometimes topped with a fried egg or spicy fried chicken. The magic of Nasi Goreng Kampung is its simplicity.”

Where is your favorite place to eat?

“I usually eat at a small warung (a typical small Indonesian eatery) outside the mine. The owner cooks on a traditional stove, which gives the rice a smoky aroma you can smell from miles away. It’s a popular stop for miners and drivers alike – you’ll always find someone in work boots and a dusty shirt sitting there. Out here, a meal isn’t just about eating – it’s about connecting with the people and the place.”

USA: “These meals bring a touch of home wherever I am”

Despite being away for days at a time, Chad Van Dyke still enjoys healthy, home-cooked meals.

What is your favorite truck stop food?

“My favorite meal is usually something I’ve carefully prepped at home, so I can enjoy fresh, healthy, and delicious food wherever I go. I especially love cured salmon with mango salsa or a hearty pasta with fresh veggies and grilled chicken. These meals bring a touch of home wherever I am and make life on the road a little easier.”

Where is your favorite place to eat?

“I usually enjoy my meals in the comfort of my truck, which I’ve made into a cozy, homey space. If the weather’s nice, I like to step outside and eat at a picnic table to enjoy some fresh air and scenery.”

Thailand: “What really makes this dish special is being able to come home and enjoy it with my family”

For Amnart Phengphet, one of the perks of being a long-haul truck driver is that it gives him the chance to sample regional cuisine across Thailand. And being away for so long makes family meals extra special. 

What is your favorite truck stop food?

“My favorite meal on the road is spicy catfish curry (Kaeng Phet Pla Duk), a distinctive Thai dish known for its fiery flavor and aromatic curry paste. I love this dish because it’s spicy and refreshing. It’s easy to make and available at roadside eateries.”

Where is your favorite place to eat?

“I often stop to eat Kaeng Phet Pla Duk while traveling for work in rural areas. But what really makes it special is being able to come home and enjoy it with my family. My wife always prepares this dish for me when I get back. Since I often work away from home for several days, mealtime becomes a special moment for conversation.”

South Africa: “Most people do not realize just how healthy trucker meals can be”

David Mnguni’s job takes him all over South Africa. As long as he has his cooking pot and cooler box with him, he can prepare a nutritious, traditional meal wherever he ends up.

What is your favorite truck stop food?

“My favorite meal on the road has to be pap (a maize-meal porridge common in Southern Africa) with beef stew and seasonal green vegetables. It is something I cook myself. Nothing fancy, but it always hits the spot. It is a classic, hearty dish that is deeply rooted in our South African culture. But most of all it reminds me of home. I do not need a fancy restaurant, just a warm plate of home-style food straight from the pot.”

Where is your favorite place to eat?

“I prepare it myself, usually when parked at a truck stop. The ingredients are easy to find, and as long as I have my pot, I can make it just about anywhere. Most people do not realize just how healthy and affordable trucker meals can be, especially when we cook for ourselves.”

Netherlands: “With my job, I end up in all sorts of places... discovering the most beautiful lunch spots”

For Fabienne van de Pol, eating healthy food surrounded by Dutch nature is one of the key pleasures of working out on the road.

What is your favorite truck stop food?

“A carpaccio pasta salad. You can enjoy it for lunch or dinner, and the best part is: you eat it cold. Super convenient and healthy! I love eating healthy and almost always bring my own meals. I just find it easier — and let’s be honest, it’s cheaper too. Yep, I’m still a true Dutchie.”

Where is your favorite place to eat?

“I rarely eat at gas stations or roadside restaurants. Instead, I prefer to bring my own food and enjoy the countryside. With my job, I end up in all sorts of places, and it's exactly that unpredictability that leads to discovering the most beautiful lunch spots. I always try to seize those moments – they’re what make the day special. I recently wrote the passage below about such an experience:

Lunching Among the Meadows – An Ode to the Dutch Countryside

On a late summer afternoon, as the sun cast its final warm rays across the land, I parked my truck along a narrow country road. On either side, the meadows stretched out like green blankets, dotted here and there with curious cows lazily chewing the cud beneath a tree. Everything breathed tranquility.

I unfolded my lunch and sat on the edge of the truck bed, soaking in a view that felt almost too perfect to be real. In the distance, I could hear the gentle hum of wind turbines, their blades turning slowly and gracefully. Behind me stood old farmhouses with weathered roof tiles and wooden barns, some with a rusty tractor parked out front.

The scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the steam rising from my tea. Now and then, the call of a farmer summoning his dog echoed through the air – a sound that fit the setting like a glove.