Vendors offer best dishes at the Food Truck Wars event in Carmichael. Contesting cooks are from left: Houmam Affass (Bibbie's Grill); Ty Codar Gyro Stop; Olesya Kratova (4 Heros Grill); Mustafa Sengul (Tantuni Express); Taz Awad (Jeeroz) and Jamal Jabbari (Hefty Gyros). Photo by Susan Maxwell Skinner

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) – Battle began at sunset last week, when six painted trucks rumbled into Carmichael Park. Generators purred; spatulas clanged. 2026 Food Truck Wars had begun.

Following the 2025 success of Burger Wars and Taco Take-Down truck events, Mediterranean was flavor du jour for the first 2026 contest.

Grilling meat scented spring air as vendors plated up their best. Plates and pitas dripped with yoghurt and hummus. Tomatoes and zucchinis sizzled. Olive oil splashed left and right.

Hosted by Carmichael Recreation and Park District, the event drew a hungry crowd of 250 food truck groupies.

Food judges represented community organizations. Donna Miller, Charlotte Saylors, Steven Yankee and Harpreet Virk fasted all day in preparation. The volunteers sniffed, nibbled and scarfed. Fingers dripped. Savory splotches marked score cards, Frequent calls went out for napkins. It was a brutal job, they agreed. But someone had to do it.

Judges chose Sacramento-based GyroStop (whose Mediterranean fusion mobile serves as far afield as San Francisco) as Best Overall provider.

After a close vote, Grazing fans awarded the popular vote to family-staffed Hefty Gyros from Sacramento.

Food Tuck Wars continues April 9 with a Burger Battle (the event will also offer a Mother’s Day vendor market). Taco trucks take arms on May 14. June 11 will feature an Asian/Pacific flavor fight.

All contestants are members of Food in the ‘Hood 916, a food truck organization that also supplies vehicles for Carmichael Park’s concert season.

Food Truck Wars sponsors were: CRPD, Carmichael Chamber of Commerce, Food in the ‘Hood 916, Buck family Automotive, Carmichael Parks Foundation, Supervisor Rich Desmond, Carmichael Kiwanis and Quinns’ Gym.

For information on Carmichael Park food truck events, visit  www.carmichaelpark.com.