We do Weddings, Film/Television/Commercial Sets, Festivals, Birthdays, Parties, Church Gatherings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Office Parties, Picnics, Tastings, Meetings, or Any Special Event! We offer catering with the food truck, catering with our pop-up (picture a farmer's market set-up with more of a cooking show style ambiance), and catering deliveries (taco bars, etc). Let us know your vision--or let us help you create one--and we'll make it happen!

Many clients want the ambiance and aesthetic offered by the food truck, while others prefer the pop-up so their guests can enjoy watching their food being made. These two options have the benefit of having food that’s made fresh on-site. Catering deliveries, however, can be booked at any time, do not have availability restrictions, and are perfect for indoor events.

While there is not a minimum head count, we do have food and beverage minimums in place. We are happy to consult with you on menu options that would work well for your group if you have a smaller head count and want suggestions on how to best reach the minimum.

The food and beverage minimum for a catered event with the food truck is $1000 in New Orleans and $1500-$2000 in Chicago (lower minimums may be available during the off-season).

For catering delivery orders, there is no minimum; delivery fees vary, depending on location.

• We are completely peanut/nut-free.
• Very few of our menu items contain egg (Cuban sliders, cilantro-green onion sauce, churros, flan, tres leches cupcakes, and breakfast items on request).
• Everything but the desserts can be done dairy-free. With the exception of the Cuban sliders, the churros, the quesadillas, the carne asada, and the tres leches cupcakes, everything is gluten-free. If you or any of your guests have a gluten allergy (i.e., cannot tolerate contact with gluten), please let us know so we can be sure to thoroughly clean the griddle, use new fryer oil if applicable, and not offer flour tortillas as an option for the tacos. (Alternatively, we can line the griddle with tinfoil).
• We only offer fish or shellfish on request.
• Everything is soy-free, with the exception of the marinade we use for the carne asada (though with advance notice we can do a seasoning blend instead).
• We do not use sesame at all.

We can serve approximately 100 people per hour, though our efficiency is impacted by factors such as the number of choices on the menu (which we can limit if you're concerned about timing), how long people take to decide what to order, etc.

We've catered weddings for up to 300 guests and corporate events for up to 700 guests, so the numbers are not a concern. While we serve quite efficiently (100+ servings per hour), here are a variety of ways to reduce the wait time for guests:

• Clients often order hors d'oeuvres, either passed around by servers or placed on tables, which guests can munch on while waiting in line or before getting in line.
• We can set up a garnish station outside the truck so people can add their own sauce, cheese, and cabbage slaw, which expedites the serving process quite a bit.
• Some clients--particularly for weddings--opt to create menu cards to have at each table that familiarize guests with the menu options so they can begin thinking about what they'd like to order. And sometimes couples set pens and menu cards at each place setting so that people can circle their selections before handing their cards to the truck. This strategy of course minimizes the ordering times, but also minimizes the guest interaction with the truck--something to keep in mind.
• Another option that expedites the ordering process is to offer a limited menu (e.g., one spicy sauce and one mild sauce instead of the 4 that are included in the pricing) to help with guest indecisiveness.
• Finally, we also offer the option of renting our pop-up, which includes a 36" portable griddle that can be set up next to the truck in order to have an additional cooking station. The portable griddle is a fun/interactive way for the guests to watch their tacos being made right in front of them, in addition to doubling the efficiency of the truck. The cost of the pop-up rental is $150.

Yes, we typically bring 10-20% extra food just in case. If you go over, we can just settle up afterwards. We do not bring extra appetizers, sides, or desserts, so the number of trays you designate for those will not be able to be increased on-site. We cannot offer refunds, unfortunately, as we've already purchased and prepped the quantity of food ordered according to the contract. But we are happy to leave left-overs if your projected head count ends up being higher than your actual guest count. If you do not wish to allow your guests to have the option of returning for seconds, please let us know in advance so we can implement a ticketing system.

We request at least a week’s notice for catered events with our food truck, though the sooner you book the better so you can secure your date. For catering delivery orders, 24 hours notice is required, though some items may not be available without one week's notice.

We require that our customers guarantee parking for the truck on the date of the event. The truck cannot be parked within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or in any illegal parking spot.

Our New Orleans truck dimensions are:

• Height: 14′
• Length: 22′
• Width: 8′

• Height: 12′
• Length: 25′
• Width: 9.5′

With very limited exceptions--usually involving very large events that include street closures--additional permits are not required to rent the food truck for catering events.

When serving from the truck (whether a la carte or unlimited), we provide all disposable serving dishes, utensils, and napkins. When serving hors d’hoeuvres, we use disposable serving trays, which some clients choose to replace with their own serving platters.

We are completely self-sufficient. We just ask that you provide a trash can for your guests.

The truck typically arrives about half an hour to 45 minutes before the start time to get set up.

La Cocinita will cater events regardless of weather. If the event is canceled due to rain or otherwise inclement weather, La Cocinita will retain the full amount of the event. That being said, we are always happy to accommodate your guests in the event of bad weather by bringing food inside.

We add an 18% service charge, which covers our cooking/labor costs, including event coordination. Gratuity is separate, and is at the customer’s discretion. Our team does not expect tips, but people often choose to tip them when they go above and beyond in providing excellent service.

Travel Fees: There is no travel fee with a five-mile radius of our Pythian Market location in New Orleans or our location in Evanston; otherwise, there is a $5 fee per mile based on one-way travel to help cover gas and other transportation costs.

There is also an hourly truck rental fee: $100 in New Orleans and $150 in Chicago (with a 2-hour minimum). This fee allows us to pull the truck away from its typical spots and reserve it for your event.

We require a 50% deposit to secure any event. Payment in full is required 72 hours prior to the event.
If the event is canceled:

• 90 days or more prior to the event date: the full deposit will be refunded
• 30-90 days prior to the event date: 85% of the deposit will be refunded
• 15-29 days prior to the event date: 50% of the deposit will be refunded
• 8-14 days prior to the event date: the full deposit will be retained by us
• 7 days or less prior to the event: the full amount of the event will be retained/owed to us

We do accept credit cards, but there's a 3.5% processing fee for credit card payments. If you'd prefer to send a check to avoid the fee, please send a check made out to La Cocinita Food Truck to:

La Cocinita Food Truck
120 Hibbard Road
Wilmette, IL 60091

Alternatively, we are happy to arrange payment electronically via Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal.

**Our prices and minimums are subject to change at any time.