Three crowd-pleasers
For a summer wedding, a big birthday or a company day out, three outdoor options come up again and again: Mexican street food, a barbecue and a hog roast. All three are hot, generous and sociable. They differ in how they handle mixed diets, how quickly they serve, what they need on site and the kind of meal your guests will have.
The food
- Mexican street food: tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, nachos or quesadillas, with fillings such as slow-cooked pork carnitas, chicken tinga, beef birria or al pastor-style pork, and vegan options such as spiced mushrooms or black beans. Fresh salsas, guacamole and toppings add colour and let guests choose their heat.
- Barbecue: burgers, sausages, chicken and grilled vegetables, often with salads and breads. Familiar and flexible.
- Hog roast: a whole roast pig served in rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling, usually with salads and potatoes.
Mixed diets
This is where the three differ most. A hog roast is built around pork, so vegetarians, vegans and guests who don’t eat pork need a separate main. A barbecue can include vegetarian options, but they share a grill unless the caterer keeps them apart.
Mexican street food handles mixed diets well because everything is built from separate parts: tortillas, fillings, salsas and toppings. A vegan filling is a proper main, not an afterthought. Corn tortillas made without wheat suit many gluten-free guests, and dairy-free is easy when cheese and soured cream are served on the side. Our menus include vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options, with allergen information for every dish.
Serving and queues
A hog roast is carved and served quickly once it’s ready. A barbecue is cooked in batches, which can mean waiting at busy moments. Mexican street food is assembled to order or served from a taco bar, with fillings already cooked and kept hot, so service is quick once it starts. With any of the three, a short menu and tables called up in turn keep queues down.
Space and set-up
A food truck or trailer is self-contained: the kitchen arrives on wheels, and it needs level, firm ground, access and power and water arrangements. A barbecue or hog roast is usually set up on the ground under a gazebo, so it needs a flat area and protection from the weather, and its own space well away from guests and buildings. Whichever you choose, check with the venue what’s allowed.
Weather
All three can cope with rain if they’re under cover, and all three need somewhere for guests to eat out of the weather. A food truck has the advantage of being its own covered kitchen. See our wet-weather plan.
Cost
All three can be good value for larger numbers because one set-up feeds many people. Costs depend more on menu, numbers, service time, staff and travel than on the format. To compare fairly, ask for quotes for the same numbers, the same service time and the same extras. Our guide to Mexican catering costs lists published prices from other taco caterers.
Which suits your event?
- Wedding with mixed diets: Mexican street food makes it easy for everyone to eat the same style of meal.
- Mostly meat-loving crowd, traditional feel: a hog roast or barbecue.
- Relaxed party with lots of ages: any of the three; tacos and quesadillas are popular with children.
- Evening food: tacos and nachos, or hog roast rolls, are both easy to eat while standing.
You don’t have to choose just one, either. If you’d like Mexican street food, contact us for a quote through our quote form.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll suggest a menu and send a quote for your event.