Chi Food Truck Fest 2026: Daley Plaza Fridays, Remaining Dates & Loop Lunch Deals
By 312Deals Team · Updated September 2026
The City’s Chi Food Truck Fest parks a rotating lineup of licensed food trucks at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., every Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 15 through October 2, 2026. Now in its 11th year and run by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), it is the Loop’s standing Friday lunch plan. 4 dates left this season. Below: the calendar, how to find the week’s trucks, and 24 live Loop lunch and happy hour deals for the Fridays you skip the line.
Remaining 2026 dates
| Date | Hours | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri Sep 11next | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Daley Plaza, The Loop | Rotating lineup, announced the same week |
| Fri Sep 18 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Daley Plaza, The Loop | Rotating lineup, announced the same week |
| Fri Sep 25 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Daley Plaza, The Loop | Rotating lineup, announced the same week |
| Fri Oct 2 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Daley Plaza, The Loop | Last fest of 2026 |
Dates from the City of Chicago (chicago.gov/FoodTruckFest). Weather can cancel a Friday; BACP posts changes on its channels.
How the fest works
Find this week’s trucks
The lineup changes every week and is posted on BACP’s social accounts under #ChiFoodTruckFest. Follow @ChicagoBACP on Instagram, Facebook or X, or check the City’s fest page.
Free entry, pay per truck
No ticket. Mains generally run $10 to $16 and trucks take cards. The line peaks from noon to 1; arrive at 11 or after 1:30 to eat without the wait.
Getting there
Washington and Dearborn. Every L line stops within two blocks (Washington/Wells, Clark/Lake, Lake, Washington), and it is a 10-minute walk from Ogilvie or Union Station.
Licensed and inspected
Every truck is licensed by the City as a mobile food vehicle and inspected by the Chicago Department of Public Health. The fest is sponsored and organized by BACP as a commercial-corridor activation for Chicago’s food truck operators.
Loop lunch deals for the Fridays you skip the line
Sit-down lunch specials within a short walk of Daley Plaza, all valid on a Friday.
Ayayay - Comida Mexicana
Daily Happy Hour
The Loop · Happy Hour · 2p–6p
Gino'S East Of Chicago
Lunch Special
The Loop · Daily Special · 11a–2p
Petterino's
Happy Hour
The Loop · Happy Hour · 2p–5p
Panera Bread - Loop
Unlimited Sip Club
The Loop · Loyalty
Grant Park Bistro
Grant Park Bistro Lunch Prix Fixe
The Loop · Daily Special · 11:30a–2p
Ceres Cafe
Happy Hour
The Loop · Happy Hour · 1:30p–3:30p
Miller's Pub
Miller's Pub Daily Specials
The Loop · Daily Special
Smashburger #1733
$4.99 All-the-time Menu
The Loop · Happy Hour · 12a–11:59p
AceBounce
Weekday Happy Hour
The Loop · Happy Hour · 11a–7p
Acanto
Aperitivo (Happy Hour)
The Loop · Happy Hour · 2p–5p
Henrietta
Happy Hour
The Loop · Happy Hour · 2p–7p
WEST TOWN BAKERY
All Day Brunch
The Loop · Brunch · 7a–3p
Friday happy hours in the Loop
The fest ends at 3; these start soon after. Every one runs on Fridays.
Venteux Brasserie
Happy Hour: Monday - Saturday, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM, with $1.00 Oysters (minimum 1/2 dozen), $15 fresh shrimp cocktail, $12 steak tartar, $12 rotating wines, $14 Espresso Martinis, and $18 bottomless ros
The Loop · Happy Hour
Beatrix Loop
Happy Hour: Monday-Friday, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM, with $6 local beers, $7 select wines, $8 hand-crafted cocktails, and half-priced snacks & more.
The Loop · Happy Hour
Game Room
Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3-5 PM: $10 wings and Old Style combos, half-off pitchers
The Loop · Happy Hour
Beatrix Market - DePaul Loop
Happy Hour Tue-Fri 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM: $5 select beer, $9 select wine, $11 select cocktails, $7 Personal Deep Dish Pizza
The Loop · Happy Hour
Depot 226
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-6pm: HH Wine $9.00, Draft beers $6.00, HH Pretzels $7.50, HH Deviled Eggs $6.50, HH Bar Snacks $6.00
The Loop · Happy Hour
The Village
Happy Hour: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday (not Thursday) from 4pm - 6pm, offering $5 Peroni, Sangria, and Prosecco
The Loop · Happy Hour
Land & Lake Kitchen
Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 3:30-6pm with food specials (e.g., Basket of fries $4, Loaded Chips $2, Roasted Carrots $8, Chicken Caesar Wrap $8, Hot Honey Fried Chicken $9, Burger $8, Happy Hour Salads $
The Loop · Happy Hour
Arlo Chicago
About Last Knife (on-site restaurant/bar) offers Happy Hour / Lucky Hour Monday-Friday from 3-6pm with $5 draft beers, $6 glasses of wine, and $7 well mixers.
The Loop · Happy Hour
Avli On The Park
Happy Hour: Sunday - Friday, 3pm - 6pm, for discounted cocktails and bites (including $6 glasses of wine, $10 featured cocktail, $5 selected beers, $8 Greek salad, $6 spreads, and $8 small bites)
The Loop · Happy Hour
Ayayay - Comida Mexicana
Daily Happy Hour: Every day 2 PM - 6 PM with $8 nachos, $7 margaritas, $6 tequila shots, and $5 beer
The Loop · Happy Hour
Brando'S
Daily Happy Hour 5-7 PM: $5 selected canned seltzers and traditional cocktails (Old Fashioned, Moscow Mule, Paloma, Miller Lite, White Claw Flavors)
The Loop · Happy Hour
Chicago Athletic Association
Game Room Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 3-5 PM, $10 wings and Old Style combos, half-off pitchers
The Loop · Happy Hour
Food truck nights at breweries and bars
Not in the Loop on a Friday? These taprooms and bars host trucks on their own schedule, city and suburbs.
Dmen Tap
Happy Hour
Avondale · Happy Hour · 4p–6p
Tacosteño Food Truck
$1 tacos al pastor on Mondays and Tuesdays
Maywood · Daily Special
Alos Tacos Food Truck
$2.75 Tacos on Sundays
Oak Lawn · Daily Special
Chesa's Gluten Free Food Truck
Mimosas and margaritas available during brunch on Saturdays and Sundays
Avondale · Brunch
Bubblehouse Brewing Company
Stouts BBQ Food Truck
Lisle · Event · 4:30p–7:30p
Chicago Culinary Kitchen + BBQ
Food Truck Friday at Saint Errant Brewing
Palatine · Event · 5p–8p
Emporium Logan Square
Los Gorditos Food Truck Pop-up
Logan Square · Event
Imperial Oak Brewing
Tacos Marios Food Truck
Brookfield · Event
Blind Corner Brewery
Biker Dude Burgers
Naperville · Event
Chi Food Truck Fest FAQ
When is the Chi Food Truck Fest in 2026?
Every Friday from May 15 through October 2, 2026, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington St.) in the Loop. Two dates ran on a Wednesday instead (June 17 and July 1). The remaining 2026 dates are September 11, 18, 25 and October 2.
Which food trucks are at Daley Plaza this week?
The lineup rotates weekly and is announced on the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection's social channels under the hashtag #ChiFoodTruckFest. Follow @ChicagoBACP on Instagram, Facebook or X the morning of, or check the City's page at chicago.gov/FoodTruckFest.
Is the Chi Food Truck Fest free?
Entry is free; you pay each truck for what you order. Most trucks run $10 to $16 for a main and take cards. Lines peak from noon to 1 p.m., so go at 11 or after 1:30 if you want to skip the wait.
How do I get to Daley Plaza?
Daley Plaza sits at Washington and Dearborn. Every CTA L line stops within two blocks: Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Pink, Purple), Clark/Lake (Blue, Green, Brown, Orange, Pink, Purple), Lake (Red) and Washington (Blue). Metra riders can walk from Ogilvie or Union Station in about 10 minutes.
Are the food trucks inspected?
Yes. Every participating truck is licensed by the City of Chicago as a mobile food vehicle and inspected by the Chicago Department of Public Health. The fest is organized and sponsored by BACP and is in its 11th year.
What if I miss it or the line is too long?
The Loop is dense with sit-down lunch specials on Fridays, and most are a five-minute walk from the plaza. This page lists the live ones, plus Loop happy hours for after work, all pulled from the 312Deals database.
Keep exploring
Search live lunch specials and happy hours by neighborhood or suburb.
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