Seaside Airstream Food Trucks

A Nostalgic Journey Through 30A's Unique Food Truck Experience

Posted on 3/26/2024

Not long ago, America was a simpler place. Here on Scenic Highway 30A, there's a town that still remembers that simpler time. That town is Seaside, Florida; if you're unaware, it is the proverbial center, the Mecca, if you will, of 30A. It's the place where the world meets South Walton. Seaside was designed from the very beginning as a destination where people park their cars and walk wherever they care to eat, shop, or beach. This now world-renowned destination was first established or "founded" in 1982. At that time, it instantly won architectural accolades internationally for its pre-planned commercial and residential pedestrian design. It was one of the first of its kind, heralding the arrival of what is called New Urbanism in community planning. Here, "everything old is new again" since Seaside was deliberately designed to create a wonderful idealized vision of a small Americana-styled town on the beach. The key to its warm ambiance is the creation of pure nostalgia in design by embracing a perceived simpler time of small-town living from the early 20th century.

Airstream Trailers hold a similar place in American history. A time when people used motorcars for leisure travel, taking their beach house with them like sea turtles. The trailers themselves are somewhat iconic since the shiny, all-aluminum, sausage-shaped exteriors are so distinctive and have been seen on America's highways and bi-ways for many years. Their "modern" distinctive design was created in 1936 by Hawley Bowles, who happened to have been the chief designer of Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis" aircraft, which was the first plane to ever cross the Atlantic Ocean back in 1927. They became a very popular mode of American vacation transportation from the 1940s through the 1960s. Today, those same Airstreams have been repurposed here in Seaside as food trucks! With the freshest ingredients and a location within a horseshoe's throw from the beach, there is no place better to get more options anywhere along Scenic Highway 30A.

As we’ve seen, Airstream trailers embody a slice of American history and nostalgia, repurposed in Seaside to offer a blend of tradition and taste. Now, let's take a closer look at each of these iconic Airstream food trucks. From the innovative flavors of Frost Bites to the smoky delights of Barefoot BBQ and the comforting offerings of The Meltdown on 30A, join us as we explore the stories, tastes, and experiences that make each food truck a destination of its own along the scenic stretch of Highway 30A.


Mr. Gyro Hero

Mr. Gyro Hero Seasidde Airstream Food Truck

Our first Airstream to visit is Mr. Gyro Hero. There is a tasty story behind this place because they started in the Seaside farmers market under a tent and have now moved to their shiny Airstream. It's the newest one on the block. This one is a little spiffier, a little brighter, and a little bit more polished than all the other spots around. If you remember, Seaside back in the day there was a little Greek restaurant here. Sitting on the amphitheater, noshing on a Greek salad and lamb gyro, if you sit in just the right place, you can imagine it's 2001 again. The favorite here is, hands down, the Gyro Wrap. It comes with lamb, but you can switch that out for steak tip or chicken; the tzatziki sauce here is epic. They even offer Greek french fries; it would be silly not to order at least a side of those, don't you think?


Frost Bites

Frost Bites Seaside Airstream Food Truck

Next step we switch to the little sweeter side of life with Frost Bites. This authentic Hawaiian shaved ice is the perfect cool down spot, and it couldn't be in a better location. Interestingly, this was the very first Airstream trailer in Seaside, custom-made in California for duty as a food truck. You will love the great flavors, and there are so many combinations. After exhausting all permutations you can make, there is the ultimate option and a local favorite known as the Piggly Wiggly; this selection is made with frozen custard at the bottom and shaved ice on top - It's a fluffy treat; they called it stuffed shaved ice here.


Barefoot BBQ

Barefoot BBQ Seaside Airstream Food Truck

Airstreams are trailers, so this next sentence may be a bit of an oxymoron, but Barefoot BBQ is the anchor store of this Airstream Armada. Puyrveors of all things BBQ and arguably the best place ever to eat BBQ! They also sling frosty bushwhackers and yummy 30A Frosé, which is a bit too much to unpack right here, but suffice it to say if you can only go to one spot for everything this would be it. Comprised of three interconnected airstreams, folks here at Barefoot BBQ smoke their meat on the street to give you the freshest, most succulent barbecue this side of Kansas City. What is the most popular order on the menu here? Half a pound of pork shredded, a frosty bushwhacker, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and potato salad in that order.


Related article:

Best Things To Do In Seaside

With so many things to do in Seaside, we got curious – what are your favorite things to do in this laidback 30A beach community? We conducted an informal Facebook poll to get your insights, and here are the results!


The Meltdown on 30A

The Meltdown on 30A Seaside Airstream Food Truck

Here in this simply elegant town, in the center of all this air stream greatness, we find The Meltdown on 30A. Life's simple pleasures don't get much better than cheese on toast. Here, they offer the most delicious grilled cheese sandwiches you've ever had in your life right out of this chromed Airstream trailer. The most popular menu item here is known as This Little Figgy and is constituted of brie, bacon, and figs.


Wild Bill's Beach Dogs

Wild Bill's Beach Dogs Seaside Airstream Food Trucks

Next up is another classic, Wild Bill's Beach Dogs. This place takes its name from the one and only Seaside original, Bill Dawson, who came here to "retire" and ended up building an empire of sweets with his wife, aptly named Heavenly. The Beach Dog concept was near and dear to Bill's heart, and the new owners have picked up the mantle and elevated their hotdog ingredients and combinations. The crowd's favorite year has got to be the Carolina. It's made with American Wagyu beef, Chili, Mustard, and homemade Coleslaw, which is very satisfying.


Crêpes du Soleil

Easily the fanciest, definitely the most upscale, we come up to Crêpes du Soleil. Kind of hard to describe how delicious these crepes are, and somehow at 33 feet above sea level, facing the Gulf of Mexico they taste better, it's hard to explain, like science. One thing that is easy to explain is how popular the S'mores Crepe is, they sell more s'mores per week than most people eat in a year, or so they say.

If you've been coming to Seaside for the past 20 years or so, you may remember one of the first Airstream trailers located on this very spot. Here, a friendly German gentleman classically trained in sushi preparation from Japan would often times paddle out past the second sandbar, catch fish, and prepare what he caught that day right from his Airstream Trailer. It was a special time in a very special place, and the sashimi was unbelievably delicious.


The Green Stream

The Green Stream Seaside Airstream Food Truck

Seaside had to squeeze in one more Airstream to the mix, and they did so in a perpendicular direction, this time for the last "food truck" on our list, aptly named The Green Stream. This place claims to have the best acai bowl on 30A, and we would not debate that. Everything here is super delicious and very healthy, so if you're looking for something good for yourself, come here. Green Dream is the most popular and is made with spinach, banana, mango, and coconut milk. I mean, what's not to love about that combo?


So there you have it; any one of these places would be a great spot to eat along 30A; put one or all on your list for your next visit. Ocean Reef Resorts offers a wide selection of fine, distinctive, privately owned vacation rentals in South Walton from Miramar Beach all the way down Scenic 30A to Inlet Beach. These come in all sizes, including everything from beachside compounds for fun family reunions to quaint and cozy cottages for a special romantic rendezvous. 

Lock in your vacation rental and get ready to launch your foodie tour of South Walton!

Related Articles

FEATURED VIDEO

Surfing in Destin

Watch Now

Grayton Landing

30A in A Minute

Top 5 Miramar Beach Resorts

Rags to Riches Gratyon Beach

Trending Articles

Related Vacation Rentals

A "daydreamer" is defined as one who detaches from one's immediate surroundings, blurring reality and replacing it with a visionary fantasy, especially one that evokes happy pleasant thoughts. You may experience such a dream in this aptly named, modern vacation home in South Walton. 12 Happy guests may enjoy daydreaming together in this stylish abo
Day Dreamer
4 BR
5 BA
12 Guests
Home - Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating (1)
Walton Dunes is an appropriate name for this two bedroom townhome since it sits high upon a sugary white sand dune overlooking the emerald hued waters of the gorgeous gulf. This South Walton property has an grand location in far eastern Seagrove Beach, adjacent to the edge of pristine Deer Lake State Park. This coastal dune lake is exotic with ebb
Walton Dunes 14
2 BR
2 BA
8 Guests
Condo - Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating (6)
This comfortably furnished and beautifully appointed 30A gulf-front vacation rental has four bedrooms and accommodations for ten beach-loving guests. It is located at Legacy, an exclusive gated residential condominium in Seagrove Beach. The tropically adorned grounds off Scenic 30A offer a stately presence studded with towering palm trees. Legacy f
Legacy 102
4 BR
3 BA
10 Guests
Condo - Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating (1)