# Food truck step 2: a short, fast menu

> Build a small food truck menu with clear categories, combos, modifiers for salsas and extras, and different items or prices per truck.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/food-truck/step-2-limited-menu/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

A truck window can serve a customer every 30 seconds only if the menu is short and the till is simple. Aim for 15–40 items in 5–8 categories.

## Before you start

- Trucks are set up as locations ([step 1](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/food-truck/step-1-trucks-as-locations/)).

## Build the menu

1. Create a few categories in **Products › Categories**: Tacos, Burritos, Sides, Drinks, Desserts, Catering, Merch.
2. Add each item in **Products › Add Product** with a short name, price and photo. Untick **Manage Stock?** for cooked dishes.
3. Under **Business Locations** on the product, tick the trucks that sell it.
4. For meal deals, create a **Combo** product ([Combo and service products](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/combo-and-service-products/)).
5. For extras (extra meat, guacamole, salsa choice), create modifier sets in **Restaurant › Modifiers** and link them ([Modifiers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/modifiers/)).
6. On each truck's location settings, add the bestsellers as **POS featured products**.

## Make the till fast

In **Settings › Business Settings › POS**, make POS V2 the default and pick a tile style with pictures and prices ([POS V2](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/pos-v2/)). Set **Quick cash buttons** to the notes customers usually hand over, so one tap enters the cash received.

![POS V2 tile view for a taco truck with chips for breakfast tacos, catering, desserts, drinks, retail, sides, specialties and tacos](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/food-truck-pos-v2-menu.DKGgK27K.png) (web app page: `/pos-v2/create`)
*Big tiles with photos and prices. Category chips keep a short menu one tap away.*

## Tips and mistakes to avoid

- Remove items you have sold out of for the day from the featured list, or let staff see stock badges for tracked items.
- Keep event and catering items in their own category so they don't clutter the window menu.
- Different prices at a festival? Use a [price group](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/price-groups/) instead of editing every product.

## Next step

  - [Step 3: Offline selling](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/food-truck/step-3-offline-selling/)
  - [Restaurant step 4: menu and modifiers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/step-4-menu-items-and-modifiers/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Can each truck sell a different menu?

Yes. When adding a product, choose the business locations it is sold at. A truck only shows the products assigned to it.

### Can prices differ between trucks or events?

Yes. Use a selling price group for event prices and assign it to a location, or pick it on the sale. See price groups.

### How do I sell a taco plate with a drink?

Create a combo product made of the plate and the drink at a combo price. Stock of tracked parts goes down when it is sold.

### Should I track stock for tacos?

Usually not for cooked dishes; untick Manage Stock?. Track cans, bottles and merchandise so each truck knows what to reload.

### Where do "no onions" and extra salsa go?

Paid extras go in a modifier set. Free requests can be options priced at 0, or a note on the cart line.