New food truck program serves night owls till 3 a.m.

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

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Boston nightlife is about to get a whole lot more delicious. The City of Boston’s Office of Nightlife Economy has officially launched its Late Night Food Truck Program, providing 10 local food trucks the opportunity to serve food until as late as 3 a.m near hotspots like universities, hospitals, music venues and other nightlife hubs.

The food trucks will operate on this schedule throughout the summer and fall. Food trucks Cool Shade, El Dugout, Boss Town, HYT, Extreme Flavor, Murl’s Kitchen, Matilda’s, Augusta’s Chicken on the Road, Los Muchachos and Cousins Maine Lobster are participating.

“The Late Night Food Truck program keeps our city alive and dynamic at all hours of the night,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are excited to give these incredible businesses the opportunity to thrive and activate our neighborhoods this summer.”

Mayor Michelle Wu attends the Late Night Food Truck Press Conference with members of The City of Boston Office of Nightlife Economy at City Hall Plaza. PHOTO: JOHN WILCOX/MAYOR’S OFFICE

The food trucks represent a spectrum of cuisines and cultures. El Dugout serves hefty Dominican plates and sandwiches. Augusta’s Chicken on the Road offers fried chicken nuggets and cutlet subs. Extreme Flavor is a new African and Caribbean fusion food truck serving up hearty plates of rice, proteins and flavorful sauces.

“Extreme Flavor is more than just a food truck, it’s a platform for cultural storytelling through food,” said owner Akeem Raphael. “Participating in this program gives us the support, visibility and credibility we need to bring African and Caribbean street food to more communities across Boston.”

Extreme Flavor can be found at 135 Stuart Street in the theater district on Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., at Boylston Street and Clarendon Street on Thursdays from 8:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. and at 60 Opera Place near Northeastern University on Tuesdays from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. The full schedule for the late night food trucks can be found on the city’s website.

The program serves a few needs simultaneously. It provides a late-night food option for nighttime workers as well as locals and visitors taking advantage of Boston’s nightlife. It also gives new food trucks the opportunity to test their concepts and reach a wider client base than they could with traditional food truck hours. Food trucks can be a more accessible starting point for entrepreneurs on the way to opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

“We’re proud to represent the Black diaspora in the food truck industry — a space where our flavors, our stories and our economic contributions have long been underrepresented,” said Raphael. “This isn’t just about selling food, it’s about honoring our heritage, building opportunity, and creating real cultural connection, one plate at a time.”