Nanny's Food Truck — 'The Humble Little Truck' — is a Christchurch-area food truck on a mission to serve one of the best fried chickens in the city. When owner-operator Calvin Wong isn't busy with functions, he parks the truck at 51 Tosswill Road in Prebbleton on the odd Friday or Saturday, and through the rest of the week it pops up at rotating locations around Christchurch, announced on Instagram and Facebook and updated by Wednesday evenings each week.
The kitchen's pedigree runs deep. Founder and recipe creator John-Paul (JP) Porteous was born in Jamaica, moved to New Zealand at a young age and never stopped creating recipes — along the way spending two years cooking in a two-star Michelin restaurant in Denmark. The food truck journey began in Wellington, rolling out great food alongside 'a constant dose of humour and laughter'. Today JP lives his 'island life' in Auckland, occasionally appearing at the truck and at Nanny's Eatery in Kingsland, while Calvin — who has travelled across Malaysia, Korea, Japan and Thailand for inspiration — runs things in Canterbury.
The menu leans on those influences: fried chicken is the headliner ('Here for your Fried Chicken fix'), backed by burgers, roti tacos and infused coconut rice dishes, plus snack boxes, 'tantalizer' sides, drinks and a vegan popcorn cauliflower. Nanny's also caters events, parties and weddings, sells its house seasoning and a fried chicken starter kit online, and takes orders via its website, Uber Eats and Gimme. The promise throughout: no shortcuts when it comes to your food and service — high-quality food on-the-go at reasonable prices.
Nanny's Food Truck calls itself 'The Humble Little Truck', but the mission behind it is anything but small: serving one of the best fried chickens in Christchurch. When owner-operator Calvin Wong isn't busy with functions, the truck parks at 51 Tosswill Road in Prebbleton on the odd Friday or Saturday — and through the week it rolls out to rotating stops around Christchurch, with each week's locations announced on Instagram and Facebook and updated by Wednesday evenings.
The kitchen's pedigree goes deeper than the truck's unassuming size suggests. Founder and recipe creator John-Paul Porteous — JP — was born in Jamaica, moved to New Zealand at a young age, and never stopped creating recipes along the way. His CV includes a two-year stint in a two-star Michelin restaurant in Denmark, and the food truck journey itself began in Wellington, rolling out great food alongside, in his words, 'a constant dose of humour and laughter'. These days JP is based in Auckland, living his 'island life', and from time to time you'll still spot him at the truck or at Nanny's Eatery in Kingsland.
Day to day in Canterbury, the truck belongs to Calvin Wong, who runs it after hours around his other work. He has travelled across Malaysia, Korea, Japan and Thailand, picking up inspiration for what he calls Nanny's best-ever fried chicken. The specialties list is short but punchy: burgers, roti tacos, fried chicken and infused coconut rice dishes — 'and more', as he puts it. His own tagline tells you exactly what he's here for: your fried chicken fix.
Online, the menu splits into meals ('winner winner chicken dinner'), snack boxes, sides ('tantalizers') and drinks. The fried chicken is the headline act, but the supporting cast earns its place — the roti taco in particular is a signature item, and the infused coconut rice dishes nod to the team's island roots. For vegans there's popcorn cauliflower, a popular enough item that it's stocked in the online shop.
That shop is worth a browse if you cook at home: Nanny's sells its house seasoning in 150g packs, plus a Fried Chicken Starter Kit pairing 150g of seasoning with 400g of potato starch — everything you need to attempt the real thing in your own kitchen. If you'd rather leave it to the professionals, the truck also caters events, parties and weddings, with 'exciting choices available to suit everyone's taste and budget'.
Food trucks live by their calendars, and Nanny's is upfront about that: there are no fixed hours. Look out for the truck on the odd Fridays and/or Saturdays at Tosswill Road in Prebbleton, and keep an eye on Facebook, where pop-ups are announced so regulars don't miss out. Weekly locations across Christchurch are posted on Instagram and Facebook and refreshed by Wednesday evenings, or you can call 027 344 6657 to check where the truck has parked. The invitation is a friendly one: 'Come to the truck or order online and pick up from our truck. Come say hi — we don't bite!'
Ordering is flexible: walk up to the window, order online through the website, or use Uber Eats and Gimme. Orders can be placed at any time, but pickup only happens during open hours — and if you're booking a pickup slot online, set it at least 25 minutes out to avoid ordering hiccups. Online delivery carries a $100 minimum, which makes a trip to the truck the simplest option for most.
Nanny's sums up its philosophy plainly: no shortcuts when it comes to food and service. That's how the team delivers high-quality food on-the-go at reasonable prices — proper chef's cooking without the fuss. If you're worn out from weighing up every option in town, the truck's advice is simple: 'Choose the best Fried Chicken Food Truck in town. Follow us and find out where we're parked next!'