Christmas party street food ideas for your company

The office Christmas party has one problem: every year it looks like the last one. Same restaurant, same set menu, same long sit-down. If you want something different this year, street food is one of the easiest ways to change the format without making the organisation harder. Here are some Christmas party street food ideas with food carts, by type of celebration, and what to bear in mind so it all goes smoothly.

Why street food works at Christmas

• People move around. At a sit-down dinner you only talk to the people next to you. Standing among carts, departments mix.
• It fits any space. The office, a warehouse, a hotel or a terrace with patio heaters.
• There is something for everyone. Several carts cover different diets without special menus.
• It is entertainment in itself. Watching food being made is part of the party.

Ideas by party format

1. Standing dinner with carts

Instead of a sit-down meal, several savoury carts spread around the space and a sweet finish. It is the format that creates the best atmosphere. A combination that works:

• A mini burger cart, cooking around 50 an hour to order.
• A pizza or hot dog cart for round two.
• A charcuterie cart to start, with cheeses and cured meats.
• A chocolate fountain to finish, with fruit, marshmallows and sponge to dip.

2. After-work party at the office

For companies that prefer to celebrate at home, a festive after-work with one or two carts is easy to set up. Most run off a normal socket and are set up in under an hour. A popcorn cart and a hot chocolate cart go a long way in a small space.

3. Christmas lunch

If your team has families or lives far away, a Friday lunch works better than an evening do. Quick carts fit well here: hot dogs, nachos, fries and a dessert of waffles or ice cream.

4. An outdoor Christmas

On a terrace, in a garden or at an in-house Christmas market, the star cart is hot chocolate. With heaters and fairy lights, it becomes the meeting point of the party.

The most Christmassy cart: hot chocolate

If you only have one cart at Christmas, make it this one. The hot chocolate cart has a 10-litre urn, good for around 55 cups of 180 ml, and it is served at 65-70 °C, just right to drink without scalding. It draws only 400 W, so it won’t strain the electrics.

It contains milk and may contain soya. If anyone on your team is lactose intolerant, let us know when you ask for a quote.

Popcorn with a festive message

The popcorn cart is a company party classic. At Christmas you can:

• Ask for sweet red popcorn to match the decorations.
• Print the boxes with a seasonal greeting and the company logo.
• Use the boxes as a parting gift on the way out.

Remember that each cart makes a single colour of popcorn, and that printing needs at least two weeks.

More ideas for a festive touch

• Candy floss in strawberry red or apple green, for Christmas colours.
• A dessert corner with the chocolate fountain and the waffle cart.
• A photo booth next to the carts, with your branding and a festive backdrop.
• A welcome drink: fresh orange juice or, if the party allows, an Aperol spritz cart.
• Secret Santa or an awards moment while the carts serve dessert.

How many carts you need

Savoury carts serve around 50 portions an hour each. For a standing dinner, assume each person will eat two or three savoury portions over the evening, spread across the carts. For 100 people, three savoury carts and one sweet cart are usually enough over two or three hours of service. We will fine-tune the numbers to your timings.

An example for 150 people

A 150-person company celebrating Christmas in a warehouse or open-plan venue, from 20:00 to 23:30:

• 20:00. Welcome with orange juice or Aperol spritz and the charcuterie cart.
• 20:45. Mini burger and hot dog carts open, on opposite sides of the room to spread people out.
• 21:30. A short speech and awards.
• 22:00. Dessert with the chocolate fountain and the hot chocolate cart.
• 22:30. Popcorn in boxes printed with the company’s seasonal greeting, for the rest of the party and to take home.

With this plan nobody waits long and people move around the whole space throughout the evening.

The practical side: space, power and booking

• Book early. December is the busiest month of the year for corporate events. Ideally, confirm your carts in October or early November.
• Power. Cooking carts draw around 2,000 W each. If there are several, ask the venue for separate circuits.
• Space. Each cart needs its own footprint plus a metre of free space in front for the queue.
• Outdoors. If rain is forecast, the carts must be under cover.
• Diets. Ask about allergies on the invitation. Vegan burgers, pizzas and hot dogs are available on request.

You will find all the options for the season on our Christmas event food carts page.

Frequently asked questions

Can food carts be set up in an office?

Yes, if there is space and access. Check with the building about goods lifts and house rules. Carts that produce no smoke, such as popcorn, candy floss or hot chocolate, are easier indoors.

Can carts replace the dinner caterer?

They can at a standing dinner, combining several savoury carts and one sweet one. At a sit-down dinner, they work better as a late-night snack or dessert.

How far ahead should we book for December?

The sooner the better: December dates fill up fast. If you want branding, allow for printing time as well. You can request a quote here.