New Mexico's First Hibachi Food Truck

RIO RANCHO — Home Girl’s Hibachi food truck has been making waves throughout the state as New Mexico’s first hibachi food truck, and while they set up shop throughout the state, the owners, Shirell and Faith Gallegos, call Mariposa and Rio Rancho home.

Home Girl’s Hibachi started through some research of successful food trucks in other big cities, and Shirell and Faith quickly realized New Mexico did not have any food trucks that offered hibachi, a Japanese cooking style that focuses on grilling foods on high heat.

“It has definitely been a lifelong dream of mine, then quickly a dream of hers,” Shirell said, who worked in the restaurant industry for 13 years and is the head chef at Home Girl’s Hibachi. “I was never actually a chef. I cooked, I served, I bartended, I managed but I never had my own spot. Cooking has always been a passion of mine and a dream of mine, so here we are!”

Before they knew it, Home Girl’s Hibachi had more than 5,000 instagram followers and won a 2024 Best of the City Award, “Top 5 in the Best Food Truck” category; Best of the City awards are put on by Albuquerque The Magazine.

Items on the menu include spring rolls, tempura shrimp, “Big O Bag O Kool Aid,” hibachi plates, and “fruit sandos” which are traditional desserts in Japan (fruit and cream sandwiches).

“My favorite is the salmon. It’s one of the top quality salmon that you can find. It’s super good,” Faith said.

Different kinds of proteins available for their hibachi plates include chicken, New York strip steak, shrimp, tofu, salmon and lobster.

“Being an establishment on wheels in itself is already challenging. We definitely rely on support from each other in that aspect,” Faith said of her and her wife’s dynamic in the food truck.

If you want to try Home Girl’s Hibachi or see their upcoming schedule, visit their Instagram: homegirlshibachi.