Del Popolo: The Mobile Pizzeria
Words by Kerry Flint
Location
Now that we’ve established we all enjoy one of the world’s most beloved dough-based delights, let’s talk about a pizzeria like no other. Enter Del Popolo, a mobile pizza kitchen featuring a 5,000-lb Stefano Ferrara wood-burning oven, capable of producing 72 pizzas at a time. And if that’s not impressive enough, this state-of-the-art oven is housed in a modern, glass-enclosed exhibition kitchen—all mounted on the back of a Bobtail truck.
The result? A culinary experience that stops you in your tracks. The combination of portable pizza, time-honored techniques, functional design, and contemporary aesthetics is simply mind-blowing.
Jon Darsky & his mobile pizzeria Del Popolo
Photo © Matthew Millman
The visionary behind this mobile marvel is Jon Darsky, the original pizzaiolo who helped launch Flour + Water in San Francisco. Initially planning to open a traditional, brick-and-mortar pizzeria, Darsky’s ambitions soon evolved. His desire to bring exceptional pizza directly to the public—true to the name “Del Popolo” (meaning “of the people” in Italian)—led him to develop this innovative, mobile concept.
The result is a stylish kitchen on wheels, delivering authentic, Neapolitan-inspired pizza to hungry crowds across the city. Del Popolo offers more than just delicious food; it delivers an interactive, culinary experience. Customers can watch their pizza being handcrafted from scratch, using traditional techniques, all while standing just a few feet away.
Darsky has reimagined the typical food truck experience, eliminating the detached feel of ordering through a tiny service hatch. Instead, he designed the space with a glass viewing panel, inviting customers to get up close to the artistry of pizza-making. This open, inviting setup creates a relaxed, memorable connection between the craftspeople and their customers.
Jon Darsky & his mobile pizzeria Del Popolo
Photo © Matthew Millman
While Darsky was the conceptual designer, he enlisted the help of a local designer to digitally map out his vision. The fabrication and production were carried out by McLellan Industries in Hanford, California—a company known for its work with heavy-duty mining equipment and truck components. The result of this collaborative effort is a fully functional pizzeria that blends old-world tradition with modern ingenuity.
The structure itself is a modified transatlantic shipping container, mounted on a Freightliner M2 truck. This industrial base supports a rustic culinary experience that feels both authentic and innovative.
Del Popolo was built around a simple yet powerful idea: make great pizza accessible to everyone. And it’s delivering on that promise—quite literally. By bringing artisanal, stone-baked pizza to the streets, Darsky has created more than a mobile pizzeria; he’s introduced a new way to engage with food.
This is a forward-thinking concept built on a traditional foundation—a modern twist on a timeless craft.
Now, hands up—who’s craving pizza AND great design? 🍕🔥
Bon appétit!
Jon Darsky & his mobile pizzeria Del Popolo
Photo © Matthew Millman