From Van Nuys to NBA All-Star Weekend: The FryDay Food Truck Origin Story

Every food truck in Los Angeles has a story. Ours starts in Van Nuys, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, on the Fourth of July, 2019 — fireworks in the sky and a brand-new FryDay food truck opening its window for the very first time. This is the story of how a Valley-born loaded fries truck went from neighborhood streets to NBA All-Star Weekend, and why we've never forgotten where we came from.

Why Fries? Why Van Nuys?

When founder Theophilos "Theo" Okuribido dreamed up FryDay, the idea was simple but ambitious: take the most universally loved food on the planet — french fries — and treat them like the main event. Not a side. Not an afterthought. The star.

Los Angeles is the perfect city for that idea, and Van Nuys is the perfect neighborhood. The Valley has always been one of LA's great food incubators — a place where working families, immigrant communities, and food dreamers live side by side. Launching a FryDay food truck in Van Nuys meant cooking for one of the most diverse audiences in America from day one. If your food can win over the Valley, it can win over anyone.

So we built a menu that reflects the city itself: Nashville Hot Chicken loaded fries with Southern fire, Caribbean Jerk loaded fries with island soul, Mango Habanero with that sweet heat LA craves, and BBQ Bacon for the comfort-food faithful. Global flavors, one truck, all stacked on crispy golden fries.

The Early Days: One Window, One Neighborhood at a Time

Nobody hands a food truck success. The early months were about showing up — street corners, local events, long days, and learning what our neighbors actually wanted. We celebrated the Fourth of July as our founding day, which felt right for a truck built on backyard-cookout energy.

Word spread the way it always does in LA: someone tries the fries, posts them, brings three friends next time. The Valley showed up for us — Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, Panorama City — and then the calls started coming from further out. Pasadena. Burbank. Glendale. Santa Monica. Long Beach.

The Big Stages: All-Star Weekend, Dodgers Playoffs, and Beyond

Then came the moments we still can't quite believe. FryDay was invited to serve at NBA All-Star Weekend — a Valley fry truck feeding fans at one of the biggest sports celebrations in the world. We kept the window slinging during the LA Dodgers Divisional Playoffs, served the crowds at the BET Fan Experience, and brought loaded fries to LA Galaxy matches, UCLA events, and LAUSD school celebrations.

Every one of those stages taught us the same lesson: big events are just neighborhoods, temporarily assembled. The fan at All-Star Weekend wants the same thing as the family at a Van Nuys block party — hot, honest, generous food served with pride. We never changed the recipe for the big stage. The big stage came to us because of the recipe.

Growing Without Losing the Plot: The Ghost Kitchen Era

As demand grew, we faced the classic food truck question: how do you grow without becoming something you're not? Our answer was to stay rooted in Van Nuys and expand what we do from there. Today FryDay runs both the truck and a ghost kitchen, which means you can book us for private events — weddings, corporate lunches, birthday parties, quinceañeras, school and sports events — or order FryDay online for delivery when the craving hits at home.

Same kitchen values either way: fresh-cut fries, bold global toppings, portions that respect your hunger.

What the FryDay Story Is Really About

Here's the truth: this was never just about fries. FryDay is about the idea that food from a truck window can carry as much pride, culture, and craft as food from a white-tablecloth kitchen. It's about a Valley kid's dream rolling into stadiums and star-studded weekends without losing its accent. And it's about LA — the only city where Nashville heat, Caribbean spice, and California produce make perfect sense in the same basket.

The FryDay food truck may have started in Van Nuys, but the story is still being written at every event we cater across Los Angeles. Maybe the next chapter happens at yours.

Ready to bring FryDay to your next event? Visit frydayeats.com/catering or call us at 818-930-0072. Visit what's new at: https://youtu.be/8XZCiAgLpvM?si=sJjAsYsaFgbuuYwN