FryDay: from a Van Nuys food truck to the Autry Museum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CA. Every big moment has a backstory. For FryDay, the road to the first annual Van Nuys food truck French Fry Festival spotlight started on the Fourth of July, 2019, with one truck, one fryer, and a whole lot of love for Los Angeles. Today, that same truck is being featured on KTLA 5 News as an official vendor at the first-ever Los Angeles French Fry Festival, landing at the Autry Museum of the American West on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Watch the KTLA 5 segment here: The First-Ever Los Angeles French Fry Festival Is Coming to the Autry Museum.

This is the story of how a Van Nuys food truck went from Valley block parties to a citywide fry festival — and why it means so much to the community that built us.

Born in Van Nuys, Built for LA

FryDay did not start with a marketing budget or a corporate playbook. It started with founder Theophilos "Theo" Okuribido and a belief that gourmet loaded fries could bring people together the way great food always does. From the very beginning, we were a Van Nuys food truck through and through — serving the San Fernando Valley, showing up for neighbors, and treating every event like it mattered.

Over the years, that approach carried us far beyond the Valley. We have served loaded fries at NBA All-Star Weekend, the LA Dodgers Divisional Playoffs, the BET Fan Experience, LA Galaxy games, UCLA events, and LAUSD school functions. But no matter how big the stage got, we never stopped being the neighborhood truck that got its start in Van Nuys.

The KTLA 5 Feature That Made It Official

When KTLA 5 featured the first annual Van Nuys food truck French Fry Festival story, it was a full-circle moment. A local station, a local truck, and a first-of-its-kind celebration all coming together to shine a light on what LA does best: bold, diverse, unforgettable food.

The Los Angeles French Fry Festival at the Autry Museum is presented by Street Food Cinema and runs Saturday, July 11, 2026, across three sessions — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m. The festival brings together the city's best fry-makers, plus fry-eating contests and cooking demonstrations. General admission starts at $30.03 including fees, with VIP areas for guests 21 and up.

Why This Milestone Matters

For a Van Nuys food truck, being invited to the first-ever French Fry Festival — and getting spotlighted on KTLA 5 — is validation that community-first food wins. We have built FryDay one loaded fry at a time, catering weddings in Long Beach, corporate lunches in Burbank, quinceaneras in the Valley, and birthday parties in Pasadena. Every one of those events led here.

At the Autry Museum on July 11, we will be serving the flavors that tell our story: Nashville Hot Chicken Loaded Fries, Caribbean Jerk Loaded Fries, Mango Habanero Loaded Fries, and BBQ Bacon Loaded Fries. Each one reflects the cultural diversity of the city we call home.

The Journey Continues

Getting featured on KTLA 5 and joining the first annual Los Angeles French Fry Festival is not the finish line — it is fuel. FryDay will keep doing what we have always done: showing up for LA, celebrating our roots, and serving loaded fries worth talking about. We hope you will come be part of the story on July 11.

Bring the FryDay Story to Your Next Event

The best part of our journey has always been the events we cater and the people we feed. If our road from a Van Nuys food truck to the KTLA 5 spotlight inspired you, let's create a moment at your celebration too — weddings, corporate events, quinceaneras, birthdays, school functions, and tailgates all across LA.

Ready to bring FryDay to your next event? Visit frydayeats.com/catering or call us at 818-930-0072.