Food Truck Gathering on University Avenue Every Friday

Laura and Carl Shelley come to Food Fest Friday in a parking lot on University Avenue every week.

"We just come here because the kids like to come down," Laura said. "Our two-year-old loves it. Every week he goes 'Food truck Friday! Food truck Friday!'"

The Shelleys don't follow food trucks around San Diego but have made a trip to Food Fest Fridays a part of their weekly routine. Sometimes they run into friends or neighbors.

"It's really our Friday night since we're married and have kids," Laura said.

Their favorites include Asian Persuasion, a Korean barbecue truck, Super Q, Captain Crunch crab cakes and a vegetarian truck that visits on a regular basis.

The weekly gathering of trucks serving a variety of cuisine congregates every Friday from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the parking lot of GMC Acupuncture Clinic at 7871 University Ave. near La Mesa Boulevard.

On average, about six trucks pack into the parking lot every Friday, said GMC owner Mary Bell.

"I love food. I can't help it. And I like different stuff. I'm not a traditional eater. I like things that are outside the box and that's what really attracted me to food trucks because they take things to a different level," Bell said.

With the addition of a band or radio station on occasion, Food Fest Friday can sometimes attract hundreds of people.

"Lots of times, people will bring camping chairs or a fold-up table or something and just hang out and eat," she said.

Food Fest Friday started in January 2012 after a friend introduced Bell to the Devilicious food truck.

Devilicious, which appeared on the Food Network show The Great Food Truck Race, attends Food Fest Friday every week, she said. 

The full list of trucks that come to Food Fest Friday is posted on Twitter @foodfest1 every Friday and on the Food Fest Friday La Mesa Facebook page.