Natalie Moore, the owner of Philly Jawnz – a food truck specializing in Philadelphia cheesesteaks and hoagies, said she needed to find a location to situate her food truck after moving from Philadelphia.

After having lived in Beverly Hills, Inglewood and Santa Monica, Moore said she found Westwood to have the best sense of community. She added that upon seeing other food trucks parked in the Le Conte Avenue public parking space, she contacted the owners of another food truck to receive information on the parking lot’s property owner so she could acquire a lease.

Moore said her experience serving the Westwood community – whether providing about 40 servings of food to the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center emergency room or catering for UCLA football – has been “wonderful.”

Le Conte Avenue’s food trucks – including Philly Jawnz – have provided a diverse, accessible selection of cuisine since the start of 2025.

Upon connecting with the community and receiving positive feedback, Moore said she has renewed her lease for another year and hopes to eventually become an on-campus food truck.

A UCLA Housing-Dining spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the number of on-campus food trucks are limited to ensure safety and efficiency in dining operations by maintaining a balance between UCLA’s own dining and that of third-party vendors on campus. The spokesperson also said budget limitations, space availability and scheduling logistics impact on-campus food truck accommodation.

The spokesperson added in the statement that the process of approving new food trucks is complicated, as the trucks must meet several requirements – such as food safety certifications, menu diversity, operational capacity, student interest and insurance – and receive approval from administration. This limits the number of trucks approved each quarter, the spokesperson said in the statement.

Moore said she provides $5 discounts on their next purchase to any customer if they post a picture of the business on social media. She added that she frequently gives away items because she is aware that many people may not be familiar with Philadelphian cuisine.

Many food trucks stay in Westwood late into the night, providing food options for late night workers when the majority of local businesses have closed.

Kenneth Bolt, a facilities manager at UCLA, said he appreciates the food trucks for being open late, as it provides food options for those who work at night.

“We were here until two in the morning, and most of them leave at 12. Some of them leave at two,” said Bolt. “It depends on the day, so when we get our last break, we sometimes come out here. There’s no food.”

Bolt said that, as someone from the East Coast, Philly Jawnz was “spectacular.” He added that while the food trucks are sometimes more expensive than on-campus vendors, the quality is much better.

Govinda Datta Dasa, CEO and president of Krishna Lunch SoCal, said his truck has served on Le Conte Avenue for 17 months now.

The food truck is run as a non-profit organization that does not charge for their food, which is entirely vegetarian – though they have a suggested $5 donation fee, Dasa said.

Dasa added that Krishna Lunch seeks to bridge the gap between food and spirituality. He said he believes that food is connected to spirituality, and therefore feels that everybody – particularly students – should have access to it.

[Related: Lunch with a side of faith]

“It should not be something that we can’t afford. It should be made readily available,” added Dasa.

Dasa added that he has received appreciative feedback from Westwood customers.

Jacob Wasserman, the secretary of the North Westwood Neighborhood Council, said the food trucks have broadened accessible food options. Wasserman added that the food trucks are likely to have a positive impact on other local businesses, as their customers may visit other stores in Westwood.

“It’s quite positive having, you know, accessible food options close to campus is a good thing, in my opinion,” said Wasserman. “I would like to see food trucks expand there for affordable varied options of food.”