Photo Gallery: Union City Comes Together for Food, Family and Fun at Gourmet Food Truck Festival

"Naanwiches," Unagi Burritos and Maple Bacon Cupcakes, among other unique foods, were all made available at the first ever food truck festival held Thursday in Union City.

More than a thousand locals came out to experience the culinary concoctions at the first ever , according to Dana Hernandez, executive director of the Chamber. Trucks were selling out fast.

“It turned out larger than I thought it would,” Hernandez said.

The unique offerings were served by seven mobile food trucks parked alongside Wal-Mart at Union Landing. Thursday's roster included: BBQ Kalbi, Grill Stars, MoGo BBQ, That's Sweet! Dessert Truck, Tikka Bytes, Twisted Chill and The Whole Bowl.

More than just a pig-out, Thursday’s event was a melting pot of cultures, community, and culinary creations.

Friends reunited over good food while children played in the grass. Attendees old and young relaxed in the summer sun, which was hard to come by this week.

“I think people are looking for an outlet in Union City to get out and meet the community,” Hernandez said. “Union City’s never had anything like this before.”

The mobile food truck movement is a recent phenomenon that has grown in popularity because of its range of creativity and accessibility.

Union City's festival came about after promoters from the Food Truck Mafia, who also run Fremont-based truck Grill Stars Curbside Cuisine,  approached the Union City and Newark chambers of commerce about hosting local events. Seeing the value in Food Truck Mafia's vision, the Chamber helped secure permits for the event, Hernandez said.

One truck dawning their Union City debut at the premiere food truck event was Twisted Chill, a self-serve soft serve truck that was the brainchild of founders Jesse Soares and Michael Moules. The one-of-a-kind truck features eight different flavors (all non-dairy) and more than twenty toppings. The owners pride themselves in using organic fruit and eco-friendly materials.

When a company is one of a kind, it's more of an incentive for attendees to enjoy new and unique foods, festival attendees said.

The authenticity and creativity of the food trucks present Thursday lured locals out and made the food enticing.

“It’s a different kind of food and the atmosphere’s good,” Hernandez said.

The hundreds of attendees was a testament to the power of food, and Hernandez said it’s only going to get bigger.

Check out the highlights in the photo gallery above.

The Gourmet Food Truck Festival continues every Thursday through August.

• July 7, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• July 14, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• July 21, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• July 28, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Aug. 4, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Aug. 11, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Aug. 18, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Aug. 25, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Wal-Mart, Union Landing Shopping Center, 30600 Dyer St., Union City.