Samara's has been granted a licence by council to setup shop across from the Continental Pool from December 28 until January 27, with a view to extend their stay if all goes well.

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Omar Nemer from the restaurant said he had been working with councillors since 2016 for the city to allow more spaces for mobile food vendors to operate.

"People are really taken onto the food truck scene - it's something that's really modern and something that's in the now," Mr Nemer told the Mercury.

"I purchased a food truck back in 2014 with the intention of using it across the Illawarra ... so it's been a long road to try to get something like this happening."

It precedes another food truck trial which will see food options spread between Stanwell Park and Windang from the end of January.

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Despite previous restrictions banning food fans in council car parks, sporting fields or along the foreshore, the Samaras van has still been out and about - a regular at the markets around the Illawarra, and serving takeaway during lockdowns via private carparks.

Mr Nemer said the pandemic had seen a rise in the number of mobile food offerings around and the public were loving it.

"Food trucks in the Illawarra are expanding big time, there's a lot of people who have invested in them now," he said.

Greens Councillor Mithra Cox said she had been campaigning for changes in regulations over food trucks operating in public spaces for around three years.

"It feels like forever while you're waiting for it to happen, but now that it's here it actually feels like really good timing," Cr Cox said.

"I hope that the food trucks trial will be embraced by locals and tourists alike, and will provide a much needed boost for local businesses who have been hit hard by COVID."

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She said in the current climate more people are wanting to eat outside so the timing to begin the two trials was perfect.

Samara's will be on a one-month trial near Wollongong's Continental Pool, with the view to extend if council deems it a success.

The second trial of food trucks at various locations will run for 12 months, with also the view to extend if deemed a success.

Council will be asking for community feedback about the trials, with suggestions taken online via: https://our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au