By Paul Hemsley

City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore has dished out Apple and Android smart phone applications for city diners to track the location of the council’s latest cultural innovation: food trucks.

The new app sources instant information from five food trucks now operational in the council trial and follows similar programs in London and Los Angeles that have gained a cult following thanks to social media.

The project has proved immediately popular, with 3000 users signed up for the free app that is available from Apple’s App Store and Google Play and gives users receive real-time information about truck locations,  and operating times as well as linking to food truckies’ social media feeds and their followers.

The app’s function allows customers to see each truck as an icon on a map of city streets and whether it is ‘serving’ or ‘sleeping’. A screen touch on a vendor’s location links to the truck’s menu, Twitter feed and other information.

Ms Moore said the app will tell users how long a food truck will be in a particular location, the specials of the day and ideas on the best route to catch to their chosen food truck.

"When we asked people what they wanted to make Sydney's night-life more dynamic and diverse, they told us they wanted food trucks and we are delivering," Ms Moore said.

The food itself being served has varied national backgrounds, with Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Japanese served from individual trucks.

According to the City of Sydney, more trucks are still being built and are due to operate in the coming weeks.

These will include food themed from Malta as well as more Italian and Chinese cuisine.