Celebrate Food Cart Month at These Delicious Eateries

Portland’s food carts have become a symbol of our City’s unique identity and a testament to the dedication and creativity of our local restauranteurs. CNN even declared Portland as one of the cities with the ‘World’s Best Street Food.’ That is why City Council has proclaimed April as Food Cart Month! We encourage you to explore Portland’s many food cart pods and their offerings, located in business districts city-wide. The fun culminates April 24-30 with Food Cart Week. If you need help getting started, here are a few of our favorites.

  • 82nd Avenue: The massive Cartlandia food cart pod features more than 30 food carts, the fully-stocked Blue Room Bar, and is conveniently located along the Springwater Corridor for easy bike access.
  • Belmont: For more than 10 years, Viking Soul Food has been churning out Norwegian lefse, a kind of potato flatbread, out of their adorable Airstream trailer.
  • Downtown: At The Cart Blocks, four street sections that surround Ankeny West park have been closed off to accommodate food carts which provides a very unique urban dining experience. Enjoy delicious food in a quant setting right in the heart of Downtown.
  • Foster: The Portland Mercado not only hosts eight food carts featuring eight distinct cuisines of Latin America, but also serves as a business incubator through Hacienda CDC for prospective entrepreneurs. 
  • Gateway: La Osita serves incredible Mexican brunch featuring Protecto Diaz Coffee; a family farm in Mexico that shares portions of their profits with other small farms in Central and South America. Visit Twirling Bird Rotisserie for amazing meals AND a full rotisserie, so you can buy a whole chicken for your family! 
  • Lents: Golden Triangle was voted one of Portland’s top food carts by Portland Monthly magazine. Owner Sarah Singharaj steals the show with her scratch-made dishes that blend Lao, Thai and Cambodian flavors into something fresh and delectable. Sabor Tindureno is owned by two sisters from Oaxaca, Mexico, who bring the flavor of their small village to a food truck at Flipside Bar and Carts. 
  • Lloyd: Office workers, apartment dwellers, and visitors to the Lloyd Center all flock to E-San Food Truck for authentic Thai dishes for lunch and dinner.
  • Midway: Looking to open your own food cart? Rick at Curtis Trailers has 25 years of experience in food service and trailers. He has serviced more than 1,300 clients and is always happy to help an emerging food cart get started. He can even assist with health and safety compliance. 
  • Montavilla: For deftly spiced Somali stews and sauces, try Mira’s East African and Mediterranean Cuisine. Use the flaky sabaayad as a shovel for bariis maraq or saucy suqaar, paired well with crunchy sambusas.
  • Multnomah Village: Bamboo sushi veteran Yoshi Ikeda opened Yoshi‘s Sushi in 2019 and has been serving high-caliber fish ever since. Enjoy fun, innovative rolls like the lime green roll with sesame-crusted spinach, cucumber, roasted pepper, avocado, and microgreens.
  • Soul District: For some Soul food in the Soul District, try Kee’s Loaded Kitchen, which serves smoked brisket, fried chicken, mac and cheese, loaded baked potatoes, and desserts.
  • St. Johns: The St Johns Beer Porch is the hub of the St. Johns Food Cart Pod at NE Lombard and NE Burr Aves and offers a large selection of draft beer and cider, trivia nights, and live music.
  • Williams District: MF Tasty creates delicious, Southwest inspired cuisine that is made with local and fresh ingredients. Their menu changes each week based on what is most fresh and available. Get your Mexican meal fix at Quesabrosa which has lots of yummy offerings and has been a Williams District fixture for more than 10 years.

This list is non-exhaustive. For more great food cart recommendations, check out Travel Portland’s Food Cart Guide and show us what you are eating on Instagram and Facebook. Bon appetit!