Portland’s food cart scene is not just a novelty—it is a defining pillar of the city’s culinary identity. Often referred to as the capital of street food in the United States, Portland hosts over 600 licensed carts scattered across vibrant pods, brewery parking lots, and downtown corners.
Unlike other cities where food trucks are often limited to late-night snacks or festival fare, Portland treats its carts as legitimate restaurants. Here, you will find classically trained chefs operating out of compact kitchens, serving everything from Michelin-level tasting menus to the most comforting grilled cheese you have ever eaten.
The low overhead costs of a cart allow chefs to take risks. This creative freedom has birthed a culture of fusion cuisine that is difficult to find elsewhere, blending traditional techniques with Pacific Northwest ingredients.
Navigating this dense culinary landscape can be overwhelming for visitors and locals alike. With so many options, separating the tourist traps from the genuine local favorites requires a bit of insider knowledge.
This guide focuses on quality, consistency, and the unique "only in Portland" factor. We have scoured the city’s major pods—from Cartopia on Hawthorne to the bustling lots in Southeast—to curate a list that satisfies every craving.
Whether you are a carnivore looking for smoky barbecue or a vegan seeking innovative plant-based comfort food, the following lineup represents the best the Rose City has to offer right now.
Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod
| Address | SE 10th Ave &, 1080 SE Madison St, Portland, OR 97214 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | — |
Very cool concept around here in Portland. Basically an area for all food vendors. Shared public tables (covered). Clean the mess after yourself.
It features diverse, global cuisine such as Lebanese, Mexican, Korean, Thai and more. I couldn’t decide what to have. I circled it 3 times. So many options.
It’s vibrant and friendly vibes. Many vendors have phone texts option to alert you the food is ready. I enjoyed a lot. I could see myself go back to try more things.
This is our favorite spot to come with my husband. We come here all the time. The food is amazing! My favorites are the Kenyan sausages and the samosas. But anything we get is just delicious!
My goal was to find some of the best food trucks in Portland, this place does not disappoint. This was the best hotdog and pad thai food I have ever had in my life. I like how open it is and the different variety of food that you can buy. They also offer plenty of seating with an enclosed area and an area that has heated seating.
When they say portland has food truck pods they aren't kidding!! Everything smells so good and this one at hawthorne is really cool! The vibe is eclectic, right up my alley! The Thai food I had was amazing and my kiddo had a sushi burrito which he loved! Hopefully get to stop in again before leaving!
Every single food cart offers a great variety of food.
Reccomended:
1. Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches: They offer Vegetarian/Vegan options
2. Texicano
3. Korean Twist
CARTOPIA FOOD CARTS
| Address | 1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Phone | — |
Seven of us tried the burgers, Mexican and Mediterranean. By far, the Mediterranean was THE BEST. we had beef and chicken platters and the meat was tender, tomatoes salad fresh, hummus was heavenly! It was also big enough for 2-3 people! The burgers and waffle fries were also GREAT. The Mexican—not so much. The alambre fajitas seemed to have diced hot dogs in it and cheap cheese.
Great food cart area with Mexican, Thai, Egyptian, pizza, ice cream, and lots of vegan options. Seating is plentiful at picnic tables and there’s a large white tent covering for good shade. Food came out pretty fast and everyone enjoyed their food. There are bathrooms but they are portables so heads up on that.
Great spot with heaters and awesome PBJ fries from Potato champion!!! Awesome jam and sate sauce!
Cartopia is the epitome of Portland. If you wanna feel that hipster, tattooed, weird Portland vibe... Cartopia has your back! No judgement... I'm the weirdo that is tatted and pierced like the rest of us!
First cart we noticed was beer and BBQ... smelled amazing. We saw a little bit of everything. Fries, pizza, Pad Thai, Gyro, and tacos. It has a decent variety if you're taking a couple friends.
We unfortunately came on an extra cool and rainy day. It's nice if you're snuggled up to a fire pit but the other tables not near fire are pretty chilly and you're probably going to get rained on.
NOTE: There are NO BATHROOMS here. They have the Honey Buckets in the back corner which felt kinda gross with two food carts right next door. How exactly do they empty the Honey Buckets that close to food? Hmmm.
No reason to let that impact the overall 5-star rating... maybe better planning next time?
We'll likely go back if we're in the neighborhood. It was decent.
Though it has less options than the Hawthorne Asylum nearby, I would say this was my favorite food cart pod. The seating is all very nice and well cared for, and the food is impressive with a variety of high-quality options that also just have the cutest theming.
Farmhouse Carts
| Address | 2415 SE 35th Pl, Portland, OR 97214 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | (360) 356-6257 |
Need to get a gryo cart! Gyro World was great and it’s not the same since they left. And maybe a noodle or bbq cart! Shera Indian is some of the best I’ve had!!
Our group of 17 enjoyed the food--Mexican, American, Indian, and Japanese/Sushi. Plenty of room on the Friday evening we were there.
The gyro place was amazing! The service was very attentive and kind. I had an order of the falafels with hummus and I ate every last bite.
The atmosphere of the entire place was open and kind. Great for large crowds, or solo dining.
I didn't eat.There went somewhere else almost no one was there.And no one was serving any food.The carts were empty
Awesome selection of foods. Omg, you have to try the garlic noodles with lollipop chicken. So delicious.
Cathedral Park Food Carts
| Address | 7431 N Saint Louis Ave, Portland, OR 97203 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
I was bit skeptical about the location of this food pod and at the time of this review a 5th taco / Mex option in St. Johns BUT I was genuinely surprised at how good the tacos were at El Catrin. Be sure to ask for pickled carrots and jalapeños. The space is very well built out, covered from the rain and has heaters and mounted TVs. Parking a little awkward, but I live close by, so come by foot or bike to check this pretty neat little food pod!
All right so the only thing Cathedral Park food carts lacks is decent parking, but if you're on foot, or you live close by, you ride a bicycle or whatever.Hey look, these guys are making really good food they have beer they have covered seating. Super nice people good service. I went to Meso Gyro and great portions delicious food. Give this place a try, you know let's pack them out. It's just a shame to see them standing there.
Great new food truck pod in St Johns. There’s currently Sushi and Mexican food, plus a well stocked beer cart with wine and kombucha options. They have a covered patio with heaters which we enjoyed on a cold evening. They also have TVs for sports. Bathrooms are clean and nice, which is rare for a good truck park. Highly recommend this spot. We’ll be back!
I loved the Mexican food truck! WOW!! I got the #12, which was basically chicken taquitos, and they were delicious! The wishing well 🙌🏼 so cool tap beers, wine ( I had the pinot gris), and N/A options, too. It was so clean, the environment had a cool vibe all around! I can’t wait to go back.
Quesabirria from the Mexican cart was really good. Clean tables, cover, TVs, friendly staff. Nice little food cart spot
Park the Carts
| Address | 7339 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97211 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | (808) 203-4134 |
Good selection in food but not as much as other food cart locations in Portland
Mexican food there was good boba was good and the BBQ place was good but waaaaay to much BBQ sauce on the brisket burger also to much oil in the Mac and cheese
Nice food pod. Decent porta pottys. More carts closed than open. No misters or heat in open eating area.
A very cool spot with lots of different food options. I came here with my family on a Monday for early dinner. Not all the food trucks were open but there were a few good looking options. I ordered from the Halal place and my mom and my wife ordered from the Indian place. My cousin ordered Ramen. All was great quality and a great experience. The dining area was outdoors with picnic tables under a sun/rain canopy. The thing that could make this place better would be a water fountain and bathrooms. I would come again.
I've been coming here since before the pandemic. Carts come often enough to not even register. The only two OG carts are the Pinto Thai and Omar's Gyro (which is a franchise I know). Could personally use more vegan options but still a great spot to have in the neighborhood
Park the Carts is a great food cart pod in the parking lot of k-Pub, lots of great foreign cuisines. Thai, Indian, Mexican, Sushi, Italian, Reef Kitchen, Soul Food, Boba teas, fried chicken, heated tent to sit in and beers to drink. Family friendly and fast service.
Arborlook Carts
| Address | 5916 N Greeley Ave, Portland, OR 97217 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Closed Tuesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | — |
Great set up! Cool bottle room/outdoor bar concept. Variety of carts, Veggie Tikka Masala was great! Thanks to Smooth Roots next door!
Another great Portland food cart area anchored by a great bottle shop. The bottle shop provides great draft beer out of their own cart while the barbecue cart provides tasty food. Their was an Italian cart available but wasn’t opened until later in the day. I recommend this to those that love good beer and barbecue.
Awesome collection of food trucks behind the Bottles & Cans bottle shop. There’s three food trucks currently plus a draft drinks cart outside or you can buy something tasty to drink from inside to bring over. Covered seating with some heat available as well. There are two portapotties and a great hand washing station with running hot water plus a classic hand sanitizer option. They do movie nights in fall and have a Magic Box vending machine. Pets and children are welcome. Great place!
So glad to have this in the neighborhood. With three tasty food carts, a great beer selection and plenty of seating, it’s a nice place to have dinner and hang out. There’s something for everyone here.
So many beer and non alcoholic drink options and awesome food to match. My favorite nachos in Portland, or BBQ and even pizza too!
Piedmont Station Food Carts
| Address | 625 NE Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97211 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | (971) 645-3032 |
literally so gooood! I love food carts in Portland! I tried Thai food- fun thai and it’s sooooooo goooood! yum yum! my friend tried Briyani and it’s good but not our taste tho as we think it’s south india style. That owner is so nice tho.
there is a cat called Nala and I am so happy to pet her. she is so cuteeee
So far, there was not one banh me sandwich that I’ve tried that I actually liked to the point where it was memorable. So glad I stopped by Good Coffee today. The chicken lemongrass banh me is fire!! I left out the jalapeños because I’m a baby but the spicy sauce was so unique and a little out of my spicy comfort level but not to the point if ruining it.If anything it enhanced it and made me love it. Also, the girl working today was super cool.She was so approachable and friendly even before I got to the cart. So yes I loved the sandwich but if she wasn’t so dang cool and sweet, I wouldn’t have taken the time to write this in depth review. Thanks girly!! 🥰🤗🐶🐾👯♀️
The Mahi tacos food cart has amazing fish tacos! The homemade salsa is amazing!
We've been to probably a dozen different food cart places and this one definitely the cutest.
Most of the carts have fun exteriors, the central dining area is nice and has plenty of seating.
The beer stand is a fun little cart too.
This food cart pod is I am really intimately so it doesn’t feel as open as most food cards in Portland. There’s undercover seating which was very quaint. The selection of food carts was great. I chose the barbecue cart and ordered the three meat dinner with macaroni cheese and potato salad. My three meats were ribs, beef, brisket, and chicken thigh. I should’ve ordered the sauce on the side. The sauce is very sweet and there is too much of it, the ribs were fall off the bone. The brisket was soft and tasty. However, the chicken thigh was very overcooked and since everything was drenched in the same sauce, it all tasted very, very similar.
The service was polite, quick and good. My meal was given to me within a manner of minutes. The price was very, very good. I actually will go back but order my meal with the sauce on the side.
MLK Street Food (Food Cart Pod)
| Address | 3625 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97212 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Phone | (971) 319-3192 |
This was a great day to spend the 4th of July. The place has multiple restaurants selections to choose from, we choose Kee (absolutely delicious).
The area is family friendly and ample street parking available. A lot of table for patrons to enjoy
They was Plov from Kyrgyzstan to halal food, sushi and even ice cream
This is a great place to get soul food. Kee's Loaded kitchen has the best soul food that I have tried so far. They give so much food for the price. I shared food with my husband and coworkers and still had food for another meal.
Kee's # Loaded. I love places like this. The foods taste so much better than some of these restaurants or fast food places. Highly recommended.
Update: 9/14/23
Two of the original food carts that left when the previous owners sold the property are back.
Thai Star and #Loaded BBQ are now back with a lot of happy neighborhood regulars celebrating.
What a treat having this Food Pod so close to home. Garcia's Taqueria offers some seriously good Mexican food at decent prices and Puddletown Bagels has some of the best boiled bagels in town.
Next up on my list is anyone's guess, maybe Indian or Mediterranean or Burgers or Philly or Sushi, and I heard, two more carts are coming, one of which is Thai. Lots of possibilities all reasonable priced, and on Fridays and weekends, brews and hard cider.
Nice new food cart pod, nice options with a really nice atmosphere. The spaceship is fun for the kids. We had Mexican and Thai, and all were great. Kinda hard to park, but it's not too bad.
Brooklyn Carreta Bar & Carts
| Address | 4534 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Portland, OR 97202 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Phone | (503) 954-2432 |
We were looking for a place to host an event and Brooklyn Carreta turned out to be the perfect location! In addition to the friendly staff and amazing general manager (Shout out Corey!) they had a great food assortment, a full bar, and both indoor and outdoor seating. They went above and beyond to make our guest feel right at home. They even created a signature drinks that our crowd absolutely loved. Highly recommend visiting this place, you won’t be sorry!
The food here was delicious Bollywood Dhaba is flavorful and the portions are a decent size. The garlic nann was fantastic. My friends got food at the Cuban spot too the left of the entrance, and the American food spot right next to it. Will be returning again.
I recently coordinated a wedding reception at Brooklyn Carreta and I cannot say enough good things about working with their bar manager, Corey. He made what could have been a complicated, unconventional wedding feel completely seamless from start to finish. His cool, calm demeanor put everyone at ease including my clients on a day when nerves can run high. Corey was incredibly attentive to my couple and went above and beyond to take care of so much of the behind-the-scenes details that made the night a success. I will absolutely be recommending Brooklyn Carreta to my future clients and would love any opportunity to work there again. If you're considering BC for an event, you're in excellent hands.
Fun place to stop and watch the soccer match. You bus your own table and bring your own food to the table and seats with air conditioning are limited which are considerations on hot days. I mixed and matched between a cubano sandwich and curry which was a fun treat. The bar table service was convenient although a light pour in smaller than average glasses for a mojito.
Something for everyone at the bar and carts ! Indoor or outdoor covered seating. I had a naan bread burrito at a fusion stand. It was excellent! I also had an order of fried chicken nuggs from Chicken Cluck. Also really good. I choose the mild honey and habanero with the fry sauce. Yummy! The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
BGs Food Cartel
| Address | 4250 SW Rose Biggi Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Phone | (503) 605-9163 |
Omg a Wolfhead Burger and Hazy IPA made my day. So grateful...
The next day I returned for Waffleicious. I had the #5 - Turkey, raspberry jam, gouda, butter and syrup. A modern spin on the Monte Cristo sandwich- so freaking good.
First time here.
Tried the Raining BBQ & Grill plus beef skewers from Chuan Up BBQ.
The Raining BBQ was good. I had the classic bowl with brisket. The brisket was delicious but kind of small portion, that’s why I decided to get beef skewers from the Chuan Up BBQ. Unfortunately they were not that good. Kind of tasted like propane. I thought it would be a good deal since 3 beef skewers were only $6 but they are really small and not that good, lesson learned.
Rose Hibachi was outstanding. First time here, wanted something different and I got the 3 meat hibachi. Yo, the chicken, shrimp & the steak was flavorful and seasoned very well. Great atmosphere & different choices of food from other vendors. Adding you guys to my favorite you too (BGs Food Cartel). Thanks. I will be back
The food was delicious and there were so many options, there are plenty of tables both indoor and outdoor, and it’s both child and pet friendly.
Fun Beaverton food cart plaza. Waffles and fried fish are my fav
, amazing ramen and beer selection as well
The Heist Bar & Food Carts
| Address | 4727 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97206 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | (503) 206-8732 |
It's a fun quirky place! So many different food carts to choose from. Indoor and outdoor seating. Coffee bar. Alcohol bar. Ice cream. Cannot go wrong!
This is a cool place. It’s very busy/popular because there are many wonderful food trucks and seating inside an old bank and outside, even in back where it tends to be calmer and quieter, unless there are lots of kids. Kid friendly. Bartenders are excellent. They also have a coffee bar and an arcade. Some nights are trivia/event nights. Several trucks are closed Mondays and by 8 pm I think most close for the day.
Great place. Food cart pod, with seating indoors & outdoor. Intriguing history: was a US bank that was robbed, the safe was messed up & a few arcade games are now inside it.
Was very busy here at the time we went but lively atmosphere and lots of good variety of food. They have trivia inside on Thursday.
We came here before a few minutes closing, and every single cart was closed, except for fresh and funky, which was absolutely delicious, do not sleep on there next level veggie burger. It’s homemade! The bar was open, but only beer and shots were available. We totally understand and we were not made to rush as we enjoyed ourfood and drink on the patio while they close up around us. Tons of space, both indoor and outdoor and lots of great options.
Foster Food Carts
| Address | 5205 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:10 PM |
| Phone | (503) 877-5561 |
We loved our experience here! Not only was the food from the Tex Mex cart delicious, but the atmosphere was great! Live music, playground for kids, and best of all the general manager was so welcoming and kind, handing out samples from all the carts. We loved getting a taste from different carts and even went for seconds on the banana pudding we tried from Mumbo Gumbo! DELICIOUS btw. Overall one of the best experiences we’ve had at a food cart pod. We’ll definitely be back 🙂
I was here on a beautiful Saturday evening, there was live music and the place was hoppin’ ! Lots of kids dancing to a great duo, trumpet and tuba playing fun music.
It was pretty busy but thankfully there is plenty of seating and a wide variety of great carts. I ate at Jumbo Burger, ordered the avocado and jalapeño burger/fries combo. The burger was great, I’d call it ‘substantial’ - make sure you get extra napkins, you’ll need them! The fries actually outshined the amazing burger, crinkle cut, crispy perfection. I wish I took a picture but I was completely distracted with my dinner.. i did remember to snap a picture before I left, I was a beautiful night.
I really like this food cart spot. It's very close to our house and an easy safe walk. They have live music sometimes and the little pub is great for a drink while waiting for food. I would give it a five star overall but the food carts are intermittent sometimes, especially in the winter. The ground is all black asphalt with no greenery or gardens so overall atmosphere is a little drab and bland. Some planters would go along way. I don't love the tent shelters either. They are warm in the summer and cold in the winter with wind making them loud. Plus the location can be very loud and smelly due to the major roads. Some fence coverings would help with both. Overall I like the Foster Food Carts and will keep going if I need a quick walkable bite close to home.
Foster Food Carts they just did open a couple weeks ago very nice place with a lot of room I heard more updates coming. We went with my family this week and we had the fish and chips and also Mexican food, both of them were delicious.
They do have sitting area with covered area and heaters as well.
For sure, we will be back.
This is my 4th trip to the pod on Foster. Yet again out of 13 food carts, 4 were open.
I went on Tuesday May 5th- cinco de mayo mind you, great party night especially for the Mexican food carts, the weather was mild, no wind, and I was here at 8:00 pm after a class I took.
Since it’s Cinco de Amati AND a Tuesday, I wanted tacos! Lucky for my the Birrieria La Plaza was open and they had tacos. Their prices were good, service was prompt and they are
Making my food as I type. I will post how the food is after I’ve eaten.
Mostly my review is about the pod site itself and the fact that 4 out of 4 times I have been disappointed by the lack of trucks that are open. I’ve come at lunch time and dinner, hours ranging from 1:00pm till today being the latest. Days ranged from Wednesday, Tuesday, Friday and a Sunday. I can’t seem to find the sweet spot when more than a couple of carts are open.
Tokyo Sando
| Address | 431 SW Harvey Milk St, Portland, OR 97204 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Phone | (971) 254-3744 |
Tokyo Sando is the undisputed heavyweight KING 👑 of Japanese Sandos in Portland, Oregon. I have tried Sandos in Japan and these are even better than the ones you find there. Chef Taiki Nakajima makes beautiful art between two slices of deliciously soft & sweet milk bread. My go to is the Miso Pork Katsu Sando….perfectly crispy crunchy fried pork cutlet just the way I like it juicy on the inside with the shredded cabbage for a fresh crunch and an umami bomb from the black garlic and signature miso katsu sauce. Yum 🤤 but everything on the menu is incredible! Don’t skip the Special “Fruit” Sandos if they are offering them. Arigato gozaimasu Tokyo Sando 🙏for always making my lunch happy and fulfilling! 🙏 🇯🇵 🥪
Tokyo Sando has been on my list for over a few years now, and it lived up the the hype. The pork was very crispy, the shokupan was extremely soft, and the sauce added a lot of flavor. I'll definitely be coming back! It was well worth the wait in line! Definitely the king of katsu sandwiches in Portland. Overall I'd give it 8.3/10.
We love Japan and Japanese food. Our last trip to Japan last year has always kept us looking for the best food in the area. Came across this place in my feed and decided we needed to try them out. Ordered online the day before, picked up our food and enjoyed the food in our car on the streets of downtown Portland.
WOW! The food was super fresh, delicious, and instantly brought back memories of our trip to Japan. We had the Curry Sando, Naka Sando and the karrage.... the crunchiness of the Curry Sando was out of this world and the fluffiness of the bread on the Naka Sando brought me back to the Kombini Egg Salad sandos we had in Japan..
The woman who greeted me was super sweet and cordial, and we both exchanged Arigato Gozaimasu and bows before I left, so cool I would visit them again and try other Sandos. If you are missing Japan and want a super cool food experience, give them try. You won't be disappointed. 😉
Visiting Portland and came here for 4th of July. The line was super long but the wait was worth it! We dug in right after receiving our order and the Chicken Tokyo Sando was super crunchy and flavorful. A little too flavorful but that is much better than having no flavor! The Karaage was perfect with the lemon sauce. Glad we paid the extra for a side of the lemon sauce. The sando pricing was justified by the flavors, and the portion size, plus it’s not something we eat everyday, it’s for the experience of Japanese katsu sandos in Portland.
If and only IF I HAVE TO make a suggestion for improvement, it would be to charge $7 for the Karaage and include a free lemon sauce with it (of course extra sauce at extra charge) OR keep pricing same but just change the portion size of lemon sauce from 1oz or 1.25oz to 1.5 oz.
Overall, great experience and flavors. I can tell the food is truly made with love and care. It is a must try when visiting Portland. Do keep in mind they only open from 11:30AM to 3:30PM (as of now) and check their Instagram for special hours just in case before going.
10/10 👍
Decadant and delicious. I've eaten a lot of katsu sandos in my life, but before Tokyo Sando all of them have come from the fridges of Japanese 7-11's and FamilyMarts. The katsu sando we tried here was absolutely incredible and blew my expectations out of the water. The portion is also huge, and was big enough for my fiance and I to share. The food truck park this spot is located in is also super cute and has plenty of seating (and a brewery!)
Hinterland Bar & Food Carts
| Address | 2216 SE 50th Ave, Portland, OR 97215 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Phone | — |
Carts have kiosks that you enter your own order into without any human interaction, the kiosks text when order is ready and you go pick it up and then when you bus your own table there are multiple signs with multiple sets of instructions on how to properly sort everything into the multiple bins like you work there, sit down restaurant prices and the kiosk tip recommendation begins at 20%. I'm a generous tipper, but aside from frying up my stir, I did all the work. Can't speak to the food quality for carts other than thai, which was fine.
Hinterlands is nestled between businesses and apartments buildings.
It is like a house converted a food cart pod. 5 or so carts are on the north property line. There is outdoor seating in the front and back porch of the “house.” The bar is in the front of the house and indoor seating is in the middle.
Matt’s BBQ Tacos seemed the most popular food cart.
The place was definitely child and dog friendly.
Perfect for a sunny day! 6-7 carts for food and so much beer. Come and enjoy.
Absolutely love this spot!
There is a plethora of food carts to pick from with a wide range of food. There's Thai, Indian, BBQ, Pizza, American! All of them are great, I definitely play favorites with Matt's BBQ, but they are all good.
However! The best part of this space is Hinterland, the actual bar. They have a HUGE selection of liquor, whiskey, amaro, they have a 10 tap rotating beer list that never disappoints, not to mention some of, if not, the best bartenders in Portland!
I come every Sunday for trivia 7-9 😋.
12/10
My favorite beer and food cart spot. Great outdoor seating and plenty of dog water bowls. Indoor is also a great little spot to chill and have a drink. They serve cocktails as well. Also some great vegan options for food at the carts.
Mississippi Marketplace
| Address | 4233 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Phone | (503) 358-7873 |
Food selection there is great, the folks working the area do so well to keep it clean and nice looking.
People sitting outside the area smoking weed and heckling you if you pay them no attention. Might not be great for kids.
This food cart pod is decidedly mid and painfully boring. All standard American fare (burgers, BBQ, etc.) with the exception of the Greek spot, which is the most exotic cart here despite still being pretty Americanized. I was excited to move to this area and have Desi PDX so close only to learn that they have since moved :(. Will unfortunately need to find a different walkable food area in my attempts to bypass this disappointing selection.
This is a really nice spot to hang out with your friends and pet Friendly. A decent amount of seating, good food trucks and a German bar. There are bathrooms as well. The only thing I have to say is that the hours posted online are not always accurate. When I went 3 of the trucks I was looking forward to trying weren't open and didn't match hours posted online. Otherwise it's a cute little hang out spot with a good variety of food.
Nice cart pod. Has covered seating and a)gas) fire pit. Seems very pet friendly which is probably a plus for some people and a minus for others. Not a ton of food carts but a very good variety. Matt's barbecue is pretty famous. Around town. Is also a brewery stall that's quite large. And it's a good neighborhood to walk around in window shop or shop-shop.
It was very interesting and had a lot of good food options. The bathrooms were disgusting but it seems to be on par for places in Portland
How to Navigate Portland’s Food Cart Scene Like a Local
To truly enjoy Portland’s food cart culture, you need to understand the logistics of how the city eats. Most of the best carts are clustered into "pods," which are permanent lots with shared picnic tables, heat lamps, and often a beer tent. This setup allows groups with different tastes to eat together. Knowing a few unwritten rules—like how to handle wait times during the lunch rush or which pods have the best covered seating for rainy days—will significantly elevate your experience. Here are the essential strategies for maximizing your street food adventure.
1. Check the weather and choose your pod wisely.
Portland is famous for its rain, but the food cart scene persists year-round. If the forecast looks wet, prioritize pods with substantial covered structures, such as the Asylum Food Cart Pod or Cartside. While a little drizzle is part of the Portland experience, eating a delicate taco in a downpour is not. Look for pods that offer indoor dining areas or robust canopies.
2. Time your visit to avoid the downtown rush.
If you are visiting carts in the central business district, remember that they cater heavily to the office lunch crowd. Arriving at noon sharp will often land you in a 20-minute line. To beat the rush, aim for an early lunch at 11:15 AM or a later one at 1:30 PM. For late-night pods like Cartopia, the lines peak between 11 PM and 1 AM on weekends, so plan accordingly.
3. Bring cash, even if cards are accepted.
While the vast majority of Portland food trucks now utilize Square or Toast card readers, technology fails and Wi-Fi signals drop. Many carts also enforce a minimum purchase amount for credit cards. Keeping a $20 bill in your pocket ensures you never miss out on a meal due to a technical glitch or a processing fee.
4. Look for the "regulars" line.
A long line is usually a good sign, but a long line of people wearing work badges or construction gear is an even better one. If you see locals who clearly work nearby waiting patiently, the food is likely fast, affordable, and high quality. Don’t be afraid to ask the person in front of you what they recommend; Portlanders are notoriously proud of their food scene and love to share their go-to orders.
5. Don’t skip the "boring" sounding carts.
In Portland, the carts with the simplest names often serve the best food. A cart simply labeled "Fried Egg I’m In Love" or "The Dump Truck" isn’t hiding behind a gimmick; they are putting all their energy into the ingredients. Judge a cart by the smell of the griddle and the freshness of the produce on display, not by a flashy wrap or social media gimmick.
6. Support the pod by buying a drink.
Many of the best carts are located on private property or next to breweries that provide the seating and restrooms for free. If you are using their tables, umbrellas, or bathrooms, it is considered good etiquette to purchase a beverage from the host establishment. This symbiotic relationship is what keeps the cart pods financially viable and welcoming.
Portland’s food cart scene is constantly evolving, with chefs trading brick-and-mortar kitchens for the freedom of the curb. This dynamic nature means that while the legends on this list have stood the test of time, there is always a new cart firing up its grill just around the corner.
The best way to experience Portland is to treat it as an edible treasure hunt. Use this guide as your starting point, but allow yourself the freedom to wander into a pod you have never heard of and order the special you cannot pronounce. In a city built on culinary experimentation, that leap of faith is almost always rewarded with the best meal of your trip.
