Popular Food Carts
From breakfast to dessert, Portland’s eclectic food carts have diners’ cravings covered, all over town.
John Patrick Pullen
Too much of a good thing? That’s one reaction to Portland’s staggering number of food carts (more than 600 at last count, with an estimated 400 operating at any given time). But rather than being overwhelmed by the options, why not embrace the delicious dilemma? Go whole hog (hmm, sounds like a good name for a food cart) and choose a day’s worth of meals from these popular Portland food carts.
Breakfast
The prize for most coveted morning meal from a Portland food cart goes to Matt’s BBQ Tacos on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. (That’s a made-up prize, but they were really named 2019 Cart of the Year by the local paper.) Breakfast taco options include brisket, pork belly, jalapeno cheddar sausage and portobello mushroom, all served with eggs, potato and cheese, and all worth the almost-guaranteed wait.
In Northeast Portland’s Barley Pod, Smaaken Waffles reinvents the breakfast classic, turning it into a vessel for delightfully diverse fillings. Sandwiches on their thin Dutch waffles include combinations like sausage, egg and cheddar; ham, Swiss, house-made strawberry jam and powdered sugar; and the Smaaken: apple, brie and bacon. (The cart also offers gluten-free waffles and vegan and vegetarian sandwiches.)
Lunch
At its school-bus eatery on Northeast Alberta Street, Grilled Cheese Grill whips up sandwiches including its Tillamook-cheddar-st\uffed, crust-cut-off “Pre-schooler” and “BABS,” a crumbled blue-cheese-marble-rye wonder stacked with bacon and sliced Braeburn apples.
If you’re more in the mood for a slice, Pyro Pizza has managed to cram a brick oven into its cart in the Cartopia pod, where they wood-fire margherita and puttanesca pies that are sized perfectly for sharing or hoarding.
On Southeast Division Street, Kim Jong Grillin stands alone, no pod required (the cart even has its own covered seating area). Chef Han Ly Hwang turns out stellar Korean barbecue; go for a bibim box lunch featuring delectably marinated meat, cart-made kimchi and a freshly fried egg.
Dinner
To satisfy a range of cravings, head to the Portland Mercado in Southeast Portland’s Foster-Powell neighborhood. Outside of the market is a row of rainbow-colored food carts, each serving up its own traditional recipes infused with Portland flair. Dig into st\uffed arepas and fried yucca at Colombian cart Que Bacano, or sample specialties from its neighbors, who are serving up dishes from Mexico, Cuba, Argentina and El Salvador.
Dinner options include an earthy vegan mole, belly-warming pozole, thick and cheesy Salvadorian pupusas or pizza-like Oaxacan tlayudas (14-inch crispy tortillas topped with queso fresco, fresh veggies and pork rinds). In other words, Portland Mercado’s offerings stretch way beyond standard Tex-Mex fare.
Snacks & Treats
While many of Portland’s food cart offerings could be classified as treats (you’re on vacation, indulge!), a few spots are exclusively dedicated to the sweet stuff.
In ice-cream-crazy Portland, some of the best cones come from a cart, namely Atlas Scoops in Sellwood. The cart serves gelato and sorbet and offers picnic table seating.
Head to Hana’s PDX in Northeast Portland for authentic New Orleans snowballs — the Big Easy’s take on shave ice. This family-owned and -operated cart offers more than 50 delicious, housemade flavors. Feeling adventurous? We dare you to order a Kool-Aid pickle.
Traveling Snack Shacks
Mexican-American couple Daniel Huerta and Isabel Sanchez were born in the U.S. but trips to their ancestral home gave them a love for churros so strong they decided to open Churros Locos . This food truck travels around town to deliver the fried goodness. Don’t miss the churro ice cream sandwich.
For a lighter sweetness keep a lookout for Organic Island Shave Ice (OISI) and Mama Heber’s homemade fruit syrups. The frosty treat topped with “special sauce” and other goodies can be traced back to the island of Oahu in the early ’70s but you can usually find Ilika and his bamboo-covered cart around the Alberta Arts District.
Eat Al Fresco
Food Cart Pods
Portland’s selection of more than 600 food carts, most grouped in “pods,” has drawn raves from the likes of Bon Appétit and CNN.
Portland Mercado
With a neighborhood grocery, meat market, coffee shop, food cart pod and more, the Mercado is one of the city’s most delicious destinations.
Portland’s Best Patio Bars
Enjoy your favorite summer beverage at one of Portland's rooftop bars or outdoor patios.
Food & Drink Events
Portland Burger Week
EVENT POSTPONED. Please visit the event website for current information. The Portland Mercury’s Burger Week returns every August with dozens of restaurants, bars and brewhouses across Portland offering one-of-a-kind burgers for only $5! These special edition burgers are designed especially for the Mercury’s Portland Burger Week and are only available from Aug. 3-8, 2020, so…
Elephant Garlic Festival
EVENT CANCELED. Please visit the event website for current information. The 23rd Annual Elephant Garlic Festival is a three-day festival celebrating, you guessed it, elephant garlic! The family-friendly event includes a parade, 10K run, live music, kids play area, crafts vendors and more. Fun stinks!
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday and Sunday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Bloody Mary Festival
EVENT POSTPONED. Please visit the event website for current information. The Bloody Mary Festival scours Portland for the craftiest and most delicious Bloody Marys. Your ticket includes over two hours enjoying Portland’s most creative and innovative Bloody Marys, created by the finest restaurants, bars and bottled mix companies, along with yummy food and drink tastes…
PDX Tequila & Taco Festival
EVENT POSTPONED. Please visit the event website for current information. Come through Portland. Join us as we welcome the 4th annual PDX Tequila, Mezcal & Tacos Festival. This year we’re bringing together our region’s legit taco makers to compete for fan favorite for Best Taco in PDX. Pair your tacos with a diverse selection of…
Portland Flea + Food
EVENT POSTPONED. Please visit the event website for current information. The Portland Flea + Food is a monthly market held on the last Sunday of the month in Portland, Oregon. Every market features 80+ local artists, makers, and curators of the best vintage, handmade and locally-sourced goods in town.
Negroni Week
Each June, do good while sipping delicious drinks during Portland’s Negroni Week, when proceeds benefit dozens of charities.
Feast Portland
This foodie festival, held every September, has cemented Portland’s reputation as a culinary capital of the world.
Portland Greek Festival
The Portland Greek Festival is celebrated as the largest Greek Festival on the west coast with more than 15,000 people attending. This cultural experience features Greek food, music, dance and shopping! The Agora – the Greek marketplace features imported merchandise, clothing, jewelry, icons, flokati rugs and cookbooks. Among the fabulous food, exclusive cooking demonstrations, and…
The Wedge
The Wedge is a Farmers Market-style festival celebrating cheese and everything that goes with it. Sample and purchase local, artisan cheese, specialty foods, beer, wine, and cider. This is a family-friendly event that’s open to all cheese lovers.
Portland Night Market
The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail together for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Come meet some of Portland’s best makers and creators! The Portland Night Market is a bimonthly, free event and open to all ages.
VegFest
This annual 2-day festival celebrates all things related to plant-based living, with free food samples, health and nutrition speakers, chef demonstrations and more.
I Love Gamay
Join us for the 4th annual Gamay Tasting Salon at The Nightwood, featuring over 25 wineries each pouring their latest Gamay wines! As always, we’ll be featuring the trail-blazing Oregon winemakers who have largely led the domestic growth of Gamay Noir’s popularity, but this year we’re super sizing the Tasting Salon—we will be showcasing Gamays…
Cider Rite of Spring
EVENT POSTPONED. “With the news from Governor Kate Brown that all large gatherings are banned for the next month, the Northwest Cider Association has made the difficult decision to postpone Cider Rite of Spring due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The new date will be November 7th, still at the Leftbank Annex (perhaps…
Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
Enjoy Nordic music, dancing, games, food, vendors, a beer garden, a kids’ area and more at Portland’s annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. Enjoy delicious Nordic cuisine, try traditional beverages and scrumptious sweets. Spend the day with us and make your own colorful flower crown and other crafts. Play “Viking Chess”, Nordic Jenga and other fun games….
Eat Adventures: Portland Food Carts & Neighborhoods Tour
Explore Portland’s best food carts, historic neighborhoods and iconic bridges on this city-wide culinary adventure. Sit back and relax in the Eat Van as you’re guided through the streets of our foodie city to areas known to savvy locals, with delicious eating stops along the way. You will have an opportunity to meet the owners,…
Food Carts, Pods, & Patios Tour – Lost Plate Food Tours
Discover what the food cart hype is all about in the city that put food cart pods on the map! Of the 700 food carts in Portland, Lost Plate has narrowed it down to the top 1% for the city’s ultimate food cart experience. This small group walking your takes you around to several locally-ran…
Eat Adventures: Downtown Deluxe Foodie Experience
Experience the heart of Portland’s culinary scene on this downtown foodie adventure. Some of Portland’s biggest eating trends started here, from farm-to-table restaurants to Portland’s original food cart pod, making downtown an eater’s delight. On this walking food tour, you will visit restaurants that are James Beard Award winners, Iron Chef competitors and winners of…
Luxury, All-Inclusive Willamette Valley Wine Tour
The driver covers all tasting fees with charcuterie plates ($150 value for full day, $90 value for half day). Experience the best of Willamette Valley wine country on an all-inclusive, guided wine-tasting tour from Portland. Be chauffeured in a luxury SUV with a small group of fellow wine lovers and spend a half day or…
Brewvana's Down To Ferment Tour
Zymurgy is the study of fermentation, and Portland is all about some fermented beverages. Taste some cider, beer and spirits on this tour of some of Portland’s tastiest craft beverages. Learn about the ingredients, process and culture of each of these. Cider is a gluten-free alternative that has been gaining popularity in this region, and…
Friday BBQ Dinner Cruise
The Portland Spirit invites you to join up for a 2.5-hour barbecue cruise. Enjoy a savory menu designed by head chef Armin Pinto. Vegan options available. Tickets start at $42 for children (0-12) and $84 for adults.
Brewvana's Coffee, Beer & Donuts Tour
Although Seattle comes in first when it comes to coffee culture, Portland has learned a lot from its neighbors and comes in close second. Brewvana has an obsession with donuts and although they might drive you by Voodoo Donuts to see the line, they’ll head to the locals’ favorite for your donut fix. After getting…
Forktown Mississippi Avenue Food Tour
Mississippi Avenue is a historic, artsy and exciting neighborhood on Portland’s east side. It’s a “must-see” for out of town visitors and one of Portland’s culinary hot spots, full of great food and loads of personality. This tour makes five to six stops, featuring a broad array of locations including a brewery, food cart pods,…
Brewvana's Beers & Barrels Tour
The combination of beer and whiskey is a match made in heaven. Beer and whiskey are surprisingly similar in ingredients and process. In fact, you have to make beer to make whiskey! You’ll start at a brewery first to learn about the ingredients and brewing process for beer and taste a variety of styles. Next,…
Sauvie Island Farmers Market
The Sauvie Island Farmers Market is back! Please join local farmers and makers on the second Sunday of each month beginning August 9th. Markets will open at 9:00 am for seniors, island locals, and those with health conditions. The Sauvie Island Farmers Market is outdoors and masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be…
Sunday Champagne Brunch Cruise
The Champagne Brunch is a passenger-favorite cruise. It is meant to be as relaxing as possible. The Portland Spirit keeps the buffet open until 1 p.m. so that if you don’t feel like eating right away, you can feel free to wander the vessel. It is designed so that you can take your time and…
Downtown Coffee & Donut Tour
There’s more to coffee and donuts than you think. Visit several local craft coffee shops for an interactive look at what makes Portland crazy about coffee, plus a bunch of donuts along the way. Advanced booking required.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Presents Passeport du Monde
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A Golden Era at DarSalam
Enjoy an evening of authentic Iraqi food (including vegan and gluten free options), live music and entertainment with a Middle Eastern flair!
Lents International Farmers Market
Lents International Farmers Market opens on Sunday, June 2, 2019 and is open every Sunday through November 24, 2019. The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by…