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I always have a list at the back of my mind for places I want to visit. To be honest Portland, Oregon was never on my radar. Then I watched a few travel food shows and saw that “The City of Roses” is a food mecca. Being the foodie that I am, I immediately added the city on my list of places to visit. Now it is one of my favorite foodie cities in the US. 

What makes the city unique from all the other great food cities are the food carts in Portland. Other metropolises call them food trucks, but they are stationary and as Portland’s slogan is “keep Portland weird”, it makes sense they have their own name for them! Portland’s food cart pods contain most of the 600+ Portland food carts. These pods are groupings of food carts. There is often outdoor or covered seating and restrooms in the pods. 

If there is one thing you need to include on your Portland itinerary it is to visit as many food cart pods in Portland as possible. You can easily eat your way around the world as there are so many different cuisines represented. Keep reading for the best Portland food cart pods and the food carts not to miss at each one.

The Best Food Cart Pods in Portland 

Portland Food Carts Map

Prost Marketplace 

Prost is one of the more popular food cart pods in Portland. It is along N Mississippi Ave which is a trendy area full of live music, shops, and restaurants. 

The pod is located at the German restaurant Prost. You can order drinks or German fare from the restaurant and/or order from the 10 or so food carts in the courtyard. There is a water cooler outside near the restaurant. 

Where I Ate

DesiPDX

I ordered the masala pulled pork as it is one of their most popular bowls. The bowl with basmati rice and chutney was the perfect amount. I loved the crispy chickpeas on top that gave the dish a nice crunch alongside the rich meat, savory rice, and spicy chutney. 

Where Else to Eat

Fried Egg I”m in Love 

This food cart has multiple locations and excellent breakfast sandwiches that I tried at a different pod (described under Pioneer Courthouse Square). 

Matt’s BBQ 

Matt’s BBQ is one of the most well-known food carts in Portland. They also opened Matt’s BBQ tacos at Hinterland Bar & Food Carts with the same great meats. I waited to try them at Hinterland (described below). Make sure to try at least one of Matt’s food carts. 

Seating 

There are many outdoor picnic tables, with most of them under awnings. 

Restrooms

One single bathroom can be accessed from outside with a code. The code was posted on Burger Stevens across from the restroom. Inside of Prost there are two more single person restrooms that are a tad cleaner and more well stocked. 

Wifi

Yes, Prost has wifi. You’ll find the code on the tables near the restaurant. 

Vibe

As it is one of Portland’s food cart pods that is mentioned often I would assume a lot of tourists visit, but there seemed to be many locals as well. On a Monday night it was busy so I can imagine weekends are fairly packed. 

Cartopia

Cartopia is another popular Portland food cart pod. It’s a small square of about seven food carts. Once inside Cartopia it feels slightly secluded from the busy streets thanks to the greenery along the perimeter. The food carts are on the outside with seating in the middle. 

Where I Ate

Bottle Rocket

If you like a good burger you won’t be disappointed by Bottle Rocket. The sriracha mayo was way better than the typical ketchup and mustard on a burger. I really liked how most of the sides were vegetarian. I much prefer having some veggies with my burger instead of fries. The chili flake green beans had the perfect amount of spice. 

Bottle Rocket has meal deals with your choice of burger, side, and lemonade. The lemonade is house made and was pretty tempting. There’s a water cooler so I just stuck with that. 

Where Else to Eat

Chicken and Guns 

This was where I was planning to eat, but they were cash only on the day I visited. Unfortunately my $5 in cash wouldn’t quite cut it so I missed out. Everyone raves about this chicken and potato combo. 

Potato Champion 

Every single review for Portland food carts seems to mention Potato Champion. 

Seating 

Most of the tables are under the awning in the middle, but there are a few more picnic tables and seats around fireplaces on the sides. It becomes pretty full on the weekends. 

Restrooms

There are two port-a-potties and a sink in a fenced in area. Grab the code from any of the vendors. 

Wifi

Some of the food carts had wifi. The one I asked said he wasn’t given the password and apologized. 

Vibe

On the weekend it was a popular spot for local families, couples, and groups. 

Hinterland Bar & Food Carts

As Hinterland Bar and food carts opened in January 2022, they are one of the newest on the Portland food cart scene. The bar serves a full menu of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. With five diverse food carts along the side of the bar and seating area, Hinterland is a great spot to visit for both food and drinks. 

Where I Ate

Matt’s BBQ Tacos

What could be better than BBQ or tacos? BBQ tacos of course! Known for their first food cart, Matt’s BBQ, they created Matt’s BBQ Tacos to combine their delicious meats with fresh flour or corn tortillas. They serve both their breakfast and regular tacos all day. I had a migas, chopped brisket, and pulled pork taco. The meats were excellent as well as the toppings. Salsas can be added on your own. 

Their website states that orders need to be placed online. You can order online for dine-in, but it isn’t required. There is a screen to order in front of their food cart with an estimated wait time. 

Where Else to Eat

Third Culture Kitchen

Their food combines Peruvian and Japanese cooking. It is also influenced by other American and SE Asian cooking styles. The mixture of cuisines sounds really interesting. 

Seating 

Hinterland has a nice set-up of both indoor and outdoor tables. There are several outdoor tables in front and in back. The middle is indoors and heated in cooler weather. There is counter seating as well as tables and chairs. 

Restrooms

Two single stall indoor restrooms. No code is needed and they are kept clean and well stocked. 

Wifi

Yes, no password needed. 

Vibe

It’s always hard to choose favorites, but Hinterland is probably one of my favorite food cart pods in Portland thanks to the vibe. With easy restrooms and wifi to access as well as plenty of seating it felt more like a restaurant. While some food carts are primarily for quick eating or take-out, Hinterland is a nice spot to hang out for a while. 

Millar Library Food Carts

This is one of the smallest Portland food cart pods. It is located right on the Portland State University campus. It includes four food carts.  

Where I Ate

Khao Niew Lao Street Food Cart

As I was thoroughly reading through the options on the food truck, the vendor suggested #3 or #4 as they were the most popular. After almost embarrassing myself by asking where #3 and #4 were (I was looking at the prices and not the item number), I did order #3. It’s the Nam Khao, a crispy rice salad. I eat a lot of different Asian dishes, but I have never had something quite like that before. When I hear “love at first sight” I think of food and this was “love at first bite”!

Seating 

About five picnic tables in the area. One is under a building with an overhang. 

Restrooms

No – you could try the University buildings or there is a Safeway an 8 minute walk away. 

Wifi

University wifi without a password. 

Vibe

As it is on campus it is mostly students and University personnel. There were a couple individuals around that were down on their luck and asking for meals. 

Nob Hill Food Carts

Located in the trendy Nob Hill neighborhood, the Nob Hill food carts include about eight different places. 

Where I Ate

Bing Mi 

Other than drinks, the only food they make is Jianbings. They are savory Chinese crepes with eggs, green onions, cilantro, zhacai, wonton crackers and bing sauce. The spice level of the sauce is up to you. I ordered mild and I didn’t find it spicy at all. 

While it wasn’t very spicy, it was flavorful. I really liked the addition of the wonton crackers as the different textures made a more complex flavor. 

There are different varieties from the classic described above, including ones with meat, extra egg, extra wontons, and/or other options. 

Where Else to Eat

Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches

I decided my sweets would be donuts in Portland so I refrained from trying Smaaken, but I was really tempted by their sweet waffle offerings. 

Seating 

A few picnic tables and standing tables around the food carts and more on the other side of the fence. 

Restrooms

Yes, a single person bathroom with a toilet and sink. It was pretty clean and well stocked when I visited. 

Wifi

No

Vibe

Seemed to have a fairly local vibe. 

Pioneer Courthouse Square 

As a lot of Portland’s main attractions are downtown you may be looking for food carts in downtown Portland. Pioneer Courthouse Square is very handy to the Portland Art Museum and the Oregon Historical Society.

It isn’t a food pod where people come to hang out for a while. It is convenient if you are working in the area or visiting the attractions downtown. It also has five different, delicious choices. 

Where I Ate

Fried Egg I’m in Love 

I love a good breakfast sandwich. For better or worse I could eat them everyday. Fried Egg, I am in love with your sandwiches! What makes or breaks a sandwich is the bread. Of course it is done right here with sourdough bread from a local bakery. 

I ordered the Smells Like Protein spirit and added aardvark aioli, which I would highly recommend! After finishing eating I wanted a second one! 

Where Else to Eat

Whole Bowl

This spot was very popular with a huge line. They serve a set vegetarian bowl with 10 ingredients. The bowls can also come vegan. 

Seating 

Some tables are near Starbucks. There are adirondack chairs on the square and the steps are a good place to sit. 

Restrooms

Starbucks may have a restroom. The Portland Art Museum and Oregon Historical Society are nearby. It works well to eat here before or after a visit to either of those places. 

Wifi

Starbucks has wifi, but I couldn’t get it to connect. 

Vibe

A lot of business people buy their lunch here during the week. It makes for longer lines, but also balances out the crowd in the area. A police officer had to chase an angry, shouting man off the premises. Another slightly quieter, angry man came in his place. I would stick to hanging out here during business hours or events at the square. 

37th Food Carts 

This pod is located off of SE Division Street. The street is a nice area with restaurants and shops. 

With only two food carts this pod is quite small. The two carts are located at Someday bar. It’s a higher end restaurant and food pod. Someday is popular on Sundays when they have raw and BBQ’d oysters. Pre-order sells out quickly. 

When arriving down the alley you’ll be seated by the hostess for dine in. Then you can order off the Someday menu from the waitress or go up to the food carts directly to order. I felt a little odd having the waitress bring me a menu and water, but only ordering from Ruthie’s. 

Where I Ate

Ruthie’s

All the wood fired food at Ruthie’s is inspired by co-owner Collin Moher’s grandmother. After seeing Ruthie’s on “Somebody Feed Phil” I knew I needed Grandmother Ruthie’s rolls in my life. They lived up to my expectations! They were nice and warm so the butter melted perfectly into them and made them even more moist. 

The dishes are made from local and seasonal ingredients. Many Portland food carts have small menus, but Ruthie’s only has two snacks, a few salads, and one entree. The BBQ pork entree was delicious. They do a few things, but do them well. 

Unlike most food carts, your food will be brought to you and the servers from Someday will most likely take your dirty dishes when finished as well. 

Note that Ruthie’s is only open Thursdays to Sundays 4pm – 9pm

Where Else to Eat

Let’s Roll

They have a few different locations. I’m not a sushi lover, but I do think their concept is great. They make sushi burritos so if you are on the go, they are super easy to eat! 

Seating 

When I visited they only had outdoor dining available, but they do have indoor dining as well. As mentioned you are taken to a table. 

Restrooms

Half-way down the alleyway is a door that leads to the indoor restrooms. 

Wifi

Yes

Vibe

As it is at a restaurant and secluded down the alleyway, it feels a bit more upscale. You won’t find anyone loitering around. It appeared like a lot of people were from the neighborhood. 

Cartlandia

Cartlandia is the farthest Portland food cart pod from downtown included in this post. It will take about an hour to reach by public transportation. As mentioned, some of the other pods are on nice streets to explore. Around Cartlandia seemed to be mostly car and tire places. 

I included Cartlandia as there are about 30 carts making it one of the biggest food cart pods in Portland. Unless you have a car (there is parking) or are a local and going through the area, I would skip this one. It took a good portion of the day to get here and back and there isn’t anything else in the area to check out. 

Where I Ate

Good and Evil Wrap Co

As the name implies, wraps are on the menu here. There are good wraps (healthy) and evil wraps (not so healthy). Your wrap will come in a white, wheat, or spinach wrap. You can also have it as a bowl. Whether you choose good or evil there are a lot of filling choices. I chose the wrap of the day, which wasn’t labeled as good or evil. I kind of liked not knowing! 

Puddletown Bagels

I bought two bagels to make my own sandwiches later, a maple bacon and an everything bagel. Both were delicious and still tasted fresh two days later.

Where Else to Eat

Ball-Z

I didn’t follow my own advice below about checking what is open before heading to the food carts. I had Ball-Z in my mind, but it of course wasn’t open when I arrived. Ball-Z has an interesting concept. All their main dishes are in the shape of a ball, but they are from different cuisines. There are traditional Italian meatballs, but also Korokke potato croquettes (Japanese street food). 

Grits Gone Wild

I knew this one wasn’t open ahead of time, but I was still sad to miss out on it. It is a newer food cart that brings southern food to Portland. 

Seating 

Several different seating areas around the food carts. 

Restrooms

Yes, there is a one person restroom inside of a building (next to the crystals store). You will need a code. 

Wifi

Yes

Vibe

It was very slow around lunchtime during the beginning of the week. Almost ⅔ of the places were closed. At least when I visited it didn’t have that hang out vibe that many of the pods had. 

Portland Night Market

A few weekend nights a year the Portland Night Market takes place in an industrial area under the interstate. It’s not a typical Portland food cart pod, but it does include a lot of food vendors! There are at least 20 with food from a wide variety of cuisines. 

Along with all the Portland food carts outdoors there is an artisan market indoors with every type of product imaginable. 

Where I Ate

Los 2 Compadres

For all the other food cart pods I did a lot of research before visiting and usually knew where I wanted to eat ahead of time. I didn’t here. I admit I chose the place with the longest line! I figured it must be good if so many people were in line. While in line I was thinking maybe everyone else did that too and it had nothing to do with tasty food! 

Once the long wait was over I found out that the tacos were indeed delicious. Unlike all the other food carts there was no menu or signs. The only option was 4 tacos for $10. There were different meat choices and you put your toppings on yourself (onions, cilantro, and salsas). 

Where Else to Eat

I’m sure the vendors vary each weekend the night market is running. I really had a hard time deciding. I was also thinking about the South African food. 

Seating 

There are tables, but with the number of people it is hard to find a place to sit down. 

Restrooms

Yes

Wifi

No

Vibe

Everyone is here! Arrive early as they try to limit the number of people in at once. When I left around 7pm the line was wrapping around the building. It’s a really popular spot. The people watching was almost as good as looking at all the vendors’ wares! I kept thinking that the slogan “keep Portland weird” was a good representative of this cool, but eclectic market. 

Portland Saturday Market

One more place that isn’t one of the permanent food cart pods in Portland, but is worth mentioning is the Portland Saturday Market. As the name suggests this market takes place every Saturday from March – December 24th. It is a large artisan market with over 150 vendors selling the goods they made themselves. You’ll find everything from photographs to soaps. There are also several food carts here. 

Where I Ate

Horn of Africa

Horn of Africa serves traditional Northeast African foods. Everything on the menu sounded delicious, but I ordered the veggie plate to try to be healthier. Mostly I wanted to eat a donut later! The veggie plate came with a sambusa, a bean and herb patty (I forgot the name), cooked vegetables, and some lentils. It was all served on injera. 

Seating 

There are tables around, but they do fill up quickly. If you walk around you’ll find an area to enjoy your meal somewhere. The steps in front of the fountain, near the food carts, are a nice place to sit and eat. 

Restrooms

Port-a-potties 

Wifi

No

Vibe

It’s one of Portland’s biggest attractions so there are a lot of tourists. 

Food Cart Pods in Portland FAQ

How do I get to the food cart pods in Portland?

Check the Portland food carts map above for locations. You can reach all of the included pods in this post by public transportation. 

When is each food cart open?

Each food cart makes its own hours. Within a pod all the food carts might be open or only a few. If you have a specific one in mind make sure to check the hours ahead of time. 

Can I order take-out and dine-in?

Most places offer both. They will ask you when you are ordering. For dine-in it is usually served on real plates or trays at the bigger food pods. It is a casual experience, but makes it feel a little fancier! 

Will I need cash or a card?

The majority of food carts accept both. If a Portland food cart was only accepting one it seemed to be credit cards. There were a few exceptions that were cash only, but typically because their machine wasn’t working on that particular day. 

Are there restrooms?

I have you covered with that information for each pod above! In general I found that there were usually restrooms. Some of the smaller pods and stand alone food carts do not have restrooms. Almost all of the places require a code for the bathroom. Ask any vendor for it. 

Is there free water?

Initially I was loving the food carts, but missing the free water I would receive at restaurants. Many food carts will give you water when you ask. Other times they (or another cart) have a water cooler in front of their stand. The places with restaurants/bars on site always have water. 

Of course this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the Portland food cart pods, but you can bet I spent way too much time researching to make sure I checked out the best options! Let me know in the comments below if I missed your favorite food cart in Portland and I will add it to my list for my next visit.

More in the Pacific Northwest

• Olympia: Fun Things to Do
• Olympic National Park: Best Hikes
• Oregon: The Best Crater Lake Hikes & Viewpoints
• Portland: 3 Day Itinerary, Donut Shops
• Seattle: 4 Day Itinerary

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