Portland, Ore., is home to more than 500 food carts, making it a bona fide wonderland for visiting gastronomes and hungry locals alike. In seemingly every neighborhood, from St. Johns to Sellwood, breaking from the traditional restaurant experience to eat on the street is an integral part of the independent ethos that embodies the city.
Cuisine from around the world, served by friendly faces, will spice up any trip to the city. Plus, getting around town is easy with public transportation, so sampling more than a few eateries is feasible.
These locations are the perfect place to start sampling the best of Portland’s food truck scene.
Alberta
Though the food cart pod that once assembled on Alberta Street has disbanded, the area still carries its weight in the food cart scene with eateries-on-wheels that are just too good to leave out.
Gumba crafts award-winning, handmade pasta and always keeps its menu fresh with specials. A lineup of delicious Vietnamese cuisine, including banh mi sandwiches, makes Dolicious a handheld-food paradise. At Fine Goose, French essentials such as duck confit, ratatouille and onion soup are divine.
Alder
Travelers will find Portland’s largest cluster of food carts — as well as some of the city’s most tempting treats — taking up several blocks downtown on Alder Street.
The Grilled Cheese Grill serves different takes on a beloved childhood specialty, but make room for The Cheesus, a burger with grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns. The Frying Scotsman cooks mouthwatering fish and chips, in addition to outlandish items such as haggis (a savory pudding) and deep-fried Mars bars.
Cartopia
With a heated canopy seating area and its proximity to several bars, the food trucks at Cartopia close after the sun sets: midnight from Tuesday to Thursday and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Community events such as the summer movie night series have made the pod a staple for locals and a must-visit destination for visitors when in town.
Here, Chicken and Guns serves up its popular oak and mesquite wood-fired poultry with Latin flair, accompanied by Peruvian aji (chimichurri sauce) and crispy potatoes. Late-night cravings are destined for Potato Champion, which specializes in inventive french-fry dishes and a unique take on poutine, the ultimate Canadian comfort food. Tahrir Square wraps the flavors of Egypt in its gyros and falafel pita sandwiches.
Mississippi Marketplace
One of the most popular chowing grounds on the east side is Mississippi Marketplace, a collection of food trucks located outside of the neighborhood pub Prost! It diverged from the grab-and-go culture as one of the first to provide covered seating in Portland, encouraging customers to stay and enjoy their order.
Desi PDX delivers gluten-free, paleo and vegan dishes exploding with diverse Indian tastes. Matt’s BBQ grills up brisket, ribs and sausage to be devoured alongside slaw, potato salad and pinto beans. Order “The Whole Shebang” to try the entire menu for $16. Pastrami Zombie brings the classic sandwich to life, and Teppanyaki Hut’s sushi burritos and ramen are heavenly examples of fusion cuisine.
Pioneer Courthouse Square
After undergoing renovations to create room for additional street vendor space, Pioneer Courthouse Square welcomed four permanent carts to the plaza affectionately referred to as Portland’s Living Room. As one of the city’s main public transportation hubs, it’s the perfect spot to feed hungry commuters, and each cart benefits from the crowds.
At Fried Egg I’m in Love, incredible fried egg sandwiches come piled atop sourdough bread and sprinkled with spicy Magic Egg Dust. Try the Yolko Ono, which is garnished with savory homemade pesto, parmesan and a handmade sausage patty.
The puns don’t stop there: Steak’s Fifth Avenue has been slinging Philly cheesesteaks for nearly a decade. The Whole Bowl satisfies customers with its singular menu item that is like “eating a hug,” and Burger Stevens delivers burgers with all the fixings at a bargain.
Third Avenue
A popular downtown lunch spot for professionals, the Third Avenue food cart pod is only a couple blocks from the riverfront park. Pick up a carnitas burrito from La Pinata Takos or a warm Hawaiian chicken salad from Phat Blue Buddha to enjoy by the water. Honey Thai Food keeps customers coming back for more noodles, its authentic bubble tea and numerous smoothie flavors.
