Portland, Oregon, is a street food paradise, boasting well over 500 food trucks as of 2024. While locals often call them “food carts,” these mobile kitchens are a cornerstone of Portland’s vibrant culinary scene, offering an unparalleled diversity of flavors and cuisines. If you’re searching for an authentic and delicious Portland food experience, look no further than its incredible food truck pods.
Portland’s unique food truck culture is characterized by “pods” – permanent groupings of food trucks, often equipped with communal seating areas and amenities. These pods create mini-food festivals, allowing you to sample everything from tacos to Thai food in a single location. To navigate this delicious landscape, Travel Portland offers a handy Food Cart Finder, letting you filter by cuisine, dietary needs, and more.
Want to dive right in? Here are some quick searches to get you started:
For those on the go, the Near Me Now app is an invaluable tool to discover food truck pods and other dining options near your current location in Portland.
Exploring Portland’s Premier Food Truck Pods
Choosing from Portland’s vast array of food truck pods can be overwhelming, but fear not! We’ve curated a guide to some of the must-visit pods in each of Portland’s quadrants. Each pod offers something special, whether it’s an extensive selection of trucks, unique amenities like live music, or simply exceptional food that will keep you coming back for more.
Downtown & Southwest Portland Food Truck Pods
Pioneer Courthouse Square Food Trucks
Located in the very heart of Downtown Portland, the Pioneer Courthouse Square food truck pod is a bustling lunchtime destination. Here, you can find local favorites like Whole Bowl, known for its hearty vegetarian and vegan bowls, and Fried Egg I’m In Love, famous for its creative breakfast sandwiches. Grab your meal and enjoy it in “Portland’s living room,” the iconic Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Portland State University (PSU) Food Trucks
Conveniently situated near the southern edge of downtown, the PSU Pod is a popular choice for students and locals alike, thanks to its proximity to Portland State University and the relaxing South Park Blocks. This pod offers a diverse range of cuisines, including Indian, Mexican, and Thai food trucks, among others.
The Cart Blocks
The Cart Blocks, established in 2021, is home to a collection of food trucks that were previously located at the Alder Street pod. Here you can find popular vendors like Kafta House and Rachel & Rose. After grabbing a bite, take a leisurely walk through the adjacent North Park Blocks.
Third Avenue Food Trucks
The Third Avenue Food Truck Pod presents a global culinary journey, with trucks offering dishes from Mexico, Egypt, Thailand, and Vietnam. Once you’ve secured your food, take a short stroll to Tom McCall Waterfront Park for an impromptu picnic with scenic river views.
Midtown Beer Garden
Just a stone’s throw from a major MAX Light Rail station, the Midtown Beer Garden is a lively spot that caters to downtown appetites. Korean Twist is a highlight, serving up Korean tacos and Asian-fusion rice bowls, alongside other diverse cuisines like Mexican, Thai, and Egyptian. Recently renovated, this beer garden now accommodates up to 300 guests and frequently hosts events.
Multnomah French Quarter
Nestled in Multnomah Village, a charming, small-town-feeling neighborhood just south of downtown, the Multnomah French Quarter is a multifaceted destination. It functions as a village square, shopping center, and community hub – and, of course, a fantastic food truck pod. Don’t miss Yoshi’s for some of the city’s best sushi (order ahead by phone!). DelToro Steak is another standout, serving steak in sandwiches, salads, tacos, and more. This unique pod also features Thai, Mexican, vegan comfort food, baked goods, and various beverages.
Southeast Portland Food Truck Pods
Cartopia
A late-night favorite, Cartopia is home to Potato Champion, famous for its crispy, twice-fried Belgian-style fries and gravy-smothered poutine – the quintessential post-night-out food. Chicken and Guns brings the heat with its wood-fired Latin chicken, accompanied by crispy, sea-salted potatoes and a flavorful Peruvian cilantro-jalapeño sauce.
Springwater Cart Park
The expansive Springwater Cart Park, formerly known as Cartlandia, in Southeast Portland, is a “super pod” with approximately 30 food trucks representing cuisines from around the globe. Explore the vast culinary offerings and enjoy your meal in the large seating area.
Lil’ America at Fracture Brewing Taphouse
A newer addition to Portland’s food truck scene in 2023, Lil’ America is a community-focused pod highlighting BIPOC and queer chefs. Sample the snow cheese chicken at Frybaby (Korean fried chicken) and complement your visit with a vegan espresso drink from Speed-o Cappucino or a local beer from Fracture Brewing Taproom.
Flipside
The Flipside pod brings food truck excitement to the Lents neighborhood, offering diverse dining options including E-San Thai, Golden Triangle, and Kenbu Sushi. It also features a full indoor bar and a rooftop seating area.
Hawthorne Asylum
Opened in 2019, Hawthorne Asylum is a sizable pod located near Cartopia, offering ample covered seating, a fire pit, and a wide variety of food trucks. Standouts include Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches, Burmese Delight, and Le Bistro Montage Ala Cart, a reincarnation of the beloved Cajun eatery Le Bistro Montage. Black Dagger, the on-site bar, serves beer and cider.
Piknik Park
After exploring the charming Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood, stop by Piknik Park Food Truck Pod. It features a craft beer garden with a stand-up bar, restrooms, and a covered, heated seating area. Choose from Moroccan cuisine at Taste of Casablanca, vegetarian Chinese food from Uncle Tsang’s Kitchen, and other tasty options.
The Original at John’s Marketplace
What’s better than a food truck pod with Instagram-worthy fried chicken sandwiches from JoJo? That same pod located right next to John’s Marketplace, a Portland beer institution. Find it all at The Original at John’s Marketplace on Southeast Powell Boulevard, complete with a covered patio and ample seating.
Collective Oregon Eateries (CORE)
The extensive seating options at Collective Oregon Eateries (CORE), including covered outdoor tables and indoor spots in the food hall, make it a great choice in any weather. Enjoy Vietnamese dishes at Broken Rice and Indian favorites at Platter Division, among other options. CORE also hosts regular events like game nights, live music, and comedy.
The Heist
Located in the historic Woodstock neighborhood, The Heist offers a walk-up window for adult beverages, extensive covered seating, and live music, in addition to diverse food truck options. Try Namo for Himalayan cuisine or Thai Sunflower for Thai classics.
Hinterland
For a more refined food truck experience, visit Hinterland Bar & Food Carts, just west of Mt. Tabor Park. Enjoy a covered, modern seating area, real dishes and cutlery for dine-in guests, TVs for events and sports, and a full bar with craft cocktails, draft beer, and local wine. Matt’s BBQ Tacos and Thai Panther are popular choices here.
Farmhouse Carts
Located near Southeast Division Street, a top Portland food and drink destination, Farmhouse Carts offers diverse and delicious food trucks. Standouts include Mama Chow’s Kitchen for dumplings and Sunrise Co. for breakfast sandwiches. Amenities include covered seating, a dog- and kid-friendly environment, and beers from Migration Brewing Craft Collective.
Portland Mercado
Know Before You Go: The Portland Mercado experienced a fire on January 3rd. Food trucks are currently open for takeout only, while the main building is closed.
Featuring Colombian, Cuban, Mexican, and Peruvian specialties, Portland Mercado is a must-visit for Latin American flavors. It’s more than just a food truck pod; it’s a hub of Latine culture and local entrepreneurship.
North Portland Food Truck Pods
Cartside
Conveniently located near the Moda Center and Oregon Convention Center, Cartside Food Carts is perfect for pre-event dining. Find Korean food at Ko Sisters Seoul Food, Mexican at Arelis PDX, and Thai at Phi Phi Island Thai, among others.
Prost Marketplace
Situated on trendy North Mississippi Avenue, Prost Marketplace offers a range of choices including vegan bowls at Native Bowl, barbecue from Matt’s BBQ, Korean tacos from Koi Fusion, and gluten-free Indian food from DesiPDX. The pod is anchored by the German pub Prost!, where you can enjoy your food truck finds with a drink.
St. Johns Food & Beer Porch
In the charming St. Johns neighborhood, the St. Johns Food & Beer Porch features over a dozen food trucks and local brews on tap. With covered seating and regular events, it’s a great spot to spend the day. Try vegan paninis from Flourish, pizza from Pizza Creature, and acai bowls from Sissy’s Beverage Emporium.
Northeast Portland Food Truck Pods
Rose City Food Park
The full-service Rose City Food Park pod features about a dozen trucks and frequent live music. Enjoy Vietnamese food at Vivi’s Yummy Rolls or sweet pancakes at Rocket Breakfast.
Baerlic Brewing at The Barley Pod
Anchored by Baerlic Brewing, The Barley Pod includes food trucks like La Arepa (Venezuelan street food), Eat Well (rice bowls), and Bam Pow Burgers.
Piedmont Station
International flavors abound at Piedmont Station. Enjoy fish and chips at The Original Halibuts, grilled cheese at Melt, Italian street food at Bari, and more. Amenities include seating, a kids’ play area, and restrooms.
Park the Carts
Near the border of North and Northeast Portland, Park the Carts offers diverse food trucks and covered seating. Options range from tacos to Thai, burgers to sushi burritos, with an adjoining bar for drinks.
The Yard at Montavilla
Find Taqueria El Torito, Puddletown Bagels, and more at The Yard At Montavilla, located in the Montavilla neighborhood. This pod also has a bar cart, covered seating, games, and a fire pit.
Northwest Portland Food Truck Pods
Slabtown
After visiting the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium, stop by Slabtown Food Carts for teriyaki and Mexican-inspired food.
Nob Hill
Located in Northwest Portland, Nob Hill Food Carts offers diverse trucks and covered seating. Highlights include sushi burritos from Rollin’ Fresh and burgers from Farmer and the Beast. The Pour House serves draft beer from a vintage trailer.
Explore Portland’s food truck scene and discover your new favorite meal! With so many options, the adventure is always delicious.
