Food carts in Portland, Oregon

History of food carts in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Food carts in 2017

The city of Portland, Oregon, United States, has experienced a boom in the number of food carts due to relatively low regulation compared to other North American cities.[1]

## History[edit]

Alder Street food cart pod (2013)

In 1965, the first food cart in Portland, which sold kosher hot dogs, was set up across from Portland City Hall.[1] In 1976, Portland opened up all of its downtown parks to competitive bidding.[2]

A 2001 report in The Oregonian stated Portland was home to 175 carts, with fierce competition for the four cart spaces available since 1987 in the South Park Blocks.[3][4] A bidding war in February 2001 led to a combined price of $192,000 for the spaces.[3] There was also a large cluster, often referred to as a food cart pod, at Fifth and Stark street, and one food cart had been operating since 1980.[4]

In 2010 it was estimated that there are between 450 and 671 carts citywide.[5][6]

## Regulation[edit]

Most North American cities sought to make the street for cars in the mid twentieth century, and thus imposed strict regulations on food carts, which led to few food carts remaining. In comparison, Portland has low regulation, such as having nearly no requirement for a food cart to have a particular structure, which makes the cost of entry low, and thus leading to a proliferation of carts. Many regulations are also not enforced as long as health and safety are not impacted.[1]

## Notable pods and foods carts[edit]

Notable food cart pods currently operating in Portland include the Cart Blocks, Cartopia, Collective Oregon Eateries, Hawthorne Asylum, Hinterland Bar and Food Carts, Lil' America, Nob Hill Food Carts, Portland Mercado, Prost Marketplace, the Southwest 5th Avenue food cart pod, and Springwater Cart Park (formerly known as Cartlandia). Defunct pods include the Alder Street food cart pod (1990s–2019) and Carts on Foster, which closed in 2023. Businesses which have operated as food carts in the city include:

* Bark City BBQ
* Bing Mi
* Birrieria La Plaza
* Birrieria PDX
* Chicken and Guns
* El Cubo de Cuba
* Deadstock Coffee
* Desi PDX
* Dirty Lettuce
* E-san Thai Cuisine
* Erica's Soul Food
* Fifty Licks
* Flying Fish Company
* Fried Egg I'm in Love
* Gracie's Apizza
* The Grilled Cheese Grill
* Jojo
* Kee's Loaded Kitchen
* Kim Jong Grillin'
* Le Bistro Montage
* Matt's BBQ
* Matta
* MidCity SmashBurger
* Nacheaux
* Nong's Khao Man Gai
* Off the Griddle
* Paladin Pie
* PDX Sliders
* Ruthie's
* Shanghai's Best
* Stretch the Noodle
* Tamale Boy
* Tierra del Sol
* Viking Soul Food

Defunct food carts include Baby Blue Pizza, El Gallo Taqueria, Holy Trinity Barbecue, and PDX671.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c Newman, Lenore Lauri; Burnett, Katherine (February 2013). "Street food and vibrant urban spaces: lessons from Portland, Oregon". Local Environment. 18 (2): 233–248. doi:10.1080/13549839.2012.729572.
2. ^ "In their own words: The story of Portland's food cart phenomenon". Portland Business Journal. July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
3. ^ a b Thompson, Courtenay (March 23, 2001). "PSU Food Cart Bidding Battle Mystifies, Stings". The Oregonian. p. C02.
4. ^ a b Heinz, Spencer (April 9, 2001). "Taste the World, One Cart at a Time". The Oregonian. p. B01.
5. ^ "21 top time-saving cities". CNN. March 15, 2010. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
6. ^ "Small Fries Unite!". The Portland Mercury. January 19, 2012. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.

## External links[edit]

* Food portal
* Oregon portal

* Media related to Food carts in Portland, Oregon at Wikimedia Commons

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Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

Current

* 3 Doors Down
* Abigail Hall
* Abyssinian Kitchen
* Akadi
* Alberta Street Pub
* Alibi
* Amalfi's
* Ambassador
* An Xuyên Bakery
* Andina
* Anna Bannanas
* Apizza Scholls
* Assembly Brewing
* Astral
* Ate-Oh-Ate
* Atlas Pizza
* Ava Gene's
* Baby Doll Pizza
* Back Stage Bar
* Baes Fried Chicken
* Bakeshop
* Bar Cala
* Bark City BBQ
* Bear Paw Inn
* Beastro
* Bella's Italian Bakery
* Behind the Museum
* Ben & Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli
* Berlu
* Besaw's
* Bing Mi
* Bipartisan
* Birrieria La Plaza
* Birrieria PDX
* Blossoming Lotus
* Bluto's
* Bollywood Theater
* Bread and Ink
* Bridge City Pizza
* Brix Tavern
* Bullard Tavern
* Burger Stevens
* Bye and Bye
* Cadillac Cafe
* Cafe Nell
* Cafe Olli
* Caffe Mingo
* Caffè Umbria
* Canard
* Case Study Coffee Roasters
* Cassidy's
* Cheerful Bullpen
* Cheryl's on 12th
* Chicken and Guns
* Chin's Kitchen
* Cibo
* Clarklewis
* Cloud City Ice Cream
* Clyde's Prime Rib
* Coffee Time
* Coffin Club
* Coopers Hall
* Coquine
* The Country Cat
* Cricket Cafe
* Crush Bar
* Dan and Louis Oyster Bar
* Davenport
* Deadstock Coffee
* Delta Cafe
* Departure
* Desi PDX
* Dick's Primal Burger
* Dimo's Apizza
* Dirty Lettuce
* Dixie Tavern
* Doc Marie's
* Dockside
* Doe Donuts
* Dolly Olive
* Donnie Vegas
* Double Dragon
* Doug Fir Lounge
* Dough Zone
* Dove Vivi
* Driftwood Room
* Duck House
* East Glisan Pizza Lounge
* East India Co.
* EastBurn
* Eat: An Oyster Bar
* Edelweiss
* Eem
* Either/Or
* El Cubo de Cuba
* Erica's Soul Food
* Escape from New York Pizza
* Excellent Cuisine
* Expatriate
* Farina Bakery
* Favela Brazilian Cafe
* The Fields Bar and Grill‎
* Fifty Licks
* Fish Sauce
* Flying Fish
* Frank's Noodle House
* Franks-A-Lot
* Fried Egg I'm in Love
* Fuller's
* G-Love
* Gabbiano's
* Gado Gado
* Genie's Cafe
* Gilda's
* Gladstone Street Pizza
* Goose Hollow Inn
* Gracie's Apizza
* Grassa
* The Grilled Cheese Grill
* Güero
* Ha VL
* Habibi
* Han Oak
* Hanoi Kitchen
* Hapa PDX
* Hat Yai
* Heart Coffee Roasters
* Higgins
* HK Cafe
* Hoda's
* Holman's
* Hopworks
* Horse Brass Pub
* Huber's
* HunnyMilk
* Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom
* Jacqueline
* Jake's Famous Crawfish
* Jake's Grill
* Jam on Hawthorne
* JinJu Patisserie
* Joe Brown's Carmel Corn
* Joe's Cellar
* Jojo
* Kachka
* Kann
* Kay's Bar
* Kee's Loaded Kitchen
* Kells Irish Pub
* Ken's Artisan Bakery
* Ken's Artisan Pizza
* Kennedy School
* Kenny's Noodle House
* Ki'ikibáa
* Kim Jong Grillin'
* Kinboshi Ramen
* Kulfi
* L'Orange
* La Bonita
* La Calaca Comelona
* Langbaan
* Lardo
* Laurelhurst Market
* Laurelwood
* Lauretta Jean's
* Le Happy
* Le Pigeon
* Lechon
* Lilia Comedor
* Little T American Baker
* Lovejoy Bakers
* Lovely's Fifty Fifty
* Low Brow Lounge
* Lúc Lắc
* Lucky Labrador
* Lutz Tavern
* Magna Kusina
* Mama Bird
* Mama Mia Trattoria
* Maruti
* Masala Lab PDX
* Master Kong
* The Matador
* Matt's BBQ
* Matta
* Maurice
* Meals 4 Heels
* Mediterranean Exploration Company
* Mei Sum Bakery
* MidCity SmashBurger
* Mis Tacones
* Miss Delta
* Mother's Bistro
* Mucca Osteria
* Multnomah Whiskey Library
* My Father's Place
* Nacheaux
* Navarre
* New Cascadia Traditional
* Nicholas
* Nick's Famous Coney Island
* Nimblefish
* Nite Hawk
* No Saint
* Nodoguro
* Nong's Khao Man Gai
* Nossa Familia Coffee
* Nostrana
* Nudi Noodle Place
* Nuestra Cocina
* Nuvrei
* Oaks Bottom Public House
* Off the Griddle
* OK Omens
* Old Town Pizza
* Olive or Twist
* Olympia Provisions
* Oma's Hideaway
* The Original Dinerant
* Original Hotcake House
* Otto's Sausage Kitchen
* Oven and Shaker
* Ox
* PaaDee
* Pal's Shanty Tavern
* Paladin Pie
* Paley's Place
* Palomar
* Pambiche
* Papa Haydn
* Papi Chulo's
* Pastificio d'Oro
* Pasture PDX
* PDX Sliders
* Philadelphia's Steaks and Hoagies
* Pho Oregon
* Phở Kim
* Pho Van
* Phuket Cafe
* Piattino
* Piazza Italia
* The Picnic House
* Pip's Original
* Pix Pâtisserie
* Pizza Jerk
* Pizza Thief
* Pizzeria Otto
* Podnah's Pit Barbecue
* Por Que No
* Portland Cà Phê
* Portland City Grill
* Portland Fish Market
* Prince Coffee
* Produce Row
* Prost
* Public Domain Coffee
* Quaintrelle
* Queen of Sheba
* Radio Room
* Ramen Ryoma
* Rangoon Bistro
* Raven's Manor
* Red Sauce Pizza
* Reel M Inn
* Reo's Ribs
* Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge
* República
* Rialto
* The Richmond Bar
* Rimsky-Korsakoffee House
* RingSide Steakhouse
* River Pig Saloon
* Rontoms
* Rose City Book Pub
* Rose VL Deli
* Rukdiew Cafe
* Ruthie's
* Saburo's
* Salvador Molly's
* Santé Bar
* Sayler's
* Scottie's Pizza Parlor
* Screen Door
* Seasons and Regions
* Sebastiano's
* Shalom Y'all
* Shandong
* Shanghai Tunnel Bar
* Shanghai's Best
* Silver Dollar Pizza
* Skyline
* Southpark Seafood
* Space Room Lounge and Genie's Too
* Spare Room
* Spella Caffè
* Spirit of 77
* The Sports Bra
* St. Jack
* Stammtisch
* Steeplejack Brewing
* StormBreaker Brewing
* Stretch the Noodle
* Swank and Swine
* Sweedeedee
* Swiss Hibiscus
* Tabor Bread
* Tamale Boy
* Tanaka
* Taqueria Los Puñales
* TarBoush
* Teardrop Lounge
* Teote
* Thơm Portland
* Tierra del Sol
* Tin Shed Garden Cafe
* Toast
* Tom's
* Top Burmese
* Tusk
* Twisted Croissant
* Two Wrongs
* Urban Farmer
* Urdaneta
* Victoria Bar
* Viking Soul Food
* Virginia Cafe
* Virtuous Pie
* Von Ebert Brewing
* Water Avenue Coffee
* Wei Wei
* White Owl Social Club
* Xiao Ye
* XLB
* Ya Hala
* Yaowarat
* Zach's Shack
* Zoiglhaus Brewing Company
* Zuckercreme

Defunct

* Acadia
* Alexis
* Altabira
* Analog
* Arleta Library
* Ataula
* Aviary
* Aviv
* Baby Blue Pizza
* Backspace
* Bailey's Taproom
* Batterfish
* Beast
* Berbati's Pan
* Berlin Inn
* Bijou Cafe
* Bistro Agnes
* Bit House Saloon
* Biwa
* Bluehour
* Blueplate
* Bombay Cricket Club
* Botanist House
* Brasserie Montmartre
* Bridges Cafe
* British Overseas Restaurant Corporation
* Byways Cafe
* Cafe Azul
* Candlelight Cafe & Bar
* Canlis
* Carriage Room
* Castagna
* Century Bar
* Chez Machin
* Circa 33
* Clyde Common
* Country Bill's
* Cup & Saucer Cafe
* Davis Street Tavern
* Der Rheinlander
* Dick's Kitchen
* Dig a Pony
* Dime Store
* Dóttir
* Egyptian Club
* El Gallo Taqueria
* Esparza's
* Everybody Eats PDX
* Farm Spirit
* Fat Head's Brewery
* Fenouil
* Fermenter
* Fish Grotto
* Fong Chong
* Genoa
* Georgian Room
* Gilt Club
* The Goose
* Greek Cusina
* Grüner
* Gypsy Restaurant and Velvet Lounge
* Handsome Pizza
* Henry Ford's
* Henry Thiele
* Hobo's
* Holy Trinity Barbecue
* House of Louie
* Hunan
* Hung Far Low
* Industrial Cafe and Saloon
* Irving Street Kitchen
* Isabel Pearl
* JaCiva's
* Jackknife Bar
* Kenny & Zuke's
* Kornblatt's
* La Carreta
* Lazy Susan
* Le Bistro Montage
* Lincoln
* The Liquor Store
* Little Bird Bistro
* Local Lounge
* Lonesome's Pizza
* Lovely Hula Hands‎
* Lucier
* Malka
* Mama Đút
* Marukin Ramen
* Masia
* The Matador
* Mi Mero Mole
* Ned Ludd
* Nel Centro
* New Copper Penny
* NOLA Doughnuts
* Ocean City Seafood
* Organ Grinder
* Original Taco House
* Overlook
* The Pagoda
* Paragon
* The Parish
* Pazzo Ristorante
* PDX671
* Pearl Tavern
* Pied Cow Coffeehouse
* Ping
* Pink Feather
* Pok Pok
* Portland Penny Diner
* Portobello Vegan Trattoria
* Purrington's Cat Lounge
* The Queen's Head
* Radar
* Raven & Rose
* Red and Black Cafe
* Revelry
* RingSide Fish House
* Roman Candle
* The Roxy
* Saucebox
* Seastar Bakery
* Shift Drinks
* Shine
* Shizuku
* Shut Up and Eat
* Southeast Grind
* Stanich's
* Starky's
* Sunshine Noodles
* Sunshine Tavern
* Tails & Trotters
* Tanuki
* Tapalaya
* Tasty n Alder
* Tasty n Daughters
* Tasty n Sons
* There Be Monsters
* Three Sisters Tavern
* Tilt
* Toki
* Toro Bravo
* Touché
* Vault Cocktail Lounge
* Veritable Quandary
* Via Tribunali
* Victory Bar
* Whiskey Soda Lounge
* Wildwood
* Wong's King
* The Woodsman Tavern
* Xico
* Yaw's Top Notch
* Yonder
* Zefiro

Chains

| Current|

* Afuri
* Blue Star Donuts
* Boxer Ramen
* Bunk Sandwiches
* E-san Thai Cuisine
* Elephants Delicatessen
* Grand Central Bakery
* Henry's Tavern
* Hot Lips Pizza
* Laughing Planet
* Little Big Burger
* McCormick & Schmick's
* Migration Brewing
* Mike's Drive-In
* The Original Pancake House
* Pastini
* Pine State Biscuits
* Salt & Straw
* Sizzle Pie
* Slappy Cakes
* Stacked Sandwich Shop
* Straight from New York Pizza
* SuperDeluxe
* Sweet Hereafter

|

Defunct|

* Macheezmo Mouse
* Typhoon
* Victoria Station

Related

* Coon Chicken Inn
* Cooperativa
* Dame Collective
* James Beard Public Market
* Pizza in Portland, Oregon
* Pine Street Market

| Food carts|

* Alder Street pod
* Cart Blocks
* Cartopia
* Carts on Foster
* Collective Oregon Eateries
* Hawthorne Asylum
* Hinterland Bar and Food Carts
* Lil' America
* Nob Hill Food Carts
* Portland Mercado
* Prost Marketplace
* Southwest 5th Avenue food cart pod
* Springwater Cart Park

|

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