Food carts in Portland, Oregon

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]

Food Cart Week is an annual event in the city. Approximately 130 businesses participated in the fourth event in 2025.[7]

## 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:

* Cart Blocks
* Cartopia
* Collective Oregon Eateries
* Hawthorne Asylum
* The Heist
* Hinterland Bar and Food Carts
* Lil' America
* Midtown Beer Garden
* Nob Hill Food Carts
* Portland Mercado
* Prost Marketplace
* Rose City Food Park
* Springwater Cart Park (formerly known as Cartlandia)

Businesses that have operated as food carts in the city include:

* Bake on the Run
* Baon Kainan
* Bark City BBQ
* Bing Mi
* Birrieria La Plaza
* Birrieria PDX
* Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
* Chicken and Guns
* El Cubo de Cuba
* Deadstock Coffee
* Desi PDX
* Dirty Lettuce
* E-san Thai Cuisine
* Erica's Soul Food
* Farmer and the Beast
* Fifty Licks
* Flying Fish Company
* Fried Egg I'm in Love
* Frybaby
* Gracie's Apizza
* The Grilled Cheese Grill
* Gumba
* Jojo
* Kee's Loaded Kitchen
* Kim Jong Grillin'
* Koi Fusion
* Le Bistro Montage
* Leaky Roof Gastropub
* Los Gorditos
* Mama Chow's Kitchen
* Matt's BBQ
* Matta
* MidCity SmashBurger
* Mole Mole
* Monster Smash
* Nacheaux
* Nico's Ice Cream
* Nong's Khao Man Gai
* Off the Griddle
* Paladin Pie
* PDX Sliders
* Reeva
* Ruthie's
* Shanghai's Best
* Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches
* Stoopid Burger
* Stretch the Noodle
* Sure Shot Burger
* Tamale Boy
* Tierra del Sol
* Tight Tacos
* Tokyo Sando
* Viking Soul Food
* The Whole Bowl
* Yoshi's Sushi

### Defunct

[edit]

Defunct pods include the Alder Street food cart pod (1990s–2019) and Carts on Foster, which closed in 2023. In 2025, the food cart pod Foster Food Carts began operating on the site previously occupied by Carts on Foster.[8]

Defunct food carts include Baby Blue Pizza, Cultured Caveman, El Gallo Taqueria, Holy Trinity Barbecue, PDX671, and Sweet Lorraine's.

## See also

[edit]

* Food portal
* Oregon portal

* Pacific Northwest cuisine

## 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 March 25, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
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.
7. ^ Cheadle, Harry (May 13, 2025). "Hyped Filipino Panaderia Balong Is Finally Open". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
8. ^ Cheadle, Harry (May 15, 2025). "A New Portland Pop-Up Is Recreating Food From Ancient Rome". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 15, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

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

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Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

* 3 Doors Down
* Abigail Hall
* Abyssinian Kitchen
* Akadi
* Alberta Street Pub
* Alibi
* Amalfi's
* Ambassador
* An Xuyên Bakery
* Andina
* Angel Face
* Annam VL
* Annie's Donuts
* Apex
* Apizza Scholls
* Arden
* Assembly Brewing
* Astral
* Ate-Oh-Ate
* Atlas Pizza
* Ava Gene's
* Baby Doll Pizza
* Back 2 Earth
* Back Stage Bar
* Badlands
* Baes Fried Chicken
* Bake on the Run
* The Baker's Mark
* Bakeshop
* Balong
* Baon Kainan
* Bar Cala
* Bar Casa Vale
* Barista
* Bark City BBQ
* Bartini
* Bauman's on Oak
* Bear Paw Inn
* Bella's Italian Bakery
* Bellwether Bar
* Belmont Station
* Behind the Museum
* Ben & Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli
* Berlu
* Bernstein's Bagels
* Besaw's
* Bhuna
* Bible Club
* Bing Mi
* Bipartisan
* Birrieria La Plaza
* Birrieria PDX
* Blossoming Lotus
* Bluefin Tuna and Sushi
* Bluto's
* Bollywood Theater
* Botanical Bakeshop
* Bowery Bagels
* Boxcar Pizza
* Bread and Ink
* Bridge City Pizza
* Brix Tavern
* Broder
* Bullard Tavern
* Bye and Bye
* Cadillac Cafe
* Cafe Nell
* Cafe Olli
* Cafe Rowan
* Caffè Umbria
* Campana
* Canard
* Carlita's
* Caro Amico
* Casa Zoraya
* Case Study
* Cassidy's
* Cathedral Coffee
* CC Slaughters
* Cha Cha Cha
* Champagne Poetry Patisserie
* Cheerful Bullpen
* Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
* Chelo
* Cheryl's on 12th
* Chicken and Guns
* Chin's Kitchen
* Cibo
* Clarklewis
* Cloud City Ice Cream
* Clyde's Prime Rib
* Coco Donuts
* Coffee Time
* Coffin Club
* Coopers Hall
* Coquine
* Cornet Custard
* The Country Cat
* Creepy's
* Cricket Cafe
* Culmination Brewing
* Dan and Louis Oyster Bar
* Darcelle XV Showplace
* DarSalam
* Davenport
* Deadshot
* Deadstock Coffee
* Delicious Donuts
* Delta Cafe
* DeNicola's
* Departure
* Desi PDX
* Devil's Dill Sandwich Shop
* Devils Point
* Dick's Primal Burger
* Dimo's Apizza
* Dirty Lettuce
* Dixie Tavern
* Doc Marie's
* Dockside
* Doe Donuts
* Dolly Olive
* Donnie Vegas
* Dos Hermanos Bakery
* Double Dragon
* Doug Fir Lounge
* Dough Zone
* Dove Vivi
* Driftwood Room
* Du's Grill
* Duck House
* East Glisan Pizza Lounge
* East India Co.
* East Side Deli
* EastBurn
* Eat: An Oyster Bar
* Edelweiss
* Eem
* Either/Or
* El Cubo de Cuba
* El Nutri Taco
* Erica's Soul Food
* Escape from New York Pizza
* Excellent Cuisine
* Expatriate
* Farina Bakery
* Feral
* Farmer and the Beast
* The Fields
* Fifty Licks
* Fire on the Mountain
* Fish Sauce
* Flying Fish
* Frank's Noodle House
* Franks-A-Lot
* The Fresh Pot
* Fried Egg I'm in Love
* Friendship Kitchen
* Frybaby
* Fuller's
* G-Love
* Gabbiano's
* Gado Gado
* Genie's Cafe
* Gilda's
* Gladstone Street Pizza
* Good Coffee
* Goose Hollow Inn
* Gracie's Apizza
* Grana Pizza Napoletana
* Grassa
* Gravy
* The Grilled Cheese Grill
* Güero
* Gumba
* Ha VL
* Habibi
* Hale Pele
* Han Oak
* Hanoi Kitchen
* Hapa PDX
* Happy Dragon
* Harlow
* Hat Yai
* Heavenly Creatures
* Heart Coffee
* Helen Bernhard Bakery
* Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels
* Hey Love
* HeyDay
* Higgins
* HK Cafe
* Hoda's
* Holman's
* Holy Ghost
* Hopworks
* Horse Brass Pub
* Huber's
* HunnyMilk
* Ice Queen
* Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom
* Jacqueline
* Jade Rabbit
* Jake's Famous Crawfish
* Jake's Grill
* Jam on Hawthorne
* Janken
* Javelina
* Jeju
* Jet Black
* JinJu Patisserie
* Joe Brown's Carmel Corn
* Joe's Cellar
* Jojo
* Kachka
* Kann
* Kate's Ice Cream
* Kau Kau
* Kay's Bar
* Kee's Loaded Kitchen
* Keeper Coffee
* Kells Irish Pub
* Ken's Artisan Bakery
* Ken's Artisan Pizza
* Kennedy School
* Kenny's Noodle House
* Khao Moo Dang
* Ki'ikibáa
* Kim Jong Grillin'
* Kinnamōns
* Kinboshi Ramen
* Koi Fusion
* Kulfi
* L'Échelle
* L'Orange
* La Bonita
* La Calaca Comelona
* La Provence and Petite Provence
* Langbaan
* Lardo
* Laurelhurst Market
* Laurelwood
* Lauretta Jean's
* Le Happy
* Le Pigeon
* Leaky Roof Gastropub
* Lechon
* Lilia Comedor
* Little Griddle
* Little T American Baker
* Los Gorditos
* Love Shack
* Lovejoy Bakers
* Lovely's Fifty Fifty
* Low Brow Lounge
* Loyal Legion
* Lúc Lắc
* Luce
* Lucky Labrador
* Lutz Tavern
* Mad Greek Deli
* Magna Kusina
* Mama Chow's Kitchen
* Mama Mia Trattoria
* Maruti
* Master Kong
* The Matador
* Matt's BBQ
* Tacos
* Matta
* Maurice
* Meals 4 Heels
* Mediterranean Exploration Company
* Mei Sum Bakery
* Mémoire Cà Phê
* Mendelssohns
* MidCity SmashedBurger
* Mikiko Mochi Donuts
* Mis Tacones
* Miss Delta
* Mole Mole
* Monster Smash
* Moonstruck Chocolate
* Morchella
* Mother's Bistro
* Mucca Osteria
* Multnomah Whiskey Library
* Murata
* My Father's Place
* Nacheaux
* Navarre
* Never Coffee
* New Cascadia Traditional
* Nicholas
* Nick's Famous Coney Island
* Nico's Ice Cream
* Nimblefish
* Nite Hawk
* No Saint
* Noble Rot
* Nodoguro
* Nong's Khao Man Gai
* Nossa Familia
* 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
* Orange & Blossom
* Original Hotcake House
* Otto's
* Oven and Shaker
* Ox
* PaaDee
* Pal's Shanty Tavern
* Paladin Pie
* Paley's Place
* Palomar
* Pambiche
* Pan Con Queso
* Papa Haydn
* The Paper Bridge
* Papi Chulo's
* Pasar
* Pastificio d'Oro
* Pasture
* PDX Sliders
* The People's Pig
* Philadelphia's
* Phở Hùng
* Pho Oregon
* Phở Kim
* Pho Van
* Phuket Cafe
* Piattino
* Piazza Italia
* The Picnic House
* Pink Rabbit
* Pinolo Gelato
* 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
* Proud Mary Coffee
* Push x Pull
* Queen of Sheba
* Radio Room
* Ramen Ryoma
* Ranch Pizza
* Rangoon Bistro
* Raven's Manor
* Red Sauce Pizza
* Redwood
* Reel M Inn
* Reeva
* Reo's Ribs
* Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge
* República
* Reverend's BBQ
* Rialto
* The Richmond Bar
* Rimsky-Korsakoffee House
* RingSide Steakhouse
* River Pig Saloon
* Rontoms
* Rose City Book Pub
* Rose VL Deli
* Rukdiew Cafe
* Rum Club
* Ruthie's
* Saburo's
* Salsas Locas
* Salty's
* Salvador Molly's
* Sammich
* Santé Bar
* Sayler's
* Scotch Lodge
* Scottie's Pizza Parlor
* Screen Door
* Seasons and Regions
* Sebastiano's
* Serratto
* Shalom Y'all
* Shandong
* Shanghai Tunnel Bar
* Shanghai's Best
* Ship Ahoy Tavern
* Shoofly Vegan Bakery
* Silver Dollar Pizza
* Skyline
* Slow Bar
* Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches
* Smart Donkey
* Someday
* Sousòl
* Southpark Seafood
* Space Room Lounge and Genie's Too
* Spare Room
* Spella Caffè
* Spielman Bagels & Coffee
* Spirit of 77
* The Sports Bra
* St. Honoré Boulangerie
* St. Jack
* Stammtisch
* Steeplejack
* Stoopid Burger
* StormBreaker
* Street Disco
* Stretch the Noodle
* Sun Rice
* Sure Shot Burger
* Sushi Ichiban
* Swagat
* Swank and Swine
* Sweedeedee
* Sweetpea Baking Company
* Swiss Hibiscus
* Tabor Bread
* Takibi
* Tamale Boy
* Tanaka
* Taqueria Los Puñales
* TarBoush
* Taste Tickler
* Tasty Corner
* Teardrop Lounge
* Teote
* Thai Peacock
* The Uncanny
* Thơm Portland
* Tierra del Sol
* Tight Tacos
* Tin Shed
* Toast
* Tokyo Sando
* Tom's
* Too Soon
* Top Burmese
* Tōv Coffee
* Tulip Shop Tavern
* Turning Peel
* Tusk
* Twisted Croissant
* Two Wrongs
* Urban Farmer
* Urdaneta
* Victoria Bar
* Viking Soul Food
* Virginia Cafe
* Virtuous Pie
* Von Ebert Brewing
* Water Avenue Coffee
* Wayfinder Beer
* Wei Wei
* White Owl Social Club
* The Whole Bowl
* Wonderwood Springs
* Xiao Ye
* Ya Hala
* Yamhill Pub
* Yaowarat
* Yoko's
* Yoshi's Sushi
* Zach's Shack
* Zilla Sake
* Zoiglhaus
* Zuckercreme

Chains

* Afuri
* Bamboo Sushi
* Blue Star Donuts
* 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
* Mio Sushi
* Mike's Drive-In
* The Original Pancake House
* Pastini
* Pine State Biscuits
* Salt & Straw
* Sesame Donuts
* Sizzle Pie
* Slappy Cakes
* Straight from New York Pizza
* SuperDeluxe

Related

* Dame Collective
* James Beard Public Market
* List of defunct restaurants in Portland, Oregon
* Pizza in Portland, Oregon
* Pine Street Market

| Food carts|

* Cart Blocks
* Cartopia
* Collective Oregon Eateries
* Hawthorne Asylum
* The Heist
* Hinterland Bar and Food Carts
* Lil' America
* Midtown Beer Garden
* Nob Hill Food Carts
* Portland Mercado
* Prost Marketplace
* Rose City Food Park
* Springwater Cart Park

|

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