Portland's legendary food cart scene offers a diverse range of options, from budget-friendly $5 tacos to premium $18 burgers, with Matt's BBQ Tacos being the most consistently recommended pick across Reddit. With over 500 carts operating across dozens of pods, the city has transformed mobile dining into an art form, making it a year-round culinary destination regardless of the weather.
Portland's food cart culture is unlike anything else in America. With over 500 carts operating across dozens of pods, the city has turned mobile dining into an art form. These aren't ordinary food trucks — they're semi-permanent kitchen labs where chefs push boundaries without the overhead of a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
We analyzed hundreds of Reddit posts across r/askportland and r/Portland, cross-referenced with Eater Portland and The Infatuation picks, to find the 12 food carts that locals actually recommend. Every cart on this list was independently mentioned in at least 3 separate threads.
Prices range from $5 tacos at Birrieria La Plaza to $18 smash burgers at Farmer And The Beast. Most carts accept cards, but cash is still king at a few holdouts. Portland calls them “carts,” not “trucks” — and the distinction matters.
💰 $10–$18
📍 2216 SE 50th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
Mt. Tabor (Hinterland Bar & Carts)
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon11 AM–8:30 PMTue11 AM–8:30 PMWed11 AM–8:30 PMThu11 AM–8:30 PMFri11 AM–9 PMSat8 AM–9 PMSun8 AM–8:30 PM
What to order: Matt’s BBQ Tacos is a BBQ/Tex-Mex cart known for its G.O.A.T. taco. What to order: The G.O.A.T. taco — slow-smoked brisket and pulled pork on a corn tortilla on top of a flour tortilla, glued together with queso.
“Matt’s BBQ Tacos is hands down the best food cart in Portland. The brisket is unreal.”— r/askportland · 2024
“The G.O.A.T. taco is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in this city.”— r/Portland · 2025
tabiji verdict: Portland’s most beloved food cart. Texas-style smoked meats on fresh tortillas with a cult following that spans the entire city.
💰 $10–$16
📍 431 SW Harvey Milk St, Portland, OR 97204
Downtown (Midtown Beer Garden)
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon11:30 AM–2:30 PMTue11:30 AM–2:30 PMWed11:30 AM–2:30 PMThu11:30 AM–2:30 PMFri11:30 AM–2:30 PMSatClosedSunClosed
What to order: Tokyo Sando is a Japanese sandwich cart specializing in egg salad sandos. What to order: The egg salad sando — two soft-boiled eggs with jammy yolks on crustless shokupan. Chase it with the pork katsu sandwich.
“Tokyo Sando is my go-to lunch downtown. The egg sando is perfect every time.”— r/askportland · 2025
“The specials sell out fast so follow them on Instagram. The curry pan sando is incredible.”— r/Portland · 2024
tabiji verdict: The highest-rated food cart in Portland at 4.9★. Japanese konbini-style sandwiches on pillowy shokupan.
💰 $10–$16
📍 5215 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
St. Johns
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon6:30 AM–2 PMTue6:30 AM–2 PMWed6:30 AM–2 PMThu6:30 AM–2 PMFri6:30 AM–2 PMSat8 AM–2 PMSunClosed
What to order: Picone’s Quality Deli is a deli/sandwich cart famous for its hot specials and East Coast-style breakfast sandwiches. What to order: Any hot special of the day, or the classic Italian sub. Show up early for the legendary East Coast-style breakfast sandwiches.
“Picone’s is the best sandwich in Portland, period. Everything is perfectly balanced.”— r/Portland · 2024
“The breakfast sandwiches are almost a thing of legend at this point.”— Eater Portland · 2025
tabiji verdict: A perfect 5.0★ on Google. Vin Picone’s fanatical devotion to the sandwich arts has earned a devoted following in St. Johns.
💰 $8–$14
📍 4727 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97206
Woodstock (Heist Pod)
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
MonClosedTueClosedWedClosedThu11:30 AM–7 PMFri11:30 AM–7 PMSat11:30 AM–7 PMSun11:30 AM–7 PM
What to order: Bake On The Run is a Guyanese cart known for its scrambled egg and salt cod bake. What to order: The scrambled egg and shredded salt cod bake, or the chana aloo bake. Don’t forget Chef Bibi’s Famous Peppersauce.
“Bake on the Run is such a gem. The bakes are fluffy and filling and the peppersauce is addictive.”— r/askportland · 2024
“Before this cart arrived, bakes were pretty much nonexistent in Portland.”— The Infatuation · 2025
tabiji verdict: Portland’s gateway to Guyanese cuisine. Fluffy fry bread stuffed with curries and salt cod — completely unique.
💰 $5–$15
📍 5205 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206
Foster-Powell
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon8 AM–9 PMTue8 AM–9 PMWed8 AM–9 PMThu8 AM–9 PMFri8 AM–11 PMSat8 AM–11 PMSun8 AM–9 PM
What to order: Birrieria La Plaza is a Mexican/Birria cart celebrated for its cheesy quesabirria tacos dunked in rich consomé. What to order: Quesabirria tacos — cheesy tacos dunked in rich consomé. The mulitas and vampiros are excellent too.
“Birrieria La Plaza has the best birria in Portland. The consomé is loaded with flavor.”— r/Portland · 2024
“Go to La Plaza for quesabirria. Trust me, it’s the real deal.”— r/askportland · 2025
tabiji verdict: The undisputed birria champion of Portland. Latino- and women-owned, with a family recipe on Foster Road.
💰 $10–$16
📍 770 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209
Downtown / Old Town
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon11 AM–8 PMTue11 AM–8 PMWed11 AM–8 PMThu11 AM–8 PMFri11 AM–9 PMSat11 AM–9 PMSun11 AM–8 PM
What to order: Kim Jong Grillin is a Korean BBQ cart famous for its bibimbap box with marinated meats. What to order: The bibimbap box with marinated meats, japchae noodles, rice, kimchi, and a fried egg. Or the Korean hot dog.
“Kim Jong Grillin is a Portland institution. Han Ly Hwang is the longest reigning king of the food cart world.”— Eater Portland · 2025
“The bibimbap is sweet, spicy, and savory all at once. Absolute comfort food.”— r/askportland · 2024
tabiji verdict: The longest-running and most iconic food cart in Portland. Owner Han Ly Hwang has been serving Korean BBQ boxes for over a decade.
💰 $12–$18
📍 431 SW Harvey Milk St, Portland, OR 97204
Downtown (Midtown Beer Garden)
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon11 AM–3 PMTue11 AM–3 PMWed11 AM–3 PMThu11 AM–3 PMFri11 AM–3 PMSat11 AM–3 PMSunClosed
What to order: Stretch The Noodle is a Chinese cart specializing in hand-pulled noodles, especially the beef noodle soup. What to order: The beef noodle soup — hand-pulled noodles in five-spice broth. Watch chef Xuemei Simard pull the noodles live.
“Stretch the Noodle is the real deal. Watching the noodles get pulled is half the experience.”— r/Portland · 2024
“Best hand-pulled noodles in Portland, easily. The ma la stir fry is incredible.”— r/askportland · 2025
tabiji verdict: Live noodle-pulling theater at the Midtown Beer Garden. Chef Xuemei Simard’s hand-stretched noodles are the real deal.
💰 $10–$16
📍 938 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
Buckman / East Burnside
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon6 PM–12 AMTue6 PM–12 AMWed6 PM–12 AMThu6 PM–12 AMFri6 PM–12 AMSat6 PM–12 AMSun6 PM–12 AM
What to order: Thai Champa is a Thai cart known for its pad thai and green curry, but be warned that even the medium spice level is seriously hot. What to order: Pad thai or green curry. Warning: even the medium spice level is seriously hot.
“Thai Champa is the secret weapon for Burnside bar crawlers. Open till midnight, which is rare in Portland.”— Eater Portland · 2025
“The husband and wife running it are the nicest people. The food is legit spicy though.”— r/askportland · 2024
tabiji verdict: Portland’s ultimate late-night food cart. Open until midnight behind a strip club on Burnside.
💰 $8–$15
📍 1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Hawthorne
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon11 AM–12 AMTue11 AM–12 AMWed11 AM–12 AMThu11 AM–12 AMFri11 AM–1 AMSat11 AM–1 AMSun11 AM–12 AM
What to order: Cartopia Food Carts is a food cart pod offering a variety of options. What to order: Depends on which cart catches your eye — the whole point is variety. Great for groups.
“Cartopia is the quintessential Portland food cart experience. Late night poutine after bar hopping is a rite of passage.”— r/askportland · 2024
“This is the pod that put Portland food carts on the map. Still going strong.”— r/Portland · 2025
tabiji verdict: The most reviewed food cart pod in Portland (1,692 reviews). The OG Hawthorne pod.
💰 $8–$14
📍 3582 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202
Creston-Kenilworth
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
Mon11 AM–9:45 PMTue11 AM–9:45 PMWed11 AM–9:45 PMThu11 AM–9:45 PMFri11 AM–9:45 PMSat11 AM–9:45 PMSun11 AM–9:45 PM
What to order: Jojo is an American cart specializing in signature jojos — thick-cut, battered, deep-fried potato wedges. What to order: The signature jojos — thick-cut, battered, deep-fried potato wedges. PNW perfection.
“Jojo does one thing and does it perfectly. Those potato wedges are crispy, golden perfection.”— r/Portland · 2025
“Nobody does jojos like Jojo. It’s a Portland icon at this point.”— The Infatuation · 2025
tabiji verdict: A food cart that turned the humble jojo potato wedge into an art form on SE Powell.
💰 $12–$18
📍 1845 NW 23rd Pl, Portland, OR 97210
Nob Hill / NW 23rd
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
MonClosedTueClosedWed11:30 AM–8 PMThu11:30 AM–8 PMFri11:30 AM–8 PMSat11:30 AM–8 PMSun11:30 AM–8 PM
What to order: Farmer And The Beast is a farm-to-cart burger spot known for its smash burger and seasonal salads featuring Oregon produce. What to order: The smash burger year-round. Also whatever seasonal salad features Oregon produce.
“Farmer and the Beast has one of the best smash burgers in Portland, plus the seasonal salads are legit.”— r/askportland · 2024
“This cart shows off Oregon produce better than most sit-down restaurants.”— Eater Portland · 2025
tabiji verdict: Farm-to-cart done right in NW Portland. Oregon’s finest seasonal produce alongside serious smash burgers.
💰 $12–$18
📍 3829 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
Division (Piknik Park)
📌 Google Maps →
🕐 Hours
MonClosedTueClosedWed11 AM–8 PMThu11 AM–8 PMFri11 AM–8 PMSat11 AM–8 PMSun11 AM–8 PM
What to order: Makulit is a Filipino burger cart famous for The Big Bunsa — a charred longanisa sausage patty with grilled onion and atsara. What to order: The Big Bunsa — a charred longanisa sausage patty with grilled onion and atsara (pickled papaya relish).
“Makulit is doing something genuinely new with burgers. The longanisa patty with atsara is incredible.”— r/Portland · 2025
“The Lil’ America pod keeps producing hits. Makulit is the latest and maybe the best.”— Eater Portland · 2025
tabiji verdict: Portland’s most exciting new food cart. Filipino-American burgers with longanisa patties and pickled papaya.
