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]
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]
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]
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 food cart pods in Portland include the Cart Blocks, Cartlandia, Cartopia, Collective Oregon Eateries, Hawthorne Asylum, Lil' America, Nob Hill Food Carts, Portland Mercado, Prost Marketplace, and Southwest 5th Avenue food cart pod, and formerly the Alder Street food cart pod (1990s–2019) and Carts on Foster, which closed in 2023. Notable businesses which have operated as food carts in the city include:
Redonkadonk is a grilled burger with ham, bacon, cheese, egg and Spam inside two grilled cheese sandwiches made with extra-thick Texas toast style bread. It was served by Portland, Oregon's Brunch Box food cart and restaurants. Brunch Box operated in Portland for 12 years, first as a food cart in downtown Portland and then two additional brick and mortar locations in the city; the business permanently closed in September 2021.
Cartopia is a food cart pod located on the corner of SE 12th Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard in Southeast Portland, Oregon.
Block 216 is a high-rise building in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. The 35-story building replaced the Alder Street food cart pod and parking lot between 9th and 10th avenues and Alder and Washington streets. At 460 feet (140 m) tall, it is Portland's fifth-tallest structure.
There were approximately 60,000 people of Hispanic or Latino origin in Portland, Oregon, as of 2020; about 10% of the city’s population.
Ankeny Square is part of the North Park Blocks in Portland, Oregon. The square is south of Burnside Street. One local reporter described it as "a little nub of SW Ankeny Street between Broadway and Park".
The Alder Street food cart pod was a pod of food carts at the intersection of Southwest 10th Avenue and Alder Street in Portland, Oregon.
Carts on Foster was a collection of food carts, or "pod", in Portland, Oregon's Foster-Powell neighborhood, in the United States. Established in 2010, Carts on Foster was owned and managed by Steve Woolard. Ownership was transferred to 2021, and the pod closed in 2023.
The Hawthorne Asylum is a food cart pod in southeast Portland, Oregon, United States. There are more than 20 carts, as of April 2021. The pod also has picnic tables and fire pits.
Cart Blocks is a food cart pod in Portland, Oregon's Ankeny Square, in the United States. It is operated by Friends of the Green Loop.
El Gallo Taqueria was a Mexican restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States. Owner and chef Jake Brown established the business as a food cart in 2009, in southeast Portland's Woodstock neighborhood. In 2015, El Gallo relocated and began operating as a brick and mortar restaurant in 2015. The business closed in 2022.
Kim Jong Grillin' is a Korean restaurant in Portland, Oregon. The business operates from southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood as of 2022, and plans to expand with a stall in the food hall at Block 216.
Fried Egg I'm in Love is a restaurant with multiple locations in Portland, Oregon.
Dirty Lettuce is a Black-owned vegan restaurant serving Southern, Cajun, and Creole cuisine in Portland, Oregon. Alkebulan Moroski began operating as a food cart in 2020 and opened a brick and mortar restaurant in 2021.
Birrieria La Plaza is a Mexican restaurant in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Initially operating from a food cart in southeast Portland, the business has announced plans to add a brick and mortar and a stall at Block 216.
Toast is a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States. Owner Donald Kotler opened the cafe in 2007. Known for its breakfast and brunch menu, Toast also offers happy hour and dinner options.
Shanghai's Best is a Chinese restaurant in Portland, Oregon. The business operates from the Pine Street Market, as of 2022, and has previously operated from Portland's Alder Street food cart pod and in Salem.
Desi PDX, or DesiPDX, is an Indian restaurant in Portland, Oregon.
Prost Marketplace is a food cart pod in Portland, Oregon.
Hapa PDX is a restaurant in Portland, Oregon.
Media related to Food carts in Portland, Oregon at Wikimedia Commons
