PORTLAND, Oregon (KOIN) — In a city jam-packed with food carts and food pods, it can be difficult to choose where to visit for your next feast.
But in 2022, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has declared April “Food Cart Month” throughout Rose City. It’s a great time to explore the many local businesses that serve food in mobile kitchens.
Many of Portland’s food carts get positive reviews from resident foodies, and according to Yelp, they’re in the top 7 of all time.
position: 3530 SW Multnomah Blvd., Portland, OR 97219
Yoshi’s Sushi is named after head chef Yoshi Ikeda, who opened a food cart after working at popular sushi restaurants like Sushi Roku and Bamboo Sushi for 20 years. Kurt’s Lime Green, Spicy Tuna and French Quarter rolls are customer favorites.
Please note that Yoshi’s does not accept in-person orders, only phone orders.
position: 7316 N Lombard St #3210, Portland, OR 97203
Another sushi cart named after the head chef, Kazumi prides itself on its “creativity, quality and consistency.” The restaurant uses only sustainably sourced fish in menu offerings such as fried oyster rolls, tekka rolls, and seaweed salad.
position: 7339 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Portland, OR 97211
Located in Park the Cart Pod in northeast Portland, La Puerta specializes in Salvadoran street cuisine. Food cart pupusa is the unrivaled star of the show, and comes with your choice of three of his ingredients: cheese, jalapeño, pork, mushrooms, and chicken.
position: 8635 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97086
If you’re looking for authentic Hawaiian cuisine in Portland, Iolani’s Plate Lunch is the place to go. The food cart offers kalua pig, mac salad, mochico, guava, and soy sauce chicken.
Follow Kurt’s Instagram for updates on opening hours.
position: 329 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204
El Pilon claims to offer the best Columbia street food in Portland, and customers who have frequented the food cart since it opened in 2013 seem to agree. The most reviewed items in the cart are arepas, patacons and empanadas.
position: 1015 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97214
Bake on the Run may be the only food spot in town that specializes in Guyanese cuisine, but the lack of competition hasn’t hurt the quality. We rave about Run’s savory bakes, semi-sweet Guyanese puff breads, and their chana aloo (chickpea potato) offerings.
position: 5205 SE Foster Rd., Portland, OR 97206
The Bari Food Cart brings the flavors of the Italian city of Bari to the Pacific Northwest. Its signature dish is Bari’s famous Panzerotti, or fried pizza, usually stuffed with mozzarella and tomatoes. Additionally, an Italian food cart offers cannoli, calzones, tiramisu, and more.