CARTOPIA FOOD CARTS
Food court · Buckman ·
Diverse food carts with seating, fire pits, and late-night hours
Diverse food carts with seating, fire pits, and late-night hours
"A neighbor to Cartopia and home to carts like Mukja (creamy rosé tteokbokki), representing another classic pod area in the city." - Dianne de Guzman
"One of Portland’s most influential food cart pods, Hawthorne’s Cartopia is a favorite for casual hangouts, thanks to its range of carts, lush greenery, extensive picnic table seating, and cozy fire pit. The pod is home to grand dame carts like fry hawker Potato Champion and taqueria El Brasero, newer standouts like BKK Pad Thai, and cult favorites like burger cart Bottle Rocket and Egyptian spot Tahir Square. Visitors can find beer at Bottle Rocket, while Pyro Pizza serves house-made sodas alongside its wood-fired pies." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
"Back in the day, every show was followed by a trip to Cartopia and the burrito cart for the cactus burrito. Carla was raised there; it was her mother’s milk." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
"Instead of food carts simply permeating any city block, more land owners outside of Portland’s downtown were seeing the actual development of a pod as a business opportunity." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
"The fact that Cartopia has its own Wikipedia page should give you some clue about its popularity and longevity. The pod, just blocks from the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge, opened 10 years ago, back when it was a novel idea for a cart to serve something other than tacos and gyros. But its late-night hours, strings of party lights, and irreverent vibe, made it an immediate hit with the young, post-show crowd—and it still is today. Its status as an icon means you’ll see plenty of tourists, too. If you've come with an extra-large appetite (or just a couple of friends), go for the Half Bird grilled over a wood fire at Chicken and Guns ($16). Split the sides between crispy potatoes and green salad for an extra $2; opt for the herby-tart chimichurri sauce on top; and ask for a 50-cent cup Peruvian Aji to add a little heat." - Danielle Centoni
