Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod
Food court · Buckman ·
Hawthorne Asylum food cart pod with diverse options and bar
Hawthorne Asylum food cart pod with diverse options and bar
"Hawthorne Asylum’s huge central fire pit is as eye-catching as it is warm. Cart patrons can often be found packed elbow-to-elbow around the communal fire on busier nights, providing even Portland introverts an easy excuse to make conversation with a stranger. Other covered areas feature robust heat lamps. At latest count, 21 carts make the Asylum their home, including creative Korean comfort food Mukja, longtime Slavic food favorite Pelmeni Pelmeni, and the eclectic Thai Me Burger — featuring, yes, burgers, but also a terrific pho on winter nights." - Nathan Williams
"This new project from former XLB sous chef Mike Bautista and Xrysto Castillo will sling Filipinx meets American fast food, which they describe as “a love letter to the in-between; a nod to our parents’ recipes as well as the fast food we begged them to buy us.” Think: longganisa burgers and poutine with adobo gravy." - Janey Wong
"According to a Willamette Week report, nine current and former tenants described problems at the Hawthorne Asylum pod including overflowing dumpsters, rodents, and unkempt restrooms with human waste smeared on the floors; ownership told Willamette Week the tenants' claims were exaggerated. The story frames the dispute within a broader regulatory gap: while individual food carts are inspected by county health inspectors, pods historically lacked inspection and amenity requirements until Multnomah County's January 2022 licensing rules required pod owners to provide safe drinking water, garbage, recycling, and pest control — yet many existing pods haven't applied for licenses and have slipped through enforcement. The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services did inspect wastewater disposal and found Hawthorne Asylum complied with current city sanitation standards." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
"One of the city’s many food cart pods, Hawthorne Asylum distinguishes itself as a destination with its bustling enclosed space, large fire pit, and plethora of dining options from more than 20 food carts. But later this year, the pod will be adding the tentatively named Asylum Spirits Pub, a new full-service bar in the back of the pod with 40 taps, covered seating, and plenty of spirits and cocktails." - Alex Frane
"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