Food carts have become all the rage in the foodie world. Their nimble nature and lower overhead costs than standard brick-and-mortar establishments allow for easier startup. That means creative chefs can really let their new ideas fly.
No matter your favorite food, or where you are in Mt. Hood Territory, you're never far from a good meal. Especially when those meals are mobile. Here are some excellent food cart pods near Portland that have a little something for everyone.
The food carts in downtown Estacada offer a variety of great places for a quick, casual bite to eat. Stop by Kellan’s Dogs for extravagant hot dogs and chili and Sabor Yucateco for Mayan cuisine, served on their fresh handmade tortillas (plus, the empanadas are fantastic!). Satisfy your sweet tooth with a bubble tea at Bobablastic (they also have great snacks like giant buffalo wings!). Try both sweet and savory waffles at the Freckled Peach.
Another options lies in the heart of Happy Valley, where Happy Valley Station offers a tremendous selection of foods at their indoor dining hall. Name a country, and chances are you'll find its culinary viewpoint represented. They even have a huge selection of local beers and ciders on tap, so you can enjoy a nice craft beer with your meal. The beautiful indoor dining room also has a play area making it the perfect place for families to relax and enjoy a meal.
Just a few minutes past Happy Valley is Damascus Crossing in the town of Damascus. Four options are located right off of Highway 212, which is main route for drivers to get from Portland to Mt. Hood. They have coffee, Mexican food, Mediterranean and burgers to choose from.
Milwaukie Station in downtown Milwaukie is conveniently located at TriMet's Orange Line Milwaukie/Mainstreet Transit Station, which means easy MAX access to/from Portland. Nearly a dozen food trucks serve up a wide variety of cuisines. From Mexican to Italian, Thai to Greek, the culinary choices abound. Grab your food of choice and take a seat at one of the covered picnic tables on site. Afterwards you can browse one of countless shops and businesses along Milwaukie's thriving main street or enjoy the riverfront at Milwaukie Bay Park.
Molalla River Brewing Company has three food trucks onsite: Lumberjack Burger, Fire and Knives BBQ and La Reyna Mixteca (Mexican cuisine). Order a bite to eat then make your way to the tap room for beer, cider, soft drinks and more. Once you've had your fill, play a round of mini golf. If you happen to be there on a Friday night, you may catch live music and karaoke!
Located in downtown Oregon City, Corner 14 food cart pod has a variety of food carts, including favorite including Walter French's gourmet grilled sandwiches. Get a BLTA for the human, and they'll gladly give your pup a free treat. Or if you're in the mood for something exotic, try Maw Maw's Cajun food, where you can get their po boy sandwich with alligator. In addition to carts, Corner 14 also has an indoor space with local bevvies on tap and a full bar. They're also home to axe throwing lanes, so you can try your hand at a new sport to work up an appetite.
Just look across the street for even more options, as Oregon City Brewing Company boasts a beer garden and food cart pod. There are several carts to choose from offering a variety of cuisines. Take in some Thai, enjoy some Seoul food with Korean cuisine, sushi and many more options. Best of all, there are some amazing beers to match from the crew at OC Brewing.
A little further east in the foothill community of Sandy is Sandlandia World Cuisine. Located right off of Highway 26 as it splits in the middle of town, Sandlandia hosts a handful of carts perfect to fuel your Mt. Hood adventure. Breakfast In The Hood cart, home of "crazy fun food for crazy awesome people," makes a great start to your day with morning classics like breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos, or go wild and try their waffle tacos - offered in sweet or savor variety. And there's lots more world cuisine to discover at this colorful cart pod.
Located on the bustling Willamette Falls Drive in West Linn, the Willamette Garage the food cart pod currently hosts seven carts serving a range of cuisines. Enjoy sushi, Thai, Greek food among others. The pod also offers covered seating and a full bar inside, so it's no surprise that the location has quickly gained quite the following.