The Tastiest Food Stands in Portland

Gonzalez Taqueria

★★★★★ 4.5 (63) • $

"A taco cart at the corner of Interstate and Killingsworth? Shoot, all you gotta do is hop off the Yellow line and into a gas station parking lot and you've got some pretty decent Mexican going on. Nothing is ever wrong with that.I will admit, this place was hit and miss on some items. I also noticed that for a taco cart, people were coming up that had ordered ahead. Unusual for a cart, but it sped some folks along. Tacos, burritos, tortas, the good stuff. I wanted to try some different things so I went with three tacos with asada, pastor and lengua with sides of refried beans and rice. The asada and pastor were really good and had plenty of flavor, the rice and beans were standard and also pretty good. I liked the two hot sauces. The green was actually the hotter of the two and had a bit of a lime taste to it. Really nice. The red was milder but also had a good flavor profile. The only low point was the lengua. Not a lot of places in town do lengua and I'm not sure why I like lengua tacos but this meat was cut up into large chunks and just didn't have a great taste to them. In fact there really wasn't much taste to them, they were fairly bland. So I was a bit bummed at that. Not to say that I won't try this place again when I'm up in the area, I just probably won't be trying that again soon.Even though I got to the place after the normal lunch rush, there was still a wait for the food, so maybe that call ahead option is a good idea. For the most part I was happy with my meal, I'll try to get back soon to try a torta or burrito.Enjoy."

E-Side Thai Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (45) • $

"Craving Pad Kee Mao, I headed to E-Side Thai since I was in this part of town for a doctor's appointment. Wow! The meal was delicious! Cooked fresh to order and served piping hot, the wide rice noodles were perfectly cooked and flavored. The chicken moist. And the broccoli and peppers crisp but tender. It totally hit the spot and I had leftovers for lunch the next day!They also have Pad Woon Sen, which is a stir fry dish with very thin, vermicelli noodles made from bean threads. It's one of my favorite dishes, often called glass noodles, and not many Thai places in Portland serve it anymore so I was thrilled to see it on the menu. Veggies include carrots, onions, scallions and tomatoes with egg and the noodles, it's a satisfying and filling dish. Others in line ordered the crab puffs and Panang curry and since they were sitting next to me at the communal picnic tables, I had food envy! Next time I'm definitely going to try the curry!Service is friendly and efficient. Prices a bit on the high side for Thai from a food truck, but since I got two meals out of it, it was worth the $12. E-Side Thai is a popular cart located in The Bite on Belmont, a hub of many fabulous carts making food decisions difficult. I know, a 1% problem! But still a problem! I'm always craving Thai so I love having this option on my rotation."

Taqueria Lindo Michoacan

★★★★☆ 4.4 (133) • $

"Always in pursuit of delicious, authentic street tacos, I happened upon Taqueria Lindo whilst running errands in SE. Based on the lunchtime crowd, I figured I couldn't go wrong. The menu had all the usual suspects: fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, enchiladas, tortas, combo plates, breakfast versions of all of the above and even salads. Impressive menu for a food truck! It all looked good, but I needed to focus because I was here to try the tacos! Ordered four of the carnitas; two for lunch and two to take home for dinner. For $1.50 a piece, it's a great value. As I was waiting for my food, I bumped into a friend who lives in the neighborhood and was picking up lunch, as he does several times a week! Perfect timing and also one of the things I love about PORTLAND. It's a small city. My tacos came and I helped myself to the sauces, extra limes and cilantro. I really appreciate when they provide limes, cilantros, pickled onions in addition to sauces. Nice touch. We sat at one of the picnic tables and I dove right in. The tacos were very good, definitely worth the stop and worth coming back again. The reason I don't give five stars is simply because Tehuana Oaxacan on NE Killingsworth has raised the bar and all tacos are now measured against their chipotle pork tacos for which words can not adequately describe. Michael's burrito was the size of his forearm! OMG. I've never seen a burrito this huge! Shockingly, he ate it all. It would have provided me 3 meals, easily. He said it was fantastic, and it must be since he frequents regularly. Definitely a hidden gem in the middle of a neighborhood. Most people come by foot and order lunch or dinner to bring home. I'll definitely stop by again when driving through the area. May even venture away from tacos and try the enchiladas or burrito!The owner is super friendly and I like supporting people who work hard and deliver a great service. Muy bueno."

Mahi Taco

★★★★★ 4.8 (36) • $

"The service is phenomenal he was super nice and helpful. We got almost everything on the menu, the Mahi taco was better than the one I had fresh off the boat in Hawaii!! My mind was blown... the chicken taco was my next favorite, the fried avocado taco was alright I wouldn't order it again, but it was interesting. This place will transport you to a beachy vibe every bite you take. My new favorite fish taco place for sure. Thanks for taking me to the islands one bite at a time ;)"

Quesabrosa

★★★★☆ 4.3 (166) • $

"Quesabrosa is where it's at! Their fish taco is honestly one of the best I've ever tasted. Their handmade tortillas are to die for and the seasoning they use on the fish is mouth watering. The Veggie Sope was hearty and loaded with toppings. I definitely couldn't finish the two items I ordered. I was hoping for a tad more flavor on the Sope, but overall it was great! Service was so friendly and welcoming!"

Fish Fusion

★★★★☆ 4.3 (55) • $

"Order: 3pc basa fish w/ frys and hush puppiesPros: Overall, the food was really really good. The fish was seasoned nicely and fried hard as I requested. Service was great and the owner was very very nice. The fry's were a little to salty. The hush puppies were really good. I loves the fact that they cut slits into the to go container to let the steam out so that your fry's were not soggy. The fish size was good and the amount of frys received were great as well.Cons: frys a tad bit salty. Only one type of fish served. The hush puppies were considered a side for almost $4 if I recall. Usually, hush puppies comes with fish plates so this location it was a bit of a surprise. The location and parking is questionable but the food is great non the less."

Los Jefes

★★★★★ 4.7 (21)

"Check this place out for AMAZING tacos and authentic lamb barbacoa. I ordered a fish taco and the fish tasted so fresh and flavorful. The salsa taste super flavorful and rich. I really appreciated the lightly fried tortilla along with a fresh cilantro and onions. If I live locally I would try everything on their menu. My partner got the buche and lengua, the lengua was so tender yet crispy!"

Chick & Pig Thai Street Food

★★★★★ 4.9 (50) • $$

"Tried this place again, finally. This time I got papaya salad, sticky rice and pork skewers. I got the papaya salad 5 stars spicy, which was actually fairly close to Thai spicy. Loooved it. It was so tasty. And spicy! The pork skewers were good too. I shared them with my partner."

LoveVerona Pizza&Pasta DownTown

★★★★☆ 4.2 (360) • $$

"When you enter it should be evident that interior decorating is not their thing. There was a large appliance right in the middle of the ordering area and no decor on the walls. I initially walked out as I thought they were closed.That said, the ample sized cheese slice should satisfy your hunger and the price is a more than fair.Unfortunately, the taste is very low-end resembling something you'd find at a ballgame or concert. No customers at lunch and very stoic service. Probably one and done for me."

Asian Sister Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (12) • $

"An amazing Asian food cart at Ala Carts pod. The first time I went here I tried the home made potstickers ($3 for 7) and the chicken fried rice. They were both excellent, but the specialty of this cart is the Korean food. I tried their bulgogi on my next visit and was blown away, and their kimchi is the best I've ever had. Next time I'll try the bebimbop. Welcome to ala carts, ladies!"

Melt

★★★★★ 4.5 (20)

"Every time I find myself in north Portland I can not resist.... this is my go to cart in the piedmont station. the owner is great, easy going, and will custom your sandwich. I love a turkey cheese sandwich, simple, yet done really well! he adds chips and a cookie for desert! all for under 10 bucks! great value, great meal!"

Taqueria El Capullo

★★★★★ 4.6 (17)

La Piñata Takos

★★★★★ 4.6 (63) • $

"We were wandering around downtown and on the way to do some shopping, I spotted La Piñata Takos. They're bunched together with a group of street cart vendors.We dropped in on a Saturday afternoon (around 2:30pm). It's run by a husband and wife combo. Everything is freshly made to order so it'll take a few minutes to get your food. Worth it! They asked if we wanted sauce (mild and spicy options); we picked the spicy one, which was solid.The menu is big: burritos, tacos, quesadillas, combos, fajita plate, tortas, tamales and sopes. Tacos are only $1.50 US each! Talk about a good deal. Horchata ($2.00 US) is also reasonable.- Fish taco ($1.50 US) - cilantro, onion, guacamole, tomatoes, sour cream, lettuce, cheese and chipotle sauce. Fish was flaky and tender. - Shrimp taco ($1.50 US) - same toppings. Shrimp were fresh and a good portion.Solid tacos! I'd come back to try their enchiladas. Everything sounded great with super reasonable prices too."

Thai Garden

★★★★☆ 4.1 (191) • $

Saigon Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (19) • $

"This cart stands alone right across from the Multnomah County Courthouse. Good spot! Saigon Kitchen used to have a great restaurant on SE Division that was open forever. It's been closed for some time now. It did belong to the cart owner's parents. He's now dishing out the wonderful pad thai or curry on the street corner. There are two sizes, and trust me, just go for the smaller because he piles it on and it weighs a ton walking it back to the office. He also has this fresh, yet simple coleslaw that goes with your meal, not to mention his salad rolls are very well endowed. Oh and don't forget to get the peanuts on top."

Pit To Platter Bbq

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"We ordered 13lbs. of pulled pork for my daughter's Graduation Party. We had tons of compliments on the meat. It was delicious. Perfect amount of smokiness and the meats was most and flavorful."

Taqueria Antojitos Yucateco

★★★★☆ 4.3 (73) • $

"This Mexican cart specializes in Panuchos (homemade deep fried, taco sized tortillas smudged with beans and your meat option on top). They were quite fun to eat and filling. 3 of them for under $5.I thought the carne asada option was a bit lacking. The other meat choices were pretty satisfying.They offer tacos, burritos, and tortas as well."

Los Tres Mosketeros

★★★★★ 4.6 (14)

"Big fan of their California Burrito. The fries inside were fresh and crispy, adding a fun texture to the burrito. Their asada was also more tender than most. Extra credits for the toasty tortilla as well.The Shrimp Burrito was also not bad. Big meaty shrimps but I found the burrito to be too soggy. With that said, I think they're a bit skimpy on the guac here.All in all, a very decent spot for cheap and filling eats in this food pod area."

Indian Hunger Point

★★★★☆ 4.4 (39)

"I had the Bhindi Masala and it was one of the best I have had. My photo has it mixed with some other food that I got from another cart so it's a lil misleading. Sorry.But the spice on this was perfect and so flavorful.I am definitely a fan and will be coming back here to try more of their food."

Sawasdee Thai

★★★★★ 4.6 (23)

"Great Thai food tucked away but close to many apartments. Food comes out quick and it's delicious. Not a whole lot of seating, but most people who come during lunch seem to just get their food to go. Can't go wrong with some Pad Thai!"

Stretch the Noodle

★★★★☆ 4.3 (499) • $$

Rosita's Place

★★★★★ 4.7 (94) • $

"I visited Rosita's Place for lunch. It's located in a food cart pod on SE 82nd. There's a bit of parking spaces at the entrance of the pod. The service was great. The cashier was very friendly and my burrito was ready quickly. There's some tables in the pod. My carnitas burrito was delicious. The ratio of each component was great and the carnitas were juicy and flavorful. The salsa given to me to put in the burrito was spot on. The atmosphere was chill. Overall, I'd like to revisit next time I'm in the area."

Koko’s Seoul Food

★★★★☆ 4.1 (14)

Khob Khun

★★★★☆ 4.2 (62) • $

"The thai food here is pretty good. Nothing outstanding but really tasty. So I had a craving for Pad See Ew, so I looked this place up. Unbeknownst to me, I've been there before. Yes, I need to branch my Thai food more. The food came out fairly quickly and it was a good deal heavy container. The noodles were light and delicate and not greasy at all. There was enough beef for this girl. I wished for a little more scrambled egg but no biggie. The weird part was that it had carrots and zukes. I've only ever had it with broccoli so it threw me for a curve ball. Whatever, more veggies is better for me right? The carrots were not my favorite, but everything else I scarfed down. Yum! I asked for medium spicy, which is weird because this dish doesn't come spicy. Luckily, I picked up some hot sauce and chili flakes to spice it up. This is a good deal and the food will be satisfying!"

La Jarochita

★★★★☆ 4.2 (243) • $

"The el jefe of the taco trucks in Portland located on SW 5th between SW Stark and Oak. This truck has been in business for over 15 years and is the best of the best.Located in a secure food cart pod in the heart of downtown Portland and has tall gates to keep panhandlers out. There are a variety of multicultural cuisines to be found here.But the tacos! You name it they have it. Even if it's not on the menu like my favorite, camarones (shrimp), they'll make it for you and it will be delicious. I always get flour tortillas and a Mexican Coke. Usually one taco will satisfy me.They give you a little beeper that will vibrate and light up when your order is ready. That gives you time to find a place to sit on the plentiful picnic table style seating. Most of which is shaded.This food cart pod is aces.2024 - Review # 21"

Sila Thai

★★★★★ 4.6 (109) • $$

"Solid choice for Thai food from A food truck. We ordered Pad Thai, Fried Rice and two different Curries and all were well spiced, with ample servings and reasonable prices."

Munchie Philly and Gyro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (13)

"They didn't have a yelp so I created them one. This is the best comfort food I ever had. They had amazing gyro and Philly cheese steak and delicious garlic fries and quality jalapeño poppers and e writhing we had was amazing and so good I had to make them known so you know about it and can try this place out too. We will definitely be back."

Toktok Food Cart

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (33)

"Kind service on multiple times I got food from this cart. They're quick and professional. The food is fresh and hot. Love the rice and chicken shawarma. Their potatoes are yummy too"

Le Torito

★★★★★ 4.7 (38)

Lumber Jack Burger

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (67) • $$

"Sooo..... Came down here for lunch today with my family and brother and sister in-law..... Was great great burger..... the not so great is well not real sure what to say. So we pull in and enter what we thought was the restaurant..... They greeted us promptly and asked inside or outside dining. I say we are here for the big ole burger I keep hearing about.... at that she says oh thats over there and points out to the parking lot.....I say ok not a problem other than the only thing I see is the Cantina with full bar..... I say well I have my nephew with me can we sit outside she says yes........ So we start off to the cantina ! We get there and see it is an indoor out door bar......OK thats alright so I then see a sign that says please check with the hostess for seating again not a problem....... Im in the restaurant industry so don't want to step on toes and come in to the bar were 2 lovely gals are I think bar tending but seem to just be chatting with themselves...... they just stare at me no greeting no hello just a stare. So I say Hi can we sit out side and get a burger........ they just say oh the burgers are over there and point to a food cart parked out back.At this point we are clearly starting off on a bad note...... no signs no greetings no explanation how this god damn place works!!!!! So I am now here at least 10 mins into this fantastic experience and still have no explanation as to how to order, do we sit down and get waited on, or are we supposed to order then come behind the bar and get a drink ourselves or what!OK OK so I have now driven to Mollala from Beaverton for what a back ass-ward burger joint that has no customer service and or any explanation or even a greeting........ Well I get the burger and its great as you can see from the pictures, We had to get up and get our own salt and pepper ketchup and condiments basket off a table inside as both the girls just watch us.... Oh God I have to ask for some ranch wow she didn't even think they had any but hey its in the bar fridge.....So burgers arrive and we even have a great time once the staff kinda warms up...... But what the hell is this?????!!!....... another family rolls in sits down right across from us and the bartenders are Johnny on the spot to come out take a drink order then take a burger order then bring condiments to the table and even bring the food with a smile. WOW I guess if you ask how things work it sets off the staff! Over all Great Food! maybe a bit more customer service and some how explain how things work........... Not sure this place is a destination spot but it has a cute quaint atmosphere and lots of beer on tap so I guess its what works out here."

Sure Shot Burger

★★★★★ 4.8 (73) • $$

"Normally I visit a couple of times before I decide to review or not and this cart has won me over! One of my friends had been raving about the cart for a few weeks and convinced to give this place a try. Smash burgers are the latest burgers I will seek out and I am happy to say this is another winner!I parked my car close by and arrived at the cart. The menu is pretty simple and the price is on point. I ordered the single cheese smash burger with fries and a bottle of Squirt. The food is cooked to order and I was given a buzzer. They have a covered patio with heated lamps so melt myself warm and enjoyed the music ambience. I picked up my food and soda to enjoy consumption and the fries were crisp, just the right amount of salt. And the portion size was perfect. The spicy ketchup was tangy and flavorful with a little kick as a finishing touch. I then tasted the burger and the toppings held well together. With each bite I could enjoy the special sauce, the onions, the cheese, and the seasoned patty with flawless harmony. I let my friend know that it reminded me of how old school burgers used to taste like when I was younger. The cart also offers a vegan option which I heard is one of the best impossible burgers in the city. I can't wait to go back and try that on my next visit, cheers!"

Los Arcos Mexican Food

★★★★☆ 4.1 (38) • $

"I have a favorite taquería, but I wasn't in that neighborhood tonight so I decided to try this cart instead, based on the good reviews. That was the right choice! For one, I was elated they were even open during their posted hours. You ever notice how a lot of carts will just be open whenever they want, despite having posted hours? Total pet peeve of mine. The owner was very personable as well.I ordered a carnitas taco, a pastor taco, and a shredded beef taco. They were all COMPLETELY delicious - flavorful, tender meat, tasty guacamole on top. Soft tortillas that didn't even think about falling apart. The pastor was heavier on the (I think?) cinnamon than I've tasted from other taco places, but I wasn't at all mad about it; it gave a marvelous depth of flavor. I will definitely visit this cart again when I'm in the area. I want to try the rest of the menu now!"

Chilango PDX

★★★★★ 4.8 (125) • $$

"As someone who loves meat, I am very critical of vegan food bc yes I try to eat less meat sometimes but it's hard bc it also has to taste good yanno, I cant live a life with no flavor. This place hits the mark - they have either the best or 2nd best vegan tacos I've tried in pdx so far. Very creative options compared the the veggie option at most taco trucks which is just sautéed veggies. I've tried about 5 or 6 of the tacos and enjoyed them all. My favorites are the Tinga Taco, Rajas con crema & Taco Campana which is their take on a classic Taco Bell taco. If I had to choose a least favorite it would probably be their mole verde, it was just a bit mushy in texture. It's too bad vegan tacos are almost always more expensive than meat tacos or I would definitely eat them more."

Beijing House

★★★★☆ 4 (72) • $

"So I was looking for somewhere walkable from my hotel to grab dinner and come back to my room and eat. I came across this place, read reviews, and decided to give it a try! When I got ther3, it was a little sketchy because it was a food cart, but was not let down. There is just 1 man making everything, he was SUPER sweet and kind. I ordered the chicken lo mein cause I wasn't that hungry to try any other dishes.It was such a huge amount of food for the price. I could have fed like, 3 people with that!! The portion was HUGE. Anyway, got about to my room and started eating..itbwas delicious. Flavorful, cooked perfect, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. Next time I'm in town, I would def recommend this spot every time!"

Taco Machine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (39) • $

"Great tacos, I like the pastor a lot. It's not the juiciest I've had but it's never too fatty or gristly and we'll seasoned. They've been making a lot of upgrades, improving their truck and seating area for customers which means their prices have had to go up (3.50 per taco, which seems almost standard now at many places). They do Taco Tuesday tho where you can still get them for 2.50! They've also expanded their menu a lot with things like tortas, quesadillas, and Sinaloan tacos (w/ melted cheese and pepper). Great vegetarian options too, you can mix n match to create your own veggie tacos from their list of ingredients. They've got a bunch of tasty house sauces and the ladies are always nice."