Whether you’re an incoming student making a pre-Orientation trip up to PDX, or a current student exploring the city over the summer, there’s always something to do in Portland on a student’s budget.
Looking to maximize the value of your dollar at dinner? Look no further than Portland’s innumerable food carts. They’re quick, convenient, and often congregate in “pods”–perfect for a group with diverse tastes. Not to mention, food carts often offer high quality food at or below traditional restaurant prices.
Here’s a list of food cart “pods” near Reed’s campus and the surrounding neighborhoods:
SE 13th and Lexington. Located in nearby Sellwood, the food carts at SE 13th and Lexington serve a variety of culinary fares including traditional Trinidad and Tobago street food at Trinidad Doubles and classic New England creamy soups at Chowdah.
à la carts Food Pavilion on SE 50th and Division. Located in West Tabor, the à la carts Food Pavilion can be reached via the 4 and the 14 bus lines. Offerings include American Southern cuisine (Clays Southwest Flavors), Venezuelan (La Arepa), Vietnamese street food (Dolicious), handmade ice cream (Scoop), and much more. à la carts Food Pavilion also boast the only hair salon within a food cart pavilion, Salon Bucci!
Cartopia on Hawthorne. Located in Central Eastside, Cartopia on Hawthorne is undoubtedly one of the most popular food cart pods in Eastern Portland. This pod includes local favorites such as Whiffies Pies’s sweet and savory pies, El Brasero’s Mexican burritos, Bubba Bernie’s Louisiana-cajun dishes, Pyro Pizza’s wood fire pizzas, Perierra Creperie’s crepes and smoothies, and Potato Champion’s Belgian style fries and poutine (their PB&J poutine was featured on the Food Network, according to my dad). The best part? On average, the Cartopia food carts are open until 3:00 AM!
