Portlands Foodcarts.....

Portland has a huge amount of Food Carts and they seem to be growing in numbers and locations. Some might call them lunch wagons, taco trucks or even snack shacks, but whatever you call them, they are truly a phenomenon in Portland. You can hardly pick up a magazine without finding an article about food carts. They set up in parking lots, sidewalks, and even parks (sometimes in large groups and sometimes solo),  what ever ethnic food you are hungry for you will find represented here...

These food carts are wildly popular.....

I loved this Greek one...

I think he came as he was in his PJ's...

clever an ATM....

I liked this little grouping...so clean....

Locals from various places and committed food-loving tourists from all over know that some of the best food to be had in any city from Bangkok to Baja is to be had at small street stands, carts, and other non-restaurant restaurants. New York City, for example, a city with some great street food, holds the annual “Vendy Awards” to express their love for mobile dining. There is even a website dedicated to street food around the world, although oddly, no U.S. cities are represented. In fact, many cities in the U.S. strictly limit or outlaw food carts completely, making Portland more like cities in Europe than in the U.S.

again favorite soup wagon....

doesn't she look friendly?...

obviously I really liked this red one....

Food carts are also about supporting small, locally-owned businesses and small start-ups that might not have the capital or credit to open up their own full-fledged restaurants. That said, food carts are not restaurants! With limited hours, lack of indoor (and sometimes lack of any) seating, and small menus, they complement rather than compete with full-scale restaurants. Food carts help create a vibrant downtown and central city by bringing what planning geeks call a “social fabric on the street” which is great in cultural terms, but in economic terms also attracts other spenders, retail outlets, and restaurants and cafes. Food carts also often illustrate the delicious benefits to a growing ethnically diverse community, as many immigrants own and operate them and make and serve some pretty tasty ethnic specialties.

I thought this would be fun...this is inside the parking lot....these particular food carts wrap all the way around the block, in a parking lot...all facing out....and this must be their cars...

this carts not going anywhere....

hey, that one is funny 'Thai Me Up'

Every ethnic group in represented....it is so cool! and the smell is Divine....it you get a chance...GO!

Cheers to Happy  !!