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Portland's Must-Have Food Cart Dishes, Mapped

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By any standard, Portland is arguably the mobile food capital of the US. In honor of the city's defining food movement, this map features 20 of the best food cart dishes currently available. (Looking for the hottest food trucks to launch in the past six months? Visit the heatmap).

As opposed to most cities, the mobile food scene in Portland is dominated by carts, not trucks. Thanks to a combination of factors including city ordinances, many of the best carts are typically allowed to reside in one place. Groups of Portland food carts have popped up across the city, and these groups are called pods.

Over the years, a number of carts have become cornerstones of the scene, offering reliably excellent dishes that have garnered international media attention. Some of these carts move on to become full-fledged brick-and-mortar restaurants, while others, for a variety of reasons, fail to make the cut. So remember, when you try a spot below, you're trying what could become Portland's next hottest restaurant.

From the old guard to the new kids, these are the 20 must-have food cart dishes in Portland, right now. (Note: The points on this map guide are not ranked; rather, they're organized geographically.)

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Burger Stevens

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[Photo: Facebook/Burger Stevens]

The Egg Carton

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Breakfast cart the Egg Carton serves a pimped-out version of the classic Monte Cristo sandwich called the FoPo Cristo, featuring (deep breath) a fried egg, two kinds of bacon, cheddar, two kinds of mustard, and strawberry jam—all stuffed between two slices of French toast. [Facebook/Egg Carton]

Kim Jong Grillin'

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[Photo: Facebook/Kim Jong Grillin']

Viking Soul Food

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[Photo: Yelp]

Potato Champion

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The best of the deep-fried goods at Potato Champion is always hard to pin down (favorites ranged from poutine to PB&J fries). The poutine, with a special of onion rings on top, is pictured here. [Facebook/Potato Champion]

Chicken and Guns

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[Photo: Facebook/Chicken and Guns]

Aybla Grill

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The Aybla Grill now has five cart locations around Portland and a brick and mortar in Hillsboro. They all serve its signature dish: a lamb gyro with the usual fixin's (tzatziki, onion, parsley, and tomato). Feeling hungry? Go for "Super"-sized: aka larger and with feta cheese. [Yelp]

Chez Dodo

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[Photo: Chez Dodo]

The Frying Scotsman

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[Photo: Yelp]

Bing Mi

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[Photo: Yelp]

Altengartz

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[Photo: Facebook/Altengartz]

EuroDish

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Downtown stalwart EuroDish offers a lengthy list of Polish classics, from pierogi to bigos ("hunter's stew") to kielbasa, and indecisive types unsurprisingly tout the "Polish Plate." For $7.50, it offers all of the above, plus a serving of golabki (stuffed cabbage). [Yelp]

El Taco Yucateco

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[Photo: Yelp]

Nong's Khao Man Gai

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[Photo: Yelp]

808 Grinds

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Hawaiian cart 808 Grinds offers up a range of the state's cuisine, from loco mocos to sushi. And perhaps unsurprisingly, it's the Hawaiian classic kalua pig—pulled pork served with macaroni salad and rice—that's emerged as its signature. [Yelp]

Noodle House Food Cart

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[Photo: Yelp]

Koi Fusion

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The multi-truck fleet of Koi Fusion has so many followers it's hard to pin down just one "must-have" dish. What do you think? Is it its kimchi quesadillas, bulgogi tacos, or Korean short rib burrito? Thanks to these options, you can now find locations across the city. [Facebook/Koi Fusion]

Tehuana Oaxacan Cuisine

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[Photo: Yelp]

Matt's BBQ

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[Photo: Facebook/Matt's BBQ]

Traditional Russian Cuisine

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[Photo: Facebook/Traditional Russian]

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Burger Stevens

[Photo: Facebook/Burger Stevens]

The Egg Carton

Breakfast cart the Egg Carton serves a pimped-out version of the classic Monte Cristo sandwich called the FoPo Cristo, featuring (deep breath) a fried egg, two kinds of bacon, cheddar, two kinds of mustard, and strawberry jam—all stuffed between two slices of French toast. [Facebook/Egg Carton]

Kim Jong Grillin'

[Photo: Facebook/Kim Jong Grillin']

Viking Soul Food

[Photo: Yelp]

Potato Champion

The best of the deep-fried goods at Potato Champion is always hard to pin down (favorites ranged from poutine to PB&J fries). The poutine, with a special of onion rings on top, is pictured here. [Facebook/Potato Champion]

Chicken and Guns

[Photo: Facebook/Chicken and Guns]

Aybla Grill

The Aybla Grill now has five cart locations around Portland and a brick and mortar in Hillsboro. They all serve its signature dish: a lamb gyro with the usual fixin's (tzatziki, onion, parsley, and tomato). Feeling hungry? Go for "Super"-sized: aka larger and with feta cheese. [Yelp]

Chez Dodo

[Photo: Chez Dodo]

The Frying Scotsman

[Photo: Yelp]

Bing Mi

[Photo: Yelp]

Altengartz

[Photo: Facebook/Altengartz]

EuroDish

Downtown stalwart EuroDish offers a lengthy list of Polish classics, from pierogi to bigos ("hunter's stew") to kielbasa, and indecisive types unsurprisingly tout the "Polish Plate." For $7.50, it offers all of the above, plus a serving of golabki (stuffed cabbage). [Yelp]

El Taco Yucateco

[Photo: Yelp]

Nong's Khao Man Gai

[Photo: Yelp]

808 Grinds

Hawaiian cart 808 Grinds offers up a range of the state's cuisine, from loco mocos to sushi. And perhaps unsurprisingly, it's the Hawaiian classic kalua pig—pulled pork served with macaroni salad and rice—that's emerged as its signature. [Yelp]

Related Maps

Noodle House Food Cart

[Photo: Yelp]

Koi Fusion

The multi-truck fleet of Koi Fusion has so many followers it's hard to pin down just one "must-have" dish. What do you think? Is it its kimchi quesadillas, bulgogi tacos, or Korean short rib burrito? Thanks to these options, you can now find locations across the city. [Facebook/Koi Fusion]

Tehuana Oaxacan Cuisine

[Photo: Yelp]

Matt's BBQ

[Photo: Facebook/Matt's BBQ]

Traditional Russian Cuisine

[Photo: Facebook/Traditional Russian]

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