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Portland Food Cart Festival

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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21 Comments

  1. Amy

    Glad you had fun. I can’t believe you didn’t like the cornbread waffle of the Porklandia. I liked it because it was so different. Gaufre Gourmet had a killer one there that she ran out of early on, but us judges got to sample it. I will search out her cart for this one. It had tons of aruguala, chevre, salami and pistachios.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I didn’t try the cornbread waffle, it was my friend who tried it. I’m sure I would have liked it because I’m a fan of cornbread! When you told us about the one that sold out I was bummed I couldn’t try it!

  2. Alex @ Brain, Body, Because

    This looks so fun! I have never been to a food specific festivals, but I have been to festivals that had food and usually look for the stands with long lines – so many people can’t be wrong 😛

    But yes, I agree – it seems silly that they wouldn’t have something set up to deal with the crowds. Maybe even a small table on the side that sold cold/room temperature items.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That’s a good suggestion, too. I agree, long lines usually mean it’s worth the wait. But we stood in line at the taco cart forever and we were almost to the front of the line when they closed to make more food. Ugh!

  3. Marc

    Hi Lisa Eirene – I guess I live in Montana’s version of Smallville. I’ve never heard of a festival just for trying different types of food. We have two or three food vendors at the local Farmer’s Market, but that’s not quite the same as what you posted above. Anyway, your posts always give me things to see and do in the Portland area. Thanks!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      If you ever want to go to a food event, come to Portland. It seems as though there are festivals and events every weekend!

  4. Biz

    So. Much. Fun! I love food festivals, but my husband has declared it too much walking. 🙁 He also says that’s why I have a Mother, sister and daughter to do shit like that!

    I actually prefer my ribs with a bit of give – and that cornmeal waffle pork dish??!! Just needs some Tabasco and I am in!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I know! I wish I’d tried the cornmeal waffle now. It sounded amazing.

  5. Losing The Rolls

    Looks like fun! “Bite of Seattle” is an annual food festival at the Seattle Center. It is so much fun with lots of different unique, cultural foods that I wouldn’t normally try. Okay, I don’t always try new stuff when I go there either. Too many other favorites. Lots of walking, music and fun. I haven’t been in a few years though as with the extra weight the walking is a real downer. It’s in mid July so I might think about going this year.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’ve wanted to go to the Bite of Seattle and Bite of Portland for years but never go. Either I’m out of town or it’s too expensive. I’ve heard good and bad things about the Bite. What I wish they’d do at events like that is serve SMALL portions of the food they serve so you can try multiple things. I guess they are all a normal (or larger) portion which kind of defeats the purpose of “bite.” 😉

  6. Jess

    I love this kind of thing! There is a regular foot market about 15 minutes from my house, and they run every Sunday. I think it’s supposed to be food and crafts etc, but it is 90% food carts and that is what everyone goes for. Most of the food is amazing, and cheap. I hate waiting in lines, but it’s worth it if the food is good!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That sounds like fun! It’s nice that it’s cheap, too. The food carts here aren’t often cheap. They are so popular and trendy the prices have gone up.

  7. Andrew

    We have Ag shows here in NZ where great food and plenty of it is usually served up. Big queues are part of the excitement, and carts serving crap are very easy to spot from the lack of people. (word gets out)
    We have such a diverse range of anything from traditional kiwi fare (seafood) to Korean and Chinese.
    Its getting more and more difficult with local councils enforcing bylaws and such which has forced a lot of the old timers to close up shop. Some of the carts now are like extensions of cafes and charge as such.
    Just love eating out!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      A few years ago there was a lot of hub-bub about the food carts. Then they started renting spots for “pods.” It grew in popularity and now there are about a dozen throughout the city that are set up permanently in parking lots.

  8. K @ Finding a skinnier me

    I have never been to one but it looks AMAZING!!! All that yummy food, I don’t know how you resisted not trying EVERYTHING!

  9. Carrie @ Season It Already!

    There is a food cart festival coming this weekend to Minneapolis, but I will be out of town! 🙁 Would love to give more of them a try.

    My first food cart purchase was from a burrito one in Portland!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      There are a couple really good taco/burrito carts here. Now I’m craving a burrito!

  10. Michelle @ Eat Move Balance

    I have not been to a food cart festival, however, my hometown has an annual even called Ribfest, and the it’s a huge competition for who makes the best ribs. There’s a bunch of other foods as well, so you can stop by the booths and order side items and such. It’s really fun, but can get too crowded sometimes.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Oh wow! Ribfest sounds amazing!!!

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