A lovely Portland blogger, Amy from Eating My Way Through Portland, sent me some VIP tickets to the 2nd annual Portland Food Cart Festival. After a busy day of gym, gardening, and some time spent with a friend just hanging out in a park catching up, Michael and I went out to the festival being held at Mount Hood Community College.
It was a really nice summer day, nearly 80 degrees, and the place was packed. I was given VIP tickets which got me into the festival for free, a little swag bag and one drink ticket. We could have come earlier before it opened and gotten to try the foods without waiting in lines–which was probably a good idea but my schedule didn’t allow that.
We got there and did the loop around to see what the options were and saw long lines everywhere. Some of the carts at insanely long lines and I’m guessing they were the most popular carts. The first place we went to was Saucy’s.
They had huge grills outside the cart and as we stood in line waiting, I got to see them cooking the ribs. They look fantastic. Michael got an order of ribs and I got the pulled pork slider. We made our way to the beer garden to get our complimentary drink (Bridgeport IPA) and eat our first dinner. I was famished!
Michael said the ribs were okay but the sauce was fantastic. I had a small bite and agreed–the meat could have been a little better (I like my rib meat to fall off the ribs) but the sauce was great. My pulled pork was super good–but impossible to eat as a slider. I just ate it with a fork. The pork was cooked perfectly and topped with coleslaw and grilled pineapple chunks.
Next up was the Just Wing It food cart. All they sold was wings. BBQ, Buffalo, Chipotle, and one other that I can’t remember now. I got us an order of the buffalo wings to share. At this point my friend Mindie showed up and joined us.
The wings were pretty good but not the best I’ve ever had. The buffalo sauce was great, one of my favorites! It was really spicy and tangy and the wings had crumbled bleu cheese on them–great idea! But the chicken could have been a little more charred on the grill.
Michael got a lamb gyro from Ramy’s Lamb Shack and I had a few bites. I liked it but again, not the best I’ve ever had. The lamb needed a little more seasoning and I would have liked more tzatziki sauce. Mindie got a waffle from the Gaufre Gourmet food cart. It was a cornmeal waffle topped with pulled pork and coleslaw.
She thought the cornmeal waffle was weird but that the pulled pork was fantastic. The three of us finished up with some dessert and then called it good. Michael got two ice cream cones from Scoop — his was the oatmeal and brown sugar. I got the blueberry and cinnamon. It was an odd but pleasant combination!
Mindie went to the Churros Loco food cart and got a churro sundae! I think it was vanilla ice cream with whipped cream, churros, sprinkles and caramel sauce on top. She said it was great but over the top. I agree, I would be in a sugar coma had I eaten that! It looked so good, though…
We called it a night and Michael and I took our tired, sore bodies home. Gardening always gets me. Dammit!
I’m glad we checked out the festival. It was a fun experience. I only have a few criticisms. 1) The food carts need to post their menu on a sign or chalk board in larger writing and post it somewhere you can see –especially if the lines are long! Most of the places I had no idea what I was ordering until I got to the window. 2) The lines were really long. I kinda feel like these food carts should work out a better way to serve. Either have some tables and seating right next to the cart where people can wait for their food after ordering (instead of standing in line waiting) or have an extra person helping out during big events like this. The common complaint I heard from people was that the lines were too long and SLOW.
Other than that, it was a cool event. I enjoyed the food I tried, even if it wasn’t the best food cart cuisine I’ve had.
QUESTION: Have you ever been to a food cart or food festival similar to this? What were your observations?
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
Lisa Eirene
I know! I wish I’d tried the cornmeal waffle now. It sounded amazing.
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.
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.” 😉
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate
This looks so fun!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
Lisa Eirene
It was definitely hard!
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!
Lisa Eirene
There are a couple really good taco/burrito carts here. Now I’m craving a burrito!
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.
Lisa Eirene
Oh wow! Ribfest sounds amazing!!!