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Post by busy on Oct 16, 2023 23:29:55 GMT
Curious what food carts are like where you are. Are they common? Are they popular? Do they move around? Are they stationary? We're near Portland, OR, and food carts are a BIG thing here. Most are in "pods" - groups of a many carts together in a stationary spot. For example, there are two large pods on our side of town that have between 30-40 food carts of diverse foods from Cuban to Argentinian to Japanese to German to BBQ to poke to pasta and just about anything else you could want, with lots of indoor and outdoor seating, plus each has a beer and wine bar, and are very family friendly. They're awesome places to go for date night, a family meal, a big group, or to meet up with friends. Super fun and great food. There are some mobile food trucks, but they are less common. You can see photos of a lot of the food carts' menus here. Here are some photos: A few of the food carts and some outdoor seating:  At the other pod:   Interior seating:  |
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Post by lisae on Oct 16, 2023 23:35:40 GMT
I've seen food carts a couple of times in my town but it is a rarity. I've heard of them in the larger towns next to us but I'm not sure I've seen one anywhere. It's just not much of a thing here.
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Post by ntsf on Oct 16, 2023 23:37:07 GMT
well.. here there are many--some in pods, many mobile ones.. I have a mexican food one in my local neighborhood at a 7-11 type store parking lot. lots of people may hire one for a big party or reception.
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Post by katlady on Oct 16, 2023 23:39:51 GMT
Food carts aren’t in my area too much. I see one by a grocery store, but that’s it. Down in San Diego, along the beach they are very popular. But many operate illegally and I think the city was trying to ban them or something. But they may have compromised. Not sure. Food trucks though are everywhere here.
ETA - I think if you have a walking community, you’ll see more food carts. Outside of San Diego, the other cities are not very walkable. Not a lot of people walking around on weekends in my area, except at the beach.
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Post by Lurkingpea on Oct 16, 2023 23:43:58 GMT
They move around here, but are often good and interesting food.
I was in Portland early this year and ate several times at food carts. The food was always delicious and like you said very nice for eating with groups as there was literally something for everyone. I like the set ups there and wish we had more permanent stations here.
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leeny
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Post by leeny on Oct 16, 2023 23:47:37 GMT
Yes, we have food trucks and food carts of all different ethnicities that show up around the county for different events. We have food trucks at different businesses, a lot at local breweries. There is an actual Mexican food truck park in our town. They have food trucks, picnic benches and a small stage for live music. I've seen bicycle food carts in front of the middle school down the street.
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Post by peano on Oct 16, 2023 23:54:47 GMT
What is a food cart? Is that like the carts on the sidewalk in NYC that sell hot dogs and halal Middle Eastern food? If so, we have none here, but we have a plethora of food trucks. I would think they'd be limited to urban areas with lots of pedestrians.
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Post by lucyg on Oct 16, 2023 23:54:54 GMT
We have one in my small city that parks in the liquor store parking lot 6 days/week. It’s associated with a B&M Mexican restaurant in the city next door, and we love their food (even though we usually eat at my friend’s former Mexican restaurant here in town). I’m sure there are more located in our large industrial park that used to be an Army base, but I’m not familiar with them. In the surrounding cities, there are lots of them and also some pop-up multi catering truck things. My friends and I went to a big pop-up one in San Jose years ago when we were there for a crop. I was very happy to find hot lobster rolls there (I always get those when I visit my sister in New England) but boy was it expensive. Our modern-day catering trucks seem to be very high-priced. And they’re worth it. (But I don’t love chips and salsa enough to pay $12 for them.)  |
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Post by mom on Oct 16, 2023 23:58:25 GMT
They aren't a thing in my area.
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Oct 17, 2023 1:01:36 GMT
Food carts aren’t a thing here. We have food trucks, but they aren’t super common either. More of a summer thing. One small town had “food truck Friday’s” for July and August. We went there for lunches, and they were fine. Honestly they are so overpriced, I’d prefer to just go to a restaurant to sit or fast food.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Oct 17, 2023 1:30:17 GMT
We have several food trucks in our area. They change locations often. Our area posts the summer schedule and they rotate around our beaches. The smoothie one is the best one!
I think quite a few show up downtown for First Fridays and other festivals.
There are a few that travel out of state and are less frequent here. They are fun to try.
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pantsonfire
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Post by pantsonfire on Oct 17, 2023 2:06:35 GMT
No pods. We have food trucks and food carts. Some are at corners others in designated areas of downtown or at events.
Very controversial things here, especially the ones at corners.
I am in the camp of if you want to get their food, enjoy it.
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Post by Zee on Oct 17, 2023 2:19:34 GMT
Food trucks that travel to breweries and fairs are much more of a thing here than food carts.
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Post by lucyg on Oct 17, 2023 2:22:34 GMT
I thought you were talking about food trucks. Were you literally talking about food CARTS, like in NYC? If yes, I take it back, we don’t have those at all. busy |
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Post by Merge on Oct 17, 2023 2:29:21 GMT
Food trucks - esp. taco trucks - very common here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a food cart.
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Post by AussieMeg on Oct 17, 2023 2:31:48 GMT
There are a few food trucks around my area, mainly (if not all) gyros / souvlaki food trucks. The bigs groups of food trucks are usually only at the night markets, or temporary ones at music festivals. I get so excited when I see them. 😆
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Post by busy on Oct 17, 2023 2:33:02 GMT
I thought you were talking about food trucks. Were you literally talking about food CARTS, like in NYC? If yes, I take it back, we don’t have those at all. busyThey’re not the tiny pushable carts like in NYC, these are technically trailers so *could* be mobile but they aren’t. The pods are permanent. In some areas of downtown Portland, they do line the sidewalk and are popular lunch places for office workers. They don’t have the seating, etc like the pods I shared photos of above. We don’t have many food trucks here. They do exist but I think because the food cart culture has been established for a long time, and has a lower cost to entry, that’s the way most people go. It’s easier to manage too. |
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Oct 17, 2023 2:34:01 GMT
We have plenty of food trucks mainly, some carts that sell hot dogs and pretzels. They are usually located in high pedestrian traffic area. I can think of two by the community college exit, near parks, on a nearby avenue that has lots of shops and restaurants. Some always seem to be around the same place others move around a bit. There is no sitting area so they are just to go. I personally don’t use them because if I am out and about and get hungry I usually want to sit and eat calmly. Mostly the ones I see are Mediterranean or Mexican food.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Oct 17, 2023 3:34:37 GMT
I've never seen the pod type things.
There are carts (about the size of one or two grocery carts, they roll), that are randomly on street corners, in the park, on sidewalks, in the parking lot of a shopping center or convenience store.
Some are more like big wagons pulled by a bicycle.
Some of the carts and wagons, set up small bbq grills next to them.
A offerings are random. Fruit, blankets, pinata's, food, beverages, etc...
There are also food trucks (similar in size or bigger, then ice cream trucks).
Many are not authorized or licensed to be in operation and have none of the required permits.. They move locations regularly, so they don't get caught.
The photographs posted, remind me of a food court type set up......several types of food available and shared seating.
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Post by littlemama on Oct 17, 2023 10:11:21 GMT
Definitely no food carts in my area. Some food trucks are around, but you have to know that they exist and then look up where they are going to be on any particular day.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Oct 17, 2023 11:53:53 GMT
that kind of reminds me of a food court at a mall. We don't have that here.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Oct 17, 2023 12:11:33 GMT
Definitely no food carts in my area. Some food trucks are around, but you have to know that they exist and then look up where they are going to be on any particular day. Basically the same for me. The food trucks here do pop ups in parking lots mostly and you can find their schedules on their Facebook pages. The “big city” an hour north of me has a food court type arrangement like what you pictured above. I’ve seen them in other larger cities too. We’re just too small to support something like that. |
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lisaknits
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Post by lisaknits on Oct 17, 2023 12:13:00 GMT
Food trucks yes, Food Pods no.
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Post by cakediva on Oct 17, 2023 12:20:42 GMT
We have a couple local ones - Groovy Grilled Cheese had a stationary spot during the shutdowns, but now just does events. Endless Inspirations is a taco/Mexican food truck (they have lovely inspirational quotes on their paper goods) that had a permanent spot all summer, and also roams around. The owner/head chef is also a teacher, so their hours are limited during the school year.
Having the pods isn't much of a thing here - most trucks around here just do events.
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Post by auntkelly on Oct 17, 2023 12:34:46 GMT
We have every kind of food truck here-from the very practical, mobile ones which go to job sites and serve workers, to the pods of food trucks in the more upscale areas of town. There are a lot of food trucks parked in parking lots around town. Even Chick Fil A has a food truck in our local Target parking lot, although they just sell the food out of the truck, they don’t actually make it in the truck.
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Post by epeanymous on Oct 17, 2023 13:12:50 GMT
Seattle isn't as big on food trucks as Portland, but we have plenty; it's also not uncommon for a bricks-and-mortar to have a food truck that does the farmer's market circuit and/or sports stadium lots. My favorite is Sam Choy Poke to the Max, but one that pops up at Lumen Field that is amazing is Mexicuban. I do like it when they cluster, so everyone can get what they want for lunch.
ETA: we may have food pods around here somewhere, but mostly it's trucks. You can track them online to see where your favorites are going each day.
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Kerri W
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Post by Kerri W on Oct 17, 2023 13:44:15 GMT
Definitely no food carts in my area. Some food trucks are around, but you have to know that they exist and then look up where they are going to be on any particular day. Same here. They have an active Facebook page that’s helpful on finding where they’re going to be. There’s also a city ordinance that they can’t stay in the same location more than a couple days. |
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Post by Tearisci on Oct 17, 2023 13:54:51 GMT
I used to love the food pods in Portland. When I'd come down for a weekend from Seattle, I would sometimes do food tours and they'd always take us to the pods. My main problem with mobile food trucks is that there is usually no place to sit and eat and you either have to take it back home (where it could get cold) or eat it standing up. And for the price, I want to sit down right there and enjoy!
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Post by ~summer~ on Oct 17, 2023 14:25:16 GMT
Definitely lots of food truck pods.
The only one we really buy from is called “King Gyro” - my kids all love the lamb and beef plate which costs about $18.
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Post by alsomsknit on Oct 17, 2023 14:57:16 GMT
I thought you were talking about food trucks. Were you literally talking about food CARTS, like in NYC? If yes, I take it back, we don’t have those at all. busy They’re not the tiny pushable carts like in NYC, these are technically trailers so *could* be mobile but they aren’t. The pods are permanent. In some areas of downtown Portland, they do line the sidewalk and are popular lunch places for office workers. They don’t have the seating, etc like the pods I shared photos of above. We don’t have many food trucks here. They do exist but I think because the food cart culture has been established for a long time, and has a lower cost to entry, that’s the way most people go. It’s easier to manage too. No food carts. Only a number of food trucks. One food truck, began under COVID, and has been so successful they moved into a store front. Getting ready to move into a building they own. Their food is amazing! As a person with food issues, I would try many things that person would offer. Discovered I was gluten intolerant a few months ago. The owner/chef has been super helpful in helping with GF options. |
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