Named after a hospital that served the mentality ill in the 1800s, the Hawthorne Asylum opened in 2019 and is home to 21 food trucks. This is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, but not without reason. Between the impressive variety of cuisine and the covered seating area (equipped with a fire pit), this place knows how to draw a crowd. Food carts to check out: Black Dagger for draft beer, Daily Fuel for vegan fare and Bark City BBQ for some of the best BBQ in Portland.

Tiny but mighty is the best way to describe this popular food cart pod. Located a stone's throw from Hawthorne Asylum, Cartopia is home to 8 Portland food trucks. You'll find locals congregating well into the midnight hours because this pod is open late and serves a great selection of comfort food. Equipped with a covered seating area and three cozy fire pits, make sure to swing by Chicken & Guns for fried chicken, Pyro Pizza for wood-fired pies and Potato Champion for great french fries.

Neighboring German pub Prost Marketplace, this Portland food cart pod is often credited for starting the trend of using food cart pods as community gathering hubs. They’ve been doing it since 2009 and were the first to add patios with picnic tables and cozy lighting. As such, some folks call this the original food cart pod. Home to some of Portland's best food trucks, this place has crowds most days of the week. Check out Matt’s BBQ, Little Conejo and Koi Fusion.

Located at the north end of the charming NW Portland neighborhood, Nob Hill Food Carts is home to 8 carts, but most of them are award-winners. Effectively making this one of the best food cart pods in Portland. Apart from the great carts, you’ll also find a pleasant covered seating area, swing by the Pour House beer cart to properly cap off your meal. Make sure to visit Farmer and the Beast for some of the best burgers in Portland, Bing Mi for Chinese crepes and The Pour House for craft beer.

Much like Cartlandia, the Eastport Food Center is home to a sizable (and diverse) selection of some of the best Portland food carts. You'll find 25 trucks offering cuisine from all over the world -- Turkey, Afghanistan and Ethiopia. And just like Cartlandia, you can expect to find a beer garden that offers beer and wine. Plenty of outdoor seating guarantees you'll see locals catching up over quick bites and beers. Don't miss E-San Thai, Recoop Food Cart and Fresh Fish Poke.

Home to 16 great food trucks that would be worth driving out of the way for even if they were solo, the selection is hard to beat. If you have a hankering for Japanese, Italian or comforting southern food, you’ll find it all. Plus, just like the food cart pod at the Hawthorn Asylum, you can grab a brew or kombucha from the beer porch. Check out Jojo Food Cart for fried chicken, Calypso Southwest for Caribbean and American Southwest fusion food or Arlo’s Fish & Chips for.

If you're a fan of Latinx cuisine then make a beeline for the food carts at Portland Mercado. This pod was opened in 2010 and offers 9 carts that cater specifically to Latin cuisine. Expect to find authentic from Cuba, Colombia and Mexico. Get an order of carnitas from Tierra Del Sol or the famous Cuban sandwich from Havana Station to see what all the fuss is about.

Piedmont Station Food Carts in Portland is a great place to go when you don't quite know what you're craving. Not only do they have a great selection and variety of food carts, but they also have beautiful seating areas peppered throughout. Check out PDX Dönerländ for German-Turkish fusion food like homemade doner kebabs & salads. Or make a beeline for The Original Halibuts for fresh fish and chips (no need to head to the coast!).

Part the Carts is your one-stop destination for some of the best food trucks in Portland. Located on MLK Blvd, these carts are buzzing with cheery energy seven days a week. There's plenty of seating and a variety of dining options, plus clean restrooms. Make sure to try the burger at Union Burger and the catfish at Jadas Soulful Eatz.

Boasting 30 Portland food trucks that span the global cuisine gamut, a full-service bar and a beer garden, it's not hard to see why this gem is referred to as a "super' food cart pod. Locals flock to the area during the lunch hour to get their hands on bubble tea from Bobablastic and falafels from Shawarma Express. But the star of the show is Ball-Z Food Cart, which serves ball-shaped dishes from all over the world, making this one of the most unique food carts in Portland.