From hand-stretched noodles to an Indian fusion crunch wrap, Eugene's food trucks and food carts offer casual culinary excellence. These small, mobile vendors are often homegrown start-ups that develop popular followings. Food cart owners tend to source local, fresh ingredients daily. Ordering from a food cart is a great way to enjoy Eugene's local food scene. Here is a list of a few of our favorite food truck pods.
Finding a Food Truck
Many of the carts are clustered in pods adjacent to local breweries or in community plazas. Food carts are also found at many special events, some wineries in the summer and festivals. Because food trucks are mobile, we recommend checking their websites or calling ahead to confirm their location and hours. There is also a Street Food App that tracks the location of popular trucks around Eugene.
beergarden
beergarden may be the best place to enjoy a cluster of food trucks in Eugene. There is more to love here than just the beer (42 rotating taps and hundreds of bottles of craft beer to choose from). In the summer, this outdoor space is cool, pet-friendly and often hosts live entertainment on the small stage. Even during the winter, this is a popular hang spot thanks to covered seating and heaters to keep it toasty. The food trucks here are varied and delicious making it possible for everyone to find something they will love.
Best Bet: Lani Moku Grill: Authentic Hawaiian kine grinds.
What's nearby: Sweet Life Patisserie, Gray's Garden Center, Glass House Coffee Bar and Skinner Butte.
Saturday Market
This cluster of food trucks only happens on Saturdays in the downtown Eugene park blocks. Varied cuisine is available here. Some of the food trucks here have been serving the market for many years. Sit with your food and enjoy live entertainment on the market stage or wander through the many booths with a refreshing beverage.
Best Bet: Irie Jamaican Kitchen - serving the bold flavors of braised oxtail, curried goat, ackee, Jamaican jerk and so much more.
What's nearby: Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Mural Tour, The Shedd and McDonald Theatre
8th & Olive Food Truck Pod
Conveniently located in downtown Eugene, this food truck pod attracts those living and working nearby. Rain or shine, residents flock here for the international offerings. Picking the right food truck from this collection is tough, but luckily there is no wrong answer. The offerings here include Oaxacan comfort food, Chinese bing, Thai noodles, and a hearty culinary tour of Ethiopia. Each small business is owned by passionate chefs excited to share their creations.
Best Bet: Cafe Agora - probably the friendliest food truck in town serving incredible Greek dishes.
What's nearby: Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Mural Tour, Saturday Market and The 5th Street Public Market
Kesey Square Food Truck Pod
Right in the middle of the city action is this small pod. One great thing about food truck pods is the sense of community that is inherent. Nowhere else exemplifies that communal feel as well as Kesey Square. In the warmer months enjoy public art, live music and occasional vendors. Kesey Square is perfect for a quick lunch. Grab a sweet treat after at Voodoo Donuts right next door.
Best Bet: Abi's Philly Cheesesteak Company with German sausages and mac & cheese.
What's nearby: Voodoo Donuts, Actor's Cabaret of Eugene and McDonald Theatre.
The Friendly Garden
Friendly Street might truly be the best place to grab some food cart grub and see some friends. This pod sits in a quiet neighborhood on the southwest side of College Hill. Bring the dog and the kids and relax with the rest of the Friendly Street community while you enjoy some incredible bites and an excellent cider selection from a local cider truck. Check the Friendly Garden events calendar for live music.
Best Bet: Bartolotti's Pizza Cart - Pies and stromboli fresh and hot.
What's nearby: J-Tea tasting room, Wayne Morse Ranch, Moss Crossing Dispensary
Oakshire Brewing
One of Eugene's favorite breweries also has some of the best food trucks. Grab a beer (or glass of wine next door at Eugene Wine Cellars) and take your pick of food trucks offering amazing eats in the Whiteaker Neighborhood. Oakshire is the perfect place to refuel after a day of casual riding on the Ruth Bascom bike path or kick-pushing at the WJ skatepark. Outdoor seating makes this a great summer spot.
Best Bet: Arekie Indian Fusion Cuisine - chicken tikka crunch wraps, naan tacos with chorizo or butter chicken and masala fries and so many other delightful combinations.
What's nearby: Eugene Wine Cellars, Wandering Goat Coffee, WJ Skatepark and Owen Rose Garden
3rd & Van Buren Food Truck Pod
Another exciting pod in the Whiteaker neighborhood feeds the counter-culture neighborhood full of artists and activists. Like the neighborhood itself, this pod is eclectic and fun. Some of Eugene's best-known food trucks, including Sammitch and Subo Sushi Burritos park here. Bring your food truck order with you as you tour this uniquely Eugene neighborhood.
Best Bet: Subo Sushi Burritos serving up sushi burrito-style, also available as bowls
What's nearby: Ninkasi Brewing Company, Blairally Vintage Arcade, Eugene Whiteaker International Hostel and Whiteaker Community Market on Sundays in the summer.
Coldfire Brewing Co.
Coldfire Brewing sits just beyond the Market District near the riverfront and serves European-style beers brewed with Northwest ingredients. Although this brewery offers its own limited food menu, it also hosts a number of truly stellar food trucks. Grab a flight of beer and a seat on the patio or play a game from their collection inside. Just don't miss their Soleil Melange sour blonde ale on a sunny day.
Best Bet: Yardy - Chef Isaiah Martinez creates food that is fresh and West Indian inspired. Don't miss the fried chicken and doubles.
What's nearby: Riverfront Park, Ruth Bascom Bike Path, Skinner Butte and the 5th Street Public Market
Cedar Tree Food Truck Pod
Located on 6th Ave. between Almaden and Fillmore St, this one isn't far from the Whiteaker District and it offers an interesting selection including Indonesian, a coffee cart, BBQ and a birria cart. Also near this cart collection is the semi-permanent food truck called Gotcha Burger which is fantastic.
What's nearby: Rival Skate Shop, Fisherman's Market, Sweet Life Patisserie.
Other Great Food Trucks
Here are a few more popular solo food trucks worth tracking down for lunch:
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Chaiyo Thai - quality Thai dishes delivered fast. Typically parked at Park St. Alley and 7th.
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Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery - (award-winning and so fresh and flavorful. Consistently at Thinking Tree Spirits
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Dozo Japanese Street Food - amazing Osaka style savory crepes, onigiri and tonkatsu sando that's to die for. Parked at Southtowne Station.
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Cheese Bliss - grown-up grilled cheese that the kids will love too located at Heritage Distilling Co.
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Viva! Vegetarian Grill - cashew ice cream, tempeh reuben and an incredible tofurkey Philly cheesesteak with vegan cheese. Located on Willamette between 11th and 12th.