Portland Food Cart Bike Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Portland's vibrant food cart culture
- Sample a variety of local and international dishes
- Enjoy a leisurely bike ride through scenic neighborhoods
- Learn about the history and evolution of food carts
- Discover hidden culinary gems off the beaten path
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided bike tour through Portland's food cart scene
- Tastings at multiple food carts offering diverse cuisines
- Bicycle and helmet rental for the tour duration
- Gratuities for the guide
Itinerary
We'll start by fitting you for bikes at our shop at 833 SE Main Street #121, before we head out on the day's excursion.
In the Ladd's Addition neighborhood is the heart of the original food cart scene and we'll set the scene by trying some of our favorite coffee and discussing our route for the day.
One of the most iconic sorts of food carts in Portland is a fusion between traditional cuisines. Matt's is one of the ultimate: take Southern US-style barbecue and place it in the best tacos anywhere. (For vegan and vegetarian guests, we'll choose a different but equally awesome first stop!)
In the neighborhood anyway! We'll ride up in the direction of Mt. Tabor (one of four extinct volcanoes within the city's core!) toward another food cart pod, this one the descendant of our dearest departed collections of food cart -- RIP Tidbit. Luckily the carts themselves live on, especially some fun and beautifully executed versions of favorite snacks from our childhood. These are made with sustainable ingredients, interesting and delicious flavor combinations, so we'll sample these and maybe we'll teach you a few new words, too!
Hawthorne Boulevard is part of our hometown story: the heart of all that's delicious, funky, and hippie, a thoroughfare with a street food soul! We'll ride into our personal and the city's foodie history (this goes back over a century!) and stop at a special coffee food cart made in a unique vehicle. Here we'll get some caffeinated beverage (if that's what you like) to begin our day!
Well visit Cartopia or another nearby pod! Cartopia was the first-ever permanent food cart pod in the city. This one is the epicenter of the food cart craze. We'll talk about how the food cart explosion began (a story told uniquely by us) and visit either Cartopia or its next door neighbor, the Hawthorne Asylum.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; proficiency in the language is recommended.
- Participants should be comfortable riding a bicycle for the duration of the tour.
- Food tastings are included; please inform the guide of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes suitable for biking.
- Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly, as the tour operates rain or shine.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Allergies and dietary requirements must be communicated at booking. We can accommodate the needs of vegetarians and pescatarians, but changes may be made to the itinerary for gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan needs. We are sorry that peanut and other nut allergies cannot be safely accommodated.
Traveler reviews
Fun way to see Portland
We did the bike tour on our last day in Portland and had so much fun. Our guide Kelly was funny, informative and had such good energy. She took us to some really good pod carts where we tried different yummy foods and the bike tour around the neighborhoods was fun and at a good pace. Totally recommend this tour.
Fun and filling!
Kelly and Austin were great guides! I felt very safe while riding and all the food was fabulous (and there was SO MUCH)! Kelly also provided interesting history and facts about food carts and neighborhoods. Austin gave us some great tips of things to do for the rest of our visit too. Perfect tour!
Unique food tour
Such a great time! Kelly was so warm and informative. The bike ride was fun and a unique way to do a food tour. All the stops were excellent and I felt like we got a well rounded experience and of course, the food was amazing. Highly recommend!
Excellent bike / food cart tour in Portland
Kelly was an awesome tour guide. A lot of fun and very knowledgeable about the Portland food cart scene. We biked through beautiful neighborhoods between the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and stopped at many delicious food carts. By the end I was bursting at the seams! lol. I would highly recommend this tour.
We had a great time on...
We had a great time on our food cart /bike tour! Kellie was knowledgeable, friendly and fun to tour with. We saw lots of art, but best of all we ate some really yummy food! Come hungry! The bike ride was easy and fun. A few surprises along the way. Highly recommend!