The Portland Mercado
Portland is rightfully famous for our food cards. Many brick and mortar restaurants got their start here by providing good cheap food from all over the world. Most of the famous food cart pods are downtown, but the really good ones are a little ways out. About 5 miles from the city center, there sits a unique food cart pod:
The Portland Mercado. Created by a non-profit to provide small business assistance to the local Latinx community, the Mercado has been serving up delicious food from all over Latin America since 2015.
There are currently 8 carts with food from Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia, just to name a few. In addition, you'll find a market with fresh produce and bulk items, a smoothie bar, and Barrio, a cozy neighborhood bar serving up local and imported beer and wine. There's a large covered table space adjacent to the bar that offers entertainment most nights of the week.
There are plenty of reasons to come back. So much delicious food there's no way you can sample it all in one day. Plus, there are many community events throughout the year such as Dia de los Muertos and Posadas, the Mexican Christmas celebration.
Open seven days a week, rain or shine, the Portland Mercado is well worth the short drive. You'll be helping support the growing, and often marginalized, Latinx community here and supporting small businesses. Did I mention delicious food? Spend a few hours sipping beers and sharing some small plates with a friend. It's a fun and tasty way to spend an afternoon.
The Portland Mercado is open daily from 11am-8pm. Sometimes later!
7238 SE Foster Road, Portland, OR 97206
Have you been to the Portland Mercado? Let me know what you think in the comments section below!