Strolling down on many streets in Portland, you will be pleasantly welcomed by the aromas of mouthwatering flavors from around the world, permeating out from small parades of mobile food carts that are unique to the city. This is THE Food Cart culture that Portland is very proud of.

The recession in 2007 had ironically stimulated the rise of Portland’s Food Cart business, as it required lower initial capital investments and operational costs, and enjoyed easier operational regulations. Moreover, the diverse food culture here has enticed many talented chefs, food lovers, and entrepreneurs from all parts of the world to the city. Hence, these food carts offer independence from the confines of traditional eateries, require less capital, and have potentially more predictable and faster returns. Their success is based on the authenticity, quality and affordability of the food they serve, as well as their adaptability to changes.

This new business concept allows a more creative culinary approach with fewer restraints attracting many restaurateurs and enthusiastic chefs to participate and invest in the market. Thus, Portland has become one of the most Food Cart friendly cities in the United States, with over 600 establishments and counting. There are also more than 30 “pods” which are clusters of food carts found in the city. Each pod consists of interesting combinations offering diverse styles and tastes. As a result, the Portland Food Cart industry generated over 650 million US Dollars in 2007, and the numbers skyrocketed to 2.7 billion US Dollars in 2017. （Resource from：Oregon Live）

In 2020, when COVID-19 devastated the food and beverage industry, Portland’s Food Carts were able to quickly adapt to these difficult times against all odds. Their ability to rapidly respond to the adverse marketplace due to the pandemic include offering special pricings and safe takeout services and delivery, made their business more profitable and sustainable.

It may be impossible to go through the entire list of items offered by the food carts, but we’d like to suggest a few of ANKO’s favorites:

The two may look similar, but not quite. Empanada is often found in the Spanish speaking countries, as it’s where it originated. It’s made with unleavened wheat flour dough, wrapped with either meats, vegetables, seafood, cheeses, or even fruits, for as long as it tastes good. Each of it is made into the size of about a palm, and may be deep-fried or baked into little pockets of deliciousness. It’s perfect to be prepared and sold at the Food Carts, as it is casual and can be versatile. If you’re still wondering where to start, here’s what Yelp recommends.

On the other hand, calzone was invented in Italy, made with leavened dough; it’s similar to pizza, but incorporates ingredients such as eggs, ham, vegetables and cheeses, and then it’s folded into a half-moon-shaped pie, baked and served with tomato sauce; it’s usually large enough to be a meal for one, or for a couple to share. Whereas, panzerotti is made slightly smaller in size, and it’s deep-fried into empanada-like golden and crisp savory treats that are hard to resist. The Bari Food Cart is one of the most famous, and has been praised to be the mecca for panzerotti.

ANKO’s HLT-700 Series Multipurpose Filling and Forming Machines are capable of producing Empanada or Calzones with high quality and efficiency.

Thin yet fluffy crepes are made fresh on the hot griddle, it could be topped with smoked ham, vegetables, and herbs then lightly folded into a savory flat cone, or made sweet with nutella and banana slices, both could be enjoyed on-the-go. Crepes are a classic French delicacy, the simple batter consists of flour, eggs, milk, and butter, yet some secret ingredients may be added to a creperie’s signature recipe, to create a good balance between soft and crispy textures. In order to stand out in the competitive food cart market in Portland, creperies really need to come up with some fabulous flavor combinations. Let’s take a look at the Best Crepe List on Yelp.

ANKO’s Crepe Production Line can easily be programmed to mass-produce soft and yet toothsome crepes with great efficiency and consistency.

As the popularity of spicy and authentic Mexican cuisines continue to spread around the globe, tortillas have soon become the bestselling flatbreads in the world. Many classic wraps and street foods were created from a simple tortilla, such as Chimichanga, burrito, taco, gringas, and etc. A well-made tortilla is the perfect container for many kinds of ingredients and savory toppings; not only are the tortillas palatable, but they also work as edible containers, making it one of the ideal carriers for various meals-on-the-go that the food carts cater.

ANKO’s TT-3600 Tortilla Production Line is designed with a unique hot-press and baking tunnel for mass-producing perfectly round flatbreads and tortillas.