This summer three new cart pods all broke ground, each aiming to become a social hub in their respective neighborhoods. Portland’s got a lot of pods already, from parking lots with a handful of food trucks and maybe a porta potty or two, to massive dining
halls with dozens of carts and large communal areas. The latest trend is somewhere in the middle: Six to 12 carts, a semi-enclosed seating area, and a well-stocked central bar to tie it all together.
These new developments represent more than just a convenient spot to grab an IPA and a shawarma. Cart pods, even beloved and well-established ones, typically exist at the mercy of larger market forces. Developers like that they generate passive income on what might otherwise be an empty field or vacant parking lot. But when it’s time to throw up a high-rise or 4-over-1, longtime occupants can find themselves unceremoniously turfed out. Cart owners are often immigrants (a 2008 PSU study found immigrants made up half of food cart owners), meaning closing or opening a pod can have outsized impacts on vulnerable communities.
Fremont Garage
Fremont Garage on NE 44th Avenue and NE Fremont Street, as indicated by the name, occupies a lot that was once Barrett Automotive. “Barrett’s lead mechanic retired and Barrett was like, ‘I’m going to retire, too,’” says general manager Tyler Caffall.
The floor plan has been expanded a bit, although the bones of the old shop are still around. Caffall says it was important to retain the personality of the old space, as evidenced by numerous automotive signs and a vintage cheesecake calendar or two in the back. There are also large bay doors for the hybrid indoor-outdoor seating. In keeping with the auto-age nostalgia, the wraparound bar has a bit of a ’50s diner look, a lot of brass and green leatherette stools.
The Garage’s starting lineup, which began rolling out in May, includes half a dozen carts, including popular burger micro-chain Wolf’s Head and Colombian cart Que Bacano, which was displaced by the 2024 fire at the Portland Mercado (the pod is slated to reopen in September).
The Callback
The Callback on NE 41st and Halsey (formerly Hollywood Bar & Carts) is a ground-up construction (utilizing the bones of previous buildings and fully remodeling). It’s designed to blend into the neighborhood and looks a bit like a large craftsman house from a distance, albeit one with parking for nine trailers along the side. Inside, the building is split between an angular vaulted bar area and an airy semi-enclosed seating area. (There are also plans for a ’70s-style game room in the basement.)
Trevor Salas, who owns and operates the pod along with Shane Ebberts and some of the Brooklyn Carreta folks, says that finding the right carts was a big part of the process. “We spent a lot of time interviewing local chefs and wanted to make it a good representation of world cuisine,” he says, noting that they prioritized local owners and tried to avoid duplicating themes. The other priority, Salas says, is creating the kind of space that allows for casual neighborhood hangouts. It’s expected to arrive this fall.
Modhaus
Last but not least is Modhaus, which opened in early 2026 on SE 38th and Division. The pod represents something of a dream team in the Portland cart world, with all-stars like Jojo and DesiPDX in the initial lineup. It’s also a reunion of sorts for some of the carts displaced by Lil’ America, which underwent a controversial reformat last year. That means Makulít, which earned a spot on Eater’s 38 Best Restaurants and Food Carts in 2026, is once again sharing asphalt with Hawker Station, one of Portland’s best spots to grab Hainanese chicken rice.
Modhaus is looking to be more of a bar/cafe hybrid with aggressive midcentury styling, although with a slightly smaller footprint than the other developments. That’s balanced out by space for around 14 carts, which is only a bit less than some of the mega-pods like the Heist or CORE. Southeast Division is dense with bars and restaurants, but until now fairly light on carts. And that particular stretch, between 37th and 45th, hasn’t filled in as much as the adjacent areas.
