Comfy carts

Brrr! The rain’s a-pourin’, there’s been talk of snow (even if it didn’t actually stick); it’s officially winter. So of course, we should just avoid the dozens of food cart pods and their delicious offerings until the sun comes out—in May. If this does not sound like an appetizing option, another choice is to act like a true Portlander by continuing to be loyal to the pods around town, even if you get a little bit of rain on your face. Porches may be illegal for carts to have now, but that doesn’t stop the cart owners from offering up some options for you to stay warm and dry while you eat. The following is a list of carts that’ll bring the heat for you, either with their food or by providing a place for you to step out of the rain and enjoy your lunch.

Enjoy a grilled cheese

Grilled Cheese Grill, which has one Southeast location and one on Alberta, might very well be serving up the most cold-weather appropriate food next to soup. Melted cheese oozing between two slices of crisp bread will definitely take the chill off. The cart has standard grilled cheese sandwiches—including one with the crusts cut off called “The Preschooler”—as well an assortment of creative spin-offs like “The Jalapeno Popper,” which is stuffed with jalapenos, pepper jack, cream cheese and crispy tortilla chips—along with some sweet options, too. While you wait, a large white tent protects raindrops from falling on your head, as well as the multiple picnic tables for noshing. At their Southeast location, you can take your toasty sandwich with you and eat aboard a two-story bus parked in the lot, eating like a (warm) king.

Northeast 11th and Alberta

Tues–Thurs: 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.;

closed Mondays

Southeast 28th and Ankeny

Tue–Sat 11 a.m.–8 p.m.,

Sun 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Cuddle up to the fire (or heater)

At the classic Southeast 12th and Hawthorne cart pod, where you can find Potato Champion, Pyro Pizza and Whiffies, among others, there is a triangular fire pit to warm your paws while you wait for your poutine. Another pod that has a heater is on Southeast 50th and Division (which houses OmNomNom Sandwiches and Off The Griddle). Southeast 32nd and Division’s pod—also known as D-street Noshery—not only has a tent to keep in the warmth, but also offers up some of the best kinds of comfort food: Herb’s Mac and Cheese, Oregon Soup Works and Captured by Porches Brewing which serves, yes, beer. If you’re in north Portland, the pod on North Killingsworth and Greeley is also heated, which provides doughy goodness from Brother Bob’s Roaming Bakery, among others.

Grab a bag of donuts

While the downtown cart pods may not have heat, the recent addition of the BeMap donuts cart is oh-so-satisfying. The bright red cart is a little further down the road from the other Southwest Ninth and Alder carts, but just think of it as too special to hang out with the rest of the crowd. Bags of warm cinnamon sugar-dusted donuts are served with coffee, tea and boba from people so genuine and kind you’ll want to come back just to talk to them. To make sure you beat the chill, grab a bag of their hot donuts and a coffee and stroll down the street to Powell’s to enjoy.?