From Street Eats to Culinary Feats: Exploring the Tillamook Coast Food Cart Scene

Food carts and trucks. If you know you know, and you already love them. But if you don’t, I would rather light a candle than curse your darkness. So please, allow me to elucidate. If you’re a little cautious about the idea of “street food,” don’t be. They are regulated, inspected, and required to pass muster just like your favorite brick-and-mortar eatery.

Additionally, even though there are some noteworthy solo acts on the Tillamook Coast, you’ll often find them in groups or clusters known as “pods.” Like a murder of crows or a congress of baboons, food carts conjugate in pods. Which allows you to window shop a little bit before you decide on lunch. And if you’re with a group of folks with varying preferences, that’s a lifesaver. The food and menu offerings tend to be tightly focused, meaning they only serve what they truly specialize in, and the types of cuisine and culinary influences are vast. From tacos to Thai food. Hawaiian, Indian, German, seafood, sandwiches, burgers, and vegetarian. They range from elevated to down-home but are reliably downright delicious.

Beyond the food, each cart or pod comes with its own set of amenities. At the very least, there’ll be somewhere for you to sit and enjoy your alfresco offerings under shade or sunshine. There are often restrooms, sometimes a neighboring green space (Recess), a kayak landing (Riverside Fish N Chips), and in the case of the Under the Big G Food Truck Pod, a beer garden!

So come with me, converts! From north to south, here’s a quick rundown of the main pods and some personal favorites within them, as well as some fantastic stand-alone carts. But explore — there’s plenty more.

Nehalem (Mini-Pod)

• Riverside Fish N Chips. Easily the best fish-n-chips accessible by kayak. Follow the fish!
• Pacific Roots. Coffee and mini-donuts.

Wheeler

• Rice & Shine. Excellent vegetarian and vegan options. The Rainbow Buddah Bowl is a standout.

Rockaway

Food Park 101 (Mini-pod)

• New Taste of India. Perhaps the best chicken tikka masala in the county. Try the mango lassi.

Garibaldi

• Sea Baron Fish & Chips

Under the Big G Food Truck Pod & Beer Garden

• Brat Brothers German Grill
• Country Squire Kitchen. Inventive, flavorful wraps, melts, sandwiches, and bowls.

Tillamook

• Recess. Burgers, wraps, and salads.
• Garcia’s Cocina. Tacos and other Mexican classics.

Flavors on First Pod

• East on West. The best smashburgers on the Oregon Coast! Cheesesteaks too.
• Nani Papa’a Hawaiian Food
• Downies Downtown Tillamook. Cafe cuisine and beyond.

Neskowin

• The Village Scoop. Ice Cream!

Hours can vary by season and weather. Check the cart’s website or Facebook page for updated availability.