The appeal of food carts has drawn entrepreneurs from all over the world to campus. Eugene’s food cart business might not rival the Portland food cart scene, but student regulars keep coming back because it is hard to resist quick service, moderate prices and unique flavors packaged conveniently in a cart.
Carte Blanche
There’s nothing better on a cold Oregon morning than a steamy bowl of soup. Located on East 14th Avenue and Kincaid Street, next to the Knight Library, this soup oasis packs a punch for its small size. Known for classic tomato soup with a twist, this cart serves 80 varieties of soup made fresh in the morning with homemade ingredients. Carte Blanche’s speciality is the delectable three-cheese tomato soup, a blend of flavorful cheese and warm, mellow tomato soup goodness. An eight ounce cup of soup costs $3.50, a 12 ounce bowl of soup costs $4.25, and a 16 ounce bowl of soup costs $5.
“It’s really wholesome food,” cart manager Stacy Armstrong said.
Uly’s Tacos
This Mexican food cart located on East 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street down the block from Carte Blanche serves tacos for $2 and has recently began serving tortas for $5. Tortas are Mexican sandwiches cooked on a flat Mexican bowl.
The tacos include two crisp corn tortillas, fresh onions, cilantro, meat of choice with spicy seasonings and a side of lime, with cheese and sour cream additional.
Owner Keith Bisbee grew up in Santa Rosa, where he learned how to cook food the way it’s made outside of farms in Mexico.
“My hometown has a lot of good Mexican food,” Bisbee said. “I had open ears, open eyes, open taste buds to good food.”
Cart de Frisco
This food cart is located across the street from Taylor’s Bar & Grille and serves the Frisco sandwich for $5.50. It’s made with char-broiled chicken and topped with a homemade dressing and sauce. They also serve Thai noodles and chicken-flavored rice.
Students R Boss
This food cart, located next to Taylor’s Bar & Grille on the corner of East 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street, serves gyros for $5-$6 and deluxe gyros for $7. The gyros can include either succulent lamb or beef, and are topped with fresh onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce, a traditional Greek sauce made of yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, salt, lemon juice, dill and black pepper.
Owner Mahi Chowdhury used to work in the health-care industry but wasn’t happy with that career path. He opened the food cart in Eugene in January.
“I looked at this as an opportunity,” he said.
The name of the food cart comes from Chowdhury’s business model, which is to provide a quality product and to save money for students.
One Bad Dawg
This stand, on the corner of East 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street across from the Duck Store, is owned by Shari Chrissis, who is lovingly referred to as the “Hot Dog Lady.” The cart is popular for its juicy beef and polish dogs, which cost $3.50. Soft drinks and water are $1 and chips are $0.75. They have unlimited sauces and chili dog seasonings. The cart is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The cart has been at its location since 1981 and Chrissis took it over in 2006.
“I love being on campus. I love the people. I like the atmosphere. There’s always something going on,” Chrissis said.
Alexander’s Great Falafel
This blue and white food cart, on East 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street next to the Duck Store, serves vegan falafel, hummus and tabouli. Falafel is a delicious Middle Eastern-inspired dish made from spiced chickpeas and fava beans rolled into a ball and can be served with hummus, pita, vegetable salad, tabouli salad and tahini dressing. Tahini dressing is a sauce made from a paste of dried sesame seed, olive oil, lemon juice, kosher salt and garlic.  
A popular choice, the deluxe falafel, comes with six falafel balls and a scoop of hummus in a pita pocket, with a side of salad and tahini dressing.
“It’s a healthy option to my daily routine of unhealthy options,” University senior Joseph DeFever said.
The deluxe falafel costs $6.50, the large $6, the medium $5.50 and the variety plate $7.50. The hummus and pita plate costs $3.50. Lemonade is free with any order of food. The food cart is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The cart derives its name from the owner Alex Mali. Three of his children have graduated from the University.
“I love the students and faculty,” he said.
Sunset Hut
This colorful cart, across the street from Rennie’s Landing, serves burritos and Mafé, a traditional African stew made with sweet peanut butter, potatoes, fresh red peppers, onions, garlic and carrots, for $6.
University freshman Ekongkar Khalsa ordered the Mafé Wednesday morning.
“I’ve never had this dish before. It’s unique,” she said.
Customers get free crunchy homemade chips and salsa while they wait for their orders.
Sunset Hut is owned and operated by Eliman Gibba and his wife Alexandra Sianis. Gibba was born in Senegal and raised in Gambia, while Sianis hails from Greece. The two also own World Flavors, a restaurant that visits the Marketplace Café in the EMU and serves pizza and Greek salads.
“We bring together Greek and African flavors,” Gibba said.
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