Summer is a great time to get outside and go hiking, camping, fishing and most importantly, to eat. Finals are over, the sun is out and it’s lunchtime. Where to? One of the easiest ways to enjoy some outdoor dining is through food carts. For fast service, good prices and delicious food, Eugene summer dwellers should look no further than these four food carts.
One of my favorite spots in Eugene, food cart or not, is Dozo. Located in southwest Eugene off 28th Avenue, Dozo aims to take the place of a “yatai,” meaning street food vendor, as their website explains. The menu is a varied assortment of simple Japanese street food, ranging from onigiri to yakisoba. Everything I’ve tried from Dozo is delicious, but the standout for me is their tonkatsu pork sandwich — tonkatsu fried pork loin smothered in Kewpie mayo and a sweet tonkatsu sauce sandwiched between two airy slices of Japanese milk bread. It’s so simple that I feel like I should just make it myself, but the times I’ve tried, it just doesn’t hit the same. Tucked away on a quiet street, Dozo creates a calm and relaxing outdoor dining experience. It’s a definite must try for the summer.
If you want something a little more simple, Za Cart Pizza is hard to dislike. Their main focus is pizza, and it’s all they need to serve because it’s that good. The menu is simple, preventing any ordering anxieties. The only choices you get are cheese, pepperoni, vegan and the special of the day, but if that’s too simple for you, you can always build your own pizza. They work fast, and the pizza crust is delicious, so if you’ve got your mind set on pies, this is the place to check out. You can easily take your pie or slice to go, but they also have a couple tables outside if you just can’t wait.
On the topic of Italian food, one semi-hidden gem in Eugene is Beccofino. I usually don’t think of homemade pasta with shaved truffles when I think of food carts, but Beccofino begs to differ. Started by Maurizio Bianchi, Beccofino serves high quality Italian classics. One of my favorite things about Beccofino is the portions — they’re huge. This is definitely on the more expensive side of food carts in Eugene, but the portions are big enough to the point where I don’t feel like I’m being totally shaken down.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, Gotcha Burger is the spot. I don’t know anywhere else you can get a double cheeseburger and fries for under $10, and if you’re feeling bougie, you can top it off with one of their shakes. This food cart is the offspring of Kazaam, the original food cart to serve the Gotcha Burger. After the burger became their best selling item, the owners of Kazaam evolved the cart and rebranded as Gotcha Burger. The cart also serves chicken sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks, but the burger is definitely the way to go. The best part is their burger sauce, combined with grilled onion and other toppings, it just adds that much extra flavor. The outdoor seating is spacious and covered for any rain, but they also serve the food through a drive through window if you’re in a hurry.
There’s tons of other good food carts in Eugene, but if you don’t know where to start for some relaxing outdoor dining this summer, try one of these.
