Food Cart Frenzy Hits The Couve: Two New Pods Set to Delight Vancouver Foodies

Vancouver, WA is on the verge of a food cart revolution, and my wife and I couldn’t be more excited. In a city long overshadowed by Portland’s famed food cart pods, we’re finally getting not one but two new food cart destinations – one in East Vancouver and one in the heart of downtown. That means dozens of new cuisines to try, new local businesses to support, and countless calories we’re absolutely not going to worry about (because exploring delicious food is way more fun than counting calories, right?). Here’s the scoop on these upcoming food cart pods – and why our taste buds are already rejoicing.

Vancouver Station: East Vancouver’s Massive Food Cart Plaza

 An artist’s rendering of the upcoming Vancouver Station Food Cart Plaza, complete with an indoor dining hall and plenty of space for carts.

The first and biggest development is Vancouver Station, a huge food cart plaza under construction at 1817 SE 164th Avenue in East Vancouver. This is shaping up to be one of the largest food cart pods in the entire Pacific Northwest – possibly even the nation. How large? Try space for around 40 food trucks all in one place. For context, that’s more than even Portland’s biggest pods (Beaverton’s BG Food Cartel has 31 carts). Vancouver Station is being built on what used to be an empty parking lot in the Fisher’s Landing area (right in front of Big Al’s bowling alley and near a Fred Meyer), and it’s transforming that space into a foodie paradise.

What really sets Vancouver Station apart is that it’s not just a parking lot with food trucks – it will have a full-on building and amenities to keep visitors comfy year-round. Plans call for an 8,000-square-foot indoor dining hall that will house climate-controlled seating, a coffee stand, an ice cream stand, and a bar, plus even a cozy fireplace area and real bathrooms (no more shivering in the rain or hunting for porta-potties!). In fact, this project is being designed like a food truck meets food hall hybrid, so rain or shine, we’ll have a place to chow down in comfort.

Key features of Vancouver Station include:

• Massive Vendor Lineup: Approximately 40+ food cart spots, offering an incredible variety of cuisines in one location. This could make it one of the largest pods around Oregon and Washington, according to the project’s owners. More carts = more choices = two very happy foodies (us)!

  
  

• Indoor Dining Hall: A brand new 8,000 sq. ft. building will provide enclosed seating and gathering space. Inside you’ll find a coffee shop for your caffeine fix, an ice cream counter for dessert, and a taphouse bar serving drinks. There’s even talk of a fireplace lounge area and mezzanine seating – in other words, a super cozy spot to hang out with your food on those chilly Vancouver evenings.

  
  

• Outdoor Seating & Fun: Prefer to dine al fresco? No problem – there will be two levels of outdoor seating, including a second-level patio and a mezzanine deck for great views. The plans also call for outdoor fire pit areas and plenty of picnic tables for that classic food cart feel. On sunny days, it’ll be the perfect spot to soak up rays with a taco in hand.

  
  

• Drinks Galore: Vancouver Station isn’t skimping on the beverages. The indoor bar is slated to feature 30+ taps of beer, cider, wine, and more (reportedly around 36 different taps!) – basically a craft beer lover’s dream. My wife is already eyeing the local cider selection, while I’m planning which craft brews to sample first.

  
  

• Ample Parking: Unlike some urban pods, this one will have ample parking with over 200 spaces on-site. So, even if it gets busy, you won’t have to circle the block endlessly – a huge plus in the car-centric layout of east Vancouver. And if you live nearby, even better: you can walk or bike in via improved sidewalks that are in the works for the area.

  
  

Vancouver Station is being developed by a team with a proven track record. In fact, it’s a sister location to the popular Hillsboro Downtown Station food cart plaza in Oregon, which has thrived with 27 carts and glowing reviews. That gives us confidence that the organizers know how to make a food cart pod successful and community-friendly. They’re aiming to open by fall 2025, and as of this spring construction was well under way. Given that timeline, we’re this close to enjoying piping hot dishes from dozens of new vendors before the end of the year (fingers crossed!).

It’s worth noting that Vancouver’s east side already has a taste of food cart pod culture thanks to Oak Tree Station in Camas (just a few miles down the road). Oak Tree Station quickly became a local favorite after opening in 2022, with over 20 food carts offering a little bit of everything: Japanese, Thai, Indian, Slavic, Mediterranean, Mexican, smashburgers, you name it. It’s part foodie paradise, part family hangout, complete with an indoor bar, a covered patio, and even a kids’ play area. We love Oak Tree Station (especially the pelmeni dumplings at the Slavic cart – I could eat a bucket of those), but having double that number of options at Vancouver Station will be next-level amazing. East Vancouver is about to become Clark County’s ultimate food cart hub, and we are here for it.

Downtown Vancouver’s New Pod – Tasty Times in the City Center

Not to be outdone, downtown Vancouver is also getting its very own food cart pod soon – finally bringing the food cart craze to the city’s core. According to a local real estate developer who’s spearheading the project, an 8-cart food truck pod is coming to downtown Vancouver in the near future. Even though details are still a bit under wraps (the exact address hasn’t been publicly announced yet), the developer has hinted on social media that it will be just one block away from Esther Short Park, our beloved downtown park and gathering place. If that’s true, this pod will sit right in the middle of the downtown action – imagine grabbing lunch from a food truck and then strolling over to the park or the Vancouver Farmers Market to enjoy it.

The downtown pod is expected to be much smaller than Vancouver Station – roughly 8 carts versus 40 – but that’s part of the charm. It should feel like an intimate little food court nestled amid the downtown shops and breweries. And for those of us who work or play downtown, it means quick access to diverse eats without jumping in a car. Lunchtime in the city might soon involve choices like gourmet burgers, authentic tacos, or vegan bowls from different carts, all just steps apart.

Why is this downtown food cart pod such great news? For one, Vancouver’s downtown has been craving this for years. We have food trucks that pop up at the Farmers Market and breweries, and a few stand-alone carts (shout out to the long-running Weiner Wagon on Main Street), but we’ve never had a permanent pod like Portland does. This new 8-cart pod will finally give downtown a dedicated spot where multiple food trucks can thrive together, creating a mini community of flavors. It’ll be a boon for the lunchtime crowd from nearby offices and a perfect stop for anyone attending an event at Esther Short Park (concerts, movies in the park, or just the summer playground scene). I can already picture my wife and me making a downtown date of it: she grabs something from the Thai noodle cart while I line up at the BBQ smoker truck, then we meet up at a picnic table in the park to share everything. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

The developer behind this project (a Vancouver local who’s clearly passionate about food and community) mentioned that they aim to have the pod open within 4–6 months from the time of his announcement. If everything stays on track, that could mean the downtown pod opens its window sometime by early next year. Of course, these things can change, but just knowing it’s in the pipeline has us hyped. Downtown Vancouver is blossoming with new restaurants, breweries, and attractions, and adding a food cart pod will further spice up the scene – literally and figuratively.

Ready, Set, Eat: Our Plan (No Calorie Counting Allowed)

With two new food cart pods on the horizon, my wife and I are already planning how we’re going to tackle this smorgasbord of delights. Our strategy looks something like this:

• Plan Multiple Visits: There’s no way we can sample 40+ vendors in one go (as much as I like to think I could try!). Vancouver Station alone will require several trips to do it justice, and we’ll pace ourselves... at least a little. The idea of food cart crawl nights has definitely come up in our household.

  
  

• No Guilt, Just Enjoyment: We’ve officially agreed that when it comes time to explore these pods, calories don’t count. We’ll happily split a plate of cheesy poutine, follow it with gelato, then maybe a late snack of tacos – and we’ll do it all with zero regrets. As I like to joke, exploring the Couve’s food scene is our cardio. (Walking from cart to cart must burn some calories, right?)

  
  

• Divide and Conquer: With so many options, we’ll each hit different carts and then share everything. One of my favorite things about food cart pods is the ability to mix-and-match cuisines in one meal. She’s eyeing a bubble tea and some spicy pad Thai, while I’ve got my sights on a bacon-loaded burger and local craft brew – then we’ll swap bites. It’s a win-win for our taste buds.

  
  

• Come Prepared: This is a pro tip for any food cart adventurer – we’re bringing the essentials: stretchy pants (comfort is key), plenty of napkins, and reusable containers for leftovers (because we will over-order, guaranteed). Also, an empty stomach and an adventurous palate are a must.

  
  

Above all, we’re just thrilled about what these developments mean for our community. Food carts are more than just quick bites; they often showcase passionate local chefs and international flavors that you might not find in a traditional restaurant. They create a casual, communal atmosphere where neighbors end up chatting at picnic tables, kids play, and everyone bonds over the love of good food. The fact that Vancouver is getting this infusion of food cart culture – both at a grand scale in East Vancouver and on a smaller scale downtown – feels like a real coming-of-age for our city’s food scene.

So here’s our pledge: as soon as Vancouver Station opens its gates, you know we’ll be there on day one, appetite at the ready. And when the downtown pod launches, we’ll be first in line, forks in hand. We’ll happily sacrifice any notion of a diet to support our local food trucks (the only six-pack I’m worried about is a six-pack of craft beer to go with my tacos!).

Stay tuned on ExploreTheCouve.com for our full reports once these pods open – we’ll be sharing our favorite eats, insider tips, and maybe a photo of us waddling back to the car, absolutely stuffed and absolutely happy. Vancouver’s food future is looking bright (and delicious), and we can’t wait to taste it all. See you at the food carts – we’ll be the couple with big grins, piled-high plates, and not a calorie care in the world!

Sources:

• Vancouver Station official site – “America’s Largest Food Cart Plaza” (features and location details) vancouverfoodcarts.com

• The Columbian – Work has already started on Vancouver Station... (news of 40-truck pod with enclosed dining hall) whatnow.com

• What Now Portland – Food Cart Plaza with Space for 40 Carts Coming to Vancouver (owner insights on project scale and timeline) whatnow.com

• Visit Vancouver WA Blog – Vancouver’s Best Food Trucks, Pods & Pop-Ups (context on local pods like Oak Tree Station’s 20+ carts and offerings)