The Food Cart Crew
From the soul of Mexico to the heart of Bangkok, meet our fun-loving, talented, international family.
Juno Japanese Sushi Garden
Amazing rolls and traditional Japanese offerings with an artistic flare.
Chef Michi began shelling out sushi from a window in the Podski’s indoor bar in the middle of lockdown. She met Podski owner Mikel Lomsky at random while looking for a location and he welcomed her in. The bar was still shut down but Lomski saw no reason why she couldn’t prepare her sushi there for pick up. Having had a restaurant in Century Village Shopping Center from 2013 to 2018, Michi had already established a loyal fanbase, and her text-to-order option made it easy to fuel people’s sushi cravings during the pandemic.
Michi is proud to offer sushi at lower prices than you would typically find at a sushi restaurant. She wants to make healthy options like sushi more accessible to the general public. Her sushi is also a little different, made using a mixture of white and brown rice to give it a versatile, healthy taste. She makes everything fresh, grocery shopping for new ingredients every day, and she operates the whole show on her own. Mad respect to Michi!
Big Ski’s Pierogis
Serving homemade and handmade pierogis since 2015.
Big Ski’s owner Rich Winiarski was born and raised in Connecticut. The son of a Polish immigrant, Rich grew up with a Polish family that instilled in him a great love for the taste and tradition of Polish food. Every year growing up his family would celebrate Wigilia, the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland. The rockstar of the night was always the pierogi, a dough dumpling stuffed with a filling such as potato or cheese, typically served with onions or sour cream.
After retiring from a 20 year career as a correctional officer (where he got his nickname Ski), Rich moved to Bend to open Big Ski’s Pierogis and share the wonder of Polish dumplings with our Central Oregon community. Inspired by the recipes of his grandmother, Janina Winiarski, Rich has mastered the art of making pierogis and takes pride in his craft. Big Skis Pierogis menu changes daily so you always have something new to try. We recommend the Super O.G., the Bob Father, or the Bender with Morels! Follow them on Instagram to find out about their dollar days!
Little Slice of Hell Cheesecakes
The best cheesecake this side of heaven.
In an attempt to respark her mother’s personal dream of owning a cheesecake business, Julie Higgins first opened Little Slice of Hell Cheesecakes in Texas in 2014. It took on a new meaning in 2020 when she was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater, a devastating and almost always fatal form of cancer, at just 41 years old. In May of 2020, she was given 18 to 24 months to live. But Julie opted to not view cancer as a death sentence, determined that no man has the power to set an expiration date on her life.
Since then, not only has she opened her first physical location selling cheesecakes at the Podski, she’s also finished a degree she was told to abandon and held her newborn grandchild she was told she would never meet. She is currently enrolled in a plant medicine graduate program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in hopes to one day help others battle cancer and other diseases naturally. Come by, meet Julie and try her White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake or the Marbled Marionberry Cheesecake (or both!!), which she says are “Absolute MUSTS!”
Click here to see her segment on Central Oregon Daily: https://centraloregondaily.com/even-can-little-slice-heaven/
Thailandia
Authentic Thai cuisine, from Bangkok to Bend.
Maliwan, the brain behind Thailandia, was born in Northeastern Thailand in the village of Sahatsakhan, Kalasin. Throughout her childhood, Maliwan cooked traditional Thai food for friends and family. As a teenager, she moved to Bangkok where she ran a food booth with her sister, cooking and selling Northeastern Thai street food.
She moved to the USA in 2004 and opened up Thailandia with her husband in 2012. Maliwan loves cooking Thai food and joking with her customers. The secret to her delicious flavors are the authentic Thai ingredients & spices used and the traditional sauces she has perfected over time. People come from all over for her famously large portions and epic flavors, but it’s no secret that just as many come for Maliwan’s fun personality and sense of humor that she shares with all of her loyal customers.
The Americana Truck
Momma said it’s the best burger in town!
The Americana Truck opened in September of 2021 with a mission to give Central Oregon a place they could come with the whole family and not worry about breaking the bank. Their specialty? Burgers. “The people call them smash burgers,” says owner Olivia Franco.”Fresh, never frozen meat at the right fat ratio and lots of love.” Americana is all things American - burgers, fries, and a coke, all served up out of their gold painted, well-loved ‘88 Chevy Step Van. “We call her Goldie,” says Franco. If you stop by Podski, don’t leave without trying their famous OG Americana Burger, stacked with American cheese, caramelized onions, secret sauce, shredded lettuce and fresh tomato on a toasted brioche bun. Best burger in town. Their momma says so. And so does the Source, who awarded them 2nd place for best new food cart last year. Click here to read an article from Bend Bulletin on Americana’s mission to make good burgers affordable.
Toasty
100% plant-based magic.
Four years ago Brooke Preim was in school to be a veterinary technician because she wanted to help animals. When she realized she didn’t enjoy working in that environment, she decided to help animals in a way that she found even more important - by inspiring others to eat food without the use of animal ingredients. She opened her vegan food truck in October 2019 at the age of 25 years old. Everything on the menu is 100% vegan and imitates food people are already used to eating.
The Toasty team prides itself on having affordable vegan food on their menu even when the vegan ingredients can be much more expensive than animal products. “We’re aren’t in it for the money. We’re in it for the animals,” says Preim. This heart and passion for the food they cook led them to become an award winning food cart within their first three years of opening, including best vegan/vegetarian food cart and second best food cart for all categories. Come say hi to Brooke, her fiance, her two younger siblings, and her mom - all who work with her, and be sure to try their famous Nacho Crunchwrap!
Mother Shuckers
Freshly shucked oysters and other craveworthy seafood.
Mother Shuckers owner Karen McRae got into the seafood industry years ago after a childhood of crabbing and clam digging on the Oregon Coast and fishing on her family property on the Lewis River in Washington. With a background in wholesale and retail seafood and 20+ years in the food industry, Karen had always dreamed of owning her own business. That dream came true in December of 2022 when she opened what may be one of the first of its kind - a freshly shucked oyster food truck. She found her place at Podski by sending a simple email. “I emailed the owner and heard back within ten minutes of me sending it…´Shuck yeah, we need you here at Podski!´” We asked Karen what the must tries are at her truck. “Besides our freshly shucked oysters?? The Fish n Chips Sando, or maybe our amazing crab cakes, although our poke is crazy good, and the grilled oysters are to die for…”
Basically, you can’t go wrong. We advise trying them all. And these publications agree:
Fast, fresh-shucked oysters at Bend’s new food truck, Mother Shuckers - Bend Bulletin
Taste This - Mother Shuckers News Feature on Central Oregon Daily
Birdsong Ice Cream
Tweet tweet, the ice cream’s sweet
Birdsong Ice Cream is your go-to destination for the freshest, most delightful New Zealand Style Real Fruit Ice Cream. Embracing their passion for ice cream, Birdsong is making waves in their debut summer with a simple yet scrumptiously delicious offering. Starting with an organic vanilla bean ice cream base, they blend in fresh frozen fruits like Oregon Strawberry, Marionberry, and Raspberry, creating an un-cone-ditionally delectable treat. With no added flavors, funky colorings, or exotic ingredients, it's just pure cream and fruit—the simplicity is the cherry on top!
What sets Birdsong Ice Cream apart, besides their mouthwatering flavors, is their unique and charming setup. Serving their creations from a lovingly refurbished 1970s Boler Trailer from Canada, this vintage gem has been transformed into a rolling masterpiece. When you get to their window, be sure to try their classic Marionberry ice cream in a waffle cone with sprinkles. It’s a must-try for anyone visiting.
For more delicious details and to follow their journey, check out Birdsong Ice Cream online at birdsongicecream.com and on social media @birdsongicecream.
Taco’s Dogs
Ask me about my wiener!
Matt Potako (Taco), originally from Philly, found his way to Bend in November 2019 after years of adventure and a career in outdoor behavioral health. As the Operations Director for a program that took people on three-month backpacking trips, Taco was responsible for all logistics, from food and gear to risk management. When the program closed in April 2024, Taco seized the opportunity to pursue a long-held dream of opening a hot dog cart, inspired by the supportive community at Podski, where he felt a deep connection.
Taco's Dogs, a queer-owned and operated business, reflects Taco's commitment to creating joy and authenticity. Serving New York City-style hot dogs boiled in Rainier Beer with a few secret ingredients, Taco focuses on delivering a simple yet delicious menu with a side of humor and community spirit. The cart's vibe, much like Taco himself, is genuine, fun, and refreshingly different, offering more than just food—it’s about the experience, the conversations, and the lighthearted moments that bring people together.
Cotto
Modern Italian Street Food
Cotto is Bend’s go-to spot for modern Italian street food, located at The Podski. Created by the culinary trio of James Fink, his wife Sarah, and his brother Michael, Cotto serves up dishes that make Italian cuisine approachable and fun. James, a classically trained chef with over 25 years of experience in places like the Bay Area’s Venezia and Paula LeDuc, brings his creative flair to Italian favorites. After moving to Central Oregon in 2012, James led kitchens at Jackson’s Corner, Brasada Ranch, and Deschutes Brewery before opening Wild Oregon Foods with Sarah. Inspired by Michael, the team’s second venture, Cotto, is a love letter to Italian street food with a twist.
At Cotto, it’s all about bringing Italian flavors you don’t typically see outside of fine dining. From crispy arancini (fried risotto balls) to their crowd-favorite Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, Cotto’s menu is packed with delicious surprises. And let’s not forget the rotating Italian desserts, like Zeppole, Cannoli, and Tiramisu, making it a full-course experience from antipasto to sweet treats. Cotto’s full name, Cotto Strada (Italian for “Cooked Street”), reflects their vibe of casual yet inspired street food, perfectly nestled within the family feel of The Podski food cart community.
RadicalVend
Don’t be boring!
RadicalVend is all about keeping things weird, nostalgic, and full of joy—one vending machine at a time. With a love for childhood wonder and a touch of Ska-inspired flair (yes, they’re in a blue shed with a checkered motif), RadicalVend brings a curated mix of vintage memories and quirky surprises to the Podski. From Mystery Bags to Mystery Socks and Mystery Earrings, each item is handpicked with a little whimsy and a lot of fun. And don’t forget—whether you're treating yourself or gifting a friend, there's always something radical to uncover!
Now celebrating their first year in operation, RadicalVend stays true to its roots, partnering with local artists to showcase their creativity while adding a dash of coolness to everyday life. Inspired by the comfort and delicious food truck vibes of the Podski, they’ve found their perfect home for bringing back that vending machine thrill: watching your treasure drop down and knowing it’s something unique. RadicalVend is your go-to spot for practical, silly, and always joyful surprises—because life should always be a little bit radical!
