Tokyo Sando Is Selling Their Food Truck and Leaving Portland

Photo credit: Tokyo Sando

I was dismayed to read the news that the folks behind the Tokyo Sando truck are planning to leave Portland, with the possibility of their return looking dismal at worst and up in the air at best. They are also selling their truck.

A recent post on Instagram states, “3 months left before we’ll sell our food truck. We’ll have a long break in Japan.” This it the latest in a number of posts from Tokyo Sando about selling the truck.

They’ve definitely had their share of challenges. Back in the spring, their propane tank was stolen for a third time. At that point, Taiki Nakajima, the man behind Tokyo Sando, was committed to staying in downtown Portland and even put out a hiring call mid-summer. In late July, PDX Eater included them on a “top sandwiches in Portland” listicle.

But sometimes circumstances change. On August 1, Tokyo Sando posted, “We’ll be selling our food truck at end of this year. We hope some one will have our legend food truck.” Fans of the truck’s sandwiches, were crushed. But a local chef commented, “This breaks my heart but know you guys have put up with so [much] ugliness, I sincerely don’t blame you!”

Some people wanted to know if they are planning to open a brick & mortar. The response? “We can only say we’ll be selling our food truck end of this year for now.” Also, “Chef Taiki needs to go back to Japan this winter.”

Reading through their posts it became clear that one of the reasons they are leaving is the state of downtown Portland. No doubt many of you reading this have asked this same question, “Will downtown Portland be normal again?”

They continue: “From 2020, we have been striving to bring together and form a Japanese community in Portland. What we’re thinking at the moment – Is there any point in doing this in downtown? Looking at the current state of downtown, we’re worried if it will really go back to normal. We walk around downtown and have doubts if downtown will recover or ever be the same. We need a break from Portland.”

In September, they posted this: “We haven’t decided on any plans for next season yet.” That’s a sliver of hope for their return, in my book.

As for the sale of the food truck, they say it, “Comes with fryers, tall fridge, sandwich fridge and chest freezer. Not comes with our recipe though.” You can find the listing here, while it’s up on Craigslist.

Regardless, head on over to Tokyo Sando and eat one of their truly delicious sandwiches, before they leave in December. As they say:

We’re not just making sandwiches
We’re sharing our Japan
We’ll take you to Tokyo

Tokyo Sando [closing December 2023, possible reopening TBD]
321 SW Harvey Milk Street, Portland
tokyosando.com | Instagram | Facebook