Food Cart of the Year

Fresh, wild-caught sushi—with a made-to-order option—make this cart stand out

Ronin won the Food Cart of the Year in our last Best of Central Oregon readers’ poll—and for good reason—so it was not a big surprise that our staff also wanted to give it a nod during our Restaurant Guide staff awards. For sushi lovers, or people who like good poke bowls or bento boxes, Ronin should be your go-to spot. And as a bonus, it’s in the popular food cart lot at The Bite in Tumalo.

The sashimi is buttery and fresh, and the rolls have excellent flavors set off by the staff’s magical use of sauce. You’ll get soy sauce and wasabi for dipping, but you won’t really need them. Owner Scott Byers says all Ronin’s fish needs to be wild caught or sustainably farmed, so the menu can change slightly depending on what fish is available.

“It’s a great honor and I’m completely humbled by this experience,” Byers said of winning the food cart of the year award. “If anything, it’s a testament to my people—it’s not just about me. I’m blessed to have the people I have.”

For those who really love creative sushi, the staff at Ronin will serve “off the menu” rolls put together depending on what fish they have, and what the customer is craving.

The regular menu generally serves items like a Japanese hot dog, sashimi, nigiri, rolls and bento boxes that come with choices including Japanese fried chicken, tofu or beef gyudon.