Lamb Platter - A Taste of Greek - SW 2nd and Oak

I didn't travel far today, due to the rain - and ended up at a cart right next door to the one I visited yesterday.

This is one of the longer running carts downtown, from my memory, and has been in this spot for quite some time. I've considered it a 'standard' - a consistent, reliable cart with good food - and yet I rarely go there, because I'm often trying to find something 'new' to try.

Today, I went with the Lamb Platter, instead of a gyro. Basically, it's the same ingredients, a little more generous on the greens, plus some rice thrown in for good measure... over some tasty, warm pita bread wedges.

I think this is what I'll order when I want a gyro from now on - it's considerably less messy. The pita was easily liberated from the bottom, and picking up the pre-cut wedges of pita to then pick up the tender bits of lamb and tzatziki sauce turned out to be a much cleaner and efficient way of eating. (Often times, regardless of location, when I order a gyro... by the end of the meal, the sauce has broken through the packaging and started to leak on to my hands at an alarming pace)

This cart features lamb and chicken gyros, mezza plates, Falafel, Baba Ghannoug, etc.

It's good stuff, for sure - and considering the turnover of carts on this particular lot, the length of stay this cart has enjoyed is a testament to the quality of their food.

Green Vietnamese cart on SW 2nd between Oak and Stark

Today, I wanted short and simple - the little green Vietnamese cart on SW 2nd between Oak and Stark was open (which is a plus, the 11-11:30 lunchtime crowd is often too early for some of the carts) - and the BBQ pork dish looked like a quick and easy way to get my lunch.

It was, indeed, quick and easy - less than a minute after stepping up to the window, I had my food in hand.

It was decent. There was enough rice for three meals. The vegetables (lettuce, cucumber, tomato) were fresh, and served on the side, as was the pork itself, next to the humongous pile of rice. It is the uncannily pink variety of BBQ pork, which was, disappointingly, not served with hot mustard.

$5. Not bad. I'm still hungry, which would probably be resolved by eating the rest of the rice, but there's nothing to mix it with but soy sauce.

This cart, which doesn't appear to have a name at the moment, has gone through many iterations. My first recollection of it was as a tamale cart, and a few different owners and cuisines have made this their home over the past few years.
They're about smack in the middle of the lot, next to the Greek cart and "Thai Tea Clean Food Good Taste," the most awkwardly named of the food carts I've encountered. No signs on this cart other than the menus on the front.

They offer Banh Mi for $3, most other meals (chicken, pork, shrimp based of various concoctions) all for $5 each.

To those who have mentioned before that all my reviews seem skewed toward praise of the carts, this is an example of a place that doesn't really stand out, but is there if you want a quick, inexpensive meal. For what it was (and I probably chose one of the least exciting dishes on the menu) - it was OK.

See, not every food cart is a mecca of culinary excellence, I've just had some pretty good luck so far.

Saigon Spicy Chicken Wings - Thien Nghi's - SW 3rd and Stark

During my recent visit to Yo-Yo and Lefty's, I noticed a cart I'd not seen before, parked right next to it, Thien Nghi's - They prominently offered beef and chicken Phở, and I'd been discussing Phở with my wife recently, trying to get her to try it.
I figured I'd check this cart out next, and today, I did...

Despite all this talk of Phở, the Spicy Saigon Chicken Wings were calling my name. (Well, not literally, that would be creepy.)

It's reasonably safe to say I'm a "hot wings enthusiast" - I love spicy chicken wings, usually the hotter the better.

Thien Nghi's offers their wings 3 for $3.50, served with some cucumber and tomato slices. I ordered six, because I know how I get when I have wings in front of me.

They are fried wings, yet the breading is light and they aren't greasy at all. The flavor is spectacular. A little hint of sweetness alongside a great combination of herbs, not too spicy, not too mild. Nice chunks of sliced garlic gloves abound, which I found to be a perfect touch. There is a cup of sauce served on the side to dip in if you like it hotter, and I made sure to make use of it.

Check out their menu here.
Bento, Phở, egg rolls, crepes, and those awesome wings - if their other food is anything like these wings, you're in for a treat. I'll certainly be back.

I finished up all six of my wings, the cucumber slices, and the tomato... and... I could eat more of these wings... though I probably shouldn't.

Beef Tongue Taco and Hot Tamales - El Sultan - SE 50th and Foster

Today, I had to work from home to facilitate the delivery of a new washing machine.
This left me nowhere near downtown, which is where I usually report from... however, this did not deter me from eating cart food, and gave me a chance to check out a nearby cart pod local to my 'hood, which I usually don't have the chance to try.

This brings me to El Sultan, the longest running cart at the seemingly troubled Carts on Foster pod. I've watched several carts come and go from this location since it was started up, but this one's been a mainstay.

An interesting cart, as El Sultan provides both Mexican and Mediterranean style dishes. I had greek food yesterday, so I opted to go the Mexican route.

I was in luck, their menu offered beef tongue as one of the meat options. I'd been meaning to try this for some time, so here was my chance. (Though, I was hesitant, as they spelled it "tounge" on the menu, a BIG pet peeve of mine, how seemingly half the population misspells this word consistently the same way -> T-O-N-G-U-E, OK?)

They had a sign up declaring the special to be chicken tamales, as well, and those sounded good. I ordered two chicken tamales, and one beef tongue taco. It took a few minutes to get my food, but they wrapped it up 'to go' nicely on a plate, and gave me some small cups of hot sauce to go along with it.

The beef tongue was soft and tender and flavorful - very good. Up until the last year or so, I'd have instantly rejected the idea of eating tongue, but had read a few articles in its defense explaining it's some of the best meat you can get. I'm inclined to agree, after this taco. It was served in street taco fashion, with soft, warm corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, and of course, little chunks of tender tongue meat. Perhaps I should have had two beef tongue tacos, and one tamale.

The tamales were great. The chicken inside was quite spicy, and I didn't need to use the hot sauce except to soak the remaning chunks of tamale after I liberated the spicy chicken from inside. Ate up every bite, and now I'm rather stuffed... and satisfied. Not a bad deal, $6.50 for the meal I had, which was more than enough.

If you haven't tried beef tongue - give it a whirl - I was impressed... and if you find yourself out in the Foster/Powell area, maybe give this struggling cart pod a try - it looks like they're trying a few good ideas out -- such as a beer bar, and heated tent for eating during inclement weather. There was music playing, but hardly anyone in sight. Currently, there appear to be four operational carts, including an Italian, Thai, and Hawaiian cart, plus the one I just reviewed.

Best Gyro Ever - Yo-Yo and Lefty's - SW 3rd and Stark

I spent the weekend in Salt Lake City, and went to lunch with a friend, right before flying home, at a Mediterranean restaurant she frequents - which got me craving lamb, despite the fact that I had a shrimp based dish at the time.

I knew there was a 'newer' Greek cart not even a block from where I work, and decided I would check it out -- this cart is Yo-Yo and Lefty's.

Run by some people who used to work at Berbati's Pan, authentic Greek is their intent.

The gyros are not made with the common style schawarma; but rather with thick, juicy, mouthwatering chunks of leg of lamb - cooked medium rare, nice and tender.
These things are HUGE. You may pay a dollar or two more for a gyro here than at other carts, but it's well worth it.

Fresh onions, tomato, Tzatziki sauce - the pita bread was toasted, and lamb cooked while you wait. You will wait a while for your meal, but as a sign on their cart reminds you - good food takes time.

They offer a sundae dessert option, baklava, various gyro choices (including vegetarian) - fried pita chips, and more...

After barely being able to finish off my delicious Traditional Gyro, I can definitely say this is the *best* gyro I've ever had, and I will be back to check out some of their other options in the near future.

Festive Reindeer Sausage from Beez Kneez on SW 3rd & Stark

Hey, what better way to celebrate the festive holiday season, than having authentic Alaskan Reindeer Sausage? I'd never stopped by this particular sausage cart, though they are well-reputed. Getting back into the swing of the cartivore lifestyle, I wanted to try something different today, and there it was.

$5 for a Reindeer Sausage on a toasted bun, with carmelized onions. There are traditional sausages, Louisiana hot links, as well as a few exotics on occasion. Reindeer is a mainstay for this cart. They are split on the grill while cooking, which was a nice touch.

There were a variety of toppings and sauces and mustards available, and I'm again finding myself wondering why it took so long to check this cart out, given how often I've passed by.

This sausage is DELICOUS. Not gamey at all, it comes in a spicy and regular variety. I chose the spicy, of course. Add to it a bit of stone ground mustard and some creamy spicy mustard blend sauce the guy recommended, and -- I'm quite pleased with this meal.

Two thumbs up for festive Rudolph sausage. Sorry, kids, if your presents are a bit late this year...

Ploy Thai - SW 5th and Oak - (I'm BAAAACK!)

If anyone noticed a lack of Portland Cartivore blogs for a while - I've been away, in culinary hell.

That hell is known as Minot, North Dakota. I was sent there for a work assignment, 30 days straight of 12 hour workdays with no days off, living in various hotels, and working in a windowless warehouse type building with a metal roof.

The food choices there are mostly limited to standard Midwestern chain and fast food joints. I gained 13 pounds, as I couldn't eat very well, given my choices. (Though I could certainly fill myself up...)

With that said, I was SERIOUSLY craving Thai food getting back to work downtown, with a new found appreciation for just how awesome it is to live in this town in regards to available food choices.

The smells coming from Ploy Thai drew me in as I walked up. I'd eaten here once before, when they first opened -- but it was before I'd started this blog. Excellent opportunity to satisfy my Thai craving and get my blog going again.

Ploy Thai is authentic Thai street food, brought to you by someone who sold food in the streets of Nakhonsawan, Thailand.... and it shows. This is AWESOME. Maybe I'm a little biased because I've just spent a month away from such wonderful choices, but I stand behind my assessment.

I had the Pad Ka Pao (ground meat stir fried with chili, basil, green beans, and serrano chili) with chicken, "hot" -- and I'm dripping with sweat eating this fantastic dish (and over brown rice, something that was seemingly unheard of in North Dakota)

While I waited, they offered me a spring roll with peanut sauce, and some tea to keep me warm. Can't argue with that.

Oh, how I've missed the fine food of Portland and the carts down here.

If you like Thai food, I strongly encourage you to check out Ploy Thai. It's the real deal, and my first cart meal since returning back home.

Brunchbox - SW 5th and Oak/Stark - Trial by Fire!

Brunchbox is a cart that's been around a good while and has quite a following (and a recent feature on Eat Street) - Offering ridiculously compiled sandwich goodness in all sorts of varieties. As indicated by the word "Brunch," this cart serves breakfast sandwiches (all day) and lunch.

They're also apparently quite tech-savvy, having a rather impressive website, Facebook, and Twitter presence... no need for me to tell you about their menu when you can see it in all its glory here:
http://brunchboxpdx.com

Naturally, they have a Big Kahuna burger. "That is a tasty burger!"

They offer many sandwiches with "Texas Toast" instead of a standard bun, and you can request it on the standard bun sandwiches, as well.

Speaking of Texas Toast, they do a grilled PB&J with Oregon blackberry jam - which I'm sure many people will find quite intriguing. Another thing of note, this is probably one of the most "kid-friendly" carts there are in Portland -- aside from the PB&J, the "Cheezasaurus Rex" -- A grilled cheese sandwich shaped like a dinosaur, also available as a PB&J.

Probably a good pick for parents bringing their kids out to try out cart food.

Since I love spicy stuff, the Trial by Fire was my pick for today - this thing is LOADED with beef, bacon, lettuce, onions, ketchup, mayo, and - best of all - Secret Aardvark sauce (a habanero based hot sauce local to Oregon)

I sat at my desk dripping this thing off my hands and chin voraciously and had it down in all of about five minutes - putting the sandwich down only twice during the experience -- the Aardvark sauce has that addictive quality of many spicy foods that keeps you craving more and more until there's nothing left.

Now, off to wash my hands and get this sauce out of my facial hair...

BBQ Fusion on SW 10th and Alder - Beef Brisket

I went to lunch with a friend today, who also works downtown. The pods on Alder are closer to his place of business, and we were both intrigued by the smell of BBQ coming out of BBQ Fusion.

I'd never been to this cart, though I've passed by many times. The standards are there - brisket, pulled pork, ribs... beans, cole slaw. We both opted for the Beef Brisket Sandwich ($7) which came with cole slaw and baked beans.

The owner suggested using the Alabama White Sauce when he handed us our food... I was reluctant, but put some on -- good choice. VERY tasty, a good zing. The brisket was chunky and delicious.

The cole slaw was crisp, though a little bland compared to the other items. The beans had a nice smokey flavor to them... but WOW, was the brisket good.

I'm feeling weird that most of my cart food postings are very positive, but... I guess Portland's the food cart capital of the country for a reason.

The Swamp Shack on SW 5th and Stark - Jambalaya

The Swamp Shack has been around a while in this location, and apparently fairly successful. Today was the first time I ordered food.

The first time I tried, I stood behind a couple, thinking I was in line, for a good 10 minutes - only to find out they'd just been standing there gabbing, and weren't waiting on an order -- yet no effort had been made by the person inside to see what I wanted... so I'd had an attitude about this place and purposefully stayed away.

The reviews online for this place are almost all very good, and even comment on the cordial service. OK, so I guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time the first time around.

One of the things I noticed was different about this cart today was the proclamation of "Portland's Best Fried Chicken" - even on the business cards.

This is going to have to wait for another day, as today, the alligator sausage and chicken
Jambalaya seemed to be calling out for me. Indeed, the service was cordial, and fast.

When I got back to my desk, the smell of this was amazing, prompting coworkers to ask what I was having, though some people didn't seem too thrilled about the alligator sausage.

It's DELICIOUS!!!
Spicy, filling, and the alligator sausage was definitely the best-prepared alligator I've ever had (Much like calamari, many places tend to cook it to an unpleasant rubbery finish - not here)

Now, I am going to have to come back to this cart and try the crawfish pies, Portland's reputed best fried chicken, and maybe even the crow I'm eating for avoiding this place for so long.
Oops.

Emame's Ethiopian Cuisine- SW 9th and Washington

Today, I visited the only Ethiopian cart I'm aware of - Emame's.

I was excited to see this open up, as there really aren't any Ethiopian restaurants downtown at all. (Portland does have a good number of Ethiopian restaurants, they're just outside of the downtown area)

If you've never had Ethiopian food, I highly recommend it - it's very flavorful, and served with Injera, which is a pancake-like spongy flat bread you use to pick up your food and stuff into your mouth. It can get messy, but it's very tasty.

The smells coming from this cart are amazing, and you see people slow down and take it in as they walk by.

I had the Siga Watt, which is a spicy beef stew with Berbere sauce, garlic, onions, and ginger. It's served over injera, and they roll up some more to be sure you have enough to eat the whole thing with... it's served with sauteed cabbage and a tangy cheese topping. Since it's all cooked in crock pots, they're also very quick to get you your meal, which is a nice perk. I think if you had to stand there smelling this stuff for too long without your food you'd probably go insane.

They offer Dora Watt, which is the Ethiopian 'National Dish,' spicy chicken simmered in Berbere sauce, and Miser Kay Watt, which is a lentil-based dish for the vegetarians.

Although the menu seems 'small,' the food is incredibly tasty and well worth the $6 price - the food is very filling, but I bet you'll lick your plate clean finishing it up... or is it just me who does that?

T & P's Chinese Cuisine - SW 5th and Oak, North Side

Today, I had a conference call to attend, right at lunchtime, on short notice - so I had to run and grab something fast. Since I've spent most of this week eating from carts on the North side of the pod on SW 5th, I figured - why not continue the pattern?

This is the one cart on the North side on Oak I have yet to try, located next to Sin Wagon, which I wrote about yesterday.

I also haven't eaten Chinese food in almost 5 years. Partially because the last time wasn't very impressive, and also because I tend to favor Thai food, of which there is plenty to be had from carts in Portland.

My former measure of the worth of a Chinese restaurant was always based on their Kung Pao Chicken, so that's what I ordered.

T&P's is a fairly new cart, maybe two weeks or so. They offer a pretty standard set of Chinese dishes, with beef, chicken, tofu, or fish. No pork on the menu. There were some salt and pepper fish dishes, and a beef and shrimp teriyaki that looked interesting. Proudly displayed is a sign stating "No MSG."

The food is prepped on the fly with woks, and they'll spice it to your liking. They offer fried or white rice with the rice based dishes, and the non-crispy type of Chow Mein noodles.

Also, most of their dishes are under $5 each, which is below average these days.

Now, as for the Kung Pao Chicken -- delicious. The vegetables are crispy, it's got a good kick to it, the sauce is how I like it, savory, not sweet. One of the reasons I've avoided Chinese food is the sweetness in a lot of the sauces. Not the case here.... and I have missed Kung Pao.

Western versions of this dish lack the peppercorn variety used in China, partially due to a rather lengthy ban on their import due to a tree disease they could carry. The ban was lifted in 2005, and now I think I'd like to see if I can find a place that uses those instead - as, apparently, the flavor is quite distinct, and I would like to know how the 'true' version of my favorite Chinese dish tastes.

Thanks, T&P Chinese Cuisine, for re-awakening my desire for Chinese food. :)

Sin Wagon "American Food" - SW 5th and Oak, North Side

Yesterday, I mentioned Sin Wagon, which is a new cart that was just preparing to open for their first day of business - next to Spaghetti al Ragu. I decided to give them a try today.

They boast 'all natural' chicken and beef, and you'll soon learn, looking over the menu, how appropriately named this cart is. Most of their items are battered and deep fried, and served with a side of ranch or blue cheese for dipping.

"Fingers," breaded chicken or beef, are offered as a basket with fries or tots, or, for additional funds - Mac and Cheese Balls, or Bacon and Bleu stuffed Jalapenos.
These are also available as sandwiches.

A burger is available with a butter grilled bun, as well as a wrap featuring the same deep fried chicken or beef, and a BLT wrap.

The "Whaddup Dog" is an all-beef dog that can be served with chili and cheese for another $1, then the "Batter Up!" - a hand dipped honey corndog. Despite there being several hot dog carts, this is the first I've seen that offers the standard "chili dog" on the menu.

They do offer salads, with or without meat on top, in case you want to fool yourself into thinking you're getting something health-conscious here.

Sides are fries, tots, onion rings, and the previously mentioned Bacon & Bleu Jalapeno and Mac and Cheese Balls.

Elephant ears and chocolate chip cookies are available for those who don't die of a heart attack eating the main entrees.

I chose the steak finger basket, substituting the fries for the B&B Jalapenos.
(pictured are the B&B Jalapenos and a steak finger, with bleu cheese dipping sauce)

The steak fingers had a nice kick to them (I ordered them spicy) - the breading was subtle and flakey. I think they could have been pulled out of the fryer a bit sooner, but they were tasty, nonetheless.

The B&B Jalapenos, though -- MMMMmmmmmm, these are good. Crispy on the outside, soft, spicy, and bursting with bacon and bleu cheese goodness on the inside. Just enough to make your scalp start sweating. I may stop by this cart just for these once in a while.

"Welcome to the neighborhood."

Spaghetti al Ragu: Pizza...

Today, I left a little earlier than usual for lunch. Many of the carts weren't open yet, as can happen if you show up before 11:30 or so.

I stopped by Spaghetti al Ragu, just off SW 5th and Oak.

This cart's been around a while, first starting out in the ill-fated attempt at a pod in the parking lot on SW 3rd between Oak and Pine. None of the carts that have set up there have lasted long, and the owner had to move to a pod with more traffic to try to keep things afloat.

When at the prior location, I enjoyed the spaghetti and tasty bread served with it, and as time went by, the menu was expanded to include sandwiches and calzones and pizza.

The noodles are rolled out and cut right in front of you, fresh as can be. The sauce is full of flavor, and comes in meat or non-meat varieties.

Pizzas are 10" personal size (PLENTY of food) and are offered with regular or Black Butte Porter crusts, $5 for up to three toppings.

Unfortunately, today, there was no Black Butte Porter crust, no chicken, none of the 'special of the day' offerings (such as Ravioli) - and the owner commented that he probably will be closing down the cart soon.

Despite it being one of the few places to get any kind of Italian food from a cart, and having some delicious dishes with huge portions, it appears this cart may suffer the fate of many of the carts that have come and gone in the last couple years, and even a location change to a more populous pod may not be able to save it.

So while it lasts, head on down to Spaghetti al Ragu and try some delicious stuff before it's too late. In the few weeks I've been trying to blog my meals, that's potentially the 2nd cart I've reviewed disappearing.

I noticed a new cart right next door, about to open for their first day, "Sin Wagon," in a spot that was occupied by a Cuban food cart for all of three weeks or so earlier, after having been converted from a Thai cart prior to that. This seems to be the pattern with that particular corner of an otherwise rather busy cart pod - the ones on the North end of the lot change out frequently.

Hog Time - The Hog Dog

Today, I was going to try to go somewhere and not get pork, as it's been a recurring theme in my relatively new practice of blogging my cart meals.

Somehow, I lost that argument with myself when I wandered down Washington between SW 2nd and 3rd, and there was Hog Time, open and ready for business... I've eaten here before and loved it each time. I've not gotten through the full menu yet, but I'm getting there.

It's Friday, Payday, and I was hungry. The "Hog Dog," I decided, was to be today's gluttonous celebration of money in the bank and no work tomorrow. This is actually their 'smallest' meal item.

Now, imagine, if you will -- a large, juicy sausage (1/4lb, beef)... topped with a generous heaping of pulled pork, onions, and hot sauce, wrapped in a house-made toasted pita, hot dog style, then wrapped in paper and foil so you don't get any on you.

I may feel like I'm going to explode after eating it, along with an order of tasty, crispy fresh french fries - but it's SO worth it.

I chatted with Dave, the purveyor of this tasty pork, while he was preparing the food - he makes a point to get to know his customers and remember their names when they're regulars... and watching him work is impressive, this guy has his craft down. The fries were fried up, strained, and tossed in a bowl with salt, all came out crisp and salted just right.

He has a variety of sauces available to top his foods off with, from mild to spicy (Hoganero sauce is my personal favorite) so you can tweak your food a bit to fit your fancy.

Some other offerings:

Hogzilla, a very generous heaping of pulled pork stuffed into his tasty, soft pita bread
Pig Pen, freshly fried fries, topped with delicious pulled pork, cheese, and sauces.
Boss Hog: HUGE pulled pork sandwich, again with a variety of tasty toppings and sauces
Pulled Pork Tacos - the same great pork, in delicious pita bread, you get the point. :)

Quick, efficient, tasty, generous portions, this cart really has it together.

Now, if only I could take a nap for the rest of my work day...

Bulkogi Fusion: Udon

Today as I wandered the pod on SW 5th between Oak and Stark, I decided to stop by "Bulkogi Fusion" - which is right on the corner at Stark.

This cart's been there a while, and I tried it out when they first opened, as it looked interesting. Their main attractions are the Korean Tacos/Burritos - pretty much a delicious way to deliver Korean food from a cart.

The "fusion" theme continues through some of their other dishes, where they tend to mix Japanese and Chinese dishes in with the more Korean-tinged ingredients for their own twist.
Teriyaki, potstickers, salad rolls, ramen, etc.

Their tacos and burritos are amazing, bursting with flavor, and everything is cooked for you right there after you order. They don't use oils or fat of any sort, it's just plain good stuff.

I decided to branch out and try to Udon today... never had it before.... and yes, I know it's a Japanese dish. ;)

Udon noodles with seaweed, mushrooms, 'fishcakes,' carrots, etc. The noodles were thick, and still had a bit of an 'al dente' texture to them. My only comparison would be to Pho, but without any meat, and much thicker noodles. Also, this is VERY spicy. The broth itself has quite a bit of zing to it.

As I'm eating it, it's pretty decent, but I think the next time I visit this cart, I'm going back to the delicious burritos or the kimchi quesadilla. Those are excellent.

The People's Pig: Milk braised Pork sandwich with carmelized onions

OK, let me get this out of the way -- The People's Pig is AWESOME.
This cart opened up in the parking lot across from my work quite a while back, and I became a regular almost instantly. Cliff, the owner, has a passion for pork and making the most deliciously mouth-watering pork sandwiches this town has to offer.
Unfortunately for me, but not for The People's Pig, they've moved to the much more populated pod at SW 9th and Alder, and scored a prime spot right on the corner.
I was walking around the pod looking to see what might be new to try, and passed by to see that today, they were offering a MILK BRAISED PORK SANDWICH !!!
Needless to say, I decided to stop my search for lunch right then and there.

Another special today: Batches of 'grandma's recipe' donuts... as much as I'd love to try them, I knew the sandwich was already going to be difficult to get down in one sitting.

Regularly offered is the Pancetta sandwich, which is awesome - and often, a Pork Cheesesteak sandwich - which was the one most often ordered by me in the days when it was within viewing distance of my office. Cliff mixes up the sandwiches from day to day, usually offering about 2-3 standards and a special of the day which always satisfies.

This cart is a *must* if you eat pork. The portions are generous, the food is fresh and delicious, prepared by a true artist and purveyor of pork. Just grab several napkins, you'll need them.

This milk braised pork is so good I almost feel like I'm doing something naughty eating it... and the carmelized onions really send it over the edge. MMMMmmmmmmm. I'm going to stop writing my blog and finish this incredible sandwich.

Friday - Filipino Food!

A new cart has emerged right by the corner of NW 9th and Alder, serving Filipino food. I've never really had Filipino food before, and asked a friend of mine for some pointers (She's half Filipino) and headed over to try it out.

Noah's Filipino Food

I stood staring at the menu for a while, wondering why the dishes my friend had mentioned weren't there, then I realized - they were all desserts, I was looking at their dessert menu (of which they have SIX desserts listed, which all looked very tasty)

Once I found the proper menu, I was pleased to find all three of the items my friend had mentioned, saying "If they don't have these, they shouldn't call themselves a Filipino cart."

Today, I tried the Lumpia (eggrolls), Pancit (thin noodles with some veggies) and Pork Adobo, which looked and smelled extremely appealing from where I was standing.

The eggrolls were a bit heartier than I was expecting, and I started filling up before I'd even gotten around to the pork, which was served in large chunks in a surprisingly savory sauce... they practically melted when a fork was stuck into them, and WOW, was it good. I have a feeling I'll be back for this dish a lot in the future.

As much as I wanted to try the desserts, I knew I wouldn't have enough room for them. I may be able to make a meal out of a couple Lumpia (I hope that's the proper plural) and leave room for dessert next time.

I'm so stuffed now, I think I need a nap. This was my first Filipino food experience, and it was a good one.

El Cubo de Cuba

Today is "Occupy Portland" day, and I wanted to avoid any potential crowds that might be gathering and headed out shortly after 11. We'd been warned, at work, to be careful of protestors, hide our building entry badges, etc. "For our safety" - Wasn't this supposed to be a peaceful protest?

The carts were just slightly less busy than usual, and I was drawn to lively Cuban music coming from El Cubo de Cuba, located on SW 5th between Oak and Stark. They have another location on SW 10th between Washington and Alder, as well - which was their original location.... there are a few carts starting to appear with multiple locations around town.

This is the cart that turned me on to "Tostones," savory twice-fried green plantains. I was so impressed with these, I insisted we try making them at home later... leading us on a journey to figure out where in Portland to get green plantains. Seems most grocery stores only carry them occasionally. Ours were alright, but not as good as the ones served up from this cart.

The cart offers 'cubes' - boxes of your choice of marinated chicken breast or marinated shredded pork, black beans, rice, and your choice of sweet or savory plantains. I do like sweet plantains(Maduros), but now that I've had their Tostones, they're certainly the preferred style. Sweet potato fries are also an option. Sandwiches are offered, as well - though I've not tried those, as I tend to enjoy the boxes with the plantains - excellent to dip into your food with. I can never finish the whole thing.

I ordered the pork, and they served it up pretty quickly - then came back to my office and proceeded to practically inhale the Tostones, topping them with the delicious, tender, lime-tinged pork until they were all gone. I managed to get a few bites of beans and rice in before having to admit defeat.

The protesters are gathering along the waterfront, apparently they're hanging out down there for two and a half hours before intentionally taking to the streets on the way to Pioneer Courthouse Square, along the transit mall, to disrupt in order to make a statement about corporate greed and taxes... or something.

Hopefully this will bring some unexpected business to the carts that sit along that stretch.

Happy Grillmore - Portland's Best Food Cart Burger

A rainy Portland day has arrived, so I wanted to stick close to my office for today's meal.

I headed up to SW 3rd between Stark and Washington, and Kryse's smiling face at Happy Grillmore landed me there, where I ordered what has been voted as Portland's Best Food Cart Burger.. "the Chubs."

I know burgers might not sound as 'exotic' as some of the other things I've blogged about so far -- but hear me out....

Their burgers are served on multigrain Ciabatta buns, which themselves are quite tasty, and sturdy -- something you can't say about a standard burger bun, and one of this caliber would certainly destroy a standard burger bun in a most unpleasant fashion.

The meat (Angus beef) is tender and has a great blend of spices and onions - it has some kick, and comes cooked how you want (I ordered mine medium-rare, an option I love having available) topped with mustard, your choice of cheese (I always go with Pepperjack, mmmm!) arugula, and fresh spinach leaves.

Disclaimer: I am a regular at this cart.

They frequently feature awesome daily specials (Kalua Pig, Duck Breast, Pulled Pork, Soups, to name a few) and their standard menu is mostly sandwiches, featuring turkey and bacon, (a heavenly combination), bacon and fried egg (again.. how can you go wrong?) - sausage, and more... add pineapple or avocado to any of these and it's always a treat.

The people who run the cart (Darren and Kryse) are very friendly and usually playing great music as they serve up their tasty meals. Sometimes you can even catch Kryse singing along... (she has a lovely voice). They're good about posting daily specials on Facebook for those who follow them, usually early on so you're aware before you head out to lunch. Their daily specials are ALWAYS amazing, from my experience.

Two thumbs up from this guy, I've always been impressed with anything I've ordered. Check out their website for a full menu and descriptions of all their great food.

Happy Grillmore

Portland's own Eurotrash food cart....

Today, I strolled up to the carts on SW 9th and 10th, and wandered around both pods fully before deciding to try "Eurotrash" - Right on the corner of SW Washington and 10th Ave.

The spot, and maybe even the cart itself, were once home to "Hot Wet Beef," a cart I never stopped to try, as their business model was based on a pet peeve of mine, namely "Your sandwich should not dissolve in the au jous."

This cart's food is much different. The menu definitely stands out as unique, including "fishy fries," a serving of breaded, fried anchovies.... a prawn baguette, curried squid sandwich, and even a bacon-egg-waffle dish.

I chose the "Piri Piri Chicken" - loaded with mild horseradish coleslaw, jack cheese, and capers. It was served with a fork. I figured it was to eat the enormous amount of coleslaw on top of the sandwich, which did take me a few minutes to consume... then as I reached the more 'sandwich' portion of the dish, I realized -- this thing was not going to be consumed in typical sandwich fashion - it had to be eaten with a fork.

It was quite tasty - the coleslaw was very crunchy and fresh. The chicken and cheese melted goodness complimented the horshradish-tinged sauce from the slaw quite nicely. It was a messy dish, but I was given my fork and a set of about 5 napkins - which were necessary.

Today was what will probably be one of the last of the 'nice days' before Portland enters its fall and winter season and six months of rain, so I thought I'd stop in at the park that is to the Northeast of the cart pods, and have my meal there. (O'Bryant Square)

The park has seen a bit of an improvement due to food pod customers, but - I'd recommend sticking to the SW and SE corners in order to avoid the street cretins, who still seem to claim the NE corner of this particular park -- engaging in the standard random yelling at nobody in particular, getting into arguments, throwing things (one particular individual repeatedly came back and picked up, then threw back down, a backpack, apparently not getting the results he desired) - Either way, it would be nice if that element would disappear... everyone knows what they're up to, despite them seeming to think they're being inconspicuous grown men loitering in a park on BMX bikes and ducking behind trees in pairs for long enough to exchange some cash and tinfoil.

... but I digress, this is supposed to be a blog about food, food carts, etc.

Eurotrash was a good experience, and now that I've had some time to look over their menu more extensively, I will be interested to try some of their other offerings -- though I'm not so sure about the 'fishy fries.'

Adam's Amazing Lebanese Food

Today's adventure took me off the beaten path a little, to a smaller pod on the corner of SW 3rd and Ankeny. My intent was to try out "Big Ass Sandwiches," a cart that's been around a while, and gained lots of praise - yet somehow has eluded me. Today was not to be the day, as they had not opened yet, even though I was there 15-20 minutes into their posted operating hours.

Around the corner, I walked by Adam's Amazing Lebanese Food, a cart I had not seen before... The photo of the food looked pretty appetizing, so I stopped to give it a try.

I hesitated a tad, because, apparently, after last Friday's glowing blog post about my love for Gin Thai, they've announced they're 'going on hiatus' and will be closed until further notice.
I sincerely hope my blogging isn't shutting down food carts.

Typically, when it comes to Lebanese food, I pretty much eat Gyros and Hummus and that's about as far as I venture. In the spirit of trying something different, I opted for the Lamb Schwarma. I really wasn't sure just what I was getting myself in to...

This thing is HUGE. It's basically an oversized Gyro, but with fries and sauce (including hot sauce!) added to the mix. Hummus was an optional 50 cent ingredient. Yeah, it's kind of like a "Lebanese Poutine" in a way, when you think about it.

It looks so wrong, but tastes so right... who knew that adding fries and hot sauce to a Gyro would make such a sinfully delicious meal?

The lamb is tender and spicy, and the (pita-style) breading is toasted just right, still soft, but able to hold the massive pile of ingredients this thing was loaded with. I will be QUITE surprised if I can actually finish this, it's enough food for two people.

Adam's serves a variety of Gyros and Shwarmas with different meat options, as well as Falafel, burgers, hot dogs, and more...

While a few of us waited on our food, the owner offered some fresh fries to enjoy. Certainly a good way to drum up business and keep people interested.

So, a closed cart resulted in my trying a new dish and a new cart I wasn't aware of - Here's to hoping this one doesn't announce it's closure after I blog about it. ;)

Friday is Thai-Day! Gin Northern Thai.

Today, I felt the urge for Thai food. It's become one of my favorite types of cuisine since I moved to the Pacific Northwest. There are MANY places for Thai food in Portland, brick-and-mortar restaurants and carts alike. You're guaranteed to find at least one, if not four, Thai carts in any reasonably sized cart pod in Portland.

The one that stands out to me the most, and in my humble opinion, hands-down, the BEST Thai food I've had in Portland is from Gin Thai, a cart on SW 3rd between Stark and Washington. ("Gin" means 'eat,' and is pronounced with the 'g' more like the word "go" instead of a 'j' sound)

Their menu is not the standard fare you'll find at most Thai carts, as the Northern Thai style they offer differs in many ways. They have many noodle based dishes, as well as stir-fry options. The meat they use is much more tender than you get in most places, and the vegetables and seasonings are incredible. One particular dish, Shan Noodle, is unlike anything I've ever had from a Thai place before - typically I avoid noodle based Thai food, but every single time they've recommended one and I've tried it, it's been amazing.

When you ask for it "HOT" - you better mean it. They don't screw around. Within 1-2 bites of a "hot" dish from Gin Thai, expect tears to be rolling down your face and sweat forming on your brow. Just like I like it... and my current state writing this blog entry.

The people who run the cart are very friendly, and love to talk about their offerings and give you suggestions if you let them know your tastes... the almost intimidatingly pretty Amika, and the exceptionally skilled chef, Nok - They greet me by name when I show up at their window, another reason I love coming back here outside of the outstanding food and service.

Today, I had the spicy cashew stir fry with chicken.... certainly not the most exciting offering on their menu, but... cashews sounded really good today. They use carrots, onions, bell and jalapeno peppers, crushed red pepper flakes - and the sauce is phenomenal.

**Highly Recommended! If you like Thai food, this is a must-visit cart.

Thursday: Bro-Dogs "Dude!!"

As part of my new efforts to blog about my food cart experiences, I'm also trying carts I may have bypassed most of the time.

Today, walking along SW 5th between Oak and Stark, I decided to try the very appropriately named "Dude!!" (exclamation points are part of the name) from Bro-Dogs, a hot dog 'stand' among the carts that line this pod.

"Dude!!" is exactly what goes through your mind when he hands you this tasty, filling, and somewhat over the top meal. It's sausage, applewood-smoked bacon, onions, garlic, and mushrooms, along with three cheeses and two different BBQ sauces. The bun is their own creation, also - a flat, square bread that he toasts on the grill as he's cooking the rest of the ingredients, eliminating that nasty 'breaking hot dog bun' phenomenon.

The guy slinging the spatula is very friendly and talkative, keeping the customers engaged as they watch him create his masterpieces. Today, we were treated to a performance by a gravelly voiced busker with a Yamaha keyboard directly behind us as we waited. Of what I could catch, he was performing original tunes, mostly about drinking and the consequences thereof.

I'm extremely stuffed after eating the entire thing, which is larger than many meals I tend to eat. This place has been here a while and is quite successful, and rightfully so. Normally, I avoid hot dog carts like the plague, but I'm glad I gave this one a try.

There are even vegetarian options on the menu, various combinations of cheese, vegetables, and meats or tofu. "Dude!!" was the most expensive item offered, at $7. The standard Bro-Dog goes for $4.

Today, Pulled Pork from Touchdown BBQ

I decided to wander up to the pods on SW 9th/10th between Alder and Washington today to look around. As I walked down 10th, a lovely and smiling lady offered me a sample of pulled pork, and extolled the virtues of their 'made fresh, right here' baked beans, coleslaw, and corn bread. SOLD. I guess wandering around the whole pod to decide what I wanted will have to wait another day. It was wonderful.

They were running a special on the pulled pork and two sides, $7.95.

Offerings include many standard Southern dishes, ribs, chicken, etc.
The pulled pork was delicious, tender, not too sweet, not too spicy. The coleslaw was tangy and crisp, and the baked beans were some of the best I've experienced in quite some time.
I could sense they were delighted to serve up their food, and after the sampling I had, I can see why. I'm anxious to try their cornbread and ribs on my next visit.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/touchdowns-portland

Introduction

Greetings. For a few years now, I've worked downtown, and have watched the Portland food cart phenomenon go from a few carts here and there to various bustling pods of tasty goodness. I usually post photos and descriptions of my lunches on Facebook for people to see, and plug the carts I think are worth checking out.

Some friends have been suggesting I blog about these culinary cart adventures in more detail, so I set this up and will try to keep frequent postings of the food, folks, and fun I encounter as I wander out for lunch every day.