Red Skinz - Indian Fry Bread - SW 3rd and Washington

A new cart ermerged from the now-defunct Burrito Box at SW 3rd and Washington.

Red Skinz Indian Fry Bread. This is their first week in operation, and today is a nice, sunny day in Portland.

Currently, the only menu items are Soda ($1), Fry Bread ($3), and, most importantly --
Fry Bread Taco ($7) - which is the fry bread, covered with chili, lettuce, cheese, and onions (and a generous helping of hot sauce on the side)

They provide a plentiful selection of sauces and such for those who go with the simple Fry Bread dish, to dress it up a little.

Having grown up mostly in Utah, this was known to me as "Navajo Tacos" - a dish I remember fondly and haven't encountered since moving away, until now.

The owner was very friendly, and explained he'd be working on some additional items based on customer suggestions and such as time goes on, including donuts
(in UtahSpeak, these fry breads were covered in cinnamon and sugar and referred to as 'scones,' I later learned that others refer to these as 'elephant ears' and that scones are a much, much different treat)

Coincidentally, he says everyone who says they've had these before are from Utah... Hmm.

I practically inhaled this thing when I got back to the office. Very tasty.
In our discussion, the guy mentioned he'd be working on getting rid of the styrofoam containers, as people complained... and he may be well served to offer a meatless chili option for the tacos, this *is* Portland, after all...

Good food, I know I'll be back to have this taco dish again, and see what else they have cooking.

Babylon Halal Food - SW 5th and Stark - Lamb over Rice

Today, I ventured up Stark to obtain funds-n-food, and was disappointed to learn that my latest reviewed cart, the Filipino-food-based Kula Kart, has closed and *might* return in the spring.

I continued on toward SW 5th, where a new Cuban cart, Havana Heaven, has emerged at the corner (A post about this cart is soon to follow, I just haven't typed it up yet) - then continued on to where El Cubo de Cuba once was, to find it replaced with Babylon Halal Food.

It's their second day, and the menu is still handwritten in marker.
Immediately, I was drawn to the Lamb over Rice dish, because I do love myself some lamb. They have hummus, gyros, salads, etc.
The guys inside were very friendly, and quick. I had my food about two minutes after placing the order. It was served with hummus, a fresh warm pita, salad, and tzatziki sauce. PLENTY of food. $8.

The lamb was cooked medium, and was very tasty. I took turns dipping bits of it in hummus and tzatziki as I shoveled it into my mouth. Really hit the spot. Good stuff.
I'd imagine they'll be solidifying the menu more as they become established (some of the menu had been crossed off and changed a bit) - good food, and quickly. That always helps at lunchtime.

Filipino Food - The Kula Kart - SW 2nd and Stark

** Update ** A sign on this cart today indicates that, due to family matters, the cart is closing and may return in the spring. **

I originally visited this cart the first day it showed up at this location, and was the first customer of the day. The owner was still setting up the propane tank when I arrived. I ordered my food, took it back, enjoyed it, and ... didn't have time to blog about it.
So I went back today, after running into a coworker waiting for his food. (He wasn't injured)

The Kula Kart had been a wandering cart, from what I understand, and is now trying out a downtown pod very near where the now departed Heart Cart sat.

The main offerings are pork and chicken Adobo, in plate or sandwich form, and pork or vegetable Sinigang. Bilo Bilo is on the menu, a tapioca and cococut cream treat with seasonal fruit, that I'll have to try some time.

I went for the pork Sinigang, which is served over rice and carrots and arugula, with a Lumpia, which is very much like an egg roll -- and a lemon wedge.

VERY tasty stuff, just bursting with flavor. Various sauces are provided, from sweet to super-spicy. Naturally, I loaded mine up with spiciness because I love to break out into a sweat while eating my meals. The Lumpia was delicious, crisp, and... I could see myself getting into trouble if more than one were offered.

This is good stuff. I'm not by any means an expert on Filipino food, but I very much enjoyed this and will certainly be back for more.

The People's Pig is BACK! SW 10th and Washington

With much excitement, I am able to report that it wasn't just a rumor --- Cliff Allen, the man behind one of my favorite food carts ever, The People's Pig - has reopened... as... The People's Pig! It's changed a tad, they're now offering beef, chicken, and pork sandwiches.

As I walked up, he was dishing out some grilled peaches and porchetta, which he gave me a sample of. Incredibly delicious combination I'd have never thought of.

I was a regular customer almost immediately when this cart appeared, originally at SW 2nd and Stark, and then moved to SW 9th and Alder. That location had been closed for a few months, and now they're located right next to the Eurotrash cart on the corner of SW 10th and Washington.

Here's Cliff,
working on some chicken and broccoli:

I tell you, this man is an artist.

Since I am very familiar with his extraordinary Porchetta sandwiches, he suggested I try the beef today, and I put up no argument.

Behold, a very fine beef sandwich, indeed.
The roll was toasted and had a great texture, the beef had a slightly smokey flavor to it, and was cooked just right, with pink in all the right places. Tender, delicious, addictive. I keep trying to write this blog, but I have to stop and have another bite.

Check out The People's Pig. Hands down, one of the best carts in Portland, if you ask me.

Sometimes, you have a not-so-good experience at a food cart...

I've been accused at times of having nothing but good things to say about the food carts I visit. Admittedly, I am a picky eater in the first place, and I also tend to only want to talk about something that stands out, more often than not, in a positive light.

Since this is a blog about my experiences eating from carts, today I'll blog about BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. Today's experience is nice and fresh in my mind.

It's even more irritating when it's from a cart you once gave a glowing review to.

Most of the Portland food cart pods are downtown. People who work here are their main customers. We have time constraints, we go to carts because you can pick your food up and get back to where you came from without the whole process or entering an establishment, waiting to be seated, ordering a drink while perusing the menu, you get the point. Carts are a convenience for those of us with short lunch breaks.

I don't care how good your food is,

DO NOT leave a potential customer sitting at your cart's window for 8 whole minutes without acknowledging their existence. 8 minutes without ONCE looking up from what you're doing to see what's going on, if you have a line, someone with a question, whatever.

I had raved about the gyro I had from Yo-Yo and Lefty's here: Yo-Yo and Lefty's.

They have a sign proclaiming "Good food takes time" -- perhaps it does, but 3 seconds of acknowledgement isn't much to ask, is it?

I ended up walking away in frustration, and getting my gyro fix from another cart.
~~
The cart is now called Nikki and Lefty's, I'm not sure what the story is behind the name and slight menu change, but I'll be getting my gyros elsewhere from this point.

Carts on Foster - The Last Word - Roast Beef on Weck

So today's blog is going to be a mixed bag of commentary and my experience with the food from one of the carts.

I don't often get to the cart pod on SE 52nd and Foster, despite it being pretty much in my neighborhood, since I work downtown. Typically, I'll be passing by on the way to or from work.

Over the last couple of years, I've watched many carts come and go from this pod, with only one or two hardy mainstays present from month to month... since this is in my neighborhood, and we want businesses to succeed here, I kept hoping the high turnover didn't mean doom for the pod.

They've added covered outdoor seating, an enclosed area with beer and hot dogs, etc. - in all respects, this seems like a pretty awesome pod.

I've often imagined they must have a crowd at lunchtime, but I'm never around to see it. Today, I had an appointment and was teleworking, so I decided to head down there and see what could be had. There was a BBQ cart that set up a while back and I thought that might be a strong possibility as I checked out the other offerings.

When I arrived, it was about 12:15. There was one person sitting down eating. Half the carts in the pod weren't even open, severely limiting my choices. A mother and daughter walked around looking at the menus from the available carts, then wandered off. Two more ladies showed up and did order food from carts, but that was it. Hardly the scene at the pods downtown at this hour.

Of the open pods (the BBQ joint and egg-themed cart were not open, for instance) - "The Last Word" had the most intriguing menu -- sandwiches and soups, and the descriptions were making my mouth water.

I ordered the Roast Beef on Weck, which was new to me -- sliced roast beef with horseradish on a Kimmelweck roll (kind of like a Kaiser roll, but with salt rocks and fennel seeds on top) - and served with a side of celaric root 'slaw' of sorts. It was an impressive sandwich, for sure -- and the 'slaw' ended up being scooped on top of the beef as part of the sandwich, and enjoyed after I'd finished the sandwich - a great flavor, good amount of kick - and a good amount of food. I'm satisfied.

In researching the cart, they do their own ice cream, roast the meat in the cart, and rotate the soups and sandwiches on a regular basis - an ever changing menu. If their food is as good as this sandwich was consistently, this sounds very promising. Check out The Last Word if you get a chance.

The Hope Kitcken - SW 3rd and Washington - Tamale Pie

Today I tried out a new cart at the pod on SW 3rd between Stark and Washington - The Hope Kitchen - they're on the Washington side, up against the Mama Mia's building.

This is a cart with a story, and a mission - it is run by people who lost a relative to colorectal cancer, and in his memory, they're making up dishes that contain no red meat as a healthier alternative to avoid dangers of excessive red meat consumption.

Chicken and Turkey are featured, as well as potato salad, collard greens, Quinoa, and cornbread.

I ordered the Tamale Pie meal. The pie is made with turkey, cornbread, onions, jalapeno, and tomato sauce.. with melted cheese - and the meal comes with leafy collard greens and potato salad.

I initially went straight for the collard greens, to give the tamale pie a moment to cool down. They were cooked just right, not soggy at all. Spicy and Delicious.

The Tamale Pie -- MMm, this is good stuff. A slight kick to it, with a slight sweet taste to the corn bread, it fits together nicely with the slightly browned cheese crust on top. Good sized portions, too.
Potato Salad - also memorable - a little more egg than I'm used to, which is fine by me.

I'll be back to this cart, for sure.

The Fix - new Empanada cart on Oak and SW 5th

A new cart has taken over the former Sabria cart, the nearest-to-the-building spot along Oak street just East of SW 5th Ave, thus renamed "The Fix" - featuring many types of empanadas. Yesterday was apparently their opening day, and I was one of the first people to arrive today.

I ordered the Fiery Bird, which is a chicken and jalapeno empanada, and a side of black bean and corn ceviche. $5 for the empanada and a side.
Things were a little rocky, they're just getting the routine down, and surely that's to be expected when you're a brand new food cart.
A few of the items from the prior day's menu weren't currently available, which disappointed a few people stopping by to check it out...
Sweet and Savory empanadas are offered, at $3 each. After having one empanada and a side, I can see where ordering two might be preferred for a meal... yet this cart could cater to those just looking to snack just as easily as those seeking a full meal.
There were options including goat cheese and sweet fillings, some with asparagus, some with meat, some chocolate and banana - a wide variety of choices.
Now, for my take on the food...

A richly flavorful sauce was served with the empanada, and I used it all dipping my chicken-jalapeno filled empanada into it. It was delicious.

The black bean and corn ceviche was also delightful, and went down quickly. I'd order two empanadas next time, though, as I am still a bit hungry after downing it all.
The two guys running the place were super friendly, and apologized for not having everything up and running fully, promising they'd get the hang of it shortly. To be fair, it wasn't noon yet, either.
I see potential here, I'd love to see them succeed as they have more time to get up and running.

Burgers on a Stick! Skewed Concoctions, revisited

Yesterday, I obtained my lunch from Skewed Concoctions, and ranted about their peanut sauce. They warned me of their next special item, "cheesy burgers" - on a skewer... with the cheese IN the burger.

Well, I couldn't help myself - same cart, two days in a row - I had to try these.

At $5, they are quite the food cart bargain. Two cheesy burgers (the cheese is IN the burger patty!) - with onion and yellow pepper, skewered on a stick. (burgers included) Tasty, flavorful, tender, and great for a lunch appetite.

Although tempting, I didn't go for the deep fried brownie rolls they were offering (2 for $2) Great food, good folks, and two of my cart posts in a row... really, I do like this cart.

Skewed Concoctions on SW 3rd - Try their peanut sauce!

Work has kept me very busy lately and I've not been able to get away to try very many new carts and blog about them.
This is a cart I've blogged about before, here:
Skewed Concoctions

I'm doing it again, because it bears repeating.

Not only is their food fantastic, but... they have the BEST peanut sauce EVER.

Sure, you may say something like "I walked by that cart and saw all sorts of meat on a stick and I'm a vegetarian..." -- Well, they serve vegetarian dishes, too... - namely, Pad Thai -- and if you've never had Pad Thai with peanut sauce from this cart -- you owe it to yourself to try it out.

Myself, I'm addicted to the Pork Satay, and had that for today's meal. Again, very satisfying.

The owners pointed out a new concept they'll be starting tomorrow, which is basically a cheeseburger deconstructed on to a skewer, with the cheese INSIDE the burger. I don't typically go to the same cart twice in one week, but I am very curious to check this out tomorrow.

oh, yeah, and 'deep fried brownie rolls' were mentioned, as well. uh-oh.

Beef Schawarma Plate - Pita Express - SW 3rd and Stark

Today, I did my walk down the SW 3rd Ave pod, and noticed two new carts... a new Thai cart, and -- where the beloved and sorely missed Happy Grillmore cart was, a new Pita/Lebanese establishment. Same cart, different occupants.

Naturally, I can't resist trying out a new cart when it arrives on the scene, and though I miss Happy Grillmore terribly (they have experienced great success serving Microsoft employees at the Redmond campus as of late) - I didn't hold it against them that they took over one of my favorites.

Offering Falafel, Beef/Chicken Schawarma, hummus, lebneh, batata, etc. - in both sandwich and plated forms - stuff for meat eaters and vegetarians alike.
They offer baklava for dessert, along with bananas and Nutella.

I ordered the Beef Schawarma plate, which came with salad, hummus, the beef schawarma (over rice), and a toasted pita. This is PLENTY of food.

The schwarama had a sweetness to it, and a definite fennel flavor, more than I can detect in most dishes from other establishments. Unique, and tasty. The rice was cooked perfectly, very flavorful and a nice accompaniment to the beef.

This is good stuff. Veggie pitas are $5, meat $6, and plates $7. I would venture to guess that a plate is for a super-sized appetite, and the smaller servings are more than enough for most, as I am not going to be able to finish this in one sitting.

The Shocker - Grilled Cheese Grill, SW 10th and Alder

Today's food cart adventure took me to a cart that has a presence in two other cart pods, apparently quite successful - one is a school bus, the other a double-decker bus - now they're downtown, though not in a bus.
The aptly named Grilled Cheese Grill has a bold, colorful sign, encouraging you to "come by for a taste of your childhood -- unless your childhood sucked, then we'll share a taste of ours..."

They feature -- you guessed it -- Grilled Cheese, in various forms. Different breads, cheeses, and ingredients are available to please any dairy-consuming individual.

I ordered "The Shocker" - a special on the whiteboard: Bacon, Provalone, Jalapenos, and Roasted Red Peppers on Sourdough.
Grilled cheese with bacon and jalapenos -- 'say no more...' This was quite a substantial sandwich, after the first half I was worried I might not be able to finish. It was rather tasty, though, and I showed that sandwich who was boss.

It was a nice, semi-cloudy Portland day and it wasn't raining, so I enjoyed my sandwich at the park across from the pod. Lots of other people were doing the same, and it appears that the park has finally shed the former crowds of shady characters that used to loiter there.
If you like grilled cheese, you'll like what this cart has to offer.

Cuban Pork Sandwich - The People's Pig - SW 9th and Alder

It's been a while since I've blogged, and it's also been a while since I ventured very far for cart food. The nice weather today did help. Though I've already posted a blog about this cart, I am more than happy to bring up The People's Pig again. Though you're not going to necessarily find a huge menu full of items, what you *will* find are superbly crafted pork sandwiches from someone who really knows how to make great pork sandwiches. Typically, there are 2-3 options on the menu to choose from.
Today, I had the Cuban with Mojo sauce - the pork was cut into thick, tender slices, topped with cabbage and jalapenos - I had to make an effort to slow down and enjoy it a little more, because I was resisting putting it down before another bite. The sandwich is huge, more than enough -- but I also ate every crumb, it was that good.

The People's Pig is certainly my very favorite pork-themed cart, and there are some really good ones here in Portland.

Jerk Chicken and Pork Belly Banh Bao - BaoPDX - SW 9th and Alder

Today I rode the Max up to Pioneer Courthouse Square, then wandered over to the pods on SW 9th and 10th, as it's been a while (again) since I visited the carts here.

A new one stuck out, with a brightly colored cart and a very neat set of food photos and graphics.

BaoPDX - Serving up some interesting takes on Banh Bao, including Jerk Chicken, BBQ beef, Spam, and even a tofu version.

Since they are smaller sandwiches, the prices are set to match, $3 each, or a combo of two sandwiches, a drink, and chips for $7.50. I opted for the combo, so I could try out at least two of the varieties of sandwich.

The people in the cart were friendly and talkative, greeting people who were walking by (this trick works really well, I've noticed -- people 'on the fence' as they walk by will stop and order when greeted directly, I watched this happen three times while I was standing there)

Now, on to the food... the pillow-like buns were soft and sponge-like (in a very good way), and generously stuffed with ingredients. The jerk chicken sandwich I ordered was so good, I didn't pause once from start to finish.

The pork belly sandwich was also quite good, my only complaint would be that mine was about half fat -- considering the cut, that's to be expected here and there.

Two sandwiches and chips definitely left me full to the brim, I may skip the combo and just get two sandwiches next time. One might be enough, if you had a decent breakfast, but I'd recommend two.

I'll be back to this place, for sure -- I can't stress enough how good the buns were.

Hawkfire Roast Beef Sandwich - Wagsys's Roast Beef - SW 5th and Oak

I must give another fond shout-out to Wagsy's, a cart I've blogged about before.
These guys are still fairly new on the scene, but they are awesome. This has rapidly become one of my favorite food carts.

Today, I had the Hawkfire, which is a roast beef sandwich glazed in Cholula sauce, with pepperjack cheese, fresh onions and cabbage, jalapenos, and Crema Mexicana.

Just look at this thing -- it's huge, fresh, delicious, and SPICY-SPICY-SPICY. They must have known I was coming, this had all the right ingredients.

They have new signs up indicating they are offering breakfast, which I'm sure is outstanding. Also, for St. Patrick's Day, they'll be offering their "Irish Bliss" sandwich on the 16th: Roast beef simmered in Guinness beer jus, white Irish cheddar, cabbage, and whole grain mustard.

I may have to visit them twice this week.

The guys are super friendly, and sometimes will even hand you a token good for $1 off a sandwich, or a free drink or chips. I enjoyed a free soda with my meal today, using one such token, and was given another for next time... they seem to know how to keep you coming back, as if the excellent food wasn't enough of an incentive.

They also very helpfully include, taped to your food box, a toothpick, and a wet-nap to wipe off your messy hands after consuming these monuments of culinary excellence.

Highly recommended.

Al Pastor Burrito - Northwest Tacos - SW 2nd between Oak and Stark

I know I reviewed a Mexican cart last week, and hinted I might do the same this week. By coincidence, I also ordered the same dish -- an Al Pastor Burrito.

Northwest Tacos is a brand new cart that just opened up, and it is one of the more slick and modern looking carts I've seen (inside and out)

The owners of the cart were very friendly and talkative.

The menu is relatively simple: Tacos, Burritos, Tortas, etc -- but they have a wider variety of meats to pick from, including Beef Tongue - one of my more recently acquired preferred meats. Unfortunately, I got there right after 11am and the beef tongue wasn't ready to be served.

While chatting and awaiting my burrito, they filled me in on why there were a bunch of big fancy trailers taking over the lot --- apparently, the TV series "Grimm" is in town with cast and crew and filming scenes in our lovely rainy town.
Hey, at least they're very well positioned to try out some good food without spending much time out in the elements.

Now, on to the Al Pastor - which is style of pork cooked 'Middle Eastern' style like lamb might be for gyros - and, I've recently learned, often with pineapple. Always fun when I learn something new about cuisine I thought I was already well versed in.

This was a huge burrito, as is somewhat customary from the carts around - but, much to my delight, wasn't stuffed with mostly rice as filler. There was rice (I could go on about my dislike for using rice in burritos, though that's my opinion, really) - but not a whole lot. There are some carts I won't go to because I feel like I get a 'rice burrito with a hint of what I ordered' - Not here.

Overall, this was very tasty, the people in the cart were friendly, it was clean, good prices - if you're in the mood for Mexican and find yourself downtown on 2nd Avenue, check it out!

Al Pastor Burrito - Piñata - SW 3rd and Ash

A brand new Mexican Food cart opened up next to Big Ass Sandwiches this week, so I decided to try it out. Although there is no sign stating so, rumor has it the cart is "Piñata."

The menu is fairly standard fare for Mexican food, featuring tacos, burritos, rellenos, sopas, etc. Tacos $1.50, Burritos $5.50, certainly a bargain.

I ordered the Al Pastor Burrito, and it is MASSIVE. They grill the tortillas, which makes them 100% more awesome. The burrito contained rice, beans, onions, cheese, the meat (of course) - and, something of a surprise -- pineapple. It works, though.

They have their own red and green sauce, and I loved both of them - if anything, this sauce might cause me to prefer this cart when I'm in the mood for Mexican food.

On the way back to the office, I noticed another new cart has opened up on SW 2nd between Oak and Stark - hey, Mexican food! Maybe I'll try that next week.

Tasty Pasty! London Pasty Company - Cartlandia - SE 82nd & Springwater

I was teleworking today, and due to some terribly unfortunately timed work-related issues, had very little time for lunch. I took off down the street to Cartlandia, a pod I've never visited before.

I got there early, it was barely after 11am. A few of the carts weren't open. The very nicely Union Jack decorated London Pasty Company was open and had a couple of customers.

The owner was authentic, as one can easily tell by her accent. I ordered the traditional pasty, which has ground beef and mashed potatoes. It was ready within seconds (one of the great things about pasties, she said) - and I had to hurry out of there and eat it at home.

It was DELICIOUS. Very flavorful, buttery crust, good portions. $6. They offer some veggie options, as well.

I'd love to have had more time to look around, there appear to be several good choices at this pod.

Tabor - SW 5th and Stark - Schnitzelwich!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls of both sexes - I proudly present to you, the Schnitzelwich.
-
The name of this cart is "Tabor - Authentic Czech Cuisine" - but everyone knows it as the Schnitzelwich cart.

Their signature sandwich is HUGE, and absolutely amazing. I've pictured it, partially eaten, next to a Diet Coke can for size reference.

You can get it 'traditional' with breaded pork, or with chicken. It comes on a toasted ciabatta bun, with lettuce, horseradish, and a paprika spread.

Positive reviews for this sandwich and cart date back to 2006, this is one of Portland's most successful food carts... having been featured in local magazines, national reviews, placing in top 10 lists of America's best food carts -- you know, little things like that.

Aside from the spectacular Schnitzelwich, they feature daily soups, spaetzel, goulash, potato pancakes, muenster cheese sanwiches, sausages, and more.

If you have limited time to try out food carts, this is a "Must See" while in town.

I am very much a fan of this sandwich, the crispy schnitzel, the horseradish, the crisp lettuce - all of it combines to make a dangerously tasty meal that's hard to put down, despite being enormous*.

* Today, I noticed they've now started offering "half" Schnitzelwiches for $5, and for many people - this will be more than enough meal.

BBQ Pork with Rice and Kimchi - A Taste of Korea - SW 3rd and Stark

It's a very rainy day today, and I didn't want to travel far, yet I also wanted to try a cart I've not been to. There is a Korean cart, "A Taste of Korea" - conveniently located in the pod on SW 3rd between Stark and Washington.

All their dishes are displayed with full color photographs, which is helpful, but can also leave you standing there drooling on yourself for a good ten minutes before placing your order.

Spicy BBQ Pork for me today, please. Looks delicious.
Within 5 minutes, I was handed an extremely heavy container of rice, BBQ pork, noodles, and Kimchi (or gimchi, kimchee, or kim chee, depending on who you talk to) - plus a small salad with dressing.

$6, and definitely enough food for two meals.

Spicy, flavorful, delicious - all of it. If it weren't for the fact that there was SO much food, I'd have been upset that I ran out of Kimchi so quickly, as this was the best I've had, ever... cleverly hidden in a small condiment cup alongside the other items. Mmm. I even poured the remaining 'juices' over my noodles to keep the flavor train running.

I'm impressed. Good stuff, good prices, friendly service... and another cart I can say "wow, I can't believe I didn't try this out sooner..."

Mole Platter - Mr. Taco, SW 5th and Oak

Today I realized, during the entire time I've been doing this blog, I have neglected to stop at a single Mexican cart. There are plenty, almost as many of them as there are Thai food carts.

Perhaps they seemed the least exotic of the carts around, yet - they do often offer the best value for your money, with many offering tacos around $1.50 each, burritos for $5, etc.

Mr. Taco has been around for quite some time, and I think this was my first time stopping there. They have a rather extensive menu, and -- MOLE SAUCE. So, today I ordered the Mole Platter.

It came with a generous amount of small corn flour tortillas packaged in tinfoil, so they kept warm. Refried beans with cheese and a scoop of rice on the side.

The mole was very tasty, not too sweet, and was generously applied to the tender, almost shredded chicken. I actually ran out of tortillas and finished up the remainder with my fork.

Unfortunately, I didn't notice their sign advertising a new dish, which was a cactus platter. This is something I may want to try in the near future, to help erase a traumatic childhood memory where my stepmother taught us that cacti were edible, and proceeded to pull some out of the back yard, prepare and serve it to us - without taking all the spines out. We were picking it out of our tongues for a week. Don't try this at home.

Yeah. Maybe this cart will help undo my fear of eating cactus. Maybe.

Overall review: Good stuff, generous portions, and a very robust menu. Breakfast is also offered, this is one of the carts that is almost ALWAYS open. Tortas, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and more. Their hot sauce is amazing, if you like to sweat while eating your food... which I do.

Crispy Beef Tongue with Fennel - Big Ass Sandwiches, SW 3rd and Ash

OK, I admit it. Before today, I was a Big-Ass virgin. Despite glowing reviews, television plugs and appearances, and so on -- I'd never ordered my lunch from the famous Big-Ass Sandwiches cart on SW 3rd and Ash.

I had no clear idea what I wanted for lunch today, but figured I'd head back in that direction to see if there had been any changes to the carts on this corner.

Luckily for me, today was a special day at Big-Ass sandwiches, they had a guest chef on board for the day - Kevin Sandri (of Garden State fame) - serving up his own menu of sandwiches...

Which lead me to order the irresistibly described Crispy Beef Tongue with Sauce Gribiche and Fennel & Apple slaw.

There were already a few people lined up, and it did take a few minutes to get my food, but WOW - was it worth it!

Served on a toasted Ciabatta bun, the beef tongue had a light breading and was, as advertised, quite crispy. Very rich in flavor, the sauce and the fennel and apple slaw made a perfect flavor combination. This is only the second time I've eaten beef tongue, and can now say I am definitely a fan of the stuff.

I know this isn't their normal menu, but a good impression has been made and I'll be back to try some of their regular offerings in the future. (Besides, this place is one of the most positively reviewed food carts in the world... there must be something to that)

Check out their web site for their regular menu, links, etc.

.. oh, and did I mention how awesome this sandwich is? WOW. I feel like royalty eating this.

Green Curry with Duck and Avocado - Bangkok Duck and Chicken - SW 10th & Alder

I went for a walk today at lunch, up to the cart pods on SW 9th and 10th off of Alder. This is by far the most populous encampment of Portland food carts, and is home to some of the most successful of the bunch.

Imagine my surprise when I came across Bangkok Duck and Chicken.
If you have duck on the menu, I'm interested. This stopped me dead in my tracks as I looked over the menu of what appears to be a fairly standard Thai/Curry setup -- only, with duck. - Curry *and* duck... and this dish, #6 on the menu, the Green Curry with Duck and Avocado. No need to look any further, folks. This was where I was getting lunch today.

Served with a VERY generous portion of rice, the curry and other ingredients were placed in a separate container. Definitely enough for two meals.

While waiting on the food, I chatted with the owner a bit, who didn't hesitate to tell me this was the best curry around. I asked how long he'd been there, and, much to my surprise -- the answer was "two years" - and that he had, in fact, changed the appearance of the cart a tad recently.

At least 100 times, I must have walked right by this cart and never noticed. I reviewed the cart right next to it as one of my first posts to this blog. Yet, here I was, waiting on my food from what I thought was a relatively new cart... WITH DUCK. How could I have missed it?

My love affair with duck has only occurred over the last year or two -- before then, I'd never had it, to my knowledge. Now, if there's duck on the menu, I'll often order it, as I'm enjoying all the duck dishes.

This curry is no exception - this is AWESOME. The curry is, indeed, delicious - and may be one of the best curries in Portland, as the owner claims. A *lot* of duck meat, alongside crisp bell peppers, avocado chunks, and cashews. As much as I want to eat the whole thing, this is really enough food for two and there's no way I will finish it all at the moment, despite that urge that good spicy Thai food gives me to just keep shoveling it in until there's nothing left.

Bangkok Duck and Chicken, SW 10th and Alder.

Give Pizza a Chance - SW 5th and Stark

Another long-running cart in the area is Give Pizza a Chance - featuring locally sourced, organic ingredients, their own cane-sugar sweetened sodas, breadsticks, etc.

I've been there many, many, many times - but never blogged about it - Today, they had a special with Canadian bacon, goat cheese, onions, and garlic - and it smelled awesome, so I just had to stop and have a slice.

Just look at that! Behold the awesomeness that was this tasty slice of pizza. SO very good.

If you're downtown looking for a quick bite to eat, this is a good bet - I've never been disappointed.

Sure, not a very long blog entry - but, yeah, two thumbs up for quality on this cart's food. It's pizza.

Hungary Stew with Nutty Rice - Vegan and Gluten-Free cart on SW 2nd and Stark

Yesterday while I was out scouting out lunch, I had obtained my food and was walking past one of the stranger looking carts around, located at the corner of SW 2nd and Stark - (Formerly The Spudlocker, Joclyn's Ciao Chow, and Healthy Corner) - there had been a yellow wooden heart that appeared on the sides of the cart in recent weeks...
and ... on this occasion, a friendly young lady with bright blue eyes and some taster cups.

I tried their Winter Spice Curry sample, as it was clear I already had a meal in my hands... and, let me tell you - this was a fine soup, indeed. I promised I would come back to the cart on a day I hadn't already obtained my lunch.

Today was the day. This cart offers only vegan and gluten-free soups and sides, and coconut milk to drink. $8 for the meals, $2 for the coconut milk.

I ordered the Hungary Stew with Nutty Rice as the side.

Lentils, carrots, onions, red peppers, ginger, and a generous helping of spices that give it a nice kick. Very tasty... and filling.

So far, their offerings are Winter Spice Curry, Bourbon Jambalaya, and Hungary Stew, with sides of rice or quinoa and coco-kale-something or other.

Another fine option to vegans in the land of food carts, regardless of my inability to quite recall the options for sides.

There was no catchy title listed anywhere on the cart, so I'm not sure if they have a name or if it's just 'vegan and gluten free' like at the top of the menu.
Maybe I should be more talkative next time.

Chicken Burrito with Spicy Chipotle sauce - The Burrito Box, SW 3rd and Washington

The Burrito Box is a bright yellow cart on the corner of SW 3rd and Washington. I've been there a few times, and enjoyed the food, yet hadn't been back since I started this blog.
(To be fair, this cart opens at 11:30 most days, and by then, I've already retrieved my lunch)

I was in search of the Wild West, which is their buffalo burrito. [Fantastic, by the way] - Unfortunately, their menu is somewhat rotational and this was not the day for buffalo. Not to worry, though, the mix of ingredients available at this cart give you some tasty non-traditional burrito options.

One clear point about The Burrito Box - This is *not* a Mexican food cart.

The owner/operator, Cameron, uses fresh local ingredients (which is a common theme here, of course) - throws your tortilla on the grill and whips up tasty burritos with mixtures of chicken, pork, tofu, red quinoa, hummus, rice, collard greens, pinto or black beans, etc. (and sometimes, buffalo!)

The portions are generous and the flavors are rich. You can also order a quesadilla, or soft tacos, if you've got a smaller appetite.

So, I had the chicken with spicy Chipotle sauce, and it was filling, delicious, and spicy enough to break a sweat. Perfect.

Chili Dog - Olympic Grill - SW 3rd and Ash

Chili dog. Despite there being several places to get hot dogs and sausages from food carts in Portland, surprisingly few of them offer chili dogs.

I wandered aimlessly today, not sure what I wanted, and came across Olympic Grill, just across the street from Ankeny's Well.

They feature Philly Cheesesteaks quite prominently, along with Chicago style hot dogs, chips, and soda.

It was about 11:30am, they were open, and I was third in line - the people ahead of me appeared to be regulars who had been here often.

We were admiring a green couch on the sidewalk in front of the cart that had mysteriously appeared overnight. The owner was friendly and talkative and very hard at work creating sandwiches for everyone, while discussing the fate of the mystery couch.

Everything on the menu looked good, and I will have to come back and try the cheesesteak options in the near future.

In the mean time - the chili dog was great - for $5, it was a satisfying meal, topped with chili, onions, and mustard. It's getting harder and harder to find a $5 lunch from carts, but I'd recommend this one if you're feeling like having a good chili dog.

Pork Leg Stew from SomTum Gai Yang - SW Stark between 2nd and 3rd

SumTum Gai Yang is the name of the signature dish served by this cart (a papaya salad with chicken or pork), and this particular location is is their 2nd (they have another cart at the pods between 9th & 10th on Alder)

Although it is their namesake, this is not what I ordered today.

Khao Kha Moo, a dish I've never seen or heard of before -- sounded really good. Pork leg stew over sticky rice.

It smelled absolutely fantastic, and I couldn't wait to give it a try. The pork was tender and juicy, and practically fell apart when touched with a fork. It had a light sweetness to it, perhaps cinnamon or a similar spice. The meal was served with pickled mustard greens and half a boiled egg, and some chili oil. I can't emphasize enough how tender and tasty this pork is - you can tell it was cooked slow and low with lots of care.

This is another one of the 'not typical' Thai food carts - I had incorrectly assumed it was 'just another Thai cart,' as there are many, and many almost exactly alike, in every cart pod in town.

Reasonable prices, not-so-average choices, good stuff.

I am getting full and a quarter of my meal still remains... yet I don't know that I'd want to let this delicious pork go to waste... so I may just stuff myself and deal with it.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings - The Sausage Shack, SW 3rd and Stark

A cold, rainy day in Portland (imagine that) had me wanting to stay close to work for lunch. A cart I've passed just about every day but never bothered to stop at - The Sausage Shack - was open earlier than usual, so I figured I'd see what they had going on.

They have a large flatscreen in a window displaying various menu items, such as burgers, corn dogs, sausages, and the like - and proudly displayed in their window was a trophy claiming them winners of the "2011 Bacon Cup."

The screen faded in and out of various offerings, then, two of my favorite things in one dish: Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings.

Now, how awesome could that be? I ordered half a dozen. They took about 10 minutes to cook, the sauce choices were "spicy, BBQ, or BBQ spicy" -- I went for the spicy, as I have a preference for savory over sweet.

This gave me ample time to stand watching the flatscreen display all the sinful, heart-attack inducing cuisine they have to offer.

Fries, curly fries, cheese fries, chili-cheese fries, bacon wrapped corndogs, and burgers of various configurations including their "Paul BrOnion Burger" - which features a full pound of meat (beef and bratwurst) - chili dogs, chili burgers... it's quite an extensive menu.

The wings wrapped in bacon were, indeed, a lovely combination. I personally prefer my spicy wings be hot enough to make my scalp sweat. These weren't that spicy, but still quite enjoyable (and I realize not everyone likes their wings as hot as I do) - The breading was subtle, which is always good, and wrapping it in bacon - truly inspired. Mmm. Very nice.

I'm sure I'll be back to try the chili dog or chili burger in the near future, other guilty pleasures I indulge in on occasion... though this seems to be more of a 'late' cart, in that they often aren't open when I go to lunch, but appear to be open in the evenings and late into night and early morning hours - unlike many carts in this pod.

Crispy Basil Tilapia - Thai Tea Clean Food Good Taste, SW 2nd and Oak

Definitely one of the lengthiest names for a food cart downtown, Thai Tea Clean Food Good Taste is located on SW 2nd Ave between Oak and Stark. This cart has been in this location a while now, and today I had a craving for their signature dish, the Crispy Basil Tilapia.

There are plenty of Thai carts in Portland, and you can expect your standard stir fry and curry dishes at just about any of them. It helps to have something to stand out, and this dish certainly qualifies.

The Tilapia is lightly breaded and pan fried while you wait, then served in a Thai sauce with onions, crispy basil leaves, green and red bell peppers, mushroom, and some rice on the side. Simply delicious, and has that extra "hey, this is good for me" feel to it. Not the first time I've had this dish, and each time it was excellent, the fish was cooked 'just right' and I ate every bite.

As for the rest of the menu, hey offer all your standard Thai favorites, along with potstickers, coconut shrimp, Thai iced tea, etc. Chicken, beef, shrimp and tofu can be selected with any dish.

It's good food, clean food, and tastes good - so the lengthy name is appropriate.
Mmmm..

Skewed Concoctions on SW 3rd and Stark - Pork Satay

For today's adventure, I thought I'd try out Skewed Concoctions, which opened up in the spot of a former Thai cart on SW 3rd between Stark and Washington. I've seen it a few times while scouting out lunch, but nothing had jumped out at when casually strolling past...

I took a closer look at the menu this time -- They actually have a lot of offerings, for a variety of tastes. Chicken, Beef, and Pork Satay... Wings... Teriyaki -- all on sticks. (Those who prefer no sticks in their meat, they will kindly remove them after cooking if you'd like) - Pad Thai (veggie, even)- Papaya salad. Something for everybody.

You can order skewers of meat a la carte, or in a meal. I ordered the Pork Satay meal.

It was served with rice, a small cup of chopped up apples, cucumber, and onions, and what I thought was cole slaw - turns out it's served hot, and has broccoli in it. This was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Very tasty, and perfect on a day like today where we had snow in the early morning and heavy rain following.

The eggroll was delicious - one of the more flavorful ones I've had (and there are plenty of eggrolls to be had from Portland food carts) - I didn't need to dip it in anything.

Same goes for the Pork Satay - it was wonderful all by itself, great flavor - then, I added the peanut sauce (of course) -- it had a very subtle smokey flavor to it that stood out - in fact, I almost want to guess there may be some coffee involved in its creation. HIGHLY recommended.

I kept eating rice just to add the peanut sauce, until it was all gone. Wow, that was good.

Try this place out. :D

Salmon Fusion on SW 3rd between Stark and Washington - Salmon Chowder Breadbowl

The sorely missed Gin Thai cart has been reopened, this time as "Salmon Fusion," - a cart specializing in bringing you salmon in many, many forms.

There have been a few 'fish and chips' carts that have come and gone over the last few years, the only one I can think of that has staying power is The Frying Scotsman - which was never solely a fish and chips cart in the first place. (also the only place I've ever had Haggis, but that's another story)

Salmon Fusion, however, brings a little more to the table than a fish and chips cart... in fact, "Fish and Chips" isn't an option here.

Everything in their menu is salmon based, but there's a bit of variety.

For instance - Salmon chowder, salmon tacos, salmon pot pie, smoked salmon sliders, salmon pita wrap, bagels with salmon and cream cheese, salads (with salmon)... you get the point.

I didn't notice until I looked at the menu AFTER leaving, that they have two dessert offerings that... I guess I'll have to try at some point... though hesitantly -- "Peppermint dark chocolate salmon," and "Peppermint white chocolate salmon" - $4.
I'm really not sure how to interpret that, but I am certainly curious. An opportunity for another visit, perhaps.

The owner has worked deep sea fishing in Alaska, and catches and smokes the salmon himself. He was giving out samples of the chowder to passersby, and had quite a line of interested patrons.

Now, I'm a sucker for soup in breadbowls. I've always loved that method of soup delivery, so the chowder was my pick for my first Salmon Fusion meal. It was served, as advertised, in a breadbowl (Alessio Baking provides the baked goods) - along with Hawaiian coleslaw, saffron rice, and a wedge of dried pineapple with some cayenne pepper coating it.

The chowder was delicious, filling, and disappeared way too fast - and there was plenty of it. I needed to save room for the slaw and some rice. The slaw was a little on the sweet side (That must be Hawaiian style, I suppose) - and I ate all of that, as well. Now, left in my takeout container, is about half a breadbowl, cleaned of any trace of chowder, and most of the rice - but I simply cannot eat any more - this was A LOT of food.

$7.50 - not too shabby, especially considering you could probably feed two people with this meal.

"Welcome to the neighborhood." - Another cart I'm sure to return to.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes -- Bacon Gorgonzola burger from Happy Grillmore

Today marks my first 'repeat' of a cart on my blog. Since the purpose of the blog isn't necessarily to catalog food carts in Portland, but rather to tell of the adventures I have eating at them (and plug the good ones, of course) - I don't see why I can't blog about a cart more than once.

I've previously mentioned my love of Happy Grillmore - Voted as Best Food Cart Burger in Portland, a well deserved honor, indeed.

Today is their last day here at the pod on SW 3rd between Stark and Washington, as they've been invited to bring their tasty sandwiches up to the Microsoft campus in Redmond. Darren and Kryse, the owners, were all smiles today, as they prepare to move on to this adventure - unfortunately for Portland, that means we'll be "Happy Grillmore-Free" until May. Sorry for the teaser, if you can't get there today.

Naturally, I had to stop by and have one of their award-winning burgers before they leave. One of today's specials was the Bacon Gorgonzola burger. To quote one of my favorite movies, "Mmhmmm, this is a tasty burger..."

Click here for the clip...

I've been to this cart many, many times - and never have I had sandwich I wouldn't describe as FANTASTIC.

So, good luck to them on their next adventure.

For tomorrow, the cart that used to be the dearly departed Gin Thai has opened up as "Salmon Fusion," which I just noticed walking by with my burger today. I'll have to try that out.

...and if you're going to be up near the Microsoft campus over the next few months, stop by and have one of Happy Grillmore's awesome offerings.

Wayang House - SW 9th and Alder - Nasi Campur

Today, another brisk walk up to the cart pods on SW 9th - more exercise, and some carts that are new to me.
Wayang House caught my attention - partially because I'm not too familiar with Indonesian food, and, well, the girl at the window was very pretty and was smiling at me.

The menu was short, 5 items. Nasi Campur, Nasic Uduk, Kari Ayam, Gado Gado, and one that I can't recall now, but was tofu based, and featured pineapple, if I recall correctly. [Blogger FAIL, yes, I know.]

Often, such adventures lead to education, as I tend to look up some of the dishes I'm not familiar with on the 'net to make sure I'm describing them properly.

I had the Nasi Campur, which literally translates to "mixed rice" - but as a dish is served, typically, with meat over rice, vegetables, eggs, and shrimp chips. I'm guessing the crunchy pita-shaped thing was, indeed, a 'shrimp chip' - and was very tasty. This presentation is served with a boiled egg, though in my brief research, fried eggs are common, as well. Allow me to go on about the shrimp chip - this would be a dangerous snack food to have around in large quantities. Light and crisp and addictive.

The meat was spicy, it had quite a kick to it. Spicier than the Siga Watt I get from the nearby Ethiopian cart. The seasonings were delicious and unlike anything else I've ever tasted... this is good stuff!

Dishes are mostly $6, mine was $7, and appears to be the 'deluxe' item. It certainly tastes that way to me.

Check this place out. I have a feeling every one of their menu items is fantastic. I'd imagine if you like Thai food and want to change things up a bit, this would be a great alternative cuisine.