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.

Angel's Cabana - SW 10th and Alder - Platanos con Carne

Today, I took a long walk to the pods on SW 9th and 10th, partially to get some exercise, and also because I've been sticking to a 2-3 block radius with my last few lunchtime adventures...

Strolling past the carts on 9th, I noticed a whole slew of new (to me) carts I'll most likely be trying and reviewing in the near future - but I kept going, just to get a good look at everything available in these two pods.

I ended up stopping at Angel's Cabana, because... well, they had plantains. El Cubo de Cuba has been closed for a few weeks for 'winter break,' and I've missed their tostones... plus, it was a good chance to check out a cart I've never tried before.

Angel's Cabana features Caribbean and Central American food of various sorts, and their "Platanos con Carne" looked delicious on the display out front.

They offer a shrimp ceviche, empanadas, several yuca-based dishes, baliadas, papusas, and more - several egg based dishes, and they're open at 8AM for those looking for a nice, hearty breakfast.

Now, on to the Platanos con Carne -- an entire plantain, halved, at the base, with black beans, ground beef, onions, celery, tomato, and 'crema' - which, to me, seemed like a great savory yogurt rather than simply cream, as the name implied.

The plantains absorbed the juices of everything above it, and though they were sweeter than I would have preferred, it worked well, and I ate every single bite with little to no hesitation.

I'm very full, very happy, and I need a nap now. I'll start that low-carb healthy eating stuff another day, I guess.

Wagsy's - SW 5th and Oak - "Rip City" - Roast Beef with Garlic Sauteed Mushrooms

Today, I stopped by a brand new cart just opening up - Wagsy's - on Oak between SW 4th and 5th, in the spot formerly occupied by Spaghetti al Ragu.

Their menu is 'short and sweet,' but the sign claims "Wagsy's Hot Beef Sandwiches - simply the best."

Their offerings are simple - but doing simple things very well often pays off, as evidenced by many carts in Portland.

They offer a standard Philly Cheesesteak, a "Chi-Town Beef Dip" au jous dipped sandwich, a Maker's Mark infused Bourbon BBQ sauce on their "Beef-n-Bourbon," the "Rip City" (which is what I ordered) - Roast Beef covered with garlic-sauteed mushrooms... and even... *gasp* a VEGETARIAN sandwich featuring the garlic-sauteed mushrooms, peppers, cheese, and cabbage.

The beef on my sandwich was plentiful, and very tender - and the sauteed mushrooms were BIG CHUNKS of mushroom, instead of thin slices.

VERY good. Served open-faced on a delicious roll.
I ate the whole thing in record time.
(Pay no mind to the blog I did yesterday regarding losing weight, the temptation of trying a new cart was too much...)

To top it off, when I was handed my meal, it came with a octagonal yellow token for $1 off my next sandwich. Awesome.

Phở from Thien Nghi's on SW 3rd and Stark

Yes, I know, I visited this cart last week.
I couldn't get the Phở off my mind, though, so I found myself there again today.

I gained 15lbs from the time I left on my work trip to North Dakota, and this festive holiday season... so Phở seemed like a good way to start out the year, full of nutrients but not necessarily a carbfest of epic proportions - I'm trying to get rid of the festive holiday pounds, after all.

The thing that drew me to their Phở was the photos on the outside of the cart, tastefully displayed in plates, large chunks of meat... Naturally, you get your Phở in a round cardboard jug, since this is a cart, but the photos were, indeed, indicative of what to expect within.

This was the most meaty Phở I've had from a cart. This is a good thing. Sometimes, I've ordered it and they've left me channeling Clara Peller from the old 80's era Wendy's commercials.
(For those of you born in the 80's and beyond, this was Wendy's once very famous series of ads, featuring an old lady asking,"Where's The Beef?" when checking out competitors' burgers)

Where the real treat was, however, came when I added some of the hot sauce and plum sauce they provided to add to the mix.

WOW, this is GREAT plum sauce - probably the best I've tasted. MMm...

Here's to eating a more healthy cart-food diet while I recover from the excesses of the season. Stay tuned...

... and, hey, check out Thien Nghi's - so far, nothing but compliments on their offerings.