Mar 10 2010
Sawasdee Thai, one of Portland’s venerable Thai carts up on SW Alder at 9th avenue, is showcased today on VendrTV. Our good friend Dan Delaney checks out the kitchen and tells you what you need to know about Thai food and the Sawasdee cart.
Check out our own profile of Sawasdee Thai food and happy carting.
Mar 09 2010
Hey all, there’s a party in need of a food cart. BARISTA, Billy Wilson’s espresso joint, is having a one year anniversary party on Saturday the 13th and wanted to give people a sneak peak at their new location on NE Alberta. They want a food cart to feed the masses. Anyone want to help them out? If so, contact BARISTA at info@baristapdx.com.
Mar 09 2010
Location: SW 9th and Alder
The Story:
You may know Valhalla Sandwiches from when they were in SE Portland down behind Dollar Scholar in 2009. In the past six months, they have done some moving about and even acquired a new cart. Now located at SW 9th and Alder, Valhalla Sandwich Co. is a great new addition to that Pod.
I first heard about Valhalla Sandwiches last summer via Twitter and emails. At that time, with a new cart opening almost daily, I was never able to make it out to their SE location before they closed and announced their move downtown. When winter came, we saw their panel truck parked at the corner of SW 4th and Hall. I ventured down a couple of times, but they were always closed. Finally, in January, we saw tweets about the new cart moving to SW 9th and Alder and they reopened in February. I guess SW 4th and Hall had some challenges with power and they were unable to get their equipment running properly there – thus the move. Continue Reading »
Mar 09 2010
There are some events coming up and we wanted to let you know about them. Some are looking for carts to participate.
Seattle is hosting their 3rd annual Mobile Chowdown this Saturday, March 13. This event brings the best of Seattle’s food carts to a single location for their customers to partake. They are dubbing this year as a Seattle vs. Portland showdown, but come on, having it in Seattle kinda gives them an advantage. Portland carts are going to represent though – Koi Fusion, Potato Champion, Whiffies and Burgerville. If you are in Seattle or would love to go to a food cart festival up north, check out the Mobile Chowdown at Safeco field. Mobile Chowdown Details
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Portland’s Street of Dreams is looking to include food carts into this year’s August event. If you are a cart owner and would like to participate, please contact them at erics at hbapdx.org.
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Portland Parks and Recreation are planning an Earthday Festival in April where they would love to have 1 or 2 food carts. The event takes place on April 17th from 10 am until 2 pm, in SW Lair Hill Park. Portland Parks and Recreation City Nature is teaming up with the local Waldorf School and Neighborhood Association, so they are estimating an attendance of at least 500 to 600 hungry people. If you want to participate, please contact Tori Newburn at 805-279-9223.
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Festival of Nations “A Gathering at the River” is a cultural celebration centered on Native American traditions welcoming to all. Held September 24-26, 2010 in the Cascade Locks Marine Park, they offer free entertainment; a 10k Salmon Run; crafts and more to celebrate the communities of the Columbia River Gorge. For a vendor application or more details, please contact Rebecca Gandy 503.753.4267 or rebgandy@comcast.net.
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If you hear of an event that is looking for food carts, let us know and we’ll get the word out.
Mar 06 2010
Location: N Killingsworth and Greeley
The Story:
We’re probably going to be talking about the newest pod to come to town over the next month. Refuel North Station is open for business and is gradually adding carts. Along with Saucy’s and Brother Bob’s Bakery, the most recent cart to set up shop is El Rancho Mexican Food and we visited there this past week.
El Rancho is my kind of taqueria. With a simple menu of burritos, tacos, sopes, huaraches and even breakfast plates, it is where we’ll be spending many weekend lunchtimes come spring and summer. When we visited, they were still working out some minor kinks, so the menu didn’t have prices, but we ordered a nice veggie burrito and a few tacos and it was only $7, so I think the price is right!
The veggie burrito we enjoyed was mushroom and spinach. I peeked inside when the owner threw the spinach and mushrooms on the grill and swear it was the first time used. That was the cleanest grill I have seen. Watching the spinach wilt while the mushrooms sauteed made my mouth water. They threw it all on a tortilla (also grilled) with some beans and lettuce and wrapped it up. We even had them throw a couple of jalapenos on the grill while it was hot. Continue Reading »
Mar 04 2010
Location: SW 5th and Stark
The Story:
Portland was first introduced to the Korean taco by Koi Fusion in 2009. Now we have a new cart on SW 5th offering them up without you having to know where they will be from one day to the next. Welcome Bulkogi Korean BBQ.
Korean tacos are usually defined by how the meat is cooked (Korean style with different methods of preparation) and what other toppings are included. For most, the uniqueness is from the kimchi that is added as filler. Mix these two together with some spice and you have a truly unique taco experience.
At Bulkogi, I ordered and enjoyed a Korean Chicken and Korean Beef taco. On their menu, they don’t list kimchi per se, but do let you know you are getting a “healthy Korean salad topping” with your taco. The tacos were a good size, two would be sufficient for lunch. The meat was well prepared and flavorful, yet what I liked the most was the Korean salad topping. It was made with shredded cabbage, finely chopped red onion, some lettuce and cilantro. It was all held together with a light spicy sauce that, when paired with the cilantro, gave the entire taco a zing. I love cilantro, but know it can sometimes overwhelm a dish. While there was a lot of cilantro here, it didn’t overwhelm, but complemented the taco nicely. I enjoyed both tacos and look forward to returning in a few weeks after they get in their groove to see if they are any different.
Bulkogi Korean BBQ is in the space where Dreamer’s cafe use to be, using the old Dreamer’s cart. They have modified it significantly with a front attached to the cart to create the serving counter you see here. Bulkogi is a family business, so like with most every cart, you’re ordering from the owner and chef and chief dishwasher. Lately, I have begun to appreciate that aspect of the carts so much more and enjoy having small chats with them about their stories. Check out Bulkogi next time your down there and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
All tacos come with Korean Salad topping
Hours: Lunchtime, weekdays
Contact: unknown
Mar 03 2010
The rumors are true, Koi Fusion is going brick and mortar. Bo Kwon, the owner and energizer bunny behind Koi Fusion is launching a restaurant in NW Portland at what was know as SOLO. Koi Fusion plans to offer their signature food and cocktails. While Bo and his crew will still be behind the wheels of their two trucks roaming around Portland and doing catering gigs, Chef Joe Anderson, formerly of Carlyle and the Portland City Grill, will run the kitchen with Joshua Palmer, the bar manager from Typhoon/Bo Bar, heading up the bar program called Studio 1. They will be separate entities – KoiFusion@1 and Studio 1. One for food, the other for drinks. This allows for each to be autonomous and minimizes the risks for both. What a great idea.
Koi Fusion has been a unique and fun addition to Portland’s Food Cart scene and we’re glad to see them succeed so well. I for one am excited to try what will be showcased at KoiFusion@1 – KFC – Korean Fried Chicken. Described as spicy, crunchy fried chicken in a tangy sauce – doesn’t that make your mouth water?
KoiFusion@1 is open now and are working out some of the minor kinks. They will be open 4pm-12am Tuesday through Saturday. Check them out at NW 13th and Lovejoy.
KoiFusion@1 and Studio 1
1300 NW Lovejoy
(503) 220-0080
www.koifusionpdx.com
@koifusionpdx on Twitter!
Mar 02 2010
Some items from the foodcart-o-sphere:
Food Carts Portland would like to wish BrunchBox a Happy 1st Birthday. Yes indeed. One year ago today, BrunchBox landed giving Portland a new option for lunchtime burger madness. Head on down to BrunchBox today or this week and congratulate them on their success. BrunchBox is at SW 5th and Stark and is open weekdays from 8am to late afternoon.
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Wicked Waffles and The Sugar Cube are opening this week. Wicked Waffles opened on Monday, providing North Portland another option for tasty waffle concoctions. Wicked Waffles is located at the new Refuel North Station at the corner of N Killingsworth and Greeley.
The Sugar Cube is reopening after a winter break and has been teasing us on Twitter with her tasty concoctions. If you have a sweet tooth, you have to visit The Sugar Cube. They are located at Mississippi Marketplace and plan on being open Thurs-Sat, 12-7pm and Sunday, 12-5pm. I know I am going to get me something with chocolate and salt and caramel.
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The Big Egg at Mississippi Marketplace has new hours for spring – open at 6:30am, Wednesday through Friday. Now you too can enjoy one of their great breakfast sandwiches on the way to work.
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Whiffies and Potato Champion, both of SE 12th and Hawthorne, are expanding their hours this week to include lunchtime. If you’re on the east side, you can now get your late night fix of pies and fries at noon.
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Garden State has indeed opened and has been crazy busy at their newest location at Mississippi Marketplace. During the past couple of months, the Sellwood location has been closed. But not for long. Kevin, the owner, Tweeted this weekend that the Sellwood location would reopen by Friday.
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Feb 28 2010
Location: SE 12th and Hawthorne, Cartopia
The Story:
On Friday or Saturday night, I am a sucker for fries or a pizza or a pie – all the wonderful things available at Cartopia down on SE 12th and Hawthorne. Yet, sometimes, you have a craving for something a little different – maybe a po’boy or some BBQ or even some jambalaya. Well, Bubba Bernie’s is there to sate that craving.
Bubba Bernie’s serves up a great mix of southern comfort food. The evening we visited, a cold dark Saturday night, we were able to sit comfortably at their tables under their awning warmed by their gas space heater. It was one of those nights when the only thing that could warm you was direct heat, and Bernie’s had it. We ordered a BBQ beef brisket sandwich and the vegan jambalaya with kale and veggie sausage. Continue Reading »
Feb 25 2010
Note: This a new series from Food Carts Portland focusing on the people behind the carts. We’ll be doing profiles, interviews and even a Q & A or two in the next few months with people who have helped make Portland’s cart scene what it is today. If you have any ideas for future profiles, let us know!
Jr. Ambassadors, the quirky little ice-cream, sandwich and soup cart on N. Albina near Blandina St. is closed for now, but it’s far from forgotten. Owner Rudy Speerschneider might not have had the most foot traffic at his bright orange hut, but he certainly continues to have a big impact on the cart scene. If you read Food Carts Portland on a regular basis you probably see Rudy – his Cheshire Cat grin graces the top left of our website banner. You can also read Food Carts Portland’s original profile of JR Ambassadors from 2008, HERE
Rudy was one of the first Portland “cartrepeneurs” to branch out to North Portland, back in 2007. This was when his stretch of North Mississippi/Albina was less coffee houses and clothing boutiques, and more odd semi-industrial businesses and corner mini-marts. Rudy had a deal for his space, too – in exchange for free rent from his landlord next door Rudy kept the lot clean and chased off vandals and other riff-raff. “Yeah, the neighborhood was still a bit sketchy when I first moved in,” Rudy recently reminisced, “but it made sense for what I wanted to do which was create a whole world around that cart and serve surreal and innovative food.” This world is a place Rudy and a group of collaborators called Mostlandia.
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