Oct 28 2008

Waroeng Nasi

Published by JoJo at 9:13 am under CLOSED CARTS

**** THIS CART CLOSED EARLY 2009****

Location: South Waterfront District (located on corner of SW Moody and Abernathy, near Portland Streetcar). Delivery available to OHSU for $2.

Description: If you are a fan of Balinese and Indonesian food, you may be excited to know that Portland now has exactly ONE outpost of these fine vittles. Indonesian fare is a distinct cuisine in its own right, but it’s a safe bet that if you dig Thai and Vietnamese food, you’ll feel right at home with the curry, coconut, tamarind-laced dishes at this new(ish) cart, which is doing its part to remedy Portland’s dearth of this very fantastic fare. And if you have not had the pleasure to partake….well, now you have no excuse.

“Waroeng Nasi” roughly translate to “small roadside shack that serves rice”, according to owner Mike Hillis. The cart offers, of course, much more than rice – though the rice that accompanies the meals is far from ordinary. Seasoned with yellow turmeric and wafting with the faint scent of coconut, each fluffy grain is sepate and distinct – the opposite of sticky rice.

Hillis’ wife Priska, a native Balinese, makes all of the food fresh to order from family recipes. The Kare Ayam (pictured) consists of a generous helping of tender, cubed chicken breast that has been simmered in coconut milk and spices. It is both sweet and savory, but relatively mild with regard to spiciness. The vegetables (spinach, bean sprouts, blanched carrots and green beans) are fresh and vibrant, topped with a peanut sauce that is rich and nutty, but less sweet than the standard Thai variety. And the cart’s namesake rice, as described above, is quite lovely and more than ample.

I’m planning my next visit to Waroeng Nasi for a Thursday, so that I can partake in that day’s special: steamed fish in banana leaves with vegetables served in a clear, piquant broth…heaven!

3 responses so far

3 Responses to “Waroeng Nasi”

  1. ryanvb says:
    February 18, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    They seem to have closed/moved. Anyone know if there’s a new location?

  2. Jeff says:
    February 19, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    The carts down there say they’ve been gone for months.

    Can you update posts with a bolded notice if places have closed down?

  3. Ian says:
    February 21, 2009 at 1:14 am

    Bummer, I wanted to try this–but “South Waterfront” makes it no surprise they’re gone.

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