Ali Baba's
Location: SW 10th and Alder St.
Description:
The pod at SW 10th and Alder st. keeps growing, eventhough a long time cart like Asian Station has closed and is now for sale. Two spots up 10th sees the arrival of Ali Baba’s Turkish kitchen. I decided to stop by this week and see what they had to offer.
The my first impression was one of kindness. The owner welcomed me warmly, called me friend and engaged with me as if we had known each other for awhile. When I have an experience like that I know the person is passionate about what they are about to serve me and feel I’m in for a treat. Ali Baba’s offers up kofte and grilled chicken both in the form of sandwiches or salads or over rice.
Kofte Sandwich
I chose the kofte sandwich with sliced tomatoes, onion, shephard’s salad and cacik. Kofte is a traditional lamb and herb meatball usually made on a kebab. Ali Baba’s has them as meatballs and lays them on the vegetables in the sandwich. They are the perfect size. The sandwich may appear small. The day I arrived, they were still working out a sourcing issue, so had received smaller buns. The sandwich was perfect for me, but is normally larger. I got it for $5 instead of the listed price of $6.50.
Turkish Coffee from Ali Baba's
While my meal was being prepared, I noticed a small green post-it stating that Turkish coffee is offered after 1pm. It was only noon, so I had to wait or return. I indeed returned the next day and enjoyed an excellent Turkish coffee with the perfect amount of sugar. I was sufficiently awake the remainder of the day. I love the thickness and sweetness of the coffee. Ali Baba’s may become my new afternoon go to coffee spot.
Ali Baba’s is open from lunch through dinner throughout the week in case you have an odd schedule and can’t get to the carts during their normal lunch hours. They serve the Turkish coffee made fresh after 1pm and also offer up baklava and kadifi for you sweettooths. If you go, tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
- Kofte on rice with shephard’s salad and cacik – $6.50
- Kofte sandwich with sliced tomatoes, onion, shephard’s salad and cacik – $6.50
- Kofte on romaine with shephard’s salad and cacik – $6.50
- Grilled chicken on rice with shephard’s salad and cacik – $6.50
- Baklava – 2pc for $3
- Kadaifi with kaymak – $3
- Turkish coffee – $2.50
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11am-8pm (or earlier if not busy)
Contact: unknown
Other: Visa/MasterCard accepted
Just realized the owner knows a friend of mine, so I ran down to try it this afternoon.
Only had the baklava since I already had lunch. But it was really fresh, great with the kaymak. Looking forward to going back soon!
Turkish style Kebab (which is ubiquitous in Germany and other parts of Europe), pretty much kept me alive when I was a broke ass writer in Paris a few years ago. Living the dream – eating the Kebob. I bet Hemingway or Orwell would have done the same if they had the chance
In Paris however, the vendors serve Kebob with french fries (frites as they are obviously called there) covered with sauce and then stuffed inside the sandwich alongside the meat. Really, really addicting and I wish a cart was doing something similar in Portland. This cart does sound good though…
food was fresh and tasty. well done!must try the kofte sandwich!looking forward to eating there more!
Cuisine Bonne Femme – it isn’t a cart, but the Doner Kebab restaurant on 4th and Washington (right next to the purple octopus) will stuff a side order of fries inside a doner sandwich if you ask.
Thanks Natalie!
The Doner Kebab place on the 4th is a tasty place, but their doner kebab is nothing like a real doner kebab. It is made with turkey and does not taste like doner kebab (though it is sufficiently tasty).
Cuisine Bonne Femme – sometimes places in Turkey would serve with the fries stuffed inside, but I suspect this is to save on the meat and still make it look full. I think that is a more recent way of doing it – about 20 years ago, there were far fewer places doing that, 15 years ago, many more and now many more putting the fries with the doner kebab.
I tried the kofte today and it was well made.
EV: I’m not sure what you’re talking about but the place on 4th tastes comparable to the döners I had all over germany. Maybe you didn’t know this but turkey is a common meat used for döners in germany, for the simple reason that turkey is cheaper and healthier then lamb.
See, this is the thing: Kebab is so regional! In Paris, where I first had it it is never called Doner Kebab, just Kebab and yes, it comes stuffed with frites (French Fries). I don’t care if it is authentic Turkish, or not, served with turkey meat in Germany or what. Kebob in almost all its forms is just unbelievably good at 2 in the morning after a night of drinking too much – whatever country or city one is in.
Since Portlanders love their beer and imbibing and staying out late I bet Kebob with fries would be quite popular here.
CBF: you should go check the place out for youself I think they might be open late nights on weekends, that way you can decide for yourself if you like it.
I’d love to Jake. One small problem. I won’t be back to Portland until mid-January. But I’ll definitely check it out then!
Love the Kebab conversation happening here. So true it varies with each country what the meats consist of and their taste. If you ask a Turk about the Doner Kebab made with Turkey, they will say “nope” that’s not it. And if you taste the real Turkish version of the Doner meat, you might possibly feel the same. You will be amazed at the flavor that Ali has created in his Kofte Kebab. He has made sure its true to the Turkish culture and tradition. He takes great pride in his food, and he’s excited to bring more options in the near future. But for now, try the Kofte, you won’t be disappointed. From one admiring fan.
I was walking by Ali Baba’s last week and the owner told me he’d be serving Doner Kebab soon!
Hm… Just found this. I’ll be stopping by. Used to live in Turkey as a kid, and have been trying to find a decent and authentic local Turkish food establishment to frequent. Have eaten at the Doner Kebab place on 4th, and the food is petty good, but it still isn’t what I’d call authentic Turkish food, as it is kind of “Germanified” and is fusioned with other German food there to go with it… It would be like a Mexican looking to get authentic Mexican food at some of the American Mexican food chains. Taco Bell comes to mind, but I think Doner Kebab is better quality than that fast food establishment to deserve that sort of comparison. Hoping he starts adding some other Turkish items as well like dolmas, borek, and makes his doner kebabs Iskender style…
The kebob was real good although it could have been more than luke warm. The salad, shepard’s salad, well it was a little bit of lettuce with no real flavor. Rice was ok. For $6.50 I have not been back.
Thanks for bringing the Turkish cuisine to Portland. That is nice. The kebob is nice really pretty good. The salad needs to improve. Next time I will try the coffee.
(I posted this on Ali Baba’s Facebook fan page as well)
I hate to be a doner downer because the folks at Ali Baba’s are so nice, but I have to say I was disappointed in your doner kebab. I realize doner varies all over Europe, but this was nothing like the doner kebab I had in Amsterdam and Germany. It was basically just an unremarkable beef sandwich that was feather-light and not worth the money charged. The menu said it came with cucumber, but it had pickles instead. The red sauce didn’t add much flavor; it really needed a yogurt and/or tahini sauce. The bun was good, but not what I associate with doner kebab. I wanted to try the Iskender kebab, but you were out of the bread, so I will probably go for this next time because it sounds more like the doner I remember, which was always on crispy grilled bread with lots of meat (or falafel), plus 3 sauces (tahini, yogurt, and red), tons of cabbage, as well other veggies and sometimes cheese. That’s my idea of a perfect doner. Am I off-base here, fellow doner kebab lovers?
jake,
I am Turkish. Speaking of the Doner kebab place on the 4th. I never had doner kebab with turkey meat before. It didn’t taste anything like any doner kebab I had before. It was ok for food, but do not mistake it for doner. but what do i know…
Hey guys, not to be rude, but Ali’s cart is a representation of TURKISH food, NOT GERMAN FOOD, or any other! Everyone is of course entitled to their opinion, but don’t down grade him because it’s not like the meat you had in GERMANY or another country! And if there’s something you want different, more sauce, no pickles, just ask! Ali is more than willing to custom make any dish to please. Just because it’s DONER, don’t expect to be exactly what you had in GERMANY, how many years ago? Come on, give this hard working man a break. He’s busting a grove making the Turkish meal happen from a small kitchen! If you honestly don’t like it, tell him!! He welcomes your honesty!!
As someone who’s Turkish and was raised in Berlin (the birthplace of the modern doner kebab), I have to say that Ali Baba’s dishes are very close to what I’d eat at a Turkish restaurant in Kreuzberg. The combination of spices and the meat taste very authentic, although I’d prefer the toasted flatbread in the Iskender Kebab less soggy. Obviously, it will never match a real doner kebab in Turkey, but it’s far better than what I’ve eaten so far. I work 2 blocks away, so I go very frequently. The owners are very nice and I’ve never gotten a bad order so far. Recommended if you like doner kebab and live in Portland!
This place rocks, and this conversation is funny. I only had kebabs in Germany and Denmark a couple times and it was 10 years ago. When I was in Turkey 3 years ago I ate a lot of Kebabs but restaurants had limited menus (it was Ramazan). Seemed like food was a little different everywhere I went. So without having any real expectations, I really liked Ali Baba’s food. Since he is Turkish, I suspect he knows what he’s doing. Is Kofte still on the menu?
I love Turkish food, but am a vegetarian.
This cart is obviously heavy on the meat and kebab. On Tuesday I asked Ali and his wife about the red lentil soup (my favorite!) and if the broth used was the traditional chicken broth or a vegetable boullion. Unfortunately for me, it was made with chicken broth. They promised to make it without the chicken broth at some point in the future, but I was stunned when they updated on facebook that very afternoon saying they had made up a meatless batch! So Wednesday and Thursday have seen Turkish red lentil soup for lunch, served with bread or croutons. Yum!
This stand is great. The owner has been there every day I’ve ordered. He’s also the chef and he takes pride in his food. I think getting the meat over a bed of rice is best because it also comes with a big, delicious roasted pepper (not hot) and with the rice dish you get the most food for your buck.
The kofte meatballs are amazing. They only serve them on Thursdays and sometimes Fridays. When I ordered them, he walked over the fridge, pulled them out, and threw them on the grill fresh. That’s how it should be. The owner and the young lady who takes orders (daughter?) are super friendly.
Highly recommended.