Todbott’s Triangles

CLOSED
Location: 2827 NE Alberta

The Story: One of the more “permi” carts, Todbott’s is set up in a shed right in the heart of Alberta Street’s restaurant row. The space is colorful and plain, but comfortable, and includes a nice outdoor patio and a few indoor seats. Just look for the colorful sign and bamboo awning at the left side of 2827 NE Alberta  St., and Todbott’s is just down the path in the back.

The Triangles here are actually Onigiri, a very traditional grab n’ go Japanese food. While the Japanese pretty much make theirs with white rice only these days, Todbott’s uses short grain brown rice stuffed with all manner of things from Japanese Umeboshi plum pickles, to creamy mayo-enhanced cured tuna to create fistful sized rice triangles that are then wrapped in nori seaweed. It’s simple, healthy zen food that adheres to many dietary principles, especially those in the Macrobiotic movement. Outside of a couple of fish offerings, everything else is vegan.

In keeping with tradition, Todbott’s also makes their own fermented Japanese pickles. Pickling is a real art form in Japan with some restaurants and stores in the pickle making businesses going back hundreds of years. The varieties at Todbott’s are known as Nuka-Zuke. This means seasonal vegetables such as cucumbers, beets, and radish are layered on a bed of seasoned rice bran, sometimes for up to three years. The results are pickles that are delicate, crunchy, slightly salty and filled with minerals, vitamins C and B, and loads of healthy enzymes to aid digestion.

Other items such as Miso soup, different Japanese teas, and house made Kombucha round out the offerings. Food here is made to order, fresh and is the antithesis of five-pound gut bomb burritos, greasy pizza slices, and fried food found at many a fast food joint, or even food cart for that matter. Todbott’s is a nice tonic when other foods might feel too heavy, but food here is still substantial enough to be counted as a solid meal.

Sample Menu:

Onígiri – nori wrapped brown rice triangles, stuffed with your choice of

• Tempeh and Shiitake simmered in organic sesame oil and tossed with Oregon coast sea vegetables and miso-mustard sauce. ($3.00)
• Kombu (kelp seaweed) and Umeboshi (Japanese Pickled Plum) ($3.00)
• Sea Spinach (preserved sea vegetables)  and Sweet Tamari mixed with toasted sesame seeds ($3.00)
• Dried Tuna in Saké-Sesame Sauce with chilis ($3.00)
• Wild Salmon and Umeboshi ($3.00)

Onigiri Combo One: Try all five varieties of onigiri in half-sized portions, plus a beverage. ($8.50)

Onigiri Combo Two: Three half size onigiri, with a side of nuka-zuke & miso. ($8.50)

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Misoshiru soup ($2.00)

Nuka-zukke: (House made Japanese fermented pickles ($1.00)

Drinks – Green Tea, Bancha tea, Genmaicha tea (made from brown rice), Kukicha tea: (Camellia sinensis leaves with the stems, stalks of the plant). ($1.50 per cup)

House brewed Kombucha, flavors vary week to wee ($2.00 per cup)

Hours: noon to 5pm. Tuesday – Saturday

Phone: 503 960 0025

Website: TodbottsTriangles.com