Brown Chicken Brown Cow PDX

[Update: Closed, May 2011]
Location: North Station, N Killingsworth and Greeley

The Story:

I know there are other colors for chickens and cows as I grew up in the country, but is that not the best name for a cart? I understand there is a joke behind that name, so I’ll need to ask Heather and Kevin the next time I visit so I can pass it on. Brown Chicken Brown Cow PDX is now open at North Station.

When I first heard of Brown Chicken Brown Cow PDX, I was intrigued. Heather, a Texan, along with Kevin, a Yankee decided to put their two taste histories together to create a menu that mixed the flavors of Texas and Connecticut. I know, sounds odd, but I tell you what, it works. The Texas influence comes in the form of breakfast tacos straight out of Austin. The Connecticut influence is presented as a steamed cheeseburger.

Steamed cheeseburgers are a mainstay in the NE I understand, dating back to the 1900s. You take a hamburger and put it in a stainless steel oven which steams it until done. No grill. Cheese is either added to the burger at the beginning or put on once it is finished. I had never had one of these gems until visiting BCBCPDX. I’m a huge burger fan and Portland has some amazing options in this field – Castagna, Higgins, Le Pigeon, BrunchBox, Stanich’s.  At home, after a quick bike ride from the cart, the burger was given a moment to “rest.” This is something I allow all my burgers to do. All those wonderful juices are stuck inside the burger and need to cool a little in order for the rich flavors to seep back into the meat. I took that first bite and the burger melted in my mouth. Nothing more than the burger, cheese, lettuce, onion and tomato were needed to make this a tasty sandwich. This was high quality beef, steamed to a perfect medium rare bathing your tongue that richness you rarely get to experience.

The other specialty of BCBCPDX is the breakfast taco – specifically the Migas Taco. I needed to try one. Starting with a handmade flour tortilla, the Migas is eggs scrambled with onions, bell peppers, jalapenos and tortilla chips. The tortilla was thicker than normal, giving it that chewy floury taste that I love. The tortilla chips gave the taco a unique texture and flavor – almost like putting chips in a sandwich. Wish I could get down there more often for breakfast.

Brown Chicken Brown Cow PDX is ready for you to visit. After their first week of being open, Kevin and Heather decided to take a mini vacation over the holiday weekend, knowing it would probably be their last for awhile. They are rested up and have now opened their doors for the summer rush. Next time you are up north, give BCBCPDX a try – that burger will knock your socks off – and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[Updated June 7, 2010: hours updated and burgers and tacos offered all 5 days]

Sample Menu:

• Breakfast tacos with any 3 items: chorizo, eggs, black beans, homefries, avocado, cheddar – $2.50
• Migas taco: eggs, onion, bell pepper, jalapeno pepper and tortilla chips on flour tortilla – $3
• Steamed Cheeseburger: 1/4lb local beef w/ cheese, red onion, lettuce and tomato served on Upper Crust bakery bun – $6
• Steamed Cheese Sandwich: choice of veggies served on hamburger bun or sourdough

Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11am-8pm; Saturday, 9am-8pm
Phone: 503 970 6746
Email: bcbcpdx@gmail.com
Facebook: Brown Chicken Brown Cow PDX