Rockabillies

[Update Aug 2011- reopened]
Location: SE 43rd and Belmont

The Story:

Take a bright fire engine red vintage travel trailer, create a menu of tasty panini style sandwiches and have owners who have been serving Portlanders for years and you get Rockabillies. And, just in time for summer night noshing downtown. [updated July 2010 - Rockabillies moved to SE 43rd and Belmont]

Rockabillies is the creation of Rudy and Morgan Morgan who have done their tour at local bars for the last few years and wanted to try something new. One of the first carts to open at a new pod at SW 4th and Burnside, Rockabillies is expanding the late night options for hungry club and concert goers. Rudy worked at Dante’s for awhile, so has an ace in the hole with that crowd only 50ft away. Nice placement! Rockabillies focuses on sandwiches and late night fried food.

As a first time visitor, I opted for the tuna melt. I rarely see that at a cart and thought it would go perfect with the cool spring day. Rudy’s tuna melt is made with good flavorful artidsan bread with freshly made tuna salad mixed with finely chopped red onion and topped with cheddar cheese. It is then grilled in a panini press to finish. When I saw the sandwich prior to being put in the press, I was concerned with the size, but that press mushed it down perfectly, making a nice manageable sandwich. The grilling created a crunchy buttery crust with little bits of melted cheese that had dripped out and cooked up on the grill. You know those bits – dark, crunchy, decadent. I could eat a whole plate of that. Overall, the sandwich was great. A good size and made well for a low price.

Rockabillies is now open on SW 4th and W Burnside. (You know Burnside is only E or W right?) Rudy and Morgan open for lunch during the week too feed the office workers and with a close proximity to old town, they have a captive audience who may not want to venture further south. Rockabillies also opens for the late night crowd on the weekends, including Sunday nights till 3am. Check out their sandwich offerings and deep fried cheese curds and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Update August 2011-  reopened under new owners. Still offering Sandwiches, but we’re not sure if the menu is completely the same.

Sample Menu:

• The Hillbillie: smothered pulled pork sandwich on pub bun topped with tangy cole slaw – $6
• BLTT Two Ways: bacon, lettuce, tomato and turkey – served cold or grilled panini style – $6
• Rockin’ Reuben: traditional reuben – $6
• Hot Rod Ham and Cheese: hot ham and your choice of cheese – $6
• Turkey Rancher: turkey, red onions, roasted red peppers, ranch dressing, mayo, pepper-jack cheese – $6
• Big Daddy Tuna Melt: fresh made tuna salad, cheddar cheese and grilled panini style – $6
• Basil Bomb: pesto, basil, Mozzarella, tomato – $6
• French Fries, Onion Rings, Fried Pickles or Fried Cheese Curds – $3

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11am-6pm; Saturday, 11am-3am; Friday/Saturday/Sunday, 11pm-3am
Phone: 503-381-5613
Twitter: @Rockabillies Facebook: Rockabillies