Food Carts Portland

Location: Lot 94, SW 3rd and Ash
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-1pm; Saturday, 10am-2pm

The Story:

There was a time, not so long ago, when there was a dearth of food carts serving the neighborhoods. Every so often, a taco truck would setup shop, but rarely would they become a mainstay. In the first decade of the 21st century, North Portland revitalized itself with new blood and new ideas, re-creating a myriad of bright and vibrant neighborhoods where there were once abandoned houses. Some of the new residents realized there were few options for eating, so they setup restaurants and bars. Another resident, David Stokamer, envisioned something totally different and opened his first food cart on north Lombard. Portland was introduced to the Dutch Taco, the first waffle sandwich.

At this point, Portland knows about the waffle as part of our daily offerings from the food carts and beyond. A breakfast item relegated to the freeway diners over the years, carts like Flavour Spot and subsequently Parkers Waffles and Wicked Waffles re-introduced it to Portland, but with pizazz. As a child I had always wondered what it would be like to mix bits of ham or sausage in with the batter of the waffle. While you don’t see that at the purveyors today, you do see the carts using the waffle where we would normally see a tortilla – wrapped around either sweet or savory fillings. Sausage. Ham. Gouda. Strawberries. Whip cream. You name it, Flavour Spot has it for their Dutch Taco.

Flavour Spot’s latest cart has opened in downtown at the new Lot 94 at SW 3rd and Ash. The bright fire-engine red cart allows for an expanded menu to include eggs and fresh fruit daily. You can take your pick of ham, 3 different types of bacon, sausage, strawberries, blueberries – you name it, they probably have it. I needed something to fill my gullet the other morning, so opted for the Sausage and Maple. Three sausages with pure organic maple spread inside a toasty crisp waffle. The maple was so thick and sweet, I don’t think I have ever actually had it pure. It mixed well with the pleasing porky flavor of the sausage. The waffle was crisp throughout, something required in my book. Overall, one tasty breakfast.

Flavour Spot is old school, having been around when food carts were just something you ate at on a whim. Yet, David has survived, grown and expanded, proving that you can make a living with a waffle. Kudos to you sir. Flavour Spot at Lot 94 is open for breakfast and lunch weekdays and on Saturday and hopes to expand to late night hours soon. When you get that craving for something sweet and unique, visit the original, Flavour Spot, and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

7″ waffles baked to order

• Sausage and Maple: pork sausage patties with organic maple spread – $5 [veggie patties available for extra $.50]
• Sweet Cream and Jam: whipped cream cheese with organic strawberry or raspberry jam – $3.75
• Sweet Cream with lemon or Nutella – $3.75
• Ham and Cheese: black forest ham with cheddar cheese – $4.50; with Smoked Gouda – $4.75
• MB9: organic maple spread, 6 slices of Canadian bacon, 3 strips domestic bacon – $6
• S’More: marshmallow fluff and Nutella – $3.75
• Daily specials featuring eggs, fresh seasonal fruit.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-1pm; Saturday, 10am-2pm
Phone: 503 282 YUMM
Website: FlavourSpot.com

Tags: Waffles