Closed 10/2011
Location: SW 4th and Hall
Hours: Mon-Fri, lunchtime
The Story:
Meatballs from food carts isn’t new. There have been numerous carts over the years where meatballs have been a part of the menu, most famously, Garden State’s meatball hero. Now, though, we get a cart fully dedicated to the craft of the meatball and with a fun name – Mobster Meatballs.
Mobster Meatballs opened in July down by PSU in the former Asaase Ital Palace cart. Owners and meatball crafters Josh and Tyler remodeled and repainted the brightly colored cart with one of the best motif’s I’ve seen – a Mobster shooting a meatball from a pistol. Love it. I asked them what inspired them to open a cart and they stated they were tired of getting rejected at job interviews. Understandable. I bet there are many out there who have been affected by the economy and are now chasing their dreams.
My image of meatballs is with pasta in a traditional red sauce or the hero style sandwich. At Mobster, you essentially build your own meal with the meatballs as the focus. You first choose the meatball – spicy peanut, classic Italian, Masala, country gravy or the vegetaball – and then whether you want rice or a sub and top it with a sauce. I chose the vegetaball, rice and their Indian Masala sauce to shake it up a bit and go vegetarian for a day. When I opened the box, the bright orange Masala sauce blinded me, yet hiding underneath were some great balls. Made of a chickpea mix, it was similar to a falafel, yet not fried. I was so blown away at the taste of the ball along with the sauce that I forced my lunch mates to try it also. They concurred that the vegetaball is a treat not to be missed.
Mobster Meatballs is open daily for lunch to sate your meatball or vegetaball needs. Josh and Tyler are a couple of friendly cart owners who also want to have fun while they feed you. Drop on down to SW 4th and Hall and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
- Meatball flavors: classic Italian, country gravy, stroganoff, spicy peanut or Vegetaball
- Meatballs or Vegetaball with rice and sauce – $6
- Meatballs or Vegetaball sandwich – $6
- Skewer of balls – $3
Hours: Monday-Friday, lunchtime
Website: MobsterMeatballs.com
Facebook: MobsterMeatballs
I hate to be the dork to ask, but are any of the options gluten free? I love a meatball and can make kick-ass GF ones at home, but stay away from most over the counter meatballs due to the breadcrumb content.
Great cart concept.
do you happen to know if the veggie balls are vegan?
I too need to know if they are Gluten Free?…. and hoping so! Looking forward to trying them…they sound wonderful!
Interesting menu since this is now the second cart to have meatballs as fare. I haven’t tried these guys yet. My favorite Thai food cart in Portland is near this meatball cart so maybe sometime I’ll try their stuff instead.
I’ve been going to another meatball cart (3x so far) at Belmont and 44th that opened early July or maybe late June. I’m not sure how Lori has her cart registered whether as Lori or Lucille’s Balls. Anyways, Lori is an amazing cook. Her food is gourmet quality and she has more than veggie and meat-filled meatballs that are served with polenta or rice. Lori’s sauces are perfection. Sorry if I rambled on about Lori’s cart here as I’m having some trouble finding her own cart’s profile at foodcartsportland.
what the hell is a vegetaball?
Angry: Sounds like a Chef Boyardee tie-in from DragonBall Z!
*ducks*
Dragonball Z? KAMEHAMEHA!!!
Anyway… I do like the fact that these guys serve their meatballs with rice as an option. Some days you want some good bread, other times you want meatballs with gravy and rice, Special Ed style.
We went down there yesterday to check it out, I definitely recommend the spicy peanut sauce with the little fried onions. Mmm, organized crime-food.
A gluten free meat ball would definetly help biz, these days every one is looking for a gluten free alternitive!
I just had their pork meatballs with the Spicy Peanut sauce. It was really good. The guys seem very nice, and will let you try all the different balls and sauces that you want. They have the best attitude too. I really appreciate that. Super tasty. They also said that they would make different portion sizes if asked.
Love the turkey meatballs with spicy peanut sauce. And they added veggies! Awesome!
I LOVE MOBSTER MEATBALLS!!!
My family, friends, and I are addicted, we dream of these hot, juicy balls. I can’t get enough. Thank you!