Location: SE 50th and Ivon
Hours: M-F, 11-7
The Story:
[Update September 2010 - Bayou Fixin's moved to SE 50th and Division]
Take a walk between the buildings just east of SW 4th avenue – there is a nice tree-lined path there and it is spectacularly quiet even around lunchtime. Tucked in the back corner of a lot at SW 4th and Harrison next to the CYAN building is Bayou Fixin’s, a cart focused on Cajun cuisine. Mix the two and you have a solid lunch experience.
Kerry Gardner opened Bayou Fixin’s in July with family recipes in mind. She and her boyfriend both love spicy food and meeting people and a food cart was the way to bring those two together. The recipes used have been handed down and refined over the years through their families – ergo the names like Aunt Dot’s Etouffee. They even plan a crawfish boil in the future. If you have never tried one, it is a wonderful experience.
The menu at Bayou Fixin’s is straight forward Cajun with gumbo, etouffee, jambalaya, shrimp and rice or spicy ‘smack ‘n cheese.’ I opted for Kerry’s smack ‘n cheese since I’m a sucker for anything cheese, noodly and spicy. Seriously, take peppers, pasta and cheese, throw it together, and I’ll eat it. Promise. The baked dish was great with just the right creaminess from the cheese. Kerry mixes in spicy sausage and the baking creates that wonderful crunchy top we love. The dish came with cole slaw and was a pretty good size portion for $5.
If you have already visited all the carts at SW 4th ave by PSU, head north a couple of blocks and check out Bayou Fixin’s. Take your lunch, find a quiet bench and enjoy. Try the cornbread and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
- Gumbo: authentic Cajun gumbo made with chicken and andouille sausage – $6
- Anut Dog’s Etouffee: white cream sauce with seafood served over rice – $5
- Terry’s Jambalaya: spicy rice dish with shrimp, extra lean beef and andouille sausage – $6
- Kerry’s Smack ‘n Cheese: spicy mac ‘n cheese with sausage served with slaw- $5
- Seasoned Cajun shrimp over rice – $6
- Corn bread – $2
- Red Beans and rice – $3
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am-7pm
Phone: 503 739 2811
Bayou Fixin’s has delicious Cajun food. They are generous in providing customers (or those simply curious) with samples of their cooking. A couple that came right up after me to the cart were originally from New Orleans. All three of us stood around for a few minutes taste testing the samples and chatting. Here is their opinion: Bajou Fixin’s provides the real thing and they cook it great. The word the couple used was delicious.
I’m from Chicago and my ability to handle super hot spicy food is limited. No problem at BF. The food has some bite to it yet it isn’t overdone with the spiciness. There are spices available to increase the heat level and the cooks at BF seem happy to accommodate people.
Upon my request, Kerry combined Etoufee, Smack and Cheese, and Jambalaya onto my plate. Five hours later, I still feel relaxed and happy from the food.
The main entrees are priced at $5-6 and I’m surprised that they can provide such great food for such an inexpensive price.
One of the two cooks at BF is was born and raised in Louisiana. The other is a native Portlander.
Presently, Food Carts Portland has the wrong number listed. The correct phone number for BF is 503-739-2811
I’ll be back for more.
Thanks so much, and glad you enjoyed it. Stop bye again when you have the time
So, delicious! We stopped by today, and it was worth it! It’s tucked away in a parking lot, away from the other PSU foodcarts, so it’s easy to miss. But you would be missing out!
The owner was kind enough to let us get combo plates. I had the jambalaya (mildly spicy) and shrimp etouffee (which was outstanding). My friend had jambalaya and gumbo (absolutely delicious as well).
If you can’t decide – there are free samples which will help you pick. And everything is around $6.
I forsee some more ‘fixins’ in my near future again…
This cart appears to be in relocation mode, either through closure or moving – it’s not there anymore.
Bayou Fixins (now @SE 50th Ave) ‘Smack n Cheese’ and their coleslaw are good cajun food. Food is flavorful, has a little bite, and the spice level is moderate to medium. They have extra hot sauces to play with too. If you are going to do what I did for dessert and eat the double-chocolate praline brownie, do yourself a favor: take it home, cut it in half and give the other half to a friend. Then eat the brownie alongside a glass of cold milk. It is that good and rich!
some of the best jambalaya i have ever had my wife and kids loved it we will be back soon