Siete Suerte

[Closed]

Location: W Burnside at 4th Ave
Hours: M-F, 11-4pm, F/Sat, 12-2am

The Story:

Portland is lacking in mobile food trucks that actually drive around from place to place, yet that is slowing changing. Siete Suerte opened this past summer after posting an amazing video of how they acquired the truck and tricked it out with an amazing mural made from broken tile. Lucky Seven.

Siete Suerte is a mobile taqueria, not unlike many of the Mexican food trucks we see on the streets of Portland. I believe what differentiates them from the others is the youth presented by the homemade mural and their dedication to local suppliers of meat and produce. You get the feeling that the passion behind launching and running the cart goes beyond the owners and extends into the community of the their friends and family. Isn’t that what food carts do? Bring people together? I think so.

Tacos from Siete Suerte

With a menu which includes tacos, burritos and even a bacon wrapped hot dog, everyone has something to choose from. Upon arrival, I was immediately drawn to the Soy Tinga option for the tacos. Soy Tinga is spicy soy curls, the latest craze among veggie and vegan foodies. I love that they absorb some amazing flavors from whatever sauce or marinade they are combined with. The three tacos we ordered came with an abundant amount of meat (or soy curls), chopped onions and a sliver of cilantro. The soy tinga had an extra bit of spice in the form of sliced grilled hot peppers. Some delicious and filling tacos with wonderful spicy flavors. The Tijuana bacon wrapped hot dog was something else altogether. Topped with fajita peppers, caramelized onions and jalapeno aioli, this modified frankfurter on a bun was a work of culinary arts. The bacon, the dog, the spicy pepper – all together were a tasty little mess. It begs the question – why don’t more people wrap stuff in bacon?

Siete Suerte use to be at E Burnside and 7th, yet recently moved over to W Burnside at 4th Ave, right next to the Chinatown gate. They are open for lunch during the week and expand their hours to dinner and late night on Friday and Saturday. They even take credit or debit cards if you don’t have cash. When you visit, you have to check out the wonderful mural the owners and their friends did on the back side of the truck. A work of art. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Tacos: Carne Asada (steak), Al Pastor (pork), Pollo (chicken), Soy Tinga (soy curls), Nopales (cactus.) Served with chopped onions and jalapenos – $2 each or 3 for $5
• Tijuana bacon wraped hot dog topped with fajita peppers, caramelized onions and jalapeno aioli – $6
• Suerte Burrito: choice of meat or veggie, rice, beans, cheese, pico de gallo – $6.50
• Serio Burrito: choice of meat or veggie, fajita peppers and onions, cheese, beans, rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, crema – $8

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am-4pm; Friday/Saturday open till 2am
Phone: 503 881-6761
Website: Siete-Suerte.com
Twitter: @SieteSuerte Facebook: Siete Suerte

INSERT_MAP

Over the Top

[Closed August 2011]
Location: SE 50th and Ivon
Hours: Daily, 11am-10pm

The Story:

When you thought the food carts couldn’t surprise you any longer, then opens Over the Top, a cart focusing on burgers made with Oregon raised game.

Over the Top is the work of three friends from Montana who initially wanted to open a cart focusing on burgers, but quickly realized that had already been done. Why re-invent the wheel. Since burgers were on their mind, mixed with their Montana rural past, they decided to work with a local distributor of Oregon raised game like elk, bison, emu, and boar. Game is sustainable and has a flavor many have yet to try. If game isn’t part of your palate, they also have locally raised beef burgers along with tempura battered and fried veggies like beets, jalapenos, or fingerling potatoes. A crazy busy menu with something for most anyone.

Elk burger from Over the Top

When presented with multiple choices where I love everything offered, I usually ask the owner or chef what they recommend. At Over the Top, Martine, one of the three owners, suggested the elk burger with a sweet cherry demi-glaze. I’ve enjoyed game over the years in different dishes. Being as lean as it is, one may be concerned about dryness when it comes to a burger. The elk burger I enjoyed was far from dry, cooked to a juicy medium rare, topped with a thin slice of provolone melted over caramelized onions with whole leaf butter lettuce and placed on a wonderful Dave’s Killer Blue bun. The demi-glaze added a sweetness I actually wasn’t prepared for, but enjoyed complimenting the complex flavors of the elk. If the elk is any indication of their craft, I know I need to try all the offerings. Just thinking of a wild boar burger makes me salivate.

Over the Top is open every day for lunch through dinner and into the evening. The A la Cart pod is now offering live music on Saturday nights and have covered heated seating for their patrons. The owners are committed to Oregon raised and processed meats and making everything from scratch. Give Over the Top a visit and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

All burgers served on Dave’s Killer Blue bun or a white pub bun. Gluten free bread available upon request. Burgers come with a side of apple slaw.

• Elk Burger: cherry demi-glaze, butter lettuce, provalone, caramelized onions – $9
• Bison Burger: Nueskies bacon, feta cheese, baby spinach and tomato – $9
• Emu Burger: fried beets, baby spinach, tomato, teriyaki carrot slaw, pesto veganaise, Swiss cheese – $10
• Lamda Lamb: caramelized onions, bacon, scallion, butter lettuce, veganaise, Swiss cheese – $9
• Beef and Cheddar burger: fried red onion, tomato, frisee – $7
• Tempura battered vegetables – beets, red onion, jalapeno, pickles, fingerling potatoes – $3

Hours: Daily, 11am-10pm
Phone: 503 360 7124
Twitter: @OverTheTopPDX Facebook: OverTheTopFoodCart

INSERT_MAp