Prickly Ash

Prickly Ash

CLOSED

Location: N Mississippi and Skidmore, Mississippi Marketplace
Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11-4; Fri/Sat, 11-4 and 5-9pm; Sun, 11-4

The Story:

If you’ve eaten at Portland’s carts and done your best to try everything, I have a new cart for you. Prickly Ash at Mississippi Marketplace will remind you why we love the uniqueness of Portland’s street food scene.

Scott and Jody have worked in restaurants for more than twenty years and had hoped to open their own restaurant, but with things as they are, it was difficult. When the cart became available, the opportunity for them to have a business of their own blossomed. A Chinese restaurant was the plan, but with a cart, they knew they couldn’t offer the extensive menu with the quality they wanted to be proud of. After some research, they decided to create a Portland style Chinese Roujiamo flatbread sandwich which has its roots in northern China with its Islamic influences. They call it The ‘Mo.

The ‘Mo from Prickly Ash

Prickly Ash makes their dough for the flatbread nightly, allowing it to rise overnight. It is then divided into small dough balls which, when ordered, are flattened and prepared for the sandwich, similar to a handmade tortilla. While the signature ‘Mo’s include pork belly or red oil chicken, I wanted something different, so ordered the Chinese ‘Po-Boy’ Mo with salt-and-pepper crispy tofu. Think of two thin slices of tofu with a light batter and deep fried before placing it upon a bed of Napa cabbage with a bit of Sriracha aioli and topped with homemade pickled chili peppers. Don’t let the Sriracha or the chili peppers turn you off, this was not a deathly spicy sandwich. The tofu, with its light salt-and-pepper coating was elegantly subtle, complemented by the cabbage, the peppers and the flatbread. I even ordered a side of pickles which blew me away. Scott and Jody know their food and do it well.

Prickly Ash officially opened on February 29, an auspicious choice. With sandwiches you really can’t find elsewhere in Portland, this cart will feed you for lunch during the week along with dinner as we move into the weekend. Come summer, watch for their sandwiches along with other delights available late night. Being 15 feet from the entrance to the German Pub Prost! won’t hurt their business. Drop on by soon and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Pork Belly Mo: Char siu pork belly, cucumbers, hoisin, scallions and cilantro – $6
• Red Oil Chicken Mo: Szechuan red oil chicken and garlic-ginger braised Chinese greens and pickled vegetables – $6
• Crispy Mushroom Mo: Tempura mushrooms, garlic-ginger braised Chinese greens and basil-cilantro aioli – $6
• Chinese ‘Po-Boy’ Mo: salt-and-pepper crispy tofu or chicken, nappa cabbage and Sriracha aioli, topped with pickled chilies – $6
• Bruce Lee Mo: char siu pork belly, avocado, nappa cabbage, basil-cilantro aioli, Sriracha aioli and cojita cheese, topped with pickled chilies – $6.50
• Tofu Mo: sauteed tofu, garlic-ginger braised Chinese greens, cucumbers, vinegar peanuts and Liang pi sesame chili sauce – $6

Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11-4; Fri/Sat, 11-4 and 5-9pm; Sun, 11-4
Phone: 503 977 8649
Website: PricklyAshPDX.com
Twitter: @PricklyAshPDX
Facebook: Prickly Ash

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