Location: N Vancouver and Fremont
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm; Sat/Sun, 7:30am-11pm
The Story:
BBQ and other amazing dishes. Open late night. More details coming soon.
Lisa’s Lip Smackin’ Kitchen
March 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Korean BBQ Box
January 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Korean BBQ Box
Location: NW 19th and Quimby, Q19
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11-7; Sat, 11-3pm
The Story: For many years, I would visit different vendors throughout downtown for something new – bento. These vendors were grilling marinated chicken and placing it sliced over rice – truly groundbreaking for a kid from a farm. Some even added steamed vegetables. Around 2008, when the collective food cart eater began experiencing a sea-change in what was offered at the carts, I was introduced to bi bim bop from a Korean vendor. Ever since, this delightfully colorful dish has been a staple in my diet. Korean BBQ Box at Q19 does it up right.
Bi Bim Bop
Bi bim bop is considered the most representative of Korean cuisine. A low calorie dish, it combines numerous ingredients into the same bowl and can be done with or without meat. The word even translates to ‘mixed meal.’ With a base of rice, the dish is then topped with sauteed and seasoned vegetables, just a small bit of each, and then topped with meat and a fried egg. The idea is to add go chu jang, a Korean chili paste, and mix it all together. I chose a different route, dipping each of the savor vegetables into the paste in order to A) eat slower and B) enjoy the broad flavors. I’ll admit, the chopsticks were eventually replaced by a fork when my hand cramped. What I love about this dish is the diversity of flavors from zucchini to radish to shittake mushrooms to sprouts. Each has its own distinct flavor and when mixed with others or just simply the fried egg, it all tastes great. Such a fun and colorful meal.
Korean BBQ Box also offers Korean BBQ, noodle dishes like udon and yakisoba, stir fries and daily specials. Located at Q19, you can take your order inside Quimby’s and stay warm. Next time you’re in the mood for something different, drop on by Korean BBQ Box and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
- Chicken and Beef with vegetables over white rice – $7.99
- Chicken and Pork with vegetables over rice- $7.99
- Chicken and Gyoza with vegetables over rice – $7.99
- Korean Spicy Pork BBQ with vegetables over rice – $7.99
- Bulgogi Beef BBQ with vegetables over rice – $7.99
- Yaki Udon – stir fried vegetables and thick noodles in special sauce – $5.99
- Yakisoba – $5.99
- Fish Cutlet deep fried with rice and sides – $7.99
- Bi Bim Bop – $7.99
Phone: 503 490 1662
Roadrunner BBQ
November 1, 2012 by 6 Comments
RoadRunner BBQ
Location: SE 52nd and Foster, Carts on Foster
Hours: Thurs-Sun, 11am-6pm
The Story:
When I first set eyes upon the Roadrunner BBQ truck, I questioned whether they were serious about BBQ or about having some fun. The bright red truck is adorned with a full size Chief Wiggum from The Simpsons. But, Roadrunner BBQ has made a name for itself and I was eager to taste some good Q.
RoadRunner arrived in Portland over a year ago and has been at Carts on Foster for at least a few months. Jimmy, the owner, is a Dallas native and admits he’s not a chef, but a meat cutter. I think knowing how to break down a cow qualifies one to cook it. With mesquite from Mexico, Jimmy smokes his brisket for 12-14 hours before he feels it is right to serve. Now that’s dedication. Learn patience young man were Jimmy’s parting words.
Chopped Brisket Sandwich From RoadRunner BBQ
Brisket is what’s in store when visiting the red truck. While he does offer smoked pork butt, four of the six items on the menu are brisket. You can get a sandwich or a plate, chopped or sliced. A chopped brisket sandwich for me! I want to dive into the fatty bits and taste the salty chewy crust. Jimmy doesn’t skimp. I swear there was at least 1/2 lb of chopped brisket there and every bit of it was a salty, meaty moist delight. A sign of brisket well done is the red between the inner meat and the crust and Jim had that spot on.
Portland has some great vendors who do excellent BBQ, but RoadRunner BBQ has raised the bar. If you’re a BBQ fan, you need to head out there and try what Jim has to offer and judge for yourself. Located at SE 52nd and Foster, the lot now has indoor heated seating and a pod bar with beer and wine. Drop on by and let Jimmy know Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample menu:
- Sliced Brisket Plate with 2 sides – $10
- Chopped Brisket Plate with 2 sides – $9
- Pork Butt Plate with 2 sides – $9
- Chicken Breast Plate with 2 sides – $7
- Sliced Brisket sandwich -$7
- Chopped Brisket sandwich – $6
- Chopped Pork Butt sandwich – $6
- Sides, $1.50 each – potato salad,creamy cole slaw, baked beans, mac & cheese
Hours: Thurs-Sun, 11am-6pm
Phone:503 310 2837
Little Piggy BBQ
September 15, 2012 by 2 Comments
Little Piggy BBQ
Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: Wed-Mon, 11am-9pm
The Story:
I was asked one day to show some visitors around to the BBQ carts. For the life of me, I couldn’t think of where they were. My vision of BBQ is the huge pull behind smoker one sees outside and a guy with a long spatula turning ribs and sausages. I stepped back and realized there is excellent BBQ in this city in each lot, just done on a smaller scale and inside each cart. At Cartlandia, there are now three vendors doing it and Little Piggy BBQ is the latest to join.
Little Piggy is the work of Marianne,Walter,Alex and Caralina, two couples who decided it was “about time” to try out the ideas that have been simmering in their heads for 15 years. Walter and Alex have worked together in restaurants for years and the food cart became a way for everyone to work together and for themselves. With a smoker inside the cart, they can do ribs, brisket, smoked chicken and smoked pork loin. They also make some amazing side salads.
Brisket plate from Little Piggy BBQ
It has only been in the last year that I’ve fallen in love with brisket. I don’t know where it has been all my life, but a good friend from New York took me on a brisket journey and I fell down the rabbit hole. When done right, it melts in your mouth. The combination plate at Little Piggy BBQ came with a good portion of smoked brisket, potato salad and a watermelon mint fruit salad. The brisket was done well with a light smokiness to go with the sweet BBQ sauce they serve it with. Fall apart in my mouth, it blended well with the potato salad. Let me talk about that salad. Instead of chopped up potatoes, they took whole slices of baked potatoes and mixed it up with chives, green onions and oil. An interesting presentation yet so tasty. Finish the entire meal off with the simplest of fruit salads, the mint mixed so well with the cubed watermelon, I devoured it even though I was fuller than full.
Little Piggy BBQ is tucked back away from the larger group of food carts on the lot at Cartlandia, so venture to the back to find it. It’s worth the trip. I missed the BBQ cook-off at the lot a few weeks ago and hope they do it again. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
Combination plate, $7 with 1 protein and 2 sides. Sandwiches – $5
- Proteins: smoked ribs, smoked 1/4 chicken, chicken wings, smoked pork loin, hot link sausage, blackened catfish, grilled salmon, beef brisket
- Sides: cole slaw, potato salad, fruit salad, Texas toast, chili beans, home fries
Hours: Wed-Mon, 11am-9pm
Phone: 503 737 5450
Facebook: Little Piggy BBQ
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Pork Chop City
July 16, 2012 by 8 Comments
Pork Chop City
Location: SE 50th and Division – A la Carts Food Pavillion
Hours: 11am-10pm daily
The Story:
Here in Portland we talk carts not trucks. Most everywhere else, the street food scene centers around trucks that roam the streets feeding the hungry. Wandering this city, you see every flavor of mobile cart from simple tow behind hot dog carts to retrofitted 60′s travel trailers to high end commercial kitchens on wheels. Pork Chop City took it to a whole new level with one of the largest trailers I have seen. Lots of space to do some serious cooking.
When I first spotted Roger William’s trailer out of Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, I didn’t think it was a food vendor. I thought it was a NASCAR trailer with the size and wrapping. Then, earlier this summer walking down 3rd ave, there it was, taking up the entire frontage of a strange triangular island created by how Portland mapped out streets downtown some 100 yrs ago. The trailer is beautiful and built to handle big crowds whether they be the lunch types or late night bar goers. My order came out in less than 3 minutes on a busy day.
Sorta Wrong from Pork Chop City
Portland loves pork. Pork. Pork. Pork. Just downtown, there are six or seven carts serving up their recipe of pulled pork whether it be a sandwich or plate. At Pork Chop City, they do pulled pork, beef brisket and chicken, presenting them a few different ways. The #1 item on the menu is a sandwich aptly christened Simply Wrong. Smoked pulled pork, smoked beef brisket and cole slaw on a Portland French pub bun. One pound of smoked meats. I’m glad they get the veggies in there. While my inner devil wanted to see what that looked like, I balked and ordered the #2 item, the Sorta Wrong with about 1/4lb less meat. Still a huge sandwich with a heap of meat. Whomever decided to pair cole slaw with smoked pork gets a trophy in my food hall of fame. I love the cold creamy crunch mixed with the squeaky shredded pork and beef. Mixing the brisket and pulled pork together is genius, giving me the best of both worlds. More than one should really eat for lunch, but I did it and walked away a happy man.
Pork Chop City is now the sixth cart in the area to serve the bar goers and those waiting in line for Voodoo Doughnuts. If you’re a sandwich fan or simply enjoy smoked meats, check them out. On a hot day, try their Hawaiian shaved ice with twenty five different flavors. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
- Simply Wrong: smoked pulled pork, smoked beef brisket, cole slaw on Portland French pub bun – $9
- Sorta Wrong: same as above but a bit smaller – $8
- Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich – $7
- Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich – $6
- Chicken Bento – $8
- Pork Bento – $8
- Smoked Meat Sampler – a bit of everything – $12
- Smoked Pork Chop Meal – $12
- Smoked Rib Meal – $12
- Broiled Chicken Meal – $9
- Sides: steamed rice, corn, baked beans, apple sauce, cole slaw, mac salad, potato salad – $2 each
- Hawaiian Shaved Ice – $4
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm; Fri/Sat, 11pm-3am
Phone: 503 793 2000
Website: PorkChopCity.com
Facebook: Pork Chop City
Twitter: @PorkChopCityPDX
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