The Angry Unicorn

February 26, 2013 by 1 Comment

The Angry Unicorn

Location: SE 52nd and Foster, Carts on Foster
Hours: Wed-Sun, 11am-9pm

The Story: Did you know that Portland was built atop an ancient unicorn graveyard? The rumors are true. Why else would you see random tall bikes commuting downtown or Darth Vader playing the bagpipes while riding a unicycle. Unicorns are magical and at The Angry Unicorn, they take that magic and make burgers.

All kidding aside, John and April Scarlett wanted to launch a food cart with burgers and bites, but needed that one nugget of unique to draw people in. They loved the iconography of unicorns, the images and pictures, but John realized sometimes they appeared angry and irritated and The Angry Unicorn was born. Beer may have been involved, but in this case, the end result is brilliant.

The Unicorn Burger

At The Angry Unicorn, they focus on burgers and small bites. With a ‘magical’ burger with ground bacon (real Unicorn Meat) along with strips of bacon, cheddar and veggies, you get a great sandwich. I had never though of mixing chopped bacon with Angus to create a burger. While normally served between a glazed doughnut, I opted for the Portland French Bakery’s pub bun, truly one of the better burger buns in this city. Chewy, with a dusting of flower on top, the bun perfectly complemented the burger, cheese, lettuce and tomato. No condiments needed for this gem. The flavors were enough to impress this burger jerk.

The Angry Unicorn has a great list of burgers including the portobello with grilled onion, peppers and Swiss. There are bacon fries, portobello fries, french fries and items for the kids. If you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to drop by, try some Unicorn and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Unicorn Burger: magical meat w/ground bacon, strips of bacon, cheddar on glazed doughnut – $7
  • The Hottie: jalapeno, grilled onion and peppers, pepper jack cheese, spicy cream cheese – $7
  • The Best Burger: burger mixed with ground bacon, bacon strips, gorgonzola, roasted garlic, cheddar – $7
  • Portobello Mushroom: grilled portobello mushroom, grilled onion, peppers, Swiss cheese – $7
  • Bacon Fries – $4
  • Portobello Fries – $4

Facebook: The Angry Unicorn

Filed Under: Dinner, Fries, Hamburgers, Lunch, SE 52nd and Foster, Southeast-Portland, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Potato Champion 2

November 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Potato Champion 2

Potato Champion 2

Location: SE 2nd and Oak, The Row
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm

The Story:

Potato Champion has expanded with a second cart at The Row on SE 2nd and Oak. Open for lunch through dinner. There are few things better than fresh cut, twice fried, Belgian-style pommes frites, served in a paper cone with your choice of sauce. You can also get them with poutine, chili cheese or with pulled pork atop. See original post here.

Website: www.potatochampion.com
Facebook: Potato Champion
Twitter: @PotatoChampion

Filed Under: Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Fries, Lunch, Poutine, SE 2nd and Oak - The Row, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Sideshow Eatery

August 2, 2012 by 7 Comments
Sideshow Eatery

Sideshow Eatery

Location: SW 9th and Washington
Hours: M-Sat, 11-6pm; Sun, 11-4

The Story: Ok, I’ll confess, I worked at McDonald’s as a teenager. I even won some awards during my tenure there and still have a commemorative Monopoly beach towel from one of their contests in the 80′s. During that time, I ate more than my share of fries. What teenager didn’t? As I grew up though, I discovered fast-food fries were not the best. I went through the trials of visiting numerous establishment to find the perfect fry. While I have my favorites purveyors, what I’ve learned is that I prefer and enjoy the Belgian style that are double fried. Sideshow Eatery is bringing Pommes Frites to the Alder pod.

Pommes Frites, or as we call them, Belgian Fries are fresh cut potatoes fried twice, seasoned and served in a paper cone. That is the definition according to the Internets. At Sideshow Gallery, Jason follows the recipe to the tee. In a full size truck parked in the lot, you can see the racks of already once-fried fries ready to be fried again. After the second frying, the potatoes are crisp on the outside yet still soft on the inside. Jason seasons them and places them in a cone with your choice of sauce and adds in his own small wooden fork with the Sideshow flag. It’s like staking a claim.

Pommes Frites from Sideshow Eatery

Pommes Frites from Sideshow Eatery

Jason has a culinary background, yet with the truck, he had to fully gut it and rebuild using the other talents everyone has. The menu at the cart is simple – fries and poutine and beignets. The plan is to expand the menu in good time. Opening a food cart isn’t easy, so Jason is taking the time to figure out the next logical step. As I walked down the sidewalk with my cone of tasty bites with curry-ketchup atop, I struggled not to just shove it in my face and start munching. The fries were spot on crunchy and the ketchup had a great zing. I love the unique wooden fork which allowed me to eat a bit slower and not get all messy.

Sideshow Eatery is now open right on the corner of SW 9th and Washington. A Belgian treat sandwiched between Indian and Chinese. Drop on by for a sinful lunch or a side to whatever else you’re enjoying from the carts. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Pommes Frites – Belgian Fries – sm, $4; lg, $6
  • Poutine – frites with curds and gravy – $7
  • Beignets – 5 for $3
  • Sauces: Catsup, Curry Catsup, Mayo, Garlic Mayo

Hours: M-Sat, 11-6pm; Sun, 11-4
Facebook: Sideshow Eatery

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Filed Under: Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Downtown, Fries, Lunch, Poutine, SW 9th and Washington, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Argentina PDX

May 7, 2012 by 4 Comments
Argentina PDX

Argentina PDX

Location: NE 19th and Alberta
Hours: Tues-Sun, 10:30am-8pm

The Story:

Every year around the holidays, my family gathers with friends from many generations and we make sausage – Swedish, Polish and Bratwurst. It has been a family tradition for more than 35 years. Needless to say, I have the recipes memorized and if asked, could probably recite them. Argentina PDX offers Choripan, an Argentinian Bratwurst sandwich, and when asked, yes, they make the bratwurst in house. I was intrigued.

In the 40′s, both during WWII and after, Argentina and other South American countries experiences a large immigration of Germans and Austrians fleeing Europe. Even today, there are small communities throughout the region where German is the primary language and the culture is still very much alive. As with how American food has been influenced by centuries of immigration, so too was Argentinian cuisine. Being a sausage fan, I asked if they source it locally and was happily surprised to learn they make it in house.

Choripan from Argentina PDX

Choripan from Argentina PDX

Choripan is a bratwurst sandwich with lettuce, tomato and chimichurri sauce. I am use to having bratwurst as sausage in a casing, but here, it’s served without the casing as a patty. The bread, light and crispy with a flaky crust, is perfect for the sandwich, soaking up the juices from the wurst. The sausage was superb, a great mix of beef and pork with a bit of salt, pepper and other spices. The key here is how simple bratwurst it, it tastes great no matter who makes it.

Argentina PDX has a great menu of regional items and the day I visited, was doing a brisk lunch trade. I’m excited to return to try some of their other sandwiches including house made empanadas. The cart is open all week except for Monday for lunch through the dinner hour. Check it out, enjoy some excellent Argentinian fare and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Papas Fritas – french fries w/eggs – $3
  • Milanesa – breaded steak, tomato, cheese, fries; beef or eggplant – $8
  • Empanads – beef or spinach – $2
  • Lomita – steak, tomato, lettuce, egg, ham and cheese – $8
  • Choripan – Argentinian bratwurst, lettuce, tomato, chimichurri sauce – $7

Hours: Tues-Sun, 10:30am-8pm
Phone: 503 758 0961
Facebook: Argentina PDX

Filed Under: Argentinian, Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Fries, Lunch, Northeast - Portland, Sandwiches, South American, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Go Dog

April 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Go Dog

Go Dog

Location: N Greeley and Killingsworth
Hours: Tues-Sat, 11-6

The Story:

Hot dogs and sausages are the original street food and still the mainstay in many cities. At Go Dog, you can get a Naked Dog or you can amp it up and have you brat with chili and cheese.

Katie and Jason Taylor have always wanted a hot dog cart, so after many years in the corporate doldrums, the opportunity to purchase Fief’s at North Station arose and they snapped it up. It was one of those twists of fate. They had been searching for a good cart and a great location and both became available at North Station. With locally sourced Zenner’s fine dogs, Katie and Jason held their grand opening at the end of March and have been introducing themselves to the neighborhood ever since.

The Hound Dog from Go Dog

The Hound Dog from Go Dog

Hot dogs need to be done right to make them memorable. At Go Dog, you can get a jalapeno cheddar dog with chili or a BLT dog with a smoked cheddar and bacon sausage with more bacon added along with lettuce and tomato. I picked out the Hound Dog with an all beef dog topped with pepperoncini, fire roasted peppers, caramelized onions and BBQ sauce. Zenner’s dogs don’t disappoint and the addition of the fire roasted peppers added a different taste I hadn’t thought to mix on a dog. A great choice.

Go Dog is now open at the Overlook pod North Station. The lot offers covered and heated seating and Pizza Depokos serves beer for lot patrons. Next time you’re craving a dog, check them out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Naked dog – $3
  • Blazer Dog – jalapeno cheddar sausage with chili, diced onions and cheese – $5.50
  • Chicago Dog – mustard, diced onion, pickle spear, sport pepper, relish, celery salt and tomato wedges – $5.50
  • BLT Dog – $5.50
  • Hound Dog – $5.25
  • The Go Dog – 2 all beef dogs, grilled and filleted open with your choice of toppings – $6.25
  • Homemade fries – $1.50

Hours: Tues-Sat, 11-6
Phone: 503 504 3358
Website: GoDogPDX.com

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Filed Under: Dinner, Fries, Hot Dogs & Sausages, Lunch, N Greeley and Killingsworth - North Station, Weekends
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