Mira's Ladle

Location: SE 40th and Hawthorne
Hours: Wed-Sun, 12-7pm

The Story:

When I need a hearty soup to get me back on track, I lean towards those from eastern Europe and Russia. Having lived there for a time, something deep in my soul craves the flavors and boldness of the region. Mira’s Ladle has what a growing man needs.

Mira, a former architect, designed the cart from which she serves her Polish cuisine. The menu starts off with Leczo, a vegan and gluten free chili served over brown rice. She also serves barszcz, a traditional Polish beet soup. Purchasing locally grown beets is key to the freshness and everyone loves the bright red color. Just don’t spill it on your Sunday clothes. beet stains are hard to remove. Beyond soups, Mira griddles up potato or zucchini latkes and serves them with apple sauce and sour cream. Everything is made fresh daily sourcing ingredients from local farmers’ markets and regional farms.

The bright red cart is located on Hawthorne street around southeast 40th in a driveway between two houses. You can get the soups in a cup or take it to go in a quart. This is one of those carts you will return to for seconds. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

c=cup; b=bowl; q=quart

• Leczo: vegan gluten free chili served over brown rice – c, $4; b, $6; q, $10
• Krupnik: barley soup with veggies, mushrooms, shredded chicken and served with bread – c, $3.50; b, $5; q, $9.50
• Barszcz: red beet soup with veggie or chicken stock – c, $3.50; b, $5; q, $9.50
• Potato Latkes: potato pancakes served with apple sauce and sour cream – $5
• Zucchini Latkes: zucchini pancakes served with apple sauce and sour cream  -$6

Hours: Wed-Sun, 12-7pm
Website: Mira’s Ladle
Facebook: Mira’s Ladle

GF Chef

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: Wed-Sat, 7:30am-8pm; Sun, 9am-4pm

The Story:

Over the past few years, the term gluten-free has become more prevalent when discussing food as more people, both young and old, learn they have an intolerance to gluten. Executive Chef Jim Adams and his wife decided to create a food cart that catered to those needs but also served some amazing food and GF Chef was born.

GF Chef opened last summer at the now shuttered Green Castle food pod. After the closure, Jim and his wife Bonnie regrouped and moved the cart to the ever expanding Cartlandia pod. No one likes to move a cart and so it took them a week or so to get situated, but now that they are open, they have garnered a loyal following. Jim is the executive chef of the cart and has his own recipes for most of the items. He bakes three different gluten free breads daily – rye, herb and white – and even has some signature pancakes for the morning crowd. Every week he is coming up with new an interesting baked goods like bagels or biscuits or french bread.

Reuben from GF Chef

The rye for the Reuben had just come out of the oven. A hefty loaf with an aroma that began to spread throughout the pod and turn heads. What makes a Reuben special for me is the quality of the corned beef and the Russian dressing. Jim creates his own dressing from an classic German recipe which includes caviar. The bread is first toasted then the Swiss cheese and corned beef are added and finally the sauerkraut and dressing. One excellent sandwich. The bread with a crunch from the toasting melts in your mouth. The dressing, always a treat for my taste buds cemented a memory that I’ll dredge up as a comparison every time I try someone else’s Reuben. The ferment of the sauerkraut topped it off.

Jim and Bonnie are fun to chat with and love what they create and will answer any question you may have. Their focus is to create some great meals gluten free which one would normally not be able to get – including corndogs. Jim has his own batter. GF Chef is open from breakfast through dinner and offers specials daily. If your gluten intolerant or even if you aren’t, check this cart out for some great food and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Breakfast sandwiches with ham, bacon or sausage, egg and cheese – $3.75
• Pancakes – 2 for $5.25
• Grilled Cheese – $5.50; add meat, $6.50
• Turkey, Ham or Corned Beef Sandwich – $7.50
• BLT – $7.50
• Reuben Sandwich – $8
• Corn Dog – $3.75
• Onion Rings – $4.50
• Hand Cut Fries, Belgian Style – sm, $3.75; lg, $6

Hours: Wed-Sat, 7:30am-8pm; Sun, 9am-4pm
Phone: 503 927 9880
Facebook: GF Chef

Year of the Fish

Location: SE 50th and Ivon, A la Carts Food Pavilion
Hours: Tues-Thur, 11:30-9; Fri, 11:30-12am; Sat, 12:30-12am, Sun, 12:30-8pm

The Story:

Out off Hawthorne in what many refer to as Stumbletown due to the number of bars, there is a new cart that is open late to sate those munchies you get after a few drinks – Year of the Fish. [Update 11/2011: Year of the Fish moved to SE 50th and Ivon]

Edward MacGregor opened Year of the Fish in September after being out of the restaurant game for a few years. Having grown up working in restaurants and subsequently owning them as a family business, he had taken a break from the grind, hoping to do something else. Well, the call of the deep fryer was too strong, but Edward didn’t want to do another restaurant, so decided on the cart. Locating at 47th and Hawthorne was also a strategic decision – an attempt to attract some of the crowds that line up to the few restaurant options in the area late night.

Tiger Prawns from Year of the Fish

Year of the Fish is a fish and chips cart. With options including cod, red snapper and halibut, if you love fish, you’ll like love this cart. Edward offers traditional or gluten-free batter depending on your needs. What surprised me was the offer of tiger prawns. I love a good fish and chips, but to get batter fried tiger prawns raises the bar. Lightly breaded and crunchy, the prawns are delightful. You can get different sauces, but these are so flavorful, you don’t need it. Sided with a handful of steak fries, you have a great little snack.

Year of the Fish is now open for lunch and dinner weekdays and late night on the weekends. Drop on by for some well made fish and chips and other treats and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Cod and Chips – $7
• Red Snapper and Chips – $7
• Halibut and Chips – $market rate
• Tiger Prawns and Chips – $8
• Clam Chowder – New England style – cup, $3; bowl $5
• Just Slaw – $3
• Just Chips – $3

Hours: Tues-Thur, 11:30-9; Fri, 11:30-12am; Sat, 12:30-12am, Sun, 12:30-8pm
Phone: 971 258 6567
Twitter: @YearoftheFish1
Facebook: Year of the Fish

Southwestern Pizza Company

Location: SE 50th and Ivon, A la Carts Food Pavilion
Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11am-8pm; Fri/Sat, 11am-9pm; Sun, 11am-6pm

The Story:

Southwestern Pizza Company was one of the first carts to open at Mississippi Marketplace in North Portland back in October of 2009. With a unique menu of pizza based on tortillas, they made a splash in the community and created a following. A year later, the original owner sold the cart to John Nicoletti and his wife who moved the cart to A la Carts Food Pavilion in SE Portland. John has kept the same menu, but added some new options.

After the move to A la Carts, I remember the cart not being open on a regular basis. I had assumed it was closed, but what was actually happening behind the scenes was that John was working with the former owner to learn how to make the signature pizzas. During that time, they re-branded the menu and added some new pies and flavors. While you can still get the Sagebrush with Italian sausage and Alfredo sauce or the Stagecoach with pepperoni, Italian sausage and tomato sauce, they also now have the Hawaiian Cowboy with pineapple, ham, cheese and tomato sauce. John has also added clams to the menu along with wheat and gluten-free, dairy and goat cheese options. Truly someone who understands Portland’s palate and is catering to it.

Southwestern Pizza Company is open everyday except Monday and stays open into the dinner hour so you can grab something to take home for the family. Drop on by and say hi to John and let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Full menu can be found at their website Southwesternpizzacompany.wordpress.com.

Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11am-8pm; Fri/Sat, 11am-9pm; Sun, 11am-6pm
Website: SouthwesternPizzaCompany
Twitter: SouthwestPizza
Facebook: Southwestern Pizza Company

[Our original post from October 2009 below the fold]

This past week, at the grand opening of PROST!, a German pub that anchors the Mississippi Marketplace compound, we started to get a little hungry for something different. The pub did have menu items, but we wanted to take advantage of the entire lot and eat food from a cart while drinking beer from the pub. I walked over to Southwestern Pizza and our wish came true.

Southwestern Pizza is a pizza cart, but they serve up their pizzas on freshly baked 8″ tortillas instead of the traditional dough we are all familiar with. The end result is a very thin, but crunchy crust topped with whatever fixin’s you have chosen. We chose to get one each of the Stagecoach (pepperoni & Italian sausage with homemade tomato sauce) and the Tumbleweed (bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, with homemade tomato sauce.) It only took a few minute for them to make the pizza while we continued to enjoy our beer.

Beer and Southwestern Pizza

The pizza was enjoyable. Different than what we were use to, but still pizza. Large chunks of sausage and thick slices of pepperoni on one and the fresh bell peppers and mushrooms on the other kept us eating until it all we had were empty plates. For $5 each, it is a perfect size meal for one person.

Southwestern Pizza Company is open morning until night. They offer a breakfast pizza to start your day and soon plan to offer up pasta dishes. Next time you are up in the area, grab a beer at PROST! and some pizza while you enjoy it and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[Update November 2010: Southwestern Pizza Company moved to SE 50th and Division]

Sample Menu:

• Breakfast pizza – butter, egg, ham, bacon or sausage and four cheeses – $4
• Vegan – red bell pepper, sweet onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, soy cheese – $7
• Sagebrush – chunky Italian sausage with alfredo sauce – $4.50
• Stagecoach – pepperoni and Italian sausage with homemade tomato sauce – $5
• Tumbleweed – bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes with homemade tomato sauce – $5.50

The Dog House PDX

Location: NE Alberta between 21st and 22nd
Hours: Wed, 11:30-3:30; Thurs, 11:30-6; Fri/Sat/Sun, 11:30-7:30

The Story:

I actually remember the first time I had tater tots. We were a meat and potatoes and pancakes for dinner family living in deep southeast Portland when my mom came home one evening with this bag of Ore-Ida Tater Tots. When the cookie sheet came out of the oven and those tots were up for grabs, my brother, sister and I dove in. It was the best food we had tasted in our entire lives (I actually remember us exclaiming that while running through the house, screaming.) Now, some 30 odd years later, Tots are making a serious comeback as both comfort food and treats at high end restaurants. When we wrote about a cart serving tots as a side for burgers last year, the Internets blew up with comments. Now, we have a cart that takes tots to the next level – The Dog House PDX.

Timber from The Dog House PDX

Timber and Ali, who brought us Yogio last year, knew that their pod in North Portland needed a comfort food cart, so they acquired a stepvan and converted it to serve up dogs and tots and everything in between. When I first heard of the cart, I thought they were just doing a variation on a hot dog cart, but their approach is to put together unique bowls of happy food funtime. You can either have a dog or tots which are then covered with your choice of topping and usually melted cheese. The dog or tots are called the bottom and tops could include gravy, bacon, a fried egg, jalapenos, black beans, chili, pineapple or pretty much anything you can imagine. A great concept that includes what many of us grew up on as children with the tastes we’ve learned to love over the years.

I highly suggest eating whatever you order at the lot instead of getting it to go. Why? Because they serve whatever you order in a great little dog dish and that is just cool. Picture a pile of tots covered with melted pepper jack cheese, onions, jalapenos and topped with a fried egg. Oh and don’t forget the kicker sauce which adds a little spice to the entire dish. Every bit of the dish captures the essences of childhood with the crispiness of the tots and the gooeyness of the melted cheese. While I don’t remember mom ever putting a fried egg on my tots, it worked. I felt like a kid again.

I wasn’t able to visit The Dog House when they first opened at North Station in north Portland. They moved last month to NE Alberta with Yogio to their own pod named Holy Trinity partnering with another cart that sells vintage clothing. I’m so happy to have finally enjoyed some of Timber’s tots and her excellent creations. I can only imagine they sell a boat load of tots once the sun goes down and the bars open up. Drop on by The Dog House, enjoy some tots, relive a childhood memory and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Each dish starts with a bottom of either a hot dog, Tater Tots or Fritos – $5.50

• Rip City: pepper jack cheese, onions, jalapenos, kicker sauce, topped with a fried egg
• Trouble in Paradise: bacon, pineapple, pepper jack cheese, kicker sauce, onions
• Heartbreak Hotel: bacon, cheddar cheese, ketchup, onions, topped with fried egg
• Make Up – Break Up: house black beans, chipotle sour cream, onions, jalapenos
• The Big D: house chili, cheddar cheese, onions, mustard
• Bean There Done That: house baked beans, onions, mustard
• Un-Skinny Love: pepper jack cheese, cheddar cheese, chipotle sour cream

Hours: Wednesday, 11:30-3:30pm; Thursday, 11:30-6pm; Fri/Sat/Sun, 11:30-7:30pm
Website: The Dog House PDX
Twitter: @TheDogHousePDX
Facebook: The Dog House PDX

Rip City over Tots

Scoop

Location: North Station, N Greeley and Killingsworth
Hours: W-Th, 12:30-3:30 & 5-8; Fri/Sat: 12:30-8; Sun, 12:30-3:30

The Story:

Hot Summer day and you need something cool for the kids? Fall rainy evening and you stil need something sweet. Get some ice cream right? Well, north Portland can sate that need. Scoop Organic Ice Cream will treat you and your kids to the ultimate tasty cold delight.

Scoop opened in spring at North Station, an amazing lot full of carts ranging across all types of cuisines. Take a group there and give everyone $5 and then have everyone share what they ordered and you will taste some of Portland’s best food from the carts. Just remember, if you give a kid $5 and there is an ice cream truck around, you may have a jumpy kid later.

Scoop specializes in organic handmade ice cream with some wonderful flavors that do change depending on what’s in season. These days, with fall here and winter on the way, they have sweet potato pie, pumpkin chocolate chip, rum raisin and others. Amanda Rhoads, the owner, would also like us to know that she also offers vegan sorbets and has gluten free cones.

Scoop is one of the cutest little trucks on the scene. Even though it has cooled down, we all still love ice cream and they are there to assist. Go visit, have a cone and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Ice Cream various flavors: mini – $2.50; small – $3.25; regular (3 scoops) – $4.25; large – $5.25
• Housemade waffle cones – $.75
• Milkshakes: 12oz – $4; 16oz – $5
• Caramel Apples – $3.50-4.50

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 12:30-3 and 5-8pm; Friday/Saturday, 12:30-9pm; Sunday, 12:30-3:30
Phone: 503 928 2796
Facebook: Scoop

Off The Griddle

Location: SE 50th and Ivon
Hours: Sun-Thurs, 12-8pm, Fri/Sat open till 10pm

The Story:

There are many options for hamburgers and sandwiches in Portland along with options for vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Put those two together and you get Off The Griddle, a new cart at the A la Carts pod.

Ashley and Dan were living in Boise are from Portland, yet when they decided they wanted to open a food cart they found some in Boise. Unfortunately, the first cart they looked at turned out to be a scam. The second cart was someone’s storage shed, but with Dan’s construction skills, they fixed it up and brought it to Portland. Dan, a longtime freelance writer on sustainability decided to outfit the cart with solar panels. While they don’t fully support the cart off the grid, they do supplement their energy needs. Ashley is the brains behind the unique burger and sauce recipes. Put those two super powers together and you have a great cart.

OTG Burger from Off the Griddle

I’ve crafted some homemade veggie burgers in my own kitchen, but wouldn’t have thought to use rice as a binder. The O.T.G Burger is leeks, mushrooms and Bob’s Red Mill wild and brown rice. Served on a Dave’s Killer Bread bun with lettuce, tomato, grilled onion and vegan mayo, this gluten free and vegan burger is delicious. Kinda mushy, but the breadth of flavors make up for the mess. A unique side on the menu is the Veggie Volt, a spiral cut yukon gold potato skewered, seasoned then deep fried. First off, it looks good, secondly, it tastes great.

Dan and Ashley have a great little operations here. They have a broad menu focusing on local organic handmade food. Something for everyone. Open daily for lunch and dinner, drop on by, welcome them to Portland and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:
[Full menu at FaceBook Page]

• O.T.G Burger: made-from-scratch Off The Griddle Burger is vegan and gluten-free. Made from leeks, mushrooms and Bob’s Red Mill wild and brown rice. Served with local lettuce, tomato, grilled onion and vegan mayo on a Dave’s Killer Bread bun – $5.50
• Vegan Cheeseburger: vegan O.T.G. burger with Daiya vegan cheddar cheese added – $6.50
• Vegan Bacon Cheeseburger: vegan OTG patty, vegan cheddar and house-made vegan bacon slathered with grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and vegan mayo – $7.50
• Messy Burger: O.T.G. patty piled high with organic cage-free egg, Tillamook cheddar, organic avocado, grilled onion, lettuce, tomato, spicy tofu-avocado sauce and finally a layer of house-made potato chips. Seasoned and served with a fork – $8
• Veggie Volt: A locally-grown Yukon potato, sliced into a continuous spiral, spread across the length of a compostable skewer and deep fried. Seasoned and served with your choice of ketchup, mustard or one of our house-made vegan sauces – $2.50

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 12-8pm, Friday/Saturday, 12-10pm
Phone: 503 989 3908
Twitter: @OffTheGriddle Facebook: Off The Griddle

[Post updated 11/2010]

Location: SE 21st and Tibbetts

The Story:

SIP is one of those carts we have heard about for years, but have never had the pleasure of visiting. Now I kick myself for not going sooner. SIP is that shiny silver vintage trailer in the courtyard of People’s Co-Op in southeast Portland that serves up some of the best smoothies and juices I have had. Makes me want to buy a juicer.

Being right in front of a co-op that specializes in natural and organic foods is a perfect choice for this cart. I spoke with Brian who made my tasty shake and he stated that he gets most of his produce from Organic Growers Company, a supplier who sources local for as much as they can for produce before expanding outside the area. At this time, Brian is getting most of his winter greens from local farms. Granted, bananas and pineapple aren’t from Oregon. Once summer arrives, almost all of the ingredients used in the smoothies end up being local and organic – even sometimes right from the farmer’s market that occurs every Wednesday in that lot. Way to go SIP in finding a way to support the local farmers.

You know those late night infomercials featuring the old dude with the huge white eyebrows selling the JuiceMan? I guess he’s close to 100 yrs old and looks 50 because he juices everything daily. All joking aside, juicing fruits and veggies is a wonderful way to get your vitamins and minerals. If you just can’t take kale or chard or other green veggies, mix them with some ginger or apple and juice them. You will barely taste the greens. I enjoyed the Incredible Hulk, a smoothie made from kale, spinach, lemon, apple, agave, ginger and ice. You may think the kale and spinach would be the dominant flavor, but that little bit of apple, ginger and agave make it a sweet shake.

SIP has been open now for around 3 years and is there in front of the co-op every day of the week. SE Portland is lucky to have such a great resource for fresh, healthy juices. And everything is vegan for those of you who prefer that. I’m going to try and get down there more often, I promise. If you are down that way, visit SIP, have some wheatgrass and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:
(full menu at SIP’s website)

Juices – 12oz: $4.50; 16oz: $5.50

• Standard Juice: apple, lemon, ginger, carrot
• Ruby Juice: carrot, celery and beet
• All Greens Juice: apple, kale, celery, cucumber and ginger

Green Smoothies – 12oz: $3.95; 16oz: $4.95

• Incredible Hulk: kale, spinach, apple, lemon, ginger, agave, ice
• Tropical Greens: kale, spinach, orange, pineapple, coconut oil, agave, ice

Smoothies – 12oz: $3.95; 16oz: $4.95

• Gingerberry: strawberries, blueberries, apple, ginger, agave
• Vegan Protein: banana, peanut butter, cocoa powder, vanilla, agave, soy and almond milk, protein and ice

And so much more

Hours: Daily, 1oam-7pm
Website: SIPJuiceCart.com
Twitter: @GetYourSipOn Facebook: SIP

Location: NE 21st and Alberta

The Story:

Eat a lot! That is the saying in every Korean home when you sit down to a meal. I love it! I think it should be my mom’s dinner statement since she always tries to get one of us to finish off everything left on the table….we usually do. I had the pleasure of meeting Timber and Ali, the owners of a new Korean snack cart named Yogio up at North Station. Timber and Ali were so welcoming and happy to see not just me, but every customer that walked by. That, my friends, is a success story in the making. When a cart owner engages with the crowd, the sky’s the limit.

Rock!

I spoke with Timber for a few minutes about the type of food they were offering at Yogio so I could better understand what I was eating. I have never had the pleasure of traveling to Asia, so food is my one connection. How can you beat that? Timber is from the midwest and cut her teeth in the kitchens of Chicago. After getting burned out as a head chef, she traveled to South Korea for a year to teach English and “eat her way through Asia.” She had always wanted to open a food cart and being in Korea narrowed down her passion for the type of food she wanted to serve. In Korea, Timber met some Korean moms who taught her different recipes and food tricks so Timber could learn to cook the Korean way. Her goal was to keep older culinary traditions alive which is pretty darn admirable.

On my first visit to the bright pink graffiti-ed cart, Timber and Ali treated me to a full plate of their dishes. I was able to try the Rock, Paper and Scissors. Each of these items were unique in their own special way. All vegetarian and all something I have never tried before. The Rock (to the left in the photo) is a twist on bibimbap with the bibimbap vegetables stuffed inside seasoned rice which is then seared off in sesame oil and wrapped in gochujang (Korean chili paste) and seaweed. The Paper (in the middle) are savory Korean pancakes normally served in bars which are sometimes stuffed with different fillings. The Scissors, or dokpoki (in the cup) is thick rice cake noodles simmered in a sweet and spicy sauce and are the mac ‘n cheese for kids of Korea. I enjoyed it all. The seared rice and the secret filling of the Rock was a highlight of the meal. The texture of the seared rice and savory insides made me want to go get a whole plate of them. I loved that each item stood on its own and could be ordered indivually. A home run.

Timber and Ali have something unique here we haven’t seen yet in Portland – Korean snacks. The North Station is becoming the cart pod to visit these days with a new cart showing up almost daily. I love their catch phrase “Eat a Lot!” and Yogio means “I am here.” Well, yes you are! I want to welcome them to my neighborhood and to Cartland. When you visit, say hi and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[Yogio graciously provided Food Carts Portland the food profiled here without charge. Thank you Yogio.]

[Update: Yogio has moved to their own spot on NE 21st and Alberta in March 2011]

Sample Menu:

• Rock: bibimbap veggies wrapped in seasonal rice seared off in sesame oil wrapped with gochijang and seaweed – $4
• Paper: traditional Korean savory pancake with fresh veggies served with a little crack sauce – $4
• Scissors: thick rice noodles in a sweet and spicy sauce – $4
• Nude Kimbap: seasoned rice wrapped in seaweed – $2

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11am-6pm
Phone: 479 236 1452
Twitter: @Yogiopdx Facebook: Yogio on Facebook
Website: http://yogio.weebly.com

Over the past year, I have had more than a few inquires about carts that offer gluten free options. I am by no means any sort of expert on this subject, but from my reading on the Internet and according to recent studies, approximately 1.5-2 million Americans suffer from Celiac disease, a condition caused by a reaction to gluten protein found in wheat. That is a simple description for this autoimmune disorder, so please forgive me. In layman’s terms, an individual with Celiac disease is challenged by most of the food in our prepackaged diet. Along with those who have Celiac, there is an additional portion of the population who generally have challenges with wheat gluten. Therefore, we give you a short list of carts that offer gluten free options. Further, we have some comments from our Facebook friends who discuss types of food which are generally gluten free (GF) which opens up cart options.

CARTS:

• Savor Soup House on SW 10th and Alder has GF soup options and now offers New Cascadia gluten-free bread for their sandwiches.
• Grilled Cheese Grill on NE 11th and Alberta has GF brown rice bread which they can use for any sandwich. The only sandwich they won’t do GF is the Cheesus.
• Buddha Bites down off SW 4th and Hall by PSU has many GF options including GF baked goods.
• Ruby Dragon at Mississippi Marketplace on N Mississippi at Skidmore serves up vegan fare which includes numerous GF options including quinoa pancakes.
• Also at Mississippi Marketplace is The Magic Bean which offers up GF falafel sandwiches.
• Nong’s Khao Man Gai offers up a GF meal if you don’t get the sauce.
• Potato Champion at SE 12th and Hawthorne serves up fries. These are GF and they offer up sauces that are GF.
• Yarp?! at SE 12th and Hawthorne always has the option of rice noodles as a substitution and notes if they use wheat as a thickener for their sauces.
• The Whole Bowl on SW 9th and Alder is GF. Rice and beans.
• Sonny Bowl on SW 3rd and Washington has GF options also. Rice and beans.
• Perierra Crêperie offers up GF crêpes.

According to some of the recommendations, most Thai food can also be GF, but to watch out for sauces as they could contain wheat filler. I’m no expert in any way, nor am I on the lookout for these options when I’m visiting the carts. I probably have missed some great cart out there that are GF favorites, so let us know and we’ll add to this list. Enjoy.