Roshambo

Location: SE 32nd and Division, D-Street Noshery
Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11:30-8; Fri, Sat, 11:30-9, Sun, 12-7

The Story:

In an old-school Aloha trailer at D-Street Noshery you can get some excellent Indian cuisine that is simple and fresh and tasty. Roshambo will surprise you at how good they are.

Created by chef David McGough, yoga teacher Uma Diana Hulet, and developer Randy Rapaport, Roshambo offers up organic, vegetarian Indian cuisine made from scratch. Normally, the menus at Indian carts list upwards of 50 items, so it becomes a challenge for me to pick something. At Roshambo, they have a small menu of around 10 items along with daily specials. That tells me they spend more time and care perfecting these dishes.

Koftas from Roshambo

At Roshambo, they have small bites along with full meals. The day I visited, I picked up some potato, jalapeno and paneer koftas which I would describe as mini veggie balls sitting in a sweet and savory tomato sauce. The koftas are a mix of chickpea flour, herbs, spices and the vegetables and then lightly fried. I have had koftas elsewhere that were a bit over fried, but at Roshambo, they were light and fluffy and the jalapeno added a nice pleasant zing. For $6, a great treat for a cold day.

Roshambo has a mouthwatering menu and makes vegan samosas on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you’re looking for something new and want to venture beyond the traditional, check them out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Potato, jalapeno, paneer koftas – $6
• Kichari: ayurveda-inspired, brown basmati rice, moong dal with seasonal vegetables and spices – $6
• Samosas: served with house-made mango chutney – $6
• Moong Dal w/Spinach: yellow moong beans with spinach, spices and topped with house-made ghee – $9
• Chana Masala: chickpeas simmered in a savory tomato sauce – $9
• Aloo Dum: potatoes in a creamy, spicy curry sauce – $9
• Vegetable Korma: house-made Indian cheese simmered with vegetables in a savory creamy sauce – $9

Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11:30-8; Fri, Sat, 11:30-9, Sun, 12-7
Phone: 971.266.1008
Website: RoshamboPDX.com
Facebook: Roshambo

New Taste of India

Location: SW 9th and Alder and SW 9th and Washington
Hours: weekdays, lunch

Indian food. Multiple locations including two at the Alder lot.

Phone: 9715635284

Location: Ala Cart cart pod. SE 102nd Ave and Stark

The Story: The Shalimar Cafe cart  in Portland’s gritty outer SE 102nd Ave and Stark Street is worlds away from the ancient and majestic Shalimar Gardens in Pakistan. Yet, Portland’s Shalimar Cafe is 100% authentic Indian/Pakistan in both food and spirit.

North India and Pakistan share a rich culinary history and crossover cuisine that includes one of the most intense and diverse food cart cultures on the planet. Cities, small towns, and rural areas contain row upon row of food carts and vendors, some as humble as a simple grill set up by the side of a dusty dirt road with others set up in elaborate vans, trucks and semi-permanent tent  marketplace compounds . From dawn until dawn the next day people of all persuasions can find everything from a simple two-cent glass of Chai tea and a piece of grilled flatbread  for breakfast, to a full-on 5 course gourmet meal for lunch or dinner. Eating from food carts and street vendors is simply a way of life in India/Pakistan, as it has been for thousands of years.

Shalimar Cafe is indeed Pakistani owned and run, and in addition to serving  Halal meats, provides a nice tour of Indian and Pakistani street food specials such as Samosas – deep fried triangle pastries stuffed with vegetables and chutney, and Alu Kebobs – crispy-tender cutlets made of potatoes, onions, cilantro and freshly ground spices.

This is also the only Indian food cart I know of in Portland to have its own Tandoor oven. Things like chicken, naan breads and other “tandori” dishes are cooked with special equipment in the proper method and temperatures to give them even more authentic tastes and textures. The Standard vegetarian (or meat and 2 side dish) combo with rice and naan bread is available, but it’s the Chaat (snacks) Shalimar offers that seem most interesting to me. These include a textbook Samosa Chaat with garbanzo beans and smothered in a yogurt and tamarind sauce, and Pani Puri – Crispy chickpea flour cracker shells served with  spiced potato mixture and tamarind chutney.

Like most Indian carts, this one is also quite vegetarian and even vegan friendly since India has a large sect of vegetarians and vegans. Thus, the cook at Shalimar won’t look at you cross eyed if you ask for no meat or dairy. Some menu items are made with butter or milk, but just ask the cart vendor for specific details on each item. Although Shalimar Cafe isn’t located anywhere close to where I live and work in Portland, it seems worth the trek to the “SE Hinderlands” for their large portions, quality food and very decent prices. The fact that Shalimar is open on Saturdays is a big bonus to help me get my regular Indian food cravings fix.

Open since December of 2009, Shalimar has carved a niche for themselves and seemed steady, if not busy the few times I’ve been there. Check them out for yourself and let us know what you think.

Sample Menu: The full and extensive menu is located on the Shalimar Cafe website, but here’s a sample.

Vegetarian Five- Course Daily Special. 3 vegetarian choices, Basamati rice, naan bread – $6.00

Meat and Vegetable Five-Course Daily Special. 2 vegetarian choices, meat of the day special, Basamati rice, naan bread – $6.50

Chef’s Specials (rotate by day of week and week of month).  All  served with basmati rice – $5.50 to $6.50 All items can be served as a wrap in naan bread that includes  lettuce, tomatoes, onions & yogurt sauce. May include items such as chicken curry, aloo (potato) curry, chicken saag  or alu saag (spinach), chicken or potato Makhani, alu mattar (peas and potatoes in red sauce), mattar paneer (cheese and peas in red sauce), Balti Chicken, and/or Channa Masala Punjabi.

Vegetable Samosas – $1.50 each

Tandoori Salad. Pieces of tandoori chicken with lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. – $5.50

Alu Kebob. Cutlet made of potatoes, onions, cilantro and freshly ground spices. – $1.50 each

Raita – Homemade whipped yogurt with, tomatoes, onions fresh mint leaves and freshly ground spices. – $2.00

Tandoor Specials -$6.50 each. Served with rice or in a naan bread wrap with lettuce, tomatoes, and raita yogurt sauce.

• Tandoori Chicken. Chicken marinated in yogurt and freshly ground spices and grilled to perfection.
• Chicken Tikka Masala. Tandoori roasted chicken tikka, in a tomato and butter sauce.
• Chicken Kebob. Juicy cubes from chicken marinated in yogurt and freshly ground spices and grilled on a skewer.
• Seekh Kebob. Finger rolls of ground beef mixed with ginger, freshly ground spices and fresh cilantro.

Dal (v) or Dalmakhani. Black lentils and beans, cooked in onions, tomatoes & cilantro. Dalmakhni is cooked with cream. Served with rice- $5.50

Vegetable Korma. Nine assorted garden fresh vegetables sauteed in a traditional onion & tomato sauce. Served with rice – $6.00

Alu Kebobs with Rice 2 Cutlets made of potatoes, onions, cilantro and freshly ground spices. – $5.50

Beverages

• Lassi- Refreshing yogurt drink, sweet or salted – $2.50
• Mango Lassi- Yogurt drink with mango, sweet or salted -$2.50
• Bottled water, Pepsi, Mt. Dew – $1.00
• Masala Chai, Chai, or Shalimar’s special herbal tea – $1.25

Hours:

• Monday – Saturday 11:00am-7:00pm
• Winter Hours. Monday – Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm
• Closed Sundays

Phone: 971-219-5922 (Catering Phone: 971-404-7721)
Email: shafi@shalimarfood.com
Website: www.shalimarfood.com

Location: 3441 N. Vancouver Avenue (corner of N. Vancouver and Fremont)
Hours: Tues – Fri 7:00am – 6:30pm; Sat/Sun 10:00am – 6:30pm

Description: Indian food cooked the South African way, with a home style touch cooked by a real “Mum” and daughter team. What’s that you say? South African Indian food? Who has ever heard of such a thing?

Well, millions of lucky South Africans that’s who, and now a few luckily Portlanders as well.

South African Indian food highlights the vast nuances and regionalisms of Indian cuisine overall, and illustrates how cultures and immigration patterns adapt and adopt foods from all over the world. With a sizable Indian population in South Africa, this particular regional cuisine combines things like Indian curry seasonings with indigenous African dishes, as well as European influences. The results are delightful.

A little sample of Mum's Cuisine

Mum’s is doing something a bit different than other Indian carts around town, but some familiar favorites do appear. The potato and pea stuffed Samosas at Mum’s are small crispy triangles, rice Briyani dishes are nicely seasoned and fresh, and the Mulligatawny soup is a classic warming Anglo-Indian favorite. Yet,  even the curries are spiced just a little differently at Mum’s than at other Indian carts around town, or even restaurants for that matter.

Then there is Samp. “It’s an African dish”, the nice owner (Mum herself) explained. I Googled Samp, and I researched it in one of my many food reference books, and I researched some more. Besides this article, I could only find the most basic of information on this African dish, and no background information at all on the South African/Indian version. No matter, the Samp at Mum’s tastes wonderful and that’s all that matters, really. Described on the Mum’s menu as, “Corn Kernels (Mealies), Pinto Beans and Curried Chicken Braised and Simmered together,” it’s really more like a wonderful bright curry with hominy corn and not what Americans might considered “corn kernels.” It is however $8.50 per order, which might turn some bargain cart eaters off, but do give it a chance. The portion is huge – enough to easily feed two. This isn’t your standard greasy bomb “curry in a hurry” cart food either. Food here is made with a lighter and fresher touch.

A dish of Samp

This cart is also very accommodating, and is both vegetarian and vegan friendly. The owners are always more than happy to answer any questions about their food, make special requests when feasible and they love to provide samples to first timers.

The Roti rolls are another menu item that I truly hope becomes a Portland favorite. It’s really the equivalent of an Indian Burrito. Curried vegetables, chicken, or spicy garlic pork and cabbage come rolled (3 to an order), in Roti flatbread. Filling, and easy to transport and eat on the go.

That said, there are a few things I wish this cart had to make the dining experience better. First off, although the cart is located under a large covered area there is only a small patio bench for seating. This makes balancing a large container of semi-liquid Samp or curry on one’s lap a feat of human dexterity in eating. Tables and chairs are definitely needed here and would work well under the large covered awning. I’d also like to see a combo plate. I know, I know every other Indian place has one and Mum’s is doing something different. But I want to sample all the good things at once!  Even a Briyani/Vegetable curry or Samp combo would be a perfect beans, rice, corn and vegetable meal in proteins, textures and tastes.

pea and potato stuffed Samosas, and what's left of my Roti rolls

Otherwise, this cart is a very nice addition to the Portland cart scene, and especially good for those who commute through North and NE Portland. Open early in the mid-morning until 6:30 PM Tuesday through Sunday, this  cart would make a nice place to pick up dinner on the way home from work. Portland needs more dinner carts! I look forward to seeing how Mum’s progresses over the next few months and what other menu items they come up with.

Sample Menu:

Appetizer

6 Potato Samoosas (their spelling)-Triangular Pastries filled with Mildly Spiced Potato & Peas… $4.00

Meat and Poultry Dishes

Chicken Curry – Indian Curried Chicken with Potato, served over Steamed Rice with a Pickled Carrot Salad …$7.00

Spicy Garlic Pork & Cabbage– Tender Curried Pork braised with Sweet Cabbage, served over Steamed Rice…$7.00

Chicken Briyani – A traditional rice dish served with a Pickled Carrot Salad. Available on Friday and Saturday only…$8.50

Samp – A traditional South African Favorite. Corn Kernels (Mealies), Pinto Beans and Curried Chicken Braised and Simmered together…$8.50

Vegan Offerings

Vegetable Briyani – A Vegan Rice Dish with Spiced Vegetables served with Dahl and Pickled Carrot Salad…$8.00

Curried Vegetables with Steamed Rice, served with Dahl a Pickled Carrot Salad…7.00

Roti Rolls filled with your choice of Chicken Curry, Pork and Cabbage, or vegetable curry…3 for $6.00

Soups….$4.00

Hours: Tues – Fri 7:00am – 6:30pm; Sat/Sun 10:00am – 6:30pm

Phone: (360) 281 9414

Email: Unknown

Website: http://mumskitchen.vpweb.com

Location: 3441 N. Vancouver Avenue (corner of N. Vancouver and Fremont)

Location: 804 SW 12th Ave and Yamhill (located on Yamhill, next to India Chaat House)

Description: The Chaat is back! (Updated May 17) There was some sort of family split WHICH IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS, but the former cook/owner/or something from India Chaat next door just simply reopened  a new name and a spiffed up cart-bus of her own. The lesson here?  HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A CART OWNER SCORNED.

Anyway, I’ll keep out of this War of the Roses style cart drama henceforth, but I have to say that Bombay Chaat is certainly exceeding expectations in value, quality and service. It’s basically the same menu as before with 100% vegetarian (or vegan on request) Indian snacks, bean or vegetable dishes, curries, rice dishes and some of the best Naan bread to grace Portland.

The $5.00, 6 piece lunch special should be illegal at this price. Easily enough to serve two for lunch, it comes with basamati rice, dal tarka spiced lentils, a hubcap sized piece of tender made to order naan, and three main dishes such as creamy vegetable korma, aloo saag spinach and potatoes. A free cup of chai tea is usually offered up while you wait, so technically this could be considered a 7 course meal for $5.00. Whoa. That’s a bargain!

Although the above lunch deal is the reason many eat at this cart, I’m particuarly fond of the Chaats (snacks). These are things like made to order garlic naan bread ($1.25), sev-poori crispy Indian noodles with tarmarind and mint sauces, homemade yogurt, garbanzo beans and onions, or aloo tiki deep fried mashed and spiced potato patties. The Samosa Chaat is one of my favorite things: two close to baseball sized potato and vegetable samosas, deep fried and served with the same sauxe as the sev-poori above. At $3.50, the Samosa chaat makes a terrific lunch, while my tweet tooth often steers me to the Pishwari bread stuffed with almonds, pistachios, raisins and cashews with a rose syrup. Sweet or mango yogurt lassis are also quite refreshing.

I’m not going to say which cart I prefer or which one I think is better. Dear reader, I’ll let you be the judge of that. I will say however that I’m really glad Bombay Chaat is open for business.

Sample Menu:

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm

Phone: 503 241-7944

Website: Bombay Chaat House

Email: BombaayChaatHouse@gmail.com

Location: SW 12th and Yamhill

Description: Probably one of the most beloved of all the food carts in Portland, especially with vegetarians and vegans. For everything at the Chaat House is vegetarian, and all can be made vegan if requested. This “cart” is actually a large panel van that has morphed over the past couple of years to include a more permanent covered and enclosed porch with a counter and two picnic tables, making it one of the few carts to eat at during either balmy or stormy weather.

Food here is fairly straightforward; a 5 piece combo (with rice and some of the best freshly made Nan bread anywhere) will only run you $5.50. Curries, lentil and other bean dishes, vegetable standards like Saag Aloo, Aloo Gobi, Mutter Paneer, and rice biriyanis (most of them around $5.00) somehow seem fresher, lighter, and more balanced here than some of the other carts.

Chaat refers to snacks in India, and the Chaat House delivers nicely with things like vegetable pakoras, samosas, mango or salty yogurt based lassis, kheer rice pudding, and a whole separate menu just for “chaat”. These include the above mentioned “snacks” as well as things like aloo tiki -deep fried spiced potato patties served with chutney ($2.50), Samosa chaat with bits of potato stuffed samosas in a cold curry sauce with garbanzos and coriander chutney ($5.00), or Bahle-Poor (a puffed rice snack).

One of my favorite sweets is Pishwari ($2.00), a freshly made piece of nan bread sprinkled  with finely ground pistachios, raisins, drizzled with a hint of rosewater syrup. Served with a steaming cup of Chai, this makes a perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

India Chaat House can get extremely popular during lunch hours and food is prepared fresh so it may take a big longer to get your food than at some of the other carts. Even on the weekends one might see large Indian families chowing down (a good sign indeed), or groups of young twenty somethings arriving en masse on bicycles to take up all the table space. However, the wait is worth it.

Hours: Mon-Fri 11-7, Sat 11-4, Closed Sunday

Phone: 503-241-7944

Website: Check out their MySpace Page

2 Locations: SW 5th and Oak/Stark Parking Lot and SW 4th and James Street

Description: At both locations New Taste of India seems to be a popular choice among ravenous office workers and The boys in Blue from the close by Portland Police headquaters. And why not? The food is decent, the prices are good, and the portions are huge.

New Taste of India serves the usual Indian cart 5 piece (meat or vegetarian) combo of rice, naan bread, and 3 different entrees of the day for less than $6.00. A bargain, and enough food for 2 meals at least. Other Indian standards such as Saag Paneer, Tandori Chicken, Vegetable or Meat kormas, etc, are also available. Mango Lassi and samosas make a great snack.

A slightly smaller menu than their neighbor Real Taste of India, but the food is similar in my opinion. Love it or hate it, it’s really all about big portions at cheap prices here.

Hours: M-F Lunch until 6PM or so.

Phone: 503-750-7435

Website: www.newtasteofindia.net

Location: SW 5th and Oak/Stark Parking Lot

Description: Not to be confused with New Taste of India located a few carts down on the same “cart strip”, this one has a giant menu (how do they have such a huge menu in such small digs anyway) and the standard 5 piece combo for $5.50 which includes 2 entrees, dal, basamati rice, and nan bread, served either with meat or vegetarian. Ok, so it’s greasy and heavy food. This is also cheap and filling food. As a poor grad student I used to be able to get 2-3 meals out of one standard combo. A recent combo included chicken curry, chicken pakoras, chana masala for the meat variety and channa saag, dal tarka, and vegetable korma for the vegetarian option.

Real Taste of India also has over 60 things listed a la carte on their menu ranging from samosas ($3.00 for 2 samosas) to a wide variety of meat or vegetable curries and entrees ($5.00-$7.00), and even 3 different kinds of rice Biriyani ($5.50-$7.00).

They are also open late enough to grab to go food for dinner at home.

Phone: 503-295-5564

Hours: Mon-Fri Lunch to around 6 or 7 PM

Website: Unknown