Tight Tacos

dieselboi
August 23, 2017 Written by dieselboi 4 Comments

Location: 602 SE Salmon at Jacobsen Salt
Hours: Daily, including weekends, 12-7pm

The Story: Rolling down 39th, I needed water, so just south of Belmont, I popped into the 39th Mini Mart, your ever typical corner market filled with chips, candy bars, beer and 4loco. Upon exit, a green haired kid strolled by with a plate of beautiful tacos. Wawawawah? Then I smelled it. Grilled meats. I followed my nose around the corner to find the cute little operation named Tight Tacos.

The cart is adorably tiny with two wide open windows and everything on display. I do enjoy seeing a basket of fresh citrus and onions and the open grill where the different cuts of meat are segregated off, ready to be served. No hiding behind the swinging kitchen door. Also, when I walked up, fresh tortillas grilled happily. Reggie Ballesteros opened food cart earlier this summer bringing California style street tacos to the Rose City.

The menu offers tacos and burritos with options including Al Pastor, Carnitas, Asada, Chorizo (made with Chicken) and event False Pastor made with cauliflower. Being a huge fan of Chorizo, I decided on that and Asada. I picked both with “The Works” which includes guacamole and crema. The star of the party is the thick handmade masa tortilla. Chewy and so well made, it stayed folded in my hand until the end of every bite. When was the last time you ate a taco and it didn’t fall apart before the end? Not here. Each taco left me breathless. The chorizo is creamy and had some kick; the asada, lean and perfectly grilled. Each topped with fresh white onion and cilantro, these are tacos everyone should be eating.

When people ask me where to find great tacos, I send them to the east side and Tight Tacos has proven me right. Great execution and a tasty product. Located just behind the mini mart, Tight Tacos offers two tables with tents so you can sit and enjoy your meal. Next time you’re needing your street taco fix, go see Reggie and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Menu:
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Facebook: Tight Tacos

Filed Under: Mexican, Southeast-Portland, Tacos, Vegetarian Options

Papa Lee’s Kitchen

dieselboi
February 26, 2017 Written by dieselboi Leave a Comment
Asian food cart portland

Papa Lee’s Kitchen

Location: SE 11th and Tacoma at Piknik
Hours: Tues-Sun, 11-7

Papa Lee’s Kitchen is one of those carts that will surprise you. While the menu offers a number of fish taco options like ahi or shrimp, it also offers up a double smoked bratwurst sandwich. Normally, vendors focus on one type of cuisine, but Papa Lee takes everything further. The Jaeger Schnitzel Sandwich is a perfect example – a breaded pork loin topped with house made mushroom gravy, jack cheese, veggies and served on a ciabatta roll. Served with a side Caesar salad, this is a hungry man’s meal. Juicy, sweet, savory and more. Papa Lee rocked it.

Asian food cart portland

Jaeger Schnitzel Sandwich

Facebook: Papa Lee’s Kitchen

Filed Under: Asian Fusion, Fish, Sandwiches, SE 11th and Tacoma - Piknik, Tacos

Mahi Taco

dieselboi
January 25, 2017 Written by dieselboi Leave a Comment
fish taco food cart portland

Mahi Taco in Portland

Location: NE 7th and Killingsworth at Piedmont Station
Hours: Mon-Wed, 12-3; Fri-Sun, 12-8:30pm

The Story: Piedmont Station continues to impress with their selection of street food vendors. With the addition of Mahi Taco, Portland can now enjoy Hawaiian style fish tacos from a food cart.

Mahi Taco plates up Hawaiian comfort food with a nod to Baja with grilled fish tacos and a few Hawaiian favorites. Upon arrival, the ubiquitous crossed surfboard logo sold me. A grilled flour tortilla is the base with cabbage, pico de gallo, lime sauce and Colby cheese as toppings. Mahi Taco offers grilled Mahi, chicken, kalua pork or fried avocado. With a nod to Hawaii, I picked the plate lunch with two Mahi tacos, a side of cilantro lime rice and mac salad. For $8, a generous plate of food. The tacos didn’t disappoint with charitable pieces of grilled Mahi superbly enveloped with cabbage, pico and sauce, I feasted. I’m excited to return one day to devour the kalua pork sliders.

fish taco food cart portland

Mahi Tacos from Mahi Taco

Mahi Taco is located at Piedmont Station on NE Killingsworth. The lot offers covered and heated seating, a kid’s play area and Le Tap, pouring beer, cider and wine. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Menu: 
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Facebook: Mahi Taco
Twitter: @MahiTacoPDX

Filed Under: Fish, Hawaiian, NE 7th and Killingsworth - Piedmont Station, Salads, Sandwiches, Tacos

Poblano Pepper Mexican

dieselboi
March 16, 2016 Written by dieselboi Leave a Comment

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Location: SE 43rd and Belmont – Bite on Belmont
Hours: Weekdays and weekends lunch and dinner

Excellent Mexican cart.

Facebook: Poblano Pepper

 

Filed Under: Dinner, Lunch, Mexican, SE 43rd and Belmont - Bites on Belmont, Tacos, Weekends

Mole Prehispanic Cuisine

dieselboi
October 28, 2015 Written by dieselboi 7 Comments
mole food cart portland

Mole Prehistoric Cuisine

Location: 5885 NW St Helens Rd in the parking lot of Anderson Roofing
Hours: Weekdays, lunch

The Story: Our food scene here in Portland continues to mature. Every day, I’m overjoyed by the layers of flavor offered by street food vendors throughout the city. Mole Prehispanic Cuisine, a new food truck out off HWY 30, brings us mole from Oaxaca and they are the real deal.

Chef Luis Ochoa, veteran of Isabel in the Pearl, works out of a truck parked of a highway, creating dynamic and exciting mole daily. Originating in the southern most regions of Mexico in the state of Oaxaca, Chef Luis crafts an rhapsody of dried chiles, seeds, nuts, herbs and spices to pair with locally grown meats to create the moles. After a few visits to Sauvie Island on the weekends and seeing the closed truck, I decided to pop in for lunch on a Monday. Four Mole dishes are on the menu – beef, pork, lamb and chicken. Yet, each is defined by the complexity of the mole. Chef Luis offered up a sample taste of each and dutifully explained the differences. I almost ordered them all. Not one to accept samples, these tiny tastes assisted me in choosing lunch.

Mole food cart portland

Mole Verde from Mole Prehistoric Cuisine

The Mole Verde – Carlton Farms pork slow roasted and paired with a light herbaceous, yet zesty Oaxacan mole of tomatillos, pablanos and pepitas. I chose the verde for the spiciness. A forkful of pork, stirred in the rich green mole and a bit of brown rice and quinoa and my taste buds united in joy. Each dish is served with the rice and quinoa blend along with fresh greens topped with a pineapple salsa and pickled onions. Mix a bit of the pineapple with the mole – Boom!

Beyond the main dishes, Mole Prehistoric Cuisine also serves up fresh made empanadas and daily specials. Exploring the depths of regional cuisine ignites a passion in me about all foods. I’m excited to see Chef Luis bring his dishes to Portland’s streets. Find the truck parked at the Anderson Roofing Materials lot out off HWY 30 south of the St. Johns Bridge. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Mole Negro – primitive Oaxacan mole with braised St. Helen’s beef brisket – $8
  • Mole Verde – $8
  • Mole Colaradito – Anderson Ranches lamb, braised with guajillo chilies, mild spices, cinnamon and clove – $8
  • Mole De Castilla – organic chicken pan poached and matched with earthy mole of dark chocolate, spice and fruit – $8
  • Empanadas – $3

Facebook: Mole PDX
Twitter: @MolePDX
Phone: 503 875 9134

Filed Under: Lunch, Mexican, NW Portland
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