Velas Cart

Location: N Lombard and Burr
Hours: Daily, 11am-7pm

This guest post was written by Scott Batchelar, a regular at many of the carts throughout the city. Thank you Scott.

The Story:

“Welcome to Velas, how are you tonight?” says Mario Vela the owner and chef of the Velas food cart as I walk up to this small food cart pod which includes a Kruger’s Farm Market and Captured by Porches Microbrewery.

In Portland we have close to fifty Mexican Food Carts and for me the trick is finding the gems at each cart. I looked over the extensive menu of Mexican and American foods at Velas and asked Mario for some advice on what his favorite dishes are. He immediately recommended his chicken mole even though I am still perusing the menu to see what else looks promising. My eyes settle on the empanadas and after asking some questions I order both a beef empanada and the chicken mole.

Chicken Mole from Velas Cart

I sit down in the Captured by Porches Bus for a tasty and filling meal. I especially liked the tenderness of the chicken and authentic mole sauce that Mario makes fresh daily as well as the delicious topping of pico de gallo. Add to that the cheese in small cubes he placed on the moist and delicious beef empanada as a bonus.

Velas is open daily from 11am to 7pm. They have an extensive menu of Mexican and American foods including tacos, burritos, tortas, sopes, empanadas, memelas, garnacas, tamales as well as numerous Mexican and American drinks and burgers. With the Captured by Porches bus, you can sit inside out of the rain and even enjoy a cold microbrew. Velas is a great addition to this small but intimate pod. If you drop in let them know Food Carts Portland and Scott Batchelar, the unofficial Food cart King, sent you.

Sample Menu:

PLATES: (with rice & beans)

• Pollo En Mole (chicken mole) $6.00

BURGERS: (With fries or potato salad) $6.00

• Velas (jalapenos, tomatoes, onion, pepperjack cheese)
• BBQ (grilled onions, bbq sauce, cheddar cheese)
• Garlic Mushroom (mushrooms, swiss cheese)
• Chili (green chile, onions, provolone cheese)
• Cajun Chicken Sandwich (marinated chicken, pepperjack & chipotle mayo on foccacia bread

MEALS:

• Tacos (pastor, steak, chorizo, chicken, lengua) $1.50
• Burritos (pastor, steak, chorizo, chicken, lengua) $5.00
• Tortas ((pastor, steak, chorizo, chicken, lengua) $5.00
• Sopes (chicken or beef) $2.50
• Empanadas (chicken, beef, chicharron) $2.50
• Memelas (beans, salsa, sour cream, queso fresca) $2.00
• Garnachas (red sauce, potatoes, onion, beef) $2.00
• Tamales (Veracruz Style – Chicken) $1.95

DRINKS

• Mexican – Jarritos, Horchata, Sidral, Jamaica, Sangria, Tamarindo, Jumex $1.50
• Domestic – Pepsi, Fanta, Diet Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Sprite, Root Beer, Mt Dew, Coke $1.00

Hours: Daily, 11am-7pm
Phone: 503 754 2904

Santana Mexican Food

Location: SW 9th and Alder
Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime

There are a lot of Mexican food carts in Portland, so it takes that extra step (hint: a very spicy option helps) to give me a little more incentive to head in that direction. At Santana Mexican Food, Lorena is the lovely woman taking orders at the window. I don’t speak much Spanish, and I found out that English is not her first language, but no language barrier could deceive my observations.

At least a couple of customers who ordered before me were in a joyous mood, talking to Lorena in Spanish, and happily awaiting their food. As other people stepped up to the window, Lorena smiled and acknowledged each person. I had no clue what to get; everything looked so good. Lorena just smiled and told me to take my time, no rush.

Santana Mexican Food

Lorena said the fajitas ($6.50) sell very well, but the Wet Burrito ($7), covered in a mildly spiced red sauce and shredded cheese, is the most popular. My carnivorous side told me to get the beef fajitas. Beef, bell pepper, mushrooms, and onions are cooked on the flattop and served with a scoop of vegetables, Spanish rice, your choice of beans (red, pinto, or black), and corn tortillas. Lorena asked if I wanted hot sauce – red, green, or habanero – and being the spice nut that I am, habanero all the way! The beef was juicy, and the cooked vegetables retained a bit of crunch. The corn tortillas were separately wrapped in aluminum foil, steamed perfectly. The habanero salsa brought pleasing heat and an assertive fruitiness. Overall, this was an abundance of food that didn’t break my wallet into multiple pieces. Huzzah!

The fajita plate takes a bit longer to prepare than other dishes but Santana’s offers tacos and burritos, should one be in a hurry. There are meat and vegetarian options that cater to almost all customers. Check out Santana Mexican Food and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya!

Sample Menu:

Meat choices include asada, pastor, pollo and carnitas

• Tacos Combo served with Spanish rice and choice of red, pinto, or black beans – $6
• Fajitas served with Spanish rice and choice of red, pinto, or black beans – $6.50
• Wet Burrito served with Spanish rice and choice of red, pinto, or black beans – $7
• Tacos $1.50 each
• Burritos $5.50 with meat, $4.50 vegetarian
• Sope $3

Hours: weekdays, lunchtime
Contact: Unknown

Lonchera Brother Express Mexican

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: daily – 1oam-11pm

The Story:

I love a simple Mexican taco made with two small tortillas, your choice of meat and a sprinkle of chopped white onion and cilantro. When you can get one for 99c, it’s even tastier. Lonchera Brother Express Mexican has such tacos.

Throughout Portland, we have fifty or more different Mexican trucks or carts. In downtown alone, there are 15 different options for Mexican fare. While many close in serve up traditional tacos and burritos and tortas with options like asada and pollo and chorizo, when you venture out east or west or south, the meat choices expand. Tripa (tripe.) Lengue (toungue.) Cabeza (beef head.) At Lonchera they have Buche – pork stomach. Having never tried it, I ordered one along with asada and chorizo. The chorizo and asada tacos were right on the mark – great flavor and exactly what one would expect. When I took that nervous bite of the buche taco, my fear dissipated quickly when I tasted the sweet fatty meat mixed with the cilantro and onions. It even had a flavor I couldn’t describe that was a bit salty – almost like a soy sauce infusion. I’m not sure if they intended that or if that is indicative of buche. Overall, the taco was enjoyable and I can now check that off on my list of foods I had never tried.

Tacos from Lonchera

Lonchera Brother Express Mexican is open daily from 10am-11pm and has tacos for 99c. They do have a broad menu including tortas, burritos, sopes and chalupas among other items. Check them out if your in the neighborhood and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Meat choices include: asada, pollo, carnitas, al pastor, chorizo, tripa, buche, lengua or vegetarian

• Tacos – 99c (normally $1.25)
• Burritos – choice of meat with beans, rice, cheese, onions, cilantro – $5
• Conquistador Burrito – choice of meat, rice, beans, onions, cilantro, cheese, chile rellano – $6
• Vegetarian Burrito – cheese, rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, onions, cilantro, avocado and tomato – $4
• Quesadillas – $5
• Chalupas – $1.25
• Sopes – $4.50
• Huarache – $5

Hours: daily, 1oam-11pm
Phone: 5037297705

Koi Fusion Mississippi Marketplace

Location: N Skidmore and Mississippi, Mississippi Marketplace
Hours: Daily and weekends, 12-8pm

The Story:

Koi Fusion opened a second permanent cart at Mississippi Marketplace. Serving up their signature Korean tacos, burritos and other items.

Website: KoiFusionPDX.com
Twitter: @KoiFusion
Facebook: Koi Fusion

Moctezuma Bros

Location: 3503 N Mississippi
Hours: lunchtime, weekdays

Phone: 503 933 8243

Traditional Mexican fare. More information coming soon.

Taqueria El Rodeo

Location: SW 10^th and Alder
Hours: Daily for breakfast and lunch

The Story:

As the second most popular street food in Portland, Mexican can be found at each pod. Some are great, some are simple, but all of them offer a good product at a low price. Taqueria El Rodeo opened in May to compete against the longtime Tito’s just around the corner.

In the cart that use to be SaBaiDee Thai for many years, Taqueria El Rodeo didn’t do much other than put up new signage. With a traditional menu of Mexican fare, they have something for everyone, including breakfast burritos and vegetarian options. We were in a hurry with only a few dollars in cash, so chose the $1.50 tacos with carnitas, chicken, fish and machaca. Served with the two small tortillas stacked, the tacos were overflowing with meat, chopped onions and fresh cilantro. I think these had twice the amount of filling as other carts in town. Everything tasted great and was made to order. The fish taco though was the stand-out with plenty of fish, a good white sauce and finely chopped cabbage. All in all, a cart I would return to.

Taqueria El Rodeo sits among the numerous Thai carts on that corner. As stated, it is the former bright red SaBaiDee Thai cart, so if you would normally pass it, stop by to try some of their items. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Options for meat and fillings: asada, chicken, carnitas, pastor, shredded beef, chorizo, machaca, fish and veggies

• Tacos: $1.50
• Burritos: beans, rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream and choice of meat or veggies – $5
• Dinner Plates – served with sides of rice and beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream – $6
  • Enchilada Burrito
  • Quesadilla
  • Chile Relleno
  • Taco Salad
  • Nachos
• Tortas: Mexican sandwich served with your choice of meat – $6
• Breakfast Burritos – ingredients can include meat, eggs, hash browns, rice and veggies – $4

Hours: Weekdays – open for breakfast and lunch
Phone: 503 810 9303

Taco Pedaler

Location: Roaming on bikes
Hours: lunchtime and special events

The Story:

Portland is a bike town, we all know that. Portland is also a food town. Put food and bikes together and you get street food that is people powered. The Taco Pedaler is the newest bike to hit the streets offering up tasty lunchtime nosh.

Two three wheeled custom cargo bikes make up the Taco Pedaler. The owners, Melanie and Erica have traveled the coasts of Mexico surfing and eating every style of taco being offered. It was in Mexico that they came across the Triciclo de cargo bikes they use for their business. Once they finished their ride up I5 (no not really, but wouldn’t that be amazing)… Once they got the bikes to Portland, they refitted them to support their mobile kitchen with a grill, a cooler and a place for storing their food and accoutrements. A wonderful example of ingenuity which results in some tasty food.

Dilla from Taco Pedaler

On a cool day in early spring, the ladies of the Taco Pedaler were setup on the street just outside the Arbor Lodge New Seasons. I had seen some Tweets encouraging me to visit and on that random day, I ended up standing there perusing the menu. Tacos and dillas, made fresh with local ingredients makes up the offerings here. We chose to enjoy a vegetarian Dilla served filled beans and topped with a sprinkle of cotija cheese and some green salsa. This Dilla seemed more like a fried pie, but I didn’t care, it was tasty. The beans and the corn tortilla with the dry cheese makes for some great flavors and a memorable treat.

When I see a project like this with the bikes and a great story of where they got them, I reminds me that we have some great minds in the street food scene here in Portland. Melanie and Erica ride to work every day on the bikes that become their kitchen. Taco Pedaler doesn’t have a permanent location at this time but have been seen outside New Seasons in North Portland and SW 3rd and Main downtown for lunch. Follow them either on Twitter or Facebook to find out where they are from week to week and pay them a visit. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Tacos: handmade corn tortilla, choice of beef, pork, chicken or pinto bean filling, cabbage, cilantro and cotija cheese – $2.50
• Dilla: filling of the day, drunken sauce, cotija cheese wrapped in corn tortilla and deep fried – $3
• Chips and salsa and guacamole available also.

Hours: depends on location
Website: TacoPedalerPDX.com
Twitter: @TacoPedalerPDX Facebook: Taco Pedaler

El Sultan

Location: SE 52nd and Foster Blvd
Hours: Open 7 days a week for lunch and more

The Story:

Ever had Baklava from what you think is a Mexican food cart? Well, I have and it was wonderful. El Sultan offers up both Mediterranean and traditional Mexican food and is even open every day.

We were visiting the carts at the new food cart pod at SE 52nd and Foster and I thought I would do my traditional taco test with El Sultan, but when I walked up and checked out the menu, I became flustered since it wasn’t just Mexican food, but Mediterranean also. There were Gyros next to Tortas and falafel alongside carne aside. So many great choices I wondered if I could mix and match. Think about it. A Gyros with tzaziki and chorizo…. The possibilities are endless.

Tacos from El Sultan

Since we had already ordered some items from other carts, we chose to get the baklava just to check it out. We weren’t disappointed with the flaky phyllo and nutty flavor. Yet, as a good food cart steward, I couldn’t leave without trying their tacos, so I ordered up a couple – 1 pollo (chicken) and 1 higado (calve’s liver.)  Yep, calve’s liver. Both tacos were served on fresh corn tortillas with a good pinch of chopped white onions, cilantro and a wedge of lemon. Normally I am use to having lime with my tacos, but the lemon worked great, adding that tang of citrus to each bite. Both tacos were great, but the higado was something different all together with that texture of the liver. Reminded me of when I was a kid and my parents sold us on liver and onions. Liver as a child is icky, liver as an adult has an acquired tasted. Wash it down with a cold Jaritos and you have lunch.

El Sultan is now open at the new lot at SE 52nd and Foster and can feed you with either Mediterranean or Mexican delicacies. Give them a try and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Mediterranean:

• Hummus – blend of garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice and fresh garlic – $5
• Tabouli Salad – refreshing chopped parsley with tomatoes, onion, bulger wheat and mixed with lemon juice and olive oil – $5
• Rolled Sandwiches with Falafel – seasoned mixture of fava beans, garbanzo, onions, parsley and spices with tahini sauce – $5
• Beef Shawarma – marinated tender pieces of beef with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles and tahini sauce – $6
• Gyro with Beef – beef with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles and creamy tzatsiki sauce – $6
• Baklava – layer of flaky phyllo dough stuffed with walnuts and rose water – $2.50

Mexican:

• Tacos – choice of carne asides, chicken, higado, chorizo, lengua – $1.25
• Tortas – traditional Mexican sandwich with your choice of meat – $6
• Burritos – your choice of meat with beans and rice and onions and cilantro  -$6

Hours: Open daily for lunch
Contact: unknown

Que Sabrosa

Location: N Fremont and Vancouver
Hours: M-Th, 10:30am-9pm; F/S, 10:30am-10pm; Sun, 11-7

The Story:

On a cool rainy fall Saturday night, heading to a show on the east side, I needed something to sustain me. Having skipped dinner and not wanting to sit down anywhere, I saw the bright lights of Que Sabrosa and thought – let’s get some tacos.

Que Sabrosa opened this past summer on the corner of N Vancouver and Fremont, an lot that has seen numerous businesses come and go throughout the decade. The broader area, targeted for condos and grocery stores just 3 years ago, is now a couple of large fenced off vacant lots with weeds the size of redwood forests. The cart, along with Mum’s Kitchen, are situated to create a small enclosed seating area replete with picnic tables and strung with lights so you can enjoy your food in the evening. The bright lights were what pulled me in as I was cruising down Fremont. It’s welcoming. Carts can start the revitalization.

Asada Tacos

Que Sabrosa’s menu seems huge. When I arrived, I looked at the menu and ordered a few tacos. After ordering, I saw another menu and then another and a fourth. There was so much to choose from, I am kinda glad I didn’t dilly dally and chose the tacos. Handmade tortillas are the platform for these gems. All you have to do is top it with some asada, chopped onions, cilantro and hot sauce and you have yourself a simple, yet satisfying meal. The tortilla though was the ace in the hole here, being as fresh as it was. I had planned on sharing them at the party, but alas, they were gone before I left the parking lot.

Que Sabrosa is open daily from morning to night. They offer up breakfast items along with lunch and dinner plates. The owners are welcoming, turning away from their cooking and prep to smile and welcome you with an “hola!” I’m glad the carts have landed in this lot, it is a sign that the area supports small businesses and may spur further development of the empty lots. Go visit Que Sabrosa, enjoy some great Mexican food and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Quesadillas – corn or flour tortilla with choice of steak, chicken, pork, beef tongue, carnitas, veggie or cheese – $3.99
• Combo plates – choice of meat or veggie, rice, beans, tortillas – $6.50-7.75
• Tacos – choice of meat with onions, cilantro on homemade tortilla – $1.50
• Burritos – choice of meat with beans, rice – $4.99
• Tamales – pork or chicken – $1.50
• Sopes – steak, carnitas or chicken – $3
• Horchata – med, $1.50; lg, $2

Hours: Mon-Thurs, 10:30am-9pm; Friday/Saturday, 10:30am-10pm; Sunday, 11am-7pm
Contact: unknown
Other: Credit/Debit cart accepted

Costillas Diablas

Location: NW 2nd and Everett
Hours: Weekdays, lunch

The Story:

In an interesting twist, the owners of Trebol, an upscale Mexican restaurant in North Portland, have decided to open a food cart. Costillas Diablas is the partnership of Kenny Hill of Trebol and Justin Akins, owner of Vintage Cocktail and master mixologist. Let’s all get some devil ribs.

Trebol is in my neighborhood, so I have a soft spot in my palate for their Oaxacan-inspired, Northwest influenced menu. Kenny Hill likes to serve up wild boar and I have enjoyed a few happy hour tacos at the restaurant. According to reports by other local media, Kenny saw that Portland’s cart scene was lacking when it came to the regional Mexican fare he produced, so decided to launch the cart. He also opened in an under-served area in Old Town on NW 2nd and Everett. On the third day open, after only 90 minutes, they already had a line and had sold out of their smoked tofu tacos. I’d say they picked a good spot.

Boar Tacos

Being a fan of most things pork, I am intrigued by wild boar. In my opinion, it is leaner than the other types of pork I have had in tacos, but still packs a robust flavor. The wild boar tacos at $1.50 a piece may be one of the best deals in town. Two corn tortillas are grilled then topped with a sizable amount of what I would describe as “pulled” wild boar, chili spiced slaw, cilantro and salsa diabla. I say “pulled” since it has the consistency and appearance of what I know as pulled pork, just using boar instead. The entire taco was an explosion of spicy, yet succulent flavors along with the whisper of bitterness from the cilantro. A great taco from the brains of some ingenious chefs.

Costillas Diablas’s cart may look familiar as it is the same style as the Fuego Burrito carts. Don’t get confused though, these are completely different menus. While they serve up a great taco, you can also get a bacon fat grilled torta or boar short ribs. A mouth-watering menu. I know we’ll be making return trips. Head on down to old town and try out the new cart. There’s a great place to sit close by out of the rain. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

All items served with chili spiced slaw, Trebol pickles, and Salsa Diabla

• 2 Boar Tacos w/cilanto and onions – $3
• 2 Smoked Tofu Tacos w/peppers and greens – $3
• Bacon fat grilled torta with boar and slaw and queso – $6
• Boar shot ribs w/cilantro and onions – $6

Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm
Contact: Unknown