Taste of Fiji
Location: SW 10th and Washington
Hours: Weekdays, lunch
Fijian curries and other island cuisine along with bubble tea.
Taste of Fiji
dieselboiFiji Indian Curry
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Fiji Indian Curry
Location: NE 23rd and Alberta
Hours: Wed-Mon, lunchtime (closed Tuesdays)
The Story:
The Alberta Arts district has hosted numerous mobile vendors over the years with lots popping up here and there along the street. Fiji Indian Curry ads something new to the lot at 23rd and Alberta.
The Portland street food scene continues to evolve with dynamic options for unique cuisine. In the past year, we’ve seen a shift to a more regional and localized cuisine offered by different cultures. For Fiji Indian Curry, their cuisine comes from Indians living in Fiji where a unique blend of beliefs and customs have melded together over centuries.
Vegetarian Curry Stir Fry
Most Indo-Fijians enjoy home-made rotis, breads, fresh from the kitchen along with numerous vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan dishes that this vendor offers. Along with roti, Roshan, the owner, put together a vegetarian curry stir fry over rice for us. You can get the curry with meat or shrimp also. The roti, with the freshly made wrap and filled with curried potato and green beans exploded with flavor at first bite. The stir fry with carrots, broccoli, tomato, ginger, and yellow onion introduced me to a dish I probably wouldn’t have ordered, but now want to try the different styles. We asked for it spicy and it was indeed, but not overly so. Just enough to warm you up on a cool day.
Fiji Indian Curry is a great addition to the Portland food cart scene. Along with offering a unique cuisine, they educate their fans daily on Facebook and Twitter with unique facts about Fiji or their heritage. Makes me want to visit! The cart shares a lot on NE 23rd and Alberta with other vendors including Captured by Porches Brewing and offers covered seating. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
- Samosa – $2.50
- Roti – $1.50
- Eggplant Curry served with Dal over Basmati rice – $6.50
- Dal Bhat – savory split pea cooked with onions, garlic, ginger – $5.50
- Curry Stir Fry in Coconut Milk – w/chicken, $6.75; w/pork, $7.50
- Curry Fried Rice – meat or shrimp, $7-9
- Daily specials
Phone: 503 839 1938
Website: Fiji Indian Curry
Twitter: @FijiIndianCurry
Facebook: Fiji Indian Curry
Philippine Cuisine
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Philippine Cuisine
Location: SE 102nd and Stark
Hours: Fri-Wed, 11am-8pm, closed Thursdays
The Story:
A Philippine food cart in SE Portland serving up signature dishes like lumpia, chicken adobo, curry chicken, curry shrimp and other Philippine delights.
Sample Menu:
- Caldereta: sauteed beef, similar to beef stew – $7
- Lecheon Paksiw: roasted pork in sweet and sour sauce – $8
- Sweet and Sour Fish: fried fish filet in sweet and sour sauce – $6
- Lumpia: ground beef and vegetables wrapped in a wheat wrapper – 3 for $2
- Chicken Adobo: chicken sauteed in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and onions – $6
Hours: Fri-Wed, 11am-8pm, closed Thursdays
Phone: 971 506 8367
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Island Grill Hawaiian Barbeque
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Island Grill Hawaiian Barbeque
Location: SW 9th and Alder
Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime
The Story:
When one cart closes, someone is always there to re-open with something new. Shortly after Tofu House closed, Island Grill was open with a menu of Hawaiian treats.
We have a few Hawaiian carts in town now with 808 Grinds and Ninja Plate Lunch. With the addition of Island Grill, Portland cart lovers have yet another choice for Kalua Pork or a side of macaroni salad. Hawaii is also famous for loco moco and Island Grill has it if that is your desire – a plate of rice with a hamburger patty, brown gravy and fried egg atop.
Teriyaki Chicken Plate
The plate lunches are pretty a la carte – rice and macaroni salad with your choice of meat – and two different sizes if you’re looking to eat less. The meat options aren’t surprising – kalua pork, beef shortribs, chicken katsu, hamburger steak – just to name a few. I decided to try the Teriyaki chicken and got a full plate with two scoops or rice and the salad. The grilled chicken had a char to it that when paired with the sweetness you get from teriyaki sauce, created a great mix of flavors. The macaroni salad was a treat, one of my favorite types of salad. I even added a spam musubi – rice, spam and sauce wrapped in seaweed. I love spam musubi.
Island Grill is open right there on cart row on SW Alder between 9th and 10th. Check them out if you’re looking for a change – they usually have daily specials that are different from the menu. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.
Sample Menu:
Plate lunches are either mini for $5 or regular for $6.50
Mini: 1 scoop of rice and 1 scoop of macaroni salad with choice of meat
Regular: add a scoop or rice
Meat choices: BBQ beef; Teriyaki beef; Hamburger steak; Beef short ribs; Kalua pork; BBQ spicy pork; Pork katsu; Fried shrimp; Fried mahi mahi; BBQ chicken; Teriyaki chicken; Shoyu chicken; Chicken katsu
- Add Musubi for $2
- Burgers – $5 with choice of meat
- Yakisoba noodles – $6
- Loco moco – $7
- Island Bibimbap – $6
Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime
Contact: unknown
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808 Grinds
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808 Grinds
Location: SW 9th and Washington
Hours: M-Sat, 11am-4pmish
The Story:
Even when you think a lot is full of carts, it keeps growing. Just last month, the lot at SW 9th between Alder and Washington added eight new carts. One of those carts is a great new addition – Hawaiian food. Welcome 808 Grinds.
808 Grinds gets their namesake from the area code for Hawaii. Just like 212 for Washington DC New York, there are specific area codes everyone knows. Now, if you have a friend in Hawaii, all you need to remember is that there is a great Hawaiian cart in Portland named 808 Grinds and you’ll remember your friend’s area code. Simple as that. The work of Jensen Yip and Kevin Scolfield, the food here offers up those flavors that have influenced Hawaiian food for years like teriyaki, ginger, wasabi and others. I find Hawaiian food very rich, but also almost folksy like a good stew. Whenever I have enjoyed it, I leave satisfied, usually for a low price. [Read more…]
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