Grass Roots Cafe

Location: 3503 N Mississippi, north of Fremont
Hours: Mon-Sat, 12-9pm, Sun, 12-5pm

The Story:

Mississippi avenue is bookended by food carts with venerable elder statesmen FlavourSpot at one end and Mississippi Marketplace on the other. In between, just north of Fremont, a pod has struggled to take shape and keep carts. A new cart, Grass Roots Cafe looks to be one that will be there for awhile.

Grass Roots Cafe is the work of Ellis and his partner who opened the cart earlier this year. While Ellis attended culinary school at Clark College, looking at the menu and chatting with him, the flavors and feeling of the cart have been sitting in his culinary mind for years. Sandwiches, burgers, sliders, mac and cheese – and wings. Yes, chicken wings. We have had a few carts in town doing wings, but at this time, none are open, so if you want wings from a cart, Grass Roots Cafe is your place.

Upon arrival, Ellis was there, leaning out the window welcoming me and telling me about the specials. I was intrigued by the Charles Bronson Chili, but was more in the mood for a sandwich. He offers the “Bro that’s stupid hot” Chicken burger with grilled chicken, chipotle mayo, sliced jalapenos, insane heat sauce, lettuce and tomato. It even has a note that a waiver must be signed. I enjoy spice, so ordered it. Ellis started looking for the waiver. Seriously! I stopped him. I thought it was a joke, but it wasn’t. The sauce is made with habaneros and ghost peppers, some of the hottest on the planet. While I wanted a spicy sandwich, I opted to not include the insane heat sauce and Ellis served the sandwich up with a spicy BBQ sauce instead. The grilled chicken had a wonderful spice rub on it and paired with the chipotle mayo and jalapenos it was enough flavor and spice for my palate. A wonderful mix of flavors.

"Bro that's stupid hot" chicken sandwich

I love it that he has waivers for his hot sauce. That tells me he is proud of the heat. If you’re a heat fan, you should check it out and report back. I know I’ll be returning to try out the chicken wings – maybe on Monday nights when they are only 50c a piece. Drop on by Grass Roots Cafe, say hi to Ellis and try some of his vittles. They have covered seating and he’s open into the evening. Let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

The menu at Grass Roots is vast. Here are a few of the items offered.

• The John Bryant Pulled Pork Sandwich – $6
• Pedal Power: basil & pesto chicken sandwich – $5
• “Bro that’s stupid hot” Chicken Burger: chipotle mayo, jalapenos, insane heat sauce, lettuce, tomato – $6
• Grass Roots Burger – $3.75
• Chicken and Waffles – $7
• 2pc Chicken and Fries – $4
• Chicken wings – range from 6 wings for $4.95 to 48 wings for $38.95 and more
• Bacon Mac and Cheese – $5
• Shrooms and Mac – sauteed mushrooms and elbow macaroni – $5
• Green House Effect Salad – $4.75

Hours: Mon-Sat, 12-9pm, Sun, 12-5pm
Phone: 503 960 2623
Facebook: Grass Roots Cafe

Local Motive

Location: SW Moody and Gaines at South Waterfront
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am-3:30pm

The Story:

A few years ago, the only street food showing up at South Waterfront was the traditional sandwich trucks that roam the construction sites. These days, with the area full of new housing and an up and coming retail scene, the food carts have arrived. Local Motive has joined a few others to create their own little pod.

Local Motive is the work of Brittany Kofford and opened earlier this fall with the goal of providing lunch to the ever growing neighborhood and the construction crews working on the new light-rail line just a few blocks away. So much is happening down there is it a wonder there aren’t more carts. Local Motive focuses on NW sustainable seafood with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The cart is located under an eave with picnic tables so you can enjoy your lunch out of the rain.

Albacore Salad Sandwich from Local Motive

The menu at Local Motive focuses on sandwiches, soups, and salads with seafood being a big part. While on a cool autumn day, seafood chowder sounds simply amazing, when I saw the option for a tuna fish sandwich with albacore, I jumped at it. Starting with a great artisinal roll, the albacore salad comes with diced Honeycrisp apples, toasted hazelnuts and chopped green onions. The mix is well balanced with the sweetness of the apples and the crunch of the nuts. The albacore is a great choice also. It comes served with a side of coleslaw.

Local Motive is now open and ready to serve you. If you’re downtown, you can get there via the streetcar or there is plenty of parking available. Lately, with winter bearing down on us, they have been offering up different soups to keep you warm. Check out this cart down at South Waterfront and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Wild Oregon Mushroom Sandwich: sauteed with shallots and fresh herbs and eggless aioli – half, $4; full, $7
• Grilled Veggie Sandwich: half, $3.50; full, $6
• Oregon Albacore Salad Sandwich: with diced Honeycrisp apples, toasted hazelnuts and green onion – half, $5; full, $8
• Dungeness Crab Melt: half, $6; full, $9
• Seafood Chowder: chopped clams, dungeness crab, bay shrimp with garden potatoes and corn – small, $3.50; large, $6
• Seafood Cakes: dungeness crab, bay shrimp, housemade tartar sauce – $3
• Quinoa Salad: bay shrimp, roasted veg, scallions, fresh herbs and grape seed oil, small, $3; large, $5

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am-3:30pm
Phone: 503.917.9292
Twitter: @LocalMotivePDX
Facebook: Local Motive

Rock House Grill

Location: Cartlandia, SE 82nd and Harney
Hours: Daily and weekends, breakfast, lunch and dinner

The Story:

In a trailer that reminds one of the 50′s or maybe a boardwalk vendor, The Rock House Grill creates some great food to sate your needs- morning, noon or night.

At Cartlandia out in east Portland, James has opened his shop after years of working in restaurants and honing his skills at the grill. He’s worked in small bars, been a line cook and even catered for concerts. If you can manage a crowd of rowdy rockers, you’ve proven you can man the grill.

NY Steak Sandwich

With an extensive menu of breakfast items, sandwiches, burgers, burritos, pork chops and steaks, there is something for everyone. Instead of ordering what I would normally order, the burger, we asked James what his signature dish was. The NY Steak sandwich is what he prepared. Ordered medium rare, just before we went to sit down, he yelled out the window “leave the fat on or off?” I’ve never been asked that, so again, deferred to his discretion – fat on. The large steak came atop some melted cheese on a toasted bun with some grilled onions and peppers sliced tomato and a salad mix of finely chopped cilantro, spinach and leaf lettuce. At first bite, you could taste the amazing steak, cooked perfectly medium rare and juicy, the veggies and a hint of horseradish that was pleasantly spicy, but not overwhelming. Having the fat left on gave it a great little buttery flavor. An excellent sandwich and one of the best I’ve tried in awhile.

The Rock House Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will feed you until you’re full. The portions are large and satisfying and James is a character who will bring your food to the table and make sure you’ve had a satisfying meal. Drop on by and let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu: by far not everything

• The Big Badass American Outlaw Burrito: steak, chicken or pork with all the fixins – $8
• NY Steak and Eggs w/hash browns or fried potatoes and toast – $10
• Pancakes – $6
• English muffin, ham, egg and cheese – $4
• NY Steak Dinner served with salad, rice or fried potatoes or baked potato, beans and a dinner roll – $10
• Double Double style burger-  double meat, double cheese – $8
• Single Steak Burger – $5
• NY Steak Sandwich  – $10
• Patty Melt – $6
• and more

Hours: Daily and weekends, morning to evening
Contact: unknown

Briskets

Location: Q-19 Food Pod, NW 19th and Quimby
Hours: M-F, 11am-2pm

The Story:

Slabtown has some new restaurant options. In an area known for a bit of residential and a bit of industrial, food carts have laid claim to serve the area. Briskets, with its bright yellow cart, wants you to visit soon.

Briskets in Slabtown opened in 2011 with a single focus – bring the family brisket recipe to the eaters of Portland. Steve opened the cart earlier this fall with the help from family and friends and some great recipes for brisket. Inside the cart, Steve and his buddy Rick smoke the brisket daily with an electric wood-burning smoker. They also bake their own ciabatta bread for the sandwiches. When we say it is a family business, we mean it. The family has been catering for years and now a second generations is carrying on the tradition.

Wood Smoked Brisket Sandwich from Briskets

Briskets focuses on brisket. Did I even need to point that out? With three different types, you can enjoy it either as a sandwich or a platter. When offered choices and I have the option of querying the owner, I always ask what their specialty is or what they are most proud of. At Briskets, it is the wood-smoked style which is smothered with their housemade bourbon BBQ sauce and brown sugar pepper bacon and smoked overnight. The sandwich, with the thick cut but “break apart in your mouth” brisket along with some extra sauce is served on the fresh ciabatta they made that day. Taking that first bite, the ciabatta adds a chewiness that complements the soft, sweet brisket. I enjoy a lot of sandwiches with all forms of meat and this sandwich was one of the best of the breed. Briskets knows what they’re doing and does it well.

Briskets continues the tradition of redefining what many may thing of as an old school dish. With great flavor combinations and the freshness of everything being made daily, Briskets will gain an audience among Portland’s street food fans. Drop on by Q-19 and give Briskets a try. If it is raining, you can go inside the bar to enjoy your sandwich with a beer or cocktail. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

You can order either a sandwich with 1 side for $7.50 or a platter with 2 sides for $10. Types of brisket:

• Dijon and Apple Glazed – slow roasted until tender, topped with jicama, apple & fennel slaw
• Old Fashioned Pot Roast – made with Lucky Lab Porter and served with loads of gravy and port caramelized onions
• Wood Smoked – smoked all night with bourbon BBQ sauce and brown sugar pepper bacon

Sides:

• Roasted garlic mashed yukons
• mac & cheese
• tomato, asparagus, avocado and feta salad
• salad greens with cider vinaigrette
• maple bacon beans
• cole slaw
• red potato salad

Hours: M-F, 11am-2pm
Resources: Debit/Credit carts accepted

The Wrapture

Location: NW 19th and Quimby (moved Oct 2011)
Hours: Mon-Sun, 11-9pm

The Story:

Every so often I want to enjoy a fresh organic green meal. A salad or some soup  – just something with a lot of veggies that I know is good for my body. The Wrapture, with its choices of wraps or salads sated that need.

The Wrapture at Green Castle cart pod dubs itself as Jet Fuel for People. They offer a huge menu full of wraps and salads, local and organic items and more options for build your own than one can count. It truly is a tour de force of everything healthy all on the same chalkboard. It makes it kind of difficult to choose because you want to try everything. Mango/spinach/jalapeno/carrots/cucumber with a Thai peanut dressing wrapped in a flour tortilla. I know that sounds odd, but all those flavors just speak to me and if I wanted to, I could put it together.

The Wrapture

The day we visited, a sunny summer Sunday, Mary-Ann helped us choose a wrap. Instead of going for a build your own, we decided on the Jala-Mango-Pear melee. A wrap filled with diced jalapenos, mango, pear, cucumber, spring greens and candied walnuts. We topped all of that with sesame ginger dressing they make themselves. All of those unique flavors mixed from the bitter of the greens to the spicy of the peppers and the sweetness of the fruit. I wouldn’t have thought to mix some of these items together, but it worked well. A good size wrap – enough to share for 2, so bring a friend and try something different.

The Wrapture is open daily for lunch and dinner and along with food, offers numerous drinks including kombucha. Head on down for something different and fresh and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

You can build your own wrap or salad with the ingredients listed among these options:

• Holy Divebar: greek olives, roma tomatoes, spring greens, salt, pepper, greek dressing – $6
• Thai my Shoe: carrots, cabbage, spring greens, peanuts, sesame ginger dressing – $6
• Julius’ Ghost: croutons, spring greens, parmesan, olives, cucumbers, anchovie dresing – $6
• Jala-Mango-Pear Melee: diced jalapenos, mango, pear, cucumber, spring greens, candied walnuts, dressing – $6
• Hunter Gatherer: spring greens, white raisins, dried cherries, sunflower seeds, almonds, dressing – $6
• Lebaneser Scrooge: spring greens, green onions, avocado, roma tomatoes, Lebaneser vinaigrette – $6

More options available, just too man to list.

Hours: Mon-Sun, 11-9pm
Phone: 503 327 9244
Facebook: The Wrapture

Istanbul Delight

Location: N Greeley and Killingsworth, North Station
Hours: Weekdays and weekends, lunch and dinner

The Story:

The food pod at North Station has gone through some big changes over the last year with some carts leaving and being replaced by new ones. One of these new carts, Istanbul Delight, is an excellent addition that may surprise you.

I have been able to enjoy all the flavors of the Middle East as a result of the cart scene here in Portland. I have heard arguments that the food throughout the region is all the same – falafel and gyros and hummus. I disagree with that generalization and argue that each country and culture has their own distinct flavors and spices and methods for creating meals. At Istanbul Delight, Kamo, the owner, presents dishes from Turkey, inviting you to enjoy his creations.

Vegetarian Plate at Istanbul Delight

We were in the mood for a light snack so we wouldn’t arrive at a BBQ later in the day stuffed and at Istanbul Delight, we were able to get small plates with big flavor. The Gül Börek, a phyllo dough roll with spinach, feta and onion baked inside is made fresh every morning. Kamo stated that you wouldn’t normally find this item later in the day because they make them in batches in the early morning and sell out quickly. The circular roll is deceiving. It looks big and heavy, but is light and airy and when you bite in. The buttery phyllo melts in your mouth with the wonderful mixture of the spinach, feta and onion. So good, it is hard not to stuff it all in your mouth. You slow down and enjoy every bite. The gül börek is served with a crisp Mediterranean salad of chopped cucumbers and tomatoes and spiced with a bit of mint and topped with a sprinkle of sumac. Cool and tangy and perfect for a light snack.

Istanbul Delight is now open at North Station in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood of north Portland. Look for the bright blue cart. Kamo’s menu goes beyond the gül börek and offers daily specials along with Turkish Coffee. Let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Beef/Lamb Gyro Wrap: served wrapped in pita with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion and tzatziki sauce – $6
• Falafel Wrap: chickpea patties wrapped in pita with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion and  tzatziki or tahini sauce – $5
• Gül Börek: spinach, feta and onion rolled and baked in phyllo dough. Served with Mediterranean salad – $4
• Vegetarian Plate: 1 gül börek, 2 falafel patties and Mediterranean salad – $6.50
• Cheese Borek: deep fried pastry filled with feta cheese and parsley – 4 for $4
• Turkish Coffee: $2

Hours: Weekdays and weekends, lunch and dinner
Phone: 503 894 4605
Website: IstanbulDelightPDX.blogspot.com
Twitter: @IstanbulPDX          Facebook: Istanbul Delight

Picnic

Location: SW 9th and Washington
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-2pm

The Story:

Just over 3 years ago, while seeking out new carts and to discover what was on the horizon, I came upon Picnic, a blog about building a food cart. The craftsmanship of the work impressed me, so I kept checking back to see when they would launch. Fast forward to 2011 and we now have a stunning forest cabin style food cart named Picnic and they are here to feed you.

John Dovydenas started his dream of cart ownership with an old travel trailer. His family and friends had encouraged him to open one after enjoying his twice weekly supper clubs. The trailer was a bear and after some demolition, John decided it would be better to build a cart from the ground up starting with a flatbed trailer. Salvaging wood from the Rebuilding Center and doing a forest cabin motif, every detail of the cart was constructed by John and friends. Over the last couple of years, he chronicled the build along with other adventures in eating, winemaking, gardening, and creating recipes for the cart on his blog – PDXPicnic.com. I enjoyed watching the progress of the cart, but also learned more and more about the person behind it. You were able to get a glimpse into the style of food he was going to serve once open.

Beet and Chevre from Picnic

John is joined in the cart by Jennifer and the two of them stand at the front of the cart greeting passersby with a smile. The menu at Picnic is comprised of sandwiches and salads and keeps it simple while creating some amazing items. John roasts the pork for the ham and cheese sandwich daily in the back of the cart and bakes his sourdough bread every morning, fresh. One sandwich on the menu – the beet and Chevre – intrigued me. Roasted beets, Chevre and watercress are sandwiched between two slices of dense homemade bread. A wonderful crisp and cool flavor of the beet with the creaminess of the Chevre made my day. I would never have thought to anchor a sandwich with a large slice of beet.

Picnic is one of those carts you take the time to enjoy. While waiting for your order, check out the craftsmanship of the cart including the mason jar lamps and the cheese window. John’s sandwiches are wonderful and I can only imagine the salads would be equally enjoyable. Grab a couple of to-go items and walk over to the park to enjoy your own Picnic in the city. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Reuben: corned beef, sauerkraut, Willamette Valley baerenkass, thousand island – $8
• Ham and Cheddar: cart smoked ham, Tillamook Cheddar, carrot pickles, mustard greens – $8
• PB&J: strawberry jam, freshly ground peanut butter – $5
• Beet and Chevre: roasted beets, Chevre, watercress – $6
• Lithuanian Salad: beets, hard boiled eggs, potato, dill, onion, sour cream vinaigrette – $3 or $5

Full menu can be found at PDXPicnic.com

Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-2pm
Website: PDXPicnic.com

Flogene's Home Cooking

Location: SW 9th and Washington
Hours: Mon-Fri, lunchtime

The Story:

Over the past few months, it seems the South has discovered Portland and decided we need to enjoy some of their delights. We had some southern style carts for awhile, yet have added a few more focusing on southern delights and Flogene’s has opened downtown with her take on southern fried chicken.

Flogene’s opened in mid June in the cart that use to be Mono Malo Tapas. On the strip on SW 9th between Alder and Washington, they have some stiff competition with carts that have been featured on TV or highlighted in the Oregonian. That doesn’t hold them back though. Flogene, the carts namesake, has that wonderful southern drawl that seems to hug you as she speaks. To get the recipe right for her chicken, she flew in her friend Kenneth from Nashville who was there working the cart the day I visited. Now that’s dedication to food.

Fried Chicken and a Biscuit from Flogene's

While I believe the southern fried chicken is the primary focus of the cart, they also offer hand pattied burgers, hand cut fries and hot dogs and an assortment of salads. I opted for the fried chicken and biscuit for $6 as that isn’t an item you usually find downtown. The chicken was wonderful – a leg and a breast – with a crisp flavorful outer crunch and a juicy inside. I ripped off a bit of the breast and split the biscuit in half to create an excellent little sandwich. The biscuit almost stole the show. I think I may just return for those to pair with other meals I get from the carts in that lot.

Flogene’s is an excellent addition to the Alder pod. While other southern food and even a variation on fried chicken available in the pod, Flogene is giving it to you straight. At this point, we may need to have a “fried chicken off” to see which carts have the best chicken. I want to return for one of the burgers. If the chicken is any indication, that burger will also be tasty. Open for lunch daily, check them out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Fried Chicken and Biscuit – 2 pieces of chicken – $6
• Hamburger or Cheeseburger with all the fixin’s – $5-5.50
• Hand cut fries – $1.50
• Chicken Salad -$5
• Pimento Cheese – $4
• Egg Salad – $5

Hours: Monday-Friday, lunchtime
Contact: unknown

Ploy Thai

Location: SW 5th and Oak
Hours: Lunchtime, weekdays

The Story:

A grouping of carts has sprung up on Oak street between SW 4th and 5th around the corner from the 5th avenue carts. Among them, Cuban, Mediterranean and two Thai carts including Ploy Thai.

Ploy Thai is the work of Ploy who came to Portland after serving her brand of Thai street food at the markets in Thailand. She would create her dishes and take them to the markets for all to enjoy, experiencing why we gather – to eat and become a community. At the Ploy Thai cart you can find all of your favorites like salad rolls, Tom Yum soup, Pad Thai and more. What surprised me was some items I don’t normally see at the carts, like Garlic and Pepper, a dish served with your choice of chicken, pork, shrimp or vegetables and comes with Jasmine or brown rice and steamed veggies. I chose chicken with brown rice and it was one of the healthiest Thai dishes I have had from a cart in awhile. The chicken had been spiced with garlic and black pepper and served over brown rice, but not with a thick sauce. The flavors were bright and peppery, the black pepper coming through lightly which I love. The veggies were fresh and steamed just right to keep them crunchy. Overall, an excellent dish that I will return for.

Garlic and Pepper

Ploy Thai is a great addition for Thai food cart lovers and the rest of us. Drop on by next time you are down that way and try some of Ploy’s home cooking. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Egg Rolls – 4 for $3
• Salad Rolls – 2 for $3
• Papaya Salad – shredded green papaya, Thai chili, garlic, tomatoes and peanut with spicy lime juice – $6
• Larb – ground chicken or pork with Thai rice powder, green onion, red onion and spicy lime juice – $6
• Tom Yum soup – choice of chicken, pork, tofu, veggies or shrimp – hot and sour lemongrass soup with galanga root, kaffir leaves, lime juice and Thai chili – $5.50-6
• Moo Ping/Gai Yang – BBQ marinated pork or chicken with Thai spices and sticky rice – $5
• Ping Yang Combo – papaya salad and one of the BBQ dishes and sticky rice – $7.50
• Garlic and Pepper – choice of chicken, pork, tofu, veggies or shrimp, fresh garlic and black pepper with rice and steamed vegetables – $5.50-6
• Pad Thai – stir fried noodle with egg, tofu, green onions, bean sprouts and ground peanuts with pad Thai sauce – choice of meat – $5.50-6
• Sukiyaki – glass noodle, egg, pickled bean curd, Thai chili and green onion – $6
• Full menu at PloyThaiCart.com

Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime
Phone: 503 267 0849
Website: PloyThaiCart.com

SomTum Gai Yang II

Location: SW 3rd and Stark
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11am-7pm

The Story:

SomTum Gai Yang, named after their signature dish, has expanded with a new cart at SW 3rd and Stark. The shiny steel cart is welcoming with large colorful photos of their dishes welcoming you as you wander by. SomTum is a shaved papaya salad which is spicy and filling, yet low calorie so you can keep your svelte figure. The other dishes on the menu offer up grilled chicken or pork along with traditional Thai.

If you normally frequent the carts on 2nd and 3rd and rarely get up to 10th, now the carts at 10th are coming to you. SomTum Gai Yang II is open and ready to feed you. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Somtum – green papaya salad w/lime juice served w/ sticky rice – $6
• Gai yang – Thai style BBQ Chicken served w/ sticky rice – $6
• Moo yong – Thai roast pork w/ sticky rice – $6
• Tum Polamai – fruit salad combines chopped red and green apples, pears, oranges, and strawberries w/ lime juice – $6
• Somtum Gai Yang – combination of salad and bbq chicken or pork – $7

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11am-7pm
Phone: 503-522-9543
Facebook: SomTum