Location:

The Story:

Simplicity may be the root of success. Pick an item you like to cook, source the right ingredients and prepare it well and you too can make it in the food cart world. Pastrami on Rye does that with their namesake sandwich.

The cart is a collaboration between a brother, a sister and their mom. I like seeing a family support each other in these types of endeavors. It tells me they are willing to put in the long hours and hard work for those they love. The day we visited, Dre was taking orders while his mother Kelly made the sandwiches. Here in Portland, when an item like pastrami is discussed, many transplants jump to the front of the line to tell you how awesome the pastrami is somewhere else – usually a deli in NYC. Well, I have never been to those deli’s so have virgin taste buds and think Portland makes some great sandwiches. A contentious issue for sure.

The sammy I devoured came either on marbled rye or what I ordered – caraway rye. Kelly commented that the cut of the meat was off and apologized, but I couldn’t tell. How could you be wrong with sliced pastrami thickness? Almost an inch of that smokey corned beef love then topped with sauerkraut and deli mustard. How can one not enjoy such a work of sandwich art. The kraut wasn’t overwhelming, allowing the pastrami to be the star between the slices. The edges of the pastrami had a light crusting with what appeared to be crushed black peppercorns and other whole spices. Just a nibble of that and I’m in meat heaven.

Pastrami on Rye is now open at SW 4th and Hall, a vintage travel trailer sandwiched between a Thai cart and an Indian cart. They serve up all things pastrami including a veggie reuben with sauteed mushrooms and onions and home made matzo ball soup. There are a lot of carts out there doing great sandwiches. Hopefully, Pastrami on Rye will meet your expectations. Check them out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Pastrami on Rye: choice of caraway or marble rye, sauerkraut, deli mustard and 1/4lb pastrami – $4.75
• Reuben: 1/4lb pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and homemade Russian dressing – $5.75
• Veggie Reuben: sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, tomato, sauteed mushrooms and onions with Russian dressing – $4.75
• Homemade Matzo Ball Soup: small $2.50; large $3.50

Hours: Weekdays, 11am-2:30pm
Twitter: @PastramiPDX

Location:

The Story:

Another brilliantly reclaimed and well appointed travel trailer turned food cart has opened. As you roll up N Albina either driving or on your bike, you can’t help but snap your head at the bright green cart gleaming in the lot.

Porridge is the work of Kristin Nekovar who worked on this cool trailer over the winter in order to open her very own cart. While most who redesign carts put stainless steel throughout the inside, Kristin went the other way and used reclaimed cabinetry and other items in order to make it actually feel like an old trailer – albeit one with a commercial kitchen. Where you normally would have the sleeping nook, Kristen used that space to store raw goods in jars. Kristin’s goal is to serve up dishes made from scratch with her own recipes.

I was in the need for a great sandwich with some meat on it. While Slow and Low just 10ft away was tempting me with their pulled pork aroma, I wanted to try something new. Porridge has a wide ranging menu including sandwiches, both meat and veggie, soups and stews, salads, treats and cold freshly made drinks. The Big CS Smoked Pork sandwich was calling out to me, not because of the smoked pork, but that it offered a hoisin-nectarine glaze and a jicama slaw. The sandwich itself is a monster – much larger than I expected, yet well rounded. Hoisin and nectarine go together well and when cooked down, create that sweet crust that just melts on your tongue. Couple that with the crunchy jicama slaw and the melted Swiss and…damn, a great sandwich. If you have never tried jicama, I highly recommend it. It kinda like putting together an apple and a potato as a root vegetable. The sandwich was so large, I enjoyed it over a couple of meals.

Porridge makes its own specialty lemonade and all proceeds from each sale go to support sending a Portland youth to Camp Kindle, a non profit camp for kids infected with or affected by HIV or AIDS. Grab a lemonade, help some kids. A great way to help out the community. Porridge is now open and serving up some wonderful nosh. Head north to the new pod by Albina Press and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

(full menu on Porridge’s website)

• Chicken and Greens salad: fresh greens topped with roasted chicken, sliced apples, toasted almonds, red cabbage and warm honey-mustard pan sauce – $7
• Cucumber Salad: shaved cucumbers tossed in sweet sesame vinaigrette – $2.50
• Crumpetwich: fresh crumpet topped with egg, cheese, smoked mushrooms, black forest ham, and Porridge pepper sauce – $5
• Big CS Smoked Pork Sandwich: Porridge smoked pork loin, topped with Swiss cheese, hoisin-nectarine glaze and jicama slaw – $7
• Herb infused lemonade: $2

Hours: Open daily except Wednesdays, 11am-6pm
Phone: 503 780 4720
Website: PortlandPorridge.com

Location:

The Story:

Portland always gets teased by a false spring in late February and early March. The sun is out, the air warms and the crocus bloom. We start wearing short sleeves and begin sitting out on the deck at the local bar. Then, without much notice, winter returns with a bang and we’re back in the gray, rainy, windy weather we’re use to here in Portland. I call that soup weather and north Portland can now welcome The Kettle Kitchen to the neighborhood serving up hot soups daily.

The Kettle Kitchen is owned and operated by the culinary team of Gina Dewald & JR Huntington. I met Gina the other day when I visited for a nice bowl of Indian Curry and Shrimp soup. Gina stated that they make new soups daily, source locally, and usually have four to choose from along with different biscuit options. As the weather warms, they plan on offering cold soups also like gazpacho or cold cucumber soup. She even mentioned something about fruit soups which I have never tasted nor thought of, so I’m excited to see what they come up with.

The Indian Curry and Shrimp soup I enjoyed had a wonderfully complex flavor. It took me awhile to figure out what it was that I was tasting and then it came to me – coconut milk. The soup was full of nicely chopped onions that had taken on the flavor of the curry and milk along with a nice pinch of cilantro. The soup is prepared without the shrimp, so it is vegan. The sauteed shrimp can be added at your choosing for a more complex flavor profile. I simply loved it. Along with the soup came a jalapeno and cheddar homemade biscuit.

The Kettle Kitchen is a great addition to the neighborhood. Overlook and Arbor Lodge will benefit from having a place to grab a simple yet complex soup either by the cup, bowl or quart. Glancing over at their Facebook page, I see they plan on offering up granola with yogurt parfaits on the weekend. If you are chilly or just want a down home style meal, check out The Kettle Kitchen and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Soups change daily, so check their Facebook page for updates

Cup: $4; Bowl: $6; Quart to go $12 – all soups come with biscuit

• Indian shrimp and curry: spicy curry soup made with coconut milk. sauteed shrimp can be added
• Barley fagioli: Italian bean soup made with carrots, basil and barley – vegan
• Cream of broccoli
• Guinness Chili: a beer based hearty chili

Hours: Tuesday though Friday, 10am-6pm; Saturday/Sunday, 9am-3pm
Facebook: The Kettle Kitchen

Spoons

Location: SW 5th and Oak/Alder Parking Lot

Description:

The other day I was wandering around from pod to pod, trying to decide what to eat. I just couldn’t choose, so kept walking and enjoying the fall air and moisture. After checking out about 25 carts and pausing at a couple, I decided upon soup. It was a cool day, but not rainy and soup just sounded good. Spoons is one of a few carts in town who offer exclusively soup and when I decided to order, I was excited that they had borscht. Earlier in the week, I wondered aloud with friends if there were any carts selling borscht.

Borscht from Spoons

Borscht originated in the Ukraine, but has become the soup of central and eastern Europe. Many in America associate it with traditional Russian food. Made with beets as the base, it is famous for its deep red or burgundy color. The soup is usually served with a dollop of sour cream atop. That contrast of stark white with the deep red is simply beautiful. Yet once you mix it together, you sometimes get a color of the soup that may seem strange – a pinkish hue. No worries, it still tastes great.

The borscht I enjoyed at Spoons was deep burgundy, so I wasn’t able to see the bright contrast. As I ate it, I tasted the beets, onions and cabbage. I wasn’t sure if it was a meat stock, but the overall flavor of the soup was wonderful. Hot and savory and served with a small baguette, I enjoyed every bit, even tipping up the cup and drinking the last bits.

Soup is one of my favorite foods when winter comes. I have images of carrying around a thermos that is always full of hot miso or a Hungarian mushroom or potato leek – a thermos I can just pop the top and drink in the soup. Spoons’ soups were what I needed that day. When you are seeking a meal that will warm you up on these cold winter lunches, stop on by Spoons and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[profile updated Nov. 2009]

Sample Menu:

• All soups come in either a cup – $3.50 or a bowl – $4.50 and come with a small roll
• Soups change daily – visit website for updated list
• Soup and salad combo – $7
• Oregon fall seasonal salad – mixed baby greens, fresh pears, hazelnuts, blue cheese, cranberries, marinated red onions, champagne vinaigrette – $5.50
• Classic Caesar – $4.50

Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30AM-2:00PM.
Phone: 503 522 3576
Website: www.spoonson5th.com

Che' Cafe

Location: N Williams at Shaver st.

Description:

North Williams street has become a new nexus of activity in North Portland. With in the influx of restaurants, salons, a dessert place and a brewery, it was only a matter of time before a food cart opened. And where it opened is important. The space where Che Cafe is located is right next to a 1935 building where you have indoor seating. The development, by the developer of Portland’s most green building – The Heritage on NE MLK – is perfect for Portland’s unpredictable weather.

Che Cafe is Ryan and Terri’s dream. Both love dogs, simple as that. Why talk about dogs? Well, throughout the years, Ryan and Terri have had four amazing dogs – Nikai, a husky who was active and free spirited; Che’, a large Princess Shepard who loved to lounge; Riley, a senior Shepard mix who appeared to have “doggy Alzheimers,” but was happy and kind; and then Sadie, a senior border collie mix who was very attached, loving and affectionate. All of these dogs had an impact on Ryan and Terry and they want Che’ Cafe to provide neighbors the same love and devotion those dogs showed them throughout the years.

Pulled Pork from Che' Cafe

I visited Che’ Cafe with some fellow food cart enthusiasts. We were all ready for the weekend and indulged in our personal weaknesses. A couple of pulled pork sandwiches over here, a burger over there and even a black bean burger for the vegetarian of the group. Each of the dishes came with crunchy fries and homemade ketchup.

Bubby Burger from Che' Cafe

I enjoyed the half pound Bubby Burger. A monster of a burger, it came with crispy fried onions and cheddar cheese. The burger is exactly what I was craving and it was cooked just right. The seasoning was spot on – you could tell this was good ground beef mixed with spices and made into a patty by hand. The crispy fried onions were an added bonus.

The added bonus to this cart is the building next door. They offer up indoor seating for those wet and rainy days or even for those who don’t want to take their food and go. Inside the 1935 redeveloped building is a coffee cart and restrooms, along with a performance space called the Analog Lounge (i.e. no cell phones or laptops.) When you get over to North Williams and you see this bright red cart named Che’ Cafe, stop on by, have some great American food and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with grilled cheese sandwich – $6
• Mr. Riley’s Sake Mac & Cheese – macaroni tossed with 3 cheese sake sauce, topped with fried onions and served with garlic bread – $6
• Caprese Capellini – capellini tossed with garlic tomato oil, fresh tomatoes and basil topped with fresh Parmesan and served with garlic bread – $7
• Fu fries – tofu lengths fried to a crisp and served with sweet and spicy sauce – $5
• Pulled Pork Sandwich – dry rubbed pork cooked til it falls apart sauce with homemade BBQ sauce on an onion bun – $7
• Meatloaf sandwich – homemade meatloaf smothered with sharp cheddar cheese – $8
• Half Pound Bubby Burger – burger topped with aioli served on onion bun with all the fixins – $7

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11am – 7pm
Phone: 503 477 0322
Twitter: CheCafePDX
Other: Che Cafe will take orders over the phone for pickup and deliver within specific geographic location

No Fish Go Fish

Location: SW 5th and Yamhill

Description:

No Fish Go Fish is one of those great food cart success stories. The cart, on the corner of SW 5th and Yamhill has been at this location ever since I can remember, serving up unique soups daily, along with their signature No Fish sandwiches. The success story is that the owner went from food cart to store front and still makes some great soup. Oh, and the fish? None to be found…

No Fish Go Fish gets its name from the little sandwiches they create called No Fish. Shaped like little fish, they are cornbread based and come with different fillings, both veggie and meat. The soups No Fish Go Fish offers are some of the best and unique I have tried. The day I visited, I was offered up green split pea, cream of jalapeno and bean and bacon. I tasted samples of all three to see what I would like and it was suggested that I have the bean and bacon, but topped with the cream of jalapeno. Boyo, that was a great combination.

I love that they serve up the soup in what amounts to a large coffee cup. It is easy to transport and for me, easy to sip and eat at the same time. The mixture of the two soups was genius. I’m a fan of spiciness, but felt the cream of jalapeno by itself may be too much. Putting it on top of the bean and bacon gave the entire mix a great level of spice. Perfect for a cooler summer day.

No Fish Go Fish is one of the original Portland Food Carts and is there every day, even when it is snowing. With autumn coming and the need to begin donning sweaters and rain slickers, we get to the time when we want something warm and comforting for lunch. Soup is that something and I’m very glad Portland offers us some great choices. No Fish Go Fish does publish their soups daily on their website or you can get the daily list from Twitter. When you visit, have a No Fish sandwich along with your soup and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Soup of the day – changes daily – $4.50
• No Fish sandwiches – cheddar cheese; spinach & feta; curried veggie, tomato mozzarella – $1.50
• Soup with 2 No Fish sandwiches – $6

Hours: Monday through Friday – 11:30am -2pm
Contact: sean@nofishgofish.com
Website: www.NoFishGoFish.com
Twitter: NoFishGoFish

Just Thai

Location: SW 3rd, between Washington and Stark

Description:

When I was looking for some good spicy Thai noodles last winter, a few friends recommended a place named I Love Thai Food. They thought it was down off 3rd avenue, but when I went down there, I couldn’t find said cart. I opted for a different meal that day. Since then, I have discovered that I Love Thai Food, a Portland favorite is now named Just Thai. The two names are on the side of the cart if only I had looked closer.

Just Thai is exactly what their name suggests. A menu full of the Thai dishes we have come to love and expect. They offer soups, noodle dishes, fried rice and curries. Normally, when I try a Thai cart, I choose basil fried rice. It is one of my favorite dishes and they do it well there. Most recently, since I had already enjoyed their fried rice, I opted for Pad See You, a dish made up of wide rice noodles, eggs, broccoli and carrots. You can get it with either chicken, shrimp or tofu and a range of temperature – mild to spicy. I chose tofu and medium.

Pad See You from Just Thai

I have to say – when you get lunch at Just Thai, be prepared to eat some for dinner also. My Pad See You was so large, I had it for lunch, an afternoon snack and then a late night nosh for my wife. Crazy big. All for $5. The dish was adequately spicy – medium is just that, medium. The noodles are my favorite. Rice noodles have a texture that when it hits your tongue, it seems like they begin to dissolve. I just love that. Everything else was top notch.

If you’re in the market for some great Thai and hungry to boot, check out Just Thai down of SW 3rd and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Tom Yum soup – $5
• Pad see you – stir fried wide rice noodles w/ eggs, broccoli, carrots – $5
• Red Curry/Yellow Curry – $5
• Thai fried rice – eggs, onions, green onion, tomatoes, cilantro, cucumber – $5
• Tom kha – $5
• Pad Thai – $5
• Dishes can be made with chicken, shrimp or tofu
• Vegan dishes available

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11am-6pm
Phone: 971 340-3011
Website: JustThaiPdx.com
Twitter: JustThai

DC Vegetarian

Location: SW 3rd between Washington and Stark

Description:

Portland is a great city to get fresh produce in. The city hosts a farmer’s market almost every day of the week in almost every neighborhood in the city. You would be hard pressed not to be able to find fresh veggies on a random Tuesday afternoon. And in the summer? Well, I think we all become vegetarians a little bit. Enter DC Vegetarian, a new cart that focuses on Vegetarian and Vegan eats.

One of our writers, KMazz, visited DC Vegetarian the same day I did and has this to add. Good old American comfort food usually screams “Watch out, arteries!” And yet, when the moment strikes we just gotta have that bacon burger or BLT served up with some ice cream.  How about a planet friendly safe and tasty alternative? The DC Vegetarian cart supplies all of the above with vegan and vegetarian traditional standbys.  You can have vegan or dairy cheese and vegetarian or tempeh bacon with your veggie burger, or vegan or dairy cream cheese with a veggie sandwich, for example. There are “chicken” salad and  ”steak” and cheese and Italian sub sandwiches and almost everything comes with the option to add avocado or that non-meat bacon. And if you really really need to, you can get a real grilled Tillamook cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese sandwich. Not being a vegan myself, I tried the apple, goat cheese, spinach, mayo and spicy mustard sandwich on Dave’s Killer whole wheat bread — a perfect combo on a warm day if you’ve got a lot of city blocks to cover and don’t want to be weighed down by a hearty lunch.

Apple and Cheese by KMazz

Upon my arrival at the cart, I did have to pass a few other’s with enticing meat smells, so was glad to see that DC Vegetarian offered up Vegan burgers and even a BLT. After perusing the menu, I decided I didn’t really need meat alternatives and really wanted to get some vegetables in me. Normally, that would be a Seinfeldish “big salad,” but that day, when I saw that DC Vegetarian served their sandwiches up on Dave’s Killer Bread, I just couldn’t resist ordering one. If you haven’t tried Dave’s, you need to. Such care is taken with that bread it is criminal how good it tastes. In the end, I chose the hummus and veggie with avocado on rye. Before I could even finish reading the entire menu, my sandwich was ready. They are fast.

Hummus and veggie from DC Vegetarian

The rye was lightly toasted which is exactly how I prefer my sandwiches. Further, this is sliced bread, so it doesn’t take olympic chewing to get through that first bite. The mix of the hummus and sliced fresh veggies was a great match. I could taste the sweetness of the tomato along with the cucumber and avocado and the slight bitterness of the greens. The hummus had that hint of garlic that you catch on the back of your tongue and then remember a few minutes later. All in all, a great sandwich. Simple, tasty and just what I wanted.

As stated, DC Vegetarian offers up what we eat almost every day – just vegetarian style. Almost everything on the menu can be made Vegan also if that is what you prefer. When you are out looking for a great alternative to your normal lunch, give DC Vegetarian a try and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[Note: DC Vegetarian will be closed Sept. 3-9]

Sample Menu:

• Vegan Soups: chili, Mediterranean chickpea, African peanut, gazpacho – Cup – $2.50; Bowls – $3.25/$4.25
• Vegan friendly burger: vegan patty, veggie fixins: $3.50
• Burger addons: vegan cheese:  75¢; vegan tempeh bacon $1.50; etc
• BLT – vegetarian bacon, lettuce, tomato and veganaise or mayo – $3.50
• Steak and cheese – house seitan strips, grilled onions and peppers, vegan or dairy cheese on sub roll – $4.50
• Hummus and veggie – hummus, tomato, sprouts, cucumber and onion on Dave’s Killer Bread – $4
• Most sandwiches can be either vegetarian or vegan

Hours: Monday through Friday: 11am-4pm
Website: Http://DCVegetarian.com
Phone: 503 317 4448
Email: dcvegetarian@gmail.com
Twitter: DCVegetarian

Location: SW 4th and College

Description:

I was waxing poetic about another cart the other week on Twitter when one of our followers asked if I had tried the Portland Soup Company. I hadn’t, so we set a date. Thank you @sarahsthreads for introducing me to such a great cart. Upon arriving, I knew from the craftsmanship of the cart itself, the food had to be great.

The Portland Soup Company offers up soup obviously, but also sandwiches and salads. The day we arrived, I was drawn immediately to the slow smoked pork butt sandwich and almost ordered it with a yell, but then I saw the Cajun andoullie and chicken gumbo. The choices. Oh, and an arugula salad. What is a boy to get? I inquired about a soup and sandwich combo and they offer $1 off either one if you do that, so I got a 1/2 sandwich and a cup of soup. While they were prepping our food, I inquired about the cart since it was beyond what normal carts do – cedar siding, trimmed windows, scroll work on the cart name. One of the gentleman inside stated they built it from the ground up on a flatbed. Looking inside, you could probably make a home out of it it was so roomy.

The gumbo was just perfect. When I popped the top, I was greeted with large chuncks of okra, one of my favorite vegetables. I realized I didn’t get a spoon and only had a fork, but that gumbo was so chunky, I didn’t need one. The gumbo was fabulous. Half way through my rather large “cup” of soup, I remembered I had this 1/2 sandwich to explore. The slow smoked pork butt sandwich is served with a slaw made up of thinly sliced apples and red cabbage. I ordered it on ciabatta, but couldn’t pick it up and bite in due to the shear size of the sandwich. Mind you, this was a half order. I slowly ate the slaw by itself until I could manage the sandwich. That first bite of slaw, ciabatta and pork butt was worth the wait. The pork was moist with that hint of slow roasting. These guys know what they are doing.

Portland Soup Company has joined the numerous carts now filling up the lot down at 4th and College by Portland State University. When you head down there, take your food across 4th ave behind the city buildings to the nice hidden park. It offers shade and quiet from the usual downtown bustle. If you visit Portland Soup Company, tell them FoodCarts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Roast tomato w/ Argentine Regiano soup – cup $4; bowl $6
• Cajun andouille and chicken gumbo – cup $4; bowl $6
• Slow smoked pork butt sandwich w/ purple cabbage apple slaw – 1/2 $4; whole $6
• Hand made mozzarella w/ basil, tomato, balsamic syrup and olive oil – 1/2 $4; whole $6
• Organic greens w/ roast tomatoes, garlic croutons, wildflower honey vinaigrette – sm $4; lg $6
• Arugula w/ mozzarella, grape tomatoes, bacon and creamy chive vinaigrette – sm $4; lg $6

Hours: 11am-3pm, daily

Phone: (541) 968-1230

Website: www.PortlandSoupCo.com

Location: SW 9th and Alder (on Alder)

Description:

Sometimes, even during spring and summer, I want a nice warm soup. It has something to do with that feeling of your whole body warming up from the inside out. Add spice to the soup and I’m in heaven. In downtown, I have made an attempt to seek out all of the great Phở locales. Early on, one had to venture to NW to get it, now we have it offered in numerous carts. Phở Sam is the latest to join the ranks.

Phở is a traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup. Phở originated in Northern Vietnam more than a century ago and was first served by street vendors. It wasn’t until the 1920′s that the first Phở restaurants opened in Hanoi. The dish isn’t just Vietnamese, but has French and Chinese influences. The vendors set up shop in an area of Hanoi that catered to textile manufacturing and attracted both French and Chinese workers. The chefs drew from all three cultures to make what we now enjoy as this amazing soup. Phở is strong beef broth with thinly sliced beef, cilantro, thinly sliced onions and rice noodles. Phở Sam serves the dish how I have usually enjoyed it – with bean spouts, jalapeno pepper slices, basil, and a lime wedge on the side. You can then choose how you want to build your soup. Hot sauce and hoisen sauce are always included. Adding that sweet plum flavor to spicy noodle soup is a taste I cannot do justice in describing. You just have to try it.

Phở Sam also offers Banh Mi sandwiches and numerous other rice and noodle dishes. They even have Phở with chicken if you are not a fan of beef. I have been back for a Banh Mi sandwich and for $3.50, it is a great deal and a very good sandwich. While summer is indeed here, there will be cool days. If you are out and about on one of those days, check out Phở Sam for some great soup.

Sample Menu:

• Phò – beef noodle soup – $5.95
• Lemongrass chicken with rice – $5.75
• Grilled pork or  lemongrass chicken over rice noodles – $5.95
• Banh Mi grilled pork sandwich – $3.50

Hours: Lunchtime, Monday through Friday
Contact: 971 563 5460