Skewed Concoctions

Location: SW 3rd and Stark
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm and later on the weekends.

The Story:

Every summer I get invited to events where someone has the grill going. Invariably, they have meat or veggies on a stick for everyone to enjoy. Being winter though, those skewers are put away except for at Skewed Concoctions where they have most anything available skewered and grilled.

Zach and Katay, the owners, specialize in marinated meat and veggie skewers with an Asian theme. Thai, Hawaiian, Laotian – all of these cultures and their culinary secrets are represented on the menu and more. They have pork, turkey and chicken and even large chicken wings on skewers. If you’re looking for non-meat options, you can get a papaya salad or egg rolls. There seems to be something for everyone.

One item on the menu caught my eye due to the interesting combination of fruit and pepper. The cranberry chipotle glazed turkey skewer comes with two skewers, some rice, a salad and fried egg roll. The cranberry chipotle glaze was both sweet and smoky as the name would imply. It infused the turkey well, providing a great flavor profile throughout the meat.

Skewed Concoctions

Skewed Concoctions is open for lunch through dinner daily and late night on the weekends. Drop on by for a skewer or a full meal and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Individual skewers are $2-2.50
• Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewer meal – $7
• Chicken Satay Meal – $7
• Pineapple Teriyaki Pork Skewer meal – $7
• Beef Satay Meal – $7
• Orange Glazed Chicken Wing Meal – $7
• Ramen Vegetarian Pad Thai Meal – $7
• Papaya Salad – $5

Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm and later on the weekends
Phone: 971 226 9050
Twitter: @skewedconcoctio
Facebook: Skewed Concoctions

Nong's Khao Man Gai 2

Location: SW 4th and Hall
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-4pm

The Story:

Portland has some amazing food carts and Nong’s Khao Man Gai is one of them. Nong Poonsukwattana opened her first cart in 2009 and quickly became the go to cart for something new – Thai street food. With a single dish of chicken and rice, Nong and her cart became the talk not of the town.

As stated, the first cart served up a single dish – khao man gai. With the second cart down by Portland State University, they have expanded the menu, adding a vegetarian version of their signature dish, a Thai chicken wing dish made with sriracha and Chinese whiskey among other items, and a pork and rice dish. The Kao Kha Muu is pork braised in Coca Cola, cocoa powder, Thai and Chinese herbs ans spices that is then shredded and placed upon jasmine rice. Pickled mustard greens and a half hard boiled egg round out the meal. The marinade from the pork permeates the the rice infusing it with a sweet spicyness that had me taking bites a bit to quickly. I forced myself to slow down and simply enjoy each bite. So good! The greens were a great addition also, mixing in a light vinegar flavor. Put it all together, cover it with Nong’s signature spicy sauce and it is one great meal.

Pork and Rice from Nong's Khao Man Gai 2

I’m excited to see Nong and her team succeeding and expanding the menu. The khao man gai is still one of my favorite dishes, but with the expanded menu at the new cart, I will probably be visiting there more often. Check it out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Khao Man Gai – chicken and rice – poached organic chicken with rice simmered in poultry stock and Thai herbs and served with their signature stock – $6.50 or large size for $10
• Khao Man Gai Jay – vegetarian chicken and rice – steamed veggies with jasmine rice cooked in vegetable stock and served with Khao Man Gai sauce  – $6.50
• Thai Basketball Mon’s Wings – Peek Gai Nam Daeng – organic chicken wings braised in tomato, sriracha, Chinese whiskey, garlic and shallot sauce served with jasmine rice – $6.50
• Khao Kha Muu – pork and rice – pork braised in Coca cola, cocoa powder, Thai and Chinese herbs and spices and service over jasmine rice with pickled mustard greens – $6.50

Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-4pm
Website: KhaoManGai.com
Twitter: @Nongskhaomangai
Faebook: Nong’s Khao Man Gai
Other: Debit/Credit cards accepted

Sanjai's Teriyaki

Location: SE 52nd and Foster
Hours: Everyday, 11am-6pm

The Story:

Some of the first street food I enjoyed back as a younger man was yakisoba noodles. While it is now widely available throughout the city, finding it on a cool winter day while driving through southeast Portland brought back some great memories. Sanjai’s Teriyaki has some great yakisoba.

Sanjai’s Teriyaki started as a street vendor doing events and catering. I had heard about them and how good they were from friends who had enjoyed their food at the Pirate Festival. When I saw the cart at the lot on 52nd and Foster, I did a loop around the neighborhood and parked. I needed some lunch. The menu offers yakisoba noodles, Pad Thai noodles and fried rice – with or without chicken. Pretty straightforward and simple which allows them to focus on what they do well. I asked for my vegetarian yakisoba noodles to be super spicy – Thai spicy. They obliged and even threw in a small cup of their spicy Thai pepper oil. I commented that I love the Thai oil and the owner, Tony, detailed how to make it at home for myself. I ended up walking away with some great noodles which were blazingly spicy and a recipe for myself. A win-win situation. The noodles, with chopped cabbage, sliced carrot and plenty of hot oil were just what I was looking for and satisfied my craving.

Yakisoba Noodles from Sanjai's Teriyaki

Sanjai’s Teriyaki is now open at the pod at SE 52nd and Foster which now has indoor seating and is looking to add a cocktail cart in the near future. If you’re in the area, drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Yakisoba Noodles – $6; w/chicken, $8
• Pad Thai Noodles – $6; w/chicken, $8
• Fried Rice – $6; w/chicken, $8
• Combo plate with all of the above – $10
• Eggroll – $2

Hours: Everyday, 11am-6pm
Contact: 503 453 3096
Facebook: Sanjai’s Teriyaki

Sneaky Kitty

Location: SE 52nd and Foster
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11-8pm

The Story:

Start with a 1971 Volkswagen Van, extend the roof on it and remove the engine and you get a very unique food cart/van – Sneaky Kitty.

Hazel and Fine opened Sneaky Kitty this summer with the goal of combining Fine’s Thai cuisine with Hazel’s northwest experience. This project was a year in the making. Hazel and Fine worked with the Native American Youth Association to take small business courses, build a business plan and retain a grant from them to open the cart. Similar to Mercy Corp NW, this micro-loan program allowed them to plan out the opening and set themselves up to make it through both good and bad sales times. The van is a work in craftsmanship. The roof was removed and an extension roof was built so you can stand in the van to prep and cook. Since it is a VW van, the engine could be removed once it was in place. Luckily, Hazel has the mechanic skills to put it back in at a moment’s notice if they want to roll out of the lot. Yes, it drives.

Delta Blues BBQ Tofu from Sneaky Kitty

Initially, if you just glanced at the menu, you may believe that you are getting traditional Thai dishes with chicken or beef, but if you look closer and read the selections thoroughly, you would realize that the cart is fully vegan. A couple of curry dishes, a delta blues BBQ tofu dish and a robust stir fry are the mainstays with specials offered daily. The Delta Blues BBQ Tofu dish is pan-seared tofu smothered with spicy sweet brown sugar red curry BBQ sauce and then sauteed with basil, asparagus, carrots and shitake mushrooms. That tasty mess is then served over mixed black/white/purple rice. Such a great flavor with the sweetness of the brown sugar and red curry mixed throughout the dish. I’m glad the tofu was seared first to create a chewy skin to it before mixing it with the sauce and veggies. The entire dish was wonderful and filling and a great mix of ingredients.

Sneaky Kitty is one of those carts that you would take a friend to because of its uniqueness and great menu. The lot is scheduled to open indoor heated seating along with a bar in the near future, so even though winter is coming, there will be a nice warm place to enjoy your cart food. Drop on by Sneaky Kitty, say hi to Hazel and Fine and enjoy some of their tasty dishes. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Redeye Red Curry: marinated sliced beef style vegetable protein with fresh green beans, bamboo shoots and bell peppers sauteed in a creamy, spicy Thai coconut red curry sauce; topped with basil and served over rice – $5
• Keep it Green Curry: seasoned chicken style vegetable protein sauteed with Chinese eggplant, bell peppers, green beans in a tangy, spicy Thai coconut green curry sauce. topped with basil and served over rice – $5
• Delta Blues BBQ Tofu: pan-seared tofu smothered with spicy sweet brown sugar red curry BBQ sauce and then sauteed with basil, asparagus, carrots and shitake mushrooms. Served over rice – $5
• B-Complete: firm tofu, cubed and tossed in a magically delicious and super secret blend of nutritional yeast and spices, lightly browned in a pan, then sauteed with mushroom sauce, broccoli, carrots, and lightly wilted baby bok choy; served over rice – $5

Hours: Wed-Sun, 11-8pm
Phone: 503 739 5252
Facebook: Sneaky Kitty

Diamond Thai

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: daily for lunch, dinner

The Story:

A food cart in southeast Portland serving up traditional Thai cuisine including Phad Thai, Phad Kee Mao, curries, and fried rice dishes.

See a copy of the menu here.

Thai Food Factory

Location: SW 9th and Alder
Hours: M-Sat, lunchtime

Thai cuisine. More details coming soon

Thai Me Up

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

Thai cuisine. More details coming soon.

Asia Express

Location: SW 3rd and Stark
Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30am-8 pm

Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. More details coming soon.

Roy Thai

Location: SE 48th and Division
Hours: Weekdays and weekends, lunch and dinner

Thai cuisine to go. More details coming soon.

I Like Thai Food

Location: SW 10th and Alder
Hours: M-F, 11-7pm, Sat, 11-6pm

Thai cuisine. More information coming soon.