Mira's Ladle

Location: SE 40th and Hawthorne
Hours: Wed-Sun, 12-7pm

The Story:

When I need a hearty soup to get me back on track, I lean towards those from eastern Europe and Russia. Having lived there for a time, something deep in my soul craves the flavors and boldness of the region. Mira’s Ladle has what a growing man needs.

Mira, a former architect, designed the cart from which she serves her Polish cuisine. The menu starts off with Leczo, a vegan and gluten free chili served over brown rice. She also serves barszcz, a traditional Polish beet soup. Purchasing locally grown beets is key to the freshness and everyone loves the bright red color. Just don’t spill it on your Sunday clothes. beet stains are hard to remove. Beyond soups, Mira griddles up potato or zucchini latkes and serves them with apple sauce and sour cream. Everything is made fresh daily sourcing ingredients from local farmers’ markets and regional farms.

The bright red cart is located on Hawthorne street around southeast 40th in a driveway between two houses. You can get the soups in a cup or take it to go in a quart. This is one of those carts you will return to for seconds. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

c=cup; b=bowl; q=quart

• Leczo: vegan gluten free chili served over brown rice – c, $4; b, $6; q, $10
• Krupnik: barley soup with veggies, mushrooms, shredded chicken and served with bread – c, $3.50; b, $5; q, $9.50
• Barszcz: red beet soup with veggie or chicken stock – c, $3.50; b, $5; q, $9.50
• Potato Latkes: potato pancakes served with apple sauce and sour cream – $5
• Zucchini Latkes: zucchini pancakes served with apple sauce and sour cream  -$6

Hours: Wed-Sun, 12-7pm
Website: Mira’s Ladle
Facebook: Mira’s Ladle

Roshambo

Location: SE 32nd and Division, D-Street Noshery
Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11:30-8; Fri, Sat, 11:30-9, Sun, 12-7

The Story:

In an old-school Aloha trailer at D-Street Noshery you can get some excellent Indian cuisine that is simple and fresh and tasty. Roshambo will surprise you at how good they are.

Created by chef David McGough, yoga teacher Uma Diana Hulet, and developer Randy Rapaport, Roshambo offers up organic, vegetarian Indian cuisine made from scratch. Normally, the menus at Indian carts list upwards of 50 items, so it becomes a challenge for me to pick something. At Roshambo, they have a small menu of around 10 items along with daily specials. That tells me they spend more time and care perfecting these dishes.

Koftas from Roshambo

At Roshambo, they have small bites along with full meals. The day I visited, I picked up some potato, jalapeno and paneer koftas which I would describe as mini veggie balls sitting in a sweet and savory tomato sauce. The koftas are a mix of chickpea flour, herbs, spices and the vegetables and then lightly fried. I have had koftas elsewhere that were a bit over fried, but at Roshambo, they were light and fluffy and the jalapeno added a nice pleasant zing. For $6, a great treat for a cold day.

Roshambo has a mouthwatering menu and makes vegan samosas on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you’re looking for something new and want to venture beyond the traditional, check them out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Potato, jalapeno, paneer koftas – $6
• Kichari: ayurveda-inspired, brown basmati rice, moong dal with seasonal vegetables and spices – $6
• Samosas: served with house-made mango chutney – $6
• Moong Dal w/Spinach: yellow moong beans with spinach, spices and topped with house-made ghee – $9
• Chana Masala: chickpeas simmered in a savory tomato sauce – $9
• Aloo Dum: potatoes in a creamy, spicy curry sauce – $9
• Vegetable Korma: house-made Indian cheese simmered with vegetables in a savory creamy sauce – $9

Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11:30-8; Fri, Sat, 11:30-9, Sun, 12-7
Phone: 971.266.1008
Website: RoshamboPDX.com
Facebook: Roshambo

Flyin' Hawaiian

Location: SE 52nd and Foster
Hours: Daily, 11 am to 8 pm

The Story:

It’s weird how a random trek to SE Portland confirmed how small the world can be. Knowing that several carts in the Foster pod had moved or closed up for winter, I wanted to see which carts remained – and if there were any new arrivals. Flyin’ Hawaiian was one of the newbies in the pod. I was born and raised in Hawaii, so any time I see a Hawaiian-style food cart, I just walk in a hypnotic state, almost compelled to try the food.

Jason Manolian and his business partner, Rusty Silva, opened Flyin’ Hawaiian in early December 2011. Amazingly, Jason is not only from Hawaii, but lived no more than two minutes from my house, mere steps from Aiea High School (no, we didn’t know each other prior to this food cart visit). Before opening this cart, Jason had worked in the restaurant business for several years.

Scanning the menu, I spotted the word “habanero.” Win! Jason has two types of habanero sauce for his wings – pineapple habanero and mango habanero, along with four milder options. And when I say wings, I mean the whole wing…think Pok Pok large. These wings appear to be fried naked, resulting in golden-brown crispy skin and juicy meat. I asked for the two habanero sauces on the side so I could try both. After a time, the fruity, spicy habanero ran wild in my mouth and I couldn’t tell which sauce was which. To me, it didn’t matter. Big chicken wings and spicy sauces already made me a happy panda.

Chicken Wings from Flyin' Hawaiian

I had enough room in my stomach for a mahi-mahi taco ($3). Double corn tortillas hold diced cooked mahi-mahi (fish), tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and more. Customers have a choice of a spicy or a sweet tartar sauce, and of course, I chose spicy. Steamed tortilla, moist fish, refreshing toppings, and a satisfied stomach. Jason said people usually order about three of these for a nice filling meal.

The Garlic Teriyaki Burger and the Chicken Ranch Sandwich are some of the more popular items and non-meat eaters can rejoice, as there is a Vegan Burger on the menu. Also, watch for weekly specials! A recent kalua pork sandwich special was a huge hit. Check out Flyin’ Hawaiian, and tell Jason that Food Carts Portland sent ya!

Sample Menu:

• Giant Wings and Legs – $5 – three wings; $8 – five wings; $15 – ten wings; choice of sauce – pineapple habanero, mango habanero, honey bourbon, orange teriyaki, lemon garlic, or smoky apricot
• Garlic Teriyaki Burger – $6
• Mahi-mahi Burger – $6.75
• Mahi-mahi Tacos – $3 each – choice of hot or sweet chipotle sauce
• Chicken Ranch Sandwich – $5 – add bacon for $1.25 more
• Vegan Burger – $6
• Cinnamon and Sugar Crisp – $2
• Fresh Cut Fries – sm, $1.50; lg, $3 – choice of seasoning – sea salt, pepper, salt and pepper, garlic salt, Cajun, sweet basil, seasoned salt, cinnamon and sugar

Hours: Daily, 11 am to 8 pm
Phone: 503 567 8424
Website: http://www.flyinhwn.com
Facebook: FlyinHwn503
Twitter: @flyinhwn

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

Chilango

Location: SW 4th and Hall
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-7pm

The Story:

When one cart departs, someone is always there, ready to repaint and relaunch as something new. Chilango is one of the newest faces on SW 4th at the PSU pod.

When I visited the other day, it took me a few minutes of reviewing the menu to realize this cart served Mexican food. Normally, the first items on the menus are tacos and burritos. At Chilango, it is bowls. After ordering my lunch from Veronica, I asked what Chilango meant and she told me it was a boy from Mexico City and then pointed at Caesar who was making my lunch and said – him!

Chilango Bowl Taco

At Chilango, you can get soft tacos and burritos, vegetarian fare and other traditional Mexican food, but what caught my eye was the Chilango Bowl. Your choice of meat served with beans, rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, cotija cheese and handmade masa tortillas. What I pictured in my mind paled in comparison to what they served. A large portion of beans and rice covered with chicken tinga (my meat choice), a few large spoonfuls of fresh guacamole and pico. Chicken tinga is shredded chicken breast stewed with tomatoes and onions. The tortillas were amazingly fresh and putting it all together into a small little taco was a treat. The guacamole, made fresh that morning, had a hint of lemon that when paired with a bit of chicken and black bean was amazing. A very large portion, more than enough for a hearty lunch.

The bright red cart that looks like a small cabin is welcoming – especially with Veronica and Caesar there with their big smiles and wonderful food. They have an extensive vegetarian and vegan menu using tempe. Head on down if you haven’t visited the pod in awhile and give it a try. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Chilango Bowl – choice of grilled chicken, asada, ground beef, carnitas or chicken tinga with black or pinto beans, rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, cotija cheese and corn tortillas – $6
• Burrito – choice of meat with black or pinto beans, rice, lettuce, cheese, onions and cilantro – flour tortilla – $6
• Soft Taco – corn tortilla with choice of meat with onion and cilantro – $2
• Vegetarian Chilango Bowl – black or pinto beans, rice, guacamole, pico de gallo, cotija cheese and 3 corn tortillas – $5.50
• Tempe Chilango Bowl – black or pinto beans, rice, guacamole, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, corn tortillas and tempe – $6
• Breakfast Burrito – eggs, potatoes, black or pinto beans, cheese, pico de gallo – $4.50

Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime
Phone: 503 218 3352 (text to go orders)
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

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

Awesome Cone

Location: SE 32nd and Division, D-Street Noshery
Hours: T-T, 12-8pm, Fri/Sat, 12-10pm

The Story:

We’ve been hearing about Awesome Cone for a few months now. They were hard to find off SE Hawthorne, but now that they’ve moved to D-Street Noshery, you can’t miss them. If you’ve never had a meat cone, you need to visit this cart.

Many tease me because I use the word awesome too much in my daily vernacular. I won’t apologize. Its a great word and Gus thinks so too as that is what he decided to include in the name of his cart. Gus serves up what can only be described as “meat cones” – waffle cones filled with meat or other savory items. I think if someone handed that to me and asked me to name it, I too would choose Awesome Cone. The vegan batter, a Gus original, is squirted onto the hot griddle to start, but before setting up fully, Gus removes it to a heavy duty waffle cone creator he picked up online. That kitchen gadget has the patina of decades past, but works perfectly for what he is creating.

Fungus Cone

The first cone I saw on the menu was the Pig Cone, sweet and tangy pulled pork with a scoop of slaw. Sad though, because the day we visited, they were sold out. Gus seemed to sense my need for pork, so offered up a small version of the pig cone with what little pulled pork he had left. A baby cone I would say. The first bite of the cone was sweet and tricked my mind into thinking of ice cream, but then we got to the pulled pork and all bets were off. Some of the best pulled pork I had tasted and one of the most ingenious vessels. The other cone we enjoyed was the fungus cone, sauteed button mushrooms with a rosemary marsala glaze. The rosemary came out strong, but was sweetened by the marsala. A large cone with enough shrooms to feed two people.

Awesome Cone has a good thing going here with an excellent way to serve hearty, stick to your bones food. Open everyday except Sunday and Monday, Gus is there to deliver one of his signature dishes. Check them out, enjoy a cone and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Oh, Pioneer Cone: wagon wheel pasta in creamy vegan pasta sauce – $5
• Fungus Cone: sauteed button mushrooms in a rosemary marsala glaze – $5
• Pig Cone: sweet and tangy pulled pork with slaw – $6
• Chicken and Dumpling Cone: exactly what it sounds like – $5

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 12-8pm; Friday/Saturday, 12-10pm
Website: AwesomeCone.com
Twitter: @AwesomeCone Facebook: Awesome Cone

Lucy's Original

Location: Roaming, check Twitter
Hours: Usually 12-7pm daily including weekends

The Story:

Portland loves its burgers. That can be proven by the menus of most every 4 and 5 star restaurant who list their version of the venerable sandwich alongside filet mignon or vodka pasta. The carts also have their gems and a new competitor with an interesting twist has joined the team – Lucy’s Original.

Lucy’s Original, a shiny white Chevy Step Van with a sparkling steel clad interior is where this new burger magic happens. The product they serve is named the Jucy Lucy and originates in Minnesota. What is a Jucy Lucy you ask? At Lucy’s Original, they call them “inside-out cheeseburgers.” Normally, the cheese is atop the burger, yet with a Jucy Lucy, you get the cheese stuffed inside which melts and mixes with the meat. While the Jucy Lucy isn’t something new to midwesterners, it is definitely new to Portland and we have Evan and Ali, formerly of the Little Red Bike Cafe, to thank. If their burgers are as good at their food from the cafe, we’re all in for a treat.

The X-Mas from Lucy's Original

Evan was working the grill the day we visited the truck parked at Kruger’s Farm stand on N Lombard up in St. Johns. I’ve visited plenty of carts and trucks, both old and new and can honestly say the shine off the stainless steel of the kitchen almost blinded me. So new and clean. Never one to shy away from the largest, most gluttonous item on a menu, I ordered the X-Mas special with cheddar cheese, green chilies, an egg, grilled onions and red chili aioli. Initially, taking that first bite, I tasted some excellent beef with a hint of green pepper from the chili. The second bite was what introduced me to the power of the Jucy Lucy. Melted cheddar cheese wrapped in beef is an amazing experience. Now, if someone can just do that deep fried, you may have a winner. The entire burger was delicious with just enough pepper flavor, but not so much as to overwhelm the tenderness off the beef and creaminess of the cheese.

Lucy’s Original is a food truck, so is fully mobile and currently (as of end of December 2010) without a permanent home. They are spending the last week of the year at the LeftBank Building on NE Broadway by the Rose Garden. You can learn where they plan to be via their Twitter stream which they update regularly. Watch for them out and about in 2011 and if you get a chance to try one of their burgers, let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• SO-Cal: American cheese, onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato confit – $7
• Bistro: Blue cheese, bacon, onion rings, fig jam and arugula – $8
• Tiny Naylor: Swiss cheese, grilled onion, 1000 Island served on rye – $6
• Jucy Lucy: American cheese, pickles – $5
• Yacht Burger: vegan patty, Daiya cheese, parsnip, bell pepper, 1000 Island served in whole grain/nut bun – $7

Hours: Daily including weekends, 12-7pm
Twitter: @LucysOriginal

Scoop

Location: North Station, N Greeley and Killingsworth
Hours: W-Th, 12:30-3:30 & 5-8; Fri/Sat: 12:30-8; Sun, 12:30-3:30

The Story:

Hot Summer day and you need something cool for the kids? Fall rainy evening and you stil need something sweet. Get some ice cream right? Well, north Portland can sate that need. Scoop Organic Ice Cream will treat you and your kids to the ultimate tasty cold delight.

Scoop opened in spring at North Station, an amazing lot full of carts ranging across all types of cuisines. Take a group there and give everyone $5 and then have everyone share what they ordered and you will taste some of Portland’s best food from the carts. Just remember, if you give a kid $5 and there is an ice cream truck around, you may have a jumpy kid later.

Scoop specializes in organic handmade ice cream with some wonderful flavors that do change depending on what’s in season. These days, with fall here and winter on the way, they have sweet potato pie, pumpkin chocolate chip, rum raisin and others. Amanda Rhoads, the owner, would also like us to know that she also offers vegan sorbets and has gluten free cones.

Scoop is one of the cutest little trucks on the scene. Even though it has cooled down, we all still love ice cream and they are there to assist. Go visit, have a cone and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Ice Cream various flavors: mini – $2.50; small – $3.25; regular (3 scoops) – $4.25; large – $5.25
• Housemade waffle cones – $.75
• Milkshakes: 12oz – $4; 16oz – $5
• Caramel Apples – $3.50-4.50

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 12:30-3 and 5-8pm; Friday/Saturday, 12:30-9pm; Sunday, 12:30-3:30
Phone: 503 928 2796
Facebook: Scoop