GF Chef

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: Wed-Sat, 7:30am-8pm; Sun, 9am-4pm

The Story:

Over the past few years, the term gluten-free has become more prevalent when discussing food as more people, both young and old, learn they have an intolerance to gluten. Executive Chef Jim Adams and his wife decided to create a food cart that catered to those needs but also served some amazing food and GF Chef was born.

GF Chef opened last summer at the now shuttered Green Castle food pod. After the closure, Jim and his wife Bonnie regrouped and moved the cart to the ever expanding Cartlandia pod. No one likes to move a cart and so it took them a week or so to get situated, but now that they are open, they have garnered a loyal following. Jim is the executive chef of the cart and has his own recipes for most of the items. He bakes three different gluten free breads daily – rye, herb and white – and even has some signature pancakes for the morning crowd. Every week he is coming up with new an interesting baked goods like bagels or biscuits or french bread.

Reuben from GF Chef

The rye for the Reuben had just come out of the oven. A hefty loaf with an aroma that began to spread throughout the pod and turn heads. What makes a Reuben special for me is the quality of the corned beef and the Russian dressing. Jim creates his own dressing from an classic German recipe which includes caviar. The bread is first toasted then the Swiss cheese and corned beef are added and finally the sauerkraut and dressing. One excellent sandwich. The bread with a crunch from the toasting melts in your mouth. The dressing, always a treat for my taste buds cemented a memory that I’ll dredge up as a comparison every time I try someone else’s Reuben. The ferment of the sauerkraut topped it off.

Jim and Bonnie are fun to chat with and love what they create and will answer any question you may have. Their focus is to create some great meals gluten free which one would normally not be able to get – including corndogs. Jim has his own batter. GF Chef is open from breakfast through dinner and offers specials daily. If your gluten intolerant or even if you aren’t, check this cart out for some great food and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Breakfast sandwiches with ham, bacon or sausage, egg and cheese – $3.75
• Pancakes – 2 for $5.25
• Grilled Cheese – $5.50; add meat, $6.50
• Turkey, Ham or Corned Beef Sandwich – $7.50
• BLT – $7.50
• Reuben Sandwich – $8
• Corn Dog – $3.75
• Onion Rings – $4.50
• Hand Cut Fries, Belgian Style – sm, $3.75; lg, $6

Hours: Wed-Sat, 7:30am-8pm; Sun, 9am-4pm
Phone: 503 927 9880
Facebook: GF Chef

Donutorama

Location: SW 10th and Alder
Hours: Mon-Fri, 7am-2pm

The Story:

Everyone loves a good donut. I remember as a child visiting Dunkin’ Donuts or Winchels and craving something, anything, with Boston creme filling. I couldn’t get enough of that. These days, the donut has transformed into something truly unique and so have the purveyors. Donut-O-Rama is Portland’s first full service donut cart.

Greg Slauson opened Donut-O-Rama a couple of months ago in the same cart that housed Cool Harry’s Frozen Yogurt the past summer. A great use of the cart during these winter months when not too many people are seeking out cold treats. Greg has eaten donuts from many different vendors and has a goal to exceed everyone’s expectations for his sweet treats.

Creme Brulee donut @ Donut-O-Rama

The donuts at Donut-O-Rama range from raised donuts to cake donuts to donuts with bacon atop. You can’t have a donut in Portland without adding bacon can you? But it isn’t all about the crazy donuts, it is about the art of the donut and the craft. A simple glazed donut from Greg is truly a treat – especially in the morning with a hot cup of coffee. One of the stars at Donut-O-Rama is the crème brulee donut, a cream filled pouch covered with sugar which is then melted with a blow-torch to create a hard crust which melts in your mouth.

Donut-O-Rama is a great new option for a morning sweet along with your coffee. Greg continues to come out with new flavors and great creations – the most recent being an energy donut made with Viso energy drink which contains about 60mg of caffeine. That will get your day started! Let Greg know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

The entire menu can be found at Donutorama.com

• Cake donuts like the Viso energy drink donut or the Dynamo or Vigor – $2.50
• Raised round donuts like coconut, glazed, chocolate, banana, maple, berry – $1.25
• Buttermilk Bars like glazed, chocolate, banana and maple – $1.75
• Raised Bars – specials like hot banana, bacon banana, maple bacon, Nutella and Jelly – $2.50

Hours: Mon-Fri, 7am-2pm
Phone: 503 960 6825
Website: Donutorama.com
Twitter: @Donutorama
Facebook: Donut-O-Rama

La Arepa

Location: SE 50th and Ivon, A la Carts Food Pavilion
Hours: Daily, 9am-8pm

The Story:

Portland has some great street food from around the world, but we’re lacking a bit in foods from South America. We have a few, but not many. La Arepa has opened and offers authentic Venezuelan food at A la Carts Food Pavilion.

The namesake of this cart is the arepa, a traditional snack/sandwich out of Venezuela. An arepa is a flat, round, bread-like patty made of cornmeal. It is then grilled and filled with cheese, meats, fish and/or vegetables. Since it is wheat-free, it is naturally gluten free and takes the place of bread in many Venezuelan homes. They may look small, but they are filling.

Arepas from La Arepa

The arepas we enjoyed on our visit were served with shredded beef and shredded tilapia. The beef, slow cooked with garlic, onion, paprika and black pepper was moist and succulent with an amazing depth of flavor. The tilapia was seasoned with onions, garlic, paprika and sweet pepper, mellowing out the natural saltiness of the fish with some sharp flavors. The actual arepa patty was the key though. It is dense and makes a great vessel for the meat and fish. Looking at the menu, I now want to try one with meat and cheese.

La Arepa is open every day of the week to serve their tasty Venezuelan dishes. Beyond arepas, they have breakfast dishes, tapas (small plates,) empanadas, desserts, and full meals. This is one of those hidden gems you will be glad you found. Check them out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Arepa with shredded beef – $6
• Arepa with chicken – $5
• Domino: arepa stuffed with black beans and white Cotija cheese – $5
• Reina Pepiada: arepa stuffed with chopped chicken salad prepared with potatoes, carrots and avocado – $6.50
• Perico: arepa stuffed with scrambled eggs with garlic, onion, sweet pepper and tomato – $5
• Empanada with shredded beef: turnover-like cornmeal stuffed pocket – $3
• Empanada with fish – $3
• Empanada Domino – black beans and grated white cheese – $2.50
• Pabellon Criollo – white rice, seasoned shredded beef, fried plantains, sliced avocado, fried egg, black beans and topped with Cotija cheese – $8
• Cachapa – pancake-like dish made of fresh ground corn with a soft Mozzarella cheese and butter – $4.50

Hours: Daily, 9am-8pm
Phone: 503 200 4952
Facebook: La Arepa

Angel's Cabana

Location: SW 10th and Alder
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-’til they go home; Sat, 11am – 5pm.

The Story:

A year or so ago, Dreamer’s Marketplace opened with much fanfare and some great carts. Sadly, many of the carts have moved or closed since that summer leaving only one left. One of the carts that opened back then was Angel’s Cabana. It is now located at SW 10th and Alder, a location that will showcase their menu to a much larger audience.

Angel’s Cabana focuses on Central American and Caribbean food. Other than Mexican, Peruvian and Argentinean, I really haven’t been exposed to flavors and foods south of the border. It is an area I really want to explore more. I love that they take what I think of as fruit – the plantain – and use it in savory dishes. Angel’s Cabana has many traditional dishes from the region including Baliadas – flour tortillas with fried beans, eggs, chorizo, cheese, creme and avocado. A simple yet satisfying dish that can be done vegetarian.

Yuca con Chicharón

The day I visited, I was perusing the menu and the Yuca con Chicharrón caught my eye. Chicharrón! You don’t find that too often downtown. One needs to venture out to Gresham or Hillsboro to get good chicharrón. I love it and when I get a chance, I order it. The plate is layered with yuca, also known as cassava, topped with chopped cabbage, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, red peppers, celery, cilantro and plenty of Chicharrón. Yuca, a root vegetable, is well known in the region as a source of carbohydrates. To me, it was like a sweet potato. I’ll probably learn that they are in the same family. Being at the bottom of the pile, the yuca absorbed a ton of flavor from the sauce they used. The Chicharrón was wonderfully crunchy and flavorful and mixed with all the veggies, made for a great dish. I’ll definitely be back to try some of their other treats.

Angel’s Cabana is open from 8am until they close – that is actually their hours. Downtown doesn’t have too many options for breakfast from a cart, so here’s your new choice. Drop on by for a papusa, baliadas or maybe some plantains with beans and cheese. They have it all. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Pastelitos (Empanadas): Maseca, Achiote, ground beef, green pepper, rice, onions – available vegetarian – $2.50
• Ceviche Nery’s Style: shrimp, imitation crab, lime, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, cilantro and avocado – $3
• Sandwich de Puerco/Aderezo – Aderezo dressing, bread, fried beans, pork seasoned with chipotle, jalapeno peppers, garlic and cheese – $6
• Yuca con Carne Molida: yuca, ground beef, green pepper, red onions, garlic, cilantro and tomatoes – $6
• Yuca con Vegetariana – yuca, green pepper, red onions, garlic, cilantro, tomatoes – $6
• Yuca con Chicharrón – yuca, chicharrón, cabbage, veggie sauce, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, red peppers, celery and cilantro: $7
• Papusas: corn masa, pork, cheese and beans – $3
• Enchilada Hondurena: corn masa tortilla, refried beans, cabbage, cotija cheese and choice of meat or veggies – $4
• Baliadas: flour tortilla, fried beans, eggs, chorizo, cheese, crema and avocado – $6
• Huevos con cebolla: onions, 3 eggs, refried beans, cheese, corn tortillas – $6
• Desayuno Especial: eggs, beans, fried plantains, cheese, crema: $7

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-’til they go home; Sat, 11am – 5pm.
Contact: unknown

Breakfast Lunch Today

Location: Cartlandia, SE 82nd and Harney
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8am-4pm; Fri, 8am-6pm; Sat, 11am-6pm

The Story:

I saw the logo first and my mouth began to water. blt. I immediately had that memory from childhood of stacking bacon and lettuce on toasted bread (no tomato, I didn’t like tomatoes then) with plenty of mayo and taking that wonderful first bite. Breakfast Lunch Today, or otherwise known as blt is a sandwich shop at Cartlandia.

Etienne Saucier opened his cart in summer and moved to the Cartlandia pod in August. Originally, he had planned a large menu of diverse items, but reality set in and he realized he wouldn’t have a large cart to support such efforts. In the trailer he did outfit, he designed a menu that would work with the confined space. After a few months, he’s happy with his choice and has succeeded.

Montecristo from Breakfast Lunch Today

Etienne focuses on sandwiches and has a broad selection to choose from including fried sandwiches, cold sandwiches and classics like the Dagwood  and Croque-Monsieur. I was ready to go for the namesake and get a BLT, but asked him for his recommendation and he steered me to the Fried Montecristo. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying a few variations on the Montecristo – usually a deep fried traditional sandwich with powdered sugar atop. When we opened up Etienne’s version I was completely surprised. Instead of a traditional sandwich with slices of bread, his Montecristo is made up of black forest ham, turkey, Gruyere and emmental cheese then wrapped in beignet dough and deep fried. Beignet Dough! I just stared at it for a minute not sure what to think, but took the first bite and tasted the sweetness of the dough mixed with the excellent choice of cheese and meats. So good. We even tasted a bit of wine in there, but Etienne explained that beignet dough is over yeasty which brings out those types of flavors and smells. A great twist on an already wonderfully decadent sandwich.

Etienne and his cart are open during the week and on Saturday for breakfast, lunch and on Friday and Saturday, you could pick something up for an early dinner. If you’re in the mood for a well crafted sammy, drop on by Breakfast Lunch Today and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Fried Cheese: their special dough filled with Mozzarella or cheddar and fried – $4; add bacon or ham, $5
• Egg and Cheese: like a fried quiche – $5.50
• Fried Denver: bell peppers, ham, eggs and stuffed in dough and fried – $6.50
• Turkey-Cran: turkey, provolone, cranberry sauce fried in special dough – $6
• Tomato and Fresh Basil: tomato, Mozzarella, fresh basil in signature dough – $5
• Fried Montecristo: ham, turkey, Gruyere, emmental, dijin mustard wrapped in beignet dough and fried – $8
• Turkey Club: bacon, turkey, lettuce, tomato, may and cheddar – $5
• Ham and Spinach: ham, spinach, provolone, olives and honey mustard – $5.50
• Roast Beef and Cheddar: add lettuce, tomato, horseradish and cheddar – $6
• Muffuletta: ham, salami, mortadella, provolone and cajun olive spread – $7

Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8am-4pm; Fri, 8am-6pm; Sat, 11am-6pm
Phone: 503 310 4631
Facebook: blt
Resources: Credit/Debit cards accepted

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

Yolk

Location: SE 48th and Woodstock
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 9am-2:30ish

The Story:

There is something new afoot in the food carts in Portland – restaurants expanding to carts. We’re not talking chains, we’re talking wonderful established joints opening carts to spread the love of their menu. Yolk is newest of these carts.

Yolk is the work of Toast, a great little restaurant in SE Portland. In a bright yellow cart not far from the homestead, Yolk is where you can pick up a stunning breakfast made fresh with local ingredients and some unique combinations. Patrick and Meagan team up during those morning hours along with a cookbook of recipes gathered over the years to create hashes, sandwiches and special breakfasts.

The Breakfast

The menu item that caught my eye was “The Breakfast.”

Here’s the deal. It’s Breakfast our way. No options. No substitutions. No allergies, diets or, “I’m free of…” No texture issues. If you don’t like it, give it away. Will it ever be the same? Maybe. Will you get the same as your buddy? Maybe. It might be a similar dish for a year, or it might be different for the next person. Can you share it? Yes!

Seriously, how awesome is that. I’ve always wanted to show up and have someone tell me what to eat instead of having to decide. The day I visited, The Breakfast was a type of tomato stew served with an over easy duck egg, some thick cut bacon and a housemade English muffin. A dish I would have never have imagined as a breakfast. The tomato based stew simmered overnight and prior to serving summer veggies like delicata squash, romanesco broccoli and orange cauliflower were added to create a rich texture. The duck egg, my first, had a fresh sweetness to it that when placed on the muffin with some bacon was a match made in heaven. This was a truly unique imagination for breakfast. I’m glad I ordered it and took the chance.

Yolk makes some great dishes and uses seasonal veggies, so what we list here in the menu section may change. There is seating available at the lot, so head on down and give it a try. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Toby Hash: late summer corn with heirloom tomatoes, chili creme, potatoes, saba with 2 sunny side up eggs – $8
• Mary had a Little Lamb Hash: Sudan Farm ground lamb mixed with roasted potatoes, braised greens, squash and tossed with mint and herbs and toped with duck egg – $9
• The Sandwich: ham or braised greens and cheese with a scrambled egg on a baguette – $4
• Run For the Hills: sauteed mixed vegetables and herbs with scrambled eggs on an english muffin – $6
• Brother: maple glazed pork belly with Beecher’s cheese, over medium eggs, dijon tossed lettuce greens on a pretzel roll – $8
• The Breakfast as described above – $10

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 9am-2:30ish
Contact: 503 568-0787

MEET

Location: NE Alberta between 14th and 15th
Hours: Wed-Sun, 10am-8pm

The Story:

Alberta street has some wonderful food carts, but unlike most of the city, they aren’t congregated into pods. The carts on Alberta go it alone, interspersed between the restaurants, shops and other eateries on the street. Welcome a new cart to the street – MEET.

MEET is located in a spot between 14th and 15th where there use to be a Mexican truck for years. I happened upon it when we were roaming about one day, so the placement of the cart next to the sidewalk was key. When I first saw the sign, I did think it would be a meat centric cart. Being a food writer, I sometimes find myself writing, “hey, let’s meat at blah blah blah.” It gets some laughs. That being said, the cart does focus on meals centered around brisket, ribs, chicken and pork. While you can get items a la cart, they focus on plating the main course with sides for the full meal deal.

St Louis Ribs from MEET

It seems that most every city has a food that has in some way been defined by the culture there. The Philly Cheesesteak or the NYC Pastrami or Kansas City BBQ. While St. Louis is famous for its grilling and BBQ sauce, the ribs are named for how they’re cut. I spent a summer learning all about ribs and cooking some myself, so when offered, I jump at it. I was served three meaty ribs with greens and coleslaw. MEET had some great sauces available, but I chose to enjoy the ribs as they were served and am glad I did. The meat came off the bone easily with a rich flavor and an applewood smokiness. The greens- kale, collards and mustard – were a great companion mixed with the vinegar zing of the coleslaw.

MEET offers up seating under a tent so you can get out of the elements while you enjoy your meal. What is not listed on the menu, but was on their chalkboard was breakfast. Head on down and check MEET out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

All plates come with 2 sides.

• Painted Hills Whole Brisket: 1/4 lb slow cooked and smoked with apple wood – $9.50
• Carlton Farms St Louis Style Ribs: 1/4 rack slow cooked and smoked with apple wood – $9.50
• Roasted Chicken: $9.50
• Pulled Pork Sandwich: (1 side) $5
• Brisket Sandwich: (1 side) $5
• Sides: roasted seasonal vegetables; assorted braised greens; coleslaw; baked beans; brown rice and more.

Hours: Wed-Sun, 10am-8pm
Contact: unknown

Wooster's

Location: SE 52nd and Foster
Hours: Tues-Fri, 8:30-8:30ish; Sat/Sun, 11-8:30ish; Late night 12-3am Sat/Sun

The Story:

We did a couple of roadtrips across America in the past few years and some of the best food we enjoyed was in the south. A mixture of down home cookin’ and a grandmotherly service makes you want to stick around and chat about old times. Wooster’s had all those traits and more.

Matt and Spencer make up the team that brought Wooster’s to Portland. When I say brought, I mean it. The bright orange cart was acquired and outfitted in Florida and then driven to Portland. The original goal was to hit some festivals along the way, but as they learned, the rules are different in every city, state and county, so ended up just coming straight here to open. Both Matt and Spencer are from Texas and met here in Portland at Le Cordon Bleu, the culinary school. With those southern influences, a few recipes from grandma and some time spent in Alabama, the menu and flavors of Wooster’s were born. They like to call it an original country soul food style.

Fried Green BLT from Wooster's

Wooster’s is open from breakfast to dinner and even late night on the weekends, so their menu reflects all kinds of options one would enjoy during the course of the day. You could start off with biscuits and gravy, have a chicken salad sandwich for lunch, shrimp and grits for dinner and they even have desserts and fried goods for that late night craving. Being there for lunch, we tried the fried green BLT with a side of fried whole okra. The BLT was just that with thick slabbed bacon and leaf lettuce, but substitute in fried green tomatoes. The bread for the sandwich was toasted just right to provide a crunch without forcing you to chew your way to the goodies inside. The fried green tomatoes (which we also got as a side dish) had an amazing batter to them which added an exceptional twist to this southern favorite. The whole fried okra were delectable. Using the same batter, which had a cornmeal element, the okra were cooked just right so as to not have that slimy texture so many simply can’t stomach. The true star with both fried items was the crust created by the batter. You gotta try it.

Fried Okra from Wooster's

Wooster’s is hard to miss. A bright orange trailer right on Foster just east of 52nd. Matt and Spencer are Texas gentleman and welcome you with a smile and a hearty southern “hello.” I’m excited to get back to try some of their other menu items – especially the country fried steak. Head on down, get a bit out of the south in your belly and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Biscuits and Gravy – $4
• Bacon, Egg and Cheese Croissant – $4
• Fried Green BLT – thick slabbed bacon, leaf lettuce and fried green tomatoes with 1 side- $7
• Country Fried Steak – hand breaded sirloin, sausage gravy with 1 side – $9
• Southern Chicken Salad or Sandwich – white grapes, walnuts, love with 1 side – $6
• Shrimp and Grits – pan seared fresh shrimp, andouille sausage, creamy polenta – $9

Sides – 1/$4; 2/$6; 3/$8

• Fried Green Tomatoes
• Sauteed Veggies
• Beer Battered Rings
• Curly French Fries
• Whole Fried Okra
• Black Eyed Peas – Polska Kielbasa

Hours: Tues-Fri, 8:30-8:30ish; Sat/Sun, 11-8:30ish; Late night 12-3am Sat/Sun
Phone: 503 664 0131
Twitter: @WoostersPDX
Facebook: Wooster’s

Happy Espresso

Location: SE 102nd and Stark
Hours: daily, breakfast and lunch

Espresso, hot drinks, cold drinks