Rockin’ Robyn’s Sassy Burger

April 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Rockin' Robyn's Sassy Burger

Rockin’ Robyn’s Sassy Burger

Location: NE 52nd and Sandy, Rose City Food Park
Hours: Wed-Sun, 11:30am-8pm, open later Friday/Saturday till 9pm

The Story: I’m a burger fiend. I admit it, I ate a burger this week and kept it secret. It even had bacon on it. For awhile, friends of mine and I would text photos of burger finds both in Portland and beyond. The burger for me is true American cuisine and there are some wonderful specimens right here in the Rose City. Rockin’ Robyn’s at Rose City Food Park may just be one of those you put on your go-to list.

My doctor told me I needed to lay off the burgers a couple of years ago, so I did, opting for sandwiches and ethnic cuisine, but every so often, due to the rigors of my work, I have to enjoy a tasty burger. I had heard good reports about Robyn’s burgers, so ventured out to NE Portland to check it out. Right as I stepped out of the car, the sky opened, dumping about nine gallons of rain on me. Luckily, a parka and Robyn’s awning protected me while I ordered. Robyn has history in the burger making business and jokingly has burgers in her blood. Her father owned The Igloo in Vancouver, so Robyn learned from family. She sources her beef down the street from where I grew up – The Original Steer Market on SE Division.

The Sassonator from Rockin' Robyn's

The Sassonator from Rockin’ Robyn’s

The menu at the cart is what you would expect – burgers of all types and sizes. You can get a traditional one or go crazy and get mushrooms or BBQ sauce or even a second patty. Robyn will hook you up. For me, I chose the Sassonator, a cajun spiced 1/2lb burger with Tillamook Pepper Jack cheese. I even added a fried egg to make it extra special. With one of the best in town pub buns from Portland French Bakery, fresh lettuce, tomato, thick sliced onion and the burger, I knew I was in for a treat. You know how when you first pick up a burger and stare at it longingly and maybe talk to it, telling it that soon, it will be in your belly? Yep, that was me. Once you pick it up, with the melted cheese running down your hand and juices on your chin, you don’t put it down until you’re finished. The cajun spices came through, but not overwhelming and the pepper jack with the egg were divine. An excellent burger for $7.50.

Rockin’ Robyn’s isn’t just burgers. She offers fries and sandwiches and vegetarian and gluten free options. Every lot needs a good burger and Rose City has theirs in this cart. Drop on by and let Robyn know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Cheap Sassy Basket – 1/4lb burger with American cheese and 1/2 order fries – $5
  • Sassy Burger – 1/2 lb burger – $5.50
  • Sassy Cheddar Burger – 1/2 lb burger with cheese – $6.25
  • Sassonator – $7
  • Psycho Sassy – 1/2lb burger with sauteed mushrooms and Swiss – $7.25
  • Rockin’ Vegan Protabella Burger – Portabella mushroom on whole grain bun – $7

Phone: 503 449 7144
Website: RockinRobynsSassyBurger.com
Twitter: @RockinRobynsPDX
Facebook: Rockin’ Robyn’s

 

Filed Under: Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Gluten Free Options, Hamburgers, Lunch, NE 52nd and Sandy, Sandwiches, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Chen’s Express

March 19, 2013 by 1 Comment

Location: NE Sandy Blvd and 52nd. Rose City Food Park 
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-8pm

The Story: A Chinese food cart. Ah, I could wax poetic about my love of “New York Take Out” Chinese Food. Aka “Old School” or “Chinatown” Chinese.  It’s pure comfort food and as American as well, Kung Pao Chicken. Which is to say Chinese-American food is pretty darn American. You know the kind of food I’m talking about, it’s available all over our great country, but especially featured on many an episode of Seinfield, Friends, Sex & the City, and pretty much any show that take place in the Big Apple. When in NYC (and other big East Coast cities), you’ll see menu flyers piled up in apartment lobbies, and hoards of bicycle delivery folk speeding through traffic to get bags of Potstickers, Hot & Sour Soup, and other well known “Chinese American Classics” to their customers. Who hasn’t had a craving at one time or another for this type of saucy, salty, stir-fried, deep fried, steamed cuisine? I know I have.

Chen’s Express reminds me so much of those little storefronts found in New York – in cart form. It’s simple, it’s straight to the point, it’s freshly prepared fast, and it offers all your favorite Chinatown Chinese Food classics at affordable prices: Don’t expect anything CRAZY here, just decent generous portions of fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, chow mein, and a few Szechuan dishes, such as spicy tofu. They even have crab puffs and spring rolls alongside egg drop and hot and sour soup. At entrees that also include a side of your choosing for $6, you really can’t go wrong. No MSG, and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options available.

Chen's Express

Chen’s Express

Sample Menu:

  • Entrees plus one side – $6.00 or Two Entrees and a side – $8.00. Choices include, but are not limited to Sauteed string beans, lemon tofu, lemon chicken, Kung Pao tofu, Kung Pao chicken, Mongolian Beef, Tofu and vegetables, General Tsao’s tofu, General Tsao’s chicken,
  • Sides – $1.00 – $6.00 depending on dish and size: Crispy spring rolls, crab puffs, steamed buns, fried rice, chow mein
  • Soups – Small $1.00, Large $3.00 – Hot and Sour Soup, Eggdrop Soup

Phone: (503) 334-7040
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChensExpress

Filed Under: Chinese, Dinner, Lunch, NE 52nd and Sandy, Snacks, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

The Sugar Shop

January 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Sugar Shop

The Sugar Shop

Location: NE 52nd and Sandy, Rose City Food Park
Hours: Mon-Sun, 11am-8pm

The Story: Instead of grabbing a gyro or a burger or a bowl of Pad Thai, why not go down the sweet train and get something from The Sugar Shop for lunch. I remember something as a kid about eating dessert first when I was an adult.

The Sugar Shop is one of the few mobile vendors out there serving up sweets and baked goods like cookies, cakes and cheesecakes. Autumn and Shannon attended OCI together where they both studied in the baking and pastry program. After school, in jobs they admit weren’t taking them anywhere, brainstorming over Margaritas on Cinco De Mayo, the cart plan was born. They had the chops to pull it off and the cart is darn cute. Red seems to be the color of sweets.

Peppermint Cheesecake Brownie

Peppermint Cheesecake Brownie

If I lived closer to The Sugar Shop, I would probably gain a few pounds. I’m not the one to order dessert after dinner nor grab a frozen yogurt as a snack, but cookies are my downfall. Put out a platter of well made cookies and I can’t turn away. Here you can get white chocolate stuffed snickerdoodle or oatmeal cranberry or dark chocolate and bacon, cookies mom never made. I asked Autumn and Shannon what their favorites were – cheesecake and anything with caramel. I picked up the peppermint cheesecake brownie, a thin slice of decadence. Chocolate and peppermint and swirl. Just what I needed after spicy Indian. Looking at the menu, they put together flavors that simply intrigue me – salted caramel or whiskey caramel with a pecan crust.

The Sugar Shop isn’t all sweets. They offer savory choices with chicken pot pie or spinach, mushroom and feta hand pies. Open every day from lunch past dinner, there is no reason not to stop by and pick something up to sate that craving you know you have. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Cookies – multiple options – $1.50
  • Cakes – $3.50 – bourbon cake w/milk chocolate buttercream; red velvet cake with cream cheese icing, lemon cake with tart lemon glaze and more
  • Cheesecake – $3.50 – classic; housemade Nutella swirl; cheesecake bar with pecan crust and whiskey caramel topping
  • Mousse – $3.50 – chocolate honey; triple chocolate; vanilla honey
  • Brownies and Bars – $3.50 – salted caramel stuffed gooey brownies, lemon bars

Hours: Mon-Sun, 11am-8pm
Website: TheSugarShopPDX.com
Facebook: The Sugar Shop
Twitter: @TheSugarShopPDX

Filed Under: Baked Goods, Coffee & Espresso, Dinner, Gluten Free Options, Lunch, NE 52nd and Sandy, Northeast - Portland, Sweets, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Moberi

November 20, 2012 by 1 Comment
Moberi

Moberi

Location: NE 52nd and Sandy, Rose City Food Park
Hours: Tues-Sat, 11:30-7pm

The Story: I grew up in the 70′s and 80′s when it seemed everyone I knew was introduced to juicing through home shopping and infomercials. These days, juicing and smoothies are a way of life for many as a great way to combine numerous items and drink it down quick. There are international franchise restaurants who focus solely on juices and smoothies. Moberi, a cart that focuses on healthy smoothies and fresh juices does it a bit different than you local juice mart – he blends with a bike.

Ryan Carpenter opened Moberi this past summer with a location at Green Castle and roaming around to different events and street fairs. I first tried his wares at Last Thursday on Alberta when the sun was still out. He has a vintage Schwinn stationary exercise bike setup with a bike blender which uses the wheel to blend the smoothies. No electric Cuisinart here. And, when you meet Ryan, you’ll see he gets a good workout from making smoothies. Riding a bike and making smoothies all day isn’t a bad gig.

Powered by Bike!

Powered by Bike!

On the menu at Moberi are fruit smoothies, protein shakes and vegetable and fruit juices. How does raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, Greek yogurt and agave sound? Or maybe carrot, apple and ginger to boost your immune system? Ryan’s got you covered. On the cold rainy day I visited, I needed some fruit, so he made me the DeLorean with strawberry, banana and mango. With strawberries from this summer’s local harvest you could taste that Oregon sweetness and remember a warmer time. Such a simple drink with so much flavor. And healthy!

Moberi is at Rose City Food Park now, but still has his mobile gear ready to go to bring his smoothies to your next event. Drop on by for a bike powered smoothie or juice and let Ryan know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Smoothies – 16oz, $5.75

  • Moberi – raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, Greek yogurt, agave
  • Turtle Power – kale, spinach, green apple, mango, banana, ginger
  • Uncle Jesse – strawberry, mint, avocado, dates, coconut milk

Protein Shakes – 16oz, $6

  • Peanut Butter Cup – whey protein, peanut butter, organic chocolate, banana
  • One Night in Bangkok – whey protein, peanut butter, banana, coconut milk, sesame oil, sriracha

Juice – 10oz, $4; 16oz $6.50

  • Affordable Healthcare – carrot, apple, ginger
  • Trampled by Turtles – kale, cucumber, celery, green apple, lime ginger
  • Eat to the Beet – carrot, beet, apple, lemon, ginger

Hours: Tues-Sat, 11:30-7pm
Website: Moberi.com
Facebook: Moberi
Twitter: @MoberiSmoothies

Filed Under: Dinner, Lunch, NE 52nd and Sandy, Smoothies & Fresh Juices, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Bangkok Xpress

November 14, 2012 by 2 Comments
Bangkok Xpress

Bangkok Xpress

Location: NE 52nd and Sandy, Rose City Food Park
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm

The Story:

By my count, Portland has more than 70 Thai food carts serving up a myriad of dishes. Some differentiate themselves by serving unique items or hyper-regional fare, while others stand out for great tasting food. Bangkok Xpress is a new Thai cart at Rose City Food Park which may surprise you.

Grandma's Fried Rice

Grandma’s Fried Rice

I sometimes get burned out on different cuisines if I’ve had them too many times. To battle that, I order dishes I haven’t tried before and for Bankok Xpress, the red, yellow and green curries piqued my interest, but then I saw Grandma’s Fried Rice. If I would have just read the menu and not seen the photos of the food, I wouldn’t have ordered it. The photo of huge chunks of sausage mixed with fried rice, egg, onions, peas, carrots and more Chinese broccoli than one can imagine made my tongue sweat. Spicy sausage chunks; seared crunchy broccoli; onions; fried rice – what more would you want. I hadn’t planned on finishing it, wanting to save some for the next day, but the overall spiciness and flavor kept my spoon active and my tastebuds humming.

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Filed Under: Dinner, Lunch, NE 52nd and Sandy, Thai, Vegetarian Options, Weekends
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