It’s Thai Food

June 12, 2012 by 1 Comment

Location: SE 82nd and Harney (Cartlandia)
Hours: Tues – Sun, 11am-6pm

The Story: Guess what this cart serves? Oh, come on. I bet you’ll never guess it from their name. Ok, give up yet? Surprise, It’s Thai Food!

All joking aside, I know Portland hosts more Thai carts than there are probably roses in our fair Rose City. Or so it seems anyway. PDX is crazy for Thai. And why not? Thai is satisfying any time: quick, super flavorful, filling, and affordable. Thai food makes for great cart eating for lunch, dinner or snacks.

The food at It’s Thai Food is what I call “home cooking Thai” – a bit rustic, total comfort food Thai style, with big portions and lots of standards you see in other Thai carts around town.  It’s Thai focuses on dishes such as spring and salad rolls, and plenty of curries.

I tried the Massaman Curry. “Massaman” is the English spelling of an old Thai word for Muslim. And yes, it may seem ironic that many Massaman curries feature beef, but this curry is named not for the religion or its people, but more its aromatic (almost North Indian continent) spicing, as well as hearty coconut milk, potatoes, and peanut flavors. I call it the Thai Beef n’ Potatoes, and it is pure rib sticking comfort food.

Two other menu items grabbed my attention at It’s Thai Food, because they are two of my favorites and you don’t see them served too often from Portland carts. Both are desserts: Sticky Rice with Mango, and a Black Rice with Custard. I tried the Mango with Sticky Rice, and it was just what I needed: creamy, and warm with a generous serving of perfectly ripe, sliced fresh mango on top. A sweet ending to a sweet little cart.

Sample Menu:

  • Salad Rolls. Pork or vegetarian with plum sauce – $3.75
  • Spring Rolls. With Pork or Vegetarian – $5.00
  • Yellow, Red, Green, or Mussaman Curry with choice of beef, pork or chicken, or tofu. Served with rice – $6.50
  • Vegetable Delight Stir Fry, choice of beef, pork or chicken, or tofu. Served with rice – $6.50
  • Thai Fried Rice with Cashews and Pineapple, choice of beef, pork, or chicken, or tofu. Served with rice – $6.50
  • Sticky Rice with Mango – $5.50

Location: SE 82nd and Harney (Cartlandia)
Phone: 503-290-9329

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Filed Under: CUISINE, Dinner, Lunch, SE 82nd and Harney, Snacks, Thai, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Pupuseria La Miguelena

May 2, 2012 by 5 Comments
Pupuseria la Miguelena

Pupuseria la Miguelena

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: weekdays, lunchtime into afternoon

The Story:

I was first introduced to Salvadorian pupusas last summer at La Cocina de Chepe. While there, I met Zoyla, the pupusa master making her magic in the kitchen. I was happy to see her in her own cart that opened in April.

Zoyla hails from San Miguel and makes the traditional pupusa El Salvador is known for. You can see a video of her creating the dish here. At her cart, you get the same amazing dish, but now she is in control. I enjoyed chatting with her about her transition from employee to cart owner with her friend Ed doing a bit of translating. If Zoyla didn’t understand, she would ask us both to teach her the English. All this while she crafted the dough and ingredients and threw the pupusa on the flattop. She has made so many of these, she can do it in her sleep and they are still amazing. Such a warm smile, I’m overjoyed to see Zoyla out on her own.

Along with pupusas, you can enjoy other Salvadorian dishes like yuca con chicharron, platano frido or tamales Salvadorenos. I was all about the pupusas, so picked up a cheese, a cheese and bean and a cheese and loroco. Loroco is made from a flower that blooms in El Salvador. I devoured these guys and wished I had ordered more to have another day. For  hand food at a low price, pupusas may just become a go-to food for me.

Zoyla’s cart, Pupuseria La Miguelena is now open at Cartlandia out on SE 82nd and Harney. Along with 20 other carts and a beer garden, she serves up her dishes daily and on weekends during the lunch hour and beyond. Drop on by and congratulate her on opening her own cart and let her know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Pupusas – $2.50
  • Yuca con Chicharron – $5.50
  • Platano Frito – $5
  • Bistec Encebollado – $7
  • Tamales Salvadorenos – $2

Hours: weekdays and weekends for lunch and more
Phone: 503 804 3653

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Filed Under: Central American, Dinner, Lunch, Salvadorian, SE 82nd and Harney, Southeast-Portland, Vegetarian Options, Weekends Tagged With:

Eclectic Eatery BBQ

February 18, 2012 by 4 Comments
Eclectic Eatery BBQ

Eclectic Eatery BBQ

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: Tues-Sun, 11:30-7

The Story:

The lot at SE 13th and Lexington has hosted some great carts throughout the years and now they have a new group, just in time for spring. Eclectic Eatery BBQ is there to sate your sandwich and BBQ needs. [Eclectic Eatery moved to Cartlandia in August 2012]

Scott opened the cart after working in the food business for many years. With a BBQ attached to the front of the cart, he smokes the meat for upwards of 12-14 hours before he feels it is perfect for his sandwiches and entrees. He’s very proud of his brisket, but even more excited for his Jamaican Jerk Chicken. He put the salesmanship into overdrive trying to get us to try the chicken, but I had my sights set on the brisket, so will need to return another day.

Beef Brisket sandwich from Eclectic Eatery BBQ

Beef Brisket sandwich from Eclectic Eatery BBQ

The sandwich is slow smoked brisket rubbed with Scott’s special blend of spices and served with either sweet or spicy BBQ sauce and served with a side of coleslaw, baked beans or chips. The sandwich had a heaping amount of moist thick sliced brisket. One of those sandwiches that once you pick it up, you don’t want to put it down until you’re finished. A few of the pieces had some extra bark on them, imbued with the smoke and flavor of the grill – an extra treat. A great sandwich for $6.25.

Eclectic Eatery BBQ is the bright green cart on the lot. By spring there will be about four carts there, so make sure you weave your way to the back to try some BBQ before venturing down antique row. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Pulled Pork Sandwich: slow smoked pork smothered with homemade BBQ sauce, topped with coleslaw and served on sesame seed bun – $5
  • Beef Brisket Sandwich: slow smoked BBQ beef brisket drenched with sauce and served on sesame seed bun – $6.25
  • BBQ Beef Brisket Entree: brisket served with BBQ sauce along with a side – $6
  • Jamaican Jerk Chicken Entree: chicken thighs marinated in Jamaican Jerk sauce and smoked until tender; served with a side – $6

Hours: Tues-Sun, 11:30-7
Phone: 971 678 0495
Facebook: Eclectic Eatery BBQ

Filed Under: BBQ, Lunch, Sandwiches, SE 82nd and Harney, Southeast-Portland, Weekends

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof

January 6, 2012 by 3 Comments
Cake on a Hot Tin Roof

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: Tues-Sat, 11:30 to 6:00

The Story:

There is an old adage – “Life is short, eat dessert first.” As a kid, my siblings and I would quote that daily, but mom was smarter than us and defined granola as dessert. As an adult though, I can have dessert anytime and when we arrived at Cartlandia, going to Cake on a Hot Tin Roof first was an option.

Jennie Goodrich is the baker and dessert maker behind this great cart. I would point out that while we refer to it as a cart, it is indeed a camper van that has been retrofitted so Jennie can make her treats. Jennie, a former school teacher who raised six kids, spent a lifetime making different desserts. When her food cart owning son (Cheesesteak Nirvana) suggested she open her own cart, it was a natural progression and a way for Jennie to promote her dessert catering skills. Many eaters are glad she did.

Marionberry Strudel

Marionberry Strudel

There are many types of desserts from cookies to cake to pie to custard. Cake on a Hot Tin Roof has it all – scones, apple bars, croissants, meringue, cake, mousse – and some specialties like Almond Cream Bienenstich, a German specialty. When I saw Marionberry Strudel, I couldn’t think of any other sweet. I am a sucker for the Oregon berry and now that we’re in winter, getting it is a treat. The marionberry has a tart flavor, but when baked inside the layered strudel pastry, it mellows. Add whipped cream with a sprinkle of sugar and you have bliss. Jennie sated my sweet tooth that day.

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof is a great addition to the Cartlandia pod, offering up the dessert portion of the four food groups. Be sure to save room for something sweat and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Not all items are available every day.

  • Peanut butter Apple Bars – $2
  • Sweet Rolls w/cinnamon and brown sugar – $3
  • Marionberry Strudel – $4
  • Croissants – $2.50-3.50
  • Creme Brulee – $3
  • Italian Mocha Meringue – $3
  • Pavlova with cream and mixed berries – $3
  • Black Foest Cherry Cake – $4
  • Chocolate Mousse – $3
  • Almond Cream Bienenstich – $4

Hours: Tues-Sat, 11:30 to 6:00
Phone: 5036284250

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Filed Under: Baked Goods, Lunch, SE 82nd and Harney, Southeast-Portland, Sweets, Weekends

Lonchera Brother Express Mexican

January 5, 2012 by 5 Comments
Lonchera Brother Express Mexican

Lonchera Brother Express Mexican

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: daily – 1oam-11pm

The Story:

I love a simple Mexican taco made with two small tortillas, your choice of meat and a sprinkle of chopped white onion and cilantro. When you can get one for 99c, it’s even tastier. Lonchera Brother Express Mexican has such tacos.

Throughout Portland, we have fifty or more different Mexican trucks or carts. In downtown alone, there are 15 different options for Mexican fare. While many close in serve up traditional tacos and burritos and tortas with options like asada and pollo and chorizo, when you venture out east or west or south, the meat choices expand. Tripa (tripe.) Lengue (toungue.) Cabeza (beef head.) At Lonchera they have Buche – pork stomach. Having never tried it, I ordered one along with asada and chorizo. The chorizo and asada tacos were right on the mark – great flavor and exactly what one would expect. When I took that nervous bite of the buche taco, my fear dissipated quickly when I tasted the sweet fatty meat mixed with the cilantro and onions. It even had a flavor I couldn’t describe that was a bit salty – almost like a soy sauce infusion. I’m not sure if they intended that or if that is indicative of buche. Overall, the taco was enjoyable and I can now check that off on my list of foods I had never tried.

Tacos from Lonchera

Tacos from Lonchera

Lonchera Brother Express Mexican is open daily from 10am-11pm and has tacos for 99c. They do have a broad menu including tortas, burritos, sopes and chalupas among other items. Check them out if your in the neighborhood and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Meat choices include: asada, pollo, carnitas, al pastor, chorizo, tripa, buche, lengua or vegetarian

  • Tacos – 99c (normally $1.25)
  • Burritos – choice of meat with beans, rice, cheese, onions, cilantro – $5
  • Conquistador Burrito – choice of meat, rice, beans, onions, cilantro, cheese, chile rellano – $6
  • Vegetarian Burrito – cheese, rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, onions, cilantro, avocado and tomato – $4
  • Quesadillas – $5
  • Chalupas – $1.25
  • Sopes – $4.50
  • Huarache – $5

Hours: daily, 1oam-11pm
Phone: 5037297705

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Filed Under: Dinner, Lunch, Mexican, SE 82nd and Harney, Southeast-Portland, Tacos, Vegetarian Options, Weekends
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