#1 Bento

Location: SW 10th and Alder
Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime

Description: Oh Number 1 Bento, how you perplex me but still manage to draw me in. See, I know you are not Corn USA, as advertised on the side of your cart. I know you do not serve corn (updated: I guess they do sell corn afterall), nor are you located on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, California. I also happen to know that you aren’t really a bento stand. Oh how you tease and intrigue me!

You coy and coquettish little yellow cart. I would have never known you serve my favorite cuisine of all time, had I never bothered stopping by to look at your little menu.

Wait, is it what I think I see? Could it really be a CART THAT SERVES KOREAN FOOD? In downtown Portland? Hell yes. This makes Number 1 Bento the only Korean food cart in Portland.

Sure, Number 1 Bento is selling things like generic “teriyaki,” “fried dumplings” and “grilled chicken” served with short grain rice and a miso ginger dressed salad. But hold on there, because Number 1 Bento is also serving Kimchee, Kalbi Korean beef ribs and my absolute all time favorite of rice, beef, egg and vegetables: Bi Bim Bop. Praise the food cart gods and pass the hot sauce.

Kalbi Grilled Korean Beef Ribs

Korean favorite Bi Bim Bap

So what’s the deal? It seems they just opened and haven’t yet had a chance to paint over their cart or add a new sign. The nice woman behind the counter also told they will be adding more Korean specialties like Chap-Chae noodles, seasoned Bulgogi beef and even the Korean sushi known as Kimbap. Now, if they’d only wise up and serve Korean Fried Chicken, I’d be in heaven.

Prices seem very reasonable, and portions are HUGE. Keep an eye on this cart – it could turn out to be one of the better carts in downtown.

The Bi Bim Bap Bop with Kim Chee

Sample Menu:

(kimchee served upon request)

Bi-Bim-Bop, seasoned vegetables, beef, and fried egg on rice – $5.50

Kalbi grilled beef ribs, served with rice and salad -$6.50

Chicken Teriyaki with rice and salad – $5.50

Chicken potstickers with rice and salad – $5.50

Seasoned grilled chicken with rice and salad – $5.50

Hours: Lunch to about 6PM hours Mon-Sat

Phone: Unknown

Website: Unknown