BrunchBox

Location: SW 5th and Stark
Hours: M-F, 8am-6pm; Sat, 11am-3pm

The Story:

Back in early 2009, Portland saw a surge of food cart openings and I distinctly remember when BrunchBox opened because A) they served burgers and B) they had breakfast sandwiches. In the two years that have transpired, BrunchBox has made a name for itself and become a fixture in Portland’s food cart community.

BrunchBox has recently gone through a sort of reboot of their menu, branding and ownership. The new owner Derek took the famous menu which still includes the YouCanHasCheeseburger and infamous Redonkadonk, but expanded to include build your own burger options and a large breakfast menu. I stopped by the first day the new menu debuted and enjoyed the new Thai Bacon Burger with grilled pineapple and jalapenos, bacon and peanut sauce. You can even choose mild, medium or hot for spiciness. That is just one of the many new choices being offered. You can also join them for breakfast at 8am weekdays and build your own with options of an omelet or breakfast sandwiches and even french toast. The possibilities are endless.

BrunchBox has been featured on The Cooking Channel, numerous print publications and even showcased on Health.com for the Redonkadonk sandwich. I’m happy to see them be as successful as they are and love the new menu. If you’re a regular, note that you now grab a menu and mark it up with your options and name and hand it off. That way you get exactly what you ordered. Hit up BrunchBox and check out the changes and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

The Redonkadonk from BrunchBox

New Menu can be found at BrunchBoxPDX.com

Hours: Mon-Fri – 8am-6pm; Saturday 11a-3pm
Phone: 503 477 3286
Website: BrunchBoxpdx.com
Contact: brunchboxpdx@gmail.com
Twitter: BrunchBox
Facebook: BrunchBox
Additional Info: Credit/Debit accepted

[Our original post about Brunchbox from March 2009 beyond the fold]

Description: Welcome to the strip Brunch Box. So excited for you to join us. The Brunch Box is a new cart in the 5th avenue cart pod where Matlocks used to be. They’ve only been open a couple of weeks now and you can see by their menu, they are making it a go with a broad array of lunch choices. I love how new carts quickly take over a space and make it their own. Brunch Box specializes in sandwich and burger fare. They also do breakfast. I was lamenting earlier this winter that there weren’t any breakfast carts that could serve me up a breakfast bagel or sandwich and what not. The other morning, I ventured to Brunch box for a yummy homemade English muffin, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. So good. That English muffin was so fresh, I could still taste the baking going on. Talking with the owners, they stated the muffins had come out of the oven only 20 minutes before I arrived. Oh, and looking around, they were one of 2 breakfast spots at 8am. I see success. And for $3, it beats any other breakfast sandwich downtown unless you’re opting for fast food at the mall.

When I first discovered Brunch Box, I thought they were an old cart that just revamped the menu, but then I took a closer look. They had burgers. Not just any old $5 burger, but a $3 burger and then more options for more money. I opted for $6 OMG burger because A) anyone who incorporates texting speak into food names is a win in my book and B) I hadn’t had spam with a burger yet. Yup, SPAM! and bacon. and egg. The burger was put together with care and wrapped well so I could transport it over to my lunch eating spot at the US Bank Tower. When I bit into it, I was in heaven. Everything was proportionate and stayed together while I munched it down. It was messy, but what do you expect from an OMG burger? I would suggest grabbing a few extra napkins if you order one. The meat was cooked just right – not well done and the egg was firm enough not to drip the yellow guts all over everything else. After finishing and having a mild heart arrhythmia, I vowed I would go back. And I did for the aforementioned breakfast.

I will become a regular at this cart. The owners are nice and friendly and they have a great menu for everyone. If you are downtown, check them out and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya!

Sample Menu:

Breakfast (all day)
$2 Homemade English muffins (fresh daily)
-$1 Add: ham, bacon, spam, vegetarian sausage
-$.50 Add: egg, cheese, tomato, onion, mushroom, lettuce, peanut butter, pickles

$3 omelet breakfast sandwich: egg, mushroom, onion, American cheese

$5 omg! Breakfast sandwich: egg, ham, spam, bacon, American cheese

$3.50 Bec (bacon, egg, cheese)

Brunch (all day)

all burgers lettuce, tomato, onion, condiments

$3 ¼ Lb black Angus or veggie burger
-$1 add: ham, bacon, spam
-$.50 Add: egg, cheese, mushroom, pickles, sauerkraut, pineapple, chips (as topping)

$4 black & blue burger:
blackening seasoning w/blue cheese

$6 omg! burger:
egg, ham, spam, bacon, american cheese

$4 5-oh! burger:
pineapple, teriyaki glaze, spam, (yes, spam), swiss cheese
$4 reuben burger:
sauerkraut,  1000 island, swiss cheese

$5 youcanhascheeseburger!:
burger between two texas-toast grilled cheese sandwich “buns”

$9 redonkadonk
“omg! burger” (Egg, ham, spam, bacon, American cheese) between two texas-toast grilled cheese sandwich “buns”

$2 all-beef hot dog
-$.50 add: cheese, sauerkraut

$1.50 texas-toast grilled cheese sandwich

kids meals
comes with juice, apple sauce, and a sticker!

$3 cheezasaurus rex:
texas-toast grilled cheese sandwich shaped like a dinosaur

$3 pb & j:
texas-toast peanut butter and jelly sandwich shaped like a dinosaur

$2 ½ hot dog

Beverages & chips
$.50-$1: -coke, diet coke, bottled water, hot tea, assorted steaz teas and juice boxes
-frech-press, french-roast coffee by farm- friendly/local portland roasting company

$1: Chips, assorted varieties

*brunch box chooses local/organic whenever possible.
**all angus burgers are hand-pressed and made to order.

Che' Cafe

Location: N Williams at Shaver st.

Description:

North Williams street has become a new nexus of activity in North Portland. With in the influx of restaurants, salons, a dessert place and a brewery, it was only a matter of time before a food cart opened. And where it opened is important. The space where Che Cafe is located is right next to a 1935 building where you have indoor seating. The development, by the developer of Portland’s most green building – The Heritage on NE MLK – is perfect for Portland’s unpredictable weather.

Che Cafe is Ryan and Terri’s dream. Both love dogs, simple as that. Why talk about dogs? Well, throughout the years, Ryan and Terri have had four amazing dogs – Nikai, a husky who was active and free spirited; Che’, a large Princess Shepard who loved to lounge; Riley, a senior Shepard mix who appeared to have “doggy Alzheimers,” but was happy and kind; and then Sadie, a senior border collie mix who was very attached, loving and affectionate. All of these dogs had an impact on Ryan and Terry and they want Che’ Cafe to provide neighbors the same love and devotion those dogs showed them throughout the years.

Pulled Pork from Che' Cafe

I visited Che’ Cafe with some fellow food cart enthusiasts. We were all ready for the weekend and indulged in our personal weaknesses. A couple of pulled pork sandwiches over here, a burger over there and even a black bean burger for the vegetarian of the group. Each of the dishes came with crunchy fries and homemade ketchup.

Bubby Burger from Che' Cafe

I enjoyed the half pound Bubby Burger. A monster of a burger, it came with crispy fried onions and cheddar cheese. The burger is exactly what I was craving and it was cooked just right. The seasoning was spot on – you could tell this was good ground beef mixed with spices and made into a patty by hand. The crispy fried onions were an added bonus.

The added bonus to this cart is the building next door. They offer up indoor seating for those wet and rainy days or even for those who don’t want to take their food and go. Inside the 1935 redeveloped building is a coffee cart and restrooms, along with a performance space called the Analog Lounge (i.e. no cell phones or laptops.) When you get over to North Williams and you see this bright red cart named Che’ Cafe, stop on by, have some great American food and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with grilled cheese sandwich – $6
• Mr. Riley’s Sake Mac & Cheese – macaroni tossed with 3 cheese sake sauce, topped with fried onions and served with garlic bread – $6
• Caprese Capellini – capellini tossed with garlic tomato oil, fresh tomatoes and basil topped with fresh Parmesan and served with garlic bread – $7
• Fu fries – tofu lengths fried to a crisp and served with sweet and spicy sauce – $5
• Pulled Pork Sandwich – dry rubbed pork cooked til it falls apart sauce with homemade BBQ sauce on an onion bun – $7
• Meatloaf sandwich – homemade meatloaf smothered with sharp cheddar cheese – $8
• Half Pound Bubby Burger – burger topped with aioli served on onion bun with all the fixins – $7

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11am – 7pm
Phone: 503 477 0322
Twitter: CheCafePDX
Other: Che Cafe will take orders over the phone for pickup and deliver within specific geographic location

Location: SE 3rd and Alder [updated 4/2010]

Description:

A few weeks ago, when I visited The Fried Onion’s neighbor The Frying Scotsman, I had the opportunity at the end of my meal to meat John, the owner of the ‘Onion. I commented on his choice of baseball team with a hearty “Go Yankees” and that got us talking. While telling me about his cart, a traditional hot dog cart, he espoused a true history of hot dogs from the east coast. We chatted about Sabrett’s, Viennas, Nathans and finally his favorite, Red Hot Chicago. He won’t admit it, but to me, John is a hot dog historian. I have never learned more about hot dogs history anywhere. So fun since I fancy myself a historian. Oh, and they make a great dog!

The Fried Onion has been around Portland now for awhile, having moved to NW 22nd only in the recent past from what I understand. They bill themselves as great Chicago dogs with a New York twist. The owner wore a New York Yankees cap, yet the menu listed the Red Hot Chicago as their dog of choice. “Red Hot” is just the name of the beef dog, ala “get your red hots, get your red hot dogs” like at a baseball game. These aren’t spicy dogs, but they are tasty. As stated, The Fried Onion tried out numerous brands of nationally known dogs before they decided on the Red Hot Chicago. This tells me they are true to their trade.

Red Hot Chicago

I chose to get my dog dressed with fried onions and sauerkraut. John split the dog down the middle and put it on the grill. He stated that isn’t his normal practice, but I love it when the dog is prepped that way. When deciding on mustard, I took his recommendation and chose the nondescript non labeled spicy German mustard. Excellent. The dog was great. The bun stayed together throughout the whole meal (a big deal for me) and the dog had a little kick to it from the added onions and sauerkraut. Overall, a great well rounded hot dog from a great couple.

The Fried Onion does sell sausages and he has chosen local Fetzer as his vendor. There are only a few major vendors in town for that, so if you haven’t tried a Fetzer, this is the place to find one. John and his wife Marci are a great couple of people to chat up during lunch. Ask them about the dogs and you’ll get some great stories. One of the reasons I love the food carts  – personal service and interaction with the owners. Head on down and say hi. Oh, and if you’re a Red Sox fan, be prepared to pay extra…  Tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[The Fried Onion moved to SE 3rd and Alder in April of 2010]

Sample Menu:

• Red Hot Chicago: naked or with dressings, 100% beef – $4-$5.25
• Fetzer’s Brat, spicy or beer: naked or with dressings – $4.75-$5
• Burger: naked or dressed – $4.50-$4.75
• Dressings include fried onions, sauerkraut, chili and cheese
• Red Sox fans surcharge of $1.25

Hours: Monday through Friday, 10am-2pm
Website: The Fried Onion on Facebook

Burgerville Nomad

Location: mobile  – most recently seen at Pioneer Courthouse Square

Description:

If you are an Oregonian, when you think of Burgerville, you may think of Walla Walla sweet onion rings or Blackberry shakes or Tillamook Cheeseburgers. Burgerville is one of those local chain restaurants that bucks the fast food trend and embraces what this city loves – local. I have always been a fan of their burgers and known they were better than the other chains, but it was only in the past few years that Burgerville embraced a more local stance by partnering with Oregon Country Beef and sourcing their veggies from local farms. And they are succeeding. Now, they take their menu on the road.

The Burgerville Nomad is a burger truck by all accounts. Like many of the taco trucks we see around the city, it is designed to be truly mobile and doesn’t currently have a primary location. The Nomad has staff too. Not just a couple of individuals in the truck putting together your lunch, but they have greeters and hosts there to offer you a menu, take your order and hand you a napkin once your meal is done. I think I counted about seven or eight staff. Wow. They do a brisk business, constantly busy while I ate my lunch and observed, but no more busy than some of the other carts in the square.

The Nomad offers up an extensive menu. I haven’t been in a real Burgerville in awhile, so this may not be their entire menu. There are the signature burgers, the homemade veggie burgers, the turkey and chicken sandwiches. There are salads and fries and an assortment of drinks. They even offer up milkshakes and other desserts, including seasonal ones, leveraging local fruit harvests. The prices are reasonable – just like in the restaurant and the service is great. No complaints here.

I wanted to enjoy their signature Pepper Bacon Cheeseburger the other day, but upon arrival, I as informed that they had run out of bacon. Harrumph! It was only 12:15. I thought that was odd, but picked up the Tillamook Cheeseburger and enjoyed it just the same.

The Burgerville Nomad is a mobile truck, so if you are looking for it, you should follow them on Twitter or check out their website for current and future locations. If you want a great burger or blackberry shake, Burgerville is a good choice. When you find them, tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Pepper Bacon Cheeseburger – Country Natural beef, pepper bacon, Tillamook cheddar cheese, condiments – $5.70
• Tillamook Cheeseburger – Country Natural beef, Tillamook cheddar cheese, condiments – $4.50
• Half-pound Colossal Cheeseburger – 2 1/4 lb. Country Natural Beef patties, American cheese, condiments – $6.40
• Hamburger -$1.60
• Cheeseburger – $1.80
• Spicy Anasazi Bean Burger – spicy Anasazi bean patty, Tillamok pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato on a bun – $5.90
• Rogue River Smokey Blue Salad – spring mix greens, Rogue River smokey blue cheese, cranberries, apples and crape tomatoes – $6.95
• French Fries – $2.30
• Seasonal Milkshakes – $4.80
• Ice Cream Milkshake – $3.60

Hours: varies per event
Phone: 1-866-264-2313
Website: Burgerville.com
Twitter: BurgervilleUSA