Bruce Lee’s Kitchen

Bruce Lee's KitchenLocation: SE 13th and Lexington, Sellwood

The Story:

The small block of food carts in Sellwood have seen some turnover during the past couple of years, some carts have shuttered while others have moved to different locations, which is completely natural – we’re talking mobile eateries here. Recently moving next door to Garden State [who are opening a new cart on Mississippi soon] is a welcome newcomer, Bruce Lee’s Kitchen.

The owner is upbeat and stoked to be in business. Her enthusiasm is awesome as were the tattered copies of “The Millionaire Next Door” and “Your Money or Your Life” next to the register. She’s ready, man.

The food? Hearty and huge portions. You can get it mild or spicy as you’d like it. I sampled the tofu stir fry which was served in hearty portions with bell peppers, carrots, onions, tofu and a side of white rice. How can one go wrong with a simple stir fry? It’s happened. Not so here, though. It was satisfying for a complete meal but I still managed to cram in a spring roll. Fresh, delicious and simple.

Future food carters: There’s enough foot traffic to keep the Sellwood food cart block in business. A couple more would make it more vibrant.

Sample Menu:

  • Pad Thai, chicken or tofu $5.50
  • Stir Fry, chicken or tofu $5.50
  • Red Curry, chicken or tofu, $5.50
  • Teriyaki chicken, $5.50
  • Fried Rice, $5.50
  • Various appetizers, including spring rolls, salad rolls, vegetable pot stickers, ranging in price from $1.25 to $2.50.

Hours: Daily, Monday through Sunday
Phone: 503-320-8269

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Just Thai

Just Thai

Just Thai

Location: SW 3rd, between Washington and Stark

Description:

When I was looking for some good spicy Thai noodles last winter, a few friends recommended a place named I Love Thai Food. They thought it was down off 3rd avenue, but when I went down there, I couldn’t find said cart. I opted for a different meal that day. Since then, I have discovered that I Love Thai Food, a Portland favorite is now named Just Thai. The two names are on the side of the cart if only I had looked closer.

Just Thai is exactly what their name suggests. A menu full of the Thai dishes we have come to love and expect. They offer soups, noodle dishes, fried rice and curries. Normally, when I try a Thai cart, I choose basil fried rice. It is one of my favorite dishes and they do it well there. Most recently, since I had already enjoyed their fried rice, I opted for Pad See You, a dish made up of wide rice noodles, eggs, broccoli and carrots. You can get it with either chicken, shrimp or tofu and a range of temperature – mild to spicy. I chose tofu and medium.

Pad See You from Just Thai

Pad See You from Just Thai

I have to say – when you get lunch at Just Thai, be prepared to eat some for dinner also. My Pad See You was so large, I had it for lunch, an afternoon snack and then a late night nosh for my wife. Crazy big. All for $5. The dish was adequately spicy – medium is just that, medium. The noodles are my favorite. Rice noodles have a texture that when it hits your tongue, it seems like they begin to dissolve. I just love that. Everything else was top notch.

If you’re in the market for some great Thai and hungry to boot, check out Just Thai down of SW 3rd and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Tom Yum soup – $5
  • Pad see you – stir fried wide rice noodles w/ eggs, broccoli, carrots – $5
  • Red Curry/Yellow Curry – $5
  • Thai fried rice – eggs, onions, green onion, tomatoes, cilantro, cucumber – $5
  • Tom kha – $5
  • Pad Thai – $5
  • Dishes can be made with chicken, shrimp or tofu
  • Vegan dishes available

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11am-6pm
Phone: 971 340-3011
Website: JustThaiPdx.com
Twitter: JustThai

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