CLOSED
Location: SW 5th and Oak

The Story:

A new cart has arrived at SW 5th and Oak where another cart left an opening. That seems to be the story of Portland’s food carts. There is always someone wanting to fill an empty spot. Taste of Poland isn’t a brand new cart though. They have just returned to the lot where they called home just a couple of years ago. And we’re glad they did.

Dionizy Baron, the chef behind Taste of Poland, has been a fixture around Portland for years. He has served us his tasty Polish dishes at Saturday market, different community events and even at a couple of the mall food courts. He was a fixture at SW 5th and Oak and down by PSU for years before moving to Saturday market as his primary location.

The menu at Taste of Poland is full of pierogis, chicken cutlets, sausages, potato pancakes and all sorts of Eastern European delights. I opted for the pork loin schnitzel sandwich. I want to try ever schnitzel in this town before I die. Served up on a large french roll, the schnitzel was a generous portion covered in chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, grilled onions and a little cheese. I threw in some creamy horseradish to give it an extra bite. While this looks like a great sandwich to pick up, it is rather large. I did my best to eat it with my hands, but should have tackled it with a knife and fork. Bring extra napkins. A great deal for $5 and very appetizing.

As stated, Taste of Poland has been around for years. I’m really glad they have decided to return to SW 5th and Oak and hope they stick around even when Saturday Market reopens. It is exactly the type of food I enjoy on these cool winter days – items that are hearty and filling. If you’re down there, drop on by and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[Taste of Poland was first profiled on this site by Cuisine Bonne Femme in August of 2007 and updated by Dieselboi in February of 2010]

Sample Menu:

• Potato Pancakes – plate of 4 with apple sauce, sour cream and sauteed onions – $5.50
• Potato cheese Pierogi – dough filled with cheese, potatoes, sauteed onions and spices; served with salad – $5.50
• Hunter spicy sausage sandwich – 1/2 pork, 1/2 beef sausage served with grilled onions and bacon – $5
• Smoked country garlic kielbasa – sausage served with grilled onions and cucumber salad – $5
• Pork loin schnitzel sandwich – $5

Hours: Monday through Friday -  Lunchtime
Contact: 503 997 5467

Location: SW 10th and Alder

Description:

EuroDish calls their food “Traditional Polish Home Style Cuisine.” When I see the words traditional and home style together, I get a little excited. To me, it means someone is trying to harken back to days of yore and replicate what they know to be the food of their homeland. At EuroDish, the owner is succeeding.

EuroDish has been around now for a couple of years, so obviously has worked out any kinks and has a strong following. I have visited a few times in the past and have always enjoyed my meal. EuroDish’s traditional Polish fare is made up of many different options. You can go simple and get a kielbasa sausage on a french roll or get crazy and have one of the combo plates which could include pierogies, salad, schnitzel, blintzes, and bigos. A pierogi is a polish home style dumpling filled with seasoned potato and cheese or cabbage and mushroom or meat. Bigos is traditional hunter’s stew – beef, pork, sausage and tomato sauce stewed in sauerkraut…  All that together would truly fill one up. And these are just a couple of the items on the large menu of lunch and dinner options.

Recently, I opted for one of the combos shown in pictures outside the cart. A huge plate of food including a salad, some rice, pierogis, and two pork schnitzels, smothered in grilled onions. I dove in and was in food heaven. I lived in Austria for a time, so am familiar with schnitzel, but haven’t had it in a few years. The schnitzel I had that day brought back some great memories. It was perfectly breaded and seasoned and cooked perfectly. The crust had a sweetness to it at times that surprised me  and forced me to eat more. The dressing on the salad was surprisingly good as not many side salads at carts impress me. The pierogis were what I expected, little dumplings of yum. The entire meal was fabulous. I actually wasn’t able to finish.

Schnitzel plate

If you are out and about and need a hearty meal, check out EuroDish. [post originally written by Cuisine Bonne Femme, Sept. 2007, updated July, 2009.]

Sample Menu:

• Beef Vegetable Goulash Soup – beef, onion, tomato, carrot, garlic, and spices – served with egg pasta – $5
• Kielbasa Sandwich – grilled polish sausage with fried onions on french roll – $4
• Pork Schnitzel Sandwich – lightly breaded pan fried pork loin served with coleslaw, lettuce, tomato, cucumber onion and mustered on roll – $6
• Pierogi – dumplings; potato and cheese or cabbage and mushroom or meat and spinach – 6 for $4.50 or 9 for $6.50
• Bigos – Hunter’s Stew – beef, pork, sausage, tomato sauce – seasoned and stewed in sauerkraut – $4.50
• Combo plates – choices of the above items together – ranging between $5 and $8
• Cheese Blintzes – crepes filled with farmer’s cheese served with fresh fruits and sweetened sour cream – 1 for $2.25 or 2 for $4.25

Hours: 11am – 6pm Monday through Friday

Phone: 971 344 3704