@marybeth_lynn twitters: “So I’m a food cart “virgin” Where should I try first. Perhaps next week I will venture toward the area of foodcartland . . . .”
Marybeth, we are blessed to have a vast selection of “street food” here in Portland, as has been discussed previously on this very website. A good place to start would be “Food Carts Portland,” a blog that tracks and reviews local food carts. But if you want my advice, I will give it, with the following caveats:
The following recommendations are provided upon explicit request. These opinions do not necessarily represent those of OurPDX.com, betsywhim, or any other OurPDX author. These opinions are highly subjective, and may not be compatible with your own reality. PAgent reserves the right to change his mind about anything he writes here, and deny he ever said any such thing. Eating at some or all of the following food carts to an excessive degree may be detrimental to your general health, and in this event you agree to hold PAgent, and OurPDX, harmless for any and all consequences of such indulgence. All the carts discussed in this article are located downtown, because that’s where PAgent works. Duh.
Philly Cheesesteaks and Burgers Half the fun of going to this cart, located in Pioneer Courthouse Square, is listening to the funny and profane running dialog from Ben, “the cheesesteak guy”. But the sandwiches are great, made while you stand there, and positively dripping with juicy goodness.
Honkin’ Huge Burritos Also known as Shelly’s Garden, also located in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Shelly is as entertaining as Ben, but in an entirely different way. She can be counted on to be smiling and cheerful, even when the rain is falling sideways and the windchill is 28 degrees. And the food? HUGE bean burritos full of anything you could want, including a wide selections of salsas and hot sauces. You will need the knife and fork. Official website
No Fish Go Fish Located on the corner of 5th and Yamhill, this cart offers three terrific soups every day (with at least two of them vegetarian) as well as a selection of fresh-baked “fish” sandwiches, which contain no fish, but are instead stuffed with a variety of tasty filling. Also, the guy dishing out the soups, John, is a hell of a nice guy.
Tabor Czech food that is to die for. You can occasionally get a delicious special, but the reason to go is the Schnitzelwich – “Breaded pork loin or chicken breast in a Ciabatta roll with lettuce, paprika spread, sautéed onion and horseradish.” It’s even better than it sounds. I prefer the chicken version, just because it seems a teensy bit lighter.
The Whole Bowl If you want something just a little more health-conscious, try The Whole Bowl. “a comforting and healthy medley of brown rice, red and black beans, fresh avocado, salsa, black olives, sour cream, Tillamook cheddar, cilantro, Tali Sauce and trace amounts of attitude.” You can get a smallish or a larger bowl, blissed-out contentment is no extra charge.
Real Taste of India Not to be confused with the New Taste of India, or Any Other Taste of India, this cart at the 5th and Stark lot offers plenty of food for cheap, and it’s delicious. I always get the daily special, which usually offers rice, tandoori chicken, and two curries. I’m addicted to their mango lassi. So good.
I Love Thai Also at 5th and Stark. There are a lot of Thai food carts in town, and I haven’t gone to very many of them. I like the way this cart makes phad see ewe, which is my favorite thai noodle dish. I also hear they have good vegetarian options.
I’m sure I’m forgetting some. And making this list has made me realize how many carts I liked that have left the area — Hawaiian pineapple chicken, Cart DeFrisco, Horn of Africa, and others. Finally, I’m sure some will disagree with my choices, or have recommendations of their own, and I invite them to leave a comment sharing their opinions with the community.
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I have been known to journey from my inner SE office down to Tabor as part of a sunny extended lunch excursion, just to get myself a Schnitzelwich. Heavenly!
Great list. Great list. The cheesesteaks Ben makes are pretty darn amazing. I have been sampling them in Philadelphia and Ben beats some of my finds. Shelly has been serving up those Honkin’ Huge burritos now for 20+ yrs.
Schnitzelwich for President!
Ahh, food carts. Love’em. Check out Savor Soup and #1 Bento on 10th and Alder, Caraquena, a new Venezuelan place on 5th and Oak and one of my faves – Brunchbox on 5th, between Oak and Stark.
I really need to get downtown and try some more foodcarts out. So far my experience has been limited to whomever shows up at Saturday Market. Granted, they’re pretty good too.. but still.
Oh Sweet Mother of Mercy, it looks like Cart DeFrisco still operates in Eugene. That’s where I first found one, outside the UofO bookstore. Aaaargh. Man, do I miss those sandwiches!
Yes, indeed, Cart de Frisco operates in Eugene. They just reopened for the season at Oakway center. It looks like it’s time to make the trip down south…
http://www.oakwaycenter.com/index.php?action=itemdetail&item_id=93519
I will gladly pay the admission price to any festival that has the Cart de Frisco.
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