Fenando's Mundo Fiesta

Location: SW 4th & Hall

Type: Sandwiches, mexican influenced

Cost: $5.00

Food: Philly steak fiesta sandwich

Wait: Reasonable

Size: Ample

These guys are open at 11.  Which is great, since many of the carts down here don't open until a bit later.  Sadly, the sandwich was lacking.... in cheese!  Good meat, plenty of peppers and onions, but where was the cheese.  In a philly, I expect oooey and gooey and then more ooey.  Sad.

Also, my sandwich came in a half size box, which is a lot of packaging for a sandwich.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? Maybe

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? Nope.  It has to live to what we make at home with a stop for pastrami at Kenny and Zuke's.  Those are delicious!

Sultan's Kitchen

Location: SW 4th & Hall

Type: Turkish

Cost: $7.00

Food: Döner plate

Wait: Quick

Size: Plenty

I liked this place.  It was very friendly; the guy was welcoming and told me I'd made a good choice.  It was very quick and the food was quite satisfying.  Buttery rice, refreshing greek-type salad, savory chicken.  But it wasn't so amazing in taste or quality as to measure up to the high (for carts) price.  Shucks.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? Probably not

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? Probably not

Abyla Grill

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: Greek

Cost: $5.50

Food: Lamb gyro (regular) with feta added 

Wait: Fine

Size: Good for lunch and a mid-class snack

This place seems very commercial, given the multiple locations and the glossy signage.  But they are friendly, quick, and yummy.  Low on packaging, which I love.

Unfortunately, every gyro I eat has to measure up to Hush Hush.  And none of them quite have so far.  Still, this was a very good meal and a good option to have going forward.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? Sure

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? Hmm

Thai Pasta

Location: SW 4th & Hall

Type: Thai

Cost: $5.50

Food: Pad Kee Mao with Tofu (Drunken noode)

Wait: Looong

Size: Generous (after school snack leftovers

Maybe it's just because I had to wait in the sun, but the wait here seemed crazy long.  Deceptive, because people can wait in front on the side walk, or to either side in some seating areas and so it's not clear how many people might be waiting for this cart versus others next to it.

The food was good, very flavorful and satisfying in an umami way.  But the wait was so much of a bummer.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe

Choza's Peruvian Taste

Location: 9th & Alder

Type: Peruvian
Cost: $6.00
Food: Tallarin Saltado with beef
Wait: Short
Size: Plenty

Yum.  I'm glad I finally tried Choza's out.  Last time I thought about trying them, I dismissed the menu as being too similar to thai carts.  How foolish I was then.
On recommendation, I tried the Tallatin Saltado.  This is spaghetti noodles, sauteed beef, romaine lettuce, and tomatoes.  I went with medium spicy, which turned out to be quite peppery.  Delicious, but probably more than my mouth can handle.
The whole thing was yummy.  Spicy, flavorful, crunchy (the lettuce).  There was a light yellow sauce they gave me with it.  I have no idea what it is (by itself it tasted tangy, but not recognizable).  At any rate, I poured it over and it added the the flavor situation in a marvelous way.
So, yum.  It looks like the same meat with grain (rice or noodles) that so many carts offer, but the flavors are unique.  And very tasty.
When do I get to try a food cart in Peru?

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? yes

Taqueria Villeneuva

Location: SW 4th & Hall

Type: Mexican

Cost: $6.00

Food: Soft taco combo

Wait: Short

Size: Standard

Pretty standard all around.  Standard food, standard pricing, standard service, standard wait time.  Good, dependable, but not the special mexican cart food I'm still hoping to find some day.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? meh

Turkish Kitchen and Kabobs

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: Turkish
Cost: $6.00
Food: Doner Kabobs with rice
Wait: Short
Size: I was hungry!

Yum.  But I should admit up front that given my hugnry level, I likely would have loved anything.  Still, this was good, tender lamb with paprika and other spices, comforting rice, crunchy salad for a break from the flavors.  And a few french fries.  It's interesting how some cusines add French fries to dishes.  (e.g. It's the fries in some of Choza's peruvian dishes are authentic.)
All in all, good, satisfying food.  Not fancy, but solid.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe

Altengartz German Bratwurst

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: German
Cost: $6.50
Food: Bratwurst with cheese combo with beans and chips
Wait: Short
Size: Hearty lunch
Ah, for so many days, a sausage jsut hadn't appealed.  Finally, it seemed like just the right thing and I went to Altengartz.  And yum.  It's a brat; it's hard to do it an injustice.  maybe my hunger level contributed, but this was just right.  Although, next time I'll pass on the combo and get just a brat with toppings.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? perhaps

BBQ Fusion

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: BBQ
Cost: $6.00
Food: Pulled chicken sandwich with slaw and beans
Wait: Short
Size: Hmm

I was on BBQ overdose when I went here, having had ribs the ngith before and anticipating noshing on leftover ribs that evening.  Thus, I don't think this joint got my proper aprpeciation.  I was imrpessed and happy to see them handling and processing big pieces of meat in the back so they win big points for that.  And next time my mouth is asking for barbeque flavor, I'll be back here.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? yes

Ka-Bob's

Location: 3rd & Stark - Washington

Type: Mediterranean
Cost: $6.00
Food: Chicken ka-bob and rice plate
Wait: Fine
Size: Small

So, there was no line.  Which can be a great thing.  And the food was yummy.  Flavors good, but not complicated.  But the volume of food was less than my food cart expectations.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? Naw

District Sandwiches and Spuds

Location: 5th & Stark - Washington

Type: Sandwich
Cost: $6.50
Food: Turkey pesto panini
Wait: Okay
Size:

When I saw thsi place open today, I figured I should go there.  They are rarely open, which makes them hard to try.  Turns out, that's not a bad thing.

The service was warm and friendly.  I got to sample a roast beef sandwich while I waited.  But the panini was a loss.  It was soggy, which is a huge faux pas in the world of paninis.  And generally, the sandwich filling did not look appealing.

Oh well, there are other fabulosu sandwich spots who are open more often.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? nope
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? nope

PFE Sushi

Location: 3rd & Stark
Type: Sushi and Chinese
Cost: $6.98 (yes, they have prices ending in 99 cents)
Food: small Las Vega roll and small Califonia roll
Wait: fine
Size: I would have been fine with one roll.

Thsi was delightful.  I know everyone in my office was leery when they heard the phrase "food cart sushi", but this was great.  The cart is clean and spacious.  You can watch the guy assemble your rolls.  The couple tending the cart are totally sweet.  My rolls were nummy.  Win-win-win situation.
Now I want to go back for their 'Chinese' food.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? yeah

Chili Inside, Chili Outside

Location: 9th & Alder
Type: Chili
Cost: $13.50
Food: Beef chili bowl, turkey chili frito pie, diet coke
Wait: Zilch
Size: Lunch-size

Let's start with what I love: They serve the frito pie in the frito bag.  It's very cool.
I liked the beef chili (shredded beef) better than the turkey (ground turkey), but both were full of chili flavor.  And meat.  Texas style.  In this town, I think they might do well to add a vegetarian bean chili.  Although it doens't seem their style.
The cart is large on the inside; tons of space.  The menu is simple, the cornbread is good, the availability of honey and hot sauce is a great added touch.
I was surprised at the perceived dmographic of the people running the stand, two young women and a young man, all with an Abercrobie-ish look.  Not the ethnic or hippie types I am used to seeing.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? given the right mood
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? he's already been

Nuevo Mexico & the Mississippi Marketplace pod

Location: Mississippi & Skidmore

Type: New Mexican

Cost: $15.00

Food: Carne adovada sopapilla and carne adovada burrito plate

Wait: Long, restaurant type long, but there was beer to drink and they let us know as we placed the order

Size: Having biked up, all was devoured

Overall, I was very unimpressed with the "Mississippi Markplace".  There were fewer carts than I expected.  A few were closed.  Since we were there at mid-day on a Saturday and given the location, I found that odd.  One had run out of ingredients.  Two were beverage only/focused (smoothies and coffee respectively).  There were many fewer lunch situation options that I was expecting and hoping for.  And Prost is entirely devoted to European beers, which just aren't all that to me.
I was surprised at the size of the carts in this pod.  They were all very large.  Looking inside the Nuevo Mexico cart as we ordered, they seem to have as much kitchen space as Beesaw's.

Still, it was pleasant to have some food and drink a beer.  The long wait gave us time to sip our beers and relax with portions of the newspaper.

The food quantity seemed out of step with the price, at least for what I've come to expect from a food cart.  Still, the food was tasty, with the chilies providing a rich flavor and a subtle heat that built in my mouth as I ate.  I found the texture off, with what seemed like pieces of dried chili in with the beans and pork, but that was easily overlooked.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? nope

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? he's already been

Addy's Sandwich Bar

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: Sandwich

Cost: $6.50

Food: Turkey with brie and cucumber

Wait: Instant

Size: Enough, but small for cart expectations

I loved that I was handed my sandwich instantly.  Clearly they have them prepared and ready to go.  Cue the whining of yuppies.  Sure, it's great when stuff is made to order, but when the food's going to move over the less than two peak hours of junk time, making ahead or using chafers is no travesty.

The sandwich was awesome, yummy mini baguette, crisp refreshing cucumber, indulgent brie.  Low key packaging (just a tight wrap in deli paper with the end sticking out ready to bite into.

The only catch is the cost to volume of food ratio.  High end of the price spectrum for carts and not a size suitable for leftovers.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? hmm

Fuego

Location: Pioneer Square -ish
Type: Burrito
Cost: $5.50
Food: Small veggie burrito with cheese and spinach
Wait: On the long side
Size: Big, but light

My initial impression was ackward.  The menu sign is placed in such a way that the line of people waiting covers it up.  Then there's the order tablet that gets passed down the line, which is a great system, but feels very insidery and as a new customer I felt ackward from the get go.
After that, it got better.  Each burrito is made in order as you reach the front of the line.  This means it's obvious how long you'll have to wait, no hidden delays where there appears to be no line but there are a ton of people waiting for orders.  The small size burrio was plenty big, but light and good for lunch.  It's filled with sour cream and beans and rice and salsa.  I added cheese (mmm, cheese).  And spinach, which was great.
My only complaint was that all the salsa seemed to be at one end of the burrito and all the sour cream at the other.  But it was all yummy, so I didn't really care.  I should have grabbed a napkin, though.


Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? hmm

Lovin' Spoonfull

Location: SW 2nd & Oak

Type: Sandiwch
Cost: $4.95 + 0.50
Food: Niki-Wich, add avocado, with tater tot side
Wait: Fine
Size: With discipline, there would have been left overs

It's like a diner in a food cart.  My sandwich was delicious on sourdough bread with a good coating of butter from the grilling.  Comfort food done well.
The sisters running the cart are great.  You feel like they want everyone who walks up to become a regular.  In the, we know your name and what you like sort of way.
I had initially been turned off from the cart due to its overly large size and I did find the access to walk up and order was ackward, but the food and the proprietors were all fab.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? sure

Snow White House

Location: 11th & Alder

Type: Crepes
Cost: $4.50
Food: Rocky road crepe
Wait: okay
Size: snack-size

Sadly, my visit here began with dodging the cigarette smoke of another patron who couldn't manage to stop soking long enough to order.  But, that's a fault with her Gresham-esque self, and not this cart.  Although ifit were my cart, she would have been told to get that cigarette away from the order window.

Anyway, it wasn't a hungry day for me.  Lunch was more of an 'I'd better get up from my desk' thing.  So, I went for a sweet crepe, with chocolate and marshmallows.  It was tasty.  And gooey.  And I feel very lucky I didn't come back to work covered in filling.  I'm not sure how they expect you to eat the crepe.  It comes wrapped in foil, which is too soft to use a fork with.  But the crepes was nearly too gooey to pick up.

My general review is hmmm.  Tasty, but not amazing.  hard to eat, but not supplied with excess packaging.


Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Sawasdee Thai Food

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: Thai
Cost: $6 entrees
Food: cashew stir fry (chicken), pineapple fried rice (chicken)
Wait: not bad
Size: enough for a small snack later

Not all that, was our verdict.  The food was fine, but not that special something that makes you want to go back.  With the large number of thai carts available, the competition is stiff.  Still, we enjoyed our food and our time together.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? naw
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? he's already been

Savor Soup House

Location: 11th & Alder
Type: Soup and sandwich
Cost: $5.50
Food: Miss Lizzy sandiwch
Wait: fine
Size: Generous but not overwhelming

Mmm.  So, I can't speak to their soups, but they make a nice sandwich.  I got a sandwich with yummy bread (a fresh ciabatta roll), a scrumptious ingredient (brie), and freshness (ham, lettuce).  It was entirely delightful, came lightly packaged, and disappeared into my tummy easily (except for surprisingly mustardy bite).
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe

Joslyn's Ciao Chow

Location: Stark & 2nd

Type: Italian
Cost: $8.00
Food: Pasta al povero & cheesecake
Wait: Long, but mostly because a deceptively large group with orders for people not present was there
Size: Comfortable lunch

Yum.  And yum.  And yum.  That was awesome.  Fresh, light, cooked to order.  Strawberries on the cheesecake.  Wonderful bread with the pasta.  I felt like this is something I would make myself for lunch if I had the luxury of being home on a work day lunch.  I knwo I'm not saying much, but this cart is fantastic.  I no longer miss not getting to try the former pototato offerings.  It's a lively shade of aquamarine, the inside reminds me of an old eastern farmhouse, but small like a ship's galley.  She cooks on gas and sprinkles herbs with her fingers.  It's marvelous.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? yes

Frying Scotsman

Location: 9th & Alder

Type: Fish and Chips
Cost: $7.50
Food: Snapper fish and chips
Wait: Okay
Size: More fried stuff than anyone should eat at one time, particularly one lunch-time

This was not a nice thing to do to my body.  I thought fish and chips sounded like a good mid-week treat.  But... hotter oil needed!  These were are gargantuan grease-fest.  Maybe they do better at other times.  But my tummy will likely revolt if I try and give the Scotsman a secodn chance.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? no
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Sweet Wheels

Location: Mobile (NE Alberta)

Type: Cupcake

Cost: $2.50

Food: Cupcakes!

Wait: None

Size: Cupcake size

We samples Sweet Wheels at Alberta's Last Thursday.  After hearing about them, their location for the night on 20th was a good goal for how far to venture.  We got there and were lucky enough to still find cupcakes available.
Sadly, the cupcake was less than perfect.  Cake should have been moister, frosting should have been fluffier.  I love the idea of dessert food carts, but for now I'll stick with my brick and mortar cupcake options.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? sugar is tempting

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? He's already been

Huong's Vietnamese Food

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: Vietnamese
Cost: $6.00
Food: Vermicelli bowl with chicken
Wait: Fine
Size: Suitable for reincarnation into a second day's lunch
This was nice.  Different things to munch on in the box (vermicelli, bean shoots, salad like stuff, chicken, etc.).  Different sauces to add (spicy pepper sauce, sweet chili and oil).  And it made for leftovers that I revamped into a fabulous salad with GTF lettuce the next day.  So, not amazing, but quite quite nice.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? hmmm

Taste of Poland

Location: 5th & Oak

Type: Polish
Cost: $5.00
Food: Potato cheese perogi plate
Wait: okay
Size: na
Hmm, this didn't work for me.  It started out well, but as soon as I wans't really hungry, my ratings dropped.  Lots of food for your money.  Good flavors to match with beer festival or cold weather.  But just not a home run for me.  I wish I had more to say.  Maybe I just don't like perogis.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? no
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Thai Me Up

Location: 9th & Alder

Type: Thai
Cost: $5.50
Food: Spicy basil stir fry
Wait: Short
Size: disappeared into my lunch-time tummy

This cart is quiet and around the corner.  I feel like they must get overlooked and that's too bad.
I couldn't decide, asked for a recommendation, and ordered the spicy thai basil stire fry dish.  It was great!  Chicken, bell peppers, and onion in a spicy thai sauce.  Rice.  A fried egg.  It was easy to turn down a fork/chospticks.  Totally great lunch and no line.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe

Cool Harry PDX

Location: 11th & Alder

Type: Fro-yo
Cost: $4.00
Food: Original tart with raspberries
Wait: Short
Size: Bigger than anticipated

So, after my super light Dump Truck lunch, I needed something more for my tummy.  So I made it a two cart day and went to Cool Harry's.  The guy who did my yogurt was cool yet friendly.  The yogurt was yummy.  Tart yet sweet.  The "topping" of rapberries came at the bottom, which was great since it allowed me to taste the yogurt independently and to choose how much raspberry to put into each bit, once I ate a path to them.  This could be a place where I'll actually complete the punch card.  I'm excited to try some different flavors.  And I ordered the 'smallish'.  Which turned out to be quite a bit.  I think a 'way small' woudl satisfy me on msot occasions.

And did I mention the adorable penguin logo?

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? probably

Dump Truck

Location: 11th & Alder

Type: Dumpling
Cost: $5.00
Food: Sampler with two each Mr. Ma's Special, bacon cheeseburger, and the new potato curry
Wait: Short
Size: Very light lunch
Let's start with the name.  It's totally un appealing.  Makes me think of garbage trucks or bodily functions.

Okay, on the the visit.  The guys get points for being quite friendly and enthusiastic.  But sadly, the dumplings didn't blow me away.  Six dumplings, ie potstickers, wasn't enough food.  (On the good news size, I got to hit two food carts in one day.  See the post of Cool Harry PDX for the rest of my meal.)  The Mr. Ma's is pretty much a traditional pork potsicker.  Good, but aggressive on the ginger for my tastebuds.  The bacon cheeseburger has so much nvoelty, but the flavor fell shrot of what I was hoping for.  The potato curry ones were awesome.  I'd highly suggest those.  If you don't mind craning your neck upward to order.

So, love the novelty potential.  (Desert dumplings, pizza dumplings, brat and kraut dumplings?)  And I'll leave it at that.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? probably not
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? unlikely

Happy Grillmore

Location: 3rd & Stark

Type: sandwiches
Cost: $7.00
Food: The Chuck (turkey, bacon, havarti sandwich) and shaved cantelope (drink)
Wait: short
Size: I feel sleepy

Mmmm.  And that's why we try new carts.  It felt strange to let this almost brand new cart (about two weeks old) leap to the front of the list, but I bypassed other untried and long existing carts to give it a try.  And yum.
Toasted bread, wonderful bacon, creamy havarti, non boring greens, just the right amount of spread.  It was an amazingly awesome sandwich.  And $5.  So I had to try the shaved cantelope, too.  Mmm, that tastes indulgent.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? I'd like to

Tabor

Location: 5th & Stark

Type: Czech
Cost: $7.00
Food: Chicken schnitzel sandwich
Wait: Okay
Size: Bigger than lunchtime tummy really needed, but sandwiches are hard to reserve any of

I want to like this.  The sandwich is beautiful.  Excellent look, components.  The flavor just is not to my liking.  The agressive horse radish, the sweet vegetable spread.
So, excellent cart, just not suited to my tastebuds.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? no
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? he coudl go on his own

Gin

Location: 3rd & Washington - Stark

Type: Northern Thai
Cost: $5.50
Food: lettuce wrap
Wait: fine
Size: flavor packs a leftover leaving whallop

Mmm.  Northern thai is a great treat and a delightful change from the typical curry seen at thai carts and restaurants.
Having too many grains in my weekly menu already, I opted for the lettuce wrap.  And it was good.  Heavy with flavor, it didn't take much to satisfy my mouth.  I'm all ready to go back and try a noodly dish soon.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? perhaps

DC Vegetarian

Location: 3rd & Washington - Stark

Type: Sandwich/Soup
Cost: $6.75
Food: Veggie burger with pepper jack and avocado, no pickles, spinach instead of lettuce; and a vegan peanut butter cup
Wait: Fine
Size: Ate it all, baby.

Yum.  That was great.  Good beggie patty, a bit spicy.  Wonderfully constructed sandwich with a nice amount of drippy spread action, enough to feel indulgent, not so much as to cause me to make a mess.  Rich but not too big panut butter and chocolate situation.  Just great all around.  And the woman who took my order even wrote Bex with an 'x' on the ticket with no prompting from me.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? if I can convince him the lack of meat is worth it

Bro Dogs

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak
Type: Hot dog
Cost: $6.00
Food: Double dog, with peppers and cheddar
Wait: Short, just the time to cook, and I was well entertained during it
Size: I did battle with the double dog, but it overpowered my tummy.  Snack for later!

Kick ass.  Sweet.  And other enthusiastic phrases.  This was like having the coolest bartender ever make me a hot dog.  The guy running the grill is super personable.  He's enthusiastic about your dog choice, he might try and suggest something even more awesome than what you've come up with, he's laid back but your dog gets handed over before you know it, he's edgy in a good way.
Okay, enough about the sausage slinger.  On to the sausage.  One all beef Sabrett, split to hold a second Sabrett.  Ahhh-ahhh.  And then when you thought nirvana coudln't get any better, there's the delicious grilled toppings, no cold afterthoughts here.  And there's there's the bread component.  This is not a suburban bbq napkin to hold a sausage, this is a toasted flat bread piece, that rolls up to cacoon the hot dog and has at once toasty goodness and soft white bread goodness.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? hell, yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? And Rich, too!

#1 Benton Korean BBQ

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: Korean
Cost: $16.00 for two
Food: Spicy chicken betno, teriyaki chicken bento, pot sticker appetize, diet coke
Wait: okay
Size: lots of food

The cart keeper was chatty and friendly (as was her obivously a regular patron who got there before us).  The food was large in quantity and I didn't have much trouble turning down silverwear.  (The fork or chopsticks question always provides a handy opportunity.  The taste, however, wasn't all that.  The spicy chicken lacked any zing.  And the teriyaki was overly sweet (although it tasted better on the reheat).  So far, I'm still 0 for 0 on Korean joints.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? no
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? he's already been

Samurai Japanese Cuisine

Location: 9th-10th & Alder

Type: Japanese
Cost: $6.00
Food: Yakatori (chicken with pepper, lemon, rice)
Wait: longish, but better than I expected given the crowd
Size: leftover worthy, but coudl be downed in one go without ill effects

Yum!  Perfect rice, super flavorful chicken.  Pounded thin and cooked smoky.  It was like having backyard grill food for lunch.  I loved it.  The token extras (a couple piecesraw brocoli, a baby carrot, and some edamame) were evne good, which is never the case.  I want to go back.  I gather they make their own teriyaki sauce, which is a great thing.  Top that off with 100% easy to turn down plastic wear (choose your own from the counter), this place is a complete winner.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? I'd very much like to

Ugarit Mediterranean Meals

Location: 11th & Alder

Type: Mediterranean
Cost: $6.00
Food: Lamb gyro
Wait: short, just the time to assemble
Size: Hmmm

It's so hard to absolutely love the owner/operator of a cart, and then not love their food.  The guy at Ugarit was awesome.   We chatted, he told me he's got the only real lamb in town, it was great.  I wanted to become a regular.  But the gyro didn't work for me.  Yes, it was really lamb, chunks not those weird strips.  But, it was tough and dry.  A real let down.  I want flavorful and juicy in my lamb.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? sadly, no
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe just to meet the guy; we could get baklava

The Swamp Shack

Location: 5th & Stark

Type: Creole
Cost: $6.50
Food: jambalaya
Wait: immediate food
Size: filling

Yes, these guys definitely win points for the awesome decor.  The food was good, spicy, but manageable.  I enjoyed it, but I also felt like it was something I could have produced at home with a box of Zataran's and a polish sausage.  Still, loved me the pieces of chicken, which would have been harder to reproduce.  The sad stragly pieces of celery were unappetizing, but few in number.  And everybody loves cornbread, so the muffin was a great treat (and too small).  :)

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe on a cold day
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? perhaps

Ziba's Pitas

Location: 9th & Alder

Type: Bosnian
Cost: $6.00 per person
Food: Combo plate with spinach and meat pitas (my dining aprtner got the same, but with a meat and a cheese)
Wait: great
Size: went away in one sitting, but probably could have saved a pita half or two for a later snack
Yum!  These so-called pitas are delicious.  But think something more like spanikopita or greek meat pie type food.  Very yum.  Cucumbers and yogurt were a good addition to the plate.  The roasted vegi sauce didn't excite me on its own, but it was delicious with each bite of pita.  It was easy to get less packaging (for here plates that we carried to the park) and for me to turn down silverware (although I should start carrying a napkin or bandana).  Anyway, I was very happy with my entire dining experience.  Stuff in phylo type dough is just so yummy!
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? sure

Bulkogi Korean BBQ

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak

Type: Korean
Cost: $13.50 (for two)
Food: brocolli ramen, chicken noodle dish, iced tea
Wait: amazing looong
Size: no leftovers

When you start off with the longest wait you've ever had, it's hard to be happy.  I was sure glad I'd chosen this joint on a lunch date day.  Without Dave to talk to, it would have been bad.
The food, once finally ontained, was good.  I enjoyed my ramen, although it wasn't anything too special.  The brocolli texture was good.  The bite I stole of Dave's noodle dish was good.  All in all, fine, but the wait makes it a no go.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? only if I wasn't hungry, yet
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? He's already been

Smokin' Pig

Location: 5th & Washington - Stark

Type: Pulled pork
Cost: $5.00
Food: Regualr sandwich, combo with two sides
Wait: short
Size: smallish

After being amazed by the line length at the Shamsnki Park farmer's market food carts, I returned to the familiar and convenient 5th and Stark pod and chose The Smokin' Pig.
The two guys running it were totally awesome.  We had good chit chat and I felt very welcome.
The food was okay, but not amazing (and the quantity was sub-optimal).  I would have preferred jucicier pork.  And the coleslaw was too sweet for me.  I hear they've got rockin' potato salad, but it was all gone before I got there.  All in all, 100% more edible than yesterday, but not a total winner.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? probably not
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Viet Cuisine

Location: 2nd & Stark - Oak

Type: Asian
Cost: $5.00
Food: Orange chicken and a coke
Wait: fine
Size: irrelevant

This was a first.  I've had cart food I didn't really like, whether becuase the flavors weren't to my liking or the quality made me think of a buffet chafing dish, but this is the first time I've had inedible food.
The woman was nice and the coke was included in the meal price, but the food was a complete disaster.  In my first bites, I was dismayed at the sauce, insufficient quantity and flavor.  Then, I discovered the real problem.  The batter on the chicken was not fully cooked.  There were layers and pockets of floury uncooked batter.  Ew!  It was enedible.  A complete failure.
The sadest part is that these experiences make it harder to keep trying new carts.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? NO
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? NO

El Cubanita de Palma

Location: 2nd & Stark - Oak

Type: Cuban
Cost: $11.50 for two
Food:  We got a diet coke, pollo con arroz, and a sandwich
Wait: short
Size: We polished it off.

Dave came for lunch today and I went for one of the coupel remaining carts on 2nd that I havne't yet attempted.
We had some trouble ordering, they only had some of what was on the menu available.  And neither of us meant to get a sandwich.  But we're easy and adventuresome, so we ate what we got.  The sandwich had good flavor, but the filling was skimpy.  The pollo was good and the rice and beans great, although I'd pass on the plantian (if that's what they were) and salad sides.
This is some where to order the special, whatever it is.  I'd go again and do that.  Heck, I'd order just the rice and beans and be happy.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? Sure
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? He's already been

El Masry

Location: 3rd & Washington - Oak

Type: Egyptian
Cost: $3.75 (on special)
Food: falafel wrap
Wait: Looong
Size:  Bigger than one meal, but impossible to divide and save

The price was great, but beginning with the longest wait is not auspiscious.  At one point during the wait, the guy came out to apologize and say he was making fresh falalfel.  So great, I like fresh falafel over burnt stuff that's been sitting out, but a warning would have been very appropriate.
Once I got my wrap, it looked amazing.  Very appealing presentation, if it did cause lettuce avalanches as I ate.  The first few bites were good, but over all the appeal of the falvor dwindled and I was frustrated not to be easily able to divide the sandwich and save a portion.
In the end, I woudln't go back.  I can find better mediterranean without a wait.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? no
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? nope

Thai Eastern Cuisine

Location: 3rd & Washington - Stark

Type: Thai
Cost: $6.50
Food: pineapple fried rice and thai iced tea
Wait: okay
Size: smallish

Miss.  First, the signboard said $5.50 for one item and drink, as a special.  But look what I paid.  My tastebuds were all ready for thai ice tea, but without the misleading special, I woudln't have done it.  Second, no bag, which normally I'm all for, but when your container is plastic that's too hot to touch, that's bad.  Third, my lunch partner's curry rice was curryless.  Fourth, my dish is like something I would expect to find in a buffet, the flavor, temperature, oiliness all not up to par.  And having a multi-compartment container for one dish is frustrating.  And I hurt my wrist carrying it back.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? no
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

I Like Thai Food

Location: 10th and Alder

Type: Thai
Cost: $5.00
Food: Mango curry, chicken
Wait: okay
Size: gimongous

Nope.  The curry sauce was good, but the carrots were woody (and a weird American salad bar crinkle cut), the tomatoes out of season (I didn't even try them) and the mango not sweet and bursting with flavor, rather over cooked and mushy.  And the rice texture wans't quite right.  Too dry, not spongy enough.  It was tons of food for the price, big container of rice, big tub of curry.  Packaging better suited to a to go order than a lunch.
Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? no
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Duke's Vietnamese Grill

Location: 2nd & Stark - Oak

Type: Vietnamese, I suppose
Cost: $6.00
Food: Marianted chicken and rice
Wait: Fine
Size: Big, but I may just eay it all today

The gal tending the front was nice.  The food was good, teriyaki type chicken, good textured rice.  There was cucumber and tomatoes (though I applied my no out of season tomatoes rule and did not eat these) and sweet chili sauce and an egg roll.  The egg roll was horrible, but I didn't know it would be part of the dish, so turning it down after trying two bites was just fine.  All in all, good but basic and not mind blowing for breaking the $5 price.

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Flavour Spot

Location: 3rd & Ash
Type: Waffle sandwich
Cost:
Food: THB (turkey, havarti, bacon)
Wait: fine
Size: hmm

So, I am just not in love with the waffle snadwich.  It's novel.  It's fun.  It doesn't quite satisfy my tastebuds.  At least that's true for the savory versions.  I reserve judgement on the sweet ones for when I try one.

6/18/10 Update - Now I've tried a sweety one, the black forest with nutella and raspberry jam.  Warm nutella and raspberry is a winner, but the waffle still strikes out.

Summary:
Would go again if someone else wanted to? maybe for a sweet waffle
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe late night

Nang's Khao Man Gai

Location: 10th & Alder
Type: Thai street food
Cost: $6.00
Food: Khao Man Gai x 1
Wait: Not too bad
Size: Single sitting

I wasn't sure what I would be getting when I ordered here.  (Like Pel menis in Juneau, it's not about tellign them what you want, it's about telling them how many.)  But I liked how the neat little bundles everyone else was walking away with looked.  And one of my lunch mates was getting in line there.  Turns out it's rice, and chicken, and a little tub of sauce.  And a side bowl of savory broth/soup.  The sauce was pretty salty, but it grew on me as I ate.  Your chicken and rice comes wrapped in waxed paper.  You pour the sauce over and eat right off the paper.  The broth along side was good, altohugh I don't know about the mushy cucumber (??) that were floating in my serving (although not in my lunch buddy's).  All in all, I'm still enchanted by the presentation.  I would eat Khao Man Gai on the street in Thailand, even though I'm not raving about this.  I do like more veggies, less meat and starch in my lunch.  I probably won't be responsible for helping them sell out often (although they will likely continue to sell out on a daily basis).

Summary:
Would go again is someone else wanted to? possibly
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? possibly

Koren Twist

Location: 3rd & Washington - Stark
Type: Korean (fusion)
Cost: $6.00
Food: bulgogi beef rice bowl
Wait: fine
Size: enough for good leftovers

I'm beginning to think my pallet just doesn't understand Korean fusion food.  The woman here was quite nice.  It was easy to turn down the plastic fork.  But the food was just not that exciting.  Copious, yes.  Memorable, no.

Summary:
Would go again if someone else wanted to? probably not
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Boolkogi Korean Tacos

Location: 5th & Stark-Oak
Type: Korean
Cost: $6.00
Food: Chicken yakisoba
Wait: On the longer side
Size: Enough for leftovers

Yum.  I liked that.  The vendors were nice.  The packaging was minimal.  No bag, just the waxed paper box with napkins and chopsticks (although I didn't need those as I pack my own eating irons).  Very good for my plastic sensor that freaks out at the food carts.  The wait seemed long and others waiting definitely seemed impatient, but it really wasn't bad and I could see them moving quickly and cooking right there in front of us.  I'd like to go back to try a rice bowl or the taco combo.  My only concern is the cost; there's something comfortable about the $5 price point and going above that makes me feel more extravagent.

Summary:
Would go again if someone else wanted to? yes
Woudl take Dave there for a repeat visit? sure

Portland Smoothie Company

Location: 3rd & Washington - Stark

Type: Smoothie/Juice bar

Cost: $4.00

Food: Mango, orange juice smoothie with ginger

Wait: Short

Size: Perfect

I loved seeing her cutting my fruit up right on the spot after I ordered.  She was very patient with me as I figured out what I wanted and mangled the division between the juicer juice ingredients and the smoothie ingredients.  The result was very tasty.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? hmm

Sonny's Bowl

Location: 3rd & Washington - Stark
Type: Rice bowl
Cost: $5.00
Food: A full-size Two (veggies and curry pineapple)
Wait: Longer than Whole Bowl
Size: Nom nom nom, how can there still be so much food left in this box?

I had a great time chatting with a woman on business from Atlanta, so the wait was pleasant, if long.  The sun came out.  It was all good.  And the food was tasty.  At first, I wanted to sauce to be spicier to balance out the sweet, then I sensed the heat accumulating in my mouth.  Yum.  Inspires me to create similar simple meals this summer.  Cut up veggies.  Throw veggies and beans in sauce and cook.  Serve over rice.  Simple formula, tummy fantastic results.

Summary:
Would go again if someone else wanted to? yes
Woudl take Dave there for a repeat visit? If he surprisingly turned vegetarian

Phillys on the Phly

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak
Type: Cheesesteak
Cost: $5.25
Food: Medium cheese steak with onions and peppers
Wait: Surprisingly short
Size: Next time I'd be fine with a small

Yum!  I don't have much to compare to, but this Philly cheesesteak was tasty, not too heavy, comfort food like.  I enjoyed it thoroughly.  I probably would have been satisfied with just a medium.  They also offer mushrooms for those who want.  Minimal packaging, which I love.  Just wrapped in foil and handed to me.

Summary:
Would go again if someone else wnated to? Yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe

Veli's Thai Food

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak

Type: Thai

Cost: $5.00

Food: Red curry noodles

Wait: Fairly short

Size: Lots

Why is it that when I visit a cart after a 'regular' I feel like chopped liver? That aside, I enjoyed this food. It hit my need for noodly food craving. It was spicier than I expected for medium, but not a problem. There was eggplant, which is a personal issue, and the sauce was a bit messy and liquidy, which is a curry issue. Ate a bunch and have some for leftovers.

Summary:

Would go again if someone else wanted to? perhaps

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? nope, prefer Thai Sky

Taste of Greek

Location: 2nd & Oak - Stark
Type: Greek
Cost: $5.00
Food: Kafta sandwich
Wait: She told me it would take 4 minutes. It was sunny and I didn't mind the wait. However, now knowing I don't prefer kafta over gyro, I wouldn't wait again. The gyros came out very quickly.
Size: Good for my tummy, but you can get more for your money elsewhere. And leftovers are good.

Kafta is ground lamb formed into a patty. I wanted to try it. The sandwich came wrapped in foil and tucked inside a mini paperbag wrapper. It was pretty good, but there were some problems. The pita used to wrap the sandwich was too small, making it hard to pick up and eat. The sauce got very messy, particularly at the end. Not good for street food where you're eating off your lap, with restricted napkin quantity, etc. The paperbag came in handing for keeping sticky trash contianed. With Hush Hush so close to work, these guys don't stand a chance with me.

Summary:
Would go again if someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Thai Basil

Location: 2nd & Oak
Type: Thai
Cost: $5.00
Food: Chicken pad thai & thai iced tea
Wait: A few minutes.
Size: Lots of food. More than one Bex! sized serving.

Yum. This came with a little spring roll, too. I failed to turn down bag and platic fork, but it wouldn't have been too hard if I'd been paying a little more attention. Very enjoyable noodles, though I could have passed on the spring roll. The that iced tea was a tasty treat, too.

Summary:
Would go again if someone else wanted to? yes
Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe

Francisco's Taqueria

Location: 3rd & Stark - Oak

Type: Mexican

Cost: $5.00

Food: Pastor burrito

Wait: Short

Size: Huge

The carts certainly do know how to knock out a big, satisfying burrito. It's sort of the comfort food of the carts. You know what you're getting, it's got carb and cheese, etc. This one had a bit of crunchyness from a salad/salsa addition that a quite enjoyed. However, I do still need to learn to only eat half the burrito in one sitting.

Summary:

Wood go again if someone else wanted to? sure

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? hmm

Big-A** Sandwiches

Location: 2nd - 3rd & Ash

Type: Sandwich

Cost: $6.00

Food: the Big-A** sandwich with ham, added cheese

Wait: Very reasonable.

Size: Um, Big-A**. Duh.

First, no, I'm not being polite. That's how they actually write their name on the sign and menu. Now, on the the visit... Ugh. That wasn't a nice thing to do to my body. I enjoyed the novelty of it. Walking away with a massive foil wrapped sandwich. Having fries inside the sandwich. But the flavors weren't all that. Cheese sauce was bland and a bit grainy, as bechamel is wont to be. Fries lacked salt and had no crispy on the outside texture. All in all, somewhere I'd send Rich on a late night, but not a repeater for me. Sorry ten sandwich punchcard, it's the recycling for you. I loved the people, though.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? just to watch

Would take Dave these for a repeat visit? no

Parker's Waffles & Coffee

Location: 4th - 5th & Harrison

Type: Dutch taco (waffle sandwich)

Cost: ?? (hm, not sure)

Food: Dueful for me and pulled pork for Ted

Wait: Longish

Size: Too big for one Bex! sitting, but too messy to save part of.

Meh. Good, but not amazing. Enjoyed less than the dutch taco place on Missisippi and Fremont. I'd love to go for just a dessert waffle sometime, though. They do a nutella one that you can add bacon to.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Julie's Food

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak

Type: Chinese

Cost: $5.00

Food: #8, chow mein, teriyaki chicken, and two springrolls

Wait: Minor

Size: Double my tummy size. Leftovers.

Lots of food, especially for the price. And it made good leftovers. But, I like Saigon much better. Julie's food had the expected level of greasyness (too much) and the veggies were cut to a size where they did not blend well with the chow mein noodles.

Summary:

Would go again if someone wanted to? naw

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? mo

Titos Burritos II

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: Mexican

Cost:

Food: two burritos

Wait: moderate

Size: both huge

Stopped by in the evening to pick up a couple burritos to get us fed before flying. The burritos were the standard super large food cart fare. No complaints, but nothing to jump up and down about either. I did appreciate the guy looking after me a bit as I dealt with an obnoxious street person.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? naw

Morning Star Café *brick and mortar*

Location: 3rd & Washington

Type: café

Cost: $9.00

Food: Cup of soup of the day (sweet ginger vegetable) and half Felipe sandwich

Wait: felt long

Size: meh

This is why brick and mortar pales in comparison to food carts. It offers shelter from the rain, but when it turns out to go to sun after the sprinkles you walk out in, you're disappointed to be eating where you are. Soup was okay, but too sweet to eat much of (although I got what looked like a bowl for the cup price). Sandwich was not inviting, flavors too jumbled, mustard too aggressive. Too bad it was sprinkling when I went out for food, because I would have gotten more food for less money at a food cart and almost certainly would have enjoyed it better.

Summary:

Would go again is someone wanted to? not without encouraging a different option

Would take Dave there for a repeat? no

Koi Fusion

Location: 4th & Burnside

Type: Korean-Mexican

Cost: $6.00

Food: tacos, one tofu (with kimchee), one bulgoki, one chicken

Wait: Minor

Size: Appropriate for my tummy.

Meh. Does not live up to the hype. I think the "you never knew where they'll be" is a novelty that makes them popular. The food was unexciting. The bulgoki was dry, the not kimchee spicy (isn't it supposed to be?). Also, I just really like the flavor of a Mexican taco. I don't need different filling.

Summary:

Would go again is someone wanted? maybe

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? nope

Ninja Plate Lunch

Location: 2nd - 3rd & Ash

Type: Hawaiian

Cost: $5.00

Food: Ka'lua pig plate with fruit salad

Wait: Short

Size: Food was copious (I had leftovers).

They offer a choice of fruit or mac salad and small plates for just $3.00. Chalkboard menu, pink cart. Flavor was good, but lacked variety. Too much meaty goodness with no veggie relief. Leftovers were livened up with mizuna.

Summary:

Would go again is someone wanted to? perhaps

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? unlikely

Real Taste of India

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak

Type: Indian

Cost: $6.00

Food: Daily meat special

Wait: Longish, but I had good company

Size: Way too much food

The naan was fun and nice (and huge), but I didn't enjoy the rest as much. I don't like the individual grain, no chew rice texture. It reminds me of microwave instant rice, even if it is traditional for biriyani. The chicken and chickpea (chana masala) curry dishes were good, especially the chicken texture and moisture, but sloppy and overwhelming in flavor. (Raj's view on curry houses was playing in my head.) The pakoras was very salty. Oh well, it was enough food to fuel lunch on Saturday and I don't have to go again. I did however enjoy sharing a knowing smile with the woman tending the counter and we waited and watched people order.

Summary:

Would go again if someone else wanted to? no

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

Built to Grill

Location: 3rd & Stark - Oak

Type: Italian

Cost: $6.00

Food: Americana panini

Wait: A bit

Size: Bigger than one seating

Yum. Too big for one seating, although I ate it all anyway. Everything a grilled sandwich should be. Thin cut meats, greasy and drippy, but not oily. Their cart is super minimalist inside. Everything seemed fresh and wonderful.

Summary:

Would go again if someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? yes, I want to try a pasta

Just Thai

Location: 3rd & Stark - Oak

Type: Thai

Cost: $6.00

Food: vegan green curry & thai iced tea

Wait: okay

Size: tons of food

Ugh. Curry not sweet enough. Veggie combo unpleasant, tons of bamboo shoots, big eggplant pieces, hardly anything else. The iced tea was too warm, too. The quantity was massive, though. Huge rice carton, big tub of curry. Packaged like a to go order form a restaurant, not like a lunch. Made it hard to eat.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to?

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit?

Taqueria Vilenueva

Location: 3rd & Oak

Type: Mexican

Cost: $5.50

Food: Soft taco combo, pastor

Wait: fine

Size: great

Not amazing, but good, straightforward. I never seem to have much to say about mexican carts. I like this one a little better than others. Maybe it's the lonely location.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? if we wanted mexican

Thai Sky

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak

Type: Thai

Cost: $5.00

Food: chicken and green bean stir fry with jasmine rice

Wait: none

Size: large lunch

Yum! Good quantity. Easy to turn down bag and silverware. Condiments available. Veggies crunchy, not limp and overcooked. She offered to put curry sauce over my rice, which I accepted and loved. They serve up the dishes of the day straight from chafing dishes, so there's zero wait time.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? yes

Spoons Soup Cart

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak

Type: soup/salad/sandwich

Cost: $6.00

Food: corn chowder and a grilled cheese sandwich

Wait: short

Size: smallish comparatively

Hum drum. Soup flavor was muddy, compared to my own corn chowder. And full of celery, ugh. Sandwich was boring. I might try a different soup sometime, but mostly this visit gave me no reason to return.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? maybe

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? unlikely

The Whole Bowl

Location: 10th & Alder

Type: Rice bowl

Cost: $5.00

Food: Bambino bowl

Wait: short

Size: lunch sized

Wow and yum. A very satisfying meal with a healthy feel. A definite repeat. Not fancy, could pack in, but still a tummy pleasing combination of rice, cheese, beans, sour cream, cilantro, olives, etc.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? yes

The People's Pig

Location: 2nd - 3rd & Stark

Type: Sandwich

Cost: $8.00

Food: cubano

Wait: Medium

Size: okay

Nope. Expensive (very!) and not good. Boring kaiser roll, strange pork melange filling. Too spicy for me. Not pick-up-able, juicy and sloppy. But the bun was too touch to cut and eat with knife and fork. It satisfied my food need, but not my foodie needs.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? no

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no

BC2 (Bento Coffee Cookie) *brick and mortar*

Location: 5th & Madison (basement of the Portland bldg)

Type: bento

Cost:

Food: pot sticker bento

Wait: yes, but he warned me

Size: large lunch

The pot stickers are a wait, but he warns you and you know they're cooking them right then. Good brown rice for chopsticks. Lots of food (although I didn't turn any into leftovers). Points for composting the food cartons. Owner is a hoot (Chang's 401k, franchise for sign rights conversation). Good chocolate chip cookie, too.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? maybe

Blue Plate

Location: 3rd & Washington

Type: American comfort

Cost: $7.00

Food: Northwest sliders (served with mashed potatoes)

Wait: restaurant normal

Size: smallish

Comfort food with a capital C. potatoes were buttery and had skins in the mash. Yum! Sliders were easy to eat, not greasy. Satisfying all around. They need bigger water glasses or my own carafe, though. Need to go back for milk shakes.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? not a food cart

Saigon Food to Go

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak

Type: Asian

Cost: $12.50 for two

Food: #1 for Dave, plus spring roll & diet coke; #12 with orange chicken for me

Wait: not bad

Size: generous

Lots of good textured veggies in the chow mein. Had to wait a few minutes while they cooked it up, but we were there to hang with each other. It was not a grease fest, as I was potentially expecting. It made a great hangover meal.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? he's already been, silly

La Jarochita

Location: 5th & Stark - Oak

Type: Mexican

Cost: $5.00

Food: Nachos con pollo

Wait: okay

Size: large

Aw, I should have practiced my Spanish. Good, not greasy, but a lot of food that I ate to much of. And no gooey, melted cheese like I was craving.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? sure

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? meh

Give Pizza a Chance

Location: 5th & Stark

Type: Pizza

Cost: $5.00

Food: sausage and mushroom slice & cucumber lime soda

Wait: small

Size:

Crust texture totally pleasing. Soda amazing (and just 75 cents with your own cup).

Repeat notes: Yes, I've been back here often. It's easy. It's the closest cart. it's quick to choose. Pizza is a breeze to eat quickly. And I brought it my own Beatles pint glass so I can become a fiend for their sodas.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? yes

Hush Hush *brick and mortar*

Location: 4th & Washington

Type: Greek

Cost: $5.50

Food: Gyro sandwich

Wait: super fast

Size: Big

Yum. They produce your food with astonishing speed. And it taste marvelous.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? yes

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? unlikely, but only b/c its not a cart

The Original *brick and mortar*

Location: 6th & Oak

Type: American

Cost: $9.95

Food: Cup of soup & waldorf salad

Wait: -

Size: -

Horrible service! Long wait with zero acknowledgement at the front. Order all wrong, soup type, salad size.

Summary:

Would go again is someone else wanted to? no

Would take Dave there for a repeat visit? no, sir