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
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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
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
Monday, June 28, 2010
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
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
Friday, June 25, 2010
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
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
Thursday, June 24, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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
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
Friday, June 18, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
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
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
Monday, June 14, 2010
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
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
Friday, June 11, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
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
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
Friday, June 4, 2010
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
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
Thursday, June 3, 2010
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
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
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