By Rebekah Markillie All photos by Hannah Baade
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Portland is known for its food trucks and rightfully so. According to Food Carts Portland there are over 500 trucks serving cheap and delicious food. We know about the lots downtown and on Alberta Street but there are some gems that are a 20 minute walk and a 20 minute bus ride away.
Locations: N Mississippi and Skidmore, six blocks off of the 44 bus route.
Native Bowl: Vegan rice bowls Portland is known for its yummy vegan cuisine. Not being a regular vegan eater, I decided I wanted to try something a little outside my comfort zone. The flavors were distinct with varying textures. I was very impressed.
Featured food--Hawthorne Bowl: This hearty bowl had a coconut curry base with garbanzo beans and a delicious assortment of veggies over jasmine rice. I was only able to finish about half of it, it was so filling. Prices: $8 bowls, $2 drinks
Minizo: Japanese ramen It has all of the warmth and saltiness that you’ve come to expect from ramen but also has depth of flavor, spice, and fresh ingredients.
Featured food--Shoyu Ramen: This is like beef flavored instant ramen except it was somewhere around 1000X better. Excellent for warming up on a chilly day or treating yourself to a nicer version of a college food staple. Prices: $5-8
Koi Fusion: Korean fusion food Mexican and Korean food in order to create a handy and delicious street food that borrows the best from both cultures.
Featured food--The kalbi short rib taco: Fresh, spicy and perfectly seasoned Korean meats and vegetables with pico de gallo inside a tortilla. What’s not to like? Prices: short rib taco $2
Location: Lombard and Barr, about a 20 minute walk from UP.N
Che Cafe: American-style comfort food Greasy sandwiches and burgers with tempah meats, mounds of freshly cooked fries and breakfast all day long.
Featured Food--Breakfast Grilled Cheese with a side of fries: The tempah bacon went perfectly with the fried egg and melty cheese, putting The Cove grilled cheese to shame. I don’t think I’ve ever had tempah this convincing. There were four options of fry sauce, and I got the garlicky and spicy Mohawk . It’ll forever change how I view ketchup. Price: $11
Farmfood: Fresh, farm to restaurant Priding itself with it’s fresh ingredients all of Farmfood’s ingredients are locally sourced and organic.
Featured food--Hakuna Matata Sandwich: One of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. You can absolutely taste the difference in their food. Every part of the sandwich I ordered was to die for, but what really made it was the pickled asparagus. It rounded out the smokiness of the bacon and sausage and added a pleasant note of acidity. The freshly-made chips were also incredibly addicting. Price: $6
Homegrown Smoker Vegan Barbecue: Classic barbecue with a vegan twist. Flavorful and hearty BBQ meat alternatives like field roast, soy curls and tempeh are anything but bland.
Featured food--The Mac-NoCheese came full of flavor and was incredibly rich for a vegan dish. Served to me by a jovial half-pink haired lad on a cold day, it was the dream. Zesty with spice and vegan cheese, it was reinforced by perfectly cooked al dente noodles. Complemented by a cup of their Minted Lemonade, this Portlandia take on the deep south was absolutely delicious. Price: Mac-NoCheese $6, Minted Lemonade $2
Paiku: yummy pies Sweet and savory pies, biscuits and gravy, salad and soup served out a delightfully decorated food truck.
Featured food--A fresh omelet loaded with cheese, veggies and white beans was well worth the agonizing 8 minute wait. Massive and cooked to perfection, it was accompanied by the real star - a homemade biscuit with fresh orange marmalade. The tang of fresh oranges on a crumbly biscuit brightened even the gloomy of Portland morning. Price: $7
