Portland, OR

A somewhat unique aspect to Portland is the roach coach scene. When I refer to a roach coach, I speak fondly of food carts or wagons.

Obviously, food carts or wagons are found across the country and for that matter, the world. A mobile restaurant is quite handy when following a carnival or festival circuit. Well, in Portland, they are everywhere and rather permanent.

I cannot say that I am a mobile food wagon connoisseur by any means. I eschew festivals and carnivals, so for most of my life, I simply have not had the opportunity to try these places out. You don’t see a whole lot of food carts in Chicago. There is that crappy pizza cart outside the Wicker Park/Bucktown triangle, outside of Underdog and Flash Taco, in a “bar-muda triangle.” Unfortunately, I did get a slice from that cart late one night, and as it wasn’t good, it underscored my rather snobby opinion regarding food carts.

But then, there is a big difference between a food cart and a food wagon. A “wagon” can be either a truck, but usually more of a trailer. But it has power and water. There is equipment to cook food, rather than simply keep it warm before serving. So Portland is a food wagon town.

I am almost done trying every one of the wagons in Sellwood, on SE 13th Ave and Lexington. First, I had a burrito at Uruapan, a small wagon farther down on Lexington, and when I say farther down, I mean twenty feet, maybe. The burrito was good, as good as a Chicago taqueria. Sorry to keep comparing to Chicago, but one) it is my background and two) Chicago is heavily hispanic in its street food (whereas I would say that Portland is much more Asian in its street food scene — there is bento everywhere). The steak tacos were authentic, with onion and cilantro only. No shredded lettuce, no cheese, no white people tacos.

The next visit, I tried the BBQ wagon, perhaps Chuckwagon BBQ, if I can remember correctly. Really tasty pulled pork sandwich. Almost went back for that one today, but instead tried Garden State. I found a picture of the guy who runs the wagon, so I am guessing this one is better known, or he put the picture up himself. I kind of remember seeing some laminated newspaper pages hanging up, and the picture looked familiar, so it is probably from that. Anyhoo, I had the chicken sandwich, which I really wasn’t that excited about, as I am not one of those “chicken sandwich, please,” kind of girls, but it was really, really good. It had slices of cured lemon on it, with arugula and a goat cheese cream that was tas-tee. My BF had the meatball hero, and though I tend to require veggies on a sandwich, it was damn good. Good choice of rolls on both, and that is so important, which makes it so sad when sandwich chefs overlook the bread. The guys behind the counter were charmingly Jersey. Wait, is that an oxymoron?

I also had fish and chips at Sellwood Pub’s wagon. Two pieces of battered halibut, almost greasy chips, really light and crisp slaw. I will return there, and I am not big on fried food, so that is a significant recommendation from me. Now, I wouldn’t eat fish and chips every day, mind you, but why would I when I have so many choices on a 1500 square foot area. I have yet to try My Sister’s Soup. I am waiting for a rainy day…which, hi, this is Portland, and it has rained like two days in the past three months it seems. I’m confused and sick of watering my garden.

Portland, food carts, food wagons, Chicago, roach coach, mobile restaurants, Sellwood, Chuckwagon BBQ, BBQ, Garden State, Uruapan, Sellwood Pub, My Sister’s Soup