Food Carts in Food Carts in PortlandPortland

The downtown area of Portland is scattered The downtown area of Portland is scattered with small food carts. Many of them are only with small food carts. Many of them are only

open for lunches during the work week, open for lunches during the work week, Monday thru Friday. They provide a quick and Monday thru Friday. They provide a quick and

cheap alternative to eating in a restaurant. cheap alternative to eating in a restaurant. Not only do they provide international cuisine, Not only do they provide international cuisine, they also showcase Portland’s diverse ethnic they also showcase Portland’s diverse ethnic

community.community.

Also, here is a link to web site that shows you Also, here is a link to web site that shows you where the food carts a scattered throughout where the food carts a scattered throughout

Portland. Portland. food cart mapfood cart map

Here is just a sample of the variety of carts and the food Here is just a sample of the variety of carts and the food they provide. There are carts with food from Russia, they provide. There are carts with food from Russia,

Vietnam, Germany, Poland, Greece, Tibet, Vietnam, Germany, Poland, Greece, Tibet, Czechoslovakia, Japan, and even Peru.Czechoslovakia, Japan, and even Peru.

Indian FoodIndian Food There are many Indian food

carts in Portland. My favorite is the New Taste of India. Here is a sample of some of my favorite menu items.

Chicken Curry: Tender pieces of chicken that are prepared in a flavorful, full-bodied, yet mildly spicy sauce.

Naan (plain)Naan (plain):: Leavened white Leavened white bread made from fine flour and bread made from fine flour and individually baked in our oven.individually baked in our oven.

Rice PilafRice Pilaf:: Our specialty rice is Our specialty rice is prepared with green peas & spices.prepared with green peas & spices.

Mixed VegetablesMixed Vegetables:: A mixed array A mixed array of garden vegetables that are mildly of garden vegetables that are mildly spiced & cooked to a delicate spiced & cooked to a delicate firmness.firmness.

Thai FoodThai Food

Menu:

Salad Rolls are $3

All other dishes are $5 and come with a choice of chicken, tofu, or shrimp. Also included is your choice of drink and your choice of steamed white rice, brown rice, or rice noodles (thin or wide).

Curries: Red with Peanut, Red, Green, YellowStir-fries: Ginger & Mushroom, Garlic, Spicy Basil, Veggie

Fried Rice: Regular, Spicy Basil, Pineapple, Chili & Cashew

Specials: Spicy Asparagus, Spicy Mango, Green Young Coconut Curry, Pumpkin Red Curry, Pineapple Curry,

Lemon Grass Marinated Chicken

There are also many Thai food food carts in Portland. There are also many Thai food food carts in Portland. The menu below presents some typical dishes and The menu below presents some typical dishes and

prices. prices.

Mexican FoodMexican FoodThe Mexican food carts provide an array of foods including tacos, The Mexican food carts provide an array of foods including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salads, soups, nachos, stuffed chiles, and burritos, quesadillas, salads, soups, nachos, stuffed chiles, and sandwiches. There are many delicious options to choose from.sandwiches. There are many delicious options to choose from.

Take a look at some of the delicious Mexican Take a look at some of the delicious Mexican food they offer. Yum!food they offer. Yum!

Food Cart ReviewsFood Cart Reviews How do you know which carts have the best food for the best price? How do you know which carts have the best food for the best price?

There are many reviews available on-line, as well as in local There are many reviews available on-line, as well as in local newspapers. These reviews also tell you where the carts are located newspapers. These reviews also tell you where the carts are located and their hours of operation. Below is a sample review of “Soup and their hours of operation. Below is a sample review of “Soup Spoons”.Spoons”.

Location:Location: The corner of Main Street and Fifth St. The corner of Main Street and Fifth St.

Description:Description: ““Soup Spoons” serves soups, salads and a few different kinds of Soup Spoons” serves soups, salads and a few different kinds of

sandwiches. Everything looks fresh and nicely prepared. My chicken sandwiches. Everything looks fresh and nicely prepared. My chicken noodle soup was delicious. It had large chunks of chicken breast and noodle soup was delicious. It had large chunks of chicken breast and a perfectly seasoned broth. Also, my bread was fresh baked. a perfectly seasoned broth. Also, my bread was fresh baked. However, they might need to vary the soups a bit more. One Friday However, they might need to vary the soups a bit more. One Friday they only had dairy based soups; a corn chowder, a potato cheese, they only had dairy based soups; a corn chowder, a potato cheese, and a clam chowder. and a clam chowder.

Cups of soup with bread are $3.50, bowls of soup are $4.50. Salads, Cups of soup with bread are $3.50, bowls of soup are $4.50. Salads, including a great tortilla salad, are $4.50. A soup and salad including a great tortilla salad, are $4.50. A soup and salad combination is available for $6.00.combination is available for $6.00.

Sandwiches are all $5.00. I recommend the chicken and vegetable Sandwiches are all $5.00. I recommend the chicken and vegetable

sandwiches.sandwiches.

HoursHours: : Monday thru Friday 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM.Monday thru Friday 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

ControversyControversyWho wouldn’t want food carts? A few years ago a group tried to close down Who wouldn’t want food carts? A few years ago a group tried to close down the downtown food carts, claiming that they provided unfair competition to the downtown food carts, claiming that they provided unfair competition to restaurants. Below is an article taken from a local newspaperrestaurants. Below is an article taken from a local newspaper..

The customers fight backThe customers fight back Patrons say they want downtown food carts to stay in businessPatrons say they want downtown food carts to stay in business

Owners of the city’s downtown food trailers say their customers are so passionate about Owners of the city’s downtown food trailers say their customers are so passionate about eating the fast-food offerings that more than 3,000 of them have signed a petition to eating the fast-food offerings that more than 3,000 of them have signed a petition to keep the trailers in business. Chris Shenk said the owners intend to take the petition to keep the trailers in business. Chris Shenk said the owners intend to take the petition to City Hall in case new regulations against them are persued. "What we’re trying to do is City Hall in case new regulations against them are persued. "What we’re trying to do is get a voice out there and show there is support so the City Council will know we exist," get a voice out there and show there is support so the City Council will know we exist," said Shenk.said Shenk.

Greek Cusina owner Ted Papas threatened last week to get the trailers outlawed. But on Greek Cusina owner Ted Papas threatened last week to get the trailers outlawed. But on Tuesday, he said he is backing away from his earlier demands after a public outcry. Tuesday, he said he is backing away from his earlier demands after a public outcry. Still, Papas has started a new business group called FARE (Formal Association of Still, Papas has started a new business group called FARE (Formal Association of Restaurant Entrepreneurs) to fight what he sees as "unfair competition" between Restaurant Entrepreneurs) to fight what he sees as "unfair competition" between restaurants and food trailers offering downtown lunch fare. restaurants and food trailers offering downtown lunch fare.

Papas said restaurants have to pay taxes and meet city regulatory codes for sprinklers Papas said restaurants have to pay taxes and meet city regulatory codes for sprinklers and signs. while the trailers escape such restrictions. "People out there think I’m a and signs. while the trailers escape such restrictions. "People out there think I’m a villain," Papas stated, "This is unfair competition. It’s an issue that has to be addressed. villain," Papas stated, "This is unfair competition. It’s an issue that has to be addressed. It can be resolved behind closed doors with members of this organization and the It can be resolved behind closed doors with members of this organization and the Downtown Retail Council. "Food trailers are one of many issues we are facing. I think Downtown Retail Council. "Food trailers are one of many issues we are facing. I think the city will listen. We need some changes, like restrictions on the number of trailers in the city will listen. We need some changes, like restrictions on the number of trailers in a parking lot." a parking lot." Continued on the Continued on the next pagenext page

The battle between Papas and trailer owners has gotten personal, with several The battle between Papas and trailer owners has gotten personal, with several of the latter circulating an 18-page handout of the Greek Cusina’s health of the latter circulating an 18-page handout of the Greek Cusina’s health violations for the last five years. It includes a series of violations, ranging from violations for the last five years. It includes a series of violations, ranging from rat droppings in flour to undercooked chicken and beef. An upset Papas said rat droppings in flour to undercooked chicken and beef. An upset Papas said the violations are public information that any costumer can find online. "It’s a the violations are public information that any costumer can find online. "It’s a public record, nothing secret about it," he said. "If someone wants to discredit public record, nothing secret about it," he said. "If someone wants to discredit me, they can go to the Internet and find out. This is not a personal fight with me me, they can go to the Internet and find out. This is not a personal fight with me and any of the trailers."and any of the trailers."

The trailers — which serve everything from black bean burritos to noodles in The trailers — which serve everything from black bean burritos to noodles in peanut sauce — pay anywhere from $450 to $750 a month in rent, two to three peanut sauce — pay anywhere from $450 to $750 a month in rent, two to three times what a car owner would pay for the space. Papas said the parking lots times what a car owner would pay for the space. Papas said the parking lots should be devoted only to cars, not food service.should be devoted only to cars, not food service.

"We have brought an awareness and concern," Papas said. "A lot of restaurants "We have brought an awareness and concern," Papas said. "A lot of restaurants know it is unfair competition. We have to stop the expansion, the multiplying of know it is unfair competition. We have to stop the expansion, the multiplying of these trailers." Some neighboring business owners agree that the trailers are these trailers." Some neighboring business owners agree that the trailers are tough competition but bristle at Papas’ suggestion to ban them. "They have a tough competition but bristle at Papas’ suggestion to ban them. "They have a right to be there," stated restaurant owner Steve Smith. "Obviously, it hurts my right to be there," stated restaurant owner Steve Smith. "Obviously, it hurts my business, too, but I’m not going to pull some stupid maneuver to put them out of business, too, but I’m not going to pull some stupid maneuver to put them out of business. I let my customers decide on their own." Smith concedes that if not for business. I let my customers decide on their own." Smith concedes that if not for the trailers, he would make another $75 to $100 a day. There’s also a Starbucks the trailers, he would make another $75 to $100 a day. There’s also a Starbucks across Fourth Avenue, but, as he put it, "I’m not going to try to get them out of across Fourth Avenue, but, as he put it, "I’m not going to try to get them out of there. They’re just shutting (the trailers) down because they don’t like them. there. They’re just shutting (the trailers) down because they don’t like them. They’re not doing anything illegal, just selling stuff."They’re not doing anything illegal, just selling stuff."