Master Kong’s Breakfast

Now that the weather is cooling off, just a friendly reminder that there is more to breakfast and brunch options then fried chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and the like. There is also Asian breakfast! One hole in the wall spot which has already gotten much media love and foodie love last year (including WW’s newcomer of the year for 2018) is Master Kong’s. Have you been recently? Here’s a look at some of the items I recommend to warm you up at a Master Kong’s Breakfast.

The location of Master Kong’s is where most of the homey Chinese restaurants are now – SE 82nd, specifically at 8435 SE Division St, 9:30 AM – 9 PM Tuesday-Sunday. You’ll find parking along the streets. Keep your eyes out – the Mr. Kong in the sign name is not that big and there is more emphasis listing some of the food they offer instead on the signage.
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland

Nothing fancy looking inside in terms of decor, you may even find yourself at communal seatings. Because of the press despite the non-descript exterior Master Kong’s has a reputation so there may be small wait during peak hours. Service can sometimes be a bit languid and require you to flag someone down, but once you put your order in the food is appears quickly, steaming, fresh, comforting.
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland with steaming dumplings

I’m a fan of wonton noodle soup – it has the best of all worlds, soup, noodles, and dumplings right?
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland with wonton noodle soup

Don’t miss out on the sauces on the counter by the kitchen to add a few layers of flavors to the soups and dumplings, and especially the congee (like this salted rib congee). Congee is an Asian rice porridge which like oatmeal or grits, benefits from additions. I like additionally ordering the youtiao or fried dough bars to dip into the congee.
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland with salted rib congee

If you want to eat something with something other then a spoon, get the jianbing – generally like a stuffed crepe but crispier, and here filled generously almost like an Asian burrito.
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland with jianbing

Have you had Asian breakfast or brunch before?

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Bing Mi Food Cart

When it starts into the winter season, I always try to make extra effort to support a local Portland food cart if I can because it’s a hard time for them. They are still staying up late/getting up early to prep the food, but then seeing so many less people come out because of the colder/rainier weather.

While all customers do is endure running out there to grab the food and then bring it back to eat, the food cart owners are left all day in their small food cart abode, just looking out into the grey skies and feeling perhaps the sideways wind blow into them if they are unlucky. If they are lucky, they might have a little window to try to build up a little warmth while they are waiting for customers, but as soon as they slide it open to welcome you, remember all that is gone!
Bing Mi! Authentic Chinese Wraps from a cart in Portland. A jianbing is a savory crepe with scrambled egg, black bean paste, chili sauce, green onion, cilantro, pickled vegetables, and wonton cracker. You can get extra egg or extra cracker, or add sausage to your jian bing if you'd like. Bing Mi! Authentic Chinese Wraps from a cart in Portland. A jianbing is a savory crepe with scrambled egg, black bean paste, chili sauce, green onion, cilantro, pickled vegetables, and wonton cracker. You can get extra egg or extra cracker, or add sausage to your jian bing if you'd like.

Bing Mi! food cart, located at SW 3rd and Ash (UPDATE: it seems now they are moving to SW 9th & Alder and will be there starting next week) specializes in one main dish: JianBing.
Bing Mi! Authentic Chinese Wraps from a cart in Portland. A jianbing is a savory crepe with scrambled egg, black bean paste, chili sauce, green onion, cilantro, pickled vegetables, and wonton cracker. You can get extra egg or extra cracker, or add sausage to your jian bing if you'd like. Bing Mi! Authentic Chinese Wraps from a cart in Portland. A jianbing is a savory crepe with scrambled egg, black bean paste, chili sauce, green onion, cilantro, pickled vegetables, and wonton cracker. You can get extra egg or extra cracker, or add sausage to your jian bing if you'd like.

Jianbing (or jian bing) is a crepe like snack that is popular in Northern Chinese cities. You get it from streetside stalls, so it seems a perfect fit to be a food cart in Portland. In China people eat it for breakfast, as a snack, or after drinking.

A jianbing by Bing Mi! includes scrambled egg, black bean paste, chili sauce, green onion, cilantro, pickled vegetables, and big flat pieces of wonton cracker. You get a choice of spiciness to the chili sauce. Also, you can get extra egg or extra cracker, or add sausage to your bing if you’d like. Without the extra protein a jianbing is a light meal. Really jianbing can be filled with anything, so I wonder if over time we might see more special additions available.
Bing Mi! Authentic Chinese Wraps from a cart in Portland. A jianbing is a savory crepe with scrambled egg, black bean paste, chili sauce, green onion, cilantro, pickled vegetables, and wonton cracker. You can get extra egg or extra cracker, or add sausage to your jian bing if you'd like.

When you get it made fresh, it is bundled up in paper so you can hold it and warm both hands as you are enjoying the soft and crispy textures with every bite.

Bing Mi! has only been open barely a month, and I appreciate that they are bringing something unique to the food cart scene. They are open 7:30 to 3:00, which is perfect for a breakfast or lunch that you can eat on the go!

Have you ever heard of jianbing before? 

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