Tito’s Taquitos is Back!

Tito’s Taquitos which was highlighted by Kat at Portland Monthly last year as Portland’s Must-Try New Taco Cart has re-opened, moving from a small parking lot shared with a few other businesses on SW 46th to a 76 Gas Station parking lot on Southwest Beaverton Hillsdale Highway that no longer has that teal color but offers more space for parking and a small covered eating area and catchy music as you await your crispy taquitos.
Tito's Taquitos Tito's Taquitos

The potato taquitos come by default with Avocado Sauce and toppings of Cabbage, Cilantro, Queso Fresco, Pickled Onions, Radish. Then add on Birria Style beef braised low and slow for hours like you see here…
Tito's Taquitos: Crispy potato taquitos with Avocado Sauce and toppings of Cabbage, Cilantro, Queso Fresco, Pickled Onions, Radish, then add on Birria Style beef braised low and slow for hours. Tito's Taquitos: Crispy potato taquitos with Avocado Sauce and toppings of Cabbage, Cilantro, Queso Fresco, Pickled Onions, Radish, then add on Birria Style beef braised low and slow for hours.

Or choose Shredded Chicken Thighs or Garlic Shrimp or Garbanzo Bean Al Pastor (marinated in a sweet and lightly spicy sauce topped with pineapple) or Mushroom Asada. They offer salsa de arbol, salsa de habanero, and avocado sauce – they need to start bottle that habanero because it was everyone’s favorite! Each order comes with four hand rolled taquitos.
Tito's Taquitos: Crispy potato taquitos with Avocado Sauce and toppings of Cabbage, Cilantro, Queso Fresco, Pickled Onions, Radish, then add on Mushroom Asada

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Moore Food & Company in Moore Alley

Hidden a bit down a little alley between businesses on a block on SE Division, you may discover a little refuge of a food cart or two with an alfresco dining patio. The one anchored by duo family owned Moore Coffee and Moore Food & Company in Moore Alley, is a semi-hidden gem that feels like a living room while still being an outdoor space. There are the hanging lights. The rugs. The cushioned chair. The barber chair. The chessboard. The fire pit. The map of Middle Earth. The TMNT Raphael hanging out where the trays of food come from Moore Food & Co. The display of Crustables and mini-cereal boxes by the coffee van. the lure of Andy Capp’s hot fries. It feels like hanging out at your friend’s house with the interesting roommates when you are just out of college, laid back and comfortable and cool that everyone thinks of as your friend group’s base.
Moore Food & Company has set up a cool dining area that feels like hanging out at your friend's house when you are 22 or 23 Moore Food & Company has set up a cool dining area that feels like hanging out at your friend's house when you are 22 or 23 Moore Food & Company has set up a cool dining area that feels like hanging out at your friend's house when you are 22 or 23 Moore Food & Company has set up a cool dining area that feels like hanging out at your friend's house when you are 22 or 23 Moore Food & Company has set up a cool dining area that feels like hanging out at your friend's house when you are 22 or 23 Moore Food & Company has set up a cool dining area that feels like hanging out at your friend's house when you are 22 or 23

You are welcome to hang out or grab and go as early as 7am on Thursdays-Mondays when Moore Coffee (closed Tu/Wed but check their Instagram for their hours) helps you get your day going with espresso, americanos, cappuccino, latte, regular or iced coffee, or tea or chai, or Liquid Death water. Nothing fancy here, simple and to the point to get you fueled and going.

You can get pastries from Crema Bakery in the little case and the coffee is from Terrain Coffee Project. Oh all your beverages are coming from a 1978 VW Bus, pretty dope. Check their instagram or Sunday Bread Project because you may be lucky and on a first come first serve basis be able to enjoy this bagel and bread pop-up on select days.
Moore Coffee serves up Crema Bakery pastries along with Terrain Coffee Project coffee - basic coffee drinks, no fancy frills here You can sometimes find Sunday Bread Project, a popup of bagels and bread, check her instagram for the time and place

For lunch and beyond, the main food cart Moore & Food Company begins from 12-9 or 10 (8pm Sun, closed Mon/Tu) with what they dub on their menu “The Sh!t” or “Other Sh!t” or “Kid Stuff” along with a bar offering 8 taps of beer or cider, a couple cans and wine and a michelada. The main section of the menu seems to be highlighting the cheesesteaks, which you can order with the regular steak meat or with chicken (or buffalo chicken style) on the gold standard of Cheesesteak, an Amoroso roll. You can get your cheesesteak with American, Provolone, Swiss, or Kraft Cheese Whiz.

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Best PDX Breakfast Sandwich: Fried Egg I’m In Love

Another Portland breakfast sandwich highlight, continuing from previous posts on Portland Penny Diner, Pine State Biscuits and Brunchbox. I’m a fan of egg sandwiches I’m many forms. When it comes to specifically a fried egg sandwiches on bread, I think of Fried Egg I’m In Love. Fried Egg I’m In Love is a food cart located at SE 32nd and Hawthorne offering about 10 sandwiches – well, ok maybe 9 sandwiches and one breakfast burrito. All the Fried Egg I’m In Love sandwiches use toasted sourdough bread from Portland French Bakery, local eggs from Willamette Egg Farms, and when fried the eggs are sprinkled with their special Magic Egg Dust spice blend.
Fried Egg I'm In Love Food cart specializes in toasted sour dough bread egg sandwiches with local bread and eggs. Fried Egg I'm In Love Food cart specializes in toasted sour dough bread egg sandwiches with local bread and eggs. This is the Free-Range Against the Machine, a sandwich with fried egg, avocado, tomato, and havarti cheese.

The sandwiches look and sound simple, but after a few bites maybe 60 seconds later you’ll realize that the sandwich you just held nestled in a it’s paper envelope has been completely devoured and you are powered up for the next agenda item of your day.

Fried Egg I'm In Love Food cart specializes in toasted sour dough bread egg sandwiches with local bread and eggs. This is the Free-Range Against the Machine, a sandwich with fried egg, avocado, tomato, and havarti cheese. Fried Egg I'm In Love Food cart specializes in toasted sour dough bread egg sandwiches with local bread and eggs. This is the Free-Range Against the Machine, a sandwich with fried egg, avocado, tomato, and havarti cheese.

This version is the Fried Egg I’m In Love Free-Range Against the Machine, a sandwich with fried egg, avocado, tomato, and havarti cheese.

Fried Egg I'm In Love Food cart specializes in toasted sour dough bread egg sandwiches with local bread and eggs. This is the Free-Range Against the Machine, a sandwich with fried egg, avocado, tomato, and havarti cheese. Fried Egg I'm In Love Food cart specializes in toasted sour dough bread egg sandwiches with local bread and eggs. This is the Free-Range Against the Machine, a sandwich with fried egg, avocado, tomato, and havarti cheese.

The signature Fried Egg I’m In Love sandwich is the Yolko Ono with fried egg, homemade pesto, parmesan, and a hand-pressed house sausage patty. It’s always a toss up for me which of these two sandwiches I’ve highlighted I will order –  I think Free Range has a more fun combination of textures and flavors, but pesto and breakfast sausage on the Yolko is so savory!
Fried Egg I'm In Love Food cart specializes in toasted sour dough bread egg sandwiches with local bread and eggs. This is their signature sandwich, Yolko Ono with fried egg, homemade pesto, parmesan, and a hand-pressed house sausage patty. Fried Egg I'm In Love Food cart specializes in toasted sour dough bread egg sandwiches with local bread and eggs. This is their signature sandiwch, Yolko Ono with fried egg, homemade pesto, parmesan, and a hand-pressed house sausage patty.

Fried Egg I’m In Love can make any sandwich gluten free (using Udi’s Gluten Free bread) and/or vegetarian – they also have vegetarian SortaSausage. Other breakfast meats include ham and bacon. Spice it up with Sriracha or their aardvark aioli. You can dine there as they have a covered outdoor dining area, or even get their sandwiches to go, or delivered via Postmates.

What do you like to add to your fried egg sandwich? Do you like fried egg sandwiches on Sourdough bread like this, or what is your bread vehicle of choice?

Fried Egg I'm in Love Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Thick, Chicago Pizza in Portland

I’ve been living in Portland for about 6 years, but I am still quite loyal to Chicago style pizza. When I went to Chicago for my sister’s wedding, there was no time for Chicago style pizza, so I had to rectify that when I returned.

I’ve generally been eating the deep dish pizza of Via Chicago, which I can conveniently find only a few blocks away from me on Saturday at the Portland Farmers Market, or at their brick and mortar restaurant at 2013 NE Alberta (I admit I haven’t visited yet). Via Chicago has a buttery like dough to their pizza that reminds me a bit of of my favorite pizza vendor, Lou Malnati’s although without all of the great Buttercrust taste that cannot be replicated because Lou Malnati’s is just legendary. The Via Chicago pie dough also is a bit reminiscent to me of Pizzeria Uno but not as greasy. The pizza goes lighter on sauce on top rather than the traditional drenched layer.

A look at Via Chicago’s pizza for comparison:
Portland Farmers Market PSU, Via Chicago, chicago style pizza Via Chicago, chicago style pizza which catered the Watch Dog release part at the Microsoft store Portland Farmers Market PSU, Via Chicago, chicago style pizza

But, there has been a new deep dish Chicago pizza entrant to the Portland scene, and I felt obliged to give them a try. Thick is a food cart located at SW 9th & Washington. They handmake all their pies, so they only have a limited supply until they run out for the day, and when you arrive at the cart, depending on what it’s in the oven, that may be your only choice. For instance, when I stopped by they only had their sausage pizza ready.

Because these pizzas are thick deep dish, they all take longer to heat – this is true getting Chicago pizza in Chicago, so no different here in getting Chicago pizza in Portland, so keep that in mind that there will be a slight wait for your hot slice too.
Thick pizza cart, serving Chicago style pizza much like Giordano's Thick pizza cart, serving Chicago style pizza much like Giordano's

One thing Thick has over Via Chicago is the heft of the true Chicago pizza – one slice weighs down the small pizza to go container and takes up the whole thing. It also has the generous layer of tomato sauce and gloopy with cheese that you would expect from a true Chicago pizza on top, so that you are forced to eat this pizza like a pie, with a knife and fork. If you try to pick it up, it will just flop with its heavy load of toppings. This is unlike the Via Chicago pizza, which you can still pick up.

In my opinion, the dough for the pizza is not as good as Via Chicago because it’s not as buttery, but when it comes to all the toppings, Thick gets it exactly right, especially the tang of that tomato sauce and the thicker crust that you can eat like a chewy breadstick reward, something Via Chicago lacks. To me, the Thick pizza is reminiscent of Chicago pizza classic Giordano’s.
Thick pizza cart, serving Chicago style pizza much like Giordano's

As extra credit, Thick also offers Chicago style hot dogs! If you don’t want to risk missing out, call and pre-order.

Honestly, I would recommend either of these deep dish Chicago pizza places to get your fix in Portland. If you are Chicago-an like me, hopefully my examples that compare them to the pizza joints in Chicago can help you decide which one you want to try!

Thick pizza cart, serving Chicago style pizza much like Giordano's

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Phat Cart

Phat Cart is a cute little food cart that has two locations, one by PSU at SW 4th and College, and also a location in Hillsdale at SW Capital Highway and Sunset Boulevard. So there, you readers who don’t want to navigate trying to find parking during the lunch rush and being downtown, the Hillsdale location is part of cart pod that is easier perhaps for you. Though honestly, parking by that pod at SW 4th and College isn’t too bad either.
Phat Cart is a cute little food cart that has two locations, one by PSU at SW 4th and College, and also a location in Hillsdale at SW Capital Highway and Sunset Boulevard. This is the cart at the PSU pod

And, one of the things that made me want to highlight this cart are their longer hours than many, as they are open from lunch until dinner, 11-7 Monday – Friday and 11-4 on Saturday. If you visit at lunchtime, they offer free dumplings (they have teriyaki glazed dumplings on their regular menu) from 11-2 every weekday. What a deal!

Also, I think I gobbled down Phat Cart’s dish of Crispy Chicken, a fried chicken breast, zucchini, with lime aioli and all served over rice in a bento bowl style in like 10 minutes or less, it was so tasty!
Phat Cart's dish of Crispy Chicken, a fried chicken breast, zucchini, with lime aioli and all served over rice in a bento bowl style

You see, although Phat Cart is a Thai cart, their menu is more original in their offerings, which include bento bowls which have rice topped with various types of protein. The choices include
Phat Cart Menu. Phat Cart is a cute little food cart that has two locations, one by PSU at SW 4th and College, and also a location in Hillsdale at SW Capital Highway and Sunset Boulevard. This is the cart at the PSU pod.

  • Crispy Chicken, a fried chicken breast, zucchini, with lime aioli
  • Stewed Pork, cooked in pineapple gravy with zucchini, kewpie mayo and scallions
  • Oven Roasted Chicken with zucchini and choice of either teriyaki or sweet chili sauce
  • Orange Chicken that is the fried chicken breast and zucchini drizzled with orange peel sauce
  • Larb Gai Tod, a Thai Style crispy chicken salad that includes crushed roasted rice, shallots, scallions, and spicy lime vinaigrette dressing

Phat Cart's dish of Crispy Chicken, a fried chicken breast, zucchini, with lime aioli and all served over rice in a bento bowl style Phat Cart's dish of Crispy Chicken, a fried chicken breast, zucchini, with lime aioli and all served over rice in a bento bowl style

They also have a few Americanized adaptions of their ingredients but still using a Thai flavor palate, just served in a more Western vehicle to your mouth besides with rice:

  • Mr Miyagi Sandwich: their crispy chicken with romaine, avocado, fresh tomatoes and lime aioli with potato chip side
  • Samurai Sandwich: stewed pork, sauteed zucchini, fresh tomato, kewpie mayo with potato chip side
  • Avocado Chicken Salad: fried chicken breast, tomato, romaine, avocado and lime aioli dressing

If you are vegetarian, they also have veggie spring rolls and fried tofu that you can substitute instead.

I was tempted to get their special desert, but didn’t have enough room- they have a Roti, a pan fried Indian dough with pandan vanilla custard and condensed milk. Although this is an adaption of Indian food, this is very common street food in Thailand, and my sisters and I often specifically go looking for it when we’re in the markets to have at least one time whenever we visit Thailand. The taste is a little bit similar to a combination of elephant ear and doughnut but in an Asian sweetened way thanks to the condensed milk.

If you can’t, don’t miss out on this hard to find Thai dessert here in Portland!

A look at the thoughtful touch of their sticker logo on the to go bowl of Phat Cart, a food cart at the PSU pod Phat Cart's dish of Crispy Chicken, a fried chicken breast, zucchini, with lime aioli and all served over rice in a bento bowl style

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