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.
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!
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
- 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
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!
