Updated 5/4/2009: Let us note that the all vegan Gorditos II cart is open on weekdays before 5pm and at SE Ankeney and 8th Ave, tucked behind City Bikes.
Date: September 15, 2007
Times visited: 2
When I asked where the infamous taco cart that had vegan options was, I was told it was on the corner of Awesome and Delicious, AKA SE 50th and SE Division, in the parking lot of a Cricket store. I was also told they had the best beans and rice – ever, and I thought,”How awesome can beans and rice be?”
Well, the Taqueria Los Gorditos cart has it all: Burritos, mulitas, nachos, enchiladas, tacos, Follow Your Heart cheese, Soyrizo, Tofutti sour cream and grilled tofu. So many fixins you’d think it was a vegan cart. But, alas, it’s not – they serve animals.
I ordered the Mulita. It was two corn tortillas with Soyrizo, bell peppers, onions, a bit of cheese, cilantro, a side of beans and rice and another of lettuce and tomatoes. The dish was good. I enjoyed all the flavors, though I’m not normally a Soyrizo fan. But that was it, it was good – not what I expected to be at the corner of Awesome and Delicious. Then it hit me. When I was about 3/4 of the way through I couldn’t get the food into my mouth fast enough – the taste was so wonderful.
By the time I got to the last two bites of my beans and rice I muttered, “these are the best ****ing beans and rice – ever.” Since I was eating alone, those around me thought it was a bit loud, but I thought I was being polite since I just wanted to stand on the table and scream it. All of my omni experiences growing up with Tex-Mex had come back to me and my love for the side of refried beans and Mexican rice on a hot plate with just a tiny bit of cheese. This was it – vegan style. Something about the oil seemed to be carrying all the flavors through. But my love didn’t end there.
I was happy with my meal and went along with my evening. The next day I had these intense cravings to get across the city to push as much of Los Gorditos food I could into my mouth. This is by far the best experience I’ve had with Mexican food since living in Oregon and since being vegan. Good job Los Gorditos! Can you please open another cart downtown?
Mulita, to go:
Nachos
Beans, Rice & Avocado with Soyrizo
Tofu Enchiladas:
Tofu Tacos:
Rating: 5 out of 5
Address: SE Division & 50th, Portland
Hours: Open Monday -Saturday for lunch and dinner
22 responses so far ↓
la // October 7, 2007 at 1:41 pm |
hey, um. I just read this on LJ, and really seriously enjoy it a lot.
thank you very much, keep it up. I know what a word of encouragement can do, and I’m offering it here in hopes that it’ll encourage continual posting. muahahaha yeah self-interest. but seriously, keep it up. Or Else.
Megan // October 8, 2007 at 9:06 pm |
Thank you for posting about this place. My mom only eats at small, no frills Mexican joints but I usually can’t find much to eat when I got with her to her favorites. Now I can take her here!
Chad // October 9, 2007 at 11:33 pm |
Just a note from an insider… they have had their meat sales cut in half and replaced by veg orders. So much, that with all the clean-up and prep, it’s costing them a lot more to sell meat. And they’re really at a tipping point where a small increase in the vegan direction could maybe get them to stop selling meat altogether. 1/2 of the family is vegan, including the dad Javier, who makes the beans. Also, I think they’re having vegan plate specials on Fridays now. Pretty rad. Great people.
Erica // October 10, 2007 at 4:39 am |
Wow, 5 out of 5? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that here before.
bikegrrl // October 13, 2007 at 6:16 am |
Oh! I can’t wait to try it! How did I not know about Los Gorditos? I live so close! Thank you for all the insight!
Arabian Breeze « Stumptown Vegans // October 24, 2007 at 1:29 am |
[...] ← Los Gorditos Bye and Bye [...]
No Mofo for Me, but I’m kind of blogging like one « Squirrel’s Vegan Kitchen // November 15, 2007 at 1:09 pm |
[...] finally, my ode to Los Gorditos, the taqueria on the corner of 50th and Division in SE Portland. They have a large vegan menu that [...]
Mazatlan Authentic Mexican Food « Stumptown Vegans // March 25, 2008 at 3:21 am |
[...] Generally we shy away from reviewing burrito joints because: 1) burritos don’t differ too much from one another, 2) there are so many burrito options in Portland, 3) burritos really don’t photograph that well, 4) and, no other Portland burrito can be better than those offered at Los Gorditos. [...]
Episode 1: Favorites « Stumptown Vegans Podcasts // May 10, 2008 at 1:15 am |
[...] Taqueria Los Gorditos [...]
Keep on Let Living « vegan addict // July 2, 2008 at 12:05 pm |
[...] Friday night was a small turnout of people, but there was delicious food from Los Gorditos, and several of the organizers for the conference spoke. Here is the only photo of me I will [...]
The Vegan’s Hundred « BitterSweet // August 21, 2008 at 9:42 pm |
[...] ghanoush 11. Nachos 12. Authentic soba noodles 13. PB&J sandwich 14. Aloo gobi 15. Taco from a street cart 16. Boba Tea 17. Black truffle 18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes 19. Gyoza 20. [...]
the vegan’s hundred « Supercarrotaway’s Weblog // August 22, 2008 at 11:44 pm |
[...] ghanoush 11. Nachos 12. Authentic soba noodles 13. PB&J sandwich 14. Aloo gobi 15. Taco from a street cart 16. Boba Tea 17. Black truffle 18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes 19. Gyoza 20. [...]
Sip « Stumptown Vegans // August 30, 2008 at 1:35 am |
[...] vegan sausage and waffle mating, rice balls, huge portions of Indian food, vegan elephant ears, tacos and now milkshakes, it’s an amazing and freaking delicious time to be vegan in Portland, [...]
the vegan 100 « Sakura’s baking blog // September 13, 2008 at 6:15 am |
[...] ghanoush 11. Nachos 12. Authentic soba noodles 13. PB&J sandwich 14. Aloo gobi 15. Taco from a street cart 16. Boba Tea 17. Black truffle 18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes 19. Gyoza 20. [...]
It’s been, one week… « in-VEG-orator // September 22, 2008 at 10:58 am |
[...] ghanoush 11. Nachos 12. Authentic soba noodles 13. PB&J sandwich 14. Aloo gobi 15. Taco from a street cart 16. Boba Tea 17. Black truffle 18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes 19. Gyoza 20. [...]
New Territories « velo love // September 24, 2008 at 12:31 am |
[...] can catch the bus right in front of both home and work. We’re within site of perhaps the greatest nachos of all time, vegan or non. The houses in our neighborhood are for the most part very uniques and photogenic, [...]
laura // September 26, 2008 at 1:28 am |
I MUST EAT HERE IMMEDIATELY IF NOT TEN MINUTES AGO. ugh, i hate that i don’t live inside this place.
also! i’m starting a vegan city guide to SF. after years of writing reviews on yelp (http://www.shootmeintheface.yelp.com), i’m looking forward to having a blog and writing about eating vegan in SF.
ANYWAY, your blog is awesome and I want to steal er borrow some formatting ideas from you, if possible. Credited, of course. Because I’m no thief! Even if I just admitted to being a theif! I’ll shut up now!
good food // October 30, 2008 at 8:28 am |
Los Gorditos 2 is opening on the 2nd of November. It will be located on 8th and SE Ankeny…….they will have an grand openeing on sunday with free food……..this will be an ALL VEGAN truck….
getsconed // October 30, 2008 at 11:22 pm |
Thanks good food – We have this up in our NEWS section as well!
Spread the word and support this delicious vegan enterprise!
A Guide To Portland’s Food Carts | Portland Metblogs // November 1, 2008 at 5:36 am |
[...] of my personal favorite carts: Potato Champion, India Chaat House, Taqueria Los Gorditos (which Food Carts of Portland needs to review) and Flavour [...]
Bete-Lukas Ethiopian « Stumptown Vegans // January 27, 2009 at 4:27 am |
[...] months now on SE Division Street, located next to North Bar across from the possibly world-renowned Los Gorditos cart. If you can hold in your craving for a giant plate of nachos and pull out a couple more [...]
The Vegan’s Hundred | Bonzai Aphrodite // February 13, 2009 at 9:10 am |
[...] 15) Taco from a street cart [...]