~

When the Perierra Creperie cart opened, I had no doubt it would one day offer vegan crepes.  It seemed like a natural evolution in that SE Portland parking lot filled with carts.  Sure enough, the announcement came this spring on the Food Fight! blog and the cart quickly caught the attention of the Portland vegans.

You can see the French specialty prepared promptly for each order through the large glass windows of this contemporary member of the “could it be any more popular?” cart village at SE 12^th and Hawthorne.  There are both sweet and savory crepes, with a couple of vegan menu specials posted in the window and the ‘Make Your Own’ option.  Off the bat, these crepes are not the soft and thin crepes you’ve had before, or dreamt of after seeing Amelie too many times.  All vegan crepes at Perierra are also gluten free, with a batter based of rice and chickpea flours. This combination of allergen awareness and the vegan hook-up  is both convenient and touching, especially for the gluten free vegans in your life.  Besides passing on the rice cake pizzas my aunt would subject my celiac cousin to when we were younger, I’m eager to try new things and include gluten free meals into my vegan life.

The winner of the savory vs. sweet vegan crepe decision is absolutely the savory. The slightly earthy and somewhat crispy crepe layers work best with the savory ingredients.  I’ve tried two savory crepes ($8); one had tofutti cream cheese, fresh spinach, sautéed mushrooms, and roasted red peppers, and another brought decadent mole sauce to the mix, minus the peppers.  Your initial bite of crepe may take you by surprise if you’re not one to stock up on chickpea flour, but once you hit the notable filling, the curiosity starts to shed.  The mole sauce mixed with tofutti cream cheese is my favorite component because of how remarkable the flavor of the sauce is.  I’d like to see even more savory fillings stand against the alternative crepe – think curry, spiced potatoes, and roasted garlic – they’d all hold their own like the mole does.

The ‘Make Your Own’ sweet crepe ($6) I had featured fragrantly inviting melted chocolate, fresh strawberries, and blueberries.  While the filling was lovely, the actual crepe distracted me here.  A friend of mine raves about a banana and rum crepe she ordered, and I’ve made a mental note to try it, but my recommendation remains with the savory.  Perierra also has a shake menu that taunts me with the Coconut, Basil, and Avocado, in particular, but none are vegan.  There is an invigorating and filling berry based fruit smoothie ($5); just block all thoughts of that amazing shake from your mind and remember that Sip exists.

The crepes themselves are quite large, and I’ve shared on all my visits.  I would not order an entire one for myself.  At $6-8 per crepe, splitting is also a way to preserve your cash flow, especially if this is a late night stop.  The staff is sweet and happy to help personalize your crepe, and speedy with the actual crepe making.  You can take your folded pancake to go, sit at the picnic tables populating the cart, or even on the ground; this former parking lot is a place for impromptu late night picnics.   As a vegan, I’m giving Perrierra major credit for adding a homemade, vegan, and gluten free crepe to its menu.  Their vegan crepes are a considerate addition to French fries, fried pies and Soyrizo burritos in that magical cart village.  And I swear, every crepe I’ve tried has been better than the last.

Sweet Crepe:

Expect a better photo of a savory vegan crepe soon! If anyone has one, we’re happy to include it.

Check out the Village Creperey cart and Tour de Crepes for more vegan crepe options in town.

UPDATED 6/11/2009

We have received the tragic word that Nhut Quang has closed in its current location.  We had an update in the works for this review, as one Stumptown Vegan really found herself falling for this charmingly nondescript, delicious restaurant during the past year.  I am sorry this update did not make it in time.  In particular, this reviewer has this to say about #19, RIP, the BBQ Roasted Gluten:

The tender and chewy gluten featured in this Vietnamese dish is unlike any I’ve encountered elsewhere. Mingling with green onions, a unique BBQ sauce, and served with brown rice, it was instantly my new favorite dish in town.  The owner is a passionate, friendly vegan Buddhist who is a treat to talk to, and support.  The vegan eggrolls, Vietnamese crepe, Roasted Gluten bun and classic pho are all recommended as well.

The Stumptown Vegans will notifiy you if we hear about the owner opening a new restaurant.

Time Visited: 2

Often referred to as Van Hanh’s NE sibling, 1. because I am sure I’d slaughter the name if I said it out loud and, 2. because the menu is similar.

If Nhut Quang was being judged only on atmosphere they would be in trouble. This little restaurant is connected to a gas station on NE Fremont and NE 82nd, between Honey Suckles and Pussycats, if you know your East side gentlemen’s clubs. The first time we visited we missed it because it didn’t seem like a likely location. Even once we entered it still didn’t seem like a likely location. Being the only people it felt very lonely. The walls are each different shades of green and blue without any other decoration besides a lone clock – ticking. If there was any other noise than the kitchen, like some music, the clock wouldn’t be a problem. The tick-tok of each movement reminded us of our mortality. After the second visit we decided it’s too uncomfortable to go back, but we would order our food to-go.

We’ve ordered just a sampling of the vast menu – Bird’s Nest Noodles, Pho, summer rolls, steamed bun, potato rolls, tofu dishes, and a combo. The sign boasts all vegan so we went for it all. All the food reminded me of the SE 82nd Asian market, Fubonn, from the mass amount of fake meats to the noodles and the sauces. It didn’t seem fresh or unique, but straight from a plastic wrapped package or bottle.

The Pho had a gritty broth as if a vegetable bullion has just been dissolved in boiling water. Then a round package of noodles was placed in, followed by some vegetables, fake meat, served with some fresh herbs. A similar recipe followed the other dishes. This isn’t to say the dishes weren’t good, they just weren’t fresh like the dishes at Pho Green Papaya or Bay Leaf ’s quality.

The dishes were good in a cheap Vietnamese restaurant way, which is perfect because that’s what Nhut Quang is – Vietnamese and cheap. The steamed buns were good, as were the salad rolls. Unfortunately, there’s not much to say about them. It’s the kind of food I used to eat when I’d drop by a Vietnamese friend’s house unexpected and she’d cook up something quickly.

This isn’t to say that I wouldn’t go back, it’s just located father from my house than I’d prefer to go for Vietnamese food. I could list off other places I’d recommend, but if Nhut Quang was in my neighborhood, I’d visit more often. If Nhut Quang is in your neighborhood, or you’re a big fan of Fubbon or Van Hanh – check this place out and help me fill in the gaps as to why I don’t have much to say about the food.

Pho:

Bird’s Nest:

Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce:

Steamed Potato Bun:

Potato Rolls:

Fried Tofu:

Broccoli Combo:

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Location: 3438 NE 82nd Ave. Portland, OR 97213
Hours: Mon-Tue and Thus-Sat 9am-9pm, Closed Wednesday, Sun 10am-9pm

SoupCycle may not be a restaurant, but  a food delivery service offering vegan options so it’s on our radar. SoupCycle is owned by two Portland entrepreneurs, Jed and Shauna, who started delivering soup, salad, and bread to close-in SE Portlanders last year and have since expanded their delivery area to include most of inner Portland, and their staff, to three. Check out their map to see if you within their boundary, also known as Souplandistan.

The soupy duo has built a simple business model of supplying soup to soup-loving Portlanders, also known as Soupatarians. On their website you can sign up for a Soupscription and select the soup you want delivered the following week – vegan, vegetarian, or meat for $4.50, for 16 oz. and $9 for 1 quart. You can add a salad ($4) or bread ($1) to the delivery for an additional charge. An oder of a 16 oz. vegan soup and an order of bread is enough for an enjoyable meal for one. If you prefer large portions, order the quart, or the soup, salad, and bread.

Delivered for $7, my weekly order is a 16 ounce vegan soup and two pieces of bead. Deliveries are made Tuesday and Wednesday, depending on your location. In full disclosure,  I was pretty unhappy with my first order due to the delivery time being “sometime during the day”, no specific time, even after a phone call, but I have since found great love for SoupCycle and have moved past this.  If you’re smarter than me then on your first delivery you will not expect the soup to be delivered at lunch or dinnertime specifically, or even hot because you will have read their full FAQ on their website. The cold soup will be delivered in a plastic container sometime on the assigned day for you to reheat later. Their cute website will explain all this in detail including the perfect reheat temperature. If you will not be home during the delivery, some soupatarians leave a cooler for their soup to remain fresh on their porch.

The soups usually have cute names and contain mostly local, organic ingredients. I have sampled the following: Coconut Curry Carrot, Won’t You Bean My Neighbor, Coconut Yum, Potato Kale, The Cumin Chihuahua, and French Lentil. All soups come with a label listing the ingredients and an “enjoy by” date. Freezing and thawing soups has not been a problem for the taste or texture of the soups. If I was a low-sodium food coinnesseur I would appreciate  the mild salt within each soup, but being a spice-wimp I do like the mild heat. If they could deliver a vial of fancy sea salt and hot sauce to match the soup then all would be pleased, but I understand that’s not possible to please all. Throw in your own flavored salt and heat and let these two additions bring out the flavors of all the spices.

The Curry Carrot and French Lentil soups have been my favorite so far because of their combination of strong spices. The Curry Carrot is a sweet and spicey soup, hastfully blended with coconut milk so it’s not entirely drinkable but perfectly slurpable. The French Lentil is thick with firm lentils in a tomato, red wine vinegar broth. This soup surprised me because the pleasant mustard flavor that was not overwhelming, instead it was warming and very much complimented the earthy lentil taste.

The bread is amazing in a chewy, rustic way. This was my first experience with Little T American Baker, and I cannot wait to visit this Clinton neighborhood bakery. The slices have been inconsistent in size, so savor evey bite.  I suggest toasting it before enjoying. The salad has been less than stellar more than once so I’ve since skipped ordering this addition. The mixed greens, shredded carrots, sunflower seeds, and tomatoes have always been freash and crisp, but the bean sprouts on top have come soggy and slimy. Other weeks salads have had dried cranberries in lew of slimy bean sprouts.  The salad is worth ordering for the dressing alone. It is an addictive nutritional yeast and tahini sauce, somewhat reminiscent of Yumm sauce or The Whole Bowl sauce in its ability to encourage plate licking entertaining both the sweet and tangy taste buds.

There is a $3 delivery charge for orders under $18. If you live with many people, or can get enough co-workers together to order soup, then it will be free.  You can pay for your Soupscription in person when  it’s delivered (assuming you’re available all day) or on a reoccurring payment plan with a credit card. Soups do need to be ordered the Friday before the delivery, so plan ahead.

SoupCycle’s stance for building a sustainable business is admirable and I can’t wait for their switch to soup delivered in returnable mason jars over plastic containers, which is planned. SoupCycle will add to your love of Portland with their local and organic food, bike delivery, and entrepreneural spirit. Other soup options or downtown delivery options include: No Fish Go Fish, Savor Soup House Cart, Portland Soup Company, just to name a few.  Or if you’re intregued by thhe rise of local companies delivering products by bike, check out this Bike Portland resource.

Jed and his transport:

Salad:

Coconut Yum:

The Cumin Chihuahua (corn tortilla not delivered by SoupCycle):

Lentil:

Potato Kale:

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Whatever side of the original India Chaat House break up you were on, or couldn’t care less about, the new Bombay Chaat House is where the more reliably delicious lunch special is being served. Three lunch visits have brought about this confirmation that was more like a revelation, for a former India Chaat House (ICH) groupie, no less.  Check out the comments on this Portland Food Carts post for more talk on the split.

Hungry and coming up to the corner of SW 12th and Yamhill, you’re faced with two options.  The original ICH, a dear cart that was our first review ever, and the bold red and green newcomer to its left.  The old co-owner, Avtar, of the original cart and her family opened this new cart next to the ICH, which is under new management.  The two Big Big Big Lunch Specials I’ve experienced at the original, since the split, have been alright, but I have to admit that overall the food was blander and and lacked spice, the naan was tougher, and the rice just wasn’t the same.  I don’t know if they were simply using a cheaper variety of rice or Abtar took the magic spices with her, but it wasn’t something my fork wanted to return to.

My first lunch special ($5.00) from the Bombay Chaat House (BCC) was served quickly by a friendly young man I’ve seen before at the original ICH, and it almost blew my mind how much better it was than my last two meals on that block.  It had the same components as its neighbors, naturally: it was served in a plastic container, it was gigantic, there was naan, three dishes and rice.  Yet never before had I thought, “I could eat a bowl of this thick Dal Tarka”, but here the thought crossed my mind.  The rice was fluffy, the portion of deep spinach Saag was generous, and the Aloo Channa was wonderfully saucy and the best version of the dish I could remember in years.  And the naan – it was better than any I’d had before in my life! It was tender, warm, and on top of that, it was huge.  I ripped off a piece, dipped it in the complimentary, obligatory hot sauce, moved onto the Aloo Channa and my day improved.  Both of my subsequent visits featured similar lunch specials of fantastic quality.  On one visit, there was a non-vegan Palak Paneer component, but it was subbed with additional flavorsome Vegetable Masala, consisting of peas, carrots, cauliflower, and more.  I’ve heard from other cart-goers that they’ve seen more all-vegan specials and the cart has made vegan versions on the spot of other dishes.

Besides the obvious, thrilling jump-in quality, let’s face facts – BCC is blatantly cutting its competitor’s set lunch price by 50 cents and was the first to offer complimentary small cups of soy chai with each order, which the original cart is now doing.  Not to mention there are extra outdoor tables here, offering you the choice of sitting under the small roof or outside at a cute table for one or two.  

Again, despite the controversy, it makes sense that you’ll see customers, such as myself, deciding on the all vegetarian Indian cart with a cheaper, higher quality lunch special.  You can see where my vote lies, but I’m not ruling out the original entirely.  Check them both out, try some meals from the rest of the menu, and see if one has something you like more than the other and switch things up! If you think one cart has tastier pakoras or chaat items, don’t be shy about it. The Stumptown Vegans think the ICH made amazing garlic naan that we’ve raved repeatedly, but we’ve yet to see how BCC compares.  If there’s enough support, why not see both of these carts thrive?  

$5 Lunch Special:

 The cart:

Basha’s Mediterranean Cuisine has two locations downtown – the first, a cart at PSU by the Smith Memorial Union, and the second, a small walk-in location on SW 6th and Pine. The second store might as well be a cart because if there are more than 3-4 people inside ordering, the line continues outside. This location does have an interesting walk-up window but I have not seen it in use. The staff have always been very helpful to this reviewer by being happy to inform patrons of ingredients. I’ve had no problems asking for items to be made vegan.

There are four items on the menu to note include: the Falafel Sandwich, Lentil Soup, Vegetarian Mezza, and Spinach Pie. The Falafel, Lentil Soup, and Mezza are typical Lenanese meals, nothing that stands above the rest. I do not visit Basha’s often for downtown lunch because of the price, $6-10, to food ratio, and average taste of the Vegetarian Mezza with the soggy grape leaves — that was until I tried a Spinach Pie for only $4.

The Falafel is your typical fried chickpea patty snuggly tucked into a pita blanket with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. The tahini sauce does contain dairy, so stay clear. I recommend ordering it with hummus or not-so-creamy Baba Ganoush to add the moisture element removed by the tahini. The thing that bothers me about this menu item is the reason I do not frequent Basha’s  – the pita bread is not fresh, it comes from a packaged bag. I understand Basha’s locations are very small and baking fresh bread daily can be difficult, but there’s something about seeing the pita bread being pulled out of a bag that reminds me I could be preparing my own food at home and my meal isn’t special. Perhaps it’s physcosomatic and if the bread came from a brown paper bag I would wonder if it was made fresh across town early in the morning just for me. It’s clear I appreciate fresh bread, but I digress.

The Lentil Soup is brothy with a light tasting mix of vegetables and lentils. This soup has been known to assist in curing many unknown stomach aliments because it does not have an offensively strong flavor in any direction*. The Mezza contains Baba Ganoush, Hummus, 3 falafel balls, 2 grape leaves, one piece of pita bread, and pickle, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber garnish. Most items have been consistent in taste, but the falafel. It’s a good day when you see the falafel balls being removed from the fryer, otherwise, they may be too dry. And, even if the Falafel is fresh from the fryer, I recommend the Spinach Pie.

So onto the Spinach Pie! Often I find the spinach pies around town to be too tart with lemon, but Basha’s recipe is perfect with a dough that’s soft and not too stiff, thick, or dry. It is filled with chopped spinach, sauteed onions, and a warming sensation of spices. This pie stands out above the others and has a flavor that dances all over your tongue, not just the tart spots, because of the additional sweet onions. This reviewer ordered a side of Hummus to spread on the pie assuming it would be of the dry variety like so many others, but there was no need to alter this handheld delight.

To most PSU students and Saturday Farmer’s Market goers, Basha’s is a cornerstone of fast food, including vegan options. For a downtown lunch I’d rather walk a few blocks to Hush Hush for falafel and enjoy seating options. That is, if I’m not in the mood for a wonderful Spinach Pie or sitting outside.

*Rumor not approved by the FDA or science.

Vegetarian Mezza:

Spinach Pie:

Exterior:

Vegan food cart lovers, listen up! The proprietors of  I Love Thai Food are back! The rumors of them returning are true! The Stumptown Vegans were crushed and confused when they sold their old spot on SW Alder to the $1 more expensive, less flavorful, and less vegan-friendly I Like Thai Food. I ask, why give yourself a less enthusiastic name? Why?? At least go for I Really Love Thai Food, or I Adore Thai Food…come on!

There were rumors that the owners would return, but I couldn’t believe it till I saw it with my own eyes. With the opening of every new Thai cart, the anticipation grew. A couple weeks ago, Just Thai was spotted on SW 3rd and Stark as having the same font on its sign as the original I Love Thai Food. Look at the side, and you’ll now notice two signs advertising the old I Love Thai and the new Just Thai. The owners have have adorably and excitedly confirmed the move, saying that the old spot was too crowded.

The new cart is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays, and has Saturday hours. Now you readers who can’t make it downtown on weekdays can start paying attention to this excitement! Like the original Taqueria Los Gorditos, Just Thai is an omnivorous cart with an enthusiastic  ”Vegetarian & Vegan Specialty”  menu section. I love this trend of carts learning to embrace the Portland vegan scene by realizing they can support and profit from it. The thought of a new all-vegan Thai (RIP short-lived, but well loved, Vege Thai cart) taking the lead from the new Gorditos II, rocks!

The Veg*n section features three colors of curries*, Pad Kee Mao, and Pad See You. Yet these items are not all a vegan is limited to. A note at the top of the listing states:  “We can make any dish on the menu vegetarian or vegan.  We use our mushroom-based house special house sauce and soy sauce in all vegetarian and vegan stir fry dishes, curries, and noodles dishes.” Relief is yours.  

So far, I’ve revisted my glory days at the I Love Thai Food cart with the Vegan Pad Kee Mow ($5). The dish was requested medium on their heat scale, which was explained as not very hot, and it was confirmed that I wanted tofu. As if I wouldn’t. The friendly man who took my order forewarned me it would be a few minutes since all food is cooked to order. My meal was ready in less than ten, and I walked away with a considerable amount of food that would end up providing me with two meals. Stepping away from the routine cheap plastic, Just Thai dishes out in biodegradable containers that are lined with a piece a aluminum foil (that you can later recycle)  so the hot food doesn’t seep through. The meal itself was everything I’d missed: fresh noodles that didn’t suffer from sticking together in large mounds, crisp vegetables including bell peppers, mushrooms, green beans, and bean sprouts, squares of sliced fried tofu perfection, and tons of actual Thai basil. The heat was, indeed, more mild than medium, so don’t be too timid about requesting more. Feel free to ask for additional sauce if desired. I know I like to add tamari when I reheat my leftovers.

The vegan Tofu Pad Thai includes your typical rice noodles and fresh vegetables including broccoli, carrots, and onions, stir fried with the vegan Pad Thai sauce, and finally topped with fresh bean sprouts, chopped peanuts, and fresh lime. The other Stumptown Vegan is sad to report that the dish tastes the same as their version at the old location, and why wouldn’t it. The overwhelming taste of vinegar is not pleasant and made it easy to split this meal into three meals instead of over-stuffing by making it one or two meals. However, that should not deter you from their other much loved dishes like the sweet Yellow Curry with Tofu or their Salad Rolls.

This cart prides itself on delivering a Portland take on authentic Thai cuisine, and it’s some of the best Thai food the Stumptown Vegan who raved about the Pad Kee Mow has had in Portland. And at a price of $5 per meal, from a food cart, it’s remarkable.

*The Stumptown Vegans have previously stated our concern for curries. Besides the pesky fish sauce and oyster sauce that are fortunately and considerately substituted for here, we still urge you to inquire about the actual curry paste when ordering a curry somewhere new. 

Pad See Ew

Vegan Pad Kee Mao with Tofu:

Pad Thai:

Vegan Section:

The cart:

Updated 4/29/2009:

Both Voodoo Donuts now carry a full line of vegan yeasted donuts – check them out and let us know what you think!  There’s even a vegan cock and balls donut!  And a maple glazed! We’ve included a new photo at the bottom of this review.

Visit Voodoo at both locations, the original on SW 3rd and Ash and the new one at 1501 NE Davis.

Times Visited: Too Many To Count
Times Consumed Elsewhere: Many!

The talented bakers at Sweetpea recently started giving Voodoo Donuts a run for their money. The Sweetpea donuts are yeasted and delicate, while Voodoo’s are cakey. Both, however, are fried, frosted and vegan, so bring it on!

When you find yourself downtown after a show and craving a sweet, the freshest and sweetest satisfaction can be found at Voodoo Donuts on SW 3rd. Just off of West Burnside among bars galore, Voodoo is now open nearly round the clock. They’ve been making vegan donuts several years now, and they’ve gotten even better! Years ago I thought the donuts were actually too cakey, though the topping were usually flat out fun.

These days, there are both chocolate and yellow cake donuts. We’re happy to announce that the yellow donuts no longer have that overwhelming banana vibe to them, which they used to be guilty of. Our poor banana hating friends! Voodoo’s frosting fixings have also expanded, with classic chic-o-stick, sprinkles, nuts, coconut and ‘oreo’ topped are all still there. Today you could be in the mood for chocolate glazed with nuts, and tomorrow for plain glazed – the choice is yours and the donuts are awaiting. I appreciate that there is finally a vegan chocolate donut, but the two I’ve tried have been noticeably denser than the yellow. But give them time! Awesome vegan donuts require evolution.

The ‘oreo’ topped donut pictured below was certifiably delicious, don’t get me wrong, but the frosting was extremely sticky and called for a something to drink with it. My favorite is the maple glazed. It’s a simple yellow donut with a perfectly thin layer of maple glaze. On my most recent to-go visit, I walked out with fresh donuts in less than 5 minutes. It was early evening, Voodoo was empty and I had a sweet tooth satisfied with my first bite. There was also a full box of day old vegan donuts on the counter for $5! Somehow I passed, but I’ve had the day olds before, and would have picked them up if I had a reason. They’re easily worth the half price they’re typically sold for, so cheap vegans be on the look out.

While the non-vegan donuts have fun names, like the Grape Ape and Triple Chocolate Penetration, the vegans are simply displayed on a plate marked ‘VEGAN’. This is seen in the rotating display case. The shop itself does custom orders, so maybe they could do a vegan Cock-n-Balls (filled with creme of course) donut or vegan tempeh bacon topped donut for that special someone in your life, or well, me.

Voodoo is always on my ‘must go’ list for out of towners, whether vegan or not. It’s cheap, quick and has plenty of novelty appeal. They are entirely locally owned and operated, and working round the clock on classic and new donuts, which they now sell TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY! The Voodoo establishment itself is small, and heart-warmingly grungy, with a bench against the wall and a couple mini tables. There is a also a bar to lean against outside on SW 3rd. They also serve coffee, but that’s it, and what else do you need with a freaking donut?

You can get your vegan donut fix for $1.50+ and your sugar rush on before work and after. You can also have them cater your on-site quickie marriage, with packages starting at $175 for 10 attendees. It’s nice to know that if your employer or family buys donuts, they can actually get a vegan one for you. Large orders can even be delivered if arranged in advance. Fresh Voo Doo donuts are found around Portland at various coffeeshops such as Backspace, New Seasons and coops around Portland.

There are regular events such as shows with bands playing in their teeny tiny upstairs at ‘Club Doughnut’ – definitely something worth seeing happen, if only while you squeeze in past the madness to buy a donut at midnight. Show up for Swahili lessons, eating contests, weddings and the annual Cockfest, where you fit as many donuts as you can….you know!

Lastly, there official talk of a new Voodoo shop opening in the near future! Thanks for creatively thinking of us vegans, Voodoo.

Mmmm, donut.

Maple glazed and and ‘oreo’ topped donuts

Dozen donuts, included yeasted

Rating: 3.75 out of 5
Address: 22 SW 3rd Ave Portland OR
Open 24 hours a day!

Updated 4/29/2009:
The original proprietors of the I Love Thai Food cart have opened up their new cart on SW 3rd and Stark have opened up their new cart – Just Thai.  They have a vegan/vegetarian menu and tons of $5 dishes.  Check it out!  Review coming soon.  Here’s a link to the new vegan menu specials.

UPDATED 1/16/2009 - The cart is under new ownership and is now called I Like Thai Food.  One comment below says it is less vegan friendly – dishes are now $6 instead of $5.  Inquire when ordered!  We will soon.

UPDATED 10/27/2008 – THANKS FOR THE TIP! SEE BELOW.

Many vegans love Thai food, but Thai food doesn’t traditionally love vegans. This mantra is sad to accept, but true.

The Stumptown Vegans have elaborated on our Thai-dining woes, and have celebrated the vegan-friendly, ala Pad Thai Kitchen. When the I Love Thai Food cart opened, the downtown vegan lunchers had a dash of hope that it would be run by the former Vege Thai food cart owner, but alas, it’s not. This bright yellow carton SW 10th did have a menu clearly marked “vegetarian with tofu” and my pleas for “no fish sauce, no oyster sauce, no shrimp paste, yes tofu, yes vegetables!” were relayed back and forth with smiles and comprehension by the young woman taking my order both times. Could vegan-friendly luck on my side?

The Tofu and Vegetable Pad Thai was the default mix of mildly tangy rice noodles, fried and sliced tofu, broccoli, onions, a handful of bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, and shredded carrots. The “Vegetable” title really owes it’s credit to the carrots, as I counted maybe three small pieces of broccoli. There was a side of lime provided and condiments available on the food cart’s window. While I can’t rave about it, it was thoroughly devoid of any fishy taste and so my paranoia and appetite were satisfied. For $5 it was a ton of food made within 10 minutes that gave this reviewer another meal of noodling. If only there was more tofu to spread out into the leftovers, because it’s hard to resist eating most of it when it’s warm from the wok!

The official Stumptown Vegan visit #2 happened the following week with curiosity building and a stir fry in mind. This visit brought even faster, friendlier service but far more disappointing food. It’s sad that this reviewer was camera-less on the occasion, but take my word for it – visit #2 was suspicously fishy. This time I ordered the Cashew Stir Fry with Tofu and Vegetables ($5), medium spicy, and made my same vegan specifications. It was even called out as “vegetarian cashew tofu” for pick up. The full sized plastic take-a-way container was over half full with the actual stir fry and the rest was white rice. Upon opening my meal up, I realized that the stir fry sauce was everywhere and anywhere. It had seeped out of the plastic container into the bag and thoroughly soaked the rice. I like to be in charge of my own portioned rice-saucing, thank you.

The chili-studded vegetable and tofu filled container looked appetizing. The vegetables included mushrooms, carrots, bamboo shoots, and broccoli with a good deal of fried tofu pieces. Ignoring the sauce-soaked rice, I dug in, and after a few bites quickly realized there was a flavor I could not immediately place to this sauce….and that it was seriously suspicious. I was convinced the taste was fishy, and having taken the food away I couldn’t continue with further questioning. The meal felt tragic, and it was enough food for 2-3 meals. It was given away to a non-vegan and frustration hit.

Updated:

This Stumptown Vegans regrets that she didn’t immediately return to I Love Thai Food before posting about it. She was simply so burned out, having been tricked before and was mostly impressed by the price, not the food. Thank you to the quick commenters who encouraged her to return!

I don’t like to think of my lunch purchases as a risk, and after returning from my third visit, I don’t feel as risky. I am familiar with vegetarian mushroom oyster sauces and lite soy sauce, and felt as though I could have placed them – and upon further friendly questioning, learned that the mystery vegan sauce used in vegetarian and vegan preparation is housemade. It is a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, mushroom sauce and spices that they utilize to accommodate the multitude of vegetarian and vegan visitors downtown. This was officially in the Pad See Ew $5 (vegan with tofu, minus the egg) that I dined on and it did not taste fishy at all. I still don’t know for sure what was up with stir fry #2, but I did feel comfortable dining on the savory, sweet & vegetable packed noodles that were undeniably more inviting in flavor than the Pad Thai. The medium spice request was on the mild side, so keep that in mind if you like heat. The dish was happily loaded with fried tofu pieces this time around and a mess of fresh bean sprouts that eventually forked themselves into the full meal. And as you can see below, is guaranteeing me at least two well rounded meals of Pad See Ew mania for one low price.

The I Love Thai Food cart is back on my downtown, cheap lunch radar.

Pad See Ew with Tofu

Pad See Ew with Tofu, minus one portion!

Tofu and Vegetable Pad Thai:

The cart

Updated June 23, 2009 –

Sorry folks, the vegan cheese is no longer available, but we hear folks ask about it now and then. If you want it, let them know! The soups, however, are still fantastic! I had a superb bowl of tomato, fennel and orange this afternoon.

The glowing review of this food cart is at my fingertips.  I want you to visit this mini house-shaped  business that warms my heart and feeds my stomach with its sincerity. There are two things that halt review from the get go, besides the obvious problems of you not being able to visit if you don’t happen to go downtown on weekdays, or if you’re one of those crazy people who fear food carts.

Let’s quickly get them out of the way:

1) While a cup of soup is reasonably priced at $3.50, and a bowl for $5, leaving with a cup plus a basic vegan grilled cheeze had me willingly taking $8.50 plus tip out of my pocket.  It was a wholesome meal that was worth it, which I’ll discuss soon, but spending above the $6 range on my lunch hour without leftovers isn’t financially responsible of me, no matter how much of a soup and grilled cheeze habit I want to enter into.

2) The split pea begged for more salt. I like salty food and left the cart without doing so, my bad.  They do have salt and hot sauces available on the counter.

With those notes out of the way, let me admit that it truly is going to be difficult not developing a soup and grilled cheeze habit this spring.

With its infamous rainy season, Portland is obviously a city with eight months of soup appropriate weather. Check the bottom of this post for local vegan soup recommendations. This past January, a new cart brought more vegan soup to the downtown lunch crowd. Run by chef Nancy Ettinger of Savor Portland, Savor Soup House is a pastel, picturesque cart with a light pink roof and a big spoon on its sign on the corner of SW 10th and Alder, just above the cart mania on 9th. The cart prides itself on being local, seasonal, and sustainable – three things Portlanders love to hear and eat.  A loyalty card encourages you to bring your own container ten times and receive a cup of free soup. There are no tables provided, but O’Bryant Park is around the corner with plenty of wall to perch on.

There seems to be at least one vegan soup per day, if not two, although sometimes you will need to request a non-vegan addition on the top to be left off. This is the case with a recent French Onion Soup, which is labeled as vegan, specifically minus the goat cheese toasts. Typically, you get two slices of Grand Central bread with your serving. Vegan soup choices have included Tomato with Fennel and Orange, Hungarian Mushroom with Fresh Dill, Curried Cauliflower and Red Lentil, Indian Spiced Lentil, and Smoky Split Pea. They also serve stews for a bit more per bowl, but they’ve yet to include a vegan option.

This Stumptown Vegan has tried two soups so far. The Curried Cauliflower and Red Lentil was a visually appealing golden cup of the pulses with spots of cauliflower and colorful chunks of red tomato. At first spoonful, the soup was seemed a tad bland. By sips two and three, I realized there was a buildup in the mingling of subtle spices.  By what could have been spoonfuls thirteen and fourteen of this semi-thick cup of lentils, I realized I was not going to have leftovers.  It’s a wonderful, memorable variation of a classic soup.

The Smoky Split Pea was listed as flavored with fresh herbs, inluding thyme and rosemary, and smoked paprika.  As I mentioned earlier, it just seemed to be missing something. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a soup I would order again, but I would reach for something to enrich this otherwise delicious earthy, green, and creamy porridge.  Surely these soups are made in big batches, and hopefully the next cup of split pea will fulfill the saltier and smokier potential.

A cup with the side of bread is a satisfying amount of food for lunch, but if you have a big appetite opt for the bowl.  If you’re even hungrier and looking for more vegan comfort food, please try the vegan grilled cheeze. Savor Soup House has a gourmet grilled cheese menu with additions of Dijon mustard and caramelized onions, and they have added Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet cheddar to the menu  for us vegans. At a base price of $5, it’s a well-melted, sunny orange filled sandwich on perfectly grilled, sliced como bread that is cooked pressed-style on a griddle right in the cart. If you like this brand of packaged vegan cheeze or are curious to try it, support this cart’s vegan grilled cheeze effort and stop by.

Besides the beloved Bye & Bye, the only other place I can think of in town to get a classic grilled vegan cheeze is your kitchen, but correct me if I’m wrong!  If I didn’t dislike fennel so much, I’d be all over a cup of their Tomato Soup and a Grilled Cheeze, and simply in denial about the price and brown bagging it the rest of the week- because it is totally worth it.

You can follow the cart on twitter here.  It’s an active feed with updates on the daily soups.

Cup of Curried Cauliflower and Red Lentil with side of bread

Cup of Smoky Split Pea and Grilled Cheeze

Grilled Cheeze

The cart

Looking for more great vegan soup options in Portland?  Check out No Fish! Go Fish! (which also has a cart downtown), Sweetpea Bakery(rotates seitan stew!), Red & Black Cafe, Papa G’s Deli, and Blue Moose to name a few.

Updated 4/9/2009 – Slices are $2.75, folks.  Toppings are still as local and vibrant as ever, and vegan pie bases include olive oil and herbs, sundried tomato pesto, squash puree and cilantro pesto. I recently shared a vegan pie, pictured below, with friends and it was fantastic – with a surprisingly thin crust for Hot Lips.

Date: August 19, 2007
Times Visited: Too Many Too Count

Hotlips Pizza offers vegan pizza fans the cheapest slice in town. At $2.50, their vegan slice is actually a thick triangle of focaccia, adorned with seasonal, local produce and a base of cilantro pesto, sundried tomato pesto or olive oil and garlic. The local chain’s four locations are in the Pearl District, SE on Hawthorne Blvd, NE 33rd and PSU and all tend to have the focaccia by the slice. Each location will also make an entire vegan pie ($17.20) for dine it, take out or delivery.

My favorite location is on Hawthorne, which typically has the sundried tomato pesto. The beauty of this local chain truly is the variety and appreciation of the local produce they work with. This week your slice may have shiitake mushrooms, Walla Walla onions and arugula, and next week you’re looking at black olives, summer squash and roasted red pepper. In that respect, the element of surprise is there. I must say that I go in hoping it’s not a cilantro pesto day at PSU, but if it is, there are also fresh salads and some locations offer vegan sandwiches. Unfortunately, the tempting bread sticks are not vegan. If you dig hot sauce, be sure to check out their chipotle and habanero varieties, to give your slice an extra zing. These hot sauces, as well as local berry sodas and pickled jalapenos, are all available bottled to go. On top of it all, Hot Lips has the crispest pepperocinis in town. They also have microbrews on tap.

Vegan Foccacia slice

Vegan pie

Rating: 4 out of 5
Address: 2223 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 97214
Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 12pm-9pm