Between classes, you may find yourself hungry from time to time. Luckily, there are a variety of different food outlets on campus. For those of you in a rush between classes, food carts make for the perfect quick snack. Here are some highlights from the Portland State-based food cart pod on the corner of Hall Street and Fourth Avenue:
The food cart pod on the corner of Hall street and Fourth avenue offers a spectrum of unique eats
Between classes, you may find yourself hungry from time to time. Luckily, there are a variety of different food outlets on campus. For those of you in a rush between classes, food carts make for the perfect quick snack. Here are some highlights from the Portland State-based food cart pod on the corner of Hall Street and Fourth Avenue:
Fernando’s Mundo Fiesta
Few food outlets realize the true potential of the burger.
At Fernando’s, burgers are not just neatly stacked piles of meat and cheese—they are messy, sloppy piles of pure goodness. Fernando’s is the perfect pit-stop after a long night out, with enough grease packed into their meals to soak up any hangover. The prices are excellent across the board, and when you order the daily special, the bill is kept under $5.
The house burger combines ham, bacon and egg, sending eaters to a meaty nirvana. For a more exotic taste, the Nopalita burger features pickled cactus alongside house-made guacamole. Fernando’s also offers a variety of burritos and wraps, with vegan and vegetarian options to satisfy a diversity of needs.
Kobe: Taste of Japan
A new addition to the PSU food cart pod, Kobe is located in the parking lot of the 76 gas station on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Hall Street. Kobe offers a variety of different dishes, ranging from noodles to sushi (that’s right—sushi). The sushi is fresh and reasonably priced, which is a definite step up from other sushi restaurants on campus.
Kobe also gives ramen, a staple of the college diet, a serious upgrade. Brimming with veggies and seasoning, ramen can be purchased with either a miso or soy broth. Salty and satisfying, their ramen makes for a wonderfully warm treat on a cold, rainy day. With reasonable pricing (six- to eight-piece sushi rolls cost $5–6), Kobe provides a great sampling of all there is to love about Japanese food.
Homegrown Smoker
Homegrown Smoker doesn’t just make awesome barbeque; they turn the whole concept of barbeque on its head. Every single item on their menu is 100 percent vegan. That’s right: The smoky, saucy sandwich isn’t really pulled pork—but it tastes exactly like it. Using tofu curls and tempeh, they create dishes that even the most veracious carnivore can enjoy.
Meat-lovers may notice a slight difference in texture, but the flavor is all there. They make their own “pastrami” and “Cajun sausage” for sandwiches that are filling and flavorful. For $7, you can score a SlowSmoNoFo, a sandwich topped with barbeque-soaked tofu curls and their house Cajun slaw. For a side, definitely check out their MacNoCheese, which is flavorful and moist.
This cart is a must-stop for anyone on the lookout for tasty vegan treats.
Portland Soup Company
The Portland Soup Company is the place to stop on a chilly autumn day. The quaint, wood-covered cart is easy to spot, having gone above and beyond in the decoration department.
But looks aren’t everything for this cart. Its ever-rotating menu of soups, salads and sandwiches is deliciously overwhelming. Their website lists over 20 soups on the menu that rotate throughout the year. Portland Soup Company brings together flavors from all over the world using local ingredients.
The result is a wonderfully warming experience that will bring you back for more. Favorites are the hand-made whole milk mozzarella with oven-dried tomatoes, arugula and their rosemary aioli. The menu changes with the seasons, so score your favorite soup while you can!
