What was once confined to a small handful of carts on Fourth Avenue has lately exploded into a strip packed with over a dozen options. From burritos to shwarma, and soon to be Korean tacos from KOifusion, the menu options should keep the mouths of even the most avid cart aficionados busy for some time to come. The Vanguard has sampled from each to bring you a run down of the highlights and low points on the carts of Fourth Avenue.
A guide to the carts
What was once confined to a small handful of carts on Fourth Avenue has lately exploded into a strip packed with over a dozen options. From burritos to shwarma, and soon to be Korean tacos from KOifusion, the menu options should keep the mouths of even the most avid cart aficionados busy for some time to come. The Vanguard has sampled from each to bring you a run down of the highlights and low points on the carts of Fourth Avenue.
All carts are open Monday through Friday; carts open on Saturdays are indicated by (S).
Al Forno Ferruzza
Type: Pizza
This retailer was an overnight hit with cart-goers when it opened last year, so much so that Al Forno has now expanded into a full restaurant on Alberta Street. The kids here are still serving up delicious, fresh baked pizzas and sandwiches, but with limited operational hours.
Vietnamese Banh-Mi Sandwiches (S)
Type: Vietnamese baguettes
A sandwich cart with a very simple goal: to serve you meat and pickles on a baguette. The menu here has five options, all under $5. While there are arguably better places in Portland to get banh-mi sandwiches, none of them are anywhere near PSU.
Portland Soup Co.
Type: American
Portland Soup Company serves up delicious and fresh soups, salads and sandwiches, but for a heftier price than most carts on the block. A half sandwich and a small salad will run you about $8. Still, if you don’t mind spending a little more, this is a great place to get a light, flavorful lunch.
Chopollos
Type: Mexican
Featuring an extensive menu with items like fresh squeezed carrot juice and surprisingly good french fries, Fourth Avenue newcomer Chopollos is a welcome twist to the usual taco carts on hand.
Fernando’s Mundo Fiesta
Type: Mexican-ish
Fernando’s is hard to categorize. Yes, the menu features burritos and quesadillas, and menu items are peppered with spices, but the cart also offers up salads, wraps and burgers that playfully embrace the “Mundo” aspect of the cart’s name. All-inclusive world perspective bonus: Fernando’s offers up several vegan, vegetarian and meat-eating options for $4–5 each.
Suliothai (S)
Type: Thai
In addition to an excellent menu of Thai standards, Suliothai also offers some unusual (and nicely priced) options such as Panang and kee mao sandwiches. You will get a lot of food for a small price. A $5 noodle dish could easily feed two people with some extras.
Interselects
Type: Thai
This is a good place to go if you hate vegetables. Seriously. On both visits to this cart, despite pictures showing freshly cooked meat with sweet peppers or onions thrown in, I received small portions of meat in sauce on top of an equally small portion of rice. Lame.
Yassu
Type: Mediterranean
A welcome newcomer to Fourth Avenue, Yassu’s menu is still in progress, so don’t expect a lot of variety at the present. However, if you’re looking for light and Mediterranean, this is it.
Thai Pasta
Type: Thai
A clear favorite among the cart-nivores on Southwest Fourth, expect a longer-than-normal wait for your food from this one. The food here is not as spicy as some other Thai carts, but Thai Pasta wins points for a creative menu and a better veggies-to-rice proportion than most.
Taqueria Villa Nueva
Type: Mexican
Easily one of the best Mexican stands in Portland, Villa Nueva has been around for quite some time. All the standards—tacos, rellenos, enormous burritos—are here for the taking for under $5.
New Taste of India (S)
Type: Indian
New Taste of India is absolutely delicious. While the $5 special (vegetarian or meat) may seem like an obvious choice, give their extensive menu a look and try one of their many options, like the Lamb Bhuna or Dahl Tarka.
Taqueria La Nortenita (S)
Type: Mexican
This greasier-than-average taco stand mysteriously stays open through the years, though how I’m not sure. Unless you have an iron-lined stomach, steer clear.
Boonrod Thai
Type: Thai
Don’t be fooled by the shoddy-looking, graffitied cart. Boonrod consistently serves great Thai food with loads of creativity. Their $5 specials rotate, so if you don’t see something you like, try again the next day.
