Huong's Vietnamese Food

#10, Ga Ro-ti Marinated Chicken with veggies

I love it when my food is served in a brown paper bag.  Keeps warm for the walk back to my office, provides a place mat!  

Lots of attention to detail and nice presentation overall.  Soy sauce sachet included, some hot sauce and ... cute panda's!  Nice touches and 2 napkins, with a spoon and fork included as well.  The hostess in me was happy.  

Where:  Food cart on SW 10th Downtown Portland, OR
Rating:  Zippitydoodah on the Taste Buds
Back for Secondses:  Yes!  Even for the veggies alone, I'd try the Tamarind Chicken #9 next time.  This dish I had was #10 Ga Ro-ti 
What was good: Seriously, the veggies alone was worth the $7.  Broccoli, onion, bok choy, carrots, celery, bell peppers, tofu strips (deep fried), fresh cilantro.  So good and still crunchy fresh but cooked.  The rice was jasmine and there was plenty.  So here I get a bit stuck, and issues with the chicken again.  It was tasty, but dry.  It does not look dry, but it was and I know that chicken need not be dry, and I wish they would use more brown meat, but oh well, that's a personal preference.  
Suggestion:  Maybe try another protein.  Maybe I need to stop ordering chicken, half the time it is disappointing, but it is the healthier option apart from tofu which I love but can get tired of quickly.     
Overall: The cart was busy, 5 folks ahead of me.  I'm beginning to wonder if I should stand closer to the cart on the side and eavesdrop what others order, it might give me a good idea of what's popular at each cart...  

(The Original) Anna Thai Basil

Don't forget "The Original" bit...

 I ordered the Spicy Fried Rice from the Chef Anna's Specials (with beef)

Where:  Downtown Portland, OR
Rating:  Well, what to say ... Perfectly Acceptable
Back for Secondses:  I'd try something else here, or request extra veggies and have pork, tofu or prawns, if that is your preferred protein and you must have this dish.  It's not bad at all, just needs some perking up!  
What was good:  The smoky spicy rice flavour of this dish was very good.  And I loved the chopped up green beans, spring onions and thai basil.  Also, it's so nice when a squeeze of lime is included.  The beef was tough, chewy and not tasty at all.  I prefer cubes of meat to the flat shaved looking stuff.  
Suggestion:  If you really want this dish, ask for hot, I ordered medium and well, it was American medium which is mild for me.  ALSO, ask for more veggies.  It had onion, green beans, hints of red bell pepper and that was it.  I'd love more veggies added, as the flavour was pretty good.    
Overall:  I have had Pad Kee Mao here, and it was much nicer and more what I expected.  The noodle dish also had the flat chicken - ugh, now that I think about it maybe tofu would be the best option here, or prawns.  You can't get flattened tough prawns, right?  I hope not...
Also, rather a long wait here today.  It was a busy food cart, which is a good sign, maybe it was a bad day to go today.  The owner did apologise for the wait and was super nice about it.  I suspect the kitchen was a bit overwhelmed.
Thai_basil

Mawj Iraqi Cuisini

 This is a great place for excellent flavours!

 This is the Lamb Shawarma - order The Traditional, it's fantastic

 The menu board does a great job of visual selection.

Zoom in for more menu details!

Where:  Downtown Portland, OR
Rating:  Angelic Food Choir Deliciousness
Back for Secondses:  Encore!
What was good:  Real lamb, like not the shaved stuff, good bit's of the real deal and the turmeric with eastern spices give it slight curry like flavour that is just most excellent.  Nice veggies and the pita bread is also fresh and good.  
Suggestion:  Ask for extra sauce - you won't be sorry.  It's worth spending the little extra on this order, a slightly more spendy selection is the way to go.  
Overall:  The server recommended this to me after I ordered the usual standard shawarma.  He seemed pretty passionate about going for traditional, and oh man, was he ever spot on!  Friendly and very hospitable cart.  Try it.  
Shawarma

A Thai Basil

I got the Mango Stir Fry.  

Usually I have rice left over - not this time.  Every last grain eaten to soak up the sauce.  Such a good sweet/savoury flavour!

Where:  Downtown Portland, OR
Rating:  Angelic Food Choir Deliciousness
Back for Secondses:  Most Definitely, and thirdses :)
What was good:  The sweet-sour sauce with a hint of fish sauce was heavenly. Chunks of mango just slightly cooked, sweet onions, carrots and bell peppers. It was $6 and well worth it.  
Suggestion:  I think trying the Green Tea Milk Tea here would be good.
Overall:  I'd had some noodles at this cart before and though perfectly acceptable wanted to go back and try the Mango Stir Fry with rice.  NOT disappointed.  Yum.  I'm curious to try the Cashew Stir Fry next.
All the food cart owners are so genuinely friendly, it's really a pleasure to eat at the carts.  
Thai Basil

Korean B.B.Q. #1Bento

 I ordered the Bibimbap with chicken 

Where:  Downtown Portland, OR
Rating:  Zippitydoodah good
Back for Secondses:  Most Definitely
What was good:  Sauce in little packet, tasty kimchi, fresh and nice portion
Suggestion:  If you like chicken get it - it was tender and just enough and was REAL chicken, not the flattened boiled stuff they  stir fry in.  Happiness.  I hope the owners keep up with their excellent chicken that is tender and moist.
Overall:  I'm sure anything at this cart is good and the lady was lovely
Bibimbap 

El Rodeo Mexican Food Cart

I asked for Chicken Enchilada.  It LOOKS like it, but alas ... not good at all.

Where:  Downtown Portland, OR
Rating:  Heartless and Sad
Back for Secondses:  Probably never
What was good:  Delicious avocado
Suggestion:  Owners please check out delectable seasonings that Mexican food is known for.  Also, I had the most pathetic peas in my apologetic flavourless rice.  Cook up your beans with some bacon and add some spices.  Season the chicken... 
Overall:  Please, be kind to your ingredients.  There is potential here.
Enchilada

Traditional Polish Cuisine

 Combo #4 - as recommended by the owner.  Wowser!

Where:  Downtown Portland, OR
Rating:  Zippitydoodah good
Back for Secondses:  Most Definitely - for a meat fix
What was good:  Mince wrapped in cabbage, Pierogi and more ... all so good.
Suggestion:  It's good eaten hot and right away.  Dumplings are better hot!
Overall:  It was hard to choose - so I took her suggestion.  Delightful owner, thank you for sharing your cooking skills with PDX and Polish yumminess.  Also, this cart is not always open, so if you see it is, do give it a try.  You won't regret it!
Pierogi