2nd Annual Eat Mobile – Portland’s Food Cart Festival

By: Laura Sabo  One of the great many things about living in Portland is being reminded of the phrase “Keep Portland Weird” on a myriad of bumper stickers around town. The 2^nd Annual Eat Mobile Food Cart Festival was no exception, although I prefer to use the term eccentric.

After winding around a city block in the historic Kenton District off Interstate during our 40 minute wait to get in, my friend and I wondered if it would be worth it. At the gate they were charging $5.00 but, much to our surprise, we were told that also included as much as you could sample. More lines inside. No problem. Worth the wait.

With more than 170 carts in town, you’d be hard-pressed to enjoy them all. The Eat Mobile Festival is an opportunity to appraise Portland’s food cart scene sampling palatable bites from carts sporting names like Fat Kitty Falafel, Flavour Spot, Lulu’s Confections, Moxie Rx, Todbott’s Triangles and Sip, Soup, Cycle. All proceeds benefitted Mercy Corps Northwest.

Feeling slightly out of our element because of our lack of tattoos, nose rings and youth, we carried on and battled the lines devouring as much as we could, most likely breaking even on our $5.00.

Paul BunyanThe vibe was funky and most definitely Portland. Smack dab in the middle of the picnic tables and lines was a ping-pong table. Did the organizers really think anyone would tear away from their morsels, let alone have the elbow room to break out in a game of table tennis?

Two standout entrepreneurs were Tabor Authentic Czech Cuisine and Leroy’s Familiar Vittles. Tabor’s choices were Chicken Paprikash and Hungarian Goulash. Sampling was limited at each cart so I opted for the paprikash. While the chicken was mouth-watering and fork-tender, my Hungarian husband’s paprikash tastes more authentic and flavorful – but let’s keep that little secret between us.

Leroy’s VittlesLeroy’s ‘cue was succulent and meaty with a slight vinegar tang served over crunchy slaw and a large breadcrumb. While their cart was next to the soon-to-be-opening The Grilled Cheese Grill, which had a line deep into the abyss of the festival, Leroy’s had none. This astounded me because, frankly, grilled cheese is grilled cheese, but how often do you get offered carte blanche pork ribs? No line = more ribs. Who’s counting?

Marbles were to be given out at the front entrance for foodies to vote on their favorite food cart but, unfortunately, we learned that after sampling many carts’ handouts. We weren’t about to get in yet another line for marbles.

Another night well spent in eccentric ‘ol Portland. We Portlanders wouldn’t have it any other way.