Sunday, July 15, 2012

Istanbul Delight

(UPDATE 4/6/13: Istanbul Delight has moved to A la Carts Pavilion near SE 50th and Division.)

(UPDATE 11/8/12: Food Carts Portland reports that Istanbul Delight has closed for winter, but should be back in the spring.)

Istanbul Delight is a food cart located at the North Station food pod (N Killingsworth & Greeley) in Portland, Oregon. Basically, more Mediterranean-style flare for a panda that enjoys such cuisine!


I took a break from my ice cream bender to get some lunch. Yeah, unfortunately, ice cream might not work too well as an entree. Luckily, Istanbul Delight wasn't far from me, and they had what I craved for a long time: gyros.



For $7, a wrap encased strips of lamb-beef cut from a vertical spit. The cart owner added shredded lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onions, and tzatziki. I should have added the feta for an extra 25 cents, but didn't see that until it was too late. Regardless, it was still a good gyro. The meat was juicy and tender, while the vegetables and tzatziki brought the much-needed refreshing element. I liked the mint and dill in this yogurt-based sauce. Perhaps the pita could have been toasted a tad bit more for me.

Vertical spit near the front of the cart!
This lamb-beef hybrid stays juicy!
Gyro
(Istanbul Delight)

Falafel is handmade at this cart, and a great vegetarian option at $5.50. You can make it vegan by swapping out tzatziki and adding tahini sauce.

If you want dessert, you may be able to get two pieces of baklava for $2. I'm not sure if it's made all the time. I didn't see the portion size, but it's still a very good deal compared to other carts.

Head on over to the North Station pod and try this place out! 7.5/10

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