Gonzo

(UPDATE 12/6/12: With D-Street Noshery's closing, Gonzo is NOW OPEN at Portland's Base Camp Brewing Co. at 930 SE Oak St. Gonzo originally would re-open next spring, but Tal has found a new spot!)

Gonzo is an Israeli food cart located at the D-Street Noshery food pod (SE 33rd and Division) in Portland, Oregon. Tal Caspi is the man running this cart. After reading several positive reviews, I decided to check this cart out for myself in late July.

Last summer, Tal opened this cart as One Hundred Miles, which I never got to try despite heading there three different times. Even though that endeavor closed, Tal resurfaced with a new name and new menu to reflect the food he had growing up in Israel.

It's a very simple menu: two types of sandwiches, plus a few platters. To my knowledge, everything in the cart is made from scratch. I opted for the falafel sandwich ($8), a sizable pita sandwich with homemade falafel, hummus, tahini, cucumber, tomato, pickles, amba, and tsug. Even a few french fries are added on top. As usual, I got my sandwich spicy.

Falafel Pita Sandwich
(Gonzo)

Biting into some awesome falafel

This was one of the best falafel sandwiches I've ever had. You can taste the freshness in each component, with explosive flavors in every bite. The fries added a slight starchy element that I wanted, and having only a few fries in this packed pita sandwich allowed me to appreciate everything else. The tsug is the spicy Israeli hot sauce, giving the sandwich a little zip without being overpowering.

The Sabih sandwich ($8) is another great menu item if you're seeking some fried eggplant. The hard-boiled egg here should make this a bit more filling.

I will certainly plan a return trip to this cart!