Tabor (part 2)

(My initial review of Tabor in October 2011)

I returned to Tabor around mid-December 2011. I may not be a huge fan of a schnitzelwich, but I'll admit it was fine for what it was. This time, I wanted to try another dish, preferably hearty and speaks to Tabor's culinary point of view.

Menu (December 2011)

Look no further than the Bohemian Goulash ($7), a pork stew with Czech dumplings. It's a chuck beef stew with Hungarian paprika, tomato paste, beef stock, caraway seeds, and marjoram, among other ingredients.

Bohemian Goulash (Tabor)

Personally, again, I thought it was just OK in taste, not mind-blowing. I loved the color of the goulash, and the beef was amazingly tender. A very hearty meal indeed. I guess my palate cannot fully appreciate Czech food.

The dumplings were also just OK. They had a soft bread-like consistency, and I guess my Asian side expected something completely different. In all fairness, the dumplings are excellent to scoop up all the goulash sauce.

The execution was very good on all fronts. The taste was simply average (just a subjective thing, folks). It gets a slight bump up on my rating, but not by much. 6.5/10 (slight rating increase)

Pho Herb

Pho Herb is a Vietnamese food cart located in the Cartlandia food pod in Portland, Oregon. This cart uses the old Chili Pie Palace cart that closed in July 2011.

You can see the Chili Pie Palace mascot/logo on the left

I ordered the Vietnamese sandwich ($4). Otherwise known as "banh mi," it consists of lettuce, cilantro, carrots, pickled radish, and choice of meat (I chose chicken), topped with a house plum sauce. I requested the banh mi spicy, so the cart owner (Anna, I believe?) added some sriracha on top.

Menu (December 2011)

Another copy of the menu on their cart

Vietnamese sandwich w/chicken (Pho Herb)

Commence the angelic music! The chicken was juicy and flavorful. You can't beat fresh veggies here, its refreshing nature balances this meal out and sends subliminal messages: "keep eating...keep eating." The plum sauce and sriracha were very tasty.

The "winner, winner, chicken dinner" for me was the bread. A French roll that should be used in all sandwiches. The ideal firm outside provided the heavenly crunch, and a soft inside helped savor the moment.

For the pho lovers, this cart does pho too! No doubt about it, I'm a fan. Check out Pho Herb ASAP! 8/10

Diamond Thai

Diamond Thai is a Thai food cart located at the Cartlandia food pod in Portland, Oregon. This was one of several carts that migrated to Cartlandia following the Green Castle food pod closure in October 2011.

I may not be a big noodle fan, but I'm a sucker for curries. This time, the mango curry with chicken ($5.75) called my name. Bamboo shoots, bell peppers, mango chunks, and basil leaves joined the sliced chicken in this one. A small container of rice accompanied my generous portion of curry. It's advertised as a green curry, but it appeared to take on pinkish hues. It's probably from ordering it spicy -- because you know I went there. I also saw some sliced chiles in there, either jalapenos or large serranos.

Menu (December 2011)

A nice portion of mango curry!

Chicken Mango Curry (Diamond Thai)

Mmm...spicy

Might as well have some starch too

A delicious Thai curry. The coconut milk slightly thickened the curry a bit more for that comforting creamy texture. The mango was not overly ripe, possessing a tangy-sweet hybrid sensation. An abundance of the fruit made for a pleasant sight....it's a mango curry, after all. The bamboo shoots were cooked well, and the peppers still had some crunchiness to them. The menu mentioned this curry had cashew nuts, but I didn't see any in my helping.

I mentioned above that I requested my curry spicy. While I saw some red chili pepper flakes floating in there, I don't think it would have sent the average person running for the water fountain. Without breaking a sweat, I demolished the curry in under eight minutes.

You can get pork, beef, tofu, or shrimp (shrimp costing 25 cents more) instead of chicken. I don't think you can go wrong with any choice. Check out Diamond Thai today! 7.75/10

Touchdown's BBQ

(UPDATE 2/6/14: Touchdown's BBQ is now a catering truck. Wolf & Bear's has opened a third cart at this location.)

(I wrote a review for Food Carts Portland -- an edited version by me and FCP's editor, Brett)

Touchdown's BBQ is a Southern BBQ food cart near the corner of SW 10th and Washington in downtown Portland, Oregon. Sandra, one of the cart owners, basically reeled me in with her warm Southern hospitality. Sure, she was born in Chicago and now resides in Oregon, but hey, she's also been in Texas...and the family roots go back to Arkansas. Close enough for me!

Just a few minutes earlier, this line was in front of Touchdown's

Menu (December 2011)

Special on 12/12/11

This cart opened over nine months ago, and really seems a bit hidden between other carts. Yet, the day I went, about 4-5 people had formed a line at Touchdown's. A poster board featuring pictures of almost every menu item caught my eye.

I ordered their special of the day: a pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw and baked beans ($7.95). Sandra had it ready for me in a few minutes, placing my (geez...third) lunch in a paper bag.

Pulled pork sandwich w/cole slaw and baked beans
(Touchdown's BBQ)

Cole slaw

Baked beans

The pork was juicy, flavorful, and wanted to melt on my tongue. It's not drowned in a BBQ glaze sauce, allowing the customer to further appreciate the meat. Touchdown's toasts the buns for a nice crunch and gorgeous char on the inside of the bun. The cole slaw was fresh and crunchy, with sweet connotations. I felt like maybe some pepper or purple cabbage was in order to liven the whitish slaw up, but hey, let's face it, it's cole slaw. As in a classic pairing with pulled pork. The warm baked beans had a nice consistency, a comforting second side dish.

One note...I saw a microwave in there. I don't know why, but I frown on the use of microwaves. I barely (if ever) use my own. Yes, I'll eat virtually any leftover meal cold because I can be a lazy dude who prefers to eat food and write reviews. I guess I prefer the beans heated in a pot on the stove.

I also got a sampling of the mac and cheese. I loved the creaminess, but the pasta felt a bit overdone for me. Touchdown's has several other side dishes to check out, including cornbread and potato salad. This is a cart I'd still consider going back to. Check them out today! 6.5/10

Batavia

(I also wrote a review for Food Carts Portland -- an edited version by me and FCP's editor, Brett)

Batavia is an Indonesian food cart near the corner of SW 3rd and Washington in Portland, Oregon. Downtown Portland has a stunning array of cuisines to choose from, there aren't too many places offering Indonesian food. Thus, Rizky and Nella opened Batavia, a family-run food cart. Here, you'll be treated to this family's take on Indonesian flare.

Menu (December 2011)

Since I love spicy food, I got the spicy beef satay (sate padang; $8). Usually, the meat is boiled first to get it soft, then the meat is seasoned, skewered, and grilled. Four or five skewers of juicy grilled beef go on the plate. The first few pieces of beef I had proved a bit tough to eat, putting up a fight to stay latched onto the wooden skewer. As time went on, I did have more tender pieces to enjoy. Very nice flavor here.

Sate Padang (Batavia)

Shrimp chips

The pool of alluring yellow sauce contains rice flour, coriander, turmeric, ginger, garlic, cumin, etc. The spiciness (perhaps some red chili flakes?) lies within this curry-colored concoction. I found it pleasurable, really elevating the overall meal. I just wanted to pick the container up and drink it like a madman. I can handle a spicier dish, but I'm sure there are people out there who would ask for some relief after trying it. I don't think it would make the average Joe cry uncle, though.

At the base of the dish lies several slices of rice cake (rice pounded into a paste and formed into a solid) that possess a smooth texture -- think a whitish-colored polenta without the grainy, mealy feeling. You'll also get a small bag of crispy shrimp chips. The dish is prepared to order, so you'll get a steaming, hearty container of yummy goodness in this chilly weather. It's a pretty generous portion, so come hungry and leave happy!

Rizky let me sample a piece of fried chicken. The chicken is also boiled first, then fried up with some type of loose breading. It has some essence of Indian spices in appearance (color) and taste. The wing was cooked very well; I made short work of that one.

Fried Chicken (Batavia)

Batavia offers Indonesian coffee coming from Rizky's father. The aftertaste on the coffee commands an exotic presence that domestic coffees lack. It's a full-bodied, rich coffee experience. Batavia also has Indonesian tea (a hot Jasmine tea and a cold bottled tea).

Indonesian coffee or tea

Indonesian Coffee (Batavia)

Batavia has some seriously good eats. Check them out today! 8.75/10

Zizzo's FC

(NOTE: Zizzo's FC has closed.)

Zizzo's FC is a food cart located near the corner of SW 9th and Alder in downtown Portland, Oregon. Sal Zizzo, a winger/striker who plays for the Portland Timbers (Major League Soccer) recently opened his Italian food cart (November 16, 2011). A simple light blue food cart here with a few designs...works for me! If Sal himself isn't at the cart, you'll find his business partner there running the show.

Menu (December 2011)

I ordered the Caprese sandwich ($6), fresh mozzarella slices, tomatoes, and basil in a roll, drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Caprese Sandwich (Zizzo's FC)

I enjoyed the freshness of the mozzarella and tomato. The aromatics of the basil took over my sense of smell (yes, in a good way) while pleasing the palate. The addition of balsamic and olive oil deepened the caprese experience for me. The roll was hearty, with a firm exterior and a soft inside. If anything, I would have liked to see this sandwich toasted or pressed to give the bread more crunch and melt the cheese just a bit. Or I wonder...could they grill the cheese right on a grill or flattop? Hmm. Otherwise, it was quite successful.

I'll try to come back and try other dishes like the meatball sub ($6), calamari fritti ($7), and cannoli ($4). Check out Zizzo's, and perhaps you'll see Sal himself at the cart if you're lucky! 7/10

Korean Twist

Korean Twist is a food cart located near the corner of SW 10th and Alder in downtown Portland, Oregon. They opened in early May 2010 and have garnered rave reviews for their delectable tacos and king-size burritos. Korean Twist really lives up to its name, fusing Korean flavors (the twist) inside Mexican street food.

Menu (December 2011)

I ordered the burrito ($5), choosing spicy chicken for my meat (you can also get bulgogi beef, spicy pork, or tofu). If it says "spicy," chances are very high that I'm getting it!

The burrito gets flooded with rice, various vegetables, cilantro, Korean sauce, and more. The food was prepared to order, and my burrito was ready within a few minutes. A friendly woman (the same one who took my order) basically handed me a hefty burrito that I told people was the size of a small house. So maybe it wasn't that big, but truthfully, it was an epic struggle to eat for its impressive girth.

Spicy Chicken Burrito (Korean Twist)
Now THIS is a burrito fit for my king-sized appetite!

Colorful!

A better shot of the chicken and the rice inside

I was hella hungry, so I searched for a place to try and scarf this down -- emphasis on the word "try." Unwrapping this Christmas present of a meal, I dove in with gusto. The first bite was euphoric, the blast of the Korean sauce coating the inside of my mouth. The fresh vegetables (which included lettuce, purple cabbage, and bean sprouts) provided a wonderful crunch. A very good amount of flavorful chicken in this one, and the perfectly cooked rice filled any remaining crevices in my stomach. Again, if I was alone, I woulda gone all uber competitive-eating style on this bad boy and made a complete mess of things. But I maintained just a tiny shred of dignity, using every last bit of napkin and cleaning up the scraps. Guess I shoulda asked for a fork. Oops.

Five bucks for this burrito? Seriously, bro? That's gotta be one of the best deals in town. Do yourself a favor and check Korean Twist out right away. Like...hop in your car, go downtown, fight for a parking spot, and run to this place. And if you already work or live near downtown Portland, I envy you. Damn, that was a killer burrito. And I still have to try the tacos (the taco combo is a mere $6). I need at least two more stomachs. 9.25/10