Food cart pods have a rich history here in Portland, popping up organically in the early-to-mid 2010s due to a combo platter of rising commercial rents, creative chefs looking to try something new, and the insatiable appetite of city dwellers. Theyâve become a symbol of the city, and with dozens of pods scattered in every quadrant and the surrounding suburbs, itâs no surprise that these pods continue to evolve, adding more amenities to make the outdoor dining experience more comfortable for customers.
The newest example of these upscale pods is Brooklyn Carreta, which now occupies the triangular corner of Highway 99 East and Holgate in Southeast Portlandâs Brooklyn neighborhood. The brainchild of Garner and Danielle Moody, the married co-owners of Lloyd Developmentâa residential and commercial contracting companyâBrooklyn Carreta was designed with the comfort (and fun) of customers in mind.
According to Danielle Moody, the vision behind Brooklyn Carreta was to provide Southeast Portlanders with âa nice place with a community atmosphereâwhere parents can relax with a beer thatâs also kid friendly, and everyone can find something to eat that theyâll enjoy.â
Carretaâs âsoft openingâ in April proved to be a success, with a steady stream of customers floating in throughout the month, eating, chatting, and working on their laptops on the many picnic tables, drinking at the bar, or grabbing some sun in the middle of the indoor/outdoor courtyard. The clever triangular design, by Brian Cavanaugh of Architecture for Building Culture, matches the shape of the lot that for decades was formerly home to the eye-popping yellow paint job of family Mexican restaurant La Carretaâwhich the pod nods to in its name. The place is packed with ample all-weather seating, the aforementioned bar, a Moodyâs coffee shop, kidsâ area, and a game room featuring classic and new pinball games, showing that Brooklyn Carreta has put as much thought into its amenities as its roster of carts. Not unimportantly, they also provide 48 parking spaces behind the pod as well as a lot across the street, with a promise of even more bike parking on the way.
Despite these impressive creature comforts, pods rise or fall on the merits of its food, and Brooklyn Carreta doesnât skimp on this either, featuring a very diverse selection of edible genres including Korean, Thai, Himalayan, Japanese, Indian, Cuban, Oaxacan, and American cuisine as well, including burgers, cheesesteaks, and other various fried delights.
What follows are quick reviews of just a few of Brooklyn Carretaâs excellent carts, and as a preview, the owners are already planning another amenity-forward pod in the Hollywood District (permits pending)âso stay tuned while trying to control your drool.âWM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
BOLLYWOOD DHABA
When the Mercury crew pulled up to Brooklyn Carreta, scattering to claim what we wanted to eat and write about, I booked it straight for the Bollywood Dhaba cart. The vast menu includes all the meaty favorites simmered and sauced in vindaloo, saag, and tikka masala. The big draw for me was that the cart offers almost as many pescatarian and vegetarian options as it does for the carnivores. Easily susceptible to visual advertising, I ordered the shrimp coconut korma and was deeply pleased with my choiceâthe five-star spice was spicy without being too hot, the rice was fragrant, and the portions were absolutely something to write home about. I literally texted my mom about this place. The veggie samosas were huge and tasty and the mango lassi was fresh as all get out. On top of all this, the several people running the cart were incredibly niceâevery single food service joint should be taking notes. Two thumbs way up from this music editor who, humble brag, has been eating food for years!âNOLAN PARKER
KOREAN TIGER
In my neck of the woods (holla back, Sellwood!), it is sadly a bulgogi desert. It doesnât help that Iâm annoyingly picky about this extremely flavorful Korean dish, which consists of thinly sliced meat (usually beef) marinated in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce. When I get a hankering, Iâm usually forced to drive to 82nd Avenue (poor me) to get the best bulgogi in Portland at K-Town. However, when I saw Korean Tigerâs offerings at Brooklyn Carreta, my heart leapt and then leapt even higher when this friendly cartâs bulgogi gave K-Town a run for its money. I chose the best of two worlds with the bulgogi beef bibimbapâa startlingly huge bowl of delights including the aforementioned bulgogi on a bed of rice with pickled seaweed, cucumbers, carrots, corn, kimchi, and the requisite fried egg on top. Mix âem all together and it makes a combo so delicious and complementary, I wish the entire world could get along this well. (Plus, the gargantuan portion provides at least one more meal to enjoy the next day.) It would also behoove one to try their red bean buns, which is a perfectly sweet dessert/delight, and if youâve never tried a Korean corn dog? Get one before you perish, or consider your life to be at least a partial waste. Korean Tigerâs corn dog has a crunchy breaded exterior, and is stuffed to the gills with cheese, a small sausage, and a drizzle of ketchup and mustard. Absolutely sublime. Iâll be going back to try their kimchi fried rice, kimchi & pork dumplings, and kimbap (seaweed-wrapped rice rolls). And why shouldnât I? Itâs literally five minutes away from my house!âWSH
HAVANA STATION
At Havana Station, I mulled through the menu, considering the shrimp dishes as well as the ropa vieja (shredded beef). Ultimately though, I opted for a Cuban sandwich, which many online reviewers have opined is the best in town. Now Iâm no Cubano connoisseur, but I think itâs a fair assertion. Itâs an absolutely huge sandwich, packed with flavorful roasted pork topped by a layer of ham, melted Swiss cheese, pickles, and honey mustard, served warm on good, toasty bread. The arroz moro (rice with beans and pork rind), which I got on the side, was a little dry, but the flavor was good. I couldn't possibly scarf the two down in one sittingâthe portion sizes at all of the carts were impressive. So I did the best I could and washed it down with a good Thai iced tea from neighboring cart Nour Thaiâthis array of options for one meal is why food cart pods are so great. Havana Station has been a beloved fixture in Portlandâs limited Cuban food scene for a while, and was previously located at the Portland Mercado, which is currently rebuilding following a disastrous fire. Itâs well worth checking out this excellent cart at its new digs.âTAYLOR GRIGGS
HELLO PHILLY
If youâre looking for a food coma in a bun, have I got the cart for you. Hello Philly has one of the largest menus among the carts at Brooklyn Carreta, but to the surprise of no one, its signature dish is the classic Philly cheesesteak sandwich, absolutely packed with tender shredded beef, bell peppers, onion, and (of course) tons of melty cheese. I went with provolone (though no one will die if you prefer Swiss or a classic squirt of canned Cheez Whiz) to top this delightful mess thatâs cradled in a long, softly steamed bun. But cheesesteaks (also available with either lamb or chicken) are just the tip of this menuâs iceberg. Of considerable note are Hello Phillyâs hot dogs, which come in the New York, Chicago, and Seattle variety, lamb steak over fries, and if you have picky children, itâs the one cart at Carreta that has corn dogs, cheesy fries, grilled cheese, and burgers. By the way, this is the second Portland location for the popular Hello Philly cartâthe other taking up residence downtown at the Midtown Beer Garden at the corner of Southwest Harvey Milk and Oakâand a testament to its growing popularity. My only constructive criticism? Each meal should come with a couch, so the customer has a place to land when the unavoidable Philly cheesesteak coma kicks in.âWSH
NAMO BUDDHA
Among the cornucopia of globally inspired offerings at Brooklyn Carreta is Namo Buddha, a cart that slings generous portions of Himalayan cuisine ranging from momos (steamed dumplings), to chow mein, fried rice, salad rolls, roti wraps, and curried chicken or tofu bowls. Namo Buddha also has a location at The Heist food pod in the Woodstock neighborhood, and the menu is refreshingly vegan-friendly, with several items offering vegan versions made with curried or sautĂ©ed tofu. The tofu chow mein, for example, featured perfectly spongy fried tofu over a heaping pile of noodles and cabbage. For those looking for a little heat without feeling like youâre in an episode of Hot Ones, a spice level of two offers a medium kick, and pairs perfectly with the iced chai to complement and balance the spice. Come hungry or be prepared for leftovers.âCOURTNEY VAUGHN
BROOKLYN CARRETA BAR
Along with a stellar collection of carts, the ability to get a top-rate cocktail along with delish food is an amenity all pods should realize is essential. The surprising number of high-quality cocktails at Brooklyn Carreta make you realize that this bar wasnât a second-thought⊠the menu alone makes it worth a stop even if you arenât eating food. They feature a fairly deep selection of creative cocktails, including a honking huge $26 fishbowl margarita, meant to satisfy two-to-three people (or just one if you prefer an ambulance ride home). According to co-owner Danielle Moody, the gargantuan 'rita is a tip of the hat to the siteâs former restaurant, La Carreta. However, slushie fan that I am, I went with the Carreta Crusher, a frozen delight made with pineapple, lime, and (be still, my seven-year-old heart) Tang. You can get it with or without alcohol, but I was steered in the correct direction of dark rum, which transformed it into a sweet/sour dreamboat of a drink. I enjoyed the Crusherâs lip-puckering sourness which later smoothed out to a tangy sweetness, reminding me of my favorite days at beachfront bars. My prediction? Whether one is going to Brooklyn Carreta for the food, cocktails, or both, this summer is going to be a very busy time for this new, impressive pod.âWSH
