Nong's, The Best Food Cart in Portland

I am embarrassed to admit this, but I used to think street carts were "sketchy" and eating at one would most likely give me a terrible case of food poisoning.

I am very glad that my urban-uncle made me snap out of that delusion real quick.

 Line of hungry customers waiting outside Nong's

A few months ago this uncle told me that I HAD to eat a Nong's Khao Man Gai, which is in his opinion, the best street cart in Portland. All I needed was one recommendation from an enthusiastic street-cart-eater, and I was ready to try street food for the first time.

I had thought that this was only my uncle's best pick, but little did I know, this is also Portland's pick too! When standing in line with my father I asked him if he thought we were at the right place. A man standing behind us in the line that was almost comically longer than any other cart on the street, answered me instead. "Yes, this is the best street cart in Portland, hands down!"

 Street Cart Row on Alder Street

We smiled at him, and then I proceeded to ask my Dad another question. "So what should we get?". The overly-helpful man behind us answered me again, "Nong's only sells one thing. Just tell her how many you want."

What kind of restaurant only has one thing on the menu? But I am always up for a culinary adventure, so we stepped up to the counter and said "we'll have one please." Now you are probably wondering why we only ordered one. Honestly, I still wasn't sold at this point and we thought we would share one in case we didn't like "Khao Man Gai"...whatever that is!

When our name was called we were handed a neat little package, all tied up. We quickly ripped it open on a table outside Nong's. To our suprise it was chicken on top of white rice, with a few cucumber slices on the side. Didn't seem very glamorous to us. So, how did this simple dish capture hearts all over Portland?

The answer: the sauce! It is a tasty and slightly spicy combination of fermented soybean puree with garlic, ginger, and chili. But when we began to dig in we realized that the sauce isn't the only reason Portlanders love this meal. Nong uses local, free-range chicken that is incredibly moist and flavorful. Their menu explains that their chicken is cooked fresh every day in salt, sugar, garlic and ginger, and rice is cooked in chicken broth, ginger, garlic, shallots and galangar (which is similar to ginger).

Every order of Khao Man Gai is served with a small bowl of a simple clear soup with a few pieces of cooked vegetable in it to balance the meal and cleanse the palate. All of this for only $6! Or, if you want a larger portion ask for the "piset" meaning "special" in Thailand, which comes with larger portions of everything. Adding chicken liver is an option for $1 extra. Nong's sells a variety of drinks, including Lychee juice and Vietnamese style coffee (with Stumptown beans).

Nong, a smiling friendly woman opened this cart to bring the food of her home, Bangkok, Thailand to Portland. This month marks the one year anniversary of Nong's Khao Man Gai. In Thailand Khao Man Gai is exactly what it is here in Portland: street food. Nong grew up eating street food in Thailand wrapped in butcher paper and she is proud to serve it to us the same way. When asked why she only sells one item, Nong responded, "I started up with a little money that I had and I could only afford the 8 feet by 8 feet cart. What can I do in such a little tiny space but kick ass? Khao man gai was my answer. It is only one dish but there’s a lot of work that is put into it and I’m very proud of this process. I wanted to do The best Khao Man Gai that I can in Portland."

Like I said, Nong's is a Portland favorite. I am not making this up. Look at their website and you can see all the press they have had in the one year they have been open. They have been featured in the Oregonian, and Gourmet Magazine, and in Portland Monthly's Best Restaurants 2009. 

Nong's Khao Man Gai is located at 10th and Alder and is open Mon-Fri at 10am, and Sat at 12:00noon. But don't wait too long to stop by because they usually sell out around 2 or 2:30.When looking for Nong's Khao Man Gai, just find a really long line of people eagerly waiting outside a red and yellow cart, and you will be there!

Pok Pok...Delicious Thai food in Portland!

 Pok Pok's Kai Yaang

Last weekend my friend and I decided it would be a perfect night to go out to dinner in Portland ("for the food blog!" of course). We had heard many recommendations for a place called Pok Pok, including a raving review from her Sommelier/expert-of-all-things-food at the restaurant where she works. We couldn't get there fast enough!

Pok Pok is located at 3226 SE Division St in Portland, OR in a very distinct looking building. They have Christmas lights up after Christmas and have a large outdoor seating area enclosed with plastic. Another friend of mine mentioned to me that she almost went in before but thought it looked a little "sketchy." But let me tell you, it isn't "sketchy," and the food they serve there is as good as any you could get in Thailand (OK, honestly I've never been to Thailand, but the food is so good it HAS to be true!). According to the 2010 Fearless Critic Portland Restaurant Guide (an awesome book I suggest anyone who loves to eat in Portland buy), Pok Pok is the fourth tastiest restaurant in Portland. They have this to say about Pok Pok,

"If you haven’t spent serious time in Thailand (and outside touristy areas), forget everything you think you know, and experience what Thai food really is (and then wonder why on earth no one else is doing this): lime, chili, fish sauce, fermented shrimp paste. Sour, spicy, salty, umami. Amazing." 

Pandanus leaf infused drinking water

When we got there we were told there was a 30-45 minute wait, but we were happy to wait! Pok Pok has their own lounge, the Whiskey Soda Lounge,  right across the street where customers are told they can wait (Pok Pok will even call the Whiskey Soda Lounge when your table is ready). We decided to order drinking vinegars, because we had never heard of them, and they sounded very "interesting" and a little unappetizing (but since when has that every stopped me from eating or drinking something?!).  According to their menu drinking vinegars are becoming very popular in in Japan, and they are now becoming popular in Portland also, thanks to Pok Pok.

Pomegranate Drinking Vinegar at the Whiskey Soda Lounge

Drinking vinegars are very hard to find in the American market, as they are not your average vinegar one would use on a salad or to cook with. They come in a variety of flavors--I ordered pomegranate--and are diluted with some soda water and ice. In the end they have a sweet and tart flavor. To answer your question (which is the same question I asked the server), yes, you can taste the vinegar, but oddly enough it is a very satisfying a refreshing drink because of the vinegar. To read more about the drinking vinegars at Pok Pok, click here.

Pok Pok's Take-Out Shack

After waiting only about 30 minutes Pok Pok called us over and we were seated outside in the covered seating. Although it was a very chilly night, we were toasty warm thanks to the heat lamps! We had a very hard time choosing what to order because as we read the menu, each item sounded even tastier than the last. In the end we were relieved to realize Pok Pok usually serves family style, so we could share whatever we ordered, meaning we got to choose TWO items! Oh, how I love eating from everyone's dish!

Sticky Rice at Pok Pok

After much debating, we finally decided on Pok Pok's signature dish: Kai Yaang, which is, roasted natural game hen rubbed with lemongrass, garlic, pepper and cilantro served with a spicy sweet and sour dipping sauce. Much to my pleasure our waiter so kindly told us that it is intended to be eaten with your hands.

Cha Ca La Vong at Pok Pok

We also ordered Cha Ca La Vong, which is catfish marinated in turmeric and sour sticky rice, fried in turmeric oil with scallions and dill, served on rice vermicelli with peanuts, mint and mam nem (which is fermented anchovy sauce, that was out of this world delicious!). Dinner entrees range from $8.00-14.00. Pok Pok is famous for their Ike's Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings, which we did not try, but they give me an excuse to go back! In 2007 these fish wings won Food and Wine's 10 Best Restaurant Dishes in America. In 2007 Pok Pok also won Best Oregonian Restaurant of the Year.

This restaurant has instantly gone on my personal list of favorite restaurants in Portland, and I look forward to going back in the near future!