Location: SW 9th and Alder Parking Lot (located on the corner of SW 9th and Washington)
***Readers Favorite***
Thanks to reader Derrek Wayne for providing me with the menu and photos and for pointing out how good this cart is.
Description: Ok, confession time. I work within spitting distance of this cart. In fact, I work right across the street. However, and to my shame, I never paid that much attention to it until a couple of alert fans wrote in to tell me how it is one one of the best Thai carts in Portland. For some reason I was skeptical. Could it really be that good? Why was the food a dollar more than the other carts?
Thai Express Phad Thai
Shame on me for taking so long. I should have known better. This is pretty authentic Thai food like you get in Thailand with one of my favorite Pad Thais out of any of the carts in Portland - and the portions are HUGE (which explains the slightly higher price than other carts). I think I got three meals out of the Pad Kee Mao noodles the last time I ate there, and trust me kids, this girl likes to eat. Plus the owner is just a gem, so very friendly. Menu features all the regular Thai standards, but includes loads of vegetables. Caution though - UNLESS YOU HAVE ASBESTOS TASTE BUDS DO NOT ORDER YOUR FOOD SPICY. Really. You’ve been warned. In my office we now call it the Spicy Thai Cart and we have become fans and regular customers. Give it a try yourselves.
Thai Express Curry
Sample Menu: (all entrees in the $6-$8 range and come with rice, unless they are noodle dishes)
APPETIZER
1. Salad Rolls (2) … $3
Fresh lettuce, carrot, cucumber, tofu, rice noodles, basil wrapped in
rice paper with peanut sauce
SOUP
2. Tom Yum Soup (hot sour soup)
Fresh galanga root, lemon grass, shallots, tomatoes, green onions,
cilantro, straw mushrooms
3. Tom Kha (coconut milk soup)
Fresh galanga root, lemon grass, kaffir leaves, spring onion,
cilantro, straw mushrooms
NOODLES
with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or tofu.
4. Pad Thai
Medium size noodles stir fried, egg, bean sprouts, onions and ground peanuts.
5. Pad Kee Mao
Fresh wide rice noodles stir fried, egg, basil leaves, bell peppers,
ground chilies, onion, tomatoes.
6. Pad See Ewe
Fresh wide rice noodles stir fried, egg, Chinese broccoli, carrot in soy sauce.
7. Pad Thai Kee Mao
Medium size noodles stir fried, egg, basil leaves, bell peppers,
ground chilies, onion and tomatoes.
8. Pad Thai Sen Yai
Fresh wide noodles stir fried, egg, bean sprouts, onions and ground peanuts.
ENTREES
with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or tofu.
9. Pad Cashew
Stir fried cashews, onions, bell peppers and water chest nuts.
10. Pad Basil
Stir fried basil leaves, onion and bell peppers
11. Pad Phet
Stir fried bamboo, bell peppers and basil.
12. Pad Ginger
Stir fried fresh ginger, onion, celery and bell peppers
13. Pad Prik Khing
Stir fried green beans in spicy sauce
14. Nam Mah Hoi Beef
Stir fried Beef with onion, mushrooms in oyster sauce
CURRIES
with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or tofu
15. Pineapple Curry
Red curry, bell peppers, peas, carrots and basil
16. Green Curry
Bell peppers, bamboo, eggplant and basil
17. Mussamun Curry
Potatoes, carrots, onions and peanuts
18. Yellow Curry
Potatoes, onions and carrots
19. Panang Curry
Panang curry with green beans
RICE
with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or tofu.
20. Pineapple Fried Rice
Stir fried jasmine rice with pineapple, peas, raisins, onions and carrots
21. Thai Fried Rice
Stir fried jasmine rice with peas, onions and tomatoes
22. Curry Fried Rice
Stir fried jasmine rice with yellow curry, onions, peas, carrots and tomatoes
Hours: Mon-Fri 11-2
Phone: 503 412 9308