An extremely popular, one of a kind sandwich shop in the Hawthorne district. Lardo's originally started out as a food cart and has grown to three permanent locations in Portland one in the Hawthorne district, one in Downtown Portland on Washington Street, and one in northeast Portland. The sandwiches are enormous. Most of the sandwiches offered here are Italian creations like the rapini and grilled mortadella. Their most popular sandwich is the pork belly, egg and cheese. Lardo also offer salads and fries, including their famous dirty fries made with pork and herbs. Lardo's drinks are cheap too. All beers here are just $5 a pint.
Recommended for Take Out because: Lardo is an excellent spot to grab a sandwich or hamburger to go.
Meagan's expert tip: Be sure and sample some Dirty Fries.
Nong the owner and chef is originally from Bangkok, Thailand and serves some of the best Thai food in Portland at his food cart. He serves just one dish, Khao Man Gai (Chicken and Rice), but has several variations of this dish like poached chicken, crispy chicken, vegetarian, and pork. The portions are generous and only cost around $7. The regular size comes with 8 0z of rice and either one whole breast or the quarter leg of the chicken and a bowl of soup. They serve great drinks too, like Thai ice tea, mango juice, lychee juice, and more. Nong's Khao Man Gai does accept credit cards.
Recommended for Take Out because: They serve some of the best chicken and rice you will ever try.
Meagan's expert tip: Some of the selections come with peanuts, so be sure and mention an allergy to make sure you order peanut free.
Podnah's makes honest, slow-smoked, Texas style barbecue for their patrons fresh every day. All of Podnah's meats are slow smoked using 100% oak hardwood without electric, gas assistance, or charcoal. Brisket, pulled pork, sausage, prime rib, collard greens, broccoli casserole, potato salad, pecan pie and banana pudding are just a few of the reasons you will love eating here. The portions here are large, so big enough to split between two people. They offer daily special each day until they are sold out. Podnah's offers their own cocktail creations like the Dr. Salty Pepper made with Aria gin, Peychaud's bitters, grapefruit, lime juice, with a salted rim.
Recommended for Take Out because: Podnah's is a great place to grab some takeout with lots of shareable options on their menu.
Meagan's expert tip: They are open for brunch each Saturday and Sunday.
At Pip's Original in Portland, you'll find good old fashioned deep fried mini doughnuts. Creations range from simple sugar and cinnamon doughnuts to more elaborate creations like doughnuts covered in Nutella, honey, cinnamon and sea salt. These mini doughnuts are in high demand and on weekends there is often a line out the door for them. Not only do they have great doughnuts, but they've got great chai lattes too. Pip's uses tea and raw spices to create five flavorful house-crafted chai lattes. Their chai blends are never pasteurized or microfiltered, so you're actually drinking the spices and tea. This is the perfect place for morning takeout.
Recommended for Take Out because: Pip's Original Doughnuts makes piping hot mini doughnuts that are perfect when you need to grab and go.
Meagan's expert tip: Be sure and try a few different kinds, because they are all good.
El Taco Yucateco is a food truck in downtown Portland that features a simple menu that includes burritos, paunchos and tacos. Whenever you try one of their burritos, tacos, or paunchos you will quickly see that they are so freaking good that they literally don't have to make anything else. A pauncho is a meat tostada with black refried beans topped with choice of meat, pickled onions, and cabbage. You can choose which meat you would like on any item. Choices include steak, al pastor, pork, or chicken. Be warned before you put the homemade habanero sauce on your food, it's hot!
Recommended for Take Out because: El Taco Yucateco makes some of the best Mexican takeout in Portland.
Meagan's expert tip: Be sure and try one of their paunchos
Bunk Sandwiches has been a go to sandwich shop in Portland since 2008. Their downtown location serves breakfast and lunch everyday. Here you can grab tasty toasted sandwiches to go like the Pork Belly Cubano made with ham, pork belly and shoulder roast, swiss, mustard, and pickles or the Roasted Poblano Torta made with pinto beans, guacamole and queso. To find out what their daily specials are just give them a call. All sandwiches come with chips, unless you want a different side like potato salad, sour pickles, or apple slaw. To wash down your sandwich they offer beer, sodas including Mexican Coke, Stash Tea, and Stumptown coffee.
Recommended for Take Out because: Bunk Sandwiches is always a good place to get take out.
Meagan's expert tip: If you are unsure which sandwich to try, order the pork belly Cubano.
Gumba's fresh food is so good it's hard to believe it's just a food cart. In fact, one visit here may change the way you view food carts forever. Their menu changes often to reflect the chef's creativity, but their hand-cut pasta dishes are permanent fixtures on the menu. For example, the Tagliatelle Carbonara topped with housemade burrata. The combination of the cheese, fried candied shallots, breadcrumbs, chili oil, and sesame seeds woven throughout the pasta is outstanding and the presentation is divine. To see spontaneous seasonal dishes of the day like pizzas, sandwiches, desserts, and more keep an eye on their Facebook page.
Recommended for Take Out because: Gumba is one of the best food carts in the city with some of the top takeout.
Meagan's expert tip: Do not wait too late in the day to visit, they tend to sell out on a regular basis.
Piccone's Corner offers a takeout menu inspired by old Italian flavors, Italian American traditions, PNW seasonality, and a new school style. It all starts at their local farm, where pastured hogs are raised with the utmost respect for the animals and the land. The takeout offerings showcase house butchered meats, produce driven salads, signature pastas and flame cooked meat in an ever rotating menu. Sourcing and seasonality are the driving creative forces behind the kitchen. They are a great place to get a delicious grab a sandwich if you are in a hurry or if you have more time order an entire multi-course dinner for takeaway.
Recommended for Take Out because: All the takeaway from Piccone's Corner is grown and sourced locally.
Meagan's expert tip: Try the Bucatini pasta it will knock your socks off made with pesto, white wine, radishes, and parmesan.
Dirty Habit is a veggie forward restaurant with Asian inflections by Brian Han and BJ Smith. The concept is all about the pleasures received from indulging in our favorite foods, without the guilt of overindulging. While the menu has been created with health in mind, (gluten free and no refined sugars) and veggie forward, it is still meat friendly! In addition to the Asian inspired bowls, the menu also features a number of delectable smoothies to start your day or give you a mid-day boost and cocktails to end the day. There's something for everyone whether looking for breakfast takeout or for lunch.
Recommended for Take Out because: All the takeout from Dirty Habit is packed with flavor and they offer vegetarian and gluten free options.
Meagan's expert tip: You can't go wrong with the "mmm bop", a delicious combination of greens, multigrain rice, Brussel sprouts, bean sprouts, egg, and mushrooms.