I'd like to disclose, I would probably have never attempted to eat here if it weren't for my husband (who comes at least once a week). Somehow, the menu just doesn't seem interesting enough for Portland food cart pizzazz status. Luckily, a lot of Portlanders are not jerks like me. Sandwich. Burger. Quesadilla. On second though, all those sound good to me. My first go was the black bean burger. Damn, it was the best black bean patty I've ever had. I can tell you what it was not: gummy, full of fillers, and puck-like. Nope. Supple and savory. Just delectable. The bun seems like a carb bomb but it's actually nice and pillowy. The toppings are where it's at - get the caramelized onions and you will be aiight. Oh! But did you know about the fries? You get a PILE of fries with every sandwich plus a fry sauce pick (Mohawk sauce makes the best paring). This is pretty ridiculous. I also tried the tofu quesadilla which comes looking like a 90s modern art piece. Swirls and geometric shapes whizzed out in various sauces. The tofu is firm and makes for a nice vehicle for all the flavors going on in the sauces. I really enjoyed the quesadilla but would order the black bean again instead. Although I hear the breakfast all day is happening. In terms on non-vegetarian options, it's your party meat eaters!
(4)
Rick W.
Super delicious $6 breakfast grilled cheese sandwich. We both had the breakfast sandwich, G's with tempeh bacon and mine with regular bacon. With a couple of fried eggs, grilled onions, tomato and cheese on top of thick, beautifully toasted bread it was enough for breakfast and we skipped lunch. My grilled cheese sandwich either had no cheese or so little that it couldn't be found. I only noticed when G was eating his sandwich and pulling at strings of cheese. Mine was so fantastic that I didn't even notice that G probably received my portion of the cheese until I was almost done with my sandwich. Now a grilled cheese sandwich made without cheese seems like a joke, but what it really speaks to is how damn good their food is. They were a little backed up when we arrived at 11 am on a Saturday and it took about 25 minutes to get our order. Obviously the food is fresh. We will be back. We loved the food. Hopefully the kitchen can work out a few kinks.
(4)
Katie G.
SOOOOO GOOOD!!!! It can be a lengthy wait during a busy time but honestly...I do not care! Also, it's a food cart. There's only so much they can do in a certain time span.
(5)
Tanya G.
I absolutely love the fries. The Mohawk sauce is also amazing. The burgers are also delicious.
(5)
RJ H.
The PDX Cart scene is among the best if not the best in the states...the quality and versatility is pretty astounding. My favorite hands down is Che' Cafe in St Johns... First the menu is pretty wide ...all day breakfast ...The BLT breakfast sandwich is awesome ....you can substitute vegan bacon for the real thing ...but either come in copious amounts with this amazing slightly spicy sauce throughout. The Mac and Cheese can be simple or veggies and or meat added...and I guarantee a happy food comma after..... Pulled Pork....top notch ....The Bubby Burger ...the best everything is $10 or under ....and frankly its worth twice the price. The owner is a one man restaurant machine...host...wait staff ..chef ...all in a quick super friendly style. And with Capture by Porches beer and a great covered fire pit near by...a great spot to hang
(5)
Amelia B.
I generally go to this foodcart maybe once or twice a week for lunch. I went last night with my parents, though, and the chef + the girl taking the orders were really, really rude to the customers. There were rude comments about other customers within my ear shot, there were rude comments about my order while I was standing at the window - it was really bad. I appreciate they were busy but I've never seen behavior so obviously dismissive of customers before (and I used to work at restaurants, so I know how chefs talk in the kitchen - but it's pretty bad when the customers can hear what you're saying about them). I don't think I'll be visiting again.
(1)
Ivan C.
Until last night I've only tried their Steak Wrap which I'm a huge fan of...Meat, eggs, cheese and fries wrapped in a tortilla, what more can you ask for? Last night I had a burger, which was really good. I'm not sure what they season their burger with, but it had great flavor. Had mine with cheese and grilled onions. Had a bite of my wife's blackened tilapia quesadilla it was also very tasty. Their dipping sauces are the bomb too, gotta try them all. One of the best food carts around with plenty of variety for everyone.
(5)
Eva J.
This is in my hood so I ride by this place constantly on Williams. What I love besides the most delicious black bean burger slathered in grilled onions or crispy onions and lettuce tomatoes and mushrooms and basket of fries, besides that deliciousness, is that they have a bike parking area inside. You can bring your bike inside and then park it right in the fenced in area on the side of the building. There is a shaded seating area right behind the food cart. If you want some coffee or ice cream it's right next to Vendetta, which is such a cozy setting as well. Loved the cook, loved his wife and baby and how generous they were with portions and the location is sweet sweet. I would check this place out if I were you!
(5)
Erin T.
We bike by here daily and always slow down for a deep aromatic breath of deliciousness, and walking by yesterday we were craving tasty food and decided to stop. They've got a small menu and focus on making things fresh to order. We got the special- blackened tilapia sandwich with cajun fries, and an order of the sake mac-n-cheese with crispy fried onions on top. we had a mile to walk home, and the fries were gone in about 4 blocks-they were perfect! The sandwich was amazing, the crispy onions on the mac was a great addition and overall we were so happy we stopped. I'm a moderate food cart fan- i usually like them but I don't go out of my way for them.....that said, I'm already craving this comfort food again! they deliver...and thats going to be dangerous. oh and a bonus is you can tell they care about what they're doing.
(5)
Cassie S.
Che Cafe is a rockin' red cart in NE (with a sweet new mural!). Whenever I am having one of 'those' days, I stop over for the freshly made food and the great company. Terri and Ryan are genuine people who are passionate about the food they make AND the customers they serve. I always feel comforted after I've eaten and socialized. The other great part is that you can sit inside the coffee shop next door, have a latte and your food is served to you. Deliciousness!!!
(5)
Sunshine P.
Had the macaroni and cheese and side salad and both were delicious! Can't wait to go back and try more of their menu items.
(5)
Abigail S.
Yummy food, awesome owners. Like eating at home, but someone else cooks you great food and cleans up after you. Mac n cheese n chicken to die for.
(5)
Andrea L.
Even though I live so very close, I had never been to this little food pod before. As we entered the pod area, the sound of Brown-Eyed Girl was playing loudly (not too loudly) from the Che Cafe truck - which attracted me from the get go, and the three of us girls couldn't help but sing along. Copious amounts of cajun fries in a basket for $3. We sat in comfy couches and gabbed away in the heated, comfy structure, perched in the middle of all the truck pod. Took us quite a while to eat all the yummy fries. Service was good, the menu looks good and has a decent amount of bfast. lunch and dinner items. I ;look forward to trying something else from them!
(3)
Rachal J.
UPDATE: I received a very genuine apology and email from the owner and her husband, including an offer for a free meal. I appreciated the outreach quite a lot, and if this is a representation of customer service to come, I would gladly come here very regularly. I did express my feelings about the wait time, and the owners agreed that there should be a way of letting the customers know. So, again, thank you Terri and Ryan. I will update again after my next meal. :) PREVIOUS REVIEW: I used to be a regular customer of this place, but after today's experience I wouldn't spend a dollar here. The food is good, but the harassment + wait time isn't worth it. The owner was working today, and was clearly in a foul mood. Nonetheless, I ordered a steak wrap, figuring he was just having a bad day. I waited over half an hour. At about the 20 minute mark, I asked if the food was getting close to being ready. The lady told me no, while the man responded, "What the f***? Can't everyone just leave me alone?" When it finally was ready, he screamed my number and threw the food on the counter. The wait here has been consistently long, and it's absurd when you're just waiting for a food cart. The rudeness coupled with everything else makes this a dining experience that isn't worth your while.
This is my favorite food cart! What isn't good here? The portions are huge and the price is reasonable. The fries are awesome, and I'm really picky about fries, and the mohawk sauce just adds even more amazingness. Some of my favorite things are the burger, the brisket sandwich, the tilapia quesadilla, the mac and cheese and the french toast. This is one of the busiest carts at the St. Johns pod so come early but be prepared that you might have to wait a little longer than the other carts but I assure you that it is worth the wait.
(5)
Angela P.
I love Che Cafe! It's like quality, sit-down restaurant food except from a cart (& cheap). I'm a big fan of their blackened tilapia quesadillas & black bean veggie burger. Awesome fries too. Very vegetarian friendly! Plus you get the Captured by Porches beer bus adjoining.
(5)
Sabrina M.
Greasy, greasy deliciousness! I tried the mac and cheese my first weekend living in Portland and I was hooked! The only reason I had the take away a star is because of the long wait. It took them 25 minutes to make a grilled cheese.
(4)
Ford F.
Everything on the menu is great. Go for the steak wrap in the morning in order to enter a long lasting coma/pregnancy.
(4)
Beth B.
I love this place. First off - it's a cart and right next door is Captured By Porches. Go in an evening for dinner, grab a local brew and order up their veggie burger - it's amazing. It comes with caramelized or crunchy onions, a pick from their selection of amazing sauces and french fries that will force you to eat every last one (my favorite sauce is the mohawk sauce). They accept debit / credit, are really great guys and serve up some fabulous burgers. Go in the morning for one of their breakfast burritos. I'm a vegetarian but love their steak burrito - they just substitute the steak for tempeh bacon and I'm all set! Thursday nights there's usually a live band that plays in the summer and during chillier nights, they have a fire pit to sit around. Great overall experience.
(4)
Deric M.
This is my favorite food cart in Portland! They used to be off of N Williams, but moved to St. John's in May or so, and now they are only a few blocks from my house! My favorite dish that I get is the salad, and I ad tilapia AND the chicken on top. It makes it a $9 salad, but it is huge! Also, they make their own dressing, which is really good too. Their fries are some of the best fries that I have had in a long time. The are lightly seasoned and served with a sauce they call Mowhawk Sauce. It's like a garlicy fry sauce that is out of this world! The owner Ryan, and his wife Terri are awewome people also. Very friendly and energetic. It's nice to chit chat with them and visit. I prob visit their cart about once a week or so, and have gotten many of my friends hooked on Che Cafe. Try it out! It's AMAZING!!!
(5)
Matthew S.
For comfort food, Che Cafe can't be beat. They have the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had. The black bean burger is amazing. The quesadilla is great. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is to die for. The new breakfast tofu wrap is great, as well! They're VERY vegetarian friendly, too! The owners are extremely nice and really good at what they do!
(5)
Julie E.
Oh heavenly mother of all that's amazing. Drop what you are doing right now and go get the man n cheese. I love love love this cart. It's so good!
(4)
Aaron W.
I arrived a bit after 10 a.m. on a Friday. Che Cafe was doing breakfast that day, so they were open. Still, I inquired on whether the chef could prepare something off the lunch menu, and he had no problem doing so. Earned some brownie points right there, in my opinion. I went straight to the lunch menu and ordered their Sadie Black Bean Burger ($8): a homemade black bean burger topped with aioli served on a grilled onion bun. You get a choice of any or all toppings, including lettuce, tomato, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions (or fried onion strips), and choice of cheese. I asked for all the toppings, going with pepperjack cheese. The burger came with a generous portion of fries (regular or cajun) and choice of sauce. I chose their cajun fries and went with their regular Mohawk sauce, an aioli of sriracha, ketchup, and mayonnaise. The burger was delicious. The delicate black bean patty held its own among the sea of flavors here. Ryan knows how to cook, that's for sure. The onions were perfectly caramelized, the mushrooms wonderfully sauteed. Both beautifully coated the inside of the grilled onion bun. Many places opt for a sesame seed bun or a regular run of some sort. Not here. The onion bun assured each bite had awesome flavor, further pleasing the palate. The fries were also very good, and the sweet/garlicky/spicy nature of the Mohawk fry sauce is a hit with me. The sauce is extremely mild for me, as a note, but maybe others will feel it more. I would have liked the fries in the fryer maybe a minute longer to crisp up more and get more golden brown. Just my personal preference, anyway. A great meal here in North Portland. Che Cafe is another place I definitely recommend!
(4)
Lauren A.
That was a fantastic breakfast I just had at Che Cafe. It was a veggie breakfast burrito and was super tasty. Yum!
(5)
Nicole L.
On my last day in Portland, I was on a super mission to visit the nearby Queen Bee studio, but was ravenous -- thankfully, Google Maps pointed out the glorious Che Cafe food truck just across the street. I went for the mac and cheese, thinking that it'd be a nice change from the burgers and sandwiches that the menu proudly offered. The nice things about Che Cafe are too numerous to list -- the owners are wonderfully friendly, the food truck is adorable, the ability to plop down inside Vendetta and wait for your food to be delivered with a smile. And... now thinking about that mac and cheese, I lost my train of thought. Unf. This mac and cheese ain't your typical KD -- it's gooey, cheesy, and topped with crispy onions that lend a surprising contrast to the pasta. This is not food that you want to eat on any kind of diet, folks -- unless you're on the "super delicious comfort food" diet, because it definitely fits the category.
(4)
Alysia A.
if you are lazy when you start your period and don't feel like walking the blocks to the mississippi food carts you can call che cafe and they'll deliver, better yet you can fill out the order online and they'll come by bicycle with their cute baby in their arms. the food is good, the fries are excellently prepared and seasoned. the burger is perfect and the onions atop it are heavenly. and now, in bloodlust, i order from them again.
(3)
Dan H.
So this was my first time over to this small cart pod. We came here specifically for the Captured By Porches beer bus, but after half a beer in the hot weather I got really hungry. My friend had been to Che' Cafe on multiple occasions and recommended the Che' Steak Wrap ($6). After thinking about it for a while, I decided I was hungry enough to get one. This is a really nice breakfast wrap. It was almost 4 in the afternoon when I took my first bite, but breakfast is served all day here so why not enjoy an afternoon breakfast? I couldn't think of a reason not to, so I went ahead and got one. Good decision on my part. Full of steak (stop the presses), potatoes, eggs, cheese and caramelized onions, this is a man (or woman) sized meal. Ok, the wrap isn't huge in itself, but it is stuffed to the gills with all of the above. There might have been other things in there that I'm not remembering, but I forgot to take a picture of the menu on the cart and their breakfast items aren't listed on their website. Oh well. The one thing you need to know about it is that it is very good. Also for $6 it is a steal of a deal on a hot meal. Speaking of hot. This thing is pretty heat hot. Not great for a hot summer day, but the cold beer helped out there. Well worth the trip up here if only for the fact that you can get beer off of a bus at this small pod. The food at this cart just adds to the total experience.
(4)
Leeanna W.
I love this cart! The best breakfast burritos in St Johns. The Che steak wrap is next level delicious. I get extra mohawk sauce. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Marie E.
I was SUPER happy with the choice to try this super yummy food cart. My best friend and I went and got two entrees: the Mac N Cheese and a Caprese pasta dish and shared them. The Caprese dish flavors were spot on. It was delicious. The only downside to this dish was that it was a bit oily for my taste. The Mac N Cheese was super delicious; I really liked that it had these fried onions served on top. They both came with the most amazing grilled garlic bread ever. I will be returning for sure, if not for the Mac N Cheese than for something else because their burgers looked great and there was a pulled pork sandwich on the menu. They also had a variety of sauces that i wanted to try!
(4)
Em H.
BEST FOOD IN ST. JOHN'S TBH. Do not miss the blackened tilapia quesadilla, i'm serious. Mac n cheeze, breakfast wraps (both steak and veg) are delicious! They also house-make 6 amazing sauces, get one of each. Aaaand best of all, these guys are awesome. Tip fat!
(5)
Taylor M.
I love this place! They have an amazing black bean burger, and you get tons of fries with it plus the fry sauces are so good. The people working here are always so friendly too!
(4)
Bill D.
OK, the Che' steak wrap is so delicious it's dangerous. I have to talk myself OUT of eating here because I would certainly gain too much weight in a hurry. I've named it the "crack wrap" because of it's addictive qualities :) But, after reading all these reviews I'm determined to break my habit and try a few of the other items, specifically the mac & cheese that everyone is raving about! I'm sure everything is great but it's the Mohawk sauce that is truly unique and amazing... I can imagine it goes perfectly on just about anything!!!
(5)
Damon K.
Steak wrap is amazing, get it. Mohawk sauce is also awesome, get extra.
(5)
Michele S.
After moving to north Portland (from out of state) several months ago we've struggled to find some quick and easy go-to options for the family on nights when we just don't feel like cooking. Food carts are a new concept for us and we took a while to become adventurous enough to try some. Che' Cafe Did not disappoint. The food was super tasty for any eatery, food cart or otherwise. The Mohawk & BBQ sauces were delish! We brought our children (three under age 7) and they enjoyed their meals too. Finally! A place I want to back to in NoPo! I also think it's worth noting that the man behind the counter was super friendly and patient while we ordered. He answered questions and made suggestions which were helpful. And he didn't treat us like crap when he saw we had kids with us. Definitely give this place a try!
(5)
Amy O.
Great food! Love the home made sauces for the fries, esp. the red pepper sauce. And their breakfast is good, too.
(5)
Michael H.
Best french fries in the entire world! Incredible dipping sauces (cherry wasabi aioli anyone?) The $6 grilled cheese & soup will warm you up on a rainy day while attending UBI across the street.
(5)
Robby R.
I stop by for the sake mac and cheese once every few weeks for lunch. They put grilled onions on top... and the side of toasted bread is fantastic. It's a tasty treat... gooey... comfort food.
(4)
James C.
Excellent food I've eaten here lots of times kids love the Mac and cheese and I love the BBQ chicken sandwich, I haven't found anything on the menu I dislike, coupled with a beer from the captured by porch brewery, it doesn't get much better than that plus they have a fun bus for the kids to play in and decently live music, my only gripe would be I wish there was a slightly better range of soft drinks for the kids and that the lot that all the carts sit on was fenced from the busy street.
(5)
Jarrod S.
Altogether a bit of an odd experience, but in a good way. I stopped here after finding out the only food-carts on Mississippi for lunch on a Tuesday are coffee or vegan. So I head over to Williams and see Che Cafe. I stopped in to see the fairly simple menu which at the time I was not super stoked about. Brisket, pork, hamburger, nothing is screaming EAT ME like food usually does to me on Tuesdays. So I order the pulled pork. After 5 minutes of waiting I start to second guess myself because the dude is all over the griddle and I didn't see any pig in distress, was he frying it to heat it up? NOPE !! They top their sandwiches with onions either, caramelized, or crispy. After taking my first bite, I understood, I realized the so called "gimmick" was making these very very tasty onions,frying the living hell out of them for a crispy factor on a sandwich known to dominate the bread holding it all together. The fries, which I didn't realize came with the sandwich, tasted wonderful with a hint of onion sprinkled on them,. They were just crisp and soggy enough to crave them. They were served with a homemade ketchup which I only tried because it looked more like a fry sauce, and tasted, well, I didn't like it. While I may not go out of my way to come back, If in the area I would make it point to come here. Oh they take visa and mastercard, and they are open on Mondays, and Tuesdays! Oh and the "odd" that I started the review with, was the fact I really enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich from here more than a place that just serves barbecue.
(4)
Kyle S.
Che' is truly part of the wave of new food carts in Portland. Terri and Ryan make delicious comfort food for a fair price. They have only been open since August 2009, but their food shows years of experience in the kitchen. There are a couple of things that set Che' apart: -Indoor Seating- Che has an agreement with Vignetti's coffee cart and you can eat inside, you know in case its ever raining in Portland. -Dog Friendly- They make dog treats out of dehydrated chicken, My picky dog Riley snaps them up immediately. He's even allowed in the indoor seating. - Location- Che' is located on a biking artery which makes it easy to get to, even without a car. But the thing that is really amazing about Che' is the food. Huge portions of comfort food made to order with their delicious homemade ketchup. I promise you will be daydreaming about the food for weeks. I had the Pulled Pork sandwich first. The onion bun comes from a local Italian bakery and is the perfect canvas for a PILE of tender, slow-cooked pork topped with crispy or carmelized onions with fries on the side. Today I had the Meatloaf Sandwich, it was big enough for two people, but I finished the whole thing and promptly fell into a food coma. The meatloaf was topped with mayo, tomato, and lettuce held between two pieces of grilled como bread. Che' is also veggie-friendly with a black bean burger that is one of the best veggie patties I've ever had. Its dense with the perfect spice that will fill up even the most jaded carnivore. foodcartsportland.com/20…
(5)
John D.
We come here a lot in the summer, but don't let the winter keep you away, they have a very nice enclosed and heated seating area, and there's a covered area with a fire pit. Everything I've had has been fabulous, I often crave the brisket sandwich, simple and good, and the fry sauces are all great.
(5)
Amy B.
Some of the best mac and cheese I have had around town and it came from a food cart. It was not only loaded with creamy goodness, but it also had mushrooms, caramelized onions and broccoli in it. It was a large serving, so definitely share and get something else too.
(5)
Brittanie M.
I'm getting super hungry reading all the raves about the best mac here...can't quite weigh in since every time I have tried to order this they are sold out! I guess that means it really is that good. However, my go-to default has always been the grilled cheese and tomato soup. This place has turned me into a tomato soup lover. It is full of flavor, creamy, and the perfect amount of basil really makes this soup magical. Of course you can't eat tomato soup without grilled cheese. That too is tasty and I especially love the artisan bread and good quality cheese they use. My only diss is that sometimes the sandwich is perfect just like the soup, and sometimes it's on the greasy side. So I just hope for those non greasy days and carry on with my soup.
(4)
Maria L.
The best black bean burger ever. Oh my goodness.
(5)
Dylan E.
This place just rocks!!! The food is good the prices are just great. And not to mention Mohawk. My mom is literally addicted to the stuff. But the food is just amazing. I come here quite often. Definitely recommend the steak wrap, and the pork. Always GET MOHAWK Sauce.
(5)
Scott H.
Familiar tastes...it took me a while, but I figured it out. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed when I go food carting. I can't really decide what to get. Fortunately the good people of yelp pointed me in the direction of the steak wrap. One beef (haha) that I have with steak wraps is when tough pieces of steak come out with every bite. Not the case here, they slice their steak nice and thin so it's easy to eat. It also comes with potatoes (fries?) onions, eggs and mohawk sauce. I guess my complaint was that the elements of the wrap didn't really come together. The fries made it pretty big, so I would only get a bite of each individual element each time. The mohawk sauce was interesting. First I liked it, then didn't, then liked it again. Then I said, "Hmmm this tastes so familiar. I don't know how I feel about it though." Then it came to me. It takes just like the firecracker shrimp sauce at PF Changs. That may not be a bad thing for some. I would come back. It was a good value and they were very friendly.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
The price is right for some great easy comfort food. They have a plethora of vegetarian options and I found the staff to be kind and timely in having orders ready. We waited about 15 minutes for our breakfast sandwich while there was a giant line of people before and after us. We ordered Cajun fries on the side with a delicious mustard Mohawk sauce (seriously, try it. It's so worth it)
(4)
Karen D.
One of the "original" food carts on the North Portland scene. A classic! Classic American fare, done right every time. The crispy shoestring fries are almost iconic, the breakfast sandwiches often steal the show, but the Sake Mac n Cheese is the real MVP in my opinion. But if you're reading this, you probably already knew that!
(5)
Mary B.
This is where you want to go when you want a nice big flavorful burger and a whole bunch of shoestring fries with your choice of dipping sauce. Depending on how busy it is, you might have to wait a bit. But it's worth it. You'll certainly get your fill of meat and fried potatoes. I know they have some other things on the menu including a delicious pulled pork sandwich. There's also a quesadilla that looks pretty awesome. I like this particular food cart pod as well. They have really improved things with a fire pit, an enclosed, covered seating area and movies/music on certain evenings. Don't forget to grab a beer from the beer porch to wash down your burger!
(4)
Nakia C.
I went back today for the first time and had an awesome experience.. It appears that during the time of my second visit they had recently lost an employee and the Chef was under a lot of stress. The owner responded to my post within 1 business day and offered a free meal to me and my family. I decided not to inform the Chef of our last encounter and have a fresh start. I ordered 4-breakfast wraps and they are still as good as they were the first time.. Even my 5yr old nephew said he's going back to buy another (lol).
(4)
Nicole D.
Love Che Cafe - eat here almost every week. Fries are always hot and crispy. Our favorites are the mac and cheese, barbecue sandwiches, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the steak wrap. Yes, it can take awhile for your order and the service can be brusque, but the food is tasty and well worth it. We call ahead so our food is ready when we arrive.
(5)
Drew M.
Food is really good. People running the show here are terrible people -- but MEH. Food is really good.
(4)
Spencer B.
Hey there, I've eaten here 4 or 5 times and always find the food to be very high quality and delicious. It is an ok value although rivaling some restaurants. What does bother me is the level of hygiene. Just look at the floor, the trash can and are around cart. All are littered with food scraps and trash. If not for this fact they would be 4 stars
(3)
megan C.
I have passed by this cart at least a couple hundred times. I don't know why today was the day I chose to sneak in there from out of the rain but I am so glad I did! Pulled pork amazing, fry sauce amazing, combination unbeatable! I live in Nopo and I love me some BBQ---he has the touch and the sauce, really it is oh so delicious! Now I know they deliver...this is going to be trouble:) can't wait to try the rest of the menu.
(5)
Latoya H.
I still love this place. have you tried the pulled pork sandwich or the mac and cheese with pork and crispy onion. OMG!! This place still hits the spot and the owners are uber nice and support the community.
(5)
Matt S.
I've been to Che' Cafe many times and each time I get the pulled pork sandwich. The pork is slow cooked to perfection and served with caramelized OR crispy onions on top. One word = YUM! I also go next door to Vergnetti's Coffee and get a coffee to compliment my meal. In my opinion, it's the best pork sandwich I've had since I've lived in Portland. Everything's made from scratch, including the sauces, and they are real friendly and affordable. You just can't beat that!
(5)
Matt S.
Wow. Sake mac and cheese with pulled pork is great. I'm going to have to try more of the food at this amazing little cart.
(5)
Eriko O.
went to this place after my son's music class at sound roots music. you can take out food from che and sit inside the coffee shop/pastry/music school lobby and eat. definitely a plus in rainy, cold weather. the food was great. solid!!! service was very good too. i had the burger and ate every bite (except the one bite i gave up to my husband). it is a great burger. i know that everyone says that about burgers around portland, but this one was pretty awesome. wish they had pickles though. the toasted bun pretty much made up for it.
(4)
Steve R.
These guys just moved to the Kruger Farms lot on Lombard and Burr, almost to St. John's, and man, I could not be happier about that. Their homemade black bean veggie burger is definitely in the top three in the city, imho. Top it with the crispy fried onions, and you will be in heaven. The fries are Outstanding! And, when you pair them with any of their dipping sauces, it puts them over the top. My favorite, I think, is the Mohawk sauce, which is like a slightly spicy aioli, with a little garlic kick (but don't pass up trying any of the other 6 or 7 they offer - I haven't had a bad one. If you are a mustard lover, the Mustard Mohawk can't be beat). My wife had the mac and cheese, topped (if memory serves) with crispy onions, and loved it. They're also doing breakfast, which we had to head back in the morning and try out (and considering the dearth of good breakfast joints around here [RIP Little Red Bike], this is a very welcome addition) and we were not disappointed. The breakfast grilled cheese was stellar, with tempeh bacon and delicious thick-cut bread (tasted like Grand Central Bakery, but they were too busy to ask), fried egg, (Tillamook?) cheese, and some of that super tasty Mustard Mohawk sauce, it makes me start to drool just thinkin about it. Be warned, though, both the breakfast sandwiches and the burgers are Huge, so bring a healthy appetite! Ryan and Terri, who own and run the cart, are really nice and super friendly, and they said that not only can you sub tempeh bacon for the meaty variety on all of the breakfast dishes, you can also replace the eggs with tofu, and Ryan was *very* proud of his tofu skills, so I will have to give that a try soon, when I inevitably go back.
(5)
Chory F.
Absolutely fabulous food here. Worth a weekly visit in my estimation. It's no surprise at all they're getting all 4- and 5-star reviews! Super-stoked there's more seating now, and looking forward to delicious Sake Mac * Cheese on cool autumnal nights: perfection!
(5)
Kyle D.
Bbq chicken sandwich with mohawk sauce was awesome. Food takes a little while but well worth it. Some juice selection would be a plus.
(4)
Chris D.
Tremendous value and a great stop on your way home if you leave in North Portland. We had the burger and the bean burger. Both were very good with a ton of fixins and fries. Not in my top three burgers for Portland since I like a more simple bruger, but I'll be back since I leave nearby.
(3)
Beth B.
Move over Big Egg (food cart on Mississippi) - there's a new Chief in town. This often-overlooked food cart is amazing. Their veggie burger is HUGE (easily split between two people) and their special selection of sauces for their savory fries is hard to choose from. The guy is super nice and will happily customize dishes within reason. Their veggie breakfast burrito with a little special sauce was amazing after a long hike (only $6). The ambiance is great as well - go on a Thursday night and grab a brew from Captured by Porches while sitting around a bonfire eating a delicious veggie burger. It makes for an inexpensive memorable night out.
(4)
Joanna C.
This is the best breakfast cart ever and the Mac and cheese is super awesome and lovely.
(5)
Spencer B.
Hey there, I've eaten here 4 or 5 times and always find the food to be very high quality and delicious. It is an ok value although rivaling some restaurants. What does bother me is the level of hygiene. Just look at the floor, the trash can and are around cart. All are littered with food scraps and trash. If not for this fact they would be 4 stars
(3)
Amelia B.
I generally go to this foodcart maybe once or twice a week for lunch. I went last night with my parents, though, and the chef + the girl taking the orders were really, really rude to the customers. There were rude comments about other customers within my ear shot, there were rude comments about my order while I was standing at the window - it was really bad. I appreciate they were busy but I've never seen behavior so obviously dismissive of customers before (and I used to work at restaurants, so I know how chefs talk in the kitchen - but it's pretty bad when the customers can hear what you're saying about them). I don't think I'll be visiting again.
(1)
Andrea L.
Even though I live so very close, I had never been to this little food pod before. As we entered the pod area, the sound of Brown-Eyed Girl was playing loudly (not too loudly) from the Che Cafe truck - which attracted me from the get go, and the three of us girls couldn't help but sing along. Copious amounts of cajun fries in a basket for $3. We sat in comfy couches and gabbed away in the heated, comfy structure, perched in the middle of all the truck pod. Took us quite a while to eat all the yummy fries. Service was good, the menu looks good and has a decent amount of bfast. lunch and dinner items. I ;look forward to trying something else from them!
(3)
Tanya G.
I absolutely love the fries. The Mohawk sauce is also amazing. The burgers are also delicious.
(5)
RJ H.
The PDX Cart scene is among the best if not the best in the states...the quality and versatility is pretty astounding. My favorite hands down is Che' Cafe in St Johns... First the menu is pretty wide ...all day breakfast ...The BLT breakfast sandwich is awesome ....you can substitute vegan bacon for the real thing ...but either come in copious amounts with this amazing slightly spicy sauce throughout. The Mac and Cheese can be simple or veggies and or meat added...and I guarantee a happy food comma after..... Pulled Pork....top notch ....The Bubby Burger ...the best everything is $10 or under ....and frankly its worth twice the price. The owner is a one man restaurant machine...host...wait staff ..chef ...all in a quick super friendly style. And with Capture by Porches beer and a great covered fire pit near by...a great spot to hang
(5)
Erika G.
This is one of my favorite food carts in Portland. I have eaten here regularly for about 1 year. The food is consistently good no matter what you choose off the menu. They have a menu with a large variety and great vegetarian options. Also no matter how busy they are they will always have the food out to you in 15-20 minutes, just enough time to have a beer at Captured by Porches. I often opt for the pulled pork mac n' cheese...SO GOOD!
(5)
Brittanie M.
I'm getting super hungry reading all the raves about the best mac here...can't quite weigh in since every time I have tried to order this they are sold out! I guess that means it really is that good. However, my go-to default has always been the grilled cheese and tomato soup. This place has turned me into a tomato soup lover. It is full of flavor, creamy, and the perfect amount of basil really makes this soup magical. Of course you can't eat tomato soup without grilled cheese. That too is tasty and I especially love the artisan bread and good quality cheese they use. My only diss is that sometimes the sandwich is perfect just like the soup, and sometimes it's on the greasy side. So I just hope for those non greasy days and carry on with my soup.
(4)
Andrew W.
I love this food cart! I have gotten the burger a couple times and it is always delicious. They put a generous amount of onions on the burger which you can get "caramelized" or "crispy" and they add a great flavor and texture. I recommend asking them to make the fries Cajun; it's no extra charge but it is extra tasty! I may try something else on the menu one day, but as of right now I'm hooked on the burger! This food cart pod is also a groovy space with a variety of indoor and outdoor seating and a fire pit.
(5)
Nicole D.
Love Che Cafe - eat here almost every week. Fries are always hot and crispy. Our favorites are the mac and cheese, barbecue sandwiches, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the steak wrap. Yes, it can take awhile for your order and the service can be brusque, but the food is tasty and well worth it. We call ahead so our food is ready when we arrive.
(5)
Drew M.
Food is really good. People running the show here are terrible people -- but MEH. Food is really good.
(4)
Dylan E.
This place just rocks!!! The food is good the prices are just great. And not to mention Mohawk. My mom is literally addicted to the stuff. But the food is just amazing. I come here quite often. Definitely recommend the steak wrap, and the pork. Always GET MOHAWK Sauce.
(5)
Scott H.
Familiar tastes...it took me a while, but I figured it out. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed when I go food carting. I can't really decide what to get. Fortunately the good people of yelp pointed me in the direction of the steak wrap. One beef (haha) that I have with steak wraps is when tough pieces of steak come out with every bite. Not the case here, they slice their steak nice and thin so it's easy to eat. It also comes with potatoes (fries?) onions, eggs and mohawk sauce. I guess my complaint was that the elements of the wrap didn't really come together. The fries made it pretty big, so I would only get a bite of each individual element each time. The mohawk sauce was interesting. First I liked it, then didn't, then liked it again. Then I said, "Hmmm this tastes so familiar. I don't know how I feel about it though." Then it came to me. It takes just like the firecracker shrimp sauce at PF Changs. That may not be a bad thing for some. I would come back. It was a good value and they were very friendly.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
The price is right for some great easy comfort food. They have a plethora of vegetarian options and I found the staff to be kind and timely in having orders ready. We waited about 15 minutes for our breakfast sandwich while there was a giant line of people before and after us. We ordered Cajun fries on the side with a delicious mustard Mohawk sauce (seriously, try it. It's so worth it)
(4)
Karen D.
One of the "original" food carts on the North Portland scene. A classic! Classic American fare, done right every time. The crispy shoestring fries are almost iconic, the breakfast sandwiches often steal the show, but the Sake Mac n Cheese is the real MVP in my opinion. But if you're reading this, you probably already knew that!
(5)
Mary B.
This is where you want to go when you want a nice big flavorful burger and a whole bunch of shoestring fries with your choice of dipping sauce. Depending on how busy it is, you might have to wait a bit. But it's worth it. You'll certainly get your fill of meat and fried potatoes. I know they have some other things on the menu including a delicious pulled pork sandwich. There's also a quesadilla that looks pretty awesome. I like this particular food cart pod as well. They have really improved things with a fire pit, an enclosed, covered seating area and movies/music on certain evenings. Don't forget to grab a beer from the beer porch to wash down your burger!
(4)
Nakia C.
I went back today for the first time and had an awesome experience.. It appears that during the time of my second visit they had recently lost an employee and the Chef was under a lot of stress. The owner responded to my post within 1 business day and offered a free meal to me and my family. I decided not to inform the Chef of our last encounter and have a fresh start. I ordered 4-breakfast wraps and they are still as good as they were the first time.. Even my 5yr old nephew said he's going back to buy another (lol).
(4)
Anna A.
I'd like to disclose, I would probably have never attempted to eat here if it weren't for my husband (who comes at least once a week). Somehow, the menu just doesn't seem interesting enough for Portland food cart pizzazz status. Luckily, a lot of Portlanders are not jerks like me. Sandwich. Burger. Quesadilla. On second though, all those sound good to me. My first go was the black bean burger. Damn, it was the best black bean patty I've ever had. I can tell you what it was not: gummy, full of fillers, and puck-like. Nope. Supple and savory. Just delectable. The bun seems like a carb bomb but it's actually nice and pillowy. The toppings are where it's at - get the caramelized onions and you will be aiight. Oh! But did you know about the fries? You get a PILE of fries with every sandwich plus a fry sauce pick (Mohawk sauce makes the best paring). This is pretty ridiculous. I also tried the tofu quesadilla which comes looking like a 90s modern art piece. Swirls and geometric shapes whizzed out in various sauces. The tofu is firm and makes for a nice vehicle for all the flavors going on in the sauces. I really enjoyed the quesadilla but would order the black bean again instead. Although I hear the breakfast all day is happening. In terms on non-vegetarian options, it's your party meat eaters!
(4)
Rick W.
Super delicious $6 breakfast grilled cheese sandwich. We both had the breakfast sandwich, G's with tempeh bacon and mine with regular bacon. With a couple of fried eggs, grilled onions, tomato and cheese on top of thick, beautifully toasted bread it was enough for breakfast and we skipped lunch. My grilled cheese sandwich either had no cheese or so little that it couldn't be found. I only noticed when G was eating his sandwich and pulling at strings of cheese. Mine was so fantastic that I didn't even notice that G probably received my portion of the cheese until I was almost done with my sandwich. Now a grilled cheese sandwich made without cheese seems like a joke, but what it really speaks to is how damn good their food is. They were a little backed up when we arrived at 11 am on a Saturday and it took about 25 minutes to get our order. Obviously the food is fresh. We will be back. We loved the food. Hopefully the kitchen can work out a few kinks.
(4)
Katie G.
SOOOOO GOOOD!!!! It can be a lengthy wait during a busy time but honestly...I do not care! Also, it's a food cart. There's only so much they can do in a certain time span.
(5)
Ivan C.
Until last night I've only tried their Steak Wrap which I'm a huge fan of...Meat, eggs, cheese and fries wrapped in a tortilla, what more can you ask for? Last night I had a burger, which was really good. I'm not sure what they season their burger with, but it had great flavor. Had mine with cheese and grilled onions. Had a bite of my wife's blackened tilapia quesadilla it was also very tasty. Their dipping sauces are the bomb too, gotta try them all. One of the best food carts around with plenty of variety for everyone.
(5)
John D.
We come here a lot in the summer, but don't let the winter keep you away, they have a very nice enclosed and heated seating area, and there's a covered area with a fire pit. Everything I've had has been fabulous, I often crave the brisket sandwich, simple and good, and the fry sauces are all great.
(5)
Amy B.
Some of the best mac and cheese I have had around town and it came from a food cart. It was not only loaded with creamy goodness, but it also had mushrooms, caramelized onions and broccoli in it. It was a large serving, so definitely share and get something else too.
(5)
Angela P.
I love Che Cafe! It's like quality, sit-down restaurant food except from a cart (& cheap). I'm a big fan of their blackened tilapia quesadillas & black bean veggie burger. Awesome fries too. Very vegetarian friendly! Plus you get the Captured by Porches beer bus adjoining.
(5)
Sabrina M.
Greasy, greasy deliciousness! I tried the mac and cheese my first weekend living in Portland and I was hooked! The only reason I had the take away a star is because of the long wait. It took them 25 minutes to make a grilled cheese.
(4)
Ford F.
Everything on the menu is great. Go for the steak wrap in the morning in order to enter a long lasting coma/pregnancy.
(4)
Rachal J.
UPDATE: I received a very genuine apology and email from the owner and her husband, including an offer for a free meal. I appreciated the outreach quite a lot, and if this is a representation of customer service to come, I would gladly come here very regularly. I did express my feelings about the wait time, and the owners agreed that there should be a way of letting the customers know. So, again, thank you Terri and Ryan. I will update again after my next meal. :) PREVIOUS REVIEW: I used to be a regular customer of this place, but after today's experience I wouldn't spend a dollar here. The food is good, but the harassment + wait time isn't worth it. The owner was working today, and was clearly in a foul mood. Nonetheless, I ordered a steak wrap, figuring he was just having a bad day. I waited over half an hour. At about the 20 minute mark, I asked if the food was getting close to being ready. The lady told me no, while the man responded, "What the f***? Can't everyone just leave me alone?" When it finally was ready, he screamed my number and threw the food on the counter. The wait here has been consistently long, and it's absurd when you're just waiting for a food cart. The rudeness coupled with everything else makes this a dining experience that isn't worth your while.
This is my favorite food cart! What isn't good here? The portions are huge and the price is reasonable. The fries are awesome, and I'm really picky about fries, and the mohawk sauce just adds even more amazingness. Some of my favorite things are the burger, the brisket sandwich, the tilapia quesadilla, the mac and cheese and the french toast. This is one of the busiest carts at the St. Johns pod so come early but be prepared that you might have to wait a little longer than the other carts but I assure you that it is worth the wait.
(5)
Beth B.
I love this place. First off - it's a cart and right next door is Captured By Porches. Go in an evening for dinner, grab a local brew and order up their veggie burger - it's amazing. It comes with caramelized or crunchy onions, a pick from their selection of amazing sauces and french fries that will force you to eat every last one (my favorite sauce is the mohawk sauce). They accept debit / credit, are really great guys and serve up some fabulous burgers. Go in the morning for one of their breakfast burritos. I'm a vegetarian but love their steak burrito - they just substitute the steak for tempeh bacon and I'm all set! Thursday nights there's usually a live band that plays in the summer and during chillier nights, they have a fire pit to sit around. Great overall experience.
(4)
James C.
Excellent food I've eaten here lots of times kids love the Mac and cheese and I love the BBQ chicken sandwich, I haven't found anything on the menu I dislike, coupled with a beer from the captured by porch brewery, it doesn't get much better than that plus they have a fun bus for the kids to play in and decently live music, my only gripe would be I wish there was a slightly better range of soft drinks for the kids and that the lot that all the carts sit on was fenced from the busy street.
(5)
Michael H.
Best french fries in the entire world! Incredible dipping sauces (cherry wasabi aioli anyone?) The $6 grilled cheese & soup will warm you up on a rainy day while attending UBI across the street.
(5)
Robby R.
I stop by for the sake mac and cheese once every few weeks for lunch. They put grilled onions on top... and the side of toasted bread is fantastic. It's a tasty treat... gooey... comfort food.
(4)
Alysia A.
if you are lazy when you start your period and don't feel like walking the blocks to the mississippi food carts you can call che cafe and they'll deliver, better yet you can fill out the order online and they'll come by bicycle with their cute baby in their arms. the food is good, the fries are excellently prepared and seasoned. the burger is perfect and the onions atop it are heavenly. and now, in bloodlust, i order from them again.
(3)
megan C.
I have passed by this cart at least a couple hundred times. I don't know why today was the day I chose to sneak in there from out of the rain but I am so glad I did! Pulled pork amazing, fry sauce amazing, combination unbeatable! I live in Nopo and I love me some BBQ---he has the touch and the sauce, really it is oh so delicious! Now I know they deliver...this is going to be trouble:) can't wait to try the rest of the menu.
(5)
Latoya H.
I still love this place. have you tried the pulled pork sandwich or the mac and cheese with pork and crispy onion. OMG!! This place still hits the spot and the owners are uber nice and support the community.
(5)
Matt S.
I've been to Che' Cafe many times and each time I get the pulled pork sandwich. The pork is slow cooked to perfection and served with caramelized OR crispy onions on top. One word = YUM! I also go next door to Vergnetti's Coffee and get a coffee to compliment my meal. In my opinion, it's the best pork sandwich I've had since I've lived in Portland. Everything's made from scratch, including the sauces, and they are real friendly and affordable. You just can't beat that!
(5)
Matt S.
Wow. Sake mac and cheese with pulled pork is great. I'm going to have to try more of the food at this amazing little cart.
(5)
Damon K.
Steak wrap is amazing, get it. Mohawk sauce is also awesome, get extra.
(5)
Matthew S.
For comfort food, Che Cafe can't be beat. They have the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had. The black bean burger is amazing. The quesadilla is great. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is to die for. The new breakfast tofu wrap is great, as well! They're VERY vegetarian friendly, too! The owners are extremely nice and really good at what they do!
(5)
Deric M.
This is my favorite food cart in Portland! They used to be off of N Williams, but moved to St. John's in May or so, and now they are only a few blocks from my house! My favorite dish that I get is the salad, and I ad tilapia AND the chicken on top. It makes it a $9 salad, but it is huge! Also, they make their own dressing, which is really good too. Their fries are some of the best fries that I have had in a long time. The are lightly seasoned and served with a sauce they call Mowhawk Sauce. It's like a garlicy fry sauce that is out of this world! The owner Ryan, and his wife Terri are awewome people also. Very friendly and energetic. It's nice to chit chat with them and visit. I prob visit their cart about once a week or so, and have gotten many of my friends hooked on Che Cafe. Try it out! It's AMAZING!!!
(5)
Julie E.
Oh heavenly mother of all that's amazing. Drop what you are doing right now and go get the man n cheese. I love love love this cart. It's so good!
(4)
Eva J.
This is in my hood so I ride by this place constantly on Williams. What I love besides the most delicious black bean burger slathered in grilled onions or crispy onions and lettuce tomatoes and mushrooms and basket of fries, besides that deliciousness, is that they have a bike parking area inside. You can bring your bike inside and then park it right in the fenced in area on the side of the building. There is a shaded seating area right behind the food cart. If you want some coffee or ice cream it's right next to Vendetta, which is such a cozy setting as well. Loved the cook, loved his wife and baby and how generous they were with portions and the location is sweet sweet. I would check this place out if I were you!
(5)
Aaron W.
I arrived a bit after 10 a.m. on a Friday. Che Cafe was doing breakfast that day, so they were open. Still, I inquired on whether the chef could prepare something off the lunch menu, and he had no problem doing so. Earned some brownie points right there, in my opinion. I went straight to the lunch menu and ordered their Sadie Black Bean Burger ($8): a homemade black bean burger topped with aioli served on a grilled onion bun. You get a choice of any or all toppings, including lettuce, tomato, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions (or fried onion strips), and choice of cheese. I asked for all the toppings, going with pepperjack cheese. The burger came with a generous portion of fries (regular or cajun) and choice of sauce. I chose their cajun fries and went with their regular Mohawk sauce, an aioli of sriracha, ketchup, and mayonnaise. The burger was delicious. The delicate black bean patty held its own among the sea of flavors here. Ryan knows how to cook, that's for sure. The onions were perfectly caramelized, the mushrooms wonderfully sauteed. Both beautifully coated the inside of the grilled onion bun. Many places opt for a sesame seed bun or a regular run of some sort. Not here. The onion bun assured each bite had awesome flavor, further pleasing the palate. The fries were also very good, and the sweet/garlicky/spicy nature of the Mohawk fry sauce is a hit with me. The sauce is extremely mild for me, as a note, but maybe others will feel it more. I would have liked the fries in the fryer maybe a minute longer to crisp up more and get more golden brown. Just my personal preference, anyway. A great meal here in North Portland. Che Cafe is another place I definitely recommend!
(4)
Lauren A.
That was a fantastic breakfast I just had at Che Cafe. It was a veggie breakfast burrito and was super tasty. Yum!
(5)
Nicole L.
On my last day in Portland, I was on a super mission to visit the nearby Queen Bee studio, but was ravenous -- thankfully, Google Maps pointed out the glorious Che Cafe food truck just across the street. I went for the mac and cheese, thinking that it'd be a nice change from the burgers and sandwiches that the menu proudly offered. The nice things about Che Cafe are too numerous to list -- the owners are wonderfully friendly, the food truck is adorable, the ability to plop down inside Vendetta and wait for your food to be delivered with a smile. And... now thinking about that mac and cheese, I lost my train of thought. Unf. This mac and cheese ain't your typical KD -- it's gooey, cheesy, and topped with crispy onions that lend a surprising contrast to the pasta. This is not food that you want to eat on any kind of diet, folks -- unless you're on the "super delicious comfort food" diet, because it definitely fits the category.
(4)
Steve R.
These guys just moved to the Kruger Farms lot on Lombard and Burr, almost to St. John's, and man, I could not be happier about that. Their homemade black bean veggie burger is definitely in the top three in the city, imho. Top it with the crispy fried onions, and you will be in heaven. The fries are Outstanding! And, when you pair them with any of their dipping sauces, it puts them over the top. My favorite, I think, is the Mohawk sauce, which is like a slightly spicy aioli, with a little garlic kick (but don't pass up trying any of the other 6 or 7 they offer - I haven't had a bad one. If you are a mustard lover, the Mustard Mohawk can't be beat). My wife had the mac and cheese, topped (if memory serves) with crispy onions, and loved it. They're also doing breakfast, which we had to head back in the morning and try out (and considering the dearth of good breakfast joints around here [RIP Little Red Bike], this is a very welcome addition) and we were not disappointed. The breakfast grilled cheese was stellar, with tempeh bacon and delicious thick-cut bread (tasted like Grand Central Bakery, but they were too busy to ask), fried egg, (Tillamook?) cheese, and some of that super tasty Mustard Mohawk sauce, it makes me start to drool just thinkin about it. Be warned, though, both the breakfast sandwiches and the burgers are Huge, so bring a healthy appetite! Ryan and Terri, who own and run the cart, are really nice and super friendly, and they said that not only can you sub tempeh bacon for the meaty variety on all of the breakfast dishes, you can also replace the eggs with tofu, and Ryan was *very* proud of his tofu skills, so I will have to give that a try soon, when I inevitably go back.
(5)
Chory F.
Absolutely fabulous food here. Worth a weekly visit in my estimation. It's no surprise at all they're getting all 4- and 5-star reviews! Super-stoked there's more seating now, and looking forward to delicious Sake Mac * Cheese on cool autumnal nights: perfection!
(5)
Kyle D.
Bbq chicken sandwich with mohawk sauce was awesome. Food takes a little while but well worth it. Some juice selection would be a plus.
(4)
Chris D.
Tremendous value and a great stop on your way home if you leave in North Portland. We had the burger and the bean burger. Both were very good with a ton of fixins and fries. Not in my top three burgers for Portland since I like a more simple bruger, but I'll be back since I leave nearby.
(3)
Beth B.
Move over Big Egg (food cart on Mississippi) - there's a new Chief in town. This often-overlooked food cart is amazing. Their veggie burger is HUGE (easily split between two people) and their special selection of sauces for their savory fries is hard to choose from. The guy is super nice and will happily customize dishes within reason. Their veggie breakfast burrito with a little special sauce was amazing after a long hike (only $6). The ambiance is great as well - go on a Thursday night and grab a brew from Captured by Porches while sitting around a bonfire eating a delicious veggie burger. It makes for an inexpensive memorable night out.
(4)
Joanna C.
This is the best breakfast cart ever and the Mac and cheese is super awesome and lovely.
(5)
Erin T.
We bike by here daily and always slow down for a deep aromatic breath of deliciousness, and walking by yesterday we were craving tasty food and decided to stop. They've got a small menu and focus on making things fresh to order. We got the special- blackened tilapia sandwich with cajun fries, and an order of the sake mac-n-cheese with crispy fried onions on top. we had a mile to walk home, and the fries were gone in about 4 blocks-they were perfect! The sandwich was amazing, the crispy onions on the mac was a great addition and overall we were so happy we stopped. I'm a moderate food cart fan- i usually like them but I don't go out of my way for them.....that said, I'm already craving this comfort food again! they deliver...and thats going to be dangerous. oh and a bonus is you can tell they care about what they're doing.
(5)
Cassie S.
Che Cafe is a rockin' red cart in NE (with a sweet new mural!). Whenever I am having one of 'those' days, I stop over for the freshly made food and the great company. Terri and Ryan are genuine people who are passionate about the food they make AND the customers they serve. I always feel comforted after I've eaten and socialized. The other great part is that you can sit inside the coffee shop next door, have a latte and your food is served to you. Deliciousness!!!
(5)
Sunshine P.
Had the macaroni and cheese and side salad and both were delicious! Can't wait to go back and try more of their menu items.
(5)
Abigail S.
Yummy food, awesome owners. Like eating at home, but someone else cooks you great food and cleans up after you. Mac n cheese n chicken to die for.
(5)
Michele S.
After moving to north Portland (from out of state) several months ago we've struggled to find some quick and easy go-to options for the family on nights when we just don't feel like cooking. Food carts are a new concept for us and we took a while to become adventurous enough to try some. Che' Cafe Did not disappoint. The food was super tasty for any eatery, food cart or otherwise. The Mohawk & BBQ sauces were delish! We brought our children (three under age 7) and they enjoyed their meals too. Finally! A place I want to back to in NoPo! I also think it's worth noting that the man behind the counter was super friendly and patient while we ordered. He answered questions and made suggestions which were helpful. And he didn't treat us like crap when he saw we had kids with us. Definitely give this place a try!
(5)
Amy O.
Great food! Love the home made sauces for the fries, esp. the red pepper sauce. And their breakfast is good, too.
(5)
Jarrod S.
Altogether a bit of an odd experience, but in a good way. I stopped here after finding out the only food-carts on Mississippi for lunch on a Tuesday are coffee or vegan. So I head over to Williams and see Che Cafe. I stopped in to see the fairly simple menu which at the time I was not super stoked about. Brisket, pork, hamburger, nothing is screaming EAT ME like food usually does to me on Tuesdays. So I order the pulled pork. After 5 minutes of waiting I start to second guess myself because the dude is all over the griddle and I didn't see any pig in distress, was he frying it to heat it up? NOPE !! They top their sandwiches with onions either, caramelized, or crispy. After taking my first bite, I understood, I realized the so called "gimmick" was making these very very tasty onions,frying the living hell out of them for a crispy factor on a sandwich known to dominate the bread holding it all together. The fries, which I didn't realize came with the sandwich, tasted wonderful with a hint of onion sprinkled on them,. They were just crisp and soggy enough to crave them. They were served with a homemade ketchup which I only tried because it looked more like a fry sauce, and tasted, well, I didn't like it. While I may not go out of my way to come back, If in the area I would make it point to come here. Oh they take visa and mastercard, and they are open on Mondays, and Tuesdays! Oh and the "odd" that I started the review with, was the fact I really enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich from here more than a place that just serves barbecue.
(4)
Kyle S.
Che' is truly part of the wave of new food carts in Portland. Terri and Ryan make delicious comfort food for a fair price. They have only been open since August 2009, but their food shows years of experience in the kitchen. There are a couple of things that set Che' apart: -Indoor Seating- Che has an agreement with Vignetti's coffee cart and you can eat inside, you know in case its ever raining in Portland. -Dog Friendly- They make dog treats out of dehydrated chicken, My picky dog Riley snaps them up immediately. He's even allowed in the indoor seating. - Location- Che' is located on a biking artery which makes it easy to get to, even without a car. But the thing that is really amazing about Che' is the food. Huge portions of comfort food made to order with their delicious homemade ketchup. I promise you will be daydreaming about the food for weeks. I had the Pulled Pork sandwich first. The onion bun comes from a local Italian bakery and is the perfect canvas for a PILE of tender, slow-cooked pork topped with crispy or carmelized onions with fries on the side. Today I had the Meatloaf Sandwich, it was big enough for two people, but I finished the whole thing and promptly fell into a food coma. The meatloaf was topped with mayo, tomato, and lettuce held between two pieces of grilled como bread. Che' is also veggie-friendly with a black bean burger that is one of the best veggie patties I've ever had. Its dense with the perfect spice that will fill up even the most jaded carnivore. foodcartsportland.com/20…
(5)
Eriko O.
went to this place after my son's music class at sound roots music. you can take out food from che and sit inside the coffee shop/pastry/music school lobby and eat. definitely a plus in rainy, cold weather. the food was great. solid!!! service was very good too. i had the burger and ate every bite (except the one bite i gave up to my husband). it is a great burger. i know that everyone says that about burgers around portland, but this one was pretty awesome. wish they had pickles though. the toasted bun pretty much made up for it.
(4)
Dan H.
So this was my first time over to this small cart pod. We came here specifically for the Captured By Porches beer bus, but after half a beer in the hot weather I got really hungry. My friend had been to Che' Cafe on multiple occasions and recommended the Che' Steak Wrap ($6). After thinking about it for a while, I decided I was hungry enough to get one. This is a really nice breakfast wrap. It was almost 4 in the afternoon when I took my first bite, but breakfast is served all day here so why not enjoy an afternoon breakfast? I couldn't think of a reason not to, so I went ahead and got one. Good decision on my part. Full of steak (stop the presses), potatoes, eggs, cheese and caramelized onions, this is a man (or woman) sized meal. Ok, the wrap isn't huge in itself, but it is stuffed to the gills with all of the above. There might have been other things in there that I'm not remembering, but I forgot to take a picture of the menu on the cart and their breakfast items aren't listed on their website. Oh well. The one thing you need to know about it is that it is very good. Also for $6 it is a steal of a deal on a hot meal. Speaking of hot. This thing is pretty heat hot. Not great for a hot summer day, but the cold beer helped out there. Well worth the trip up here if only for the fact that you can get beer off of a bus at this small pod. The food at this cart just adds to the total experience.
(4)
Leeanna W.
I love this cart! The best breakfast burritos in St Johns. The Che steak wrap is next level delicious. I get extra mohawk sauce. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Marie E.
I was SUPER happy with the choice to try this super yummy food cart. My best friend and I went and got two entrees: the Mac N Cheese and a Caprese pasta dish and shared them. The Caprese dish flavors were spot on. It was delicious. The only downside to this dish was that it was a bit oily for my taste. The Mac N Cheese was super delicious; I really liked that it had these fried onions served on top. They both came with the most amazing grilled garlic bread ever. I will be returning for sure, if not for the Mac N Cheese than for something else because their burgers looked great and there was a pulled pork sandwich on the menu. They also had a variety of sauces that i wanted to try!
(4)
Em H.
BEST FOOD IN ST. JOHN'S TBH. Do not miss the blackened tilapia quesadilla, i'm serious. Mac n cheeze, breakfast wraps (both steak and veg) are delicious! They also house-make 6 amazing sauces, get one of each. Aaaand best of all, these guys are awesome. Tip fat!
(5)
Taylor M.
I love this place! They have an amazing black bean burger, and you get tons of fries with it plus the fry sauces are so good. The people working here are always so friendly too!
(4)
Bill D.
OK, the Che' steak wrap is so delicious it's dangerous. I have to talk myself OUT of eating here because I would certainly gain too much weight in a hurry. I've named it the "crack wrap" because of it's addictive qualities :) But, after reading all these reviews I'm determined to break my habit and try a few of the other items, specifically the mac & cheese that everyone is raving about! I'm sure everything is great but it's the Mohawk sauce that is truly unique and amazing... I can imagine it goes perfectly on just about anything!!!
(5)
Maria L.
The best black bean burger ever. Oh my goodness.
(5)
Eriko O.
went to this place after my son's music class at sound roots music. you can take out food from che and sit inside the coffee shop/pastry/music school lobby and eat. definitely a plus in rainy, cold weather. the food was great. solid!!! service was very good too. i had the burger and ate every bite (except the one bite i gave up to my husband). it is a great burger. i know that everyone says that about burgers around portland, but this one was pretty awesome. wish they had pickles though. the toasted bun pretty much made up for it.
(4)
Dylan E.
This place just rocks!!! The food is good the prices are just great. And not to mention Mohawk. My mom is literally addicted to the stuff. But the food is just amazing. I come here quite often. Definitely recommend the steak wrap, and the pork. Always GET MOHAWK Sauce.
(5)
Scott H.
Familiar tastes...it took me a while, but I figured it out. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed when I go food carting. I can't really decide what to get. Fortunately the good people of yelp pointed me in the direction of the steak wrap. One beef (haha) that I have with steak wraps is when tough pieces of steak come out with every bite. Not the case here, they slice their steak nice and thin so it's easy to eat. It also comes with potatoes (fries?) onions, eggs and mohawk sauce. I guess my complaint was that the elements of the wrap didn't really come together. The fries made it pretty big, so I would only get a bite of each individual element each time. The mohawk sauce was interesting. First I liked it, then didn't, then liked it again. Then I said, "Hmmm this tastes so familiar. I don't know how I feel about it though." Then it came to me. It takes just like the firecracker shrimp sauce at PF Changs. That may not be a bad thing for some. I would come back. It was a good value and they were very friendly.
(4)
Beth B.
Move over Big Egg (food cart on Mississippi) - there's a new Chief in town. This often-overlooked food cart is amazing. Their veggie burger is HUGE (easily split between two people) and their special selection of sauces for their savory fries is hard to choose from. The guy is super nice and will happily customize dishes within reason. Their veggie breakfast burrito with a little special sauce was amazing after a long hike (only $6). The ambiance is great as well - go on a Thursday night and grab a brew from Captured by Porches while sitting around a bonfire eating a delicious veggie burger. It makes for an inexpensive memorable night out.
(4)
Kelli S.
This is my favorite food cart! What isn't good here? The portions are huge and the price is reasonable. The fries are awesome, and I'm really picky about fries, and the mohawk sauce just adds even more amazingness. Some of my favorite things are the burger, the brisket sandwich, the tilapia quesadilla, the mac and cheese and the french toast. This is one of the busiest carts at the St. Johns pod so come early but be prepared that you might have to wait a little longer than the other carts but I assure you that it is worth the wait.
(5)
Jarrod S.
Altogether a bit of an odd experience, but in a good way. I stopped here after finding out the only food-carts on Mississippi for lunch on a Tuesday are coffee or vegan. So I head over to Williams and see Che Cafe. I stopped in to see the fairly simple menu which at the time I was not super stoked about. Brisket, pork, hamburger, nothing is screaming EAT ME like food usually does to me on Tuesdays. So I order the pulled pork. After 5 minutes of waiting I start to second guess myself because the dude is all over the griddle and I didn't see any pig in distress, was he frying it to heat it up? NOPE !! They top their sandwiches with onions either, caramelized, or crispy. After taking my first bite, I understood, I realized the so called "gimmick" was making these very very tasty onions,frying the living hell out of them for a crispy factor on a sandwich known to dominate the bread holding it all together. The fries, which I didn't realize came with the sandwich, tasted wonderful with a hint of onion sprinkled on them,. They were just crisp and soggy enough to crave them. They were served with a homemade ketchup which I only tried because it looked more like a fry sauce, and tasted, well, I didn't like it. While I may not go out of my way to come back, If in the area I would make it point to come here. Oh they take visa and mastercard, and they are open on Mondays, and Tuesdays! Oh and the "odd" that I started the review with, was the fact I really enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich from here more than a place that just serves barbecue.
(4)
Erika G.
This is one of my favorite food carts in Portland. I have eaten here regularly for about 1 year. The food is consistently good no matter what you choose off the menu. They have a menu with a large variety and great vegetarian options. Also no matter how busy they are they will always have the food out to you in 15-20 minutes, just enough time to have a beer at Captured by Porches. I often opt for the pulled pork mac n' cheese...SO GOOD!
(5)
Brittanie M.
I'm getting super hungry reading all the raves about the best mac here...can't quite weigh in since every time I have tried to order this they are sold out! I guess that means it really is that good. However, my go-to default has always been the grilled cheese and tomato soup. This place has turned me into a tomato soup lover. It is full of flavor, creamy, and the perfect amount of basil really makes this soup magical. Of course you can't eat tomato soup without grilled cheese. That too is tasty and I especially love the artisan bread and good quality cheese they use. My only diss is that sometimes the sandwich is perfect just like the soup, and sometimes it's on the greasy side. So I just hope for those non greasy days and carry on with my soup.
(4)
Anna A.
I'd like to disclose, I would probably have never attempted to eat here if it weren't for my husband (who comes at least once a week). Somehow, the menu just doesn't seem interesting enough for Portland food cart pizzazz status. Luckily, a lot of Portlanders are not jerks like me. Sandwich. Burger. Quesadilla. On second though, all those sound good to me. My first go was the black bean burger. Damn, it was the best black bean patty I've ever had. I can tell you what it was not: gummy, full of fillers, and puck-like. Nope. Supple and savory. Just delectable. The bun seems like a carb bomb but it's actually nice and pillowy. The toppings are where it's at - get the caramelized onions and you will be aiight. Oh! But did you know about the fries? You get a PILE of fries with every sandwich plus a fry sauce pick (Mohawk sauce makes the best paring). This is pretty ridiculous. I also tried the tofu quesadilla which comes looking like a 90s modern art piece. Swirls and geometric shapes whizzed out in various sauces. The tofu is firm and makes for a nice vehicle for all the flavors going on in the sauces. I really enjoyed the quesadilla but would order the black bean again instead. Although I hear the breakfast all day is happening. In terms on non-vegetarian options, it's your party meat eaters!
(4)
Elizabeth W.
The price is right for some great easy comfort food. They have a plethora of vegetarian options and I found the staff to be kind and timely in having orders ready. We waited about 15 minutes for our breakfast sandwich while there was a giant line of people before and after us. We ordered Cajun fries on the side with a delicious mustard Mohawk sauce (seriously, try it. It's so worth it)
(4)
Karen D.
One of the "original" food carts on the North Portland scene. A classic! Classic American fare, done right every time. The crispy shoestring fries are almost iconic, the breakfast sandwiches often steal the show, but the Sake Mac n Cheese is the real MVP in my opinion. But if you're reading this, you probably already knew that!
(5)
Mary B.
This is where you want to go when you want a nice big flavorful burger and a whole bunch of shoestring fries with your choice of dipping sauce. Depending on how busy it is, you might have to wait a bit. But it's worth it. You'll certainly get your fill of meat and fried potatoes. I know they have some other things on the menu including a delicious pulled pork sandwich. There's also a quesadilla that looks pretty awesome. I like this particular food cart pod as well. They have really improved things with a fire pit, an enclosed, covered seating area and movies/music on certain evenings. Don't forget to grab a beer from the beer porch to wash down your burger!
(4)
Nakia C.
I went back today for the first time and had an awesome experience.. It appears that during the time of my second visit they had recently lost an employee and the Chef was under a lot of stress. The owner responded to my post within 1 business day and offered a free meal to me and my family. I decided not to inform the Chef of our last encounter and have a fresh start. I ordered 4-breakfast wraps and they are still as good as they were the first time.. Even my 5yr old nephew said he's going back to buy another (lol).
(4)
Andrew W.
I love this food cart! I have gotten the burger a couple times and it is always delicious. They put a generous amount of onions on the burger which you can get "caramelized" or "crispy" and they add a great flavor and texture. I recommend asking them to make the fries Cajun; it's no extra charge but it is extra tasty! I may try something else on the menu one day, but as of right now I'm hooked on the burger! This food cart pod is also a groovy space with a variety of indoor and outdoor seating and a fire pit.
(5)
Nicole D.
Love Che Cafe - eat here almost every week. Fries are always hot and crispy. Our favorites are the mac and cheese, barbecue sandwiches, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the steak wrap. Yes, it can take awhile for your order and the service can be brusque, but the food is tasty and well worth it. We call ahead so our food is ready when we arrive.
(5)
Drew M.
Food is really good. People running the show here are terrible people -- but MEH. Food is really good.
(4)
Spencer B.
Hey there, I've eaten here 4 or 5 times and always find the food to be very high quality and delicious. It is an ok value although rivaling some restaurants. What does bother me is the level of hygiene. Just look at the floor, the trash can and are around cart. All are littered with food scraps and trash. If not for this fact they would be 4 stars
(3)
Andrea L.
Even though I live so very close, I had never been to this little food pod before. As we entered the pod area, the sound of Brown-Eyed Girl was playing loudly (not too loudly) from the Che Cafe truck - which attracted me from the get go, and the three of us girls couldn't help but sing along. Copious amounts of cajun fries in a basket for $3. We sat in comfy couches and gabbed away in the heated, comfy structure, perched in the middle of all the truck pod. Took us quite a while to eat all the yummy fries. Service was good, the menu looks good and has a decent amount of bfast. lunch and dinner items. I ;look forward to trying something else from them!
(3)
Rachal J.
UPDATE: I received a very genuine apology and email from the owner and her husband, including an offer for a free meal. I appreciated the outreach quite a lot, and if this is a representation of customer service to come, I would gladly come here very regularly. I did express my feelings about the wait time, and the owners agreed that there should be a way of letting the customers know. So, again, thank you Terri and Ryan. I will update again after my next meal. :) PREVIOUS REVIEW: I used to be a regular customer of this place, but after today's experience I wouldn't spend a dollar here. The food is good, but the harassment + wait time isn't worth it. The owner was working today, and was clearly in a foul mood. Nonetheless, I ordered a steak wrap, figuring he was just having a bad day. I waited over half an hour. At about the 20 minute mark, I asked if the food was getting close to being ready. The lady told me no, while the man responded, "What the f***? Can't everyone just leave me alone?" When it finally was ready, he screamed my number and threw the food on the counter. The wait here has been consistently long, and it's absurd when you're just waiting for a food cart. The rudeness coupled with everything else makes this a dining experience that isn't worth your while.
Until last night I've only tried their Steak Wrap which I'm a huge fan of...Meat, eggs, cheese and fries wrapped in a tortilla, what more can you ask for? Last night I had a burger, which was really good. I'm not sure what they season their burger with, but it had great flavor. Had mine with cheese and grilled onions. Had a bite of my wife's blackened tilapia quesadilla it was also very tasty. Their dipping sauces are the bomb too, gotta try them all. One of the best food carts around with plenty of variety for everyone.
(5)
John D.
We come here a lot in the summer, but don't let the winter keep you away, they have a very nice enclosed and heated seating area, and there's a covered area with a fire pit. Everything I've had has been fabulous, I often crave the brisket sandwich, simple and good, and the fry sauces are all great.
(5)
Rick W.
Super delicious $6 breakfast grilled cheese sandwich. We both had the breakfast sandwich, G's with tempeh bacon and mine with regular bacon. With a couple of fried eggs, grilled onions, tomato and cheese on top of thick, beautifully toasted bread it was enough for breakfast and we skipped lunch. My grilled cheese sandwich either had no cheese or so little that it couldn't be found. I only noticed when G was eating his sandwich and pulling at strings of cheese. Mine was so fantastic that I didn't even notice that G probably received my portion of the cheese until I was almost done with my sandwich. Now a grilled cheese sandwich made without cheese seems like a joke, but what it really speaks to is how damn good their food is. They were a little backed up when we arrived at 11 am on a Saturday and it took about 25 minutes to get our order. Obviously the food is fresh. We will be back. We loved the food. Hopefully the kitchen can work out a few kinks.
(4)
Katie G.
SOOOOO GOOOD!!!! It can be a lengthy wait during a busy time but honestly...I do not care! Also, it's a food cart. There's only so much they can do in a certain time span.
(5)
Tanya G.
I absolutely love the fries. The Mohawk sauce is also amazing. The burgers are also delicious.
(5)
RJ H.
The PDX Cart scene is among the best if not the best in the states...the quality and versatility is pretty astounding. My favorite hands down is Che' Cafe in St Johns... First the menu is pretty wide ...all day breakfast ...The BLT breakfast sandwich is awesome ....you can substitute vegan bacon for the real thing ...but either come in copious amounts with this amazing slightly spicy sauce throughout. The Mac and Cheese can be simple or veggies and or meat added...and I guarantee a happy food comma after..... Pulled Pork....top notch ....The Bubby Burger ...the best everything is $10 or under ....and frankly its worth twice the price. The owner is a one man restaurant machine...host...wait staff ..chef ...all in a quick super friendly style. And with Capture by Porches beer and a great covered fire pit near by...a great spot to hang
(5)
Amelia B.
I generally go to this foodcart maybe once or twice a week for lunch. I went last night with my parents, though, and the chef + the girl taking the orders were really, really rude to the customers. There were rude comments about other customers within my ear shot, there were rude comments about my order while I was standing at the window - it was really bad. I appreciate they were busy but I've never seen behavior so obviously dismissive of customers before (and I used to work at restaurants, so I know how chefs talk in the kitchen - but it's pretty bad when the customers can hear what you're saying about them). I don't think I'll be visiting again.
(1)
Dan H.
So this was my first time over to this small cart pod. We came here specifically for the Captured By Porches beer bus, but after half a beer in the hot weather I got really hungry. My friend had been to Che' Cafe on multiple occasions and recommended the Che' Steak Wrap ($6). After thinking about it for a while, I decided I was hungry enough to get one. This is a really nice breakfast wrap. It was almost 4 in the afternoon when I took my first bite, but breakfast is served all day here so why not enjoy an afternoon breakfast? I couldn't think of a reason not to, so I went ahead and got one. Good decision on my part. Full of steak (stop the presses), potatoes, eggs, cheese and caramelized onions, this is a man (or woman) sized meal. Ok, the wrap isn't huge in itself, but it is stuffed to the gills with all of the above. There might have been other things in there that I'm not remembering, but I forgot to take a picture of the menu on the cart and their breakfast items aren't listed on their website. Oh well. The one thing you need to know about it is that it is very good. Also for $6 it is a steal of a deal on a hot meal. Speaking of hot. This thing is pretty heat hot. Not great for a hot summer day, but the cold beer helped out there. Well worth the trip up here if only for the fact that you can get beer off of a bus at this small pod. The food at this cart just adds to the total experience.
(4)
Leeanna W.
I love this cart! The best breakfast burritos in St Johns. The Che steak wrap is next level delicious. I get extra mohawk sauce. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Marie E.
I was SUPER happy with the choice to try this super yummy food cart. My best friend and I went and got two entrees: the Mac N Cheese and a Caprese pasta dish and shared them. The Caprese dish flavors were spot on. It was delicious. The only downside to this dish was that it was a bit oily for my taste. The Mac N Cheese was super delicious; I really liked that it had these fried onions served on top. They both came with the most amazing grilled garlic bread ever. I will be returning for sure, if not for the Mac N Cheese than for something else because their burgers looked great and there was a pulled pork sandwich on the menu. They also had a variety of sauces that i wanted to try!
(4)
Em H.
BEST FOOD IN ST. JOHN'S TBH. Do not miss the blackened tilapia quesadilla, i'm serious. Mac n cheeze, breakfast wraps (both steak and veg) are delicious! They also house-make 6 amazing sauces, get one of each. Aaaand best of all, these guys are awesome. Tip fat!
(5)
Bill D.
OK, the Che' steak wrap is so delicious it's dangerous. I have to talk myself OUT of eating here because I would certainly gain too much weight in a hurry. I've named it the "crack wrap" because of it's addictive qualities :) But, after reading all these reviews I'm determined to break my habit and try a few of the other items, specifically the mac & cheese that everyone is raving about! I'm sure everything is great but it's the Mohawk sauce that is truly unique and amazing... I can imagine it goes perfectly on just about anything!!!
(5)
Taylor M.
I love this place! They have an amazing black bean burger, and you get tons of fries with it plus the fry sauces are so good. The people working here are always so friendly too!
(4)
Amy B.
Some of the best mac and cheese I have had around town and it came from a food cart. It was not only loaded with creamy goodness, but it also had mushrooms, caramelized onions and broccoli in it. It was a large serving, so definitely share and get something else too.
(5)
Angela P.
I love Che Cafe! It's like quality, sit-down restaurant food except from a cart (& cheap). I'm a big fan of their blackened tilapia quesadillas & black bean veggie burger. Awesome fries too. Very vegetarian friendly! Plus you get the Captured by Porches beer bus adjoining.
(5)
Sabrina M.
Greasy, greasy deliciousness! I tried the mac and cheese my first weekend living in Portland and I was hooked! The only reason I had the take away a star is because of the long wait. It took them 25 minutes to make a grilled cheese.
(4)
Ford F.
Everything on the menu is great. Go for the steak wrap in the morning in order to enter a long lasting coma/pregnancy.
(4)
Beth B.
I love this place. First off - it's a cart and right next door is Captured By Porches. Go in an evening for dinner, grab a local brew and order up their veggie burger - it's amazing. It comes with caramelized or crunchy onions, a pick from their selection of amazing sauces and french fries that will force you to eat every last one (my favorite sauce is the mohawk sauce). They accept debit / credit, are really great guys and serve up some fabulous burgers. Go in the morning for one of their breakfast burritos. I'm a vegetarian but love their steak burrito - they just substitute the steak for tempeh bacon and I'm all set! Thursday nights there's usually a live band that plays in the summer and during chillier nights, they have a fire pit to sit around. Great overall experience.
(4)
Deric M.
This is my favorite food cart in Portland! They used to be off of N Williams, but moved to St. John's in May or so, and now they are only a few blocks from my house! My favorite dish that I get is the salad, and I ad tilapia AND the chicken on top. It makes it a $9 salad, but it is huge! Also, they make their own dressing, which is really good too. Their fries are some of the best fries that I have had in a long time. The are lightly seasoned and served with a sauce they call Mowhawk Sauce. It's like a garlicy fry sauce that is out of this world! The owner Ryan, and his wife Terri are awewome people also. Very friendly and energetic. It's nice to chit chat with them and visit. I prob visit their cart about once a week or so, and have gotten many of my friends hooked on Che Cafe. Try it out! It's AMAZING!!!
(5)
Aaron W.
I arrived a bit after 10 a.m. on a Friday. Che Cafe was doing breakfast that day, so they were open. Still, I inquired on whether the chef could prepare something off the lunch menu, and he had no problem doing so. Earned some brownie points right there, in my opinion. I went straight to the lunch menu and ordered their Sadie Black Bean Burger ($8): a homemade black bean burger topped with aioli served on a grilled onion bun. You get a choice of any or all toppings, including lettuce, tomato, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions (or fried onion strips), and choice of cheese. I asked for all the toppings, going with pepperjack cheese. The burger came with a generous portion of fries (regular or cajun) and choice of sauce. I chose their cajun fries and went with their regular Mohawk sauce, an aioli of sriracha, ketchup, and mayonnaise. The burger was delicious. The delicate black bean patty held its own among the sea of flavors here. Ryan knows how to cook, that's for sure. The onions were perfectly caramelized, the mushrooms wonderfully sauteed. Both beautifully coated the inside of the grilled onion bun. Many places opt for a sesame seed bun or a regular run of some sort. Not here. The onion bun assured each bite had awesome flavor, further pleasing the palate. The fries were also very good, and the sweet/garlicky/spicy nature of the Mohawk fry sauce is a hit with me. The sauce is extremely mild for me, as a note, but maybe others will feel it more. I would have liked the fries in the fryer maybe a minute longer to crisp up more and get more golden brown. Just my personal preference, anyway. A great meal here in North Portland. Che Cafe is another place I definitely recommend!
(4)
Lauren A.
That was a fantastic breakfast I just had at Che Cafe. It was a veggie breakfast burrito and was super tasty. Yum!
(5)
Nicole L.
On my last day in Portland, I was on a super mission to visit the nearby Queen Bee studio, but was ravenous -- thankfully, Google Maps pointed out the glorious Che Cafe food truck just across the street. I went for the mac and cheese, thinking that it'd be a nice change from the burgers and sandwiches that the menu proudly offered. The nice things about Che Cafe are too numerous to list -- the owners are wonderfully friendly, the food truck is adorable, the ability to plop down inside Vendetta and wait for your food to be delivered with a smile. And... now thinking about that mac and cheese, I lost my train of thought. Unf. This mac and cheese ain't your typical KD -- it's gooey, cheesy, and topped with crispy onions that lend a surprising contrast to the pasta. This is not food that you want to eat on any kind of diet, folks -- unless you're on the "super delicious comfort food" diet, because it definitely fits the category.
(4)
Steve R.
These guys just moved to the Kruger Farms lot on Lombard and Burr, almost to St. John's, and man, I could not be happier about that. Their homemade black bean veggie burger is definitely in the top three in the city, imho. Top it with the crispy fried onions, and you will be in heaven. The fries are Outstanding! And, when you pair them with any of their dipping sauces, it puts them over the top. My favorite, I think, is the Mohawk sauce, which is like a slightly spicy aioli, with a little garlic kick (but don't pass up trying any of the other 6 or 7 they offer - I haven't had a bad one. If you are a mustard lover, the Mustard Mohawk can't be beat). My wife had the mac and cheese, topped (if memory serves) with crispy onions, and loved it. They're also doing breakfast, which we had to head back in the morning and try out (and considering the dearth of good breakfast joints around here [RIP Little Red Bike], this is a very welcome addition) and we were not disappointed. The breakfast grilled cheese was stellar, with tempeh bacon and delicious thick-cut bread (tasted like Grand Central Bakery, but they were too busy to ask), fried egg, (Tillamook?) cheese, and some of that super tasty Mustard Mohawk sauce, it makes me start to drool just thinkin about it. Be warned, though, both the breakfast sandwiches and the burgers are Huge, so bring a healthy appetite! Ryan and Terri, who own and run the cart, are really nice and super friendly, and they said that not only can you sub tempeh bacon for the meaty variety on all of the breakfast dishes, you can also replace the eggs with tofu, and Ryan was *very* proud of his tofu skills, so I will have to give that a try soon, when I inevitably go back.
(5)
Chory F.
Absolutely fabulous food here. Worth a weekly visit in my estimation. It's no surprise at all they're getting all 4- and 5-star reviews! Super-stoked there's more seating now, and looking forward to delicious Sake Mac * Cheese on cool autumnal nights: perfection!
(5)
Kyle D.
Bbq chicken sandwich with mohawk sauce was awesome. Food takes a little while but well worth it. Some juice selection would be a plus.
(4)
Chris D.
Tremendous value and a great stop on your way home if you leave in North Portland. We had the burger and the bean burger. Both were very good with a ton of fixins and fries. Not in my top three burgers for Portland since I like a more simple bruger, but I'll be back since I leave nearby.
(3)
Joanna C.
This is the best breakfast cart ever and the Mac and cheese is super awesome and lovely.
(5)
Damon K.
Steak wrap is amazing, get it. Mohawk sauce is also awesome, get extra.
(5)
Matthew S.
For comfort food, Che Cafe can't be beat. They have the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had. The black bean burger is amazing. The quesadilla is great. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is to die for. The new breakfast tofu wrap is great, as well! They're VERY vegetarian friendly, too! The owners are extremely nice and really good at what they do!
(5)
Julie E.
Oh heavenly mother of all that's amazing. Drop what you are doing right now and go get the man n cheese. I love love love this cart. It's so good!
(4)
Eva J.
This is in my hood so I ride by this place constantly on Williams. What I love besides the most delicious black bean burger slathered in grilled onions or crispy onions and lettuce tomatoes and mushrooms and basket of fries, besides that deliciousness, is that they have a bike parking area inside. You can bring your bike inside and then park it right in the fenced in area on the side of the building. There is a shaded seating area right behind the food cart. If you want some coffee or ice cream it's right next to Vendetta, which is such a cozy setting as well. Loved the cook, loved his wife and baby and how generous they were with portions and the location is sweet sweet. I would check this place out if I were you!
(5)
Erin T.
We bike by here daily and always slow down for a deep aromatic breath of deliciousness, and walking by yesterday we were craving tasty food and decided to stop. They've got a small menu and focus on making things fresh to order. We got the special- blackened tilapia sandwich with cajun fries, and an order of the sake mac-n-cheese with crispy fried onions on top. we had a mile to walk home, and the fries were gone in about 4 blocks-they were perfect! The sandwich was amazing, the crispy onions on the mac was a great addition and overall we were so happy we stopped. I'm a moderate food cart fan- i usually like them but I don't go out of my way for them.....that said, I'm already craving this comfort food again! they deliver...and thats going to be dangerous. oh and a bonus is you can tell they care about what they're doing.
(5)
Cassie S.
Che Cafe is a rockin' red cart in NE (with a sweet new mural!). Whenever I am having one of 'those' days, I stop over for the freshly made food and the great company. Terri and Ryan are genuine people who are passionate about the food they make AND the customers they serve. I always feel comforted after I've eaten and socialized. The other great part is that you can sit inside the coffee shop next door, have a latte and your food is served to you. Deliciousness!!!
(5)
Sunshine P.
Had the macaroni and cheese and side salad and both were delicious! Can't wait to go back and try more of their menu items.
(5)
Abigail S.
Yummy food, awesome owners. Like eating at home, but someone else cooks you great food and cleans up after you. Mac n cheese n chicken to die for.
(5)
Kyle S.
Che' is truly part of the wave of new food carts in Portland. Terri and Ryan make delicious comfort food for a fair price. They have only been open since August 2009, but their food shows years of experience in the kitchen. There are a couple of things that set Che' apart: -Indoor Seating- Che has an agreement with Vignetti's coffee cart and you can eat inside, you know in case its ever raining in Portland. -Dog Friendly- They make dog treats out of dehydrated chicken, My picky dog Riley snaps them up immediately. He's even allowed in the indoor seating. - Location- Che' is located on a biking artery which makes it easy to get to, even without a car. But the thing that is really amazing about Che' is the food. Huge portions of comfort food made to order with their delicious homemade ketchup. I promise you will be daydreaming about the food for weeks. I had the Pulled Pork sandwich first. The onion bun comes from a local Italian bakery and is the perfect canvas for a PILE of tender, slow-cooked pork topped with crispy or carmelized onions with fries on the side. Today I had the Meatloaf Sandwich, it was big enough for two people, but I finished the whole thing and promptly fell into a food coma. The meatloaf was topped with mayo, tomato, and lettuce held between two pieces of grilled como bread. Che' is also veggie-friendly with a black bean burger that is one of the best veggie patties I've ever had. Its dense with the perfect spice that will fill up even the most jaded carnivore. foodcartsportland.com/20…
(5)
Matt S.
I've been to Che' Cafe many times and each time I get the pulled pork sandwich. The pork is slow cooked to perfection and served with caramelized OR crispy onions on top. One word = YUM! I also go next door to Vergnetti's Coffee and get a coffee to compliment my meal. In my opinion, it's the best pork sandwich I've had since I've lived in Portland. Everything's made from scratch, including the sauces, and they are real friendly and affordable. You just can't beat that!
(5)
Matt S.
Wow. Sake mac and cheese with pulled pork is great. I'm going to have to try more of the food at this amazing little cart.
(5)
Michele S.
After moving to north Portland (from out of state) several months ago we've struggled to find some quick and easy go-to options for the family on nights when we just don't feel like cooking. Food carts are a new concept for us and we took a while to become adventurous enough to try some. Che' Cafe Did not disappoint. The food was super tasty for any eatery, food cart or otherwise. The Mohawk & BBQ sauces were delish! We brought our children (three under age 7) and they enjoyed their meals too. Finally! A place I want to back to in NoPo! I also think it's worth noting that the man behind the counter was super friendly and patient while we ordered. He answered questions and made suggestions which were helpful. And he didn't treat us like crap when he saw we had kids with us. Definitely give this place a try!
(5)
Amy O.
Great food! Love the home made sauces for the fries, esp. the red pepper sauce. And their breakfast is good, too.
(5)
Michael H.
Best french fries in the entire world! Incredible dipping sauces (cherry wasabi aioli anyone?) The $6 grilled cheese & soup will warm you up on a rainy day while attending UBI across the street.
(5)
Robby R.
I stop by for the sake mac and cheese once every few weeks for lunch. They put grilled onions on top... and the side of toasted bread is fantastic. It's a tasty treat... gooey... comfort food.
(4)
James C.
Excellent food I've eaten here lots of times kids love the Mac and cheese and I love the BBQ chicken sandwich, I haven't found anything on the menu I dislike, coupled with a beer from the captured by porch brewery, it doesn't get much better than that plus they have a fun bus for the kids to play in and decently live music, my only gripe would be I wish there was a slightly better range of soft drinks for the kids and that the lot that all the carts sit on was fenced from the busy street.
(5)
Alysia A.
if you are lazy when you start your period and don't feel like walking the blocks to the mississippi food carts you can call che cafe and they'll deliver, better yet you can fill out the order online and they'll come by bicycle with their cute baby in their arms. the food is good, the fries are excellently prepared and seasoned. the burger is perfect and the onions atop it are heavenly. and now, in bloodlust, i order from them again.
(3)
megan C.
I have passed by this cart at least a couple hundred times. I don't know why today was the day I chose to sneak in there from out of the rain but I am so glad I did! Pulled pork amazing, fry sauce amazing, combination unbeatable! I live in Nopo and I love me some BBQ---he has the touch and the sauce, really it is oh so delicious! Now I know they deliver...this is going to be trouble:) can't wait to try the rest of the menu.
(5)
Latoya H.
I still love this place. have you tried the pulled pork sandwich or the mac and cheese with pork and crispy onion. OMG!! This place still hits the spot and the owners are uber nice and support the community.
(5)
Andrew W.
I love this food cart! I have gotten the burger a couple times and it is always delicious. They put a generous amount of onions on the burger which you can get "caramelized" or "crispy" and they add a great flavor and texture. I recommend asking them to make the fries Cajun; it's no extra charge but it is extra tasty! I may try something else on the menu one day, but as of right now I'm hooked on the burger! This food cart pod is also a groovy space with a variety of indoor and outdoor seating and a fire pit.
(5)
Erika G.
This is one of my favorite food carts in Portland. I have eaten here regularly for about 1 year. The food is consistently good no matter what you choose off the menu. They have a menu with a large variety and great vegetarian options. Also no matter how busy they are they will always have the food out to you in 15-20 minutes, just enough time to have a beer at Captured by Porches. I often opt for the pulled pork mac n' cheese...SO GOOD!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Anna A.
I'd like to disclose, I would probably have never attempted to eat here if it weren't for my husband (who comes at least once a week). Somehow, the menu just doesn't seem interesting enough for Portland food cart pizzazz status. Luckily, a lot of Portlanders are not jerks like me. Sandwich. Burger. Quesadilla. On second though, all those sound good to me. My first go was the black bean burger. Damn, it was the best black bean patty I've ever had. I can tell you what it was not: gummy, full of fillers, and puck-like. Nope. Supple and savory. Just delectable. The bun seems like a carb bomb but it's actually nice and pillowy. The toppings are where it's at - get the caramelized onions and you will be aiight. Oh! But did you know about the fries? You get a PILE of fries with every sandwich plus a fry sauce pick (Mohawk sauce makes the best paring). This is pretty ridiculous. I also tried the tofu quesadilla which comes looking like a 90s modern art piece. Swirls and geometric shapes whizzed out in various sauces. The tofu is firm and makes for a nice vehicle for all the flavors going on in the sauces. I really enjoyed the quesadilla but would order the black bean again instead. Although I hear the breakfast all day is happening. In terms on non-vegetarian options, it's your party meat eaters!
(4)Rick W.
Super delicious $6 breakfast grilled cheese sandwich. We both had the breakfast sandwich, G's with tempeh bacon and mine with regular bacon. With a couple of fried eggs, grilled onions, tomato and cheese on top of thick, beautifully toasted bread it was enough for breakfast and we skipped lunch. My grilled cheese sandwich either had no cheese or so little that it couldn't be found. I only noticed when G was eating his sandwich and pulling at strings of cheese. Mine was so fantastic that I didn't even notice that G probably received my portion of the cheese until I was almost done with my sandwich. Now a grilled cheese sandwich made without cheese seems like a joke, but what it really speaks to is how damn good their food is. They were a little backed up when we arrived at 11 am on a Saturday and it took about 25 minutes to get our order. Obviously the food is fresh. We will be back. We loved the food. Hopefully the kitchen can work out a few kinks.
(4)Katie G.
SOOOOO GOOOD!!!! It can be a lengthy wait during a busy time but honestly...I do not care! Also, it's a food cart. There's only so much they can do in a certain time span.
(5)Tanya G.
I absolutely love the fries. The Mohawk sauce is also amazing. The burgers are also delicious.
(5)RJ H.
The PDX Cart scene is among the best if not the best in the states...the quality and versatility is pretty astounding. My favorite hands down is Che' Cafe in St Johns... First the menu is pretty wide ...all day breakfast ...The BLT breakfast sandwich is awesome ....you can substitute vegan bacon for the real thing ...but either come in copious amounts with this amazing slightly spicy sauce throughout. The Mac and Cheese can be simple or veggies and or meat added...and I guarantee a happy food comma after..... Pulled Pork....top notch ....The Bubby Burger ...the best everything is $10 or under ....and frankly its worth twice the price. The owner is a one man restaurant machine...host...wait staff ..chef ...all in a quick super friendly style. And with Capture by Porches beer and a great covered fire pit near by...a great spot to hang
(5)Amelia B.
I generally go to this foodcart maybe once or twice a week for lunch. I went last night with my parents, though, and the chef + the girl taking the orders were really, really rude to the customers. There were rude comments about other customers within my ear shot, there were rude comments about my order while I was standing at the window - it was really bad. I appreciate they were busy but I've never seen behavior so obviously dismissive of customers before (and I used to work at restaurants, so I know how chefs talk in the kitchen - but it's pretty bad when the customers can hear what you're saying about them). I don't think I'll be visiting again.
(1)Ivan C.
Until last night I've only tried their Steak Wrap which I'm a huge fan of...Meat, eggs, cheese and fries wrapped in a tortilla, what more can you ask for? Last night I had a burger, which was really good. I'm not sure what they season their burger with, but it had great flavor. Had mine with cheese and grilled onions. Had a bite of my wife's blackened tilapia quesadilla it was also very tasty. Their dipping sauces are the bomb too, gotta try them all. One of the best food carts around with plenty of variety for everyone.
(5)Eva J.
This is in my hood so I ride by this place constantly on Williams. What I love besides the most delicious black bean burger slathered in grilled onions or crispy onions and lettuce tomatoes and mushrooms and basket of fries, besides that deliciousness, is that they have a bike parking area inside. You can bring your bike inside and then park it right in the fenced in area on the side of the building. There is a shaded seating area right behind the food cart. If you want some coffee or ice cream it's right next to Vendetta, which is such a cozy setting as well. Loved the cook, loved his wife and baby and how generous they were with portions and the location is sweet sweet. I would check this place out if I were you!
(5)Erin T.
We bike by here daily and always slow down for a deep aromatic breath of deliciousness, and walking by yesterday we were craving tasty food and decided to stop. They've got a small menu and focus on making things fresh to order. We got the special- blackened tilapia sandwich with cajun fries, and an order of the sake mac-n-cheese with crispy fried onions on top. we had a mile to walk home, and the fries were gone in about 4 blocks-they were perfect! The sandwich was amazing, the crispy onions on the mac was a great addition and overall we were so happy we stopped. I'm a moderate food cart fan- i usually like them but I don't go out of my way for them.....that said, I'm already craving this comfort food again! they deliver...and thats going to be dangerous. oh and a bonus is you can tell they care about what they're doing.
(5)Cassie S.
Che Cafe is a rockin' red cart in NE (with a sweet new mural!). Whenever I am having one of 'those' days, I stop over for the freshly made food and the great company. Terri and Ryan are genuine people who are passionate about the food they make AND the customers they serve. I always feel comforted after I've eaten and socialized. The other great part is that you can sit inside the coffee shop next door, have a latte and your food is served to you. Deliciousness!!!
(5)Sunshine P.
Had the macaroni and cheese and side salad and both were delicious! Can't wait to go back and try more of their menu items.
(5)Abigail S.
Yummy food, awesome owners. Like eating at home, but someone else cooks you great food and cleans up after you. Mac n cheese n chicken to die for.
(5)Andrea L.
Even though I live so very close, I had never been to this little food pod before. As we entered the pod area, the sound of Brown-Eyed Girl was playing loudly (not too loudly) from the Che Cafe truck - which attracted me from the get go, and the three of us girls couldn't help but sing along. Copious amounts of cajun fries in a basket for $3. We sat in comfy couches and gabbed away in the heated, comfy structure, perched in the middle of all the truck pod. Took us quite a while to eat all the yummy fries. Service was good, the menu looks good and has a decent amount of bfast. lunch and dinner items. I ;look forward to trying something else from them!
(3)Rachal J.
UPDATE: I received a very genuine apology and email from the owner and her husband, including an offer for a free meal. I appreciated the outreach quite a lot, and if this is a representation of customer service to come, I would gladly come here very regularly. I did express my feelings about the wait time, and the owners agreed that there should be a way of letting the customers know. So, again, thank you Terri and Ryan. I will update again after my next meal. :) PREVIOUS REVIEW: I used to be a regular customer of this place, but after today's experience I wouldn't spend a dollar here. The food is good, but the harassment + wait time isn't worth it. The owner was working today, and was clearly in a foul mood. Nonetheless, I ordered a steak wrap, figuring he was just having a bad day. I waited over half an hour. At about the 20 minute mark, I asked if the food was getting close to being ready. The lady told me no, while the man responded, "What the f***? Can't everyone just leave me alone?" When it finally was ready, he screamed my number and threw the food on the counter. The wait here has been consistently long, and it's absurd when you're just waiting for a food cart. The rudeness coupled with everything else makes this a dining experience that isn't worth your while.
(3)Kristen G.
So now we're here and actually eating this time! It is excellent. I have the grilled cheese and tomato soup and my fiancé has the Bubby burger. Everything was excellent. The food truck area is nice and clean, and the guy was super nice. It was just him doing all the cooking, and yet it was very fast and delicious! I was impressed :)
(5)Kelli S.
This is my favorite food cart! What isn't good here? The portions are huge and the price is reasonable. The fries are awesome, and I'm really picky about fries, and the mohawk sauce just adds even more amazingness. Some of my favorite things are the burger, the brisket sandwich, the tilapia quesadilla, the mac and cheese and the french toast. This is one of the busiest carts at the St. Johns pod so come early but be prepared that you might have to wait a little longer than the other carts but I assure you that it is worth the wait.
(5)Angela P.
I love Che Cafe! It's like quality, sit-down restaurant food except from a cart (& cheap). I'm a big fan of their blackened tilapia quesadillas & black bean veggie burger. Awesome fries too. Very vegetarian friendly! Plus you get the Captured by Porches beer bus adjoining.
(5)Sabrina M.
Greasy, greasy deliciousness! I tried the mac and cheese my first weekend living in Portland and I was hooked! The only reason I had the take away a star is because of the long wait. It took them 25 minutes to make a grilled cheese.
(4)Ford F.
Everything on the menu is great. Go for the steak wrap in the morning in order to enter a long lasting coma/pregnancy.
(4)Beth B.
I love this place. First off - it's a cart and right next door is Captured By Porches. Go in an evening for dinner, grab a local brew and order up their veggie burger - it's amazing. It comes with caramelized or crunchy onions, a pick from their selection of amazing sauces and french fries that will force you to eat every last one (my favorite sauce is the mohawk sauce). They accept debit / credit, are really great guys and serve up some fabulous burgers. Go in the morning for one of their breakfast burritos. I'm a vegetarian but love their steak burrito - they just substitute the steak for tempeh bacon and I'm all set! Thursday nights there's usually a live band that plays in the summer and during chillier nights, they have a fire pit to sit around. Great overall experience.
(4)Deric M.
This is my favorite food cart in Portland! They used to be off of N Williams, but moved to St. John's in May or so, and now they are only a few blocks from my house! My favorite dish that I get is the salad, and I ad tilapia AND the chicken on top. It makes it a $9 salad, but it is huge! Also, they make their own dressing, which is really good too. Their fries are some of the best fries that I have had in a long time. The are lightly seasoned and served with a sauce they call Mowhawk Sauce. It's like a garlicy fry sauce that is out of this world! The owner Ryan, and his wife Terri are awewome people also. Very friendly and energetic. It's nice to chit chat with them and visit. I prob visit their cart about once a week or so, and have gotten many of my friends hooked on Che Cafe. Try it out! It's AMAZING!!!
(5)Matthew S.
For comfort food, Che Cafe can't be beat. They have the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had. The black bean burger is amazing. The quesadilla is great. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is to die for. The new breakfast tofu wrap is great, as well! They're VERY vegetarian friendly, too! The owners are extremely nice and really good at what they do!
(5)Julie E.
Oh heavenly mother of all that's amazing. Drop what you are doing right now and go get the man n cheese. I love love love this cart. It's so good!
(4)Aaron W.
I arrived a bit after 10 a.m. on a Friday. Che Cafe was doing breakfast that day, so they were open. Still, I inquired on whether the chef could prepare something off the lunch menu, and he had no problem doing so. Earned some brownie points right there, in my opinion. I went straight to the lunch menu and ordered their Sadie Black Bean Burger ($8): a homemade black bean burger topped with aioli served on a grilled onion bun. You get a choice of any or all toppings, including lettuce, tomato, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions (or fried onion strips), and choice of cheese. I asked for all the toppings, going with pepperjack cheese. The burger came with a generous portion of fries (regular or cajun) and choice of sauce. I chose their cajun fries and went with their regular Mohawk sauce, an aioli of sriracha, ketchup, and mayonnaise. The burger was delicious. The delicate black bean patty held its own among the sea of flavors here. Ryan knows how to cook, that's for sure. The onions were perfectly caramelized, the mushrooms wonderfully sauteed. Both beautifully coated the inside of the grilled onion bun. Many places opt for a sesame seed bun or a regular run of some sort. Not here. The onion bun assured each bite had awesome flavor, further pleasing the palate. The fries were also very good, and the sweet/garlicky/spicy nature of the Mohawk fry sauce is a hit with me. The sauce is extremely mild for me, as a note, but maybe others will feel it more. I would have liked the fries in the fryer maybe a minute longer to crisp up more and get more golden brown. Just my personal preference, anyway. A great meal here in North Portland. Che Cafe is another place I definitely recommend!
(4)Lauren A.
That was a fantastic breakfast I just had at Che Cafe. It was a veggie breakfast burrito and was super tasty. Yum!
(5)Nicole L.
On my last day in Portland, I was on a super mission to visit the nearby Queen Bee studio, but was ravenous -- thankfully, Google Maps pointed out the glorious Che Cafe food truck just across the street. I went for the mac and cheese, thinking that it'd be a nice change from the burgers and sandwiches that the menu proudly offered. The nice things about Che Cafe are too numerous to list -- the owners are wonderfully friendly, the food truck is adorable, the ability to plop down inside Vendetta and wait for your food to be delivered with a smile. And... now thinking about that mac and cheese, I lost my train of thought. Unf. This mac and cheese ain't your typical KD -- it's gooey, cheesy, and topped with crispy onions that lend a surprising contrast to the pasta. This is not food that you want to eat on any kind of diet, folks -- unless you're on the "super delicious comfort food" diet, because it definitely fits the category.
(4)Alysia A.
if you are lazy when you start your period and don't feel like walking the blocks to the mississippi food carts you can call che cafe and they'll deliver, better yet you can fill out the order online and they'll come by bicycle with their cute baby in their arms. the food is good, the fries are excellently prepared and seasoned. the burger is perfect and the onions atop it are heavenly. and now, in bloodlust, i order from them again.
(3)Dan H.
So this was my first time over to this small cart pod. We came here specifically for the Captured By Porches beer bus, but after half a beer in the hot weather I got really hungry. My friend had been to Che' Cafe on multiple occasions and recommended the Che' Steak Wrap ($6). After thinking about it for a while, I decided I was hungry enough to get one. This is a really nice breakfast wrap. It was almost 4 in the afternoon when I took my first bite, but breakfast is served all day here so why not enjoy an afternoon breakfast? I couldn't think of a reason not to, so I went ahead and got one. Good decision on my part. Full of steak (stop the presses), potatoes, eggs, cheese and caramelized onions, this is a man (or woman) sized meal. Ok, the wrap isn't huge in itself, but it is stuffed to the gills with all of the above. There might have been other things in there that I'm not remembering, but I forgot to take a picture of the menu on the cart and their breakfast items aren't listed on their website. Oh well. The one thing you need to know about it is that it is very good. Also for $6 it is a steal of a deal on a hot meal. Speaking of hot. This thing is pretty heat hot. Not great for a hot summer day, but the cold beer helped out there. Well worth the trip up here if only for the fact that you can get beer off of a bus at this small pod. The food at this cart just adds to the total experience.
(4)Leeanna W.
I love this cart! The best breakfast burritos in St Johns. The Che steak wrap is next level delicious. I get extra mohawk sauce. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Marie E.
I was SUPER happy with the choice to try this super yummy food cart. My best friend and I went and got two entrees: the Mac N Cheese and a Caprese pasta dish and shared them. The Caprese dish flavors were spot on. It was delicious. The only downside to this dish was that it was a bit oily for my taste. The Mac N Cheese was super delicious; I really liked that it had these fried onions served on top. They both came with the most amazing grilled garlic bread ever. I will be returning for sure, if not for the Mac N Cheese than for something else because their burgers looked great and there was a pulled pork sandwich on the menu. They also had a variety of sauces that i wanted to try!
(4)Em H.
BEST FOOD IN ST. JOHN'S TBH. Do not miss the blackened tilapia quesadilla, i'm serious. Mac n cheeze, breakfast wraps (both steak and veg) are delicious! They also house-make 6 amazing sauces, get one of each. Aaaand best of all, these guys are awesome. Tip fat!
(5)Taylor M.
I love this place! They have an amazing black bean burger, and you get tons of fries with it plus the fry sauces are so good. The people working here are always so friendly too!
(4)Bill D.
OK, the Che' steak wrap is so delicious it's dangerous. I have to talk myself OUT of eating here because I would certainly gain too much weight in a hurry. I've named it the "crack wrap" because of it's addictive qualities :) But, after reading all these reviews I'm determined to break my habit and try a few of the other items, specifically the mac & cheese that everyone is raving about! I'm sure everything is great but it's the Mohawk sauce that is truly unique and amazing... I can imagine it goes perfectly on just about anything!!!
(5)Damon K.
Steak wrap is amazing, get it. Mohawk sauce is also awesome, get extra.
(5)Michele S.
After moving to north Portland (from out of state) several months ago we've struggled to find some quick and easy go-to options for the family on nights when we just don't feel like cooking. Food carts are a new concept for us and we took a while to become adventurous enough to try some. Che' Cafe Did not disappoint. The food was super tasty for any eatery, food cart or otherwise. The Mohawk & BBQ sauces were delish! We brought our children (three under age 7) and they enjoyed their meals too. Finally! A place I want to back to in NoPo! I also think it's worth noting that the man behind the counter was super friendly and patient while we ordered. He answered questions and made suggestions which were helpful. And he didn't treat us like crap when he saw we had kids with us. Definitely give this place a try!
(5)Amy O.
Great food! Love the home made sauces for the fries, esp. the red pepper sauce. And their breakfast is good, too.
(5)Michael H.
Best french fries in the entire world! Incredible dipping sauces (cherry wasabi aioli anyone?) The $6 grilled cheese & soup will warm you up on a rainy day while attending UBI across the street.
(5)Robby R.
I stop by for the sake mac and cheese once every few weeks for lunch. They put grilled onions on top... and the side of toasted bread is fantastic. It's a tasty treat... gooey... comfort food.
(4)James C.
Excellent food I've eaten here lots of times kids love the Mac and cheese and I love the BBQ chicken sandwich, I haven't found anything on the menu I dislike, coupled with a beer from the captured by porch brewery, it doesn't get much better than that plus they have a fun bus for the kids to play in and decently live music, my only gripe would be I wish there was a slightly better range of soft drinks for the kids and that the lot that all the carts sit on was fenced from the busy street.
(5)Jarrod S.
Altogether a bit of an odd experience, but in a good way. I stopped here after finding out the only food-carts on Mississippi for lunch on a Tuesday are coffee or vegan. So I head over to Williams and see Che Cafe. I stopped in to see the fairly simple menu which at the time I was not super stoked about. Brisket, pork, hamburger, nothing is screaming EAT ME like food usually does to me on Tuesdays. So I order the pulled pork. After 5 minutes of waiting I start to second guess myself because the dude is all over the griddle and I didn't see any pig in distress, was he frying it to heat it up? NOPE !! They top their sandwiches with onions either, caramelized, or crispy. After taking my first bite, I understood, I realized the so called "gimmick" was making these very very tasty onions,frying the living hell out of them for a crispy factor on a sandwich known to dominate the bread holding it all together. The fries, which I didn't realize came with the sandwich, tasted wonderful with a hint of onion sprinkled on them,. They were just crisp and soggy enough to crave them. They were served with a homemade ketchup which I only tried because it looked more like a fry sauce, and tasted, well, I didn't like it. While I may not go out of my way to come back, If in the area I would make it point to come here. Oh they take visa and mastercard, and they are open on Mondays, and Tuesdays! Oh and the "odd" that I started the review with, was the fact I really enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich from here more than a place that just serves barbecue.
(4)Kyle S.
Che' is truly part of the wave of new food carts in Portland. Terri and Ryan make delicious comfort food for a fair price. They have only been open since August 2009, but their food shows years of experience in the kitchen. There are a couple of things that set Che' apart: -Indoor Seating- Che has an agreement with Vignetti's coffee cart and you can eat inside, you know in case its ever raining in Portland. -Dog Friendly- They make dog treats out of dehydrated chicken, My picky dog Riley snaps them up immediately. He's even allowed in the indoor seating. - Location- Che' is located on a biking artery which makes it easy to get to, even without a car. But the thing that is really amazing about Che' is the food. Huge portions of comfort food made to order with their delicious homemade ketchup. I promise you will be daydreaming about the food for weeks. I had the Pulled Pork sandwich first. The onion bun comes from a local Italian bakery and is the perfect canvas for a PILE of tender, slow-cooked pork topped with crispy or carmelized onions with fries on the side. Today I had the Meatloaf Sandwich, it was big enough for two people, but I finished the whole thing and promptly fell into a food coma. The meatloaf was topped with mayo, tomato, and lettuce held between two pieces of grilled como bread. Che' is also veggie-friendly with a black bean burger that is one of the best veggie patties I've ever had. Its dense with the perfect spice that will fill up even the most jaded carnivore. foodcartsportland.com/20…
(5)John D.
We come here a lot in the summer, but don't let the winter keep you away, they have a very nice enclosed and heated seating area, and there's a covered area with a fire pit. Everything I've had has been fabulous, I often crave the brisket sandwich, simple and good, and the fry sauces are all great.
(5)Amy B.
Some of the best mac and cheese I have had around town and it came from a food cart. It was not only loaded with creamy goodness, but it also had mushrooms, caramelized onions and broccoli in it. It was a large serving, so definitely share and get something else too.
(5)Brittanie M.
I'm getting super hungry reading all the raves about the best mac here...can't quite weigh in since every time I have tried to order this they are sold out! I guess that means it really is that good. However, my go-to default has always been the grilled cheese and tomato soup. This place has turned me into a tomato soup lover. It is full of flavor, creamy, and the perfect amount of basil really makes this soup magical. Of course you can't eat tomato soup without grilled cheese. That too is tasty and I especially love the artisan bread and good quality cheese they use. My only diss is that sometimes the sandwich is perfect just like the soup, and sometimes it's on the greasy side. So I just hope for those non greasy days and carry on with my soup.
(4)Maria L.
The best black bean burger ever. Oh my goodness.
(5)Dylan E.
This place just rocks!!! The food is good the prices are just great. And not to mention Mohawk. My mom is literally addicted to the stuff. But the food is just amazing. I come here quite often. Definitely recommend the steak wrap, and the pork. Always GET MOHAWK Sauce.
(5)Scott H.
Familiar tastes...it took me a while, but I figured it out. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed when I go food carting. I can't really decide what to get. Fortunately the good people of yelp pointed me in the direction of the steak wrap. One beef (haha) that I have with steak wraps is when tough pieces of steak come out with every bite. Not the case here, they slice their steak nice and thin so it's easy to eat. It also comes with potatoes (fries?) onions, eggs and mohawk sauce. I guess my complaint was that the elements of the wrap didn't really come together. The fries made it pretty big, so I would only get a bite of each individual element each time. The mohawk sauce was interesting. First I liked it, then didn't, then liked it again. Then I said, "Hmmm this tastes so familiar. I don't know how I feel about it though." Then it came to me. It takes just like the firecracker shrimp sauce at PF Changs. That may not be a bad thing for some. I would come back. It was a good value and they were very friendly.
(4)Elizabeth W.
The price is right for some great easy comfort food. They have a plethora of vegetarian options and I found the staff to be kind and timely in having orders ready. We waited about 15 minutes for our breakfast sandwich while there was a giant line of people before and after us. We ordered Cajun fries on the side with a delicious mustard Mohawk sauce (seriously, try it. It's so worth it)
(4)Karen D.
One of the "original" food carts on the North Portland scene. A classic! Classic American fare, done right every time. The crispy shoestring fries are almost iconic, the breakfast sandwiches often steal the show, but the Sake Mac n Cheese is the real MVP in my opinion. But if you're reading this, you probably already knew that!
(5)Mary B.
This is where you want to go when you want a nice big flavorful burger and a whole bunch of shoestring fries with your choice of dipping sauce. Depending on how busy it is, you might have to wait a bit. But it's worth it. You'll certainly get your fill of meat and fried potatoes. I know they have some other things on the menu including a delicious pulled pork sandwich. There's also a quesadilla that looks pretty awesome. I like this particular food cart pod as well. They have really improved things with a fire pit, an enclosed, covered seating area and movies/music on certain evenings. Don't forget to grab a beer from the beer porch to wash down your burger!
(4)Nakia C.
I went back today for the first time and had an awesome experience.. It appears that during the time of my second visit they had recently lost an employee and the Chef was under a lot of stress. The owner responded to my post within 1 business day and offered a free meal to me and my family. I decided not to inform the Chef of our last encounter and have a fresh start. I ordered 4-breakfast wraps and they are still as good as they were the first time.. Even my 5yr old nephew said he's going back to buy another (lol).
(4)Nicole D.
Love Che Cafe - eat here almost every week. Fries are always hot and crispy. Our favorites are the mac and cheese, barbecue sandwiches, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the steak wrap. Yes, it can take awhile for your order and the service can be brusque, but the food is tasty and well worth it. We call ahead so our food is ready when we arrive.
(5)Drew M.
Food is really good. People running the show here are terrible people -- but MEH. Food is really good.
(4)Spencer B.
Hey there, I've eaten here 4 or 5 times and always find the food to be very high quality and delicious. It is an ok value although rivaling some restaurants. What does bother me is the level of hygiene. Just look at the floor, the trash can and are around cart. All are littered with food scraps and trash. If not for this fact they would be 4 stars
(3)megan C.
I have passed by this cart at least a couple hundred times. I don't know why today was the day I chose to sneak in there from out of the rain but I am so glad I did! Pulled pork amazing, fry sauce amazing, combination unbeatable! I live in Nopo and I love me some BBQ---he has the touch and the sauce, really it is oh so delicious! Now I know they deliver...this is going to be trouble:) can't wait to try the rest of the menu.
(5)Latoya H.
I still love this place. have you tried the pulled pork sandwich or the mac and cheese with pork and crispy onion. OMG!! This place still hits the spot and the owners are uber nice and support the community.
(5)Matt S.
I've been to Che' Cafe many times and each time I get the pulled pork sandwich. The pork is slow cooked to perfection and served with caramelized OR crispy onions on top. One word = YUM! I also go next door to Vergnetti's Coffee and get a coffee to compliment my meal. In my opinion, it's the best pork sandwich I've had since I've lived in Portland. Everything's made from scratch, including the sauces, and they are real friendly and affordable. You just can't beat that!
(5)Matt S.
Wow. Sake mac and cheese with pulled pork is great. I'm going to have to try more of the food at this amazing little cart.
(5)Eriko O.
went to this place after my son's music class at sound roots music. you can take out food from che and sit inside the coffee shop/pastry/music school lobby and eat. definitely a plus in rainy, cold weather. the food was great. solid!!! service was very good too. i had the burger and ate every bite (except the one bite i gave up to my husband). it is a great burger. i know that everyone says that about burgers around portland, but this one was pretty awesome. wish they had pickles though. the toasted bun pretty much made up for it.
(4)Steve R.
These guys just moved to the Kruger Farms lot on Lombard and Burr, almost to St. John's, and man, I could not be happier about that. Their homemade black bean veggie burger is definitely in the top three in the city, imho. Top it with the crispy fried onions, and you will be in heaven. The fries are Outstanding! And, when you pair them with any of their dipping sauces, it puts them over the top. My favorite, I think, is the Mohawk sauce, which is like a slightly spicy aioli, with a little garlic kick (but don't pass up trying any of the other 6 or 7 they offer - I haven't had a bad one. If you are a mustard lover, the Mustard Mohawk can't be beat). My wife had the mac and cheese, topped (if memory serves) with crispy onions, and loved it. They're also doing breakfast, which we had to head back in the morning and try out (and considering the dearth of good breakfast joints around here [RIP Little Red Bike], this is a very welcome addition) and we were not disappointed. The breakfast grilled cheese was stellar, with tempeh bacon and delicious thick-cut bread (tasted like Grand Central Bakery, but they were too busy to ask), fried egg, (Tillamook?) cheese, and some of that super tasty Mustard Mohawk sauce, it makes me start to drool just thinkin about it. Be warned, though, both the breakfast sandwiches and the burgers are Huge, so bring a healthy appetite! Ryan and Terri, who own and run the cart, are really nice and super friendly, and they said that not only can you sub tempeh bacon for the meaty variety on all of the breakfast dishes, you can also replace the eggs with tofu, and Ryan was *very* proud of his tofu skills, so I will have to give that a try soon, when I inevitably go back.
(5)Chory F.
Absolutely fabulous food here. Worth a weekly visit in my estimation. It's no surprise at all they're getting all 4- and 5-star reviews! Super-stoked there's more seating now, and looking forward to delicious Sake Mac * Cheese on cool autumnal nights: perfection!
(5)Kyle D.
Bbq chicken sandwich with mohawk sauce was awesome. Food takes a little while but well worth it. Some juice selection would be a plus.
(4)Chris D.
Tremendous value and a great stop on your way home if you leave in North Portland. We had the burger and the bean burger. Both were very good with a ton of fixins and fries. Not in my top three burgers for Portland since I like a more simple bruger, but I'll be back since I leave nearby.
(3)Beth B.
Move over Big Egg (food cart on Mississippi) - there's a new Chief in town. This often-overlooked food cart is amazing. Their veggie burger is HUGE (easily split between two people) and their special selection of sauces for their savory fries is hard to choose from. The guy is super nice and will happily customize dishes within reason. Their veggie breakfast burrito with a little special sauce was amazing after a long hike (only $6). The ambiance is great as well - go on a Thursday night and grab a brew from Captured by Porches while sitting around a bonfire eating a delicious veggie burger. It makes for an inexpensive memorable night out.
(4)Joanna C.
This is the best breakfast cart ever and the Mac and cheese is super awesome and lovely.
(5)Spencer B.
Hey there, I've eaten here 4 or 5 times and always find the food to be very high quality and delicious. It is an ok value although rivaling some restaurants. What does bother me is the level of hygiene. Just look at the floor, the trash can and are around cart. All are littered with food scraps and trash. If not for this fact they would be 4 stars
(3)Amelia B.
I generally go to this foodcart maybe once or twice a week for lunch. I went last night with my parents, though, and the chef + the girl taking the orders were really, really rude to the customers. There were rude comments about other customers within my ear shot, there were rude comments about my order while I was standing at the window - it was really bad. I appreciate they were busy but I've never seen behavior so obviously dismissive of customers before (and I used to work at restaurants, so I know how chefs talk in the kitchen - but it's pretty bad when the customers can hear what you're saying about them). I don't think I'll be visiting again.
(1)Andrea L.
Even though I live so very close, I had never been to this little food pod before. As we entered the pod area, the sound of Brown-Eyed Girl was playing loudly (not too loudly) from the Che Cafe truck - which attracted me from the get go, and the three of us girls couldn't help but sing along. Copious amounts of cajun fries in a basket for $3. We sat in comfy couches and gabbed away in the heated, comfy structure, perched in the middle of all the truck pod. Took us quite a while to eat all the yummy fries. Service was good, the menu looks good and has a decent amount of bfast. lunch and dinner items. I ;look forward to trying something else from them!
(3)Tanya G.
I absolutely love the fries. The Mohawk sauce is also amazing. The burgers are also delicious.
(5)RJ H.
The PDX Cart scene is among the best if not the best in the states...the quality and versatility is pretty astounding. My favorite hands down is Che' Cafe in St Johns... First the menu is pretty wide ...all day breakfast ...The BLT breakfast sandwich is awesome ....you can substitute vegan bacon for the real thing ...but either come in copious amounts with this amazing slightly spicy sauce throughout. The Mac and Cheese can be simple or veggies and or meat added...and I guarantee a happy food comma after..... Pulled Pork....top notch ....The Bubby Burger ...the best everything is $10 or under ....and frankly its worth twice the price. The owner is a one man restaurant machine...host...wait staff ..chef ...all in a quick super friendly style. And with Capture by Porches beer and a great covered fire pit near by...a great spot to hang
(5)Erika G.
This is one of my favorite food carts in Portland. I have eaten here regularly for about 1 year. The food is consistently good no matter what you choose off the menu. They have a menu with a large variety and great vegetarian options. Also no matter how busy they are they will always have the food out to you in 15-20 minutes, just enough time to have a beer at Captured by Porches. I often opt for the pulled pork mac n' cheese...SO GOOD!
(5)Brittanie M.
I'm getting super hungry reading all the raves about the best mac here...can't quite weigh in since every time I have tried to order this they are sold out! I guess that means it really is that good. However, my go-to default has always been the grilled cheese and tomato soup. This place has turned me into a tomato soup lover. It is full of flavor, creamy, and the perfect amount of basil really makes this soup magical. Of course you can't eat tomato soup without grilled cheese. That too is tasty and I especially love the artisan bread and good quality cheese they use. My only diss is that sometimes the sandwich is perfect just like the soup, and sometimes it's on the greasy side. So I just hope for those non greasy days and carry on with my soup.
(4)Andrew W.
I love this food cart! I have gotten the burger a couple times and it is always delicious. They put a generous amount of onions on the burger which you can get "caramelized" or "crispy" and they add a great flavor and texture. I recommend asking them to make the fries Cajun; it's no extra charge but it is extra tasty! I may try something else on the menu one day, but as of right now I'm hooked on the burger! This food cart pod is also a groovy space with a variety of indoor and outdoor seating and a fire pit.
(5)Nicole D.
Love Che Cafe - eat here almost every week. Fries are always hot and crispy. Our favorites are the mac and cheese, barbecue sandwiches, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the steak wrap. Yes, it can take awhile for your order and the service can be brusque, but the food is tasty and well worth it. We call ahead so our food is ready when we arrive.
(5)Drew M.
Food is really good. People running the show here are terrible people -- but MEH. Food is really good.
(4)Dylan E.
This place just rocks!!! The food is good the prices are just great. And not to mention Mohawk. My mom is literally addicted to the stuff. But the food is just amazing. I come here quite often. Definitely recommend the steak wrap, and the pork. Always GET MOHAWK Sauce.
(5)Scott H.
Familiar tastes...it took me a while, but I figured it out. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed when I go food carting. I can't really decide what to get. Fortunately the good people of yelp pointed me in the direction of the steak wrap. One beef (haha) that I have with steak wraps is when tough pieces of steak come out with every bite. Not the case here, they slice their steak nice and thin so it's easy to eat. It also comes with potatoes (fries?) onions, eggs and mohawk sauce. I guess my complaint was that the elements of the wrap didn't really come together. The fries made it pretty big, so I would only get a bite of each individual element each time. The mohawk sauce was interesting. First I liked it, then didn't, then liked it again. Then I said, "Hmmm this tastes so familiar. I don't know how I feel about it though." Then it came to me. It takes just like the firecracker shrimp sauce at PF Changs. That may not be a bad thing for some. I would come back. It was a good value and they were very friendly.
(4)Elizabeth W.
The price is right for some great easy comfort food. They have a plethora of vegetarian options and I found the staff to be kind and timely in having orders ready. We waited about 15 minutes for our breakfast sandwich while there was a giant line of people before and after us. We ordered Cajun fries on the side with a delicious mustard Mohawk sauce (seriously, try it. It's so worth it)
(4)Karen D.
One of the "original" food carts on the North Portland scene. A classic! Classic American fare, done right every time. The crispy shoestring fries are almost iconic, the breakfast sandwiches often steal the show, but the Sake Mac n Cheese is the real MVP in my opinion. But if you're reading this, you probably already knew that!
(5)Mary B.
This is where you want to go when you want a nice big flavorful burger and a whole bunch of shoestring fries with your choice of dipping sauce. Depending on how busy it is, you might have to wait a bit. But it's worth it. You'll certainly get your fill of meat and fried potatoes. I know they have some other things on the menu including a delicious pulled pork sandwich. There's also a quesadilla that looks pretty awesome. I like this particular food cart pod as well. They have really improved things with a fire pit, an enclosed, covered seating area and movies/music on certain evenings. Don't forget to grab a beer from the beer porch to wash down your burger!
(4)Nakia C.
I went back today for the first time and had an awesome experience.. It appears that during the time of my second visit they had recently lost an employee and the Chef was under a lot of stress. The owner responded to my post within 1 business day and offered a free meal to me and my family. I decided not to inform the Chef of our last encounter and have a fresh start. I ordered 4-breakfast wraps and they are still as good as they were the first time.. Even my 5yr old nephew said he's going back to buy another (lol).
(4)Anna A.
I'd like to disclose, I would probably have never attempted to eat here if it weren't for my husband (who comes at least once a week). Somehow, the menu just doesn't seem interesting enough for Portland food cart pizzazz status. Luckily, a lot of Portlanders are not jerks like me. Sandwich. Burger. Quesadilla. On second though, all those sound good to me. My first go was the black bean burger. Damn, it was the best black bean patty I've ever had. I can tell you what it was not: gummy, full of fillers, and puck-like. Nope. Supple and savory. Just delectable. The bun seems like a carb bomb but it's actually nice and pillowy. The toppings are where it's at - get the caramelized onions and you will be aiight. Oh! But did you know about the fries? You get a PILE of fries with every sandwich plus a fry sauce pick (Mohawk sauce makes the best paring). This is pretty ridiculous. I also tried the tofu quesadilla which comes looking like a 90s modern art piece. Swirls and geometric shapes whizzed out in various sauces. The tofu is firm and makes for a nice vehicle for all the flavors going on in the sauces. I really enjoyed the quesadilla but would order the black bean again instead. Although I hear the breakfast all day is happening. In terms on non-vegetarian options, it's your party meat eaters!
(4)Rick W.
Super delicious $6 breakfast grilled cheese sandwich. We both had the breakfast sandwich, G's with tempeh bacon and mine with regular bacon. With a couple of fried eggs, grilled onions, tomato and cheese on top of thick, beautifully toasted bread it was enough for breakfast and we skipped lunch. My grilled cheese sandwich either had no cheese or so little that it couldn't be found. I only noticed when G was eating his sandwich and pulling at strings of cheese. Mine was so fantastic that I didn't even notice that G probably received my portion of the cheese until I was almost done with my sandwich. Now a grilled cheese sandwich made without cheese seems like a joke, but what it really speaks to is how damn good their food is. They were a little backed up when we arrived at 11 am on a Saturday and it took about 25 minutes to get our order. Obviously the food is fresh. We will be back. We loved the food. Hopefully the kitchen can work out a few kinks.
(4)Katie G.
SOOOOO GOOOD!!!! It can be a lengthy wait during a busy time but honestly...I do not care! Also, it's a food cart. There's only so much they can do in a certain time span.
(5)Ivan C.
Until last night I've only tried their Steak Wrap which I'm a huge fan of...Meat, eggs, cheese and fries wrapped in a tortilla, what more can you ask for? Last night I had a burger, which was really good. I'm not sure what they season their burger with, but it had great flavor. Had mine with cheese and grilled onions. Had a bite of my wife's blackened tilapia quesadilla it was also very tasty. Their dipping sauces are the bomb too, gotta try them all. One of the best food carts around with plenty of variety for everyone.
(5)John D.
We come here a lot in the summer, but don't let the winter keep you away, they have a very nice enclosed and heated seating area, and there's a covered area with a fire pit. Everything I've had has been fabulous, I often crave the brisket sandwich, simple and good, and the fry sauces are all great.
(5)Amy B.
Some of the best mac and cheese I have had around town and it came from a food cart. It was not only loaded with creamy goodness, but it also had mushrooms, caramelized onions and broccoli in it. It was a large serving, so definitely share and get something else too.
(5)Angela P.
I love Che Cafe! It's like quality, sit-down restaurant food except from a cart (& cheap). I'm a big fan of their blackened tilapia quesadillas & black bean veggie burger. Awesome fries too. Very vegetarian friendly! Plus you get the Captured by Porches beer bus adjoining.
(5)Sabrina M.
Greasy, greasy deliciousness! I tried the mac and cheese my first weekend living in Portland and I was hooked! The only reason I had the take away a star is because of the long wait. It took them 25 minutes to make a grilled cheese.
(4)Ford F.
Everything on the menu is great. Go for the steak wrap in the morning in order to enter a long lasting coma/pregnancy.
(4)Rachal J.
UPDATE: I received a very genuine apology and email from the owner and her husband, including an offer for a free meal. I appreciated the outreach quite a lot, and if this is a representation of customer service to come, I would gladly come here very regularly. I did express my feelings about the wait time, and the owners agreed that there should be a way of letting the customers know. So, again, thank you Terri and Ryan. I will update again after my next meal. :) PREVIOUS REVIEW: I used to be a regular customer of this place, but after today's experience I wouldn't spend a dollar here. The food is good, but the harassment + wait time isn't worth it. The owner was working today, and was clearly in a foul mood. Nonetheless, I ordered a steak wrap, figuring he was just having a bad day. I waited over half an hour. At about the 20 minute mark, I asked if the food was getting close to being ready. The lady told me no, while the man responded, "What the f***? Can't everyone just leave me alone?" When it finally was ready, he screamed my number and threw the food on the counter. The wait here has been consistently long, and it's absurd when you're just waiting for a food cart. The rudeness coupled with everything else makes this a dining experience that isn't worth your while.
(3)Kristen G.
So now we're here and actually eating this time! It is excellent. I have the grilled cheese and tomato soup and my fiancé has the Bubby burger. Everything was excellent. The food truck area is nice and clean, and the guy was super nice. It was just him doing all the cooking, and yet it was very fast and delicious! I was impressed :)
(5)Kelli S.
This is my favorite food cart! What isn't good here? The portions are huge and the price is reasonable. The fries are awesome, and I'm really picky about fries, and the mohawk sauce just adds even more amazingness. Some of my favorite things are the burger, the brisket sandwich, the tilapia quesadilla, the mac and cheese and the french toast. This is one of the busiest carts at the St. Johns pod so come early but be prepared that you might have to wait a little longer than the other carts but I assure you that it is worth the wait.
(5)Beth B.
I love this place. First off - it's a cart and right next door is Captured By Porches. Go in an evening for dinner, grab a local brew and order up their veggie burger - it's amazing. It comes with caramelized or crunchy onions, a pick from their selection of amazing sauces and french fries that will force you to eat every last one (my favorite sauce is the mohawk sauce). They accept debit / credit, are really great guys and serve up some fabulous burgers. Go in the morning for one of their breakfast burritos. I'm a vegetarian but love their steak burrito - they just substitute the steak for tempeh bacon and I'm all set! Thursday nights there's usually a live band that plays in the summer and during chillier nights, they have a fire pit to sit around. Great overall experience.
(4)James C.
Excellent food I've eaten here lots of times kids love the Mac and cheese and I love the BBQ chicken sandwich, I haven't found anything on the menu I dislike, coupled with a beer from the captured by porch brewery, it doesn't get much better than that plus they have a fun bus for the kids to play in and decently live music, my only gripe would be I wish there was a slightly better range of soft drinks for the kids and that the lot that all the carts sit on was fenced from the busy street.
(5)Michael H.
Best french fries in the entire world! Incredible dipping sauces (cherry wasabi aioli anyone?) The $6 grilled cheese & soup will warm you up on a rainy day while attending UBI across the street.
(5)Robby R.
I stop by for the sake mac and cheese once every few weeks for lunch. They put grilled onions on top... and the side of toasted bread is fantastic. It's a tasty treat... gooey... comfort food.
(4)Alysia A.
if you are lazy when you start your period and don't feel like walking the blocks to the mississippi food carts you can call che cafe and they'll deliver, better yet you can fill out the order online and they'll come by bicycle with their cute baby in their arms. the food is good, the fries are excellently prepared and seasoned. the burger is perfect and the onions atop it are heavenly. and now, in bloodlust, i order from them again.
(3)megan C.
I have passed by this cart at least a couple hundred times. I don't know why today was the day I chose to sneak in there from out of the rain but I am so glad I did! Pulled pork amazing, fry sauce amazing, combination unbeatable! I live in Nopo and I love me some BBQ---he has the touch and the sauce, really it is oh so delicious! Now I know they deliver...this is going to be trouble:) can't wait to try the rest of the menu.
(5)Latoya H.
I still love this place. have you tried the pulled pork sandwich or the mac and cheese with pork and crispy onion. OMG!! This place still hits the spot and the owners are uber nice and support the community.
(5)Matt S.
I've been to Che' Cafe many times and each time I get the pulled pork sandwich. The pork is slow cooked to perfection and served with caramelized OR crispy onions on top. One word = YUM! I also go next door to Vergnetti's Coffee and get a coffee to compliment my meal. In my opinion, it's the best pork sandwich I've had since I've lived in Portland. Everything's made from scratch, including the sauces, and they are real friendly and affordable. You just can't beat that!
(5)Matt S.
Wow. Sake mac and cheese with pulled pork is great. I'm going to have to try more of the food at this amazing little cart.
(5)Damon K.
Steak wrap is amazing, get it. Mohawk sauce is also awesome, get extra.
(5)Matthew S.
For comfort food, Che Cafe can't be beat. They have the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had. The black bean burger is amazing. The quesadilla is great. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is to die for. The new breakfast tofu wrap is great, as well! They're VERY vegetarian friendly, too! The owners are extremely nice and really good at what they do!
(5)Deric M.
This is my favorite food cart in Portland! They used to be off of N Williams, but moved to St. John's in May or so, and now they are only a few blocks from my house! My favorite dish that I get is the salad, and I ad tilapia AND the chicken on top. It makes it a $9 salad, but it is huge! Also, they make their own dressing, which is really good too. Their fries are some of the best fries that I have had in a long time. The are lightly seasoned and served with a sauce they call Mowhawk Sauce. It's like a garlicy fry sauce that is out of this world! The owner Ryan, and his wife Terri are awewome people also. Very friendly and energetic. It's nice to chit chat with them and visit. I prob visit their cart about once a week or so, and have gotten many of my friends hooked on Che Cafe. Try it out! It's AMAZING!!!
(5)Julie E.
Oh heavenly mother of all that's amazing. Drop what you are doing right now and go get the man n cheese. I love love love this cart. It's so good!
(4)Eva J.
This is in my hood so I ride by this place constantly on Williams. What I love besides the most delicious black bean burger slathered in grilled onions or crispy onions and lettuce tomatoes and mushrooms and basket of fries, besides that deliciousness, is that they have a bike parking area inside. You can bring your bike inside and then park it right in the fenced in area on the side of the building. There is a shaded seating area right behind the food cart. If you want some coffee or ice cream it's right next to Vendetta, which is such a cozy setting as well. Loved the cook, loved his wife and baby and how generous they were with portions and the location is sweet sweet. I would check this place out if I were you!
(5)Aaron W.
I arrived a bit after 10 a.m. on a Friday. Che Cafe was doing breakfast that day, so they were open. Still, I inquired on whether the chef could prepare something off the lunch menu, and he had no problem doing so. Earned some brownie points right there, in my opinion. I went straight to the lunch menu and ordered their Sadie Black Bean Burger ($8): a homemade black bean burger topped with aioli served on a grilled onion bun. You get a choice of any or all toppings, including lettuce, tomato, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions (or fried onion strips), and choice of cheese. I asked for all the toppings, going with pepperjack cheese. The burger came with a generous portion of fries (regular or cajun) and choice of sauce. I chose their cajun fries and went with their regular Mohawk sauce, an aioli of sriracha, ketchup, and mayonnaise. The burger was delicious. The delicate black bean patty held its own among the sea of flavors here. Ryan knows how to cook, that's for sure. The onions were perfectly caramelized, the mushrooms wonderfully sauteed. Both beautifully coated the inside of the grilled onion bun. Many places opt for a sesame seed bun or a regular run of some sort. Not here. The onion bun assured each bite had awesome flavor, further pleasing the palate. The fries were also very good, and the sweet/garlicky/spicy nature of the Mohawk fry sauce is a hit with me. The sauce is extremely mild for me, as a note, but maybe others will feel it more. I would have liked the fries in the fryer maybe a minute longer to crisp up more and get more golden brown. Just my personal preference, anyway. A great meal here in North Portland. Che Cafe is another place I definitely recommend!
(4)Lauren A.
That was a fantastic breakfast I just had at Che Cafe. It was a veggie breakfast burrito and was super tasty. Yum!
(5)Nicole L.
On my last day in Portland, I was on a super mission to visit the nearby Queen Bee studio, but was ravenous -- thankfully, Google Maps pointed out the glorious Che Cafe food truck just across the street. I went for the mac and cheese, thinking that it'd be a nice change from the burgers and sandwiches that the menu proudly offered. The nice things about Che Cafe are too numerous to list -- the owners are wonderfully friendly, the food truck is adorable, the ability to plop down inside Vendetta and wait for your food to be delivered with a smile. And... now thinking about that mac and cheese, I lost my train of thought. Unf. This mac and cheese ain't your typical KD -- it's gooey, cheesy, and topped with crispy onions that lend a surprising contrast to the pasta. This is not food that you want to eat on any kind of diet, folks -- unless you're on the "super delicious comfort food" diet, because it definitely fits the category.
(4)Steve R.
These guys just moved to the Kruger Farms lot on Lombard and Burr, almost to St. John's, and man, I could not be happier about that. Their homemade black bean veggie burger is definitely in the top three in the city, imho. Top it with the crispy fried onions, and you will be in heaven. The fries are Outstanding! And, when you pair them with any of their dipping sauces, it puts them over the top. My favorite, I think, is the Mohawk sauce, which is like a slightly spicy aioli, with a little garlic kick (but don't pass up trying any of the other 6 or 7 they offer - I haven't had a bad one. If you are a mustard lover, the Mustard Mohawk can't be beat). My wife had the mac and cheese, topped (if memory serves) with crispy onions, and loved it. They're also doing breakfast, which we had to head back in the morning and try out (and considering the dearth of good breakfast joints around here [RIP Little Red Bike], this is a very welcome addition) and we were not disappointed. The breakfast grilled cheese was stellar, with tempeh bacon and delicious thick-cut bread (tasted like Grand Central Bakery, but they were too busy to ask), fried egg, (Tillamook?) cheese, and some of that super tasty Mustard Mohawk sauce, it makes me start to drool just thinkin about it. Be warned, though, both the breakfast sandwiches and the burgers are Huge, so bring a healthy appetite! Ryan and Terri, who own and run the cart, are really nice and super friendly, and they said that not only can you sub tempeh bacon for the meaty variety on all of the breakfast dishes, you can also replace the eggs with tofu, and Ryan was *very* proud of his tofu skills, so I will have to give that a try soon, when I inevitably go back.
(5)Chory F.
Absolutely fabulous food here. Worth a weekly visit in my estimation. It's no surprise at all they're getting all 4- and 5-star reviews! Super-stoked there's more seating now, and looking forward to delicious Sake Mac * Cheese on cool autumnal nights: perfection!
(5)Kyle D.
Bbq chicken sandwich with mohawk sauce was awesome. Food takes a little while but well worth it. Some juice selection would be a plus.
(4)Chris D.
Tremendous value and a great stop on your way home if you leave in North Portland. We had the burger and the bean burger. Both were very good with a ton of fixins and fries. Not in my top three burgers for Portland since I like a more simple bruger, but I'll be back since I leave nearby.
(3)Beth B.
Move over Big Egg (food cart on Mississippi) - there's a new Chief in town. This often-overlooked food cart is amazing. Their veggie burger is HUGE (easily split between two people) and their special selection of sauces for their savory fries is hard to choose from. The guy is super nice and will happily customize dishes within reason. Their veggie breakfast burrito with a little special sauce was amazing after a long hike (only $6). The ambiance is great as well - go on a Thursday night and grab a brew from Captured by Porches while sitting around a bonfire eating a delicious veggie burger. It makes for an inexpensive memorable night out.
(4)Joanna C.
This is the best breakfast cart ever and the Mac and cheese is super awesome and lovely.
(5)Erin T.
We bike by here daily and always slow down for a deep aromatic breath of deliciousness, and walking by yesterday we were craving tasty food and decided to stop. They've got a small menu and focus on making things fresh to order. We got the special- blackened tilapia sandwich with cajun fries, and an order of the sake mac-n-cheese with crispy fried onions on top. we had a mile to walk home, and the fries were gone in about 4 blocks-they were perfect! The sandwich was amazing, the crispy onions on the mac was a great addition and overall we were so happy we stopped. I'm a moderate food cart fan- i usually like them but I don't go out of my way for them.....that said, I'm already craving this comfort food again! they deliver...and thats going to be dangerous. oh and a bonus is you can tell they care about what they're doing.
(5)Cassie S.
Che Cafe is a rockin' red cart in NE (with a sweet new mural!). Whenever I am having one of 'those' days, I stop over for the freshly made food and the great company. Terri and Ryan are genuine people who are passionate about the food they make AND the customers they serve. I always feel comforted after I've eaten and socialized. The other great part is that you can sit inside the coffee shop next door, have a latte and your food is served to you. Deliciousness!!!
(5)Sunshine P.
Had the macaroni and cheese and side salad and both were delicious! Can't wait to go back and try more of their menu items.
(5)Abigail S.
Yummy food, awesome owners. Like eating at home, but someone else cooks you great food and cleans up after you. Mac n cheese n chicken to die for.
(5)Michele S.
After moving to north Portland (from out of state) several months ago we've struggled to find some quick and easy go-to options for the family on nights when we just don't feel like cooking. Food carts are a new concept for us and we took a while to become adventurous enough to try some. Che' Cafe Did not disappoint. The food was super tasty for any eatery, food cart or otherwise. The Mohawk & BBQ sauces were delish! We brought our children (three under age 7) and they enjoyed their meals too. Finally! A place I want to back to in NoPo! I also think it's worth noting that the man behind the counter was super friendly and patient while we ordered. He answered questions and made suggestions which were helpful. And he didn't treat us like crap when he saw we had kids with us. Definitely give this place a try!
(5)Amy O.
Great food! Love the home made sauces for the fries, esp. the red pepper sauce. And their breakfast is good, too.
(5)Jarrod S.
Altogether a bit of an odd experience, but in a good way. I stopped here after finding out the only food-carts on Mississippi for lunch on a Tuesday are coffee or vegan. So I head over to Williams and see Che Cafe. I stopped in to see the fairly simple menu which at the time I was not super stoked about. Brisket, pork, hamburger, nothing is screaming EAT ME like food usually does to me on Tuesdays. So I order the pulled pork. After 5 minutes of waiting I start to second guess myself because the dude is all over the griddle and I didn't see any pig in distress, was he frying it to heat it up? NOPE !! They top their sandwiches with onions either, caramelized, or crispy. After taking my first bite, I understood, I realized the so called "gimmick" was making these very very tasty onions,frying the living hell out of them for a crispy factor on a sandwich known to dominate the bread holding it all together. The fries, which I didn't realize came with the sandwich, tasted wonderful with a hint of onion sprinkled on them,. They were just crisp and soggy enough to crave them. They were served with a homemade ketchup which I only tried because it looked more like a fry sauce, and tasted, well, I didn't like it. While I may not go out of my way to come back, If in the area I would make it point to come here. Oh they take visa and mastercard, and they are open on Mondays, and Tuesdays! Oh and the "odd" that I started the review with, was the fact I really enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich from here more than a place that just serves barbecue.
(4)Kyle S.
Che' is truly part of the wave of new food carts in Portland. Terri and Ryan make delicious comfort food for a fair price. They have only been open since August 2009, but their food shows years of experience in the kitchen. There are a couple of things that set Che' apart: -Indoor Seating- Che has an agreement with Vignetti's coffee cart and you can eat inside, you know in case its ever raining in Portland. -Dog Friendly- They make dog treats out of dehydrated chicken, My picky dog Riley snaps them up immediately. He's even allowed in the indoor seating. - Location- Che' is located on a biking artery which makes it easy to get to, even without a car. But the thing that is really amazing about Che' is the food. Huge portions of comfort food made to order with their delicious homemade ketchup. I promise you will be daydreaming about the food for weeks. I had the Pulled Pork sandwich first. The onion bun comes from a local Italian bakery and is the perfect canvas for a PILE of tender, slow-cooked pork topped with crispy or carmelized onions with fries on the side. Today I had the Meatloaf Sandwich, it was big enough for two people, but I finished the whole thing and promptly fell into a food coma. The meatloaf was topped with mayo, tomato, and lettuce held between two pieces of grilled como bread. Che' is also veggie-friendly with a black bean burger that is one of the best veggie patties I've ever had. Its dense with the perfect spice that will fill up even the most jaded carnivore. foodcartsportland.com/20…
(5)Eriko O.
went to this place after my son's music class at sound roots music. you can take out food from che and sit inside the coffee shop/pastry/music school lobby and eat. definitely a plus in rainy, cold weather. the food was great. solid!!! service was very good too. i had the burger and ate every bite (except the one bite i gave up to my husband). it is a great burger. i know that everyone says that about burgers around portland, but this one was pretty awesome. wish they had pickles though. the toasted bun pretty much made up for it.
(4)Dan H.
So this was my first time over to this small cart pod. We came here specifically for the Captured By Porches beer bus, but after half a beer in the hot weather I got really hungry. My friend had been to Che' Cafe on multiple occasions and recommended the Che' Steak Wrap ($6). After thinking about it for a while, I decided I was hungry enough to get one. This is a really nice breakfast wrap. It was almost 4 in the afternoon when I took my first bite, but breakfast is served all day here so why not enjoy an afternoon breakfast? I couldn't think of a reason not to, so I went ahead and got one. Good decision on my part. Full of steak (stop the presses), potatoes, eggs, cheese and caramelized onions, this is a man (or woman) sized meal. Ok, the wrap isn't huge in itself, but it is stuffed to the gills with all of the above. There might have been other things in there that I'm not remembering, but I forgot to take a picture of the menu on the cart and their breakfast items aren't listed on their website. Oh well. The one thing you need to know about it is that it is very good. Also for $6 it is a steal of a deal on a hot meal. Speaking of hot. This thing is pretty heat hot. Not great for a hot summer day, but the cold beer helped out there. Well worth the trip up here if only for the fact that you can get beer off of a bus at this small pod. The food at this cart just adds to the total experience.
(4)Leeanna W.
I love this cart! The best breakfast burritos in St Johns. The Che steak wrap is next level delicious. I get extra mohawk sauce. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Marie E.
I was SUPER happy with the choice to try this super yummy food cart. My best friend and I went and got two entrees: the Mac N Cheese and a Caprese pasta dish and shared them. The Caprese dish flavors were spot on. It was delicious. The only downside to this dish was that it was a bit oily for my taste. The Mac N Cheese was super delicious; I really liked that it had these fried onions served on top. They both came with the most amazing grilled garlic bread ever. I will be returning for sure, if not for the Mac N Cheese than for something else because their burgers looked great and there was a pulled pork sandwich on the menu. They also had a variety of sauces that i wanted to try!
(4)Em H.
BEST FOOD IN ST. JOHN'S TBH. Do not miss the blackened tilapia quesadilla, i'm serious. Mac n cheeze, breakfast wraps (both steak and veg) are delicious! They also house-make 6 amazing sauces, get one of each. Aaaand best of all, these guys are awesome. Tip fat!
(5)Taylor M.
I love this place! They have an amazing black bean burger, and you get tons of fries with it plus the fry sauces are so good. The people working here are always so friendly too!
(4)Bill D.
OK, the Che' steak wrap is so delicious it's dangerous. I have to talk myself OUT of eating here because I would certainly gain too much weight in a hurry. I've named it the "crack wrap" because of it's addictive qualities :) But, after reading all these reviews I'm determined to break my habit and try a few of the other items, specifically the mac & cheese that everyone is raving about! I'm sure everything is great but it's the Mohawk sauce that is truly unique and amazing... I can imagine it goes perfectly on just about anything!!!
(5)Maria L.
The best black bean burger ever. Oh my goodness.
(5)Eriko O.
went to this place after my son's music class at sound roots music. you can take out food from che and sit inside the coffee shop/pastry/music school lobby and eat. definitely a plus in rainy, cold weather. the food was great. solid!!! service was very good too. i had the burger and ate every bite (except the one bite i gave up to my husband). it is a great burger. i know that everyone says that about burgers around portland, but this one was pretty awesome. wish they had pickles though. the toasted bun pretty much made up for it.
(4)Dylan E.
This place just rocks!!! The food is good the prices are just great. And not to mention Mohawk. My mom is literally addicted to the stuff. But the food is just amazing. I come here quite often. Definitely recommend the steak wrap, and the pork. Always GET MOHAWK Sauce.
(5)Scott H.
Familiar tastes...it took me a while, but I figured it out. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed when I go food carting. I can't really decide what to get. Fortunately the good people of yelp pointed me in the direction of the steak wrap. One beef (haha) that I have with steak wraps is when tough pieces of steak come out with every bite. Not the case here, they slice their steak nice and thin so it's easy to eat. It also comes with potatoes (fries?) onions, eggs and mohawk sauce. I guess my complaint was that the elements of the wrap didn't really come together. The fries made it pretty big, so I would only get a bite of each individual element each time. The mohawk sauce was interesting. First I liked it, then didn't, then liked it again. Then I said, "Hmmm this tastes so familiar. I don't know how I feel about it though." Then it came to me. It takes just like the firecracker shrimp sauce at PF Changs. That may not be a bad thing for some. I would come back. It was a good value and they were very friendly.
(4)Beth B.
Move over Big Egg (food cart on Mississippi) - there's a new Chief in town. This often-overlooked food cart is amazing. Their veggie burger is HUGE (easily split between two people) and their special selection of sauces for their savory fries is hard to choose from. The guy is super nice and will happily customize dishes within reason. Their veggie breakfast burrito with a little special sauce was amazing after a long hike (only $6). The ambiance is great as well - go on a Thursday night and grab a brew from Captured by Porches while sitting around a bonfire eating a delicious veggie burger. It makes for an inexpensive memorable night out.
(4)Kelli S.
This is my favorite food cart! What isn't good here? The portions are huge and the price is reasonable. The fries are awesome, and I'm really picky about fries, and the mohawk sauce just adds even more amazingness. Some of my favorite things are the burger, the brisket sandwich, the tilapia quesadilla, the mac and cheese and the french toast. This is one of the busiest carts at the St. Johns pod so come early but be prepared that you might have to wait a little longer than the other carts but I assure you that it is worth the wait.
(5)Jarrod S.
Altogether a bit of an odd experience, but in a good way. I stopped here after finding out the only food-carts on Mississippi for lunch on a Tuesday are coffee or vegan. So I head over to Williams and see Che Cafe. I stopped in to see the fairly simple menu which at the time I was not super stoked about. Brisket, pork, hamburger, nothing is screaming EAT ME like food usually does to me on Tuesdays. So I order the pulled pork. After 5 minutes of waiting I start to second guess myself because the dude is all over the griddle and I didn't see any pig in distress, was he frying it to heat it up? NOPE !! They top their sandwiches with onions either, caramelized, or crispy. After taking my first bite, I understood, I realized the so called "gimmick" was making these very very tasty onions,frying the living hell out of them for a crispy factor on a sandwich known to dominate the bread holding it all together. The fries, which I didn't realize came with the sandwich, tasted wonderful with a hint of onion sprinkled on them,. They were just crisp and soggy enough to crave them. They were served with a homemade ketchup which I only tried because it looked more like a fry sauce, and tasted, well, I didn't like it. While I may not go out of my way to come back, If in the area I would make it point to come here. Oh they take visa and mastercard, and they are open on Mondays, and Tuesdays! Oh and the "odd" that I started the review with, was the fact I really enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich from here more than a place that just serves barbecue.
(4)Erika G.
This is one of my favorite food carts in Portland. I have eaten here regularly for about 1 year. The food is consistently good no matter what you choose off the menu. They have a menu with a large variety and great vegetarian options. Also no matter how busy they are they will always have the food out to you in 15-20 minutes, just enough time to have a beer at Captured by Porches. I often opt for the pulled pork mac n' cheese...SO GOOD!
(5)Brittanie M.
I'm getting super hungry reading all the raves about the best mac here...can't quite weigh in since every time I have tried to order this they are sold out! I guess that means it really is that good. However, my go-to default has always been the grilled cheese and tomato soup. This place has turned me into a tomato soup lover. It is full of flavor, creamy, and the perfect amount of basil really makes this soup magical. Of course you can't eat tomato soup without grilled cheese. That too is tasty and I especially love the artisan bread and good quality cheese they use. My only diss is that sometimes the sandwich is perfect just like the soup, and sometimes it's on the greasy side. So I just hope for those non greasy days and carry on with my soup.
(4)Anna A.
I'd like to disclose, I would probably have never attempted to eat here if it weren't for my husband (who comes at least once a week). Somehow, the menu just doesn't seem interesting enough for Portland food cart pizzazz status. Luckily, a lot of Portlanders are not jerks like me. Sandwich. Burger. Quesadilla. On second though, all those sound good to me. My first go was the black bean burger. Damn, it was the best black bean patty I've ever had. I can tell you what it was not: gummy, full of fillers, and puck-like. Nope. Supple and savory. Just delectable. The bun seems like a carb bomb but it's actually nice and pillowy. The toppings are where it's at - get the caramelized onions and you will be aiight. Oh! But did you know about the fries? You get a PILE of fries with every sandwich plus a fry sauce pick (Mohawk sauce makes the best paring). This is pretty ridiculous. I also tried the tofu quesadilla which comes looking like a 90s modern art piece. Swirls and geometric shapes whizzed out in various sauces. The tofu is firm and makes for a nice vehicle for all the flavors going on in the sauces. I really enjoyed the quesadilla but would order the black bean again instead. Although I hear the breakfast all day is happening. In terms on non-vegetarian options, it's your party meat eaters!
(4)Elizabeth W.
The price is right for some great easy comfort food. They have a plethora of vegetarian options and I found the staff to be kind and timely in having orders ready. We waited about 15 minutes for our breakfast sandwich while there was a giant line of people before and after us. We ordered Cajun fries on the side with a delicious mustard Mohawk sauce (seriously, try it. It's so worth it)
(4)Karen D.
One of the "original" food carts on the North Portland scene. A classic! Classic American fare, done right every time. The crispy shoestring fries are almost iconic, the breakfast sandwiches often steal the show, but the Sake Mac n Cheese is the real MVP in my opinion. But if you're reading this, you probably already knew that!
(5)Mary B.
This is where you want to go when you want a nice big flavorful burger and a whole bunch of shoestring fries with your choice of dipping sauce. Depending on how busy it is, you might have to wait a bit. But it's worth it. You'll certainly get your fill of meat and fried potatoes. I know they have some other things on the menu including a delicious pulled pork sandwich. There's also a quesadilla that looks pretty awesome. I like this particular food cart pod as well. They have really improved things with a fire pit, an enclosed, covered seating area and movies/music on certain evenings. Don't forget to grab a beer from the beer porch to wash down your burger!
(4)Nakia C.
I went back today for the first time and had an awesome experience.. It appears that during the time of my second visit they had recently lost an employee and the Chef was under a lot of stress. The owner responded to my post within 1 business day and offered a free meal to me and my family. I decided not to inform the Chef of our last encounter and have a fresh start. I ordered 4-breakfast wraps and they are still as good as they were the first time.. Even my 5yr old nephew said he's going back to buy another (lol).
(4)Andrew W.
I love this food cart! I have gotten the burger a couple times and it is always delicious. They put a generous amount of onions on the burger which you can get "caramelized" or "crispy" and they add a great flavor and texture. I recommend asking them to make the fries Cajun; it's no extra charge but it is extra tasty! I may try something else on the menu one day, but as of right now I'm hooked on the burger! This food cart pod is also a groovy space with a variety of indoor and outdoor seating and a fire pit.
(5)Nicole D.
Love Che Cafe - eat here almost every week. Fries are always hot and crispy. Our favorites are the mac and cheese, barbecue sandwiches, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the steak wrap. Yes, it can take awhile for your order and the service can be brusque, but the food is tasty and well worth it. We call ahead so our food is ready when we arrive.
(5)Drew M.
Food is really good. People running the show here are terrible people -- but MEH. Food is really good.
(4)Spencer B.
Hey there, I've eaten here 4 or 5 times and always find the food to be very high quality and delicious. It is an ok value although rivaling some restaurants. What does bother me is the level of hygiene. Just look at the floor, the trash can and are around cart. All are littered with food scraps and trash. If not for this fact they would be 4 stars
(3)Andrea L.
Even though I live so very close, I had never been to this little food pod before. As we entered the pod area, the sound of Brown-Eyed Girl was playing loudly (not too loudly) from the Che Cafe truck - which attracted me from the get go, and the three of us girls couldn't help but sing along. Copious amounts of cajun fries in a basket for $3. We sat in comfy couches and gabbed away in the heated, comfy structure, perched in the middle of all the truck pod. Took us quite a while to eat all the yummy fries. Service was good, the menu looks good and has a decent amount of bfast. lunch and dinner items. I ;look forward to trying something else from them!
(3)Rachal J.
UPDATE: I received a very genuine apology and email from the owner and her husband, including an offer for a free meal. I appreciated the outreach quite a lot, and if this is a representation of customer service to come, I would gladly come here very regularly. I did express my feelings about the wait time, and the owners agreed that there should be a way of letting the customers know. So, again, thank you Terri and Ryan. I will update again after my next meal. :) PREVIOUS REVIEW: I used to be a regular customer of this place, but after today's experience I wouldn't spend a dollar here. The food is good, but the harassment + wait time isn't worth it. The owner was working today, and was clearly in a foul mood. Nonetheless, I ordered a steak wrap, figuring he was just having a bad day. I waited over half an hour. At about the 20 minute mark, I asked if the food was getting close to being ready. The lady told me no, while the man responded, "What the f***? Can't everyone just leave me alone?" When it finally was ready, he screamed my number and threw the food on the counter. The wait here has been consistently long, and it's absurd when you're just waiting for a food cart. The rudeness coupled with everything else makes this a dining experience that isn't worth your while.
(3)Kristen G.
So now we're here and actually eating this time! It is excellent. I have the grilled cheese and tomato soup and my fiancé has the Bubby burger. Everything was excellent. The food truck area is nice and clean, and the guy was super nice. It was just him doing all the cooking, and yet it was very fast and delicious! I was impressed :)
(5)Ivan C.
Until last night I've only tried their Steak Wrap which I'm a huge fan of...Meat, eggs, cheese and fries wrapped in a tortilla, what more can you ask for? Last night I had a burger, which was really good. I'm not sure what they season their burger with, but it had great flavor. Had mine with cheese and grilled onions. Had a bite of my wife's blackened tilapia quesadilla it was also very tasty. Their dipping sauces are the bomb too, gotta try them all. One of the best food carts around with plenty of variety for everyone.
(5)John D.
We come here a lot in the summer, but don't let the winter keep you away, they have a very nice enclosed and heated seating area, and there's a covered area with a fire pit. Everything I've had has been fabulous, I often crave the brisket sandwich, simple and good, and the fry sauces are all great.
(5)Rick W.
Super delicious $6 breakfast grilled cheese sandwich. We both had the breakfast sandwich, G's with tempeh bacon and mine with regular bacon. With a couple of fried eggs, grilled onions, tomato and cheese on top of thick, beautifully toasted bread it was enough for breakfast and we skipped lunch. My grilled cheese sandwich either had no cheese or so little that it couldn't be found. I only noticed when G was eating his sandwich and pulling at strings of cheese. Mine was so fantastic that I didn't even notice that G probably received my portion of the cheese until I was almost done with my sandwich. Now a grilled cheese sandwich made without cheese seems like a joke, but what it really speaks to is how damn good their food is. They were a little backed up when we arrived at 11 am on a Saturday and it took about 25 minutes to get our order. Obviously the food is fresh. We will be back. We loved the food. Hopefully the kitchen can work out a few kinks.
(4)Katie G.
SOOOOO GOOOD!!!! It can be a lengthy wait during a busy time but honestly...I do not care! Also, it's a food cart. There's only so much they can do in a certain time span.
(5)Tanya G.
I absolutely love the fries. The Mohawk sauce is also amazing. The burgers are also delicious.
(5)RJ H.
The PDX Cart scene is among the best if not the best in the states...the quality and versatility is pretty astounding. My favorite hands down is Che' Cafe in St Johns... First the menu is pretty wide ...all day breakfast ...The BLT breakfast sandwich is awesome ....you can substitute vegan bacon for the real thing ...but either come in copious amounts with this amazing slightly spicy sauce throughout. The Mac and Cheese can be simple or veggies and or meat added...and I guarantee a happy food comma after..... Pulled Pork....top notch ....The Bubby Burger ...the best everything is $10 or under ....and frankly its worth twice the price. The owner is a one man restaurant machine...host...wait staff ..chef ...all in a quick super friendly style. And with Capture by Porches beer and a great covered fire pit near by...a great spot to hang
(5)Amelia B.
I generally go to this foodcart maybe once or twice a week for lunch. I went last night with my parents, though, and the chef + the girl taking the orders were really, really rude to the customers. There were rude comments about other customers within my ear shot, there were rude comments about my order while I was standing at the window - it was really bad. I appreciate they were busy but I've never seen behavior so obviously dismissive of customers before (and I used to work at restaurants, so I know how chefs talk in the kitchen - but it's pretty bad when the customers can hear what you're saying about them). I don't think I'll be visiting again.
(1)Dan H.
So this was my first time over to this small cart pod. We came here specifically for the Captured By Porches beer bus, but after half a beer in the hot weather I got really hungry. My friend had been to Che' Cafe on multiple occasions and recommended the Che' Steak Wrap ($6). After thinking about it for a while, I decided I was hungry enough to get one. This is a really nice breakfast wrap. It was almost 4 in the afternoon when I took my first bite, but breakfast is served all day here so why not enjoy an afternoon breakfast? I couldn't think of a reason not to, so I went ahead and got one. Good decision on my part. Full of steak (stop the presses), potatoes, eggs, cheese and caramelized onions, this is a man (or woman) sized meal. Ok, the wrap isn't huge in itself, but it is stuffed to the gills with all of the above. There might have been other things in there that I'm not remembering, but I forgot to take a picture of the menu on the cart and their breakfast items aren't listed on their website. Oh well. The one thing you need to know about it is that it is very good. Also for $6 it is a steal of a deal on a hot meal. Speaking of hot. This thing is pretty heat hot. Not great for a hot summer day, but the cold beer helped out there. Well worth the trip up here if only for the fact that you can get beer off of a bus at this small pod. The food at this cart just adds to the total experience.
(4)Leeanna W.
I love this cart! The best breakfast burritos in St Johns. The Che steak wrap is next level delicious. I get extra mohawk sauce. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Marie E.
I was SUPER happy with the choice to try this super yummy food cart. My best friend and I went and got two entrees: the Mac N Cheese and a Caprese pasta dish and shared them. The Caprese dish flavors were spot on. It was delicious. The only downside to this dish was that it was a bit oily for my taste. The Mac N Cheese was super delicious; I really liked that it had these fried onions served on top. They both came with the most amazing grilled garlic bread ever. I will be returning for sure, if not for the Mac N Cheese than for something else because their burgers looked great and there was a pulled pork sandwich on the menu. They also had a variety of sauces that i wanted to try!
(4)Em H.
BEST FOOD IN ST. JOHN'S TBH. Do not miss the blackened tilapia quesadilla, i'm serious. Mac n cheeze, breakfast wraps (both steak and veg) are delicious! They also house-make 6 amazing sauces, get one of each. Aaaand best of all, these guys are awesome. Tip fat!
(5)Bill D.
OK, the Che' steak wrap is so delicious it's dangerous. I have to talk myself OUT of eating here because I would certainly gain too much weight in a hurry. I've named it the "crack wrap" because of it's addictive qualities :) But, after reading all these reviews I'm determined to break my habit and try a few of the other items, specifically the mac & cheese that everyone is raving about! I'm sure everything is great but it's the Mohawk sauce that is truly unique and amazing... I can imagine it goes perfectly on just about anything!!!
(5)Taylor M.
I love this place! They have an amazing black bean burger, and you get tons of fries with it plus the fry sauces are so good. The people working here are always so friendly too!
(4)Amy B.
Some of the best mac and cheese I have had around town and it came from a food cart. It was not only loaded with creamy goodness, but it also had mushrooms, caramelized onions and broccoli in it. It was a large serving, so definitely share and get something else too.
(5)Angela P.
I love Che Cafe! It's like quality, sit-down restaurant food except from a cart (& cheap). I'm a big fan of their blackened tilapia quesadillas & black bean veggie burger. Awesome fries too. Very vegetarian friendly! Plus you get the Captured by Porches beer bus adjoining.
(5)Sabrina M.
Greasy, greasy deliciousness! I tried the mac and cheese my first weekend living in Portland and I was hooked! The only reason I had the take away a star is because of the long wait. It took them 25 minutes to make a grilled cheese.
(4)Ford F.
Everything on the menu is great. Go for the steak wrap in the morning in order to enter a long lasting coma/pregnancy.
(4)Beth B.
I love this place. First off - it's a cart and right next door is Captured By Porches. Go in an evening for dinner, grab a local brew and order up their veggie burger - it's amazing. It comes with caramelized or crunchy onions, a pick from their selection of amazing sauces and french fries that will force you to eat every last one (my favorite sauce is the mohawk sauce). They accept debit / credit, are really great guys and serve up some fabulous burgers. Go in the morning for one of their breakfast burritos. I'm a vegetarian but love their steak burrito - they just substitute the steak for tempeh bacon and I'm all set! Thursday nights there's usually a live band that plays in the summer and during chillier nights, they have a fire pit to sit around. Great overall experience.
(4)Deric M.
This is my favorite food cart in Portland! They used to be off of N Williams, but moved to St. John's in May or so, and now they are only a few blocks from my house! My favorite dish that I get is the salad, and I ad tilapia AND the chicken on top. It makes it a $9 salad, but it is huge! Also, they make their own dressing, which is really good too. Their fries are some of the best fries that I have had in a long time. The are lightly seasoned and served with a sauce they call Mowhawk Sauce. It's like a garlicy fry sauce that is out of this world! The owner Ryan, and his wife Terri are awewome people also. Very friendly and energetic. It's nice to chit chat with them and visit. I prob visit their cart about once a week or so, and have gotten many of my friends hooked on Che Cafe. Try it out! It's AMAZING!!!
(5)Aaron W.
I arrived a bit after 10 a.m. on a Friday. Che Cafe was doing breakfast that day, so they were open. Still, I inquired on whether the chef could prepare something off the lunch menu, and he had no problem doing so. Earned some brownie points right there, in my opinion. I went straight to the lunch menu and ordered their Sadie Black Bean Burger ($8): a homemade black bean burger topped with aioli served on a grilled onion bun. You get a choice of any or all toppings, including lettuce, tomato, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions (or fried onion strips), and choice of cheese. I asked for all the toppings, going with pepperjack cheese. The burger came with a generous portion of fries (regular or cajun) and choice of sauce. I chose their cajun fries and went with their regular Mohawk sauce, an aioli of sriracha, ketchup, and mayonnaise. The burger was delicious. The delicate black bean patty held its own among the sea of flavors here. Ryan knows how to cook, that's for sure. The onions were perfectly caramelized, the mushrooms wonderfully sauteed. Both beautifully coated the inside of the grilled onion bun. Many places opt for a sesame seed bun or a regular run of some sort. Not here. The onion bun assured each bite had awesome flavor, further pleasing the palate. The fries were also very good, and the sweet/garlicky/spicy nature of the Mohawk fry sauce is a hit with me. The sauce is extremely mild for me, as a note, but maybe others will feel it more. I would have liked the fries in the fryer maybe a minute longer to crisp up more and get more golden brown. Just my personal preference, anyway. A great meal here in North Portland. Che Cafe is another place I definitely recommend!
(4)Lauren A.
That was a fantastic breakfast I just had at Che Cafe. It was a veggie breakfast burrito and was super tasty. Yum!
(5)Nicole L.
On my last day in Portland, I was on a super mission to visit the nearby Queen Bee studio, but was ravenous -- thankfully, Google Maps pointed out the glorious Che Cafe food truck just across the street. I went for the mac and cheese, thinking that it'd be a nice change from the burgers and sandwiches that the menu proudly offered. The nice things about Che Cafe are too numerous to list -- the owners are wonderfully friendly, the food truck is adorable, the ability to plop down inside Vendetta and wait for your food to be delivered with a smile. And... now thinking about that mac and cheese, I lost my train of thought. Unf. This mac and cheese ain't your typical KD -- it's gooey, cheesy, and topped with crispy onions that lend a surprising contrast to the pasta. This is not food that you want to eat on any kind of diet, folks -- unless you're on the "super delicious comfort food" diet, because it definitely fits the category.
(4)Steve R.
These guys just moved to the Kruger Farms lot on Lombard and Burr, almost to St. John's, and man, I could not be happier about that. Their homemade black bean veggie burger is definitely in the top three in the city, imho. Top it with the crispy fried onions, and you will be in heaven. The fries are Outstanding! And, when you pair them with any of their dipping sauces, it puts them over the top. My favorite, I think, is the Mohawk sauce, which is like a slightly spicy aioli, with a little garlic kick (but don't pass up trying any of the other 6 or 7 they offer - I haven't had a bad one. If you are a mustard lover, the Mustard Mohawk can't be beat). My wife had the mac and cheese, topped (if memory serves) with crispy onions, and loved it. They're also doing breakfast, which we had to head back in the morning and try out (and considering the dearth of good breakfast joints around here [RIP Little Red Bike], this is a very welcome addition) and we were not disappointed. The breakfast grilled cheese was stellar, with tempeh bacon and delicious thick-cut bread (tasted like Grand Central Bakery, but they were too busy to ask), fried egg, (Tillamook?) cheese, and some of that super tasty Mustard Mohawk sauce, it makes me start to drool just thinkin about it. Be warned, though, both the breakfast sandwiches and the burgers are Huge, so bring a healthy appetite! Ryan and Terri, who own and run the cart, are really nice and super friendly, and they said that not only can you sub tempeh bacon for the meaty variety on all of the breakfast dishes, you can also replace the eggs with tofu, and Ryan was *very* proud of his tofu skills, so I will have to give that a try soon, when I inevitably go back.
(5)Chory F.
Absolutely fabulous food here. Worth a weekly visit in my estimation. It's no surprise at all they're getting all 4- and 5-star reviews! Super-stoked there's more seating now, and looking forward to delicious Sake Mac * Cheese on cool autumnal nights: perfection!
(5)Kyle D.
Bbq chicken sandwich with mohawk sauce was awesome. Food takes a little while but well worth it. Some juice selection would be a plus.
(4)Chris D.
Tremendous value and a great stop on your way home if you leave in North Portland. We had the burger and the bean burger. Both were very good with a ton of fixins and fries. Not in my top three burgers for Portland since I like a more simple bruger, but I'll be back since I leave nearby.
(3)Joanna C.
This is the best breakfast cart ever and the Mac and cheese is super awesome and lovely.
(5)Damon K.
Steak wrap is amazing, get it. Mohawk sauce is also awesome, get extra.
(5)Matthew S.
For comfort food, Che Cafe can't be beat. They have the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had. The black bean burger is amazing. The quesadilla is great. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is to die for. The new breakfast tofu wrap is great, as well! They're VERY vegetarian friendly, too! The owners are extremely nice and really good at what they do!
(5)Julie E.
Oh heavenly mother of all that's amazing. Drop what you are doing right now and go get the man n cheese. I love love love this cart. It's so good!
(4)Eva J.
This is in my hood so I ride by this place constantly on Williams. What I love besides the most delicious black bean burger slathered in grilled onions or crispy onions and lettuce tomatoes and mushrooms and basket of fries, besides that deliciousness, is that they have a bike parking area inside. You can bring your bike inside and then park it right in the fenced in area on the side of the building. There is a shaded seating area right behind the food cart. If you want some coffee or ice cream it's right next to Vendetta, which is such a cozy setting as well. Loved the cook, loved his wife and baby and how generous they were with portions and the location is sweet sweet. I would check this place out if I were you!
(5)Erin T.
We bike by here daily and always slow down for a deep aromatic breath of deliciousness, and walking by yesterday we were craving tasty food and decided to stop. They've got a small menu and focus on making things fresh to order. We got the special- blackened tilapia sandwich with cajun fries, and an order of the sake mac-n-cheese with crispy fried onions on top. we had a mile to walk home, and the fries were gone in about 4 blocks-they were perfect! The sandwich was amazing, the crispy onions on the mac was a great addition and overall we were so happy we stopped. I'm a moderate food cart fan- i usually like them but I don't go out of my way for them.....that said, I'm already craving this comfort food again! they deliver...and thats going to be dangerous. oh and a bonus is you can tell they care about what they're doing.
(5)Cassie S.
Che Cafe is a rockin' red cart in NE (with a sweet new mural!). Whenever I am having one of 'those' days, I stop over for the freshly made food and the great company. Terri and Ryan are genuine people who are passionate about the food they make AND the customers they serve. I always feel comforted after I've eaten and socialized. The other great part is that you can sit inside the coffee shop next door, have a latte and your food is served to you. Deliciousness!!!
(5)Sunshine P.
Had the macaroni and cheese and side salad and both were delicious! Can't wait to go back and try more of their menu items.
(5)Abigail S.
Yummy food, awesome owners. Like eating at home, but someone else cooks you great food and cleans up after you. Mac n cheese n chicken to die for.
(5)Kyle S.
Che' is truly part of the wave of new food carts in Portland. Terri and Ryan make delicious comfort food for a fair price. They have only been open since August 2009, but their food shows years of experience in the kitchen. There are a couple of things that set Che' apart: -Indoor Seating- Che has an agreement with Vignetti's coffee cart and you can eat inside, you know in case its ever raining in Portland. -Dog Friendly- They make dog treats out of dehydrated chicken, My picky dog Riley snaps them up immediately. He's even allowed in the indoor seating. - Location- Che' is located on a biking artery which makes it easy to get to, even without a car. But the thing that is really amazing about Che' is the food. Huge portions of comfort food made to order with their delicious homemade ketchup. I promise you will be daydreaming about the food for weeks. I had the Pulled Pork sandwich first. The onion bun comes from a local Italian bakery and is the perfect canvas for a PILE of tender, slow-cooked pork topped with crispy or carmelized onions with fries on the side. Today I had the Meatloaf Sandwich, it was big enough for two people, but I finished the whole thing and promptly fell into a food coma. The meatloaf was topped with mayo, tomato, and lettuce held between two pieces of grilled como bread. Che' is also veggie-friendly with a black bean burger that is one of the best veggie patties I've ever had. Its dense with the perfect spice that will fill up even the most jaded carnivore. foodcartsportland.com/20…
(5)Matt S.
I've been to Che' Cafe many times and each time I get the pulled pork sandwich. The pork is slow cooked to perfection and served with caramelized OR crispy onions on top. One word = YUM! I also go next door to Vergnetti's Coffee and get a coffee to compliment my meal. In my opinion, it's the best pork sandwich I've had since I've lived in Portland. Everything's made from scratch, including the sauces, and they are real friendly and affordable. You just can't beat that!
(5)Matt S.
Wow. Sake mac and cheese with pulled pork is great. I'm going to have to try more of the food at this amazing little cart.
(5)Michele S.
After moving to north Portland (from out of state) several months ago we've struggled to find some quick and easy go-to options for the family on nights when we just don't feel like cooking. Food carts are a new concept for us and we took a while to become adventurous enough to try some. Che' Cafe Did not disappoint. The food was super tasty for any eatery, food cart or otherwise. The Mohawk & BBQ sauces were delish! We brought our children (three under age 7) and they enjoyed their meals too. Finally! A place I want to back to in NoPo! I also think it's worth noting that the man behind the counter was super friendly and patient while we ordered. He answered questions and made suggestions which were helpful. And he didn't treat us like crap when he saw we had kids with us. Definitely give this place a try!
(5)Amy O.
Great food! Love the home made sauces for the fries, esp. the red pepper sauce. And their breakfast is good, too.
(5)Michael H.
Best french fries in the entire world! Incredible dipping sauces (cherry wasabi aioli anyone?) The $6 grilled cheese & soup will warm you up on a rainy day while attending UBI across the street.
(5)Robby R.
I stop by for the sake mac and cheese once every few weeks for lunch. They put grilled onions on top... and the side of toasted bread is fantastic. It's a tasty treat... gooey... comfort food.
(4)James C.
Excellent food I've eaten here lots of times kids love the Mac and cheese and I love the BBQ chicken sandwich, I haven't found anything on the menu I dislike, coupled with a beer from the captured by porch brewery, it doesn't get much better than that plus they have a fun bus for the kids to play in and decently live music, my only gripe would be I wish there was a slightly better range of soft drinks for the kids and that the lot that all the carts sit on was fenced from the busy street.
(5)Alysia A.
if you are lazy when you start your period and don't feel like walking the blocks to the mississippi food carts you can call che cafe and they'll deliver, better yet you can fill out the order online and they'll come by bicycle with their cute baby in their arms. the food is good, the fries are excellently prepared and seasoned. the burger is perfect and the onions atop it are heavenly. and now, in bloodlust, i order from them again.
(3)megan C.
I have passed by this cart at least a couple hundred times. I don't know why today was the day I chose to sneak in there from out of the rain but I am so glad I did! Pulled pork amazing, fry sauce amazing, combination unbeatable! I live in Nopo and I love me some BBQ---he has the touch and the sauce, really it is oh so delicious! Now I know they deliver...this is going to be trouble:) can't wait to try the rest of the menu.
(5)Latoya H.
I still love this place. have you tried the pulled pork sandwich or the mac and cheese with pork and crispy onion. OMG!! This place still hits the spot and the owners are uber nice and support the community.
(5)Andrew W.
I love this food cart! I have gotten the burger a couple times and it is always delicious. They put a generous amount of onions on the burger which you can get "caramelized" or "crispy" and they add a great flavor and texture. I recommend asking them to make the fries Cajun; it's no extra charge but it is extra tasty! I may try something else on the menu one day, but as of right now I'm hooked on the burger! This food cart pod is also a groovy space with a variety of indoor and outdoor seating and a fire pit.
(5)Erika G.
This is one of my favorite food carts in Portland. I have eaten here regularly for about 1 year. The food is consistently good no matter what you choose off the menu. They have a menu with a large variety and great vegetarian options. Also no matter how busy they are they will always have the food out to you in 15-20 minutes, just enough time to have a beer at Captured by Porches. I often opt for the pulled pork mac n' cheese...SO GOOD!
(5)