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The Portland Soup Company
Categories: Restaurants Food Stands Restaurants Sandwiches Restaurants Soup Food Stands, Sandwiches, Soup
SW 4th and SW HallPortland, OR 97201
Neighborhoods: Southwest Portland, Downtown
(541) 968-1230
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
75 reviews for The Portland Soup Company
Review Highlights
"Try the pork butt sandwich & tomato soup."
(in 29 reviews)
"My favorite food cart, hands down."
(in 36 reviews)
"I decided on the Draper Farms Chicken Sandwich and the Crab..."
(in 3 reviews)
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75 reviews in English
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Review from Neill P.
Portland, OR
8/17/2011
Definitely amongst the very best Portland Food Carts.
Today I tried the pork butt sandwich and the tomato reggiano soup. The pork butt sandwich was everything everyone made it out to be, and it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had in my life. The tomato reggiano soup was also delicious, and I particularly loved the croutons they put in the soup. I will say that it was rather rich, so I probably wouldn't order a whole bowl of it again. A cup would suffice.
On subsequent occasions I have branched out and tried the mozzarella/tomato/basil sandwich, and it was fantastic as well. It is going to be very hard to choose between that and the pork butt going forward. -
Review from Aaron W.
1/6/2012
I ordered a cup of Tomato Reggiano soup ($4). A lovely red-orange color and creamy texture here. The sweetness of the roasted tomato came through loud and proud, the acidity offset by the Argentine Reggiano. The crunchy croutons on top were an ideal garnish...texture contrasts, people! The soup came with a slice of soft bread.
Soups rotate regularly, and there is an impressive list on their website. By the way, it's $6 if you want a bowl.
What can I say...this is a killer food cart...and they don't just do soup. Portland Soup Company also offers sandwiches, salads, and snacks. In particular, the slow smoked Carlton pork butt sandwich looks amazing to me. That and the tomato soup seem to be the winners with Yelpers. Check out Portland Soup Company ASAP! -
Review from Jason P.
After being featured on Eat St. on the Food Network, curiosity got the best of me and I knew I had to try this street vendor out. When you find the Portland Soup Company, take note of the detail of their stand. it almost looks like a small cabin, with cedar wood paneling, framed windows, and even the name of the truck is fashioned in detail letter by letter.
It was 11:30 am when we arrived and we noticed that most of their soups had a sold out magnet. With only two soups available, we decided to go with the Vintage White Mac & Cheese. After another customer had come up and asked how they sold out on so many soups, the lady stuck her head out and was surprised as that was yesterday's menu. She quickly updated the soups and I saw her jot down Smoked Trout Chowder Soup (Bowl - $6.00). I asked if I could change my order and she gladly said yes although she had just finished boiling the elbow noodles for the Mac & Cheese. So as a word of advice, if you get here early when they open and confusingly see that many of their soups are sold out, just ask as they may have overlooked updating the menu. After you get your order, take a walk across the street and you can find some outdoor seating.
The Smoked Trout Chowder Soup was already made so she scooped it into a medium-sized paper cup and then brown-bagged it with a piece of bread. I was a bit disappointed in the soup. I was hoping to get a very thick and creamy soup like New England Clam Chowder, but what I got was a liquidy soup, similar in consistency to its cousin, the Manhattan Clam Chowder. As far as the soup goes, it contained chopped carrots, celery, potatoes, herbs, onions and very small bits of trout. It carried a strong aroma of herbs and some spices. Taste-wise, it had a nice smoky trout flavor, but after swimming my spoon all over the soup in search for some trout bits, I felt a bit let down. But my spirits raised when I found myself dipping the bread in there. As far as soups go, I wouldn't go as far to say that it was mind blowing. It's one of those soups you eat as an appetizer and then easily forget so that you can move on to the main course.
So many people seem to rave about this truck. And with all the 4 and 5 star reviews, I'm beginning to feel bad that I only gave Portland Soup Company 3 stars. Just maybe, I coincidentally was served from a bad batch. Believe me, I was a strong supporter of this truck that I've only seen TV clips. I was full of excitement, hoping for it to rock my world, but it fell a little short. I just might make a return visit to try one of their other soups, sandwiches, or salads. But at $6 for a medium-sized bowl, there are so many better street vendors worth checking out. -
Review from Ellen L.
Hillsboro, OR
10/19/2011
This cart is one of the most attractive in the lineup on 4th. It looks like a miniature home complete with mini patio deck. Lean, green, and modern. Down to the quaint chalkboard menu with about 4 delicious sounding soups and some sandwiches, they almost have it all. What they don't have is fast service (15min just for soup with 4 folks in front of me) or low salt. I ordered the Tomato Reggiano soup which was thick and rich due to all the cheese and salt. Unnecessarily there were buttered and salted croutons also in the soup. Way overpowering. The bread included was perfect though.
I will try some other soup there next time. Till then, Savor soup with their lower-sodium soups, grilled cheeses, and speediness has my heart. -
Review from Chris O.
Wilsonville, OR
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amazing soups and sandwiches! The pork butt was very tasty..overall one of the best pork sandwiches I've had. They also have some great cookies that weigh close to a 1/2 pound.
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Review from Sarah F.
Portland, OR
12/9/2011
Let me start by saying, I hate tomato soup. Like, it's not my thing. It's tinny and gross. That being said, today, I needed soup. I specifically wanted potato soup, or perhaps corn. I was near the Portland Soup Company, so I decided to check out their offerings for the first time, and nothing looked appealing. Until I smelled someone's tomato soup. And I needed it. Badly. It was the most amazing soup I've ever had. I got a cup with a half mozzerella sandwich, expecting the sandwich to take away the tomato aftertaste, but wound up saving most of my soup so I could savor it. Best. Soup. Ever.
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Review from Clare H.
12/7/2011
I'm so excited to have my very own food cart pod by where I work now! I've been eyeing all the places here for weeks just waiting for payday to come. Payday has been a celebration for me because first of all i get to sleep in an extra 20 minutes and not have to pack and plan a lunch to take from home, and of course I can try some new yummy foods at the PSU cart pod! Being a particularly foggy and cold day, soup sounded absolutely perfect. And what was even more perfect was the applewood-smoked trout chowder. Oh hello!!!! I'm kind of a seafood fiend, if there is fish on a menu chances are that's what I want! This soup was rich, velvety and I would go as far as to say I had a little mouthgasm. It was also really, really filling. Next time I will only get soup and bread, but this time I happened to order a half a turkey sandwich with some russian roumelade and baby greens and cabbage. I took about 2 bites but that was all I could handle. This "half" sandwich weighed at least a pound or more. I wish I had been more hungry so I could have enjoyed it!!! I'm definitely coming back next week to try the pork butt everyone is raving about on here. Can't wait to be a new regular :)
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Review from Dale H.
5/25/2011
Five stars for sure...
I was reluctant to eat here. But my lunch partner wanted soup. I was eyeballing a place with Philly Cheese Steaks just down the sidewalk. So off we went to PSC. I'm so glad I ate there. I'll be honest, when I ordered, I didn't think I was going to get much food so I headed down to a taco stand and bought two tacos to go with my food. NOT NEEDED.
I ordered the slow cooked pork butt sammich and my partner ordered the tomato soup. The soup was good, judging from my bite and how fast she devoured the soup (gone before I got to start eating mine). Then I ate my tacos. Meh...but that's ok. This isn't a review of that joint. Then I opened my lunchbox and was surprised to see what was inside. An amazing looking/smelling sammich. And colorful. The pork was so soft and tender...velvet-y if you ask me. The bread was just the right texture and size. The coup de grace is the slaw. Red cabbage, pear, onion, and a great creaminess to it. The juices from the slaw ran down into the sammich and made it PERFECT...PERFECT I TELL YA! Those two flavors combined...sheesh! And it's a sloppy sammich to boot, which to me, is a good thing. I will always come to this place when wanting a pork sammich (second behind the rueben as a favorite). Fan for life.
Now that's a good sammich! -
Review from treeny t.
San Carlos, CA
6/17/2011
I'v heard and watched tons of videos about Portland's food cart culture. people seems pay great attention to their ingredient and their creativity is off the chart. In Portland, you don't have to go to fancy expensive restaurant to taste yummy dishes... you find them in every corner. we need this in the Bay area.
I fell in love immediately with the "Roasted Tomato Reggiano/soup" and "Pull Pork Butt Sandwich" when I saw the interview on a episode from FoodNet Work.
first day arrived at Portland, by 11am sharp, we are there to watch them set up. the owner is super friendly and take time to chat with us. he introduced his menu with great confidence and you can tell he is very proud of his work.
we ordered:
-Roasted Tomato Reggiano/soup
-Yam Curry Soup
-Pull Pork Butt Sandwich
-Homemade Mozzarella Sandwich
I love the Tomato soup... is so creamy and you can taste the freshness of the tomatoes. Yum Curry Soup is a bit sweet for both of us, but we like this interesting combination.
Mozzarella Sandwich is very refreshing and a great option for a less meaty selection. But the star is the "Pull Pork Butt Sandwich" with colorful icy cold crunchy coleslaw- cabbage & apple... soooo good!
the tender, perfectly seasoned pork with their tasty tomatoes soup, I can have this every day for lunch!
reasonable prices and friendly service. This will not be the last time I visit this cute little food cart stand. -
Review from Teressa M.
Portland, OR
11/6/2011
I'm crazy about this cart. I've never ordered anything that didn't taste fresh and amazing. Try the pork sandwich - you won't be sorry.
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Review from Peter S.
4/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Slow cooked butt is really tender!
Mmmmmmm
I needed a garden hose after this glutton-astic drippy mess.
Perhaps a bib and wash station around back would help those of us who breathe in our food with one loud gulp.Listed in: Portlandia
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Review from Mal C.
6/10/2011
If I remember correctly, the Portland Soup Co was in the top 10 food carts in the nation by the Food Network Great Food Truck Race. I thought the mac n' cheese was pretty tasty. I was not a fan of the roasted tomato reggiano - overly salted, and pretty sweet/spicy - wasn't a taste I was expecting. Next time I'll sample first. The bread that came with it was perfect though!
On my second visit, I had the gazpacho, and this was really good. It was almost like a tortilla soup... the corn brought a nice sweetness, the tomatoes were the right hint of sweet and brought more of the acidity, and there was a nice addition of cilantro. I also had the roasted turkey sandwich with onions done three ways (fried, pickled, and in a spread). It was really great. The fried onions stayed crispy and it wasn't overly oniony. It had great flavor! -
Review from Anastasia V.
Portland, OR
2/8/2011
Holy amazing, batman. WHERE AM I??? I'm a long-time Portland resident who is known for her food scene exploration skills. As an eastside resident and office slave, I will be the first to say that I am sometimes overwhelmed by the seemingly-endless 'good grub' offerings from all those westside carts. So when I'm on a stomach-driven vision quest, I have to rely on my other senses. The Portland Soup Company won the exclusive rights to my belly on that fateful day because of the cart owner's brilliant cart color choice - my favorite color - LIME GREEN!
The cook/chef/owner/guy Jeremy has put together a really simple menu of a few sammies, a few salads, a couple soups with one thing in common - EVERYTHING IS ACROSS-THE-BOARD AMAZING. I don't even know where to start...
I couldn't decide if I wanted the sweet onion and saffron soup (WHO ARE YOU, JEREMY??? THE MASTER OF MY DREAMS???) or the mozzarella sammie (did you know he makes that cheese FRESH??? ON THE DAILY????) or the arugula/strawberry salad... ultimately, it was the macaroni and cheese that stole my heart and won my undying loyalty. This place is NOT TO BE MISSED! -
Review from Nicole R.
Washington, DC
1/22/2011
I wish The Portland Soup Co. was next door to me. Their soup AND salads are incredibly tasty, and not a bad price, either. Nice little pod with the park blocks and Pioneer Place not far to sit and eat, either.
BUT
their tomato reggiano soup is to. die. for. It's creamy. It's spicy. It's packed full of tomato flavor. It's got soft, pillowy bread served in the bowl. It's got a fresh, crusty baguette served alongside it. You don't even need a spoon until you're 2/3 done!
Plus the folks there are so so nice and very helpful. I highly recommend. -
Review from Peter H.
Eugene, OR
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my favorite lunch in Portland. Very tasty and inexpensive!!!! Get the pork butt!!! Or Turkey breast for a lighter lunch.... So good...!!!!!! Make sure to ask the Owner Jeremy to sing you something, he's REALLY good.
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Review from Julian P.
Portland, OR
5/9/2011 1 photo
I heard some positive word about this food cart and decided to try it out between classes. It was the physical embodiment of amazing. I'm not a big fan of mustard on anything, but on the sandwich I had, it complimented the bread and meat(I believe it was turkey) very well. All the pieces of the sandwich was obviously fresh and it was well prepared.
The only reason I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is because of:
The line. I went during the lunch hour and it was by far the longest line of all the food carts(for good reason) and to make that worse, they forgot my order. When I ordered, I paid the $12 for both mine and my brother's sandwich, spoke my order, and wrote something down(presumably my order). I'm not sure what went wrong, but me and my brother waited for the line for order waiting to disperse and when we got to the front, a good 15 minutes later, we were skipped. They called the names of people for their food, but he didn't ask for my name. He asks us: "What can I help you two with?" Confused, we repeat our order, this time with my name. Ten minutes later, we get our food(he threw in a half liter of coke for me, in one of the fancy glass bottles), making me 15 minutes late for my lecture. Still great food nevertheless. -
Review from Sylvia S.
11/17/2010
My favorite food cart, hands down. About a block and a half from my work, this place is clean, well designed and constructed, and the food is always awesome. The soups - as one would hope - are the stars of the show, but the sandwiches and salads and occasional other fare are just as good.
Sometimes they go a little overboard with the combinations on their salads (caramelizedpecanscrispybaconflambéednectarinesuni cornburpsomg!) but I mean, they are a gourmet food cart, so I guess they can get away with it ;)
But the soup. THE SOUP. Never had one I didn't love past the last slurp.
I know I already mentioned the cart itself, but it's really cool. Got a nice little covered area where you can wait for your food, and it's constructed from this pretty tan wood. Also, the people who run it are pretty rad. -
Review from Alyssa C.
7/8/2011
This is my favorite food cart of all time (which is saying something, because I REALLY like a lot of food carts!) They just do such a good job here, i have never had a bad experience. The house made mozzarella sandwich paired with the tomato soup is just amazing. The tomato soup has these crunchy bread pieces in it - HOW DO THEY STAY CRUNCHY?! I don't know, and I don't care - I just want to keep eating it!
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Review from Whitney S.
Portland, OR
8/5/2011
Portland Soup Co. is more than just soup and offers delicious sandwich and salads too. It's the prefect lunch place (or any meal for that matter). And just because it's soup, sandwiches, and salads don't think you'll walk away hungry--get a combination (cup of soup + full sandwich; bowl of soup + half sandwich; small salad + half sandwich; etc). and you'll be more than satisfied. I'm a big eater and I actually took half of my sandwich for later. Their food is high quality, ingredients fresh, service fast and friendly, and overall it makes for a delightful food cart experience. The Sweet Onion Saffron soup is perfection; Tillamook Vintage White Mac and Cheese scrumptious; Slow Smoked Carlton Pork Butt incredible; and their twist on a turkey sandwich is something crave-worthy.
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Review from Anastis A.
Lake Oswego, OR
7/16/2010
The imagery that comes to mind when one encounters the phrase 'pulled pork butt sandwich' on a menu is enough to write an entire thesis on. In fact, I'm seriously trying to resist the urge to write something about it and instead try to stick to what I ventured out to do, which is to write a review of this nice little cart located on 4th Ave. and College St.
Needless to say that after the initial chuckle the name of the sandwich elicited my very next thought was, 'I wonder how it tastes?' Well... it tastes great! The pork is soft and moist with a very subtle yet delicious taste and the apple + red cabbage slaw is the perfect companion. The slaw is refreshing with a touch of sweetness. The crunchiness of the slaw takes the sandwich to a different level by integrating taste and texture in a complimentary style. Overall the sandwich is definitely a nice experience and my only critical point would be to tone it down just a tad on the mayo. I admit it, I hate mayo in general so don't be discouraged. It's not that it's too excessive, so don't go on imagining rivers of mayo flowing from your sandwich, because that's certainly not the case.
We also tried their roasted tomato soup which was just as good. Nice creamy and rich with a hint of spiciness for the extra kick and a few croutons thrown in for good measure. I'm a big fan of creamy soup although my sub-conscious tends to sound the 'too many calories alarm' when I eat it. Nevertheless, this cup of soup was definitely worth sounding the alarm for.
The owners were very friendly and joyful - a definite plus for any service based business. In fact, while we were waiting for our food a little boy no older than 10 came by and asked for a cookie in return for a dollar. The owners simply told him to take the cookie for free and off went the little boy with a huge cookie in his hand and a huge smile on his face. It's things like these that make local Portland businesses stand out and why I like supporting them. I highly recommend this place for a quick snack or lunch... and who knows, you might just well be leaving with a free cookie in your hand and a huge smile on your face... ;-) -
Review from Martha R.
5/28/2010
I'll say it out loud - I'm addicted to the pork butt sandwich. There. I said it. And the tomato soup is delicious. Today I finally deviated slightly from my normal selections by having the house-made mozzarella sandwich. While good, I don't know what I was thinking not getting the pork butt. Of course, just to avoid complete disappointment I stuck with the tomato soup - phew, close call!
The other really cool thing about PSC is that if you are not a bread person (I am, but I'm just saying) - they will put the pork butt on some greens for you. Pretty sweet for those trying to keep the processed foods to a minimum.
The chocolate chip cookies are good - but not great. I was a little disappointed about the chocolate chip cookie... my favorite is still at Arleta Library Bakery. I almost stopped in there the other day just to get a cookie. Save your calories for the other more savory items - you won't be disappointed.
The staff is friendly too - and there's nothing wrong with that!Listed in: The Portland Places I Miss…
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Review from dre a.
Portland, OR
7/7/2010
Wow! I went here on a whim one hot afternoon and ordered the gazpacho soup. It was amazing. I am not exaggerating when I say it was the best gazpacho I have ever had. I will be back to try more yummy soup!
Also-prices are great and service was friendly! Check em out! -
Review from Willow W.
5/16/2010
A professional, tidy, architecturally cool, home-cozy food cart serving comforting soups at $4 for a cup, which was perfect for me last week because I could barely stop to take in my delicious food.
Why, you ask? Well, I took on the challenge of bringing 25 teenagers here from a court house tour, who were whining and sniveling for MacDonalds the whole way. I offered to push them in front of a bus if they wanted to die an early death, but they declined and continued whining for McNasty. Upon arrival at the PSU food carts, they were struck silent with overwhelm. They walked up and down gazing at all the options.
I followed the lead of a handful of girls who wanted the warming quality of soup. It seems this cart also has amazing salads and sandwiches. They were great at serving us, quick (thankfully, so I could monitor potential pedestrian accidents), and yummy.
By the way, the kids rated their PSU food cart experience with 5 stars, almost exclusively. Later they told their friends and families about how it's good to try new things. I feel accomplished at corrupting the youth of our world, again. -
Review from Kody L.
Portland, OR
New cart alert! And it's not Mexican or Thai -- way too many of those on the PSU cart block.
The name says soup, but they also have sandwiches and salads. I had the Applewood Smoked Trout Chowder, which was really good with the smokey trout flavor, but the potatoes were a little undercooked. They also have gumbo and roasted tomato and cheese.
I combined that with a Slow Smoked Pork Butt sandwich with apple and red cabbage slaw (yes, yum!). The only bad thing was that the sandwich was a little runny, but the taste was spot on. They also offer a Draper Valley chicken option.
Everything is basically $4 for a small portion, $6 for a larger portion or $7 for a combination between the soups, sandwiches and salads. The vegetarian options seemed limited to me (no sandwich option).
They also have a save-a-bowl program where you can buy a jar from them for $2 and then save 50 cents from them whenever you use that jar for your meal.Listed in: I Heart Food Carts!, Food Carts - PSU, Self-Affirmations - RoTDs
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Review from Don B.
9/28/2009 2 Check-ins Here
"Doin' the butt. Hey pretty, pretty
When you get that notion, put your sammich in motion, hey
Doin' the butt. Hey yummy, yummy Ain't nothing wrong, if you
wanna do the butt all night long..."
After eating lunch at Portland Soup Company, not only did I have this song stuck in my head, but I wanna do da butt wit' PSC's pork butt sammich all night long. It's salty slow-cooked goodness in a soft little bun with an apple-slaw on top to balance out the heady porkiness of da butt. Had it not been for the inadvertent "Washington Apples" sticker left on the apple and sliced into the slaw (no biggie, I just picked it out), this would have been damn near perfect.
The lamb tagine I had on the side, on the other hand, did not particularly have my butt wigglin'. It was good but not great. The flavors were a tad out of balance. The broth was a little overly tangy, which covered up the lamb and the accompanying spices a bit too much. Still a good soup tho, and the other soups I've sampled from this cart have pretty much blown me away every time. I'll definitely be back many, many times, and because of that...
Don got a big 'ol butt. Oh yeah.Listed in: Cart-y all the time., The Sammich Connection, Carnivorous PDX
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Review from Michelle H.
Portland, OR
A little bit too much whiskey on a work night can leave you craving comfort the next day. Sometimes comfort comes in the form in praying to the porcelain gods. Sometimes it is in the form of a breath of fresh air. More often than not, it's in the form of food.
I just so happened to be in need of the latter two. Work lunch (almost) always means food carts. It's the most convenient time to try them. I tend to show most of my love to the 10th/Alder carts, but I was after comfort. It's not that those carts don't have comfort, because they do; but I was looking for something in particular. I was looking for soup.
I remembered that Kody L., who is turning into my food cart guru, had nothing but good things to say about PSC. Simple. Cheap. Comforting. I was all about it.
This is by far one of the cutest carts I've seen. The newness of it all can almost make you a little skeptical. Food carts are known for their dingy, dirty, beat-to-hell exteriors. Don't let this one fool you, though!
Don't let this one miss your eye, either. The window is on the side, but the cart faces the street. You have to walk around to get to it. I almost missed it at first.
The menu is simple. It rotates, but it's still simple. You have a couple sandwiches, a couple soups, and a couple salads. Fulls/bowls cost you $6. Halfs/cups cost you $4. Combine them and take $1 off. Brilliant. There is bottled Coke for you fanatics, too.
Even with a simple menu, everything is fresh and bursting with flavor. How is a girl to choose? I had my eye on carrot ginger soup (which promptly stained my braces, but I didn't care). Which would pair better? Chicken or pork butt? I asked. Even those within the caverns of the cart had a hard time deciding. Eventually the chicken was decided upon. Wheat bread was substituted. And I waited.
Being freshly made, there is a little bit of a wait. Nothing substantial.
They packaged everything up nice and neat. There wasn't a drop spilled by the time I got back to the office. Each bite was heavenly as the next. I savored every last bite/drop. While the sandwiches are awesome, the soups are where the creativity and flavor really shines. Next time? A bowl. Alternatively, soup and salad, I think.
It hit the spot, and was a wonderful change from the usual Asian/Mexican staples you find all over the cart world.
I'm pretty sure whiskey won't be my excuse next time.Listed in: Carte Blanche!, Get in the Kitchen and Make Me…
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Review from Mlle S.
Portland, OR
3/4/2011
Yum. Nothing beats amazing soup in chilly Portland rain. For just $4 a cup, it comes with dunking bread and is ohh so delish.
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Review from Michael K.
Scottsdale, AZ
4/9/2009 ROTD 7/6/2009
I stopped here for lunch after class and this place in a gem among many other food carts. Thanks to Kody's sweet RoTD, I decided to try this place instead of getting another burrito, burger or slice of pizza.
The cart is pretty cool, it's stained wood and green paneling, super clean and almost rustic. The guy in charge was cool and cracking jokes. Also, the location is money for me since they reside right across from the engineering building.
I had the Frutti di Mare and half a pork butt sammich. The soup was packed with sea critters. The only thing I found was it was a bit too salty, which I think might be attributed to the olives in there, but it was damn good. The Pork butt sandwich had a rd cabbage slaw with apple and was so tasty, I almost went back to get another one, but I'm fat enough and so I passed, but I'll get that bad boy again.
They have veggie options, not so sure about Vegan since I'm an Omnivore, but herbivores have at least one soup (Lentil Cauliflower today) and one sammich (Mozzy and tomato) to grind on.
I'm a sucker for some good soup and these guys seem to put in the work to do it right. I'll be back for sure and if they can get the salt thing down with their soup, I see a fifth star in their future. -
Review from Jen K.
9/18/2009
"When hearts are high the time will fly so whistle while you work."
Please excuse me while I hum a happy little tune after visiting PSC for an amazing lunch. First of all, the cart barely qualifies as a cart since it has the charm and style of a Swiss chalet which immediately made my thoughts drift to Snow White.
And rather than grumpy little dwarfs, you have charming chefs to take your order and serve up perfection on a plate. Well, technically it would be perfection in an environmentally friendly container.
While other reviewers rave about the pork butt sandwich, I preferred the Draper Farms Chicken Sandwich served with figs, bacon, and greens. I'm a texture girl and the ciabatta roll was soft, the chicken moist and it all came together perfectly.
When I returned for a second visit and had the famous pork butt sandwich, it was not nearly as spectacular as I had hoped. Not a fan of the coleslaw on top of the sandwich and something about the combination of flavor and textures was just off for me. In fact, the second visit has caused me to drop my initial five star rave to a more modest four star endorsement. The second visit was saved by their tomato soup with garlic croutons.
On both visits, I ordered a 1/2 sandwich, so one of my favorite sandwiches of the year was a mere $4. Oh, PSC, you (still) might be the fairest in PSU cart land!Listed in: Brick and mortar is so last…
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Review from Kate M.
Portland, OR
7/13/2009
I am a vegetarian, so I did not eat the pork butt. Even if I weren't a vegetarian, I am not sure I could be persuaded to eat something's butt. Well, possibly if I were very very hungry I wouldn't care. I would not die for fear of pork butt.
But, I was not in imminent danger of dying so I stuck to my vegetarian diet. I ate the mozzarella sandwich and had a salad. I got half-portions of each, and it was $7. It was pretty good. The sandwich was really nice - fresh mozzarella, tomato, and a nice touch of balsamic sauce on ciabatta bread. The salad was good, too. The dressing was a little too sweet for me, but I am not a fan of sweet, so it could just be me. My only complaint is that I was still hungry afterward. Given my current financial situation (grad school), I'll probably only go to this cart as a treat or when my husband is paying and get a full sandwich order instead of a half. -
Review from Kurtis C.
Anaheim, CA
8/21/2010
Finally, real food on our road trip to Canada from So. Cal! The Portland Soup Company saved my life from dying from dysentery while on the Oregon trail :P Not really, but I did need real food and not pork rinds and corn nuts.
Someone suggested PSC and I'm glad we ate here. I was feelin' turkey that day so I had their sandwich with the blueberry mayo or something like that. It sounded off-putting at first but it turned out to be really good. I also had their tomato soup, the one with the corn. I was confused at first because it was cold but it turned out to be perfect the way it was.
PSC was the highlight of our Oregon stop. Please tell me there's more to do in Oregon than the food shacks! :P -
Review from eliz r.
1/4/2010
I've been wanting to eat at the food carts for awhile and I'm so glad that Katie M. brought me to this one!
Yes, I went to a soup cart and ordered a sandwich. But it was such a delicious sandwich that I'll probably go back and try the soup.
I had a delicious turkey breast with spicy beets and brie on a ciabatta roll. I wish they had mentioned the mayo on their little sign, but otherwise it was perfection.
All in all, a rad first food cart experience. -
Review from amii c.
6/19/2010
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Pulled pork butt sandwich with purple cabbage apple slaw: They get points for creativity! I'd never even heard of purple cabbage apple slaw before. And they totally pull it off, and it's the perfect accompaniment to their tender, flavorful pulled pork. It's also on soft, delicious, thick bread. The only problems: the pork is too salty and the slaw has too much mayo.
Chicken soup: I think this had some curry in it, and some vegetables. I couldn't eat much of it though because it was spicy and my stomach can't handle spicy food. Would've appreciated forewarning of that on the menu. Luckily the BF ate it for me so it wasn't wasted. Also thought this was too salty, but it did have good flavor.
They're only open until they run out of food each day, so come early and prepare to wait in line because it's hellza popular. -
Review from Cindy I.
11/6/2009
Great pork butt sandwich! So much better than the Smoking Pig food cart but it is pretty different too. You get so much pig for $6, I couldn't eat it all. No lumps or chunks of fat in it, just pure pork meat, mmmmmm. I'm not a slaw person so I got it without slaw. Just give me meat and bread. Oh and the bread they paired it with it also why it is so good. Soft but not too soft, since it needs to soak up a lot of liquid, but it's also good quality with flavor. Similar to a french roll but better. I brought it home and I can still smell the smokiness from what I couldn't eat.
Seemed very popular. I still really like the pulled pork at the PSU farmers market but it is a different style. -
Review from Brandon H.
Portland, OR
5/12/2009
Absolutely fantastic. $6 Sandwiches or Salad; $6 bowls and $4 cups of soup. Every dish is a meal. It's the kind of rich, full-flavored food you'd expect in an upscale storefront in the Pearl, but served up with sincerity and treated like it's no big deal. The Pork Butt is incredible. The Draper Valley Chicken is very good. The soups range from great to phenomenal. (Today's Lamb soup falls into the latter category.) It's a hike from my office, but always worth it. And the guys who run the place are chill, very cool, and clearly take a lot of pride in their service and products. All in all, easily one of Portland's best foodcarts, and very much worth going out of your way for.
Oh, and they sell glass bottles of Coke sweetened with real sugar--none of that corn syrup BS. It's the classic compliment to the Pork Butt on a summery day. -
Review from Alex G.
Oregon City, OR
1/12/2010
I've lived on the Oregon City city limits my entire life; I live within a couple minutes of multiple Christmas tree farms, and I used to watch cattle graze outside in elementary school. Like many who grow up on the line between urban sprawl and the abyss, I've always seen food carts as fascinating though untrustworthy. Do I try this food, or will it cause me more regret than I've ever known?
Fortunately, this term at Portland State has brought me to the Engineering Building twice a week, where I stare at the myriad of options on my way to my noon class. Finally, seizing an opportunity I'd considered many times, I chose Portland Soup Company for my first food cart experience.
Oddly enough, I chose a sandwich -- the homemade mozzarella -- as my first course. I love fresh mozzarella, and these guys know how to do it. Upon my first bite, MY LIFE WAS CHANGED.
On my second visit, I tried the black bean soup. MY LIFE WAS CHANGED...AGAIN. And zero regrets!
I'm stuck now; although the other food carts stare at me every Tuesday and Thursday, I head straight to the Portland Soup Company. I'm currently debating what my next venture will be...do I go with the white cheddar macaroni, or the tomato soup? I don't foresee any disappointment with either. -
Review from Brittany H.
Portland, OR
6/20/2011
I came here with a Groupon, and it was one of the most satisfying Groupon buys yet. I got the Roasted Tomato Reggiano soup, the Breast of Chicken sandwich, and a Chocolate Chip Roasted Almond Cookie, and it all was so good. I absolutely loved the soup. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. It was creamy and it had these crispy crouton-like bread pieces in it. The sandwich and the cookie were good too, but I'm obsessed with the soup. It's just too bad that this cart is downtown with crap parking with weird hours.
-
Review from carly d.
Portland, OR
9/19/2010
Upon relocating to Portland I quickly realized that soup was going to be a BIG part of my diet. I mean, how could it not be? Portland weather just screams soup. Mmmmmmm Soup.
I gave various eateries a whirl and found some good soups, and some not so good soups. The thing is they were always secondary on a menu, and relatively predictable. Enter PSC, the Holy Grail of all things soup.
I am always amazed at the creative flavor combos that go in to each variety of soup, and with that the fresh, seasonal, local ingredients that make for true soup magic. The tomato is a staple but the seasonal selections are what really knock my socks off.
The prices are ridiculously reasonable, as are the portions. Fair warning though, this isn't the cart to hit if you're short on time and rigid in your menu selection. My advice if they are out of your "usual", expand your flavor horizons and try something new.
p.s. i've had many a friend drooling over the pork butt sandwiches, but as a non swine eater, i can't comment much beyond quoting a friend "gimme da pork butt...nnnnnnnooooooowwwwwww" -
Review from Diana L.
Manhattan, NY
10/6/2009
Tried the draper valley chicken breast sandwich and it was so good.
The chicken was REALLY tender and almost mistook it for some sort of cheese; it was so moist that it fell apart in my mouth.
The combination of the chicken and some sort of lightly sweet dressing made out of figs or dates on the honey wheat bread was amazing.
I loved the dressing!
The perfect break after organic chemistry. -
Review from Cora C.
Portland, OR
7/30/2010 24 Check-ins Here
A very welcome addition to the PSU food cart options.
Soups, sandwiches and salads are all great. The regulars: tomato soup, mozzarella and pork butt sandwiches are fantastic. Some of the seasonal soup options have been divine.
The only downside is that it can take a long time to get your food once they start getting busy.
