Taste of India

Alright Portland. Are you ready for the real treasure? It’s at Taste of India in the SW Food cart area by Target. On the Northeast corner of the food lot, facing the park across SW Washington Street, this cart blends into the menagerie of food carts, so keep an eye out for their blue sign with a map of India on it. Now this location is grab and go: There’s sometimes 2 chairs out on the sidewalk from another cart, so as far as eating your food, you’re going to have to take it somewhere else.

Pro Tip: There’s a park with a convenience store nearby. Sometimes its cheaper for drinks, sometimes it not depending on your taste.

The food at Taste of India is crammed with Punjabi flavor of this Indian cuisine. Also on the menu you will find Biryani, which shares its cultural culinary heritage with Pakistan. Punjab is right on the border between India and Pakistan, and thank your lucky stars for that. The mixture of rich, brothy curry makes this cart and its food simply delectable.

Pro Tip: Try to get to this cart close at the top of the hour. The lunch spill can cause a serious line.

So let’s just get down to it. The reason people come to Taste of India is for the Lamb Wrap. It’s the largest single serving of food in the entire block under $9. They pack this thing to the brim (I’ve had this wrap spilling onto my clothes many times before.)

Quick Tip: The thing will be temperature hot for at least 30 minutes.

Every bite into the wrap is a hearty bite. This is the best helping of lamb you can get in the Portland food cart game. The crispy and slightly-charred wrap is the thing of dreams. It’s kind of like a tortilla made of fluffier na’an.

Pro Tip: Know your spices. These things come hot, and not just temperature-wise. I’ve actually seen a girl go beet-red in half-a-second from just having a taste. This stuff is lethally good.

Loaded with creamy curry sauce, cilantro, onion, and big chunks of bell pepper that blend with coconut rice packed inside, the whole meal is wrapped in the na’an, and must weight at least a pound and a half. The whole shebang just stops you in your tracks and takes you to food-nirvana. Foodvana.

Pro Tip: Don’t work out for a few hours after you eat this food baby. It will linger for a little while, especially if you decided to risk the Spicy Lamb Wrap.

If you ever want to complete the Portlandia experience, this wrap is on the list. It may just be the best lamb you’ll have in this city.