Phat Cart Cafe Opens Brick And Mortar Near PSU

There's a new restaurant near Portland State University serving creative Asian fusion for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. The popular food cart, Phat Cart, now has a brick-and-mortar cafe at 420 SW College St., taking over the venue of the former Egyptian restaurant, Alexandria Mediterranean Cuisine (just check out that ricksha-chic decor above). Phat Cart Cafe is now open seven days a week.

The Phat Cart food cart has been in Portland for four years, with a second food cart located in Southwest's Hillsdale neighborhood. After being damaged in last year's food cart fire, the downtown cart announced plans go brick and mortar in April.

The menu is a mashup of Thai, Hawaiian, Japanese, Indian, and other cuisines and delivers a honed selection of bento boxes and sandwiches. One of the long-standing highlights is the Mr. Miyagi Sandwich, the crispy chicken sandwich with that addictive lime aioli.

Vegan and vegetarians will find lots of options, along with dishes like Thai larb, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and teriyaki-glazed dumplings. In the mornings, Phat Cart Cafe serves coffee by Upper Left Roasters. Also on offer are rotating beers on tap, fresh-squeezed juices, and teas, including iced matcha milk tea.

Phat Cart Cafe currently operates Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Happy hour brings dollar-off drinks and some discounted food.