Portland Restaurant Openings

Kim Jong Grillin’ Ssam Is LIVE

Jumbo-size lettuce wraps hit Cartopia

by Mattie John Bamman@ravenoustravelr Jun 29, 2017, 9:09am PDT

The ssam version of standout Korean barbecue food truck Kim Jong Grillin’ is now stuffing and wrapping in the Cartopia food cart pod on Southeast Hawthorne and 12th. The new menu almost exclusively features Korean ssam, or lettuce wraps, which are close to burrito-size at Kim Jong Grillin’ — which can make it difficult to decide between ordering one or two — stuffed with everything from its grilled marinated chicken to a new Korean barbecue-style smoked pork belly. But you’ll also find Kim Jong Grillin’s epic hangover cure, the bibimbap box.

Kim Jong Grillin’ is still finalizing its menu, which appeared handwritten on a piece of plywood at last notice, but chef-owner Han Ly Hwang (Kim Jong Smokehouse) confirms that what was originally a late-night-only option is now available all day long: “dirty” kimchi fried rice, with an egg on top.

Find Kim Jong Grillin’ Ssam open seven days a week, from noon to around 1 a.m., in the Cartopia food cart pod. The pod is also home to Chicken and Guns, Pyro Pizza, Potato Champion, and more.