A New Food Cart Serving Lao Specialties Has Opened in Southeast’s Cartlandia Food Pod

Welcome back to Pod Cast, the monthly Eater PDX column that tracks the latest in food pod updates and food cart news. This month, as the foods pods gear up for sunny days ahead, we look at where eaters should venture out this April even if it requires a raincoat or an umbrella. Have food pod or cart news to share? Please DM @jcplayswithfood on Instagram or send us a tip.

EARS WIDE OPEN — Laotian-American food cart 6Tusks officially opened at Cartlandia on April 12, according to co-owner Marinda Boungnasane. Boungnasane makes the food of her childhood: papaya salad, fish sauce chicken wings, pork belly steam buns, and Lao-style jerky in her signature Laotian-style sweet and savory sauce. She and her partner Ryan Petticord consistently sell out of their steam buns with Lao sauce and their pandan elephant ears, and on the weekend, eaters can try their ube (purple yam) elephant ear, laden with flavors of nuts and vanilla. 8145 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon

FOOD THERAPY — Hash It Out is now at St. John’s Beer Porch. Previously located at Killingsworth Station, owners Michi Sineth and Gail Hernandez say their pulled pork wrap, corned beef hash, and vegan hash have gained more traction in their new digs. Hash It Out is located in a bright yellow cart by the fire pit and the ATM machine. 7316 North Lombard, Portland, Oregon

MERGING UNION — Fusing Mexican food and Japan’s Teriyaki onto one plate, Aztec Fusion now offers everything from yakisoba to non-alcoholic Pina Colada agua fresca out of the Killingsworth Station food pod. Co-owners Luis Blas Lopez and Bianca Brambila moved their cart from Gresham to North Portland in April. While all the carts at Killingsworth Station offer 10 percent off to Portland Community College students, Aztec Fusion is ramping up the deals: This cart offer more than 10 percent off to students and give a 15 percent discount to military personnel. 1331 N Killingsworth Street, Portland, Oregon

MORE TEA FOR ME — Aesthete, the hyper-boutique tea shop formerly inside the Multnomah Village French Quarter, has joined its fellow carts outdoors. Serving meticulously designed teas, owner Briana Thornton says Aesthete opened their cart door in mid-March. Thornton’s mother is an herbalist who concocts exotic tea blends like “Love Potion,” a blend of black tea, rose, fennel, and caraway. The cart offers tea samples and hot tea for purchase, to enjoy on Aesthete’s a front porch and cozy back deck. 3530 SW Multnomah Blvd, Portland, Oregon

KISS ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT — Bumblekiss Gyros, the Lebanese cart that gained popularity at Portland Saturday Market, has opened at the Multnomah Village French Quarter. The cart hawks Mediterranean staples like hummus, baba ganoush, stuffed grape leaves, and pita, but it’s all about the Greek fries layered with chopped lamb, olives, and feta. 3530 SW Multnomah Blvd, Portland, Oregon

GRIT YOUR TEETH — The Egg Carton is now slinging build-your-own-grits-bowls every Friday. With a base of Southern, cheesy grits, eaters can choose one protein such as bacon, avocado, or veggie sausage. From there, guests can add two mix-ins; think arugula, grilled onions, and jalapenos, topped off with their desired sauce. Sauce options such as red pepper aioli, pesto, harissa, and balsamic glaze are on offer. As if that’s not enough, this Carts on Foster stalwart has fried egg sandwiches, Benedicts, and cart-made biscuits. 5205 SE Foster Road, Portland, Oregon