PSA: My trip to the Portland food carts totally wrecked my idea of cheap food

Honestly, I spent like $14 on a tiny bowl of 'fusion' rice that was mostly cabbage. Tbh, it made me realize fancy street food is a trap for your budget. Now I just make big pots of lentil soup at home for maybe $3 a meal. Anyone else get burned by overpriced 'cheap eats' spots?

3 comments

3 Comments

hunt.jana2mo ago

Remember when a 'hole in the wall' meant a cheap, good meal? Now it's just a marketing term for a tiny place with big prices.

leor372mo ago

My buddy went to one of those artisanal taco trucks last month, paid eighteen bucks for two small tacos and a fancy soda. He said the pork was good, but it was the kind of meal where you're still hungry and out twenty bucks after tip. He's back to getting the giant burrito from the gas station for six dollars, says it's twice the food and actually fills him up. The whole "cheap eats" scene feels like it's just for people who want to post a picture, not actually eat.

robin77724d ago

The thing nobody talks about is how these spots use "fusion" to hide that they're just taking cheap ingredients and dressing them up. My cousin worked a cart for six months and told me they buy the same cabbage and rice from Costco that the guy selling hot dogs uses, just charge triple because they call it kimchi slaw. Lentil soup sounds good, I've been doing a big batch of black bean stew myself and it hits way better than five dollars for a cup of lukewarm ramen where all the good stuff sinks to the bottom.