Our Story

Phat Cart started with one idea: bring the food I grew up with to the people I love.

I was born in Bangkok, and the flavors from home followed me across the Pacific and eventually here to Portland. When I opened Phat Cart in 2012, it was a food cart, small, personal, and packed with a few recipe ideas. People kept showing up. So we kept cooking.

Today, Phat Cart is a brick-and-mortar cafe near PSU with a full bar, a second cart in Hillsdale, and a menu that's still evolving. The story and vision didn't stop when Phat Cart opened a permanent kitchen, it just got bigger.

Our Crew

That's in part because Phat Cart isn't just me anymore. Some of our most popular dishes and drinks were dreamed up by the people who cook and pour them, chefs, bartenders, and creative team members who bring their own histories and cravings into our kitchen. We take pride in giving our people the room to build things they're proud of.

Still Traveling

I still spend part of every year traveling locally, through Thailand, Japan, Korea, and beyond, looking for the next flavor to bring home. A dish that stops me in a market in Maui. A technique I watch a chef use in Fukuoka. That inspiration is how our menu grows.

What We Serve

We call it Asian fusion comfort food, but really it's the food that makes us happy. Bento boxes with crispy chicken and pork shoulder. Handmade sandwiches with lime aioli and Kewpie mayo. Cocktails built around lychee, matcha, and lemongrass. Breakfast through Dinner and drinks into the night, we serve all day.

We work with fresh ingredients, cook in small batches, and package everything in compostable containers. There's a vegan and vegetarian version of nearly everything, and if it's not on the menu, ask us, chances are we can make it work.