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    Kim Jong Grillin'

    4.1 (391 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Food Trucks
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Kim Jong Grillin' Photos

    Business Info

    KIM JONG GRILLIN' ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Munchwrap
    Ploy N.

    The Munchwrap was super fun and unique. Stuffed with fresh banchan and encased in crispy cheese. Flavors were good. Meat portion was a tad stingy but the Bulgogi was nice. I'd try the chicken next. Staff was a bit rude. Feel like they didn't want to be there at all do kinda ruined the experience a bit.

    Sarah C.

    I first visited Kim Jong Grilling wayyyy back when they were off Hawthorne, now they're at The Heist food cart pod! Their Bibim Boxes are delicious but I had to get their Munchwrap special. It's a Taco Bell Crunchwrap (my guilty pleasure) with Korean ingredients. It's delicious and very big. This is a great food cart, you can't go wrong!

    KJG Hotdog
    Austin B.

    tl;dr the Korean-ish hot dog measures up to the hype; while not an everyday meal, it makes for an ambitiously fun light lunch Portland is a food truck lover's paradise, and one of the most popular carts is Kim Jong Grillin. Opened in 2009, KJG doesn't take itself too seriously in its whimsically Korean-ish approach to comfort food. Even after a decade and a half of operation, KJG continues to earn accolades and recognition as one of Portland's must-try destinations. Namely, the KJG Hotdog has cemented itself as KJG's signature dish. The Kim Jong Grillin cart currently operates in a Downtown food truck plaza off West Burnside. You can't miss the vibrant red-and-yellow tiger logo popping off the black background. Numerous other carts circle the small square, and a handful of safety cone-orange picnic benches are arranged underneath covered pergolas. My partner and I arrived for an early weekday lunch, and we were able to place our order immediately. Plenty of takeout folks picked up their mobile orders as we waited a few minutes for our food. We opted to try the signature KJG Hotdog. The made-to-order foot-long dog was bundled within a petite baguette. The hot dog itself was juicy and flavorful, and I appreciated that it was lightly charred rather than boiled. The bread was crispy without feeling all-encompassing. The pickled toppings added the perfect sauerkraut-esque sweet-and-sour complement, and the kimchi mayo ensured that the baguette did not run too dry. Service was friendly and efficient. The hot dog ran from $8, and it felt reasonably sized for a light lunch. Although KJG seemed gimmicky at first glance, I was pleasantly surprised by my meal -- their hot dog was one of the best that I have enjoyed in recent memory.

    Spicy chicken
    Cecilè C.

    Just chose this food truck because is closest to where I was walking. While waiting for my room I decided to walk. It's really hit and miss in the d-town area. Ordered my spicy chicken with Kim chee, sprouts & rice. Waited 12 or so minutes, the guy was friendly. No juice or drinks so let's see how this will go down. Disclaimer it's springing guy says you can go over to the bus and eat.. like cool. Get on the bus there is a drink fee.. fyi.

    Galbi $15
    Ben C.

    Who doesn't want a Korean food truck in their neighborhood? Small portions just right for a midday snack. Galbi is good but with plain chopped lettuce. Hot Dog simply garnished with kimchee. What to expect: Street parking off of Division. If you want to dine under the carport eating tables are limited. Rice has been hit or miss. Food takes a bit of time so order ahead.

    Bulgogi
    Adam Z.

    I was pretty disappointed with my bulgogi and rice. The rice in particular. It was mushy and tasted watery. The thing I didn't like about the bulgogi is that there were a lot of pieces of fat and/or connective tissue that weren't rendered down. No one likes chewing on connective tissue. Fatty pieces are ok when they're nice and soft and melt easily if you chew them, but here the chewing was effortful, which I think is off-putting to most people. I also didn't love the flavor of the meat. I thought it was kinda bland and lacking. In the past, the bulgogi I've had has always been very thin. Such that if you hold it flat, there's not really much to actually chew on. I'm not sure how to describe it. Here it was more like a thin piece of steak that you have to spend a few seconds chewing to break down. Something else that isn't a huge deal but is kinda bad is that they don't serve water. Just coke and sprite, iirc. No bottled water, no cups of water. The best they were able to offer was if I had a water bottle or something they could fill it up in their sink.

    Bibim Box

    Delicious Korean food served at a good price. Would recommend it. A lot of protein options and different flavor profiles.

    Blissed out!
    Michelle E.

    My boyfriend and I just stumbled into these food carts after I got off work. We were going to go to boring Sizzle Pie and I saw the art on Kim Jong's amazing food cart. We decided to check it out and I and I am SO happy we did. Nori (sp?) was so sweet and was pumped that I was breaking my 18 years of being vegan just for their delicious food. I had the vegetable dish and my boyfriend had the bulgogi. We literally devoured both. I haven't had food that good in PDX in ages. We ate our dishes at the pub food cart across the park and that was a treat in itself! recommend. Best service, food, and killer food truck design. A+++

    Spicy Pork
    Kareem A.

    I took home the spicy pork bowl and boy was it worth it. It was enough food for two meals and it was rich, spicy, crunchy, all the things. It's on a cool part of Division and easy to find. The staff was really helpful in recommending what to order. So happy I stumbled upon this spot and will be returning.

    Jashan S.

    After having so many good things about this place, I had very high hopes from this food cart (?). I got the spicy pork bowl and it is safe to say it was pretty, nothing out of the world that would compel me to try them again. I went up to the counter to order, the person taking the order was quite friendly and I asked what their favorite dish was from the menu. "Our bulgogi is the most popular but the staff favorite is spicy pork." That is how I arrived at my decision to order the spicy pork dish trusting the word of the worker. The meat was well-cooked but the seasoning/sauce was so underwhelming. It seemed like it was just sriracha and nothing innovative on their part. I am not making this up but it literally tasted like grilled pork dipped in sriracha. Next, they have very limited seating. All the seats were already occupied and even though I had come with the intention of eating at their joint, I ended up eating in my car which added to the bad experience. I am not sure if I am willing to try another dish. The flavors were just missing. I would have given 2 stars to them but their service was good, hence bumping up to 3 stars.

    Bibim Box - bulgogi
    Matthew B.

    Kim Jongs has been on my radar for a very long time and I finally made it out. I had the bibim box with bulgogi. Wow!! The marinated meat had a great taste and was very tender. The kimchi had some spice but wasn't over the top. The rice was a little mushy but edible. The hot sauce that was included was a perfect touch. The fried egg was absolutely perfect even after the 15 minute drive home. I'm a fan and will be back!!

    Bulgogi bibim box with galbi
    Charlie T.

    This place has some pretty good food and you can smell the aroma of it when around they also share a spot with DeMarco's. We got the bulgogi bibim box with extra galbi. This box came out pretty heavy packed with goodness. I enjoyed that the beef bulgogi were thicker cuts of beef. The galbi had a great flavor to it. When mixed it all together, it was well worth the wait in the cold.

    Cooking
    Rick I.

    The munchwrap sandwich is not only delicious but also showcases the owners' dedication to using fresh and locally sourced ingredients, making each bite a tasteful experience. Please support them and many other small businesses like theirs that prioritize community development in Portland.

    Bulgogi

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    1 month ago

    Delicious. Super quick and friendly. The food had a perfect balance of flavor and texture. Get the bulgogi munchwrap and thank me later.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Kim Jong Grillin'

    Where did they move to?

    The new address of their cart is on 770 W Burnside in the new cart pod. You can also see the location here on Yelp by pressing the Map button

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    Year of the Fish - Front of the pod

    Year of the Fish

    4.6(135 reviews)
    1.9 miFoster-Powell, Southeast Portland
    $

    One day I didn't budget my time properly so I was looking for lunch that wasn't fast food that I…read morecould eat in the car. Fish and chips to the rescue. I got the cod. It had a panko crust which sometimes I prefer to batter. They were a little bit salty for my taste but ever since I got COVID lots of things have tasted salty so take that with a grain of salt I'm not a tartar sauce guy but this is some great sauce. I feel like later I got a piece of tarragon(?) out of my teeth and reminded me of the herby yummy sauce. I scoffed at first at the chips. Very non uniformly cut but surprisingly all well cooked. I don't know if it's they type of potato but the skin was really off putting. But solid toothsome chips that a splash of vinegar helps a lot. If I end up in a similar position again I'll definitely consider coming back.

    Friendly owners. Sizzling fresh food. Price was decent for a food cart serving seafood. I got the…read morelarge serving for $16 and that was a good choice. I came after a review I read on Eater for FoPo area eats. I'm not a huge fried food fan but this place was good. I got the Steelhead trout fish and chips. Wait was ok they give you a buzzer so you can stroll around the food court. Took about 10 mins not bad. The locally sourced steelhead was a delicious surprise. Tender, juicy fish with crispy breading. Good seasoning. Fries were thicker so not as crispy but still hearty. 3 medium sized pieces of fish. They included ketchup for the fries as well as malt vinegar and tartar sauce for authentic fish dip. Wedge of lemon, too! All in a earth-friendly cardboard box. They take credit just fine. Very convenient location at Carts on Foster just down the street from where I was staying. So I walked back and enjoyed there. If you're staying you could probably cruise over to any local breweries or the bar cart for a beer to complement the fried food. Good time!!!

    Photos
    Year of the Fish - Menu

    Menu

    Year of the Fish
    Year of the Fish - Cod and Chips

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    Cod and Chips

    Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine - Nachos ;)

    Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine

    4.4(55 reviews)
    6.0 miBoise, Mississippi, North Portland

    Part of the Prost food pod. Between ordering and getting food, it was about 4 minutes…read more I ordered 3 tacos: lengua, carnitas, birria All 3 were solid. Homemade tortillas, the birria was beef but very well seasoned and juicy. The lengua has some nice crispy edges to the cubed meat. Overall cook on lengua was good. The carnitas were not the typical hard, fried, dry pork. Had some nice fatty pieces. Both red and green salsa were very well blended and creamy.

    My perfect Mexican meal is usually chile rellenos. Nachos are a close second. However, I saw…read moresomeone walk by with a plate of flautas from Mole Mole and had to try them. Anytime we go to the Mississippi Marketplace, I always get flautas at Mole Mole. They are a feast for the eyes and palate. These are the best flautas I've had so far in the area. The staff is always friendly, the service is prompt, and orders come out quickly and are plated so beautifully they *must* be photographed every time. I'm a creature of habit so I could order flautas here forever, but I promised myself I would try the chile relleno next time we go. Wish me luck! We love the casual vibe. It's comfy, there's usually a place to sit, but it can get packed when the weather is good. The space is welcoming and offers opportunities to chat with others if you want. It's a great space that fosters community.

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    Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine
    Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine - Pastor Nachos

    Pastor Nachos

    Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine - Mole burrito

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    Mole burrito

    Zaalook

    Zaalook

    4.2(80 reviews)
    12.3 mi
    $

    It was payday, my Friday, and my plans to make spaghetti carbonara were foiled by frozen bacon (…read moreoops) and a mountain of dirty dishes ( not. my. job.) and my freakin' exhaustion. Teen wanted boba, and we decided to order Mediterranean from this place which also strangely sells boba. Yes, I rewarded the chore avoidance. Sue me. I worked four tens, all week my mental health clients were stressed and distressed, and I was honestly a lump. We both ordered a Moroccan stewed chicken that comes with saffron rice, salad, and three spicy sauces - one yogurt and maybe sumac? , one sriracha, and one yogurt mixed with sriracha maybe? We liked the rice, chicken, salad, and the yogurt sauce. Just ok though. Not omg good. I wish the two other sauces had been in separate containers and not on the rice. My mint and honey tea was fine. Kid's boba was not full. Not because it spilled either, because it was sealed with the boba seal lid thingy. For $6 that was disappointing. The hummus and dolmades plate came with one sad not good pita, ONE, and I think our Uber eats driver flung it out the window like kids used to deliver newspapers from their bikes because yogurt sauce was freaking everywhere. The hummus was not great. Teen ( the dolmades fan) said the grape leaves were good. Probably not a repeat in store. One and done.

    Ok. Ordered a chicken gyro for $14 then he charged me $15.40. When I asked what the extra $1.40…read more was for he said it was a fee for using my card. The gyro was 2 out 5. Very dishonest food cart.

    Photos
    Zaalook - I didn't ask but I hypothesize the name came from.

    I didn't ask but I hypothesize the name came from.

    Zaalook - Hammass with warm pita

    Hammass with warm pita

    Zaalook - Kufta Gyro. A lil spicy at first but so, so good.

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    Kufta Gyro. A lil spicy at first but so, so good.

    Kim Jong Grillin' - korean - Updated May 2026

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