Bottle Rocket Burgers

I was prepared to give this place a good review ( as the food was very good) but it lived up to the things I heard about Portland re: racist microaggression. The server (punk as f*ck femme person- just kinda looked in my mouth and didn't speak as i ordered but made a point of greeting and friendly banter with the white people who came directly behind me). I like the Cartopia food cart corral concept. Folks running a cart I patronized yesterday ( non-white) were hella nice. I'm in town working with a bandmate and will be returning to the corral but Bottle Rocket won't be getting my money again and I'm actively discouraging anyone else I know from patronizing them.

There's lots of comments about their rude service, and yup, on my first visit I got a small taste of it. Nothing too bad, but the vibe wasn't positive. Maybe it just takes too much for some to be pleasant. There are venues where the service is consistently poor, but I keep returning because I love the product: Let's Roll PDX and Basilisk come to mind. We'll see if this place joins the club. Anyway, the fish sauce tots lived up to their billing, albeit a long wait.

Fish sauce tater tots 5/5!! Nice crispy texture on the outside, soft inside. Flavors were unreal. Cheeseburger 5/5!! Bread was fluffy, meat juicy, and all the seasonings and sauces complemented each other. Ginger lemonade 5/5!! Ginger didn't overpower the general lemonade taste. Not too sweet. Wow wow would come again

Service is better at the DMV, not kidding. Food is fine but the guy working there is beyond rude. Plenty of other options around there, literally choose any. I wasn't surprised that there are similar reviews on this spot***

The food was good, we got a cheeseburger and hamburger. The meat was especially tasty. With that being said, they didn't have basic burger ingredients. Ketchup, mustard, and tomatoes weren't options. In addition, the service was disappointing. Both of us had interactions with the staff that felt unkind and short. The location is nice, with outdoor seating, fire tables, and a covered area. But had more positive interactions from the other carts today, including while getting ketchup from somewhere else.

Burger looked visually good but way too raw in the middle & I'm too far away to return. Need to buy lunch again. Don't know how you get this wrong with a burger, if not ask someone if you intend to do it. Cooked it properly for dinner & it was tasty.

I'm not sure if the guy working here which appears to be the Lone Ranger. Cashier, Chef, and Buzzer ringer was having a bad day but he was definitely lacking a warm smile. Now on to the $11 cheese burger. Nothing really amazing! Had good taste but was definitely missing something?? Not sure if it's love or preparation but is was a bit sloppy my cheese was almost melted away to the point where I could barely identify it. I give this Joint a C with a pontential of being a B+ .

Don't be fooled, not just a burger place, has amazing other food like fried brussels as well! Was really pleasantly surprised when I really just wanted a light meal. Also highly recommend the ginger lemonade. The guys who run this place are super nice and you should definitely support them and eat their delicious food!

Burger was very underwhelming. They do not ask you how you want it cooked, no tomatoes and be prepared for the guy to be rude if you ask any questions. He will reply annoyed "anything on the menu" . Would not return.

What a late night treat!!!! The customer service is AWESOME and the food items are as well! Get the spicy fish tots and the Brussels!!! Several beers and drinks to choose from!! Their burgers are made fresh!!!

This is another great food cart in the area. The operator was very nice. The food comes I'm out in these fun Chinese bowls. We tried the green beans, the Brussels sprouts, and the fish sauce tater tots. They were all great with the tots being the standouts. This place also has one of the best burgers in town (which we unfortunately didn't have room for but next time).

It used to be so good like two years ago. Holy shit great burgers on a sesame bun and the fish sauce tots and Brussels?! So good. But when I last went it was one of the biggest flops I've had in a while. The fish sauce tots came so mushy and soft. It ruined them. The burger was okay but it didn't feel the same. Such a bummer I don't think I'll try again.

My sister and I sampled a few things from the carts at Cartopia, and by far the most delicious thing we ordered were the kimchee dumplings. I can barely put into words how delicious they were. For a vegan menu item, they tasted creamy and cheesy, with mouthwatering spices and savory flavor. I considered stopping by for more on the way home to share with my partner. Emphasis on "share". I haven't been hungry all day but I could wolf down another order of those in a heartbeat.

I stumbled upon Bottle Rocket when I was actually planning on visiting another cart. Their menu looked so delicious that I had to try it. Since then I've been back numerous times and it's always delicious! I love their burgers but honestly, their fish sauce tots are the star. They are seriously so addicting. This last time I went I decided to get their two sauces on the side for dipping. They have a sriracha mayo and a lime hoisin sauce that is to die for! Both compliment the tots really well. If you're obsessed with fish sauce like I am, you'll definitely love them. We also love their dumplings but always have to get two orders because there's only three. And you might think three is enough to share, but it's not. You'll want all of them to yourself! Definitely recommend trying this place if you haven't!

Bottle rocket has my favorite classic burger, some of the time. But other times the tots and burgers are really overcooked, or the burger isn't stacked very well so you get bites of all bun. Sometimes it's seriously the best burger ever, with grilled onions and pickles and cheese, oh just the best! But they're definitely not as consistent as they used to be.

Waited 90 minutes for my burger and never received it. Never responded to attempts to contact them.

The spicy fish sauce tots were soooo salty and delicious, and worth the nausea they may have caused me later in the day. The burger was nothing greater than a McDonald hamburger but I loved how the chef made orders as they came. Overall salt overload. I like that though

Oh, what an awesome burger. Flame broiled I think? Has a wonderful char taste. Stopped by mid-bike ride to see if this cart pod was open and wow, it was jam packed. Got a burger and tall boy for $12. The burger was simple, but really good. The sriracha mayo added a very nice little tingle at the end that I really enjoyed and the charred flavor of the burger crust was great and added a great texture to things. I hear the sides kinda steal the show here, so I will have to try those soon... On a side note, I visited here back in May I think it was and the (owner?) was there making up boxed meals. I asked if he was open and he said he wasn't, he was just making up meals for those in need. Pretty awesome.

Don't waste your money here! Extremely rude service! I can't believe the attitude here. Like other people said in previous reviews they are rude for absolutely no reason and the food is worse than cafeteria food. There was a mix up on what we ordered and the guy didn't charge us correctly and acted like it was our fault. I offered to pay for the extra item, but the guy just mumbled something incoherent and walked away. Unprofessional, incompetent, insulting and subpar food...not a good combination for a business.

Quick fried brussel sprouts! Affirmative. You will like. Get a big bowl. Enjoy it with a winter chill. Delicious.

11$ for a basic cheeseburger. There's a burgerville across the street that you can get the same tasting burger for half the price and better customer service. These ppl were so rude, and not willing to accommodate. I don't recommend this place at all

Grab the Bacon Cheeseburger and sprouts and you'll literally be dreaming about this place. 10/10.

Wish my burger had been cooked more/was less pink. I'd prefer a burger party that thin to be cooked thoroughly. All-in-all, it was still just an alright burger. The sides are AMAZING. I like having more than just your basic sides to choose from. We got the fish tots and brussel sprouts with our burgers, and a side of green beans. I'm not normally a tot fan (greasy balls of potato... no thank you), but these fish sauce tots are perfectly crisp (even on delivery) and spicy. The green beans were my favorite. I'd consider ordering again, for the sides alone.

This place is super good. The guy working behind the counter is hilarious. When I first showed up, I wasn't sure what to expect. But when ordering I started talking with the owner and he mentioned a time when he broke his jaw bombing a hill skating. Great service and even better food. This is the perfect Portland food cart experience. The burger was insanely good and reasonably priced. If you want a good conversation and even better food, go here.

Cartopia in Hawthorne's is one of the best food truck spaces I have been. They don't have lot of trucks in there. Limited numbers but most of them are exceptional. This burger joint is one such place. Had cheese burger/bacon cheese burger both were awesome. Buttery buns were out of the world with juicy patty inside. There are 3-4 of firepits inside cartopia. If you are lucky you can get some space around those after grabbing some food and enjoy your dinner during this chilly weather

The service was awful, they clearly think they are too cool for their customers. Food is ok and it looks good but sort of trying too hard like wow I have never seen Brussel Sprouts served in this unique way and then you eat them and you're like oh yeah that's why it's not very good. The burger was a lot of money for a small burger, when they refer to the burger as "big" without mentioning the actual weight of the burger i.e. 1/4 pounder etc. it should raise suspicion and my suspicions were confirmed when the "big" burger was actually tiny.

Great tasting beers and ciders to go with the rest of the food trucks in the area. Would definitely be back to try others. I haven't tried the food though, so can't really comment on that. I'd definitely recommend trying their drinks though!

My burger here was pretty good. It was slightly charred on the outside and mildly done on the inside with a good smoky flavor. I also had the fish tots and the fresh lemonade. All were excellent. The people working the booth were pretty friendly, too. Even though they were super busy when I was there, they still had time to talk. Highly recommended.

Burger was amazing!!!! I could smell it from far away and omg it did not disappoint! My beer was cold and perfect (on tap). Thank you for being open during this time and for serving amazing food!

Meat was raw , asked if i can get a new burger and was told they cant do that , whole meal went to waste & had to get food Somewhere else, would not recommend this place

I really enjoy solid old school burgers and cool food trucks. This place checks off both boxes. I had their Cheeseburger ($10) and it was delicious. The fresh bun, meat, cheese, special sauce, and veggies make a juicy and memorable experience. As much as I enjoy all the experimental burger spots out there that will add all kinds of random things to the burger. Sometime an old school / no frills burger is just the best. Great addition to the Hawthorne & 12th Street food pod lot.

I really enjoyed the food and friendly faces here. This is a great spot for a quick bite or casual get togethers. Ordered their meal combo with a burger, a side of choice, and lemonade. The burger was fantastic. The patty is still juicy, good amount of veg, and you can taste the char off the grill. Gives it that extra oomph while you enjoy the burger. Side of choice was the spicy fish sauce tots with crushed pistachios and mint complimented on top. OUT OF THIS WORLD. I know 'fish sauce' may scare some people, but honestly, it adds a lot of flavors. A little bit goes a long way, and just elevates your food. The tots almost taste like orange chicken, just to give it something to compare it to. The lemonade chosen had a hint of ginger in it. Perfect to cleanse the pallet and quench your thirst. Dumplings, green beans, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower options for sides are also available. I would definitely come back and recommend the joint to any one local or out of town. It's a must try.

I've had two bacon cheese burgers from this cart recently and they were both cooked to perfection, juicy and medium rare. The tots are amazing and my new crave food. And the ginger lemonade was also delicious. This place is the bomb! So glad I found it, my waistline not so glad-whatever yolo. Life's too short to eat mediocre food!!

Great burgers with great toppings. Brussels are to die for!

We wanted a late night snack to go with our pizza and this place serves flash fried brussel sprouts and spicy fish sauce tots. The brussel sprouts were just what you would expect, however, the tots were interestingly very tasty. They did an excellent job of combining the flavors to the tater tots. I thought I wouldn't like them, but ended up eating a good amount of them. I am curious to try their burger next time.

It was New Year's Eve and we wanted food. We went to bottle rocket and it was soooo tasty. The flavors in every bite didn't disappoint this visitor from L.A. I ordered the hamburger combo with ginger lemonade and fish tots the bf had bacon cheeseburger tots and we ordered the dumplings. His friend ordered Brussels sprouts and the green beans. Everything was so good. The burger was nicely cooked whatever marinade the use was great the sauce and grilled onions and the bun was just a great compliment of flavor. My bfs bacon was crispy. The tots had enough spice and fish sauce and the tots were crispy my fav. Then the ginger lemonade was good and took the spice out of you mouth so you can enjoy your next bite. I want them to open up a cart in Southern California.

I came for a beer and left with Fish Sauce Tots.... life changed. The small was a great snack/side for two people. These tots aren't just lightly tossed in fish sauce, they are glazed in a sweet-fish-saucy-yet-spicy sauce and topped with pistachios and herb. I should also mention that they fill their draft beers to the literal brim.. we will be back to try to everything else in the menu.

A Food Truck located in a group of food trucks in the hipster area on Division with a cool courtyard with bench seats to enjoy. I only ordered one item: the crispy cauliflower with Hoisin and peppers. I don't know who came up with this but it's AMAZING! They cook jalapeno slices and cauliflower in Tempura batter then drizzle on Hoisin sauce...I can't describe how delicious this is, you just have to try it. My only disappointment was that I didn't get a chance to try the Brussel Sprouts that came recommended by the cook working at the time. I'm sure I would be a regular here if I didn't live out of state.

There are plenty of great choices for food trucks right around this spot, and it kinda boils down to what you're in the mood for, or what smells the best to you right before you order. There's tons of seating, both covered and uncovered, and juuuust barely enough parking nearby. Typically my brain wouldn't gravitate toward a burger from a food truck, for some reason. I'd just be inclined to think that grilled food would be better out of a building, but that's not even a conscious thought. I've just passed a lot of burger trucks by. Yesterday, though, the grilling burgers were making the whole neighborhood smell amazing before I could even park my truck, and I was pretty much stuck in a tractor beam as soon as I approached. The menu is pretty short; it basically boils down to what you want on the burger and next to it. The bacon and cheese are both good additions. We tried the spicy fish sauce tots and grilled brussels sprouts, between the 3 of us who opted for burgers--both were great. The Asian twist on tots was nice; not sure if it's closest to a nuoc maum fish sauce or what, exactly, but it gave them a great salty sour tang with plenty of visible red pepper flakes giving them heat too. The burger had a bun sturdy enough to hold together through the whole meal, and the patty was clearly freshly formed from real meat. Bottom line, everything about the meal was just how you'd want it, and the ginger version of their lemonade was really flavorful and refreshing. I'm somebody who has to remind himself not to always get the burger everywhere I go, because I'll just fall into a rut. These guys are not only near the top of the list of many good burgers I've had, but they're in danger of pulling me away from the other trucks right around here. More power to 'em for that.

Really missing this right now. No trip to Portland this year so will just sit here and cry because all I really want a burger w/ tots. Or a burger w/ green beans. Or a burger w/ cauliflower. Or a burger w/ brussel sprouts. This place is were it's at. Solid burger that isn't trying to pretend its some sort of fancy shmancy la-dee-da 'burger'. It's a straight up delicious, properly prepared burger. The sides? Anyone can throw some frozen fries in a deep fryer but can you tempura cauliflower, bro? Or fish sauce tot, my dude? Didn't think so. The people who are whining about this place are the same people who think McDonalds is good eats. Kick rocks, you don't deserve Bottle Rocket and your pansy pants won't be missed.

Out of all the places in Cartopia, DO NOT go to Bottle Rocket and give them any of your money. These guys are real jerks and are super rude for absolutely no reason at all. They have green beans listed as "vegan" on their menu but go and sauté them in butter. When you go to pick up your food, they won't have any line, but will still pretend you're not there with the buzzer pager ringing in your hand and then be very rude when giving the food. Please don't go here...

AH MAY ZING! Delicious burger and good spicy green beans. And the ginger lemonade was so mind blowing I got seconds. All around great experience.

Bottle Rocket has done an amazing job serving customers throughout the Covid pandemic. Their food is fantastic and the people are personable. The outdoor seating is optimal for transition to gathering with others. It's a great meeting spot for beer and a burger!

Brussle sprouts became an IT food a few years ago and still remains a top contender as appetizers to share. We were walking back from the theater and wanted to grab a quick bite. My friend ordered a sweet crepe so I offered to get us a savory snack. Came through Bottle Rocket and saw the asian twist they had for this delight and savory it was! Perfectly fried and flavorful. If I chance upon this quaint food truck plaza again, I'd try their burgers. :)

I only order the Brussel sprouts and ordinarily I wouldn't write a whole review for an appetizer, but these sprouts deserve not only a review, but maybe a poem or song written about them. Location - Cartopia, street parking Service - nice people, fast service. Food - Wow - American fast food meets Asian flair. Huge portion size, really get a Big Bang for your buck. Brussel sprouts were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I'm not sure what type of sauce they used but it was this vinegary goodness that I think I'd like to try on top of everything. It's the bacon of sauces. If the portion size wasn't so big, I would have ordered their tots. I think it's cute how they serve their food on Chinese style melamine plates and bowls :) Recommendation - Definitely going back to try everything else on their menu.

So, have you had the famous fish sauce wings at Pok Pok? Imagine the same exact taste but instead of wings, it's tater tots. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG. They're sooo good. I also happen to be quite the brussel sprout connoisseur and the sprouts here are quite good. Don't bother with the fried cauliflower - the cauliflower itself is just okay, but then they serve with a side of hoisin sauce for dipping? Who dips anything in just hoisin sauce? I'm sure their other appetizers are good - I'd really like to try the fried green beans, but I can never get past ordering the tots and sprouts - they're a must whenever coming to Cartopia.

One of my favorite burgers in town. Sides are great too. Make sure to get the ginger lemonade

Perfect beer & wine cart to go with our dinner last night. Loved the Pilsner on tap and the Underwood Pinot Noir was excellent.

THOSE TOTS THOUGH... I have dreamt about them since I had them. They were absolutely perfectly crispy, and deliciously flavored with fish sauce... so GOOD! The burger was also quite good! I would say one of the better burgers I've had. The service was good - we showed up at a not super busy day/time, so we were fed pretty promptly. The lemonade was also quite good, Not something I would have tried had it not come with the meal. Those tots... I could eat a 5 gallon bucket full. eat them.

Well folks, there's a new addition to Cartlandia down on Hawthorne and if you enjoy tasty burgers and cheap beer then you most likely will have to pay a visit to Bottle Rocket. Believe it or not, but this place just opened on July 4th, so they've been up and running for a little over a week. According to the guy running things (I'm guessing the owner), his spot was a pile of dirt a few weeks ago. He used to be a cook at Club 21 before a bulldozer decided to take it down to it's foundation and from what he said, Potato Champion needed a little assistance selling beer. I did say cheap beer. $3 pints of Rainier isn't a bad way to go. But you want to know about the burgers and the reason why I believe this is a place worth coming to. The tots. He isn't looking to reinvent the wheel here, it's tots, but when you add fish sauce to them....well, it's a whole new ballgame for me. Yeah, they were pretty darn good. Didn't need that smothered and covered and gravy tots. Nope just simple tots with fish sauce. As for the burgers, the best bet are the combos. All come with the mentioned tots and a lemonade (which was a bit on the tart side and could have used a bit more sugar for balance). The prices are simple for the combos: $10 hamburger, $11 cheeseburger $12 bacon cheeseburger. All come with lettuce, pickles, raw onions, grilled onions and a spicy mayo (mayo and sriracha, but it wasn't spicy at all) The burger itself was cooked PERFECT and it was pink inside. The meat was great, but one thing was lacking for the whole thing. Where was the seasoning? Salt and pepper would have made this so much better, even the grilled onions could have used some because they got lost on the burger and a slight extra kick to the mayo would have helped to. Yes, this place has only been open for a week and change, so there will be growing pains, so I'm not knocking them. Just polite suggestions. I cook and I know things. If they make those minor tweaks, then I can see them being around for quite some time. They have all the right ingredients. I like the fireworks theme and all the images of firecrackers covering the cart. Cool idea. Enjoy the newest cart in SE.