Inventive vegan sushi with unique rolls, fresh ingredients

"One of the stars of 82nd’s CORE food cart pod, all-vegan sushi cart Mitate, was just starting to build citywide word of mouth when it closed in April." - Eater Staff

"Directly across from Gnarlys is Mitate, serving Instagram-worthy sushi out of its lavender-painted truck. You’ll find a familiar but upgraded, veganized California roll, but you’re here to go bold, right? Branch out and order one of the mountain rolls, which use Portland-made Ota Tofu in addition to sauteed mushrooms, baked kale, and a black bean-garlic-truffle puree." - Latisha Jensen

"Vegan sushi cart Mitate had only been open for two weeks when Portland’s record-breaking heat wave hit. Owners Summer and Nino Ortiz, who had worked in restaurants before opening their cart, struggled with whether they should stay open." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

"Starting sometime in early June, the vegan sushi pop-up will have a food cart at the Collective Oregon Eateries, or CORE, food pod. Owners Nino Ortiz and Summer Ortiz first opened Mitate at Ruse Brewing before moving to the Mercado and, eventually, to Mestizo on SE Division Street. At each location it operated as a takeout pop-up shop, offering innovative takes on vegan, gluten-free sushi that soon garnered a dedicating following; many of the pop-ups would sell out with pre-orders. However, the couple always had plans for a permanent brick and mortar space, and moving into a food cart is one step along the way. The team, which includes chef Thai Nguyen, is ready to hone their skills and perfect their menu with the food cart at the sprawling pod at CORE." - Alex Frane

"The inventive vegan sushi pop-up’s new Southeast Portland food cart." - Eater Staff