Rusa

Restaurant · King

Rusa

Restaurant · King

3

1027 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211

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Highlights

Rusa is a unique blend of Latin American and Eastern European flavors. Offering Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options as well. Food cart and pop-up restaurant.  

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1027 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211 Get directions

@rusapdx

$10–20 · Menu

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1027 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211 Get directions

+1 503 729 6645
@rusapdx

$10–20 · Menu

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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@eater

"This Alberta cart is making some of the most inventive tamales in the city right now, a culinary cross-section of Eastern Europe and Mexico. Tamales here have arrived stuffed with things like chile-bolstered lamb, drenched in mushroom stroganoff, or filled with beets and beef with a borscht-esque sauce. Right now, the cart is offering chicken and vegan mushroom stroganoff tamales: The former is stuffed with guajillo-braised chicken and smothered in a chipotle-mushroom cream sauce, while the latter is stuffed with guajillo-braised porcini, oyster, shiitake, and cremini mushrooms and blanketed in spicy cashew cream sauce. The cart uses Three Sisters Nixtamal for its masa." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Where to Find Tasty Tamales in Portland and Beyond
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@eater

"This North Portland food cart blends Eastern European and Latin American cuisine — an homage to chef Sasanna Babashoff’s family heritage and upbringing. The concept materializes as borscht tacos, jackfruit stroganoff tamales, and sweet potato-cabbage pierogis. Every item on the menu has a vegan counterpart. In addition to the cart’s daily menu, diners can occasionally catch Rusa at restaurant pop-ups, serving seaweed caviar blintze and pelmeni stuffed with huitlacoche and potatoes. Rusa will be relocating from Park the Carts to the Alberta Arts District in August." - Waz Wu

Portland’s Top Food Carts for Vegan Dining
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@eater

"This Latin American-meets-Eastern European food cart, stationed at the Park the Carts food pod on Northeast MLK, puts fun twists on classic dishes from each cuisine. Omnivore and vegan items mirror each other on the menu — diners can opt between pierogi stuffed with beef chorizo or a walnut-mushroom chorizo, beet-y borscht tacos with either guajillo-braised beef or roasted chickpeas, and Stroganoff tamales filled with guajillo-braised lamb or jackfruit. When it comes to beverages, teas hew more Eastern European, joined by seasonal aguas frescas." - Janey Wong

10 Excellent Eastern European Restaurants in Portland and Beyond
View Postcard for Rusa

Maleenee Beuhler

Google
I am truly wowed by Rusa. We had friends in town and ate our way around the city over the weekend and had Kann just the day before, and yet what stands out are the vegan borscht birria tacos with beet consume and shuba with herring. The flavor, quality, and ingenuity were spectacular. And to have amazing Russian food that is veggie friendly is a treat. But vegan or not, this spot is incredible. And the salsa was flavorful and hot (but not unbearable). The owner and chef is also so sweet. I could go on and on. My friends got the chicken stroganoff tamal and had the same reaction. I truly think Rusa is going to be the next Nong’s when people get wind of it. I can’t wait to go back and try every dish on the menu.

Justin Letkowski

Google
This was some of these best food I got when i went through portland!! And let me tell you I ate eveeerywhere the pierogi was OUTTA CONTROL the tamale had me in TEARS of JOY and I ain't never got my life like that over a taco... this fusion cart is a match made in heaven!! Do yourself a favor and stop by if you are in portland

Nicole

Google
Beef chorizo pierogi ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - really fun - a little oily - really good regardless Sweet potato vegan pierogi ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ - this one reminds me of the russet potato pierogi with cheese - it is close Lamb stroganoff ⭐⭐✨ - partner loved this - I wouldn't get it myself - didn't love the after taste of the lamb - would get mushroom tho bc the pasta was perfectly cooked

Jennifer Marron

Google
So happy I tried this place! It’s in the unassuming orange truck in the back left of the lot and the food was incredible. So full of flavor, completely original fusion cuisine… I was blown away. Don’t sleep on Rusa or their vegan options (even if you’re not vegan, like me). The quality is worth the price, for sure!

Elisa Torres

Google
The beef Borscht tacos are insanely good! Also loved both the vegan and chorizo pierogis. You're missing out if you haven't given Rusa a shot yet!

Elizabeth Hatton

Google
The lamb stroganoff tamale with mushroom chipotle cream sauce was the most delicious tamale I have eaten in my entire life plus the apricot agua Fresca literally reminded me of childhood in cali picking apricots in my mom’s backyard and spending time at the flea market. So nostalgic. AmaZing gem of a food cart!

Sara Luisa Kowalczyk

Google
Cannot say enough good things about this woman’s food. Such comfort food for me, but the quality is like fine dining from a food cart. Everything is incredibly delicious from the standards to her specials, such attention to detail with the garnishes and flavor combos. If you have a chance to go, I recommend getting at least one of everything. You won’t regret the leftovers. Also, awesome that she has vegan options and even the meat options are set up to easily be dairy-free if needed.

Nicole Kaiser

Google
Everything was so so good!!!! The pierogi's were perfect and the borscht tacos were out of this world. Don't miss the agua fresca too!

Sean R.

Yelp
Damn another treasure gone :'( I tried the borscht borria tacos and they were fantastic, and I planned to come back to try their signature gyoza prerogies and the lamb stroganoff, but by the time I made it back a couple weeks later it was closed it was such good fusion too I've never had Latin/eastern euro fusion so good. All the goodness of birria tacos w/ a borscht style consommé to dip. You got the freshness of beet flavor but also combined w/ a nice chili heat. I'll never understand why places like these close while there are like 10 gyro stands you can walk to in any given part of the city. I am keeping an eye on the IG account (@rusapdx) for a possible pop up event. Go and comment on her post to let her know there is support & interest & hopefully she comes back. If only I had bought the prerogies and stroganoff one week earlier then she would probly still be in business ‍

Baxter J.

Yelp
I was finally able to try the food. I got the vegan stroganoff and vegan pierogis. The flavor of the stroganoff was good but some of the mushrooms must've been rehydrated from dry and were really tough. It could've just been this batch, so I may try it again. The pierogis were kinda meh. I wasn't into the sweet potato filling. I can get down with sweet and savory dishes if they're done well, but the sweet potato with the chorizo seasoned topping wasn't working for me. I think they'd be infinitely better with regular potato. Maybe the regular pierogis can be done with the vegan toppings. If that's an option I may give that a shot. Was really hoping this place was gonna knock it out of the park, because I love the concept. I think they just need to work out some kinks.

Sara K.

Yelp
Cannot say enough good things about this woman's food. Such comfort food for me, but the quality is like fine dining from a food cart. Everything is incredibly delicious from the standards to her specials, such attention to detail with the garnishes and flavor combos. If you have a chance to go, I recommend getting at least one of everything. You won't regret the leftovers. Also, awesome that she has vegan options and even the meat options are set up to easily be dairy-free if needed. On a side note. This a one woman business and I can tell she works her butt off. Hours may be a little inconsistent this winter because she is a human without a staff running a food cart in the winter, but I have no trouble getting takeout from her roughly every other week. She is very responsive to texts or Instagram DM queries for takeout orders. And does her best to post updates on Instagram.

Amber S.

Yelp
Was happy to see a unique alternative to the usual food trucks that serve here in MLK. I am not vegetarian, but I appreciate a veggie forward meal a lot of the time. Here they have vegan options in the form of pierogies, tacos, tamales, and a salad. I purchased the vegan Borsche tacos. The flavors, textur, and plating were all wonderful. You can tell the cook takes pride in his work. And it's not just vegan, but He has real meat options as well. I will definitely come back to try something new. Oh, and if you like spicy, be sure to try the housemaid habanero salsa.

Melisa M.

Yelp
Hot dang! If you would have told me I would be eating a borscht taco with fresh dill on it and becoming obsessed with how perfect it is I would have laughed at you in the face. Top those off with a lamb stroganoff tamale and aqua Fresca and boom I'm in heaven. Definitely coming back here to eat my way through the rest of the menu. RUSA I LOVE U

Jim F.

Yelp
Phenomenal food, through and through! The blend of Eastern European flavors along with influences from around the world are such a treat. It's incredible what one cart can crank out. More than once, we've done a straight-up "everything on the menu" order. Be patient, it's just one person!

Dawn S.

Yelp
Wow! I had the beef stroganoff special a couple of weeks ago. I figured that it would be a tasty and cozy meal for a cold winter's day, but it was even better than anticipated. The sauce was absolutely luscious over the tender beef and mushrooms. Will definitely go back!

Chiemi N.

Yelp
I had an epic lunch in the Piknik Park food court. As I was leaving, something caught my eye for vegan pumpkin tamale with dulce de leche. I had to order it and take it home. So glad that I did! It was so good! I also got a hibiscus aqua fresca, and it was delicious! The woman that took my order was super friendly. She explained the background of Russian and Mexican cuisine coming together from her family. I can't wait to go back!

Steve B.

Yelp
Autumn Salad, Chorizo Pierogi and Pumpkin Tamale with Dulce de Leche is the perfect fall meal. Comfort food at its greatest. The menu is seasonal, staples like the stroganoff tamale are a must try. Every item on the menu has a vegan counterpart. Borscht tacos, fruit bars, Russian tea. This is Mexican Eastern European food people! Fusion food done right.

Molly F.

Yelp
Definitely my favorite food cart! The owner is so sweet and the food is AMAZING! so happy to live just a block away !

Blix S.

Yelp
The borsht birria tacos are out of sight!!! This cart is bringing back the fun and inventive spirit that foodcarts used to embody. The fusion is soooo good.

Lilah S.

Yelp
I randomly popped by to see what Rusa was offering for vegetarians as I didn't see a menu online and Im glad I came. I got the seasonal salad and veg pierogis (they used real dairy for me since not vegan) and I loved both! I was stuffed and happy and I definitely be back.

Carolyn B.

Yelp
This was my first visit, but it definitely will not be my last. Their Chipolte Lamb Stroganoff is legit!

Cassi S.

Yelp
We stumbled upon Rusa on a walk last year when they were still near us on MLK. The menu is SO creative and fun that we couldn't help but order and were completely blown away by the food. Lamb stroganoff tamales?!?! Incredible. Borscht tacos?!? BRILLIANT. The chef is delightful and told us all about her grandmothers on both sides that inspired her fusion menu. SO cool. We were heartbroken but happy for them to learn of their move to Alberta, but 100% worth the longer commute! I bring them up as a food recommendation whenever asked (and sometimes when not asked).

Lindsay R.

Yelp
Amazing food! Such a cool fusion. I had the tamale with lamb stroganoff. So so so good

ell b.

Yelp
Cannot find any other website address except: www.facebook.com/rusapdx Eastern European and Latin American food cart in the Piknic Park Food Carts & Beer Garden in Sellwood, next to the New Seasons. I had the Vegan Chorizo Pierogi and the Autumn Salad. Best meal I have had in a long long time. Wholesome-ish comfort food. I don't tend to like fancy food - I'm a simpler eater, mostly vegetarian. This was a little on the embellished side for me, but in all the right ways. Didn't just look pretty - was absolutely delicious. I cannot wait to visit again. I definitely want to try the blintzes.