The Hercules Salad at Garden Monsters looks pretty dang good.
While I was sick and not on my A-game, the news of the impending arrival of Garden Monsters was reported by Chad Walsh at the Portland Mercury. Full disclosure: I hadn’t heard of Garden Monsters before this post but I’m sure glad I do now. The menu is primarily salads (“mini” and “monster” sizes), with the option to turn any of them into a wrap, and a couple of “Monster Melts.” They will be renting that little space adjacent to Saima Thai & Sushi that used to be Pono Soul Farm Kitchen’s meat market.
Apparently the owner of Garden Monsters, Kyle Hulings, is going to “use the space as a commissary kitchen for his fleet of carts.” That fleet includes his SE Division cart and TBD locations for two more. Good news for us in Hollywood—he’ll be offering made-to-order grab-and-go salads for the locals and workers in the neighborhood.
There are no plans to put seating inside the space—it’s quite small, though I’ve seen comparable spaces in Queens put in a small table and two chairs (Tawa Food comes to mind). They will provide seating outdoors during the warmer part of the year, which will complement the benches in adjacent Stoll Plaza.
They are looking at an April opening, but that may delay to May if things take longer than expected. Hours will be Monday to Friday, 10am-8pm at first, and then weekends later (same open times).
As for the food, it’s great to see accommodations for omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free needs. I’d like to tell you which of the salads sounds particularly good but they all sound good. I look forward to trying them all when they come to the neighborhood.
Garden Monsters is Coming to the Hollywood Neighborhood This Spring [Portland Mercury]
Meg Cotner
Latest posts by Meg Cotner (see all)
- Four Things I Learned This Week (April 19) - April 19, 2024
- Four Things I Learned This Week (April 12) - April 12, 2024
- Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, March 2024 - April 11, 2024
I loved chopped salad places when I lived in New York, and it’s been disappointing there aren’t many salad-centered food joints here in Portland. I’ll be excited to go to Garden Monsters when it opens!
I have fond memories of those NYC chopped salad places, too! My favorite was one with a southwest sort of theme. They were a lunchtime tradition during my Park Avenue South workdays!
I’m all about new salad spots – It’s my favorite quick lunch to grab during busy weekdays!
Definitely! I am a big salad fan. I often eat them after my lunchtime workouts, and this place is on the way home, so I expect I will enjoy their salads after a great sweat or swim session.
This sounds right up my alley. I’ll have to check it out!
For sure! I think it will be a really nice addition to the neighborhood.
Sounds delightful. I love salad places like this, and Portland can definitely use more of them!
Big salads are so popular—popular since Seinfeld, even! I’m looking forward to it.