Alphabet Burger Co., a New Food Truck, Will Open in North Portland

Chill N Fill pod that will be home to Alphabet Burger Co. — Alphabet Burger Co. be at the Chill N Fill. Photo credit: Chill N Fill.

Recently I came across an ORSOS filing for Alphabet Burger Co., with the Products/Services field filled out with the statement, “THE GREATEST BURGERS OF ALL TIME.” I was definitely intrigued. I’ve learned that they are going to be a food truck stationed in North Portland—Vincent Picone and Joel Carter Jackson are the partners behind it.

About the Partners, Vin and Joel

Vincent “Vin” Picone is, of course the person who runs Picone’s Quality Deli, a food cart operating in the Chill N Fill Food Carts pod, which opened in 2023. Picone’s (not to be confused with Piccone’s Corner, which has closed) is a self-described “North Portland Deli Cart” that make breakfast sandwiches, deli sandwiches, and hot sandwiches that give me east coast vibes (it’s the breakfast sandwich with the Taylor ham that did it).

In 2024 they won a Steamie Award for their Italian sandwich, and this year the won another Steamie for their breakfast sandwich with the Taylor ham. I can’t deny that I’d like to try the chicken parm sandwich, too. NB: They make their sandwich bread fresh there at the cart, and will continue that practice for the hamburger buns for Alphabet Burger Co.

Joel Jackson has been cooking at Parkside, a restaurant across from Kenton Park, for over a decade. From what I can tell, he really likes sandwiches and whole-animal butchery. He runs a sandwich pop-up called Rumble Belly that has had good times at Bonne Chance, Parkside, and Picone’s.

And now, he has A.B.C.

What You’ll Get at Alphabet Burger Co.

It’s going to be a simple menu: burgers, fries, and onion rings. Vin will bake the bread and Joel will do the butchering and grinding of the meat. “We are starting with a simple 70-30 lean-to-fat chuck burger for most of our burgers in the beginning,” he explained. “With the goal of finding and perfecting the best possible burger we can make.”

To start, they were be three types of burgers with three types of grinds. Joel hopes to begin playing with both wagyu and dry aged beefs once they get a bit more settled in the truck. And, important to know: “There will be no smash burgers. Ever,” Joel stated.

The Juicy Lucy

Joel told me that he is big on their Juicy Lucy, which he has been working on and perfecting for the past month. “That grind was a challenge to get correct,” he said. A Juicy Lucy is a cheese stuffed 8oz patty, originally popularized in the Twin Cities—the only other place I’ve come across it is at the Sandy Jug (aka the most popular jug shaped bar in Portland), but I suspect it’s elsewhere I’m unaware of (feel free to comment if you know other places in town that serve it).

And a Wet Burger

They are also offering what they call a wet burger, or Iislak burger, which has origins in Istanbul’s street food scene. “The whole thing is dunked in a spiced tomato sauce and Vin’s buns make this a very fun sandwich,” explained Joel. I told him that it reminds me a bit of the torta ahogada, also a wet sandwich, smothered in a chile sauce. Later I realized the pambazo, another soaked sandwich, is likely another cousin in this branch of sandwiches.

They are hoping to open soon, perhaps even this week. Really, they are just waiting on Multnomah County to give them the green light. Here’s to closing that loop. I look forward to eating some burgers there at Alphabet Burger Co. when they are open.

Alphabet Burger Co. [opened March 21, 2025]
5215 N Lombard Street, Portland
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