Chili Inside Chili Outside

Sadly, yesterday was their last day in business: (I’m really going to miss them.

Chilling inside chilling outside is about a 2 minute walking distance for me so I decided to try it since it was an über cold day!
I ordered the turkey chilli and it was average. I gave it 2 stars because it was also overly salted and not heated well enough; wasn’t cold but definitely was not at an appetizing temperature. Cheese topped the corn bread and it was too hard for my liking so I peeled it off and picked at the inside.
I might try them again if I’m feeling risky and adventurous!

After reading the reviews, I expected the best chili I’ve ever had… Well, it was Spectacular chili, but extremely spendy when you consider the price of the bowl of chili to the size of the bowl. It was about the size of a cup of chili at a Shari’s or Red Robin. If that was the size of a bowl, then I’d hate to see what a cup looked like.
The service was nonchalant and not really welcoming. I ordered this with a coupon, and was told that I needed to spend all $ 8.00 of the coupon even though I was only going to order the chili which was $ 7.25. I already spent the $ 8.00 for the coupon and never read any fine print stating that I must use the full amount. Basically, they only had one menu item that was exactly $ 8.00 so you’d have to order something else to make it at least this price and spend more… Kind of off-​putting if you ask me.
I’d recommend this food cart to try, but I wouldn’t have lunch there on a daily basis due to the price.
Overall assessment:
Service: ³⁄₅
Food: ⁵⁄₅
Price: ²⁄₅

I went with a cup of their turkey chili and a side of their jalapeño cheddar cornbread ($ 5.25). I topped my chili with green onions and sharp cheddar cheese (sour cream option also available).
In all honesty, one of the best chili dishes I’ve ever had. A rich, meaty, hearty chili with a little kick to awaken the taste buds. The cheese, which was sprinkled on top, melted nicely, each scoop becoming a sexy, stringy helping of awesomeness. The onions gave an extra oomph of flavor to the dish.
As I’ve said in previous reviews, I’m not a big cornbread lover. However, the jalapeño cheddar cornbread here was spot-​on delicious. Unlike cornbread I’ve had in the past — just dry and unappetizing — this one had some moisture. The browned cheese atop the cornbread and the diced jalapenos inside imparted mellow, enjoyable flavors.
Although I also had an array of hot sauces to choose from, I didn’t need any, much to my surprise (in a good way). But if you want hot sauce, they got you covered.
Chili Inside, Chili Outside has an outstanding product, and their sales should only increase with the impending chilly weather. I urge you all to check this food cart out as soon as possible!

I stopped here for lunch and was so pleased and pissed. Pleased because it was a chance stop and it was delicious, pissed because I usually work much later in the day and they’re not open then so I won’t be able to try other things on the menu. I think they close at 2p or something ridiculous. I get that it’s a lunch-​only place but I’d love to frequent them later in the day as I work so close.
I had the cheeseburger, small salad, and fries. The cheeseburger was delicious with painted hills juicy beef and a soft/​crisp bun. The fries were super crispy with some kind of extra crisp to the outside. I wouldn’t say they were battered, but it kind of had that mouth-​feel. The salad was a real winner as well. For $ 3, it was a very nice portion of crisp romaine, drizzled in a cesar-​like dressing with crumbled queso fresco-​like cheese, pepitas, and roasted red pepper.
I’m not into very, very spicy things but I like to experiment. The row of hot sauces let me try a little of everything new without committing to buying a bottle, and I loved it!
EDITED: ⁰⁹¹²⁄₂₀₁₁
Just heard that they reopen at 7p and stay open until 8:30p or 9p for the dinner crew. Sweet!
EDITED: 01/​28/​2012
They are NOT regularly reopening at 7p. Perhaps it’s a change for the winter months?

Saw this place on Unilocal,is close to my work, so I gave it shot.
Decent selection of burgers, fries, a couple of ways to have chili. on dog. fries. bowl, and the chili frito pie!!!
Let’s start with the place before the food. The lot is not crowded, so that is nice, it is shared with one other cart — good spacing.
There were three dudes there running it, the cart was a nice big, new red trailer that was in excellent shape, very clean, and looked brand spanking new. They have windows on the side and the end, so you can see everything they are doing, view your food being made fresh, etc.
The guys were talkative, but not obnoxious, and friendly in explaining their offerings. They give you a sample if you have never tried it, so that was nice.
I decided on the «Chili Frito Pie», mmmm, so here is how they put it together.
They take a bag of fritos, slice it down the side and pour chili in there to the brim. Sprinkle cheese, sour cream, and green onions on it and yes! A masterpiece.
The chili itself was great, very meaty, no beans, and the flavoring was fantastic. The meat was good quality and tender.
They have a neat deal where you can pay a dollar and shoot a dart gun, (nerf with suction cup), at a target and go for a chance at free chili burger, small salad, soda. etc.
So a neat way to alternatively tip!

These people make a serious chili. Well worth the trek to the slightly out of the way location.

The chili here is definitely top rate. A wee bit on the spicy side for my taste, but very good nonetheless. Decided to shake things up, as the cart is close to work, and ordered a cheeseburger and fries. The fries and burger were decent if not standard fare. The main issue was, despite there being no line whatsoever, how incredibly long it took to make a burger and fries. It would seem they cook the fries when ordered, which would be fine if they were fries worth waiting for, which they are not. If you are heading that way, get the chili, which is probably why you are going that way in the first place.

Like many people, I’m sure, I was lured here by a Groupon. I will surely be back.
This was some damn good chili. I had a bowl of the beef chili and TWO pieces of cornbread, which was just the right texture for me (not too crumbly, not too dense).

Eager to get back to Portland for that Famous Chili Frito Pie! I loved it this summer. The jalapeño cornbread was terrific all by itself.
See you in December. Keep up the great Chili Outside for me.
I loved taking some quart containers of chili! I’m planning to treat my family on Christmas Eve so nobody has to cook.
Go Chili People!

Ok, this time I added hot sauce (I used Franks, but there were lots of options to choose from at the cart), and my cup of chili/​cornbread lunch was PERFECT. 5 stars. The end.

As good as restaurant chili or in this case cart chili gets in Portland. It was raining and i already had walked the 8 blocks or so to get this stuff so i didnt stick around to shoot the breeze with the guy.
Got the beef chili with cheese and green onions. Full of meat that is tender, almost to tender as it does literally fall apart.
Only cons were they are not set up to take cards which cost me $ 2.50 around the corner to use the ATM. And no nachos, this chili would kick ass on a pile of chips covered with chili.
Will definitely return again.

Ordered the Frito Pie w/​Turkey Chili.
Gotta say I was a little shocked when this was handed to me. First thought: «Served in a Fritos bag?» Second thought: «Ooohhh…served in a FRITOS bag!»
The packaging alone wins the 2010 Best Food Cart Packaging Award from the Portland Hippie Society. Talk about cost-​effective! And it immediately reminded me of a time in 5^th grade when I made a mess on my hands while eating this. Today, some 2_​years later, I still ended up with that, but it was more of a reduced-​but-​still-​there mess on my hands. I guess that’s why people spring for bowls in this world. Still, A for effort.
The chili itself was about a 7 out of 10. The turkey was finely ground, which is fine but I kinda prefer to be able to tell what type of meat I’m eating. Just grind it, don’t GRIND it. Good level of spice. However, being served on top of Fritos in a Fritos bag means it’s a tad difficult to mix together. So the first portion was chili-​heavy, while the end was Frito-​heavy. I’ll get over this, but I shouldn’t have to.
The cheese appeared to be the pre-​shredded kind you buy at the store. Acceptable for when I (yes me… not the wife) am making nachos at home for myself (the reason I’m even cooking is because the wife’s either not at home or pissed at me for something I probably did or said… normally she cooks and I clean… that’s our deal). In this crazy competitive scene of food carts, a brick of Tillamook cheese run through a hand-​held shredder over the just-​poured chili shouldn’t be too hard to pull off. Unless the cart person is holding this with one hand… then it gets difficult. Maybe I should make a Frito Pie Bag Holder. What’s Billy Mays’ number? 1−800-HEAVEN?
Sour cream and green onions (both fresh and good) gave it a few extra points. Also, I tried a sample of their Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread. It didn’t come with the Frito Pie, but other menu items offer it. Dang good, and would go very well with the chili.
Walked it back to my office (with a few weird looks here and there), sat at my desk and chowed down. Overall a decent experience that can easily be improved on.

The sole purpose of this stand is to serve chili. That’s it. So if you make that your focus, you should be able to WOW the customers, right. Well, that’s what they did. My wife and I were walking around Portland trying to find the right food cart to have lunch. After much deliberation, we decided to have some chili here at CI/​CO. We weren’t disappointed.
My wife is one of those faux vegetarians. She eats poultry, but not pork or beef (whatever). So she ordered the turkey chili cup with jalapeño cheese cornbread. I myself am a meatatarian, so I ordered the beef chili. Both of us loved our selection (not that we could choose much of anything else, since that’s all that they serve). I tried my wife’s chili, and was surprised at how much flavor was in the bowl, considering that it was turkey. Whatever they do to coax the flavor out of that bird, I hope it never stops. My chili was phenomenal. The beef just melted and fell apart in my mouth. The heat was just right. I love hot food, but sometimes I want more flavor and less heat. They seem to have found the right balance between flavor and heat (even adding cheese and green onions to top it off). If you want, you can add more hot sauce from their selection. Up to you.
I have only one regret regarding eating here… that I didn’t order more of the cornbread. Five stars for this place. Great chili, with focus.

their frito pie is brilliant, and their chili is very meaty. Perfect for a guy like me

Frito pie and cornbread. OH MY GAWD!!!
Yes it’s days like these where I’m happy I have the metabolism I do. Because if I didn’t I’d be 200 pounds heavier and diabetic.
If you’re looking for a good bowl of chili, a frito pie and a buttery chunk of cornbread. Then this is the place for you. Cheap eats that are delicious by my standards. And mine are pretty damn high. I’d go here again and again. I’ve eaten here twice now and I know I’m going to eat there many more.
Go here. The king of Portland commands it.

Fantastic!!! While I was debating over what to order, the fellas working the cart offered a sample of both, which was great, I got to taste both, and ended up ordering the salad and beef chili combo, what an amazing lunch!
The beef in the chili melts in your mouth! The spice level was just right, enough heat to be flavorful, but not so much that it leaves your nose running and your face flushed, though if that’s what you like, they offer an array of different hot sauces to add… After reading through the reviews, I definitely agree, chili cheese fries would be fantastic, and sour cream a great addition, as for it being too salty? No way. Of all the flavors in the meal, salt was definitely not one of them.
The dressing on the southwestern caesar is the perfect compliment to the chili itself, and the green chili’s in the cornbread give it great zip. The portion size was fantastic for the prices, and I’ll definitely be going back.

Well, it’s the best chili I’ve had in Portland, but unfortunately I haven’t tried too many different versions. I love that they do NOT include beans. The owners are very, very nice; the kind of people you root for to succeed. A little dollop of sour cream would be nice. Very good prices, especially when you factor-​in the yummy cornbread that’s included.
One suggestion: get a fryer for the best chili-​cheese fries around.

This cart makes a Texan very happy.
I love chili, Texas chili that is, without anything fancy in it. Nothing but meat and heat. After reading about the opening of this food cart near work, I had to go check it out. Minutes later, I have a piping hot bowl of red with a good mix of beef cubes as well as stringy falling-​apart meat. The spice level is excellent, just enough to feel it but not overwhelming.
Before this the best spot I could find a good bowl was at Podnah’s, which is excellent, but certainly not a convenient lunch stop like Chili Inside Chili Outside.

This food cart opened today and I was lucky to happen by — so I tried out their turky chili & southwest salad combo. You get a nice big moist square of cornbread to go with it, all for about 6 bucks. Spicy (a little) and very flavorful chili, awesome salad with pepitas & great (lime & cilantro?) dressing, and the cornbread has jalapenos for good measure. A great addition to the food carts at 9^th & Alder.