Indian Food Cart to spice up TD at 6th Street Station; Opens tomorrow, March 10
Babita Kainth and Atana Das point to a pretty good lunch or dinner choice - their new food cart at the 6th Street Station, 2638 W. Sixth Street in TD. Their cart in Biggs Junction was getting rave reviews so they expanded to The Dalles.
Now, this is a map of India! It adorns the new Tadka food cart. It also makes you hungry.
By Tom Peterson
There’s happiness in this food.
So much so, people from The Dalles and Hood River have been driving to Biggs Junction to get it.
Well, they don’t have to anymore.
Babita Kainth and Atanu Das are opening their Indian Food Cart called Tadka at the 6th Street Station, 2638 W. Sixth Street on Friday, March 10 for lunch.
“In our culture, our mothers cook and they are always happy,” said Kainth on Wednesday, March 8. “And that mood transfers that good energy into the food and to us.”
Mutton Rogan Josh
“And I have the best cook,” the 38-year-old said. Atanu Das is bringing the love in the kitchen. “He cooks that food with a lot of happiness. People like it very well.”
It looks outstanding on the menu and one of the favorites is Mutton Rogan Josh. It’s an aromatic curried dish flavored with alkanet flowers and Kashmiri chilies. Savorific.
And the Garlic, onion coconut milk or the Prawn Masala or a spinach gravy over the delicious Indian Cheese in a Palak Paneer are tempting. And, of course, there is the Butter Chicken.
Decisions, decisions.
Happy problem.
Click to expand. But no drooling.
Sucess of Tabka has been built on the shoulders of teamwork from these three, front to back, Samir Makhal, Babita Kainth and Atana Das
The flavors are all made from scratch by Atanu
Kainth has been operating the Indian Food Cart in Biggs Junction across from Bishop Towing and Repair just east of Circle K. It opened in November. And she has another in Portland.
Aaron Jalen
Aaron Jalen said he had visited the cart in Biggs with maximum success. “It’s so good you end up eating too much. But it’s so good. I’ve tried to make some of these dishes on my own, they never turn out the same.”
“We are blessed,” Kainth said of the success they have had. It could not be done without her team as they provide the talent in the kitchen and she brings the business savvy and organization.
But it all comes down to the food.
“It’s healthy home made food. Our goal is to always satisfy the customer,” she said.
Cameron McKeown and Matt Bennett Joke around earlier this year. The two are seeing their vision come to life as they are diversifying the 6th Street Station food cart pod after starting during the pandemic in March of 2021. Photo by Cole Goodwin
Matt Bennett with a Dirty Shirley Pineapple Lemonade, a local favorite. Might go well with the Prawn Masala. Photo by Cole Goodwin
6th Street Station’s Cameron Mckeown said it was fantastic to be adding Indian food to the mix at the food cart pod near Coastal Farm and Ranch.
The pod already offers Mexican Food at Lonchería Jalisco and Bobablastic offers Bubble teas, Japanese, Chinese and American Food.
The diversity is growing.
“Were also going to have Vietnamese food cart and a breakfast food cart,” he added noting Pho Saigon would be moving in shortly, McKeown said.
Matt Bennett added that some new things for the summer were also on tap. “Be watching, we got some great stuff coming,” he said.
The two are seeing their vision come to life as locals will be able to choose from a variety of different ethnic foods and then go into the 6th Street Station for a beer or cocktail listen to music and and enjoy their food.
“It’s a nice arrangement,” Kainth said. “Our kabobs go really well with a beer.”
Chicken Tika Kabob and a beer. Oh dear! Better get two.
The cart is open six days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s closed on Tuesdays. They also cater and take orders to go. Call them at 503-935-6950
