Portland eating adventure
Since y'all are nice and knowledgeable, I want to ask... I will be spending a 4 day weekend in Portland, Oregon this June.
Anyone familiar with the eating scene? Any personal recommendations? I eat pretty much everything.
Thanks! :)
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
17 Comments:
There is A LOT in Portland. Can you narrow it down a bit? Do you want breakfast, lunch, etc.? What is your budget? Will you be there weekend or weekdays? What neighborhood will you be in? Will you have a car?
See? Lots of factors to consider.
PestoGal at 1:51PM on 05/13/08
Whoops, just saw the 4-day weekend thing, so disregard my question about the when. But everything else still applies. :)
PestoGal at 1:52PM on 05/13/08
Le Pigeon and Park Cafe are the hot spots (I ate at Park Cafe and it's so so good).
You should check Chowhound for recommendations of places to eat - the boards there are set up primarily for that purpose, and there are hundreds of threads there on eating in Portland!
charm city cupcake at 2:26PM on 05/13/08
I find chowhound pretty user-unfriendly, and with less good, local info than this local site:
http://portlandfood.org/index.php?act=idx
Some of my favorites are Biwa (japanese skewers, ramen) Pok Pok (incredible thai, not like any other restaurant) Apizza Scholls and Ken's Artisan Pizza are both great, different styles, but both have a fun atmosphere. Those are all mid-range price wise, I've not been terribly impressed with the more upscale places yet. If you know what area you'll be in, let us all know if you'd like specific rec's. Have fun. June is lovely.
nwbywayofla at 2:32PM on 05/13/08
Charm City, it's Park Kitchen, not Park Cafe.
PestoGal at 2:52PM on 05/13/08
Sinju for sushi, though Saburo in Sellwood is also great. And if you like pizza- and I mean substantially topped pizza, Flying Pie is superb! For breakfast (either in the morning or late at night) VooDoo donuts is fun. It's been on a lot of food shows, but it's still fun to visit (and the donuts are tasty). That Italian Joint (yeah, that's the name) is good, too. And if you like Beer, any McMenamins or Bridgeport Alehouse would be good- though the food's not always exciting at McMenamins. And there's a great desert place, Pap Hayden's, on NW 23rd, just down the street from Music Millenium.
bennettstarnes at 3:23PM on 05/13/08
Saburo in Sellwood is the best sushi! Though there is a huge controversy in that area.
Seconded on Voodoo Donuts, don't miss them - and if you are a coffee lover, go to any of the Stumptown outlets - downtown or SE Hawthorne - their coffee is my favorite in the whole country.
And please go to the magnificent Farm Cafe on SE 7th (just across the river from downtown) - it is all locally-sourced food, and really wonderful. Lovely atmosphere too.
Another second on Papa Haydn for fancy-ish desserts, but unfortunately Music Millennium on NW 23rd closed a few months ago.
And for a really eclectic and great beer selection, The Pub At The End Of The Universe (SE 28th and Gladstone) is the spot. They also have a totally weird jukebox.
This conversation is making me miss Portland! Have a fun trip.
producestories at 3:32PM on 05/13/08
It closed? Dang!
And I agree with the Stumptown suggestion. That's some mighty fine coffee.
bennettstarnes at 3:40PM on 05/13/08
I'd agree with nwbywayoffl....no offense but Papa Hayden & McMenamins aren't unique in any way (except McMenamins buildings, they basically save wonderful spaces from the wrecking ball) but their beer really stinks.
Saturday Portland Farmers Market....one of the best in the nation BUT it's way too crowded after 10am to really enjoy the vendors & setting.
Podnah's Pit (Texas BBQ, Rodney kicks ass!)
PokPok (Street Thai) - Lunch M-F or the shack Sat & Sun lunch.
Kenny & Zuke's Deli - Breakfast,lunch,dinner & late night, Jewish style deli
Park Kitchen (PNW influenced) - Lunch M-F & dinners M-Sat
Pix Patisserie - desserts & a great beer slection too
Shagun chocolates
Higgins Bar for fantastic beer selections (if you're staying downtown) & a pretty damn good burger.
Tanuki (izakaya)
Biwa
Horse Brass Pub - english Style pub (smokey) with crazy taps, always a good # local brews on tap..a true clasic internationally known pub
Toro Bravo (spanish tapas with PNW flair)
Simpatica (Sunday AM brunch, the best in the city period) They also do family style dinners Fri & Sat nights by reservation only....check website for ph# & availability. A Great time!
Le Pigeon - one of the most enjoyable dinners, especially if you can sit at the bar...watch Gabe, Eric & crew work their magic.
Wildwood (another PNW influenced restaurant)
If you'd like Neopolitan style pizza Nostrana or Ken's (wood fired, 12 in, thin) - Nostrana does Lunch M-F as well as dinners 7 days. Ken's dinner Tues-Sat
Neo Neopolitan pizza, Apizza Scholls (our place) - 18 inches, thin - Dinner Tues - Sat.
Vindalho (Indian) dinner Tues - Sat
Lots of places to enjoy....have fun! June is perfect time of year to visit.
Kim Nyland at 4:18PM on 05/13/08
I strongly suggest Nutshell in the northwest Portland area. It's vegan, and it is by far some of the best food I've ever eaten out. Plus, with great wait staff and an excellent selection of breads, salts and oils to start, our meal was spectacular.
Beth M. at 6:46PM on 05/13/08
Some random thoughts: Roses Bakery in NW, Fire on the Mountain in N Portland for amazing wings and fries (washed down w/ good local microbrews). The gelato place across the street (to the north) from the main Powell's (and please tell me you're going to Powell's? even if you are not a big reader they have a great cookbook section).
Lots of great down-and-dirty Mexican food if you're coming, say, from the East Coast and don't get that much. I like Cha Cha Cha (several locations, I think the one on Hawthorne is best).
Andina is supposed to be nice for S. American cuisine.
There's one other that I can't remember... I'll see if I can get my sister, a local, to remind me what it was.
emily20008 at 7:30PM on 05/13/08
@pestogal,
You are right, I should have been more specific! I will need at least three breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. My budget is my stimulus check ;) so should be more than enough unless Portland is more expensive than my imagination... I'll be there Thur to Sun, so if there are hard to get reservations, I should try to get them on Thur? Neighborhood is no problem because I will rent a car specifically to get to fooding destinations. =P
@charm city cupcake
Yea, everyone recommends Le Pigeon! Oh, I really have to try to get in there!
@bennettstarnes
Pizza sounds like a great idea!
@producestories
VooDoo donuts is definitely on my list now, thanks! And all your other suggestions sound awesome too!
@Kim Nyland
Wow, what a list! It is going to take me some time to get through that, and I really appreciate all your thought into putting together that list! Thanks! :)
@Beth M
Thanks for the vegan suggestion. I am an omnivore, and vegan sounds good :)
@emily20008
Oh yea, good idea about the Mexican food! I am coming from NY, so maybe I'll give that a shot :) Thanks!
foodinmouth at 12:10AM on 05/14/08
Mexican just reminded me: La Sirenita way up on NE Alberta is excellent, very much "down and dirty," one of the rare good Mexican places in PDX. There's another decent spot downtown, right next to Mary's (the strip joint; I think they share a bathroom even), but La Sirenita is classic.
And Pambiche on 28th and Glisan (also NE) is terrific for slightly upscale Cuban food.
Man, back when I lived in Portland I had way more disposable income for restaurants! I guess that comes from my rent having been 1/6 of what I pay in NYC. Have fun!!
producestories at 8:41AM on 05/14/08
Funny, I was just reading on another big blog about PDX and Andina's for Peruvian food was mentioned as incredible. Not been there.
For good, inexpensive here are some of my faves there:
I'd have to recommend Ya Hala for Lebanese. Everything there just is better, including the desserts which I'd say get one to go if you can't eat one there (and likely you won't because they are very generous with the food).
Definitely Voo Doo. It's fun and the Memphis Mafia is amazing though there are some more risque. The Magic is in the hole. :)
I personally like McMenamin's especially the Ruby beer but the Kolsch is very refreshing and what Bud would be if it was any good (but I didn't have a beer there I didn't like and I tried them all). I'd send you to the Ringlers location at 14th and Burnside a few blocks up from Powell's Bookstore (great place to recover from) for the happy hour menu which is a limited (but still substantial) selection of the regular menu for $2.50 (or was last time I was there). The tater tots are incredible but the fries are pretty good too. So are the salads. Maybe not gourmet but fun and that's more important often. Plus it's certainly a flavor of Portland. Lots of local ingredients, and their coffee is amazing (roasted there). In fact, full bar and they make several of their own spirits and even wines.
Another inexpensive but fun eat is Hot Lips Pizza. All about the local, seasonal, and sustainable plus the pizza is pretty yummy (my favorite is the Waldorf which is by the slice on Mondays -- nothing quite like it). Get the homemade fruit soda on tap too.
Chinese Food/Pho/Vietnamese (with a touch of Thai even) at My Cahn. The pepper-salted green beans are divine.
If you do the Farmer's Market there's a portable brick oven in one corner that's very popular (the menu depends on what's at the market). I had a sandwich there last fall of chickpeas, arugula, and delicata squash with tahini and chili sauce in a fresh wheat pita they baked that I hope they'll serve again this fall.
At the Saturday Market in Old Town under the Burnside Bridge is a Polish food cart which is pretty good. In fact there's actually quite a few good carts in town. It's about the food there.
Pambiche for Cuban, and it looks as if Super Torta is the place for authentic Mexican.
Higgins for a spendy Northwest treat. Pretty much something there for any diet even gluten-free vegetarian.
Sisters of the Road is a restaurant that helps the homeless and those down on their luck. You can get something to eat yourself for a little change or buy some meal tickets to hand to those who ask for change (rather than give cash).
There's also the regional fast food chain of Burgerville which has Oregon Country beef (never frozen) for their hamburgers. Probably the best burger I've ever had. They too source local, seasonal and sustainable.
There's a bunch of other places (you need to extend your stay) but perhaps check out the independently and locally owned New Seasons markets if you want to grab something quick, inexpensive and healthy (or stock up on hotel goodies). They have an organic deli with a lot of seasonal and local ingredients. This includes a great salad bar, sandwiches made to order, daily soups, pasta of the day, and ready made food. Where else can you get roasted Brussels Sprouts for $4.99 a pound?
Have fun! :)
Sieseye at 8:53AM on 05/14/08
All of these suggestions are great.
My number one would be, since you're here on a Saturday: Go to the Farmers' Market! Hopefully it will be a nice day in June, and browsing through all the local produce and sampling to your heart's content is one of my most favorite Portland activities. You can also get an awesome breakfast or lunch at one of several food stands.
You definitely need to check out the local microbrew scene. Deschutes Brewery just opened and they have great food and beer, as does Bridgeport Brewery.
I second the Toro Bravo rec. I've some of the best meals in my life there.
Cha Taqueria has some pretty good Mexican.
Kenny & Zuke's has awesome bagels. Oh, but coming from NY, they might not compare.
I've heard good things about Justa Pasta, and their prices are very reasonable.
The Pearl Bakery has great bread and prepared sandwiches.
For Sunday brunch, I would recommend the Daily Cafe.
Have a great time in Stumptown!
PestoGal at 1:21PM on 05/14/08
I did a little write up in my blog last october. We loved it there!!
http://forayintofood.blogspot.com/2007/10/portland-oregon-beer-chocolate-cheese.html
jennywenny at 7:53PM on 05/14/08
Well now, it will be interesting to see when the second copy of my post shows up now that the first version was allowed... Sorry about the eventual double post of essentially the same info.
Hope you have a good trip. It's a great place to visit.
Sieseye at 9:43PM on 05/15/08