Portland's Best Eats, An Ongoing Discussion

We have enjoyed several BBQ dinners over the years at Busters BBQ in suburban Milwaukee (OR) on 99E just above the 205 interchange. Not top-of-the-line BBQ but very good, a convenient location, and moderate prices.

AND... While not in the City, We make a point out of visiting CAMP 18 on the road to the shore from The Portland metro area. We really like the CAMP 18 Breakfasts!

Man, I miss the west coast. Big time.

mr chips -

I don't want you to think that just because I don't swing by every time and tell you, that I am not reading this thread with interest. I am about to plan my travel out west, and I have made notes of a few places that I would like to hit on this next trip out your way. Keep all the reviews coming...can't wait to see you and the family again!

Oh, Portland Oregon! Not Portland Maine :(...

Why do people assume when they say Portland we should know it's Oregon?

In the first post, the original poster referred to the local paper as the "Portland Oregonian," so you couldn't have read too far before you knew it wasn't about Maine. Forget about the fact that Portland, OR is about ten times the size of Portland, ME - and the last thing most folks around here would claim is that there is a "west coast bias."

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen


We have enjoyed several BBQ dinners over the years at Busters BBQ in suburban Milwaukee (OR) on 99E just above the 205 interchange. Not top-of-the-line BBQ but very good, a convenient location, and moderate prices.

AND... While not in the City, We make a point out of visiting CAMP 18 on the road to the shore from The Portland metro area. We really like the CAMP 18 Breakfasts!

My son Sam especially loves Buster's. Al's description is accurate. Good and cheaper than flying to Texas. I like the brisket and smoked turkey.

quote:

Originally posted by PJinNH

Oh, Portland Oregon! Not Portland Maine :(...

Why do people assume when they say Portland we should know it's Oregon?

because the one in maine dosn't matter?

A few additions:

(40) Victory Cafe-Spaetzle
3652 S.E. Division
(503)-236-8755
Portland
These spaetzles are delightful. Small Dumplings serves with Gruyere cheese and a side of applesauce are the perfect accompaniment to the inventive cocktails and belgian beers sold at Victory Cafe
(41) Spella Caffe-Expresso
S.E. 9th and Alder
(503)-421-9723
Portland
This trailer serves the smoothest expresso I have drunk in Portland A nice frothy brew, strong , dark, flavorful A minutes worth of work produces a heavenly experience worth the wait. Always crowded, only open weekdays.
(42) Camelia Lounge- Dragon Chips
510 N.W. 11th Ave
(503)-221-2130
Portland
I feel almost scizophrenic when I come here. There is a lot of emphasis on tea and the health benefits of tea. Yet they brag a lot about their mixed alcoholic drinks featuring tea. And the most popular dish is dragon chips. homemade potato chips served wiht layers of monterey jack, blue cheese, green onions and ckicken breast with buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing, Greasy, unhealthy and wonderful. Maybe the teas will restore health.

Some of my favorite places in Portland include:

APizza Scholls: Best pizza I've ever had, but I've never been to Chicago, NYC, New Haven or other pizza hotbeds.

Ringside steakhouse (original downtown location): I'd put their onion rings up against anyone's.

Kenny & Zuke's Deli: Pastrami heaven! Try the Pastrami Burger

I thought that Outlaw BBQ in Clackamas was pretty good when we tried it last year. I'll have to give Buster's a try sometime.

So who's got the best hot dog in PDX?
I heard Nick's Coney Island has reopened...as good as before?
Wayne's Chicago Red Hots?
Super Dog?
Zach's Shack?
Otto's?

quote:

Originally posted by Goobzilla

Some of my favorite places in Portland include:

APizza Scholls: Best pizza I've ever had, but I've never been to Chicago, NYC, New Haven or other pizza hotbeds.

Ringside steakhouse (original downtown location): I'd put their onion rings up against anyone's.

Kenny & Zuke's Deli: Pastrami heaven! Try the Pastrami Burger

I thought that Outlaw BBQ in Clackamas was pretty good when we tried it last year. I'll have to give Buster's a try sometime.

So who's got the best hot dog in PDX?
I heard Nick's Coney Island has reopened...as good as before?
Wayne's Chicago Red Hots?
Super Dog?
Zach's Shack?
Otto's?

Otto's is probaly the best hot dog place with its outdoor grill and superb dogs. Wayne's Hot Dogs would pass muster in Chicago and it is a kick to see all the Chicago sports memorabilia. Zack's is good and open late

We often are in Portland since it is only an hour and a half from beautiful downtown Tillamook on the coast. Thanks, mr chips, for the list of many fine places to try. I've been to some and will second the choice for pizza by mentioning Apizza Scholls again and adding Esparza's Tex Mex Cafe on 28th & Ankeny off SE Burnside. I haven't been there in a while but shall return soon. Bye the way, for a nice relaxing place to eat on the coast try Pirate's Cove, just north of Garibaldi,for some good seafood and the best view.

It's been a few months but it is time to resume discussion of the Portland, Oregon food scene:

(43) Podnah's Barbecue-Lamb spare ribs
       1469 N.E. Prescott
       Portland,Or 97211
       (503)-281-3700

         I've not had lamb spare-ribs before but this Texas style barbecue's crunchy version is an excellent way to start. Chewy and blackened, I like them a lot. The Frito pie here is  the real attraction.Beef brisket is included and its addition to the fritos and chile makes the dish.
(44) A Pizza Scholls- Caesar Salad
       4741 S.E. Hawthorne
      Portland, Or 97215
     (503)-233-1286

        This place was featured in an Anthony Boudain episode about Portland. It is locally famous for NY thin crust pizza and a memo that threatened to throw out parents with misbehaving children. it also closes whenever the pizza runs out.
       The Caesar salad may be the best thing on the menu. Lots of anchovies, a whole head of lettuce and generous portions of all the ingredients make it a filling and tasty side dish that goes well with what may be Portland's best pizza.

(45) BiPartisan Cafe-Pie
       7901 S.E. Stark
       Portland, Oregon 97215
      (503)-233-1051

      The pies here are some of Portland's best. Fresh fruit pies, cream pies, pecan pies to die for. Portland has lots of places to get good expresso but pies this good are rare. And the decor of political and civil rights photos is a lot of fun.

mrchips-
I certainly don't think of Portland as a pie city, but the Bipartisan Cafe sounds like my kind of place.  Is the pecan their best pie? 

The pecan is the best I've had so far. I'm partial to cream pies and love their banana cream.

mrchips-
I'm not a big pecan pie lover, but banana cream pie is my favorite!  When I make it out to Portland, we now have another place to go.

PJinNH


Oh, Portland Oregon! Not Portland Maine :(...

Why do people assume when they say Portland we should know it's Oregon?

Likewise, in GasBuddy PortlandGasPrices.com is for Oregon.  I wonder how many Mainers have accessed that site, thinking it's for the Pine Tree State and not the Beaver State?

there's a
Portland, Maine?

Some more:

(46) Barbur World Foods-wood fired pita bread
       9845 S.W. Barbur Blvd.
       Portland,Or
       (503)-244-0670

          This grocery featured wood-fired pita bread with a hearty smokey flavor. My favorite sandwiches were falafels and schwarmas of the lamb and beef varieties. The grocery also features middle eastern drinks such as yogurt soda and fruit drinks of rose hip, mulberry, and date juice. A great stop for any foodie.

(47) Dave LaFollete's Back to the Grind Expresso-Cincinnati style chile
        10903 S.E Powell
         Portland

       Portland has a veritable plethora of good expresso places that feature excellent coffee. What differentiates them is food options. Back to the Grind features Cincinnati native Joni Fox's quite authentic Cincinnati style chile. Ms. Fox makes the spaghetti fresh for each plate and the dish has a hint of chocolate and cumin. There is little local familiarity with the dish(Ms. Fox tells me some folks order a one way!) but I believe Ms. Fox's work would pass muster in the Queen City. While no one ought to come to Portland just to eat Cincinnati style chile, this place serves the real deal and I hope homesick Ohioans and curious locals will sample the fare here.

(48) Voodootoo Too-Donuts
       1501 N.E. Davis
       Portland

        After being featured on Man Vs. Food, Anthony Boudain's show , the latest Stern roadfood book, and this website, Voodoo Donuts does not need much help from me. The Bacon Maple bar, the Memphis mafia combo of peanut butter, chocolate and banana, and the strawberry filled eponymous voodoo donut remain taste destinations for any serious donut lover. The new location is off a major street and features a lot more parking. It does not have the grit of  the downtown location( I miss the homeless guys and the denizens of the low-rent hotel next to  the downtown store) but the menu is  the same and the parking is easier if you want a quick grab and go. But any serious roadfooder needs to stop here.

 Restaurant number 7 was called the Daily Cafe and Market but the owners have closed the market and the place is now solely a restaurant and has had a name change  it is now called the New Deal Cafe.

Mr. Chips - Have you checked out Christopher's Gourmet Grill on MLK yet? I've only been in once and had the Double Cheeseburger, but it was the best burger I've had in a long time! The meat was so tasty I could have eaten it plain, but all the toppings were great too. A friend had the Man Up Cheeseburger which included 2 8-oz patties, double cheese, great hot links, bacon & egg - too much to eat, but he managed by giving us all a taste. The fries were fresh and wonderful. They also have Philly's (recommended by friends), Jerk chicken, ribs, seafood baskets, wings, etc.
      The place looks a little rough, but the folks inside are really nice and the owner goes out of his way to make sure you enjoy your food. We've been dreaming about the burgers and want to go back today!!!

Whoops - sorry about the Christopher's post, I re-read the topic and then realized you were talking about Oregonian best of...
I'm more of a Willie Week Cheap Eats person right now. Isn't it about time for the new issue to come out?

Nancy, I'm trying to change the focus. Honestly I'm just writing up the places i like. Christopher's sounds like a great spot and I will try it. WW's cheap eats is  a great source of info and their recommendations are spot on.

A few more spots

(49)-Acadia-A New Orleans Bistro-French Quarter Martini
1303 N.E. Fremont
Portland,Or 97232
(503)-249-5001

   The name says it all. This is a bistro featuring excellent but pricey entrees that would pass muster in the crescent city. My favorite appetizer is the oyster shooter in jalapeno infused vodka which is a true sensual sensation. The french quarter martini is a shoot the moon beverage with pomegrante, infused vodka and vermouth. I tend to like sweet drinks and this is one of the best I've ever had
(50) El Burrito Loco-Chile Cheese Fries
        3126 N.E. 82nd
         Portland, Or
        (503)-252-1343

       This is a humble dish served with a spicy but not overwhelmingly hot sauce, just the right amount of cheese and fries. A delightful blue-collar food that goes down well. I also love the  special quesadilla, a cheese sandwich made with pastrami served in a tortilla that is an odd but endearing combination of tastes

Nancy Lynette's above post references Willamette Week's( a local weekly) cheap eats guide. It is a fantastic resource of good and cheap eats and i will be sampling as many as possible. I hope Nancy and others will chip in and talk about their favorite haunts. I will certainly do so . And for the record, I am no longer relying on the Oregonian's best of list.
(51)Dalo's Kitchen-Vegetarian Plate
      4134 N. Vancouver
      Portland-(503)-808-9604

        This may be the best meal deal in Portland. $4.99 buys you 4 vegetables(I had spicy lentils, spinach, collard greens) that are quite flavorful and all the enjera bread bread you can eat. Trudy has lamb and three sided. With a glass of Ethiopian honey wine, we had a substantial good meal for under $18.00. We went on a Friday and there was live music and a number of babies and toddlers that gave the place a real family feel.

(52)Seoul Solong Tang- Seoul Solong Tang
      8305 S.E. Powell
       Portland-(503)-775-1223
       It's easy to miss this place. The sign is in Korean and the main 
dish reads like an English typographical error but the food is no joke. The soup is a broth that you spice to taste with green onions and salt and pepper. A large side of kim chee comes with the meal. The chef speaks little english and is eager to have you sample her wares, asking if you like it. She was very proud of her Willamette Week review.My waitress was from L.A. 's Koreatown and was a helpful guide on proper etiquette as well as having a perfect valley girl accent. I know Korean may be the least known of the Asian foods but this place is a wonderful  introduction.

Another:

(53) La Calaca Comelona- Chapulines de Oaxaca
       2304 S.E. Belmont
      Portland-(503)-239-9675
    
    La Calaca  Comelona is a part of the rich and varied Portland mexican food scene. There is a detailed explanation on the menu on why burritos are not offered on the menu. The place's name means hungry skeleton in Spanish and its decor features many sculptures, prints and figurines of skeletons as well as the obligatory Frida Kahlo prints and photos.
    The food is Mexican regional. The most unusual item is Chapulines de Oaxaca or fried grasshopper. They are served with chile flakes and slathered in lime juice. Son Sam thought they were a little too limey but was satisfied with their satisfying crunch. I like them a great deal, especially mixed with  the flavorful red sauce.
      Sam and I had salads, Sam an avocado salad with a lot of onion, me a cactus salad that was flavorful and rich. Our desserts were dishes I have not seen on other menus. Sam had jericalla, a cinnamon flavored custard that was light and not too sweet. I  had capiroda, a bread pudding with raisins, cajila cheese and raw brown sugar that was a pleasant mix of tastes.
     La Calaca Comelada is not your father's Mexican restaurant. But for those willing to expand their horizons, it is a wondrous experience.

The latest:

(54)Casa De Tamales
      10605 S.E. Main
      Milwaukie(503)-654-4423

     Casa de Tamales is the restaurant outpost of the locally famous Canby Asparagus Farm, which has been serving locavore tamales at Portland's Saturday market for a few years. The tamales are made with local chicken, and beef, almost always accompanied by asparagus. The most notable dish is the Nacatamal, a Nicaraguan style tamale filled mashed potatoes, bell pepper,chicken,rice, olives, plum, raisins, and artichoke. It is the size of a large dumpling, served on a Nicaraguan banana leaf with sides of sour cream, beans and rice. A huge meal, very tasty.

  

Bump

Restaurant 52, Seoul Solong Tang has closed. Korean remains an ugly stepchild of Asian food in Portland. I like the cuisine but a lot of Portlanders(including my beloved trudyn) do not.

Time to renew my commitment to this thread. i will be posting new finds as i come across them in the future.

An update on previously mentioned places. "Lovely Hula Hands"(number 23) has closed, much to the regret of Portland foodies. Number 35" Cafe Be Van" has closed thoiugh Bubble tea is available at Vietnamese places all over Portland.