Stanich's - Portland, OR

Posted By Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle on August 27, 2009 7:00 PM

How did Portland become such a hamburger-eater's paradise? We expected to find all manner of local seafood, such as the exquisite salmon, smoked and fresh, and enormous razor clams and Dungeness crab that this region is deservedly known for, and a farm country bounty of fresh-from-the-earth produce. What we did not expect was the burger-mania evident in this city. There is apparently a local mega-burger competition to see who can serve up the largest, most generously garnished hamburgers in town. The full-dress version, usually with a name like The Giant, or The Killer, consists of a bacon cheeseburger, or two, lettuce, tomato, and onion, maybe pickle, with the added double whallop of ham and a fried egg to make it an only-in-Portland breakfast and lunch combo on a bun.

The best example of this burger style, in our experience, can be found at a northeast Portland bar called Stanich's. This old-time tavern is festooned with banners from what must be every professional and college sports team in the country's history! They're on the walls, hanging from the ceiling, and everywhere else you look. The burger special here is called, suitably enough, The Special. The burger itself is not enormous. The sandwich's strength is in how (somewhat surprisingly) well it is balanced, with all those toppings applied in amounts that blend to form a really delicious, not gross, hamburger. They'll even cut it in half for two of you if you don't think you can handle one on your own. On the side, be sure to get the bargain fresh-cut french fries, salty and pecan-hued. These are some first-class fries. A pitcher will go along nicely.

We haven't been here in the evening, but during the day Stanich's is a perfectly wholesome place to while away an afternoon. There are games and televisions to keep patrons occupied, and we saw families enjoying a few burgers together. Our waitress was friendly and eager to please.

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Posted By BurgerDog Boy on November 30, 2011 11:55 AM

One of those "local legends" resting on its rep from 50 years ago. Not worth the stop. Portland has a plethora of outstanding burgers these days, and this isn't one of them.

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French Fries

The Special

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Posted By Robert Loffer on December 16, 2008 3:42 PM

Stanich's is a family-owned, sports-themed restaurant. The northeast Portland location is currently run by the third generation in the Stanich line. The walls are completely covered with local high school, college, and professional sports banners, and the televisions are always tuned to sports. All the staff are friendly, and fun. The last time I was there, I was waited on by the current manager himself. He decides to be a server from time to time, and he loves talking with the customers.

The special is wonderful. Stanich's is one of the few places you can get a burger with an egg and ham on it. Don't go there expecting to eat lite; these burgers are pretty good in size and, when you add the fries, you'll end up full before you know it. But the special is delicious as a leftover as well.

Overall, this is a wonderful place to eat, and definitely worth a try, then worth going back for another try...

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Posted By Vanessa Constanti on October 1, 2007 3:59 PM

Ugh! I can't believe anyone would recommend this horrible dive bar for anything other than... well, for anything. Yucky burgers, lame fries, smoky, boring, barfly atmosphere. Please, don't rate Stanich's as Portland's burger claim to fame. When I saw this place recommended I was very, very disappointed and urgently wrote this note to save all and sundry from folly.

Ironically, one of the best (if not THE best) burger in Portland can be found at Alameda Brew Pub, which is just a few blocks down from Stanich's. Perhaps I'll write a review, or ode, to Alameda's burgers and fries. It will go something like:

Alameda Pub O' Brew
How I truly do love you
Yummy fries and lovely pie
Fattened me up, but made me sigh,
"lusting your beer battered fish"
Not one dish can I diss

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Posted By Bill / Joy Stevenson on February 2, 2004 11:07 AM

I was pleasently surprised to log on to ROADFOOD.COM & find that one of my most favorite restaurants in the Portland area had finally showed up. However the disappointment came when I discovered that the other Stanich's, the one on the West side of the river had been eliminated or just left off. The West Side location is easily as good as the East Side Location & for some maybe a little more accessable. The atmosphere is as good as the Flag Ship location but over on the West Side there is outdoor dining. I've been going there for years & it makes no difference which one I choose, as the food in both locations is equal in all respects. You can find the West Side location at "5627 S.W. Kelly St., one block South of the John's Landing Water Tower. There are orders to go at both locations. William E. Stevenson Jr.

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