Penelope Bass
Penelope Bass is a writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon, where she has been covering the food and drinks scene for the better part of a decade for both regional and national outlets. Currently, she drinks professionally on behalf of Imbibe Magazine where she is the associate editor. She prefers to sip her tequila, drinks way too much coffee, and will eat nearly anything you put in front of her, particularly if it is raw.
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Nong's Khao Man Gai
Nong’s Khao Man Gai serves chicken and rice, along with a few other Thai dishes and fun cocktails, at their Southeast brick-and-mortar location.
Kachka
Kachka is a Southeast restaurant that serves excellent Russian food and more vodka than you’d ever expect to drink in one sitting.
Toro Bravo
Toro Bravo is a small, Inner Northeast Spanish restaurant that serves small bites and entrées, along with a $50 tasting menu that we really like.
Beast
Beast is a 24-seat restaurant in North Portland that feels like a nice dinner party, complete with shared communal tables and a prix fixe menu.
Ox
Ox is an Inner Northeast Argentinian restaurant known for their huge wood fired grill and the wide variety of meat and seafood cooked on it.
Salt & Straw
If you have ice cream in Portland, it should definitely be from Salt & Straw. Try one of their seasonal flavors or a classic, like honey lavender.
Chicken And Guns
Chicken and Guns is a food cart that serves Peruvian-style grilled chicken and crispy potatoes. Take it to go or eat on their patio next to a bonfire.
Olympia Provisions SE
Olympia Provisions cures all of their meat products in-house and is the perfect Southeast spot to split some charcuterie and cheese between meals.
Ken's Artisan Pizza
Ken’s Artisan Pizza opened when pizza night at Ken’s Artisan Bakery got too popular. Come here any night for excellent pizza and desserts.
Bollywood Theater NE
Bollywood Theater is an Alberta Indian restaurant that serves regional street snacks, thali meals, and all of the classic curries you know and love.
Pok Pok
Pok Pok is the super cool Thai restaurant that your older cousin who went to college in Portland always used to talk about. However, it’s still great.
Nostrana
Nostrana is a Southeast Italian spot with a big patio, Neapolitan pizza you cut with scissors, and an excellent Happy Hour at 9pm every night.
Podnah’s Pit BBQ
Podnah’s Pit on Killingsworth serves Texas-style barbecue, including smoked brisket and sausage, along with staples like ribs and pulled pork.
Ava Gene’s
Ava Gene’s on Division Street is a vegetable-heavy Italian restaurant with an excellent wine list that mills its own pasta flour on-site.
Lardo West
Lardo in downtown Portland is a great quick lunch spot and serves some of the best sandwiches in the city, along with a rotating list of local beers.
Marukin Ramen
Marukin Ramen on East Burnside serves different ramen options depending on the day of the week, along with other great Japanese drinking food.
Broder Nord
Broder Nord is an all-day Scandinavian spot in North Portland with breakfast seven days a week and dishes that are as good as they are hard to say.
Ataula
Ataula is where to go in Northwest Portland for tapas, paella, and really good wine before a night out downtown.
Screen Door
Screen Door is an all-day East Burnside spot that serves huge orders of chicken and sweet potato waffles, and other Southern breakfast food you want.
Blue Star Donuts
Blue Star Donuts serves classic donut flavors, like PB and J, along with less classic flavors, like horchata glaze and raspberry rosemary buttermilk.
Renata
Renata is an Eastside Italian restaurant with a nice patio, a big wine list, and great pizzas and pastas.
Han Oak
Han Oak is an upscale Korean restaurant located in a beautiful garage with a courtyard off Sandy Boulevard that you’ll want to live in.
Tusk
Tusk is an East Burnside Mediterranean restaurant where you’ll eat bright plates of fruits and vegetables and dip flatbread into some great hummus.