We believe the west coast is the best coast... and the great Pacific Northwest is our favorite place on earth. We want to share our love for Portland, Seattle and Vancouver BC with you by giving you some hints on places to eat and things to do in our beloved cities! We both grew up in Portland, OR and Ashley is still a resident; Katie has spent the last ten years in Seattle and Vancouver BC, so our hints come from our experiences of these great places.
Portland is such a great town, and has been gaining popularity over the years as outsiders realize the greatness: bicycles, beer, parks, the Willamette, and the cozy, laid-back all-around atmosphere. The Rose City is known for its' micro-breweries and food carts, and for Stumptown coffee and Voodoo Doughnut lately, but there's a lot to it than beer and donuts! Here's a few of our favorite spots:
All over
Food Carts (of course)! In the past few years, Portland has become home to more than 500 food carts. Many different styles of food are represented and most are delicious. Carts are grouped into Pods all through downtown and the east side. Find a map here.
McMenimans’ Pubs: A quirky, northwest classic. Many locations all over, each very different but with great food and microbrew. Portlanders are big on beer, you’ll find.
Northwest
Stumptown Coffee Roasters (NW 3rd @ Pine): some would say the best coffee in town. They roast their own and now it’s sold all over the country. A perfect place to spot true Portland hipsters.
Lucky Lab Beer Hall (NW Quimby @ 19th): Lucky Lab is a Portland institution. Tons of great beer on tap, appetizers and fun vibe. Outdoor/ indoor seating, casual atmosphere (21+).
Oba! (NW 12th @ Hoyt): A lovely latin-fusion restaurant in the Pearl district. Go for just appetizers, or a nicer dinner. Cocktails are lovely and the coconut shrimp is amazing.
Cha Taqueria & Bar (NW 21st @ Everett): delicious tacos and margaritas.
Pizzicato Pizza (locations on NW 23rd, and in Hillsdale and the eastside): My favorite pizza in the city. Gourmet toppings, or a phenomenal slice (Puttanesca is the best). The Hillsdale location is the only one that does slices. The salads are awesome too!
Papa Haydn (NW 23rd @ Irving) A bistro on 23rd with some of the most amazing cakes and desserts. A bit pricey but fun for a nice evening out- we typically do just dessert here although the food is fantastic... I can vouch for the French Onion soup.
Southwest
Portland City Grill (SW 5th @ Pine): At the top of one of the tallest buildings in Portland, here’s a great place for drinks and dessert, or a fancy meal.
Fat City Cafe (Multnomah Village): A hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint in our old neighborhood. Great vibe and food.
Salvador Molly’s (1523 SW Sunset Blvd., Hillsdale- 10 minutes from downtown): Caribbean food to die for. Get the surfer tacos and a mojito. You eat peanuts as you wait to be served and toss the shells on the floor. Fun and delicious.
City Thai (Hillsdale): the Pumpkin Curry here is amazing.
Acapulco's (7800 Capitol Hwy; the main corner in Multnomah Village): Mexican food. Always good, even if it isn't the most authentic... Get the peasant plate and peppermint milkshake (hey, we already warned it wasn't authentic)
Jake’s Famous Crawfish (SW 12th @ Stark): A Portland landmark. Arguably the best
seafood in town. Owned by a family Katie used to go to church with.
Cacao (SW 13th @ Stark) or Moonstruck Chocolate (several locations) have incredible drinking chocolate- hot chocolate that is basically melted down chocolate bars.
Southeast
Rimsky-Korsakoffee House (SE 12th @ Alder): as quirky as it gets. A dessert house (literally in a house) with live classical music, tables decorated after composers, and strange things that occur... you just have to see for yourself. Ice cream sundaes are awesome.
Pok Pok (SE Division @ 32nd): New and famous thai fusion. Haven’t been there yet but people talk LOTS about this place. The other location is in Brooklyn NY.
Genie’s Cafe (SE Division @ 11th): People say this is the best brunch in town.
Hoda's Mediterranean (SE Belmont @ 34th): Amazing family-style mediterranean food- platters of meat, rice, veggies, hummous, falafel, you name it.
Oooooh my, I'm hungry now! Have fun eating at our favorite spots! Let us know if you visit one... or if you have something to add to the list! Pop in next week for our list of things to do and see in and around Portland.
happy eating and exploring, Katie & Ashley
All over
Food Carts (of course)! In the past few years, Portland has become home to more than 500 food carts. Many different styles of food are represented and most are delicious. Carts are grouped into Pods all through downtown and the east side. Find a map here.
McMenimans’ Pubs: A quirky, northwest classic. Many locations all over, each very different but with great food and microbrew. Portlanders are big on beer, you’ll find.
Northwest
Stumptown Coffee Roasters (NW 3rd @ Pine): some would say the best coffee in town. They roast their own and now it’s sold all over the country. A perfect place to spot true Portland hipsters.
Lucky Lab Beer Hall (NW Quimby @ 19th): Lucky Lab is a Portland institution. Tons of great beer on tap, appetizers and fun vibe. Outdoor/ indoor seating, casual atmosphere (21+).
Oba! (NW 12th @ Hoyt): A lovely latin-fusion restaurant in the Pearl district. Go for just appetizers, or a nicer dinner. Cocktails are lovely and the coconut shrimp is amazing.
Cha Taqueria & Bar (NW 21st @ Everett): delicious tacos and margaritas.
Pizzicato Pizza (locations on NW 23rd, and in Hillsdale and the eastside): My favorite pizza in the city. Gourmet toppings, or a phenomenal slice (Puttanesca is the best). The Hillsdale location is the only one that does slices. The salads are awesome too!
Papa Haydn (NW 23rd @ Irving) A bistro on 23rd with some of the most amazing cakes and desserts. A bit pricey but fun for a nice evening out- we typically do just dessert here although the food is fantastic... I can vouch for the French Onion soup.
Southwest
Portland City Grill (SW 5th @ Pine): At the top of one of the tallest buildings in Portland, here’s a great place for drinks and dessert, or a fancy meal.
Fat City Cafe (Multnomah Village): A hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint in our old neighborhood. Great vibe and food.
Salvador Molly’s (1523 SW Sunset Blvd., Hillsdale- 10 minutes from downtown): Caribbean food to die for. Get the surfer tacos and a mojito. You eat peanuts as you wait to be served and toss the shells on the floor. Fun and delicious.
City Thai (Hillsdale): the Pumpkin Curry here is amazing.
Acapulco's (7800 Capitol Hwy; the main corner in Multnomah Village): Mexican food. Always good, even if it isn't the most authentic... Get the peasant plate and peppermint milkshake (hey, we already warned it wasn't authentic)
Jake’s Famous Crawfish (SW 12th @ Stark): A Portland landmark. Arguably the best
seafood in town. Owned by a family Katie used to go to church with.
Cacao (SW 13th @ Stark) or Moonstruck Chocolate (several locations) have incredible drinking chocolate- hot chocolate that is basically melted down chocolate bars.
Southeast
Rimsky-Korsakoffee House (SE 12th @ Alder): as quirky as it gets. A dessert house (literally in a house) with live classical music, tables decorated after composers, and strange things that occur... you just have to see for yourself. Ice cream sundaes are awesome.
Pok Pok (SE Division @ 32nd): New and famous thai fusion. Haven’t been there yet but people talk LOTS about this place. The other location is in Brooklyn NY.
Genie’s Cafe (SE Division @ 11th): People say this is the best brunch in town.
Hoda's Mediterranean (SE Belmont @ 34th): Amazing family-style mediterranean food- platters of meat, rice, veggies, hummous, falafel, you name it.
Oooooh my, I'm hungry now! Have fun eating at our favorite spots! Let us know if you visit one... or if you have something to add to the list! Pop in next week for our list of things to do and see in and around Portland.
happy eating and exploring, Katie & Ashley
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