Specific Portland food recommendations
May 22, 2015 3:34 PM   Subscribe

Looking for a few quick recommendations for my trip to Portland, Oregon this weekend. Ideally I am looking for places reachable by public transit, since I won't have a car. 1 - Best grilled cheese sandwich. 2 - Best dim sum. 3 - Best sushi that isn't insanely expensive. 4 - Best macaroni and cheese. 5 - Best food cart that is hopefully open for lunch on Saturdays. Thanks!
posted by skycrashesdown to Travel & Transportation around Portland, OR (17 answers total) 17 users marked this as a favorite
 
What part of town are you staying in? Public transit will take you a lot of places, but it'll be much easier to optimize recommendations if we know your approximate home base.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 3:45 PM on May 22, 2015


I know this isn't on your list, but I just want to say: Do not go to Voodoo Doughnuts. Overrated and lame tourist trap. If you like donuts, hit up Blue Star Donuts for some pretty special donuts.

Can't tell you what the best food cart is, but the food cart pod at 10th Street and Alder Street has plenty of options. That's downtown though, so let us know where you're staying and there may be a more appropriate food cart pod for you.
posted by AppleTurnover at 3:50 PM on May 22, 2015 [7 favorites]


Response by poster: That would be helpful, huh. We're staying near Peninsula Park and will be an easy Max ride into downtown. >
posted by skycrashesdown at 3:51 PM on May 22, 2015


1. Grilled Cheese Grill
2. Ocean City
3. Yama Sushi
4. Mac!
5. Cart pods have actually gotten too bountiful to recommend one without more criteria... Take a look here for locations; but honestly any big pod will have something tasty. If you're looking for anything specific, let us know.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 4:03 PM on May 22, 2015 [1 favorite]


I would recommend the mac and cheese at the Tabor Tavern. Not super close to you but it is right on the 20 bus route.
posted by St. Sorryass at 4:04 PM on May 22, 2015


Based on one experience, I am not a fan of the mac or sevice at Mac!.

I enthusiastically recommend the mac & cheese at the deli section at New Seasons grocery, actually. Sometimes I add goat cheese from the salad bar, often I add leafy greens, occasionally I'll add crushed ginger. Basically, it's customizable. And delicious.
posted by aniola at 5:14 PM on May 22, 2015 [1 favorite]


There's a mac & cheese food cart on Alberta street. Small and very friendly. They give you enough to have tons leftover, too.
posted by aniola at 5:18 PM on May 22, 2015


Nong's Khao Man Gai was excellent, but their downtown food truck isn't open on Saturdays (that I know of).

For the rest of your questions, I don't know, though a friend of mine had the best sushi of his life at Bamboo Sushi.

HOWEVER: Go to Blue Star Donuts. They are so good they're like... not even donuts. Above donuts. Like a savory, complex "adult" donut riff. Get an old-fashioned (any flavor, though I love the lemon poppyseed). Especially fresh, in the morning. It will blow your mind. It will also ruin your life, in that no donut will ever satisfy you again.
posted by easter queen at 5:26 PM on May 22, 2015 [6 favorites]


I love the Cadillac Mac & Cheese. You also cannot go wrong with the New Seasons deli or Mac! suggestions already given. They are all delicious.

My favorite sushi place is Sinju in the Pearl. (disclaimer - I am vegetarian and have never eaten their actual fish sushi, but my friends enjoy it :) Mio Sushi is also very popular.
posted by ainsley at 7:57 PM on May 22, 2015


Blue Star is awesome but if you also like chai, make an effort to get to Pip's Doughnuts, too!
posted by bitter-girl.com at 8:14 PM on May 22, 2015


Also, I disagree with the advice to avoid VooDoo Donut (that is, if you are interested in it). I am sure there are plenty of better tasting donuts in the world, but - it is VooDoo Donut - it is a Portland icon. It is on the standard tour for when I have to entertain visitors and everyone loves it, takes pictures of it and talks about it forever afterwards.

If you do go, be prepared to wait in line for at least 30 minutes. Best donut there is the Grape Ape.

If you want actual awesome dessert, go to Pix.
posted by ainsley at 8:20 PM on May 22, 2015 [1 favorite]


I have had many donuts in Portland. I <3 sugar. I was not impressed. On the other hand, if we're making Portland suggestions that aren't on the list, try a flight of drinking chocolate at Cacao right next to Blue Star Donut downtown. Yum.
posted by aniola at 9:10 PM on May 22, 2015 [4 favorites]


Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions so far! You guys have a restaurant devoted entirely to grilled cheese and another for macaroni and cheese - what an embarrassment of riches! Sounds like Blue Star donuts will definitely need to happen, although the phrase "flight of drinking chocolate" is one of the more melodious combinations of sounds in the English language.
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:57 PM on May 22, 2015 [1 favorite]


The grilled cheese with peppers added from Bunk sandwiches is really good. It used to be they didn't have tomatoes on the menu so I got in the habit of ordering it with peppers instead.
posted by fiercekitten at 12:30 AM on May 23, 2015


The Portland group on IRL seems to prefer HK Cafe for dim sum.

In my experience, the food is slightly better and definitely more varied than Ocean City's. However, you should budget time for a long wait for a table at HK Cafe. The only time I've ever had to wait for a table at Ocean City was on New Year's Day.
posted by homodachi at 7:18 PM on May 23, 2015


(Also, you might consider posting a dim sum meetup on IRL! We haven't had one in a while...)
posted by homodachi at 7:20 PM on May 23, 2015 [1 favorite]


Seconding Sinju for sushi and Cacao for drinking chocolate! I personally am a fan of the mac and cheese at Hedge House on Division St.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 10:23 PM on May 23, 2015


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