Truly, one of the most beautiful salads I ate this year. It was a seasonal special of sharp greens, strawberries, daikons, onions, radishes, causa, and a chicha morada lavender vinagreta from Reeva.
Welcome back to another end of year list. Instead of publishing our Four Things column today, I’m giving you a list of my favorite spots of 2023, where I enjoyed happy times eating and drinking. There’s a whole variety of places, some established, some new. This list is in no particular order, aside from alphabetically; in other words, no top pick. Please enjoy!
Cheese and Crack
For my birthday this year we had lunch at Paadee and then headed a couple doors down to Cheese & Crack for their titular sundae. I maintain that they make the best soft serve ice cream in Portland. It is smooth, creamy, and luscious. The toppings on this sundae are classic: chocolate ganache, cinnamon butter cracker crumble, and torched housemade marshmallow fluff. The sundaes really are enough for two, and their seasonal sundaes never cease to impress with their magical toppings combinations. 22 SE 28th Avenue, Portland. cheeseandcrack.com
El Sombrero
This sit-down Mexican restaurant in the Parkrose neighborhood serves solid versions of many of the standards you’re used to seeing in the U.S.: enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, arroz con pollo, quesadillas, and more. But my favorite aspect of the place—aside from the friendly staff and the dining room’s extravagant imagery—is the salsa they give you for the table, accompanied by tortilla chips. It’s pleasantly spicy, gorgeous in color, and its consistency is perfect: not overly smooth and not chunky. The flavor of the chiles is in there and it’s wonderful—even crave-worthy. UPDATE 12/30/23: I went to El Sombrero last night for dinner … and the salsa was not the same. Is it because it’s winter and fresh tomatoes suck? Do they have a new chef? Is it a fluke? I don’t know but in honor of full transparency, I must share this sad state of affairs. Hopefully this is not a permanent change. 10820 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. elsombreropdx.com
Fresh Love
Open now for over a year, the folks at Fresh Love continue to make high-quality fresh, vibrant, tasty food and drink on NE Fremont in Roseway. I love going in for lunch and taking home one of their seasonal salads, which are always well-thought out and satisfying (I like to add turkey and avocado whenever possible); the soups always sound good, too. They also offer some very good cheeses in the refrigerated case, Honey Mama’s chocolate bars (Tahini Tangerine is my favorite), excellent babka, seasonal produce (Serina will help you find the best avocado available that day), locally-made pantry goods, and more (I hear the juices and smoothies are also great). I also like that they highlight local artists’ work and have them exhibit their work on the walls. As Martha says, “It’s a good thing.” 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland. freshlovepdx.com
Flour Market
I feel this is one of the most underrated bakery cafes in Portland. And it shouldn’t be, as they offer so many tasty things to eat. Their pistachio kladdkaka has a wonderful texture and taste, and it is truly one of my favorite pastries to eat in Portland. Love the dark Danish Rudbrod, the beautiful egg-washed Challah, biscuits, the laminated dough treats, and the open-faced sandwiches for lunch. Their coffee, from Marigold, is a perfect accompaniment with any of the baked goods (and it’s women-owned). Their often punny sandwich-board sign is also a nice touch. 5507 NE 30th Avenue, Portland. flourmarketpdx.com
Junior’s Roasted Coffee
When I moved east of 82nd Ave in Portland several years ago, it was a bummer that there wasn’t really much of a cafe scene to access, and there definitely was not one in my own neighborhood. For years—decades on both coasts—I had lived just a couple of blocks from various cafes, coffee shops, and corner stores (I will always love you, Coffee Pot), so this was an adjustment (I ended up buying a Breville espresso machine for home use, and it has served us well.)
So when Junior’s opened up in nearby Cully, it was such a treat to have a place I could walk to! Not to mention that the coffee is very good and the baristas know what they are doing when it comes to pulling shots and steaming milk, especially plant milk. The place has definitely brightened up that little corner of Prescott and 72nd, too. I’m glad they are there and doing well in the neighborhood. 7151 NE Prescott Street, Portland. juniorsroastedcoffee.com
Kann and Sousòl
This place has gotten a lot of accolades and hype—and I gotta admit, my inner contrarian gave major side eye to the gushing for a while. But I’m here to tell you that the hype is real and that contrarian was wrong. Especially when it comes to Kann. In late May, my friend Judith and I were able to snag a reservation at Kann and had just the loveliest meal. The food was so, so good; the staff was amazing; and we were blown away by how flavorful and beautiful everything was. Gregory Gourdet has created something really special in Kann.
In August I met up with friends Alicia and April for an evening at Sousòl, the subterranean bar below Kann. It was a bit of a scene and I definitely did not dress up enough compared to pretty much everyone else in the room. The drinks were excellent and the food was good, but from cost standpoint the value is better at Kann. Next time I go to Sousòl I will not plan to have a meal there, and just hang out for drinks and a little food. I will say, though—the brownie ice cream sandwich (dairy and gluten-free) was spectacular and definitely the highlight of the evening. 548 SE Ash Street, Portland. kannrestaurant.com. 227 SE 6th Avenue, Portland. sousolbar.com
Ki’ikibáa
All the way back in January, I met up with my friend Keri to try out this new spot in Madison South that took over the space of the beloved La Parilla Kitchen. Little did we know how amazing the panuchos were going to be at the new restaurant, and I agree with the Oregonian when they say the best panuchos in town are at Ki’ikibáa. Head over to the article in The O proclaiming Ki’ikibáa their best restaurant of the year for more info. 3244 NE 82nd Avenue, Portland. https://www.instagram.com/kiikibaapdx
Monster Smash
This smash-burger-focused food cart was in the back of My-O-My since the bar opened in the Sumner neighborhood, and it was a hit! The smash burgers were superb in taste and texture, topped with Rico’s homemade pickles; the massive amount of fries I’d order with a burger was epic. I never had a bad burger there, and always left happy and sated. I’m sorry to see them move on, and hope they are doing well over at Belmont Station. 4500 SE Stark Street, Portland. instagram.com/monstersmashpdx
My-O-My
Mentioned above, this is the best bar in Sumner and I’d say one of the top bars east of 82nd Avenue. Like Junior’s, this place is walkable for me and that’s a very good thing from my own POV. On top of that they have created a beautiful, cozy space; a nice patio, some pinball and pool; and some tasty NA cocktails. I’ve had them many times, and am glad they mix things up with seasonal options. As for the year-round standards, the Sand Dabber offers major orgeat flavor in the drink, and tends to be sweeter than the Stick-A-Bush, which has a pineapple shrub in it. That makes for a lighter drink. The bartenders are also friendly and are doing a great job mixing drinks of all kinds. Check it out. 8627 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. myomypdx.com
Peter’s Bar & Grill
Peter’s has become a regular haunt for my husband and me, and that’s because the classic American pub food is excellent, it has a great vibe there, plus the staff is friendly and helpful. They make a lot of dressings and sauces in-house, and the specials are something we look forward to checking out whenever we have a meal there (lunch is calmer; it gets more energetic after about 6:30pm). During NFL season they do a simple brunch in the mornings while the game is on (normally they don’t open until lunch time). Speaking of dressing, sometimes I feel I could put their cilantro-pepita dressing on everything. 5701 NE Fremont Street, Portland. petersbarandgrill.com
Reeva
Roseway is blessed to have this fantastic truck offering wood-fired pizza in the neighborhood. The quality of the pizza they produce in this food truck is really impressive, plus they offer really interesting seasonal salads. In the summertime, it’s really a delight to order a pie and hang out in their outdoor seating area with some friends. I also love their addition of jalapeños on the pepperoni pizza. 7727 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. instagram.com/reevapnw
Sandy’s Myanmar Cuisine
A chance stop at the CORE food carts yielded a delicious experience: the Ohn Hta Min and Beef Curry. A base of basmati rice with coconut milk along with beef curry, steamed chickpeas, two days cucumber pickles, and a little container of roasted chili flakes. It was warm, comforting, and the resident picky eater in our home also enjoyed it. I need to head back in 2024 to try more. P.S. The O liked it a lot, too. 3612 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland. sandysmyanmarcuisine.com
The Pocket Pub
On the western edge of the Irvington neighborhood is this modest pizza place that we have fallen in love with over the years. Whether it’s summer with its long days or winter with its long nights, the dining room always feels cozy. I love that they developed some NA cocktails and I’ve enjoyed every one that I’ve tried. As for the food, the pizza always satisfies (I’m partial to the sausage pizza); meatballs are meaty; the house salad is a treat (I usually eat the whole thing); and the punster in me loves the garlic “Knotts” (their nearest cross street is Knott street) on the menu, not to mention they serve them with the lesser-available but still awesome Mornay sauce (béchamel sauce enriched with cheese). This place is a total gem. 2719 NE 7th Avenue, Portland. pocketpubpdx.com
The Sports Bra
One of my favorite salads in the city is served at The Sports Bra: the Greek Chi-Chi Bean Salad. Yes, it’s a riff off a Greek salad, and the vegetable elements are always fresh and beautiful, but it’s that creamy herb dressing the brings it all together to a transcendent place. They also have some great NA cocktails (Grannie’s G&T is the one I often get). The fact that they focus solely on promoting and showing women’s sports gets a huge thumb’s-up from me; their event showing the Women’s World Cup game—at around 2am in the morning—was a lot of fun, too. And I discovered more excellent coffee there: Keia & Martyn’s. 2512 NE Broadway, Portland. thesportsbrapdx.com
Xiao Ye
This newcomer to the west edge of the Hollywood District is simply wonderful (and voted Best New Restaurant 2023 by Eater). Xiao Ye‘s space is super gorgeous, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the food is beyond delicious. Judith and I were completely charmed by the mini madeleines (brings back memories of the time I used to work in a wholesale madeleine factory), made with masa and mochiko, atop whipped butter, and dusted with jalapeno powder. I also loved the squash toast (Little T sourdough, roasted acorn and kabocha squash, yogurt, barberries and herbs). I am eager to return. 3832 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. xiaoyepdx.com
Updated January 2, 2024.
Meg Cotner
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