Rosh Hashanah 2024—New Year 5785—in Portland

Honey cake from Bakery & Spice for Rosh Hashanah 2024 (Year 5785). — Honey cake. Photo credit: Baker & Spice

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is almost upon us! It’s the start of the High Holy Days, and a joyful time punctuated with delicious food and drink, celebrated by Jews around the world, from the US, to Argentina, to Ethiopia. And while in Portland we’ve lost a number of Jewish food outlets over the past few years—e.g., Kenny & Zuke’s, Kornblatt’s, Sweet Lorraine’s, and the one that still crushes me, the modern Jewish deli and market Beetroot—there are still some great options. Here are places that both Jews and gentiles can go to enjoy the foods of the holiday.

Rosh Hashanah starts after sundown on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 and lasts until nightfall on October 4, 2024.

Baker & Spice

They have a Rosh Hashanah pre-order site to make it easy to reserve your new year’s foods. Order now, pickup on Wednesday October 2, Friday October 4, and Friday October 11. A few options include:

Crown Challah (plain or raisin). We start with fresh eggs, local wildberry honey, canola oil, and a 6-hour starter to make this traditional high holiday bread. $12

Honey Bee Bundt. Tender buttermilk cake infused with Oregon wildflower honey, and studded with boozy currants. Topped with a brown sugar, butter and honey glaze and lots of toasty almonds! $28

Spiced Honey Cake. Spiced with coffee, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg studded with almonds and golden raisins. Wrapped in cellophane and ribbon making it a perfect hosts gift. $20

6330 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland. Baker & Spice website.

Ben & Esther’s

They are offering specials in Portland only for Rosh Hashanah, including challah rounds, lox schmear, apple and honey hand pies, apple cake topped with streusel and honey glaze, and bagel and lox platters. Note: bagel and lox platters will also be available the following week . Call the shop to reserve yours. And yes—it’s all vegan.

1800 NE Alberta Street, Portland. Ben & Esther’s website.

Grand Central Bakery

For Rosh Hashanah this year, the Bakery is offering Crown Challah with Raisins: Traditional crown shape for Rosh Hashanah. Soft, tender crust and crumb. Rich and mildly sweet made with plump organic red flame raisins. $7.90. Order here.

Various locations. Grand Central Bakery website.

Leikam Brewing

Each year, certified-kosher brewery Leikam Brewing makes a special beer for Rosh Hashanah. For 2024, they are brewing a stout called “Party Like It’s 5785.” For a sweet new year, it’s brewed with dates, honey, and cinnamon, and is named after the upcoming year in the Jewish calendar. On tap only. Access starts Wednesday at 4pm on October 2, 2024.

5812 E Burnside Street, Portland. Leikam Beer website.

Mother’s Bistro

They will have a variety of Rosh Hashanah holiday favorites, including matzoh ball soup, chopped liver, salmon rillettes, braised brisket with potatoes, roast chicken, kasha and bowties, and apple nut cake. Eat in or take out.

121 SW Third Avenue, Portland. Mother’s Bistro website.

Zupan’s / Jacob & Son’s

The High Holidays menu is varied with a number of classic Jewish dishes, like latkes, chopped liver, brisket, and more. For the new year, enjoy seasonal things like Tzimmes (sweet potato & apricots with sesame coriander crumble. $15.99), Crown Raisin Challah, and honey cake.

Available for in-store pickup October 2 to 4 and 11 to 12. Orders are for reservation only and will be paid for at the time of pickup.

2340 W Burnside Street and 7221 S Macadam Avenue in Portland; 16380 Boones Ferry Road, Lake Oswego. Zupans website.

Updated October 2, 2024.