Passover 2025 in Portland

Passover 2025 is just around the corner in Portland! Passover, or Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the Israelites’ escape and liberation from slavery in Egypt, as told in the book of Exodus. This is the second book of the Old Testament and part of the Torah.

This year it starts the evening of Saturday, April 12 and ends on Sunday, April 20. The final day is also the date of Easter this year. 

Jews celebrate Passover with a seder, a ritual meal with significant representative edible elements combined with blessings and prayers, readings, storytelling, and songs. Usually prior to Passover, there is major preparation to rid the home of chametz—edible things made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt that could potentially ferment and rise if exposed to water; some communities also eschew legumes. Unleavened bread, called matzah, is an important part of the holiday. 

For many Jews, it’s important to consume “Kosher for Passover” food during this holiday, specifically (you can read more about the differences between Kosher and Kosher for Passover, here). It’s important to look at the packaging label of processed foods, which should indicate that the food is Kosher for Passover. Many foods are naturally Kosher and Kosher for Passover, including most fruits, vegetables, eggs, and nuts, among others. Here is the guidance on kosher meats and Passover.

Grocery Stores

Passover tends to be a family affair, and a lot of people like to prepare and cook a family meal at home (though there are some communal seders that happen, usually at a synagogue or community center). Both Safeway and Fred Meyer have plenty of kosher ingredients available, and my understanding is that Trader Joe’s does, too. 

And Seattle Kosher delivers to the Portland area. Here’s their drop-off locations and pick-up schedule:

• Chabad Center of Clark County, 13116 NE 104th Street, Vancouver
  Wednesday 2pm to 5pm (order by 1pm Tuesday)
• Chabad of Northeast Portland, 3310 NE Shaver Street. Portland
  Wednesday 1pm to 3pm  (order by 1pm Tuesday)
• Chabad of Southwest Portland, 6612 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland
  Wednesday 2pm to 5pm (order by 1pm Tuesday)

Prepared Passover Meals and Foods

There also are some local grocery stores that offer prepared foods for Passover, for those that like or need this level of convenience.

Elephants Deli 

They offer a Passover Brisket Dinner for four for $120. It includes:

• Beef Brisket with Tzimmes Sauce
• Potato Latkes
• Matzo Ball Soup
• Grilled Asparagus

You can also order entrees, sides, and desserts a la carte. Place your order by 2pm, two days prior to your desired pick-up date. These dates are Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 20, from 9am to 3pm. 

Various locations. Elephants Deli website

Zupan’s

Their Passover menu includes a brisket, roast salmon, chopped chicken liver, charoset, gefilte fish, tzimmes, a variety of dessert, and more. Ordering closes Saturday, April 12, for pickup on April 11 to 19. Payment due at pickup.

2340 W Burnside Street and 7221 S Macadam Avenue, Portland. Zupan’s website

Passover Recipes

In my research, I came across some older articles that I thought were still relevant and worth sharing. Oregon Jewish Life put together Passover recipes from Lisa Schroeder (Mother’s Bistro & Bar), Scott Weaver (Elephants Delicatessen), Nathan Seldner (Mirabella Portland), Colt Gilbertson (Café at the J), and Terri Burke (Posies Bakery & Café).

And Here Is Oregon did a story on Portland chef Noah Jacob and his preparations for Passover.

Other Options

Babkush

They are offering amaretti that are gluten-free and dairy-free. Chocolate hazelnut, halva date, vanilla matcha, and Amarena cherry are the flavors. There’s also Mustazzoni: “A chewy, Italian biscuit made with almonds, pine nuts, chocolate and spices. Traditionally eaten at Purim, they also work great at Pesach! (Contains almonds and pine nuts.)” Order here.

Baker & Spice

At this 4/9/25 update, I see they are making coconut macaroons: “Moist coconut cookie baked until toasty on the outside and chewy on the inside, dipped in dark chocolate. Passover friendly.” Order here.

6330 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland. Baker & Spice website

Bakeshop

Bakeshop is known for its 1503 Matzah. It is unlike any of the mass-produced matzah you’ll find, and you can read about it here. Essentially, “As one story goes, a convert (and secret Jew) named Angelina de Leon was tried and executed in 1503 for making matzah, turned in by her maid. Per the [New York] Times, contemporary food scholars have retraced lost crypto-Jewish recipes, including de Leon’s matzah.” It has become a hugely popular Passover tradition in Portland, and this is their ninth year of offering it. . 

Along with this special matzah, Bakeshop is also offering Passover Coconut Macaroons and Chocolate Olive Oil Poppy Seed Cake. Order here. 

Pre-orders for Passover are open until Wednesday, April 9 at 9am. Pick-up is Friday, April 11 or Saturday, April 12, between 8am and 1pm.

5351 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. Bakeshop website

Kachka

They do an annual seder, which this year will be on Wednesday, April 16. Details are sparse as of the writing of this article (they promise “more info coming soon”), and I will update it when that information is available.

960 SE 11th Avenue, Portland. Kachka website

On Watch

Sarah Bellum’s Bakery, a certified kosher dairy bakery (also peanut-free) is a possibility. They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit bakery supporting adults with acquired brain injury. If you know of any other places that are preparing Passover food and sweets, please feel free to comment below, or shoot me an email.

Also: Shop for Non-Edible Passover Items

The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education has an online store of Passover items, in case you need them: matzah trays, haggadahs, seder plates, kiddush cups, and more.