Rosh Hashanah 2025—New Year 5786—in Portland

Rosh Hashanah is almost upon us! As I write this, we only recently hit Enkutatash—Ethiopian New Year—-and now we are on to the Jewish New Year. It is also the start of a cascade of Jewish holidays: Yom Kippur ten days later, then Sukkot a few days after that. Next comes Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. All in less than a month!

Rosh Hashanah is well-known for its food—and it’s very accessible. Honey cake, apples, and honey, crown hhallah. Symbols of the hope for a sweet new year and the round bread symbolizes the cyclical year. Cycles are part of the life of many religious adherents, from Christians to pagans to Muslims, and beyond. 

Rosh Hashanah offerings in Portland have dwindled a bit this year compared to last year, but I wanted to share what I know at the writing of this article, about a week before Rosh Hashanah begins, which is the evening of Monday, September 22, 2025. 

Baker & Spice

Head to their dedicated Rosh Hashanah holiday page to order your celebration foods. Orders for Rosh Hashanah will be available to pick up on Monday, September 22, between noon and 3pm. Here’s what they are offering this year:

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 hostess gift. $20

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! $30

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

Chocolate Cardamom Bundt. Orange scented brioche filled with a cardamom ganache. Topped with a bittersweet chocolate and cardamom crumb and soaked in a cardamom simple syrup. $22

Rugelach. Flakey cream cheese dough filled with lekvar and filling: Apricot Walnut, Chocolate Cherry Cardamom, or Poppy Walnut. $12

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

Ben & Esther’s

You can get their Crown Challah for Rosh Hashanah. Plain or poppy, $10/each. Call the shop to reserve yours at 503-265-8470.

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

Grand Central Bakery

For Rosh Hashanah this year, as last 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. $8.30. Order here. Place your holiday preorder for pick-up on September 22, 23, or 24.

Various locations. Grand Central Bakery website.

Mother’s Bistro

On Instagram they posted about their Rosh Hashanah offerings this year, though they are not in a standalone Rosh Hashanah menu, but interspersed throughout the regular menus. Here’s what they wrote: “This month, we’re featuring the cuisine of Chef Lisa’s mom. Serving up delicious pigs-in-a-blanket, roast chicken, braised beef brisket, and apple walnut cake. Come, nosh here or take it to go for the whole family!” You can call ahead of time at 503.464.1122 to confirm what’s available.

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

Zupan’s

The High Holidays menu at Zupan’s is filled with tasty things: chopped chicken liver, brisket, matzoh ball soup, potato knish, noodle kugel, rugelach, two kinds of challah, and more. Order online for in-store pickup September 22 to 23 or October 1 to 2. Online orders are reservation only and will be paid for at time of pickup. Order on the Zupan’s website. 

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

Potential Options To Come

In past years, the following have offered Rosh Hashanah foods: Ben & Esther’s, Leikam Brewing, and Kachka. I’ll update this article if their Rosh Hashanah food and drink becomes available. 

Make Your Own Honey Cake

You might want to try your hand at making honey cake—if so, it’s hard to go wrong with Smitten Kitchen’s recipe. You can find her Majestic and Moist Honey Cake on her website.

And as far as the honey goes, there are some great local options at farmers markets in particular. And if you can find Meadowfoam honey, even better—it has a unique flavor, kind of like marshmallows. It would be great with apples (I’m partial to the Crimson Crisp variety), which you dunk in honey, one of the tastiest Rosh Hashanah traditions.

Here’s a sweet new year to come!

Updated September 19, 2025.