Small Bites: Ki’ikibáa, Ice Cream, Fried Chicken, and More

Ki’ikibáa and Mis Tacones: two of the “41 Greatest Mexican restaurants Across the United States.” This is the name of a listicle/roundup of great Mexican restaurants in our country, and both Ki’ikibáa and Mis Tacones made it onto the list—and big congrats to them! You can read the full article on the NY Times website (gift link). 3244 NE 82nd Avenue and 1670 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland

Hawker Station closes today. They’ve been operating their food cart for the past five years, serving Hong Kong and Singapore style chicken and rice dishes. They wrote, “This isn’t goodbye forever. It’s simply goodbye to this chapter.” I’ll be curious to see what’s next

They were at the Lil’ America pod but had to move when Dos Hermanos decided to expand. They have been at the Modhaus podhaus most recently. Stop by Friday from 11am until sold out. We wish them well. 3829 SE Division Street, Portland

Delicious seasonal flavors at Kate’s Ice Cream dropped yesterday. They sound so good, I had to share them here:

• Peach Crisp. Peach ice cream with a housemade oat crisp and peach preserves.
• Salty Caramel Chip. Oat-based vanilla ice cream with a sticky salted caramel swirl and flecks of chocolate (coconut-free).
• Strawberry Matcha. Swirl of matcha from True Tea and sweet pink strawberry ice cream swirled with housemade Oregon strawberry jam.

I bet the peach and strawberry would go well together; salty caramel chip and peach, too. 3713 N Mississippi Avenue and 1430 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland

Chef Trina at Harvest Moon Sangria Bar in Tigard needs your help. She is the head chef at the bar and is currently hospitalized, recovering from a stroke caused by a hole in her heart. Apparently the hole has been there since she was born, buta blood clot slipped through and found its way to her brain, causing a stroke. She’s going to have to have surgery, eventually, to repair the hole.

“Trina is so much more than a chef. Trina is the heart of Harvest Moon, a deeply loved best friend, and family to so many people,” Juliana Moseley with Harvest Moon wrote on GoFundMe. “Trina has spent so much of life caring for others, and now it is our turn to care for Trina.”

Here is the GoFundMe fundraiser link, in case you’d like to help: Donate to Support Trina’s Recovery, organized by Juliana Moseley. Online

James Beard Awards will not come to Portland. Travel Portland said that Portland did not advance to the next level to be considered as the next host city for the James Beard Awards. Portland is the birthplace of James Beard himself, home of the country’s great food cities, where many James Beard Award winners live and work, and it’s where the best airport in the country is.

I’ll straight up say that from the outside looking in, this is a confusing decision. I know about as much about it as you do, and I feel cranky about their decision. Online

Nick’s Italian Cafe in McMinnville has closed for good. They posted on Facebook late last month:

“We would like to give a special thank you to our patrons and the community of McMinnville for supporting us. Unfortunately we have to close the doors for good due to the high repair costs. We loved serving you.” They were dealing with the safety hazard of their hood vent being non-compliant, which seems to have contributed to the decision. 521 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville

MidCity Smashed Burger is now open in East Portland. They’ve brought their cart to the Level Beer location in Northeast Portland off of NE 148th Avenue. They are open there now, Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 8pm, but they have a grand opening celebration planned. On Sunday, August 30 they’ll have burgers, a special beer release, kids 12 and under eat free, and a free Smashy card comes with each order. 5211 NE 148th Avenue, Portland

For the love of Krispy Krunchy Chicken. Over on Willamette Week, Matt Kalinowski dedicated an article to Krispy Krunchy Chicken, fried chicken that you find at local gas stations. Matt starts with the Parkrose Shell KKC, one of the earliest locations where you could procure this chicken. I pass by it all the time, and have wondered about it, ngl. Note: they double-fry their chicken.

Matt ranks Krispy Krunchy Chicken third in his personal Best Portland Fried Chicken list, after Glasshouse Tavern (first) and Alberta Street Market (second). You can read the entire article on the WW website. Online

D’s Knots pops up at JJ’s Bar. On Saturday, August 22 from 4pm to 6pm head to the relatively newly opened JJ’s Bar for some soft pretzels, a drink, and some chill hangout time. 4601 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland

Yovu Beer has opened their taproom. Their soft opening was Friday, August 14, there in Oregon City. They have their own beer, as well as brews from Alchemy Cider, Ginger Cult and Athletic Brewing. They seem to be a Red Sox bar 👀. 14214 Fir Street, Unit H, Oregon City

New tenant incoming at SE Ankeny and 24th. Do you ever walk or drive by empty storefronts and wonder if anything is going to open up in there? I did the other day—I drove by the old Slide Inn space with those same thoughts. Well, something is moving into the space, according to a local real estate agent. No indication of the new tenant’s name, but it’s great to know that building won’t be empty for long. 2348 SE Ankeny Street, Portland

Fig Fest is coming. This is a great event at One Green World nursery in East Portland. There will be discounted figs plants, fig growers from around the community, fig tasting, a potluck table for fig inspired foods, and an area for people to trade plants and scion. Saturday, September 19 from 10am to 5pm. 6469 SE 134th Avenue, Portland

Bun Bandits has moved. They are one minute away from their previous location at the gas station. And they have Little Hop House and Pizza the Gathering as neighbors! Find them Thursday to Sunday, 7am til sold out, at their new digs. 4390 SW Garden Home Road, Portland

The Italian Job has some jobs to complete. And those jobs will keep them closed for a little while until they fix the issues. “We found a few issues with our new cart that we have to correct and this will take some time to do it right.” They expect to reopen on Thursday, September 10. 3829 SE Division Street, Portland

Push X Pull in Multnomah Village is open. They opened up in an old Starbucks on Saturday, August 15, and have seen great success so far. In their words, “We’re feeling so much love.” Stop by daily from 7am to 6pm. 7737 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland

LatTéa grand opening postponed. This tea and coffee spot was to celebrate today, but had to postpone. “Our Grand Opening was originally scheduled for Friday, August 21, but due to unexpected family matters, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone our celebration until September.” 8733 SE Division Street, Unit 110, Portland

Good Neighbor Cà Phê’s one year anniversary is this weekend. Stop by on Saturday and Sunday for BOGO drinks at Good Neighbor Cà Phê. On Saturday, a White Lotus Lion Dance performance is at 11am. 1650 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland

Knives galore on Sunday. Head to STEELPORT Knife Co. for the 3rd Annual National Knife Day Showcase on Sunday, August 23 from 10am to 2pm. Nine knife brands will be there: BENCHMADE, CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool), GERBER, Kershaw, Leatherman Tool Group, The James Brand, William Henry, ZT, and STEELPORT.

Fun fact: “More knives are made in the Portland metro than anywhere else in America.” At the event you’ll find all knife brands will be tabling, Bridgetown Forge will be forging live, there will be drinks from pFriem, some food, and a chance to go home with some knives. And it’s free! 3602 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

SKÅL! launches next week. This is a new cocktail bar and restaurant at the Broder Nord location on N Mississippi Avenue. “This cozy, cocktail and dining destination will welcome guests Thursday through Saturday evenings from 5:00 PM to close.” They’ll have plenty of Aquavit, savory bites, delicious things to share and more. 3765 Mississippi Avenue, Portland

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Store you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Two Roosters Offers Vietnamese Coffee and More in East Portland
TODOS Media: New Documentary Filmmaking, in Conversation
Atlas Pizza: Coming To the Original Dream Pizza Space in Portland
Daisuke Matsumoto and La Sorrentina Recognized by APN For Their Authentic Pizza Making in Vancouver

And on Instagram, there are some photos of recent meals at Tartuca on N Mississippi, at the newly opened Bar Siete, and at Bar Carlo for brunch.

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