Meg Cotner

August 28, 2026August 27, 2026

Small Bites: Taqueria Mexa, Deals, Dediko, Ice Cream, and More

Taqueria Mexa interior. Amazing what kind of photos you can get when you live in your community. — This is the decor at Taqueria Mexa at their NE 82nd Avenue location.

Taqueria Mexa is opening a second location. They’ll be taking over the Poblano Pepper space by PSU. They have a location on NE 82nd Avenue—right next to where Florence of Nana’s Exquisite Confections was (she’s got a new spot further down 82nd, opening soon)—and their food is really good. We took some home one day and absolutely loved it.

This is a great addition to Southwest Portland. They’ll be open every day starting at 10am, and closing at 8pm on Sundays, 9pm Monday through Thursday, and 10pm on Friday and Saturday. 1921 SW 6th Avenue, Portland

August 27, 2026August 27, 2026

Touring the Mindaro Campus, Plus Jawfish Noms in Portland (Photos)

Check-in at Hyatt House, part of the Mindaro Campus. — The check-in desk at the Hyatt House. Photo credit: Hyatt House Portland Airport

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Linh DePledge, who I first met in connection to Jawfish, a restaurant and bar that opened up in the old Shilo Inn Restaurant on the old Shilo Inn hotel property. The hotel, a Vesta Hospitality property, has been transformed into a pretty nice option for a Portland stay, and the three elements—Hyatt House (a three-star hotel), The Mindaro, and Jawfish— are being referred to as the Mindaro Campus.

I often hear my neighbors ask where their out of town guests could stay nearby, and I think in many cases this is a worthy choice, especially for the folks in Parkrose, Argay, Sumner, Madison South, and Cully. I was particularly curious about the hotel on their behalf.

Here are my impressions of my time there—and plenty of photos.

August 26, 2026August 25, 2026

Bossa, a Brazilian Cafe and Bar, Will Open in NW Portland

Bossa, which started as a specialty coffee roaster and continues to be so, will open a brick and mortar—part cafe, part cocktail bar. They’ll be located in Northwest Portland on the corner on NW 21st Avenue and NW Everett Street—not too far from Say When, which opened earlier this year.

I had a chance to chat with Emanuelle and Tilion Lieberman, Bossa’s owners. Here is what I learned from them.

August 25, 2026August 26, 2026

Labor Day Weekend 2026: Eats, Drinks, and Happenings in Portland

A passion fruit pie for Labor Day weekend 2026 from Bakeshop. — This pie could be yours this Labor Day weekend. Photo credit: Bakeshop.

Labor Day weekend 2026 is right around the corner, believe it or not.

This holiday celebrates and recognizes the achievements of working people and the American Labor Movement. The path to establishing Labor Day started in the 19th century, as a part of the effort to improve working conditions and challenge income inequality. Oregon was the first U.S. state to make Labor Day a public holiday (1887). Today, it is a Federal Holiday in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

August 24, 2026August 23, 2026

Jade Rabbit Is Moving to SE Hawthorne in Portland

Dim sum at Jade Rabbit. — Photo credit: Aubrie LeGault.

Earlier this month, Cyrus Ichiza, founder and head chef at Jade Rabbit—Portland’s queer-run, worker-owned vegan Pan-Asian restaurant and teahouse—shared the news that the restaurant is moving from its home on SE Belmont Street to a new, 3,000 square foot space on SE Hawthorne. The location was a little bit of a mystery at first, but I figured out where they are going to be: The old Afterlife space across from Tov Coffee. That was later confirmed in a press release.

I chatted with Cyrus last week to learn more about their move at Jade Rabbit itself, and here is what we talked about.