Portland! It’s where I live, work, and play. It’s where the food news happens (at least most of it). This category is one of the real constants on Bridgetown Bites and is probably a part of almost every post on this blog.
Beijing Hot Pot gets some love. The Korean Mama and The Korean Son recently went to Beijing Hot Pot and had a great meal at a good price. Watch them here—and maybe stop by yourself! They are just south of Ha VL and just north of Fubonn in East Portland. 2768 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland
Quince Fest 2025 will be here soon—just two and a half weeks at the writing of this article. Last year I heard about this festival after the fact and was really disappointed that I missed it. I don’t want to make that same mistake again, so I am here to tell you about next month’s celebration of this ancient fruit.
A new Thai restaurant is opening on SE Belmont Street called Bangkok Belly. They’re setting up shop in what was most recently the home to Daily Fuel (they closed this past summer), but I remember it more as the location of Suzette, whose crepes I still miss.
I spoke with Kat Thirakomen, who owns Bangkok Belly with her husband David Fiske, about their plans for the restaurant. Here is what I learned.
A recent test pizza, “The best practice pie yet” in September 2025. Photo credit: Edan MacQuaid.
A new pizzeria is in the works for downtown Portland called Edan Pizza. It will be helmed by Edan MacQuaid, a very respected pizzaiolo know for his work in the Washington D.C. area. We first published a little blurb about his pizzeria in a recent Small Bites column. Since then, I’ve spoken with Edan to hear more about his plans—here is what I learned.
The squash pizza special at Saraveza. Photo credit: Saraveza.
Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant has closed. I learned about the closing of this longtime (39 years) Italian restaurant after I published last week’s Small Bites, so I didn’t include it then, so I’m including it now. But yes, this beloved restaurant is now closed.
Last Saturday, someone on Facebook posted this: “Met up with family today at 11am to order a few last Pizza’s. There is NO parking in their huge lot, and there are people parking in the business next door. There’s a line 2hrs deep to place an order. And just heard at 12:35, they are done taking orders for the day.” The end of an era and many will miss it. 17937 SE Stark Street, Portland