Portland food news and views
I’ve learned that Hi-Top on NE Fremont Street has added morning coffee service and lunch to their menu. When I read about it, I wanted to learn more so I reached out to them. I ended up having a great conversation with Ezra Caraeff, one of the owners of the bar. Here’s what I learned.
Continue reading “Hi-Top Adds Coffee and Lunch Service in Portland”Berlu Bakery looks to reopen in May. After closing last October with the silver lining of a future re-opening, that opening day is coming soon. The Oregonian reported on their impending reopening on SE Belmont in the Modera Belmont building, sometime in May. Some of the things you will see on their menu is bánh bò nướng, pandan waffles, salted egg coconut tart, and a BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese) but a bánh cuốn version.
Also, they’ll have some great neighbors: Hat Yai, Cozy Congee (which opened recently), Hit the Spot burgers, as well as the return of Pop Pizza. There is no specific date for Berlu’s re-opening, but when they do open it will be Thursdays through Sundays, 9am to 3pm. 661 SE Belmont Street, Portland
Cookie McCakeface is moving. Today is their last day downtown. After today, they will be closed until the first of May, “so we can move and get adjusted to working out of a new space.” That space? The Heist! 770 W Burnside, Portland (now), 4727 SE Woodstock Blvd No. 1, Portland (May)
Bajala’s final day is April 27. They are serving their last Baja-style fish and seafood tacos on Sunday, April 27. After that they move to popups. Tacos will be $6.50, open noon until sold out. 1845 NW 23rd Place, Portland
Harder Day Coffee Company opens on North Williams. Jinju posted about this on their Instagram. Today is the grand opening of Harder Day’s North Williams cafe (previously Happy Cup was in there). Enjoy $2 lattes during their noon to 2pm happy hour. They will be serving Jinju’s chocolate and carrot cakes, too. 3494 N Williams Avenue, Portland
Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:
Flour Bloom Will Close in Portland
Souvlaki Queen Will Open in Downtown Portland
The Italian Summer Kitchen Book Release Is Today in Portland
Via Chicago Will Open in Old Cereus PDX Space in Portland
Original Dream Pizza Will Open on NE Glisan Street in Portland
Over at Lake Oswego High School they’ll be holding an Asian Cultural Fair on Saturday. Saturday also brings us the Baker’s Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Festival and the Tea & Bloom Spring Tea Fair (which starts today). Filipino Food Month continues this month (here are some options), and Pizza Week goes on until Sunday, April 20. More details on these events ob our food festivals and cultural + food festivals pages.
Sunday is also Easter—hoping you’ve gotten your holiday treats! And this coming week are the openings of Matsunoki Ramen and Schilling Cider House.
When I lived in Astoria, Queens, I always looked forward to the arrival of St. Joseph’s Day pastries in local bakeries in March. Whether it was a zeppole or a sfingi, I was ready for them. Here in Portland, there are a couple of places you can get them this time of year, and I want you to know about them.
Continue reading “Get Your St. Joseph’s Day Pastries in Portland”
It’s almost time for king cakes! King cake season usually starts on January 6—Epiphany—and continues in some cases until Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday. There are three main kinds of king cakes you can find in Portland: the northern French galette des rois, NOLA-style king cakes, and rosca de reyes, which is popular in Mexican and other Latin American countries.
Here’s our roundup on where access these delicious king cakes in Portland in 2025.
Continue reading “King Cakes in Portland in 2025”
This year I ate at a variety of places—some fancy, some more modest. But they all served me excellent, tasty, wonderful food. Here are my favorite bites in Portland in 2024.
Located in Cully on Cully Blvd, this is one of two Native-owned cafes in Portland (the other being All Your Heart Coffee in South Portland). I was there for a meeting with a neighbor and ordered a latte. One of the things I was offered by the barista was a choice of espresso roasts, and I chose a medium roast—this meant the Shoshone Blend, a coffee bean from Honduras medium-roasted by Native Coffee Traders. It was lovely, with notes of chocolate and nuts; plus expertly streamed milk. This is one of the best lattes I’ve had all year. 3941 NE Cully Blvd, Portland. Bison Coffeehouse website
Continue reading “Favorite Bites in Portland in 2024”