2025 Portland Salad Week Recap: The Good, the Surprise, and You

And there you have it—Salad Week 2025 has come to an end. We had a great time planning, researching, tasting, and enjoying salads in the Portland metro area, and sharing it all with you. Here’s our 2025 Portland Salad Week recap, plus our readers’ salad recommendations.

We hope you enjoyed this salad-centric week!

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The 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Finalists in Portland

The 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Finalists medal.
Photo credit: Cullen328  on Wikimedia Commons.

We learned back in January who the James Beard Awards Semifinalists were, and now that list has been reduced to the finalists. Portland—and Oregon—have six individuals and restaurants (includes a bakery and a bar) that are on track to possibly winning a James Beard Award later this summer.

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The 2025 James Beard Awards Semifinalists in Portland

2025 James Beard Awards Semifinalists announcement.

I was happy to see the 2025 James Beard Awards semifinalists list released today. And not only did Portland represent well, but chefs from other cities in Oregon were recognized, too. From Portland to Eugene to McMinville and beyond, our beautiful state shows how much we have to offer the world of food, dining, and edible creativity.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (July 28)

Pono Brewing has closed. In the “I’m Late to the Party Club,” I saw while walking around the Hollywood District this week that Pono Brewing closed their Hollywood pub in late June. Very sorry to see that storefront is no longer active. That said, it must have been hard to operate at such a weird time of the pandemic. Judging from their Instagram, it seems like they are doing ok! I’m glad. 1728 NE 40th Avenue, Portland

Update on Lazy Susan. Over at Montavilla News they have more details on what’s going to happen at the Lazy Susan restaurant, which closed earlier this month. It’s going to turn into a Thai restaurant, probably named Yaowarat (Eater has details on Earl Ninsom’s concept). 7937 SE Stark Street, Portland

The Portland Polish Festival returns this year. The Portland Polish Festival is likely one of the most popular festivals in Portland, and between the pandemic and some safety issues from last year they’ve been inactive for too long. But they are back! Enjoy the music, dance, and food of Poland—like pierogi (dumplings made with either cheese & potato or cabbage & mushroom), kielbasa (sausage), or placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes). And beer! 3900 N Interstate Avenue, Portland

Fancy burgers at Coquine as “Johnny Burgs.” “For the next few Wednesdays we’ll be cueing up The Clash, and offering a concise dinner menu with an all Burgundy by the glass list. Come for a few different burger options, crab rolls, frites, and a menu for which we’re leaning into classic French cuisine for inspiration.”

A few of the things you might see on the menu include Burger “Le François”: Comté, rosemary griddled shallots, Dijon; Burger “La Marie-Louise”: Cantal Jeune, crispy Tropea onions, Jimmy Nardello peppers; a Dungeness crab roll, gougère fritters, and of course, the Coquine Cookie. You can make reservations on their Tock page. 6839 SE Belmont Street, Portland

The 10th Annual Chocolate for Congo Is This February

Now in its 10th year, Chocolate for Congo continues to work with Portland-area restaurants and bakeries to raise money to benefit Action Kivu and Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI)—non-profits investing in the women, children and communities of eastern Congo. Theo Chocolate has donated the chocolate, and desserts will be available throughout the month of February in Portland. The Never Again Coalition has organized this fundraiser.

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