Small Bites: Yin Yang Burger Opens, Golden Hour, and More

Yin Yang Burger opens officially today at CORE.
Photo credit: Yin Yang Burger.

Yin Yang Burger officially opens today. This is a new burger truck at CORE that’s been in a little bit of a soft mode so far. “At Yin Yang Burger, we bring together Asian-inspired ingredients while still having a take on some of the classics. It’s all about balance in every bite!” Nice.

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Small Bites: Ancestro Brunch Returns, Feast Utopia, Camp, and More

Ancestro brunch returns with delicious dishes like this with eggs, tortillas, filling, and mole.
You could eat brunch there this morning. Photo credit: Ancestro.

Ancestro brunch returns. As they said, “dinner is taking a little nap for now” (it may return periodically) and they are focusing on brunch at the moment. Head there—they are inside Commensal Fermentation—Thursday through Sunday from 9am to 1pm for their delicious brunch offerings. 3901 N Williams Avenue, Suite A, Portland

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Tap Season 2026 Has Started in the Tualatin Valley

Beer flight for Tap Season 2026.
Photo credit: Explore Tualatin Valley.

Tap Season 2026, a two month celebration of Tualatin Valley breweries, cideries, and taprooms, launched last Thursday, January 15. This is a great opportunity to get to know the Valley’s craft beer and cider scene, thanks in part to the organizing efforts of Explore Tualatin Valley, the local DMO/tourism group. They’ve created a digital passport, planned a launch party, helped bring a collaborative brew to life, and gathered some alpacas.

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Small Bites: Next Level Veggie Grill, Soulful Sips, Cliff’s, and More

The spread at Next Level Veggie Grill. Photo credit: Next Level Veggie Grill.

Next Level Burger relaunches as Next Level Veggie Grill. I saw this pass through an influencer email list I’m on, but saw that Rachel Saslow at Willamette Week covered the change. Basically, last year Next Level Burger acquired Veggie Grill, a fast-casual vegan competitor of theirs, and had a business baby. Now there’s burgers and bowls, and much, more. It kind of reminds me of Laughing Planet.

The first location to transform will be on SE Hawthorne and 42nd Avenue, with a grand opening party this Saturday, October 25 from 11am to 1pm. Read more on WW. 4121 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland

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Small Bites: Cider Bite, Salmon Homecoming, Bergerac, and More

Cider Bite will close. After a decade in business, Portland’s oldest cider house will close; their final day of service will be Sunday, October 19. Founder Jeff Hanneson posted about the closure on their website:

“The decision to close did not come lightly. Like many small businesses, we have faced unprecedented challenges over the past few years-from COVID restrictions, multiple break-ins, and incidents of vandalism, to dramatically rising operating costs and a significant decline in tourism and downtown foot traffic that has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Our beloved city has struggled to regain its vibrancy and to overcome the barrage of negative national media coverage and public perceptions of safety. With our lease set to expire at the end of October and the landlord requiring higher rent and expenses under a long- term agreement, we were unable to secure an acceptable and sustainable extension that would allow us to continue.”

Prior to the closing they will host some special events and will be selling some of the business’s ephemera. Sorry to see them go. 1230 NW Hoyt Street, Portland

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