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Hot Spots

Kimura

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This week we headed out to try something new. I’d never had a japanese toast before, but I’d only heard good things. Located on the very popular Williams corridor and next to another favorite hotspot, Kayos Ramen, you can come to Kimura for lunch or dessert! Shokupan, also known as japanese milk bread, is a soft and spongy this bread that you can order with a huge array of toppings.

image courtesy of https://kimuratoast.com

The toast reminded me of a mix of a croissant and french toast. It was thick and spongy like a good french toast, but delicate and buttery like a delicious croissant. I chose to have mine topped with strawberries and cream which perfectly complimented the warm sunny day.

kimura - strawberry toast

Naturally I enjoyed my toast with my favorite beverage, a glass of champagne, but they also have a wide range of other drinks to choose from. There are multiple wine options, coffee and espresso with coffee beans from Proud Mary Coffee, teas from Smith Tea Maker, and of course, Matcha tea and lattes.

We are definitely going to be going back to visit again to try some different toasts and house made butters. Let us know if you have stopped by yet and what your favorite dish is. You can also check out their website and menu Here. If you want to see what else we love, all of our hot spots can be found Here. See you next week!

Yalla

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This week, our Hot Spot is phenomenally delicious Mediterranean BBQ spot Yalla! As Spring gets started and the weather becomes more forgiving, we have been trying to find great outdoor dining options. Both of us independently saw an Instagram post by the one and only @foodiesnitch that featured Yalla’s adorable dining cabanas and decided we had to go!

First of all, we thought these cabanas were so perfect! With one fully open side and a small directional heater, they are totally equipped so that we felt both safe and comfortable. Food was delivered in to go-style boxes to our end table that we then distributed family-style.

We started with drinks of course. Yalla has a nicely curated list of beers and a few canned wines, plus a couple of solid cocktails and their own house-made sodas. I ordered the Prime Manhattan for an opener and Jessica tried out the Ginger soda. Both were great for sipping.

For our meal, we were so excited to try the food that we ordered a bit of everything. For our salad course we tried the Gathering Together Greens with dill, radish, ricotta salata, and walnut vinaigrette. Let me tell you, I don’t normally get very excited about salads, but this one had me scraping the bottoms of the box!

The next course, we tried the Hummus with Burnt Ends and the Yellow Falafel. The falafel was so nicely crunchy on the outside but tender inside and the flavors were on point. The burnt ends seriously melted in your mouth with that perfect amount of smoky fat and the hummus was a great accompaniment. That dish also came with some delicious roasted poblanos that further elevated the flavor profile. We also had a side of the oven roasted carrots with harissa and they were delightful. Cooked perfectly with just the right spice and sauce.

Next was a battle of the fried chickens! We ordered both the chicken wings served with pomegranate molasses and the fried chicken with harissa honey and pickled cauliflower. Both were absolutely top notch, with super succulent meat ensconced in crispy batter with a touch of sweetness. Comparing notes later, we discovered that while we thought both were excellent, I leaned slightly towards the fried chicken and Jessica leaned slightly towards the wings.

We cannot wait to go back and try all of the rest of the menu! In particular, we are very excited to return for the short ribs (a dish recommended for 2-4 people) and the desserts! If you want to decide what to order when you stop in for a visit, check out the menu here. If you want to see where else we have eaten lately, you can find our other Hot Spots here.

Do you have somewhere we should feature next? Let us know in the comments!

Crumbl Cookies

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Portland is full of amazing dessert shops that we know and love. In fact we’ve talked about a lot of them. Today we are stepping just outside of Portland, because our suburbs have some pretty great stuff as well. This week we went to Crumbl Cookies in Lake Oswego! Crumbl Cookies also has shops in Beaverton, Clackamas, Hillsboro, and Wilsonville.

The first thing you should know about Crumbl is that they are serving you warm cookies! Each cookie is thick and just slightly gooey in the center. Before you even walk into the shop, the smell of freshly baked cookies takes over all of your senses. It’s impossible to not fall in love right away! These are not your average cookies that we are talking about. Crumbl has a rotation of 120 delicious flavors. Some of these flavors include red velvet, carrot cake, sea salt toffee, funfetti, and so many more. The number one staple here is the milk chocolate chip cookie. Check out their current selection Here. Crumbl claims to have the world’s best chocolate chip cookie. This is a big statement to make and while we haven’t had all the cookies in the world yet. We agree with their bold claim.

Crumbl Cookies was started in Utah by two cousins who sought out to just make the best cookies they could. After several failed attempts they went back to the drawing board and A/B tested each cookie at their local gas stations and grocery stores until they found the perfect combination of ingredients and bake time. The original shop opened up in 2017 in Utah, Since that point 75 more locations have opened and they show no sign of slowing down! If you’re ready to give “the world’s best cookie” a try let us know in the comment below which flavor you’re most excited about. Also check out some of our other Hot Spots Here.

Portland Style Cheesecake & Dessert

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We all have that one dessert that brings a smile to our faces. Sometimes it’s a dessert that reminds you of your childhood. It could be something that you love to make on your own. For me Cheesecake has always been that one dessert. I’ve indulged in my fair share of cheesecakes throughout my life, and I can happily say that Portland Cheesecake & Dessert company has mastered the perfect cheesecake.

Portland Style Cheesecake & Dessert certainly isn’t new to the Portland area. This company has been crafting desserts for over 30 years now. We decided it was time to take a trip to their local shop! The staff here is so welcoming, and it was apparent to us that they have a passion for what they are doing. We were immediately welcomed with a big “Hello how are you doing?” everyone working was eager to help out, and answer any cheesecake lovers’ questions that we had. There were quite a few options to choose from. If you’re torn between what flavor to get then simply get the cheesecake “cupcakes”. The cupcake route is the one we chose to take. My favorite was the classic vanilla, but marionberry was a very close second. Both cheesecakes were the perfect combination of creamy and fluffy.

Portland Style Cheesecake & Dessert can be found in New Seasons Market as well, but we would recommend heading to the shop for a more personal experience. The shop is open Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm. Trust us when we tell you, that nothing beats the smell of just-baked cheesecake. You won’t find that aroma at your local supermarket! If you’d like to order ahead of time, you can do so on their website Here.

Are you about ready for a slice or two from this local company? While cheesecake might be what they are famous for, they do also offer a variety of other desserts that are sure to please any crowd. Take a look at our some of our other Portland Hot Spots Here to see what else Portland has to offer.

Kayo’s Ramen Bar

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Our Hot Spot of the Week this week is delicious N Williams Ramen spot – Kayo’s Ramen Bar! Full disclosure, this was an accidental find. We had intended to lunch somewhere else, but arrived to find that the outdoor seating was full to the brim with newly-seated patrons. However, sometimes the world works in mysterious ways, because the loss of that other dining experience led us to discover this absolute gem!

There are several standout features of Kayo’s. First, they not only have fantastic traditional ramen options such as Shoyu and Miso, but they also have many interesting and creative spins on the dish. You could choose a Curry Ramen or Wasabi Smoked Salmon one. If you are feeling really wild, maybe you will want to try out their Japon tacos! Another great feature is that you can choose the amount of gluten you are feeling up for. You can get the standard option of traditional noodles, substitute the gluten-free option of julienned zucchini and daikon, or even try out half and half!

We both thought that the TanTan Ramen sounded the best. Apparently many people agree, as this is their most popular option. We tried out the regular TanTan and the TanTan Mazemen (no broth) respectively as well as sharing an order of the Pork potstickers.

First off, let me say that those were the BEST potstickers. They were cooked perfectly, the flavors were on point, and we made a bit of a mess because of how delightfully juicy they were. I could eat them every. damn. day. The ramen was phenomenal as well. I adore Sichuan DanDan, and having a ramen version was a totally new experience for me. We both agreed that it was better with the broth rather than the Mazemen style. That is partly because the spice disperses better in the broth and partly because the broth was so delicious!

This place is such a great option right now especially. The patio is wide open and covered, with very well–spaced tables. Plus, ramen is the perfect dish for these days where the sun is shining, but still a chilly nip to the air. Check out their menu here.

Have you ever tried Kayo’s Ramen Bar? What should we order the next time we are in? Let us know in the comments!

The Herb Shoppe

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We all use herbs in our daily lives, but do you ever stop and think I wonder what all these herbs could really do? The Herb Shoppe has taken NW native herbs and created natural medicines and remedies. It’s the top priority in this shop to unite the community by educating locals about the wonders of natural medicine.

Once you’ve entered The Herb Shoppe, you might think to yourself, Oh my goodness where do I start? No need to get overwhelmed! The staff here is extremely knowledgeable and excited to help you along your herb journey. They offer bulk herbs for personal use or in-house custom creations. If that wasn’t enough to get you excited, they offer a full blending bar for you to make your own custom tinctures, essential oil blends, teas, salts, lotions and so much more! One of my favorite discoveries was the bath bomb section. Who doesn’t love soaking in the tub after a long days work?

The Herb Shoppe does indeed believe there is great importance to natural medicines. If you’re looking for herbs to be a part of your day to day life, we would strongly suggest sitting down for a consultation. You can request a consultation Here. They will start by going over your health history. Then help you come up with a plan for your overall health goal. This doesn’t need to be intimidating, It should be fun and exciting. While we were there we found out that they have teas for things like morning sickness, hangovers, a better night rest, and so many other amazing things. They also offer kits for detox, wellness, sensual desires, and allergies.

Do you think you are ready to explore what our local herbs can do for you? Check out their website Here for more information on what all they have to offer. If you’re not ready to jump into the world of herbs quite yet, check out some of our other hot spots Here

John’s Marketplace

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Portland is full of breweries that serve up great beers and ciders, but sometimes those beers are hard to find. John’s Marketplace provides you with a one stop shop to beer, wine, cider, and so much more. This market has made quite the mark on Portland! We figured we were overdue for a visit at their new location.

Inside the market

John’s Marketplace doesn’t only carry local beers galore, they have beer from all around the world. The first time I walked into John’s I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Would it be just a few selections? Or would it be the same o’l stuff you find at the supermarket? Nope! There is Isle after Isle of variety. We even found frozen wine popsicles! The store is set up so that patrons can either shop for items to take home or they can have a staff member to open them to drink on site. If you don’t want to peruse the bottle selection, they have 17 taps that range from Lagers, sours, stouts, and ciders. And there is always a friendly bartender there to give out a taste if you’re not quite sure what you’re in the mood for. Take a look at the current tap list Here. If you find something on draft that they don’t offer on the shelves, they can put it in a crowler for you to take home.

Outside the market

The brains behind John’s Marketplace really thought of everything. If you’re enjoying your beer on site, you’re probably in the mood for a snack or two. John’s does offer some snacks inside if you just want a small bite but if you’re ready for more of a meal you can find; Noah Halal, Azul Taqueria, Holy Trinity BBQ, Matt & Memere, and Jojo right on site. You’ll find plenty of seating either on the back patio, or out front next to the food carts. John’s has prepped for all types of weather, so it’s the perfect hangout spot all year round.

Have you been to John’s Marketplace yet? Let us know in the comments what your favorite beer to grab from the market is. If you need some help finding other Portland Hot spot check out some of our other favorites Here

Güero

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We have loved this place for quite awhile and it is high time we share it with everyone! Hopefully you have already been to try this awesome restaurant, but if not, here is why we love it! Güero started as a food cart and after their massively popularity, moved into its brick and mortar location. They landed on Ne 28th which has become a more and more popular destination for food and snacks. They have been making fabulous tortas and margaritas since they opened in 2017.

Guero

All of the food is phenomenal, but they are of course best known for the tortas. My personal favorite is the Ahogada, a carnitas torta with jalapeño slaw covered in achiote tomato sauce. I always gravitate towards saucy things on the menu and this one really wowed. If you aren’t in the mood for a sandwich, you can also try one of their fabulous bowls. No matter what you order, I can guarantee you will enjoy it.

Güero also has a fabulous margarita, you can order one with Mezcal or tequila, and have them on the heated patio, or to go! They are simple yet perfectly tart and dangerously drinkable. If you want something lower in alcohol, they make a great horchata and aqua de jamaica.

Güero has done a great job of making things cozy for people wanting to dine in, the patio area is well covered and has several heaters going to keep you warm. We went out on a brisk 40* degree and were quite comfortable with our food. If you have tried this restaurant we would love to hear your thoughts! If not, be sure to go check it out soon! You can head over to their website to see the full menu and hours HERE.