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Donuts

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Once upon a time, Portland became famous for our donuts. We won’t name names, but the bright pink box can be seen on many flights out of PDX and in the hands of a multitude of excited tourists. We are here to give you the inside scoop: Those are NOT Portland’s best. They aren’t even close. They are more of a novelty item and we get why people want to bring them home to loved ones who have seen them on food tourism shows, but they aren’t the most delicious. So, if you are looking for just a damn fine donut or even an exotic new experience read below to see our picks for the top donuts in the city!

Blue Star

This upmarket brioche-donut bakery features creative flavors & organic, locally sourced ingredients. Various Locations. More info here.

Doe Donuts

Small, wood-lined shop offering handcrafted vegan donuts in classic & creative flavors. 4110 NE Sandy Blvd More info here.

Delicious Donuts

This unpretentious pit stop for donuts & coffee also serves breakfast sandwiches & burgers. 12 SE Grand Ave More info here.

Pip’s Original Doughnuts and Chai

This hip, casual coffee cafe specializes in fried-to-order mini-donuts, chai & espresso drinks. 4759 NE Fremont St More info here.

Heavenly Donuts Bakery

This mom n pop shop specializes in the classics: glazed, twist, bear claws and more. 504 NE 102nd Ave & 1915 N Lombard St. More info here.

There are so many other delicious spots in Portland, and we do recognize that this can be quite the contentious topic. So, we would love to hear your opinions! What do you think is the best donut in Portland? Let us know the shop and which one is your favorite, and we’ll go have a taste! (Twist our arms… 😉 )

Chinese food on Christmas Day

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Like many Portland transplants, my Christmas Day traditions are somewhat… non-Christmas-y. One that I started several years ago was to get Chinese takeout and Champagne and binge on cheesy action movies. Die Hard? Check! The Long Kiss Goodnight? Absolutely. Sometimes, I’ll even throw in something newer, like John Wick. If you are thinking, ‘Heck, yes! Sign me up,’ then here is a list of where to grab Chinese Food in any of Portland’s wonderful neighborhoods on Christmas Day.

Did we miss your favorite spot to grab Chinese Food on Christmas Day? Let us know in the comments! Also always taking suggestions for good cheesy action movies 🙂

Photo credits to: @duckhousepdx, @bigdcharm, @gisellesheeran, @eaterpdx, @sambakall

Portland’s Best – Steakhouses

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In a city that claims to be “one of the best for vegans” there are still many residents that love to enjoy a delicious steak. We have our fair share of places to get a perfectly seared steak so we wanted to share our favorites with you.

We love to support locally owned businesses so everything on this list is a true Portland steakhouse. Listed Alphabetically, here are our favorites!

Clyde's prime rib steak

Clyde’s Prime Rib

5474 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97213

Website

Clyde’s keeps it old school. With a dimly lit dining room it brings us back to what Portland used to be. While the prime rib is reason enough to go, they also have many other cuts of beef that are sure to please. Clyde’s also offers live music in the bar overnight of the week.

Imperial PDX steak and sides

Imperial

410 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205

Website

Vitaly Paley’s wood fired restaurant, you will find tons of delicious cuts of meat on this menu. They have a trusty flat iron and ribeye always on the menu, and they frequently will pass out a specialty cuts list with the menus.

Laurelhurst market steak

Laurelhurst Market

3155 E Burnside St
Portland, OR 97214

Website

Laurelhurst Market is frequently named the city’s best steak house. Everyone that works here can give you the fine details about every cut of steak on the menu. They also serve them with wonderful accoutrement – like the pictured grilled flatiron with chanterelles and shrimp.

ox portland steak for 2

Ox

2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Portland, OR 97212

Website

This James Beard Award winning Latin American restaurant is all about the smoky flavors. There is a wood fired oven front and center in the restaurant which they use to cook all their steaks. The steak is served with the best chimichurri you have ever had and you can order a myriad of amazing vegetable sides.

portland city grill steak

Portland City Grill

30, 111 5th Ave
Portland, OR 97204

Website

This restaurant should be on your must visit list. The 30th floor restaurant offers panoramic views of the city. Whether you are a long time local, or a new visitor, the crew never gets old. They have a variety of steaks you can order from along with sauces and sides for your choice of beef.

urban farmer portland steakhouse

Urban Farmer

525 SW Morrison St
Portland, OR 97204

Website

This open-concept lobby/restaurant serves up some delightful steaks. You have a variety of options once you have chosen the cut of steak you’d like to enjoy. For example, you can have 8oz, grass fed, Oregon tenderloin, or you can have the 8oz, grain finished, California tenderloin.

We hope that you are able to get out and enjoy some of these great steak houses! Are you interested in seeing our other “Best of” lists? Check them all out here

Did we miss your favorite? Add it in the comments!

Coffee Shops

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The Pacific Northwest is known for it’s amazing coffee. How could we not be when Seattle was the birthplace of the now ubiquitous Starbucks? But, with so many incredible and unique coffee shops in the city, who even has time for a chain like that? Not us! Here’s where you should grab your morning (or evening) caffeine buzz instead.

  • Carnelian Coffee 6923 SE Foster Rd This fantastic addition to the up-and-coming strip that is Foster Rd is owned by two rockhounds, so you can sip your exquisitely made oat milk latte while looking at awesome geodes through the provided magnifying glasses.
  • Crema 2728 SE Ankeny St Crema is the perfect spot to go if you are looking for some phenomenal baked goods to go alongside of your Chai, and the bright and airy sitting area is a great spot for a meeting.
  • Extracto 2921 NE Killingsworth This place is known for their precision when it comes to their pours, and are exacting in making sure you get the best possible cup of beans. A great spot for the true coffee nerds!
  • Outlier Coffee 5029 SE Division St Hands down the absolute best place in town to get a Bulletproof coffee. Made with butter (or coconut oil for the vegans) the caffeine molecules bond with the fats for an amazing extended boost. They also have incredible flavor combos like the Liger, which adds ginger and turmeric for and extra fun kick.
  • Ovation 941 NW Overton St This cute little NW shop has wonderful baked goods, and also features amazing Moroccan coffees and teas, some of which are serves in ornate silver pots for added atmospheric immersion.
  • Rimsky-Korsakoffee House 707 SE 12th Ave If you are looking for an after dinner espresso and dessert in a quirky old art house with occasional live music, this is the place to be. Make sure to bring cash and to take a quick peek in the upstairs restroom. You won’t be disappointed.

Did we miss your favorite spot for a pick-me-up? Let us know in the comments!

Pancakes

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It’s National Pancake Day and we are HERE for it! But what are the most scrumptious spots in Portland for a stack, you ask? Read on for 5 of our faves.

  • Arleta Library Bakery Cafe 5513 SE 72nd Ave All of the baked, sauteed, or griddled grub here is phenomenal and the Semolina Griddlecakes are no exception. Plus, sometimes they have amazing seasonal pancake specials. Check the blackboard! https://arletalibrary.com/
  • Broder Multiple locations If you are looking for something outside of your traditional flapjack comfort zone, look no farther than the Æbleskiver (Danish pancakes) at one of the fantastic Broder locales. They are fluffy and delightful and served with lemon curd and lingonberry jam. https://www.broderpdx.com/
  • Gravy Locations in N Portland and NE Portland Breakfast foods are the focus at the two locations of Portland staple Gravy. They have several options to scratch that pancake itch, including Banana Chocolate Chip and Blueberry Pecan. http://gravyrestaurant.com/
  • Jam on Hawthorne 2239 SE Hawthorne With an extensive menu that features delicious breakfast options for all dietary walk of life, Jam even has Oatmeal Chai Blueberry vegan pancakes (that you may just order even if you aren’t vegan). Head there on a weekday to avoid the line. http://www.jamonhawthorne.com/
  • Slappy Cakes 4246 SE Belmont If your pancake proclivities lean towards the DIY but without the prep and clean-up, Slappy Cakes is the place for you. You can choose your batter and sweet or savory toppings, and then make your own fun pancake shapes on your personal griddle. https://www.slappycakes.com/portland

Did we miss your secret spot for the best pancakes? Let us know in the comments!

Pizza

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There are few things in the world better than a good pizza. Portland has plenty of delicious places to get a good pie, so here are some of our favorites!

Oven and Shaker

1134 NW Everett St
Portland, OR 97209

This restaurant by 4 time James beard nominee Cathy Whims tastes as delicious as it looks. She uses local and fresh ingredients on her wood fired pizzas.

The Crown

410 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205

This New York style pizzeria by Vitaly Paley does sourdough crust better than anyone else in town. They have both classic pizza flavors and some fun northwestern twists.

Sizzle Pie

multiple locations in Portland

This is easily the best greasy pizza you can get in town, plus they are open very late! They always feature a vegan pizza, a specialty pizza, and the classics.

Lovely’s Fifty Fifty

4039 N Mississippi Ave
Portland, OR 97227

Lovely’s specializes in fresh locally sourced ingredients that are in season. Plus her pizza’s are frequently adorned with flowers making them look as lovely as they taste.

Ken’s Artisan Pizza

304 SE 28th Ave
Portland, OR 97214

These thin crust, wood-fired pizza’s are frequently touted as the best in Portland. Though they have long been in a battle with Apizza Scholls for the battle, I will let you decide.

Apizza Scholls

4741 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97215

These wood fired pizzas have won the hearts of many Portlanders, and for good reason. The dough is made fresh every morning and perfectly charred in the wood fired ovens. The pies are simple and classic, but delicious.

Pizzeria Otto

6708 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97213

These Neapolitan pizza’s are covered in northwestern ingredients. You can find pizzas with foraged mushrooms, tails and trotters ham, and fresh heirloom tomatoes.

Char

4144A SE 60th Ave
Portland, OR 97206

This Foster Powell Neapolitan style pizzeria does wood fired pizzas all named after cats! They use fresh and local ingredients and change the menu frequently.

Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments!