It’s been almost a year since I updated – as COVID-19 quarantine started in March 2020, I stopped dining out as we all went into lockdown. The last post I wrote was about missing the last time I saw my family in Thanksgiving of 2019, and missing travel. Today is a special milestone: it marks the day that I and F get our first Pfizer vaccination shot now that we qualify. It gives me a lot of hope that we will soon be on the road to a slow return to normalcy. I hope all of you out there are doing as well as you can be, and we can eventually return to sharing stories and experiences again over that universal connection of food and drink. I look forward when these quarantine parties of 2 or less (depending on whether F is eating anything) that I’ve had for the past year can expand to include more then my household. In the meantime, maybe it’s time to prepare for travel by traveling around the world with the best takeout in PDX.
It has been a devastating year for Portland food and drink industry. Some beloved establishments have closed, and those in the industry who have persevered are still struggling, most having to pivot to fit these new times. I still have continued to try to be a patron by supporting take-out and delivery from local businesses at least once a week. Everyone on this list is local. That said, it is a limited list. Many of you know that we live in SW Portland and that we do not own a car so I definitely had a limited circle of distance, with only a few exceptions where I rented a ZipCar. Even with vaccinations though, I am definitely cautious of the current atmosphere and AAPI hate incidents that I have fortunately not directly experienced yet, but have heard about happening in Portland second-hand. So you will likely see a very slow uptick of more PDX food and drink highlights from me, but it will be slow. It will still mostly center on take-out and delivery.
That said, I thought maybe I would start with a year in review of the best takeout in PDX I have had in the past year and if you have not had the chance yet, I would recommend you give it a try. Travel around the world with me while still eating in your pjs with these delicious local food creators.
Asia
Order anything here that includes the crispy pork belly. My favorite is the Ba-Mhee Pi-Set, an egg noddle set with five spice pork loin, crispy pork belly, whole soft-boiled egg, pork dumplings, and yu choy, served dry, and then add on chinese sausage. For the vegs they have soy curl on rice or with egg noodle or in a house curry. Theses dishes bring me straight to eating on little plastic stools along the side of the road in Thailand.
Thai food from the Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom
For other Thai, you can’t go wrong at any of the restaurants from Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom – that is, the traditional everyday Thai from Paadee (I particularly favor the add extra crab to the crab fried rice, and the unusual appetizer of the , or more special occasion dishes from used to be the tasting menu side behind Paadee of Langbaan. Or try a mix of BBQ with Thai with Eem and among the best cocktails in Portland. The last casual favorite is southern Thai fried chicken with roti from Hat Yai
This humble Japanese restaurant transports me back to Japan every time with anything and everything on their menu. Make sure to check to see what their daily specials might be – but you can’t go wrong with two of my favorite dishes to order, the traditional Broiled Mackerel or any of their Don (rice bowls).
Toki is the new venture from the good people behind Han Oak offering PNW ingredients modern Korean. You can find their incredible Korean Fried Chicken in wings or in sandwiches, but don’t sleep on other surprises like their other breakfast sandwiches (I love the one with pork belly) or Omurice available on their Fri-Sun brunch, the Steamed Bao Burger, or their noodle, rice bowls, or dinner sets with protein and cabbage wraps at dinner.
Both of these two restaurants (same owners) offer Southeast Asian flavors blending Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the menu changes so it’s hard to recommend specific dishes except that if there’s crab, get it. And always get the roti.
Africa and Caribbean
I like the Jerk Chicken, but I even like the Jerk Tofu (vegan) here because those Jamaican herbs and spices make everything so tasty. Throw a party for yourself with their fish entree.
While this West African restaurant is temporarily closed, you can get your fix of some of my favorites, including the Fufu (cassava) and Mafe (peanut butter stew) at Green Zebra in the deli section, and you can get bottles of the Akadi sauce there as well as New Seasons to try to tide you over. I can’t wait until she comes back because I miss the Tofu Suya with fries and that super tasty housemade kankankan spices to go along with the Mafe, and the Attieke Poisson Grille which is my favorite and I hope makes a return when she reopens.
Tropicale is mainly known for their cocktails, mainly the pina colada which you can order in a pineapple, and get tostones or pulpo to snack on. But I think their brunch is a hidden gem – think a guava twist on french toast, as well as the chilaquiles, or tacos desayuno.
Europe Mediterranean and Middle East
Next we head to the Basque region of Spain at one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Portland, Urdaneta. The small plates will change with the seasons – just know to order a few tapas and do not miss out on dessert of that Basque Burnt Cheesecake that pairs perfectly with
I’ve been a fan for years of this family owned restaurant, now woman owned as Hilda continues the legacy of her parents with this more then 35 year old restaurant institution offering Lebanese and Mediterranean food to Portland.
Another one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Portland is this second-generation take (I think the owner is actually first generation, but I think the flavors are more a second generation interpretation because there is definitely an American influence from the 90s going on) on Belarusian cuisine at what may be among the US’s best Russian / Soviet inspired restaurant. First, you must go to Aria Gin Distillery and get the Kachka horseradish vodka, which goes with everything – be it in bloody mary or as cold shots accompaniment. Then head towards Kachka or Lavka and definitely get the dumplings. You may want to save yourself some time and also buy some frozen for when you will crave this later – and you might want to spoil yourself with a bit of house cured salmon roe, a huge bargain at $3 for just an oz. Caviar dreams on a fish stick budget baby! They are reopening their cafe in May so I’m not sure what will be on the menu, but the dumplings are always available in the deli, along with variety of other meats (I like the smoked salo and hazelnut saltison and salami) and prepared foods that would go great with that vodka.
US
Despite the name promoting their crispy potato wedges, you can find some crispy juice fried chicken sandwiches, spicy cheeseburgers that really deliver on the promised kick, and one an alarmingly addictive brussels sprouts sandwich.
At Sea Sweets my standby is usually the Salmon which they have in a marinated mix of sweet onion, cilantro, serrano pepper, yuzu tobikko, truffle oil, and house ponzu. But I also really like the Spicy Albacore tuna with scallion, fried chili oil, black vinegar, sesame oil. What makes SeaSweets Poke really outstanding are the additional toppings you can add on top of this. You’ll find lots of fun options like Kimchee Corn, Seaweed Salad, Lemon Pepper Krab Salad, Edamame Hijiki, and Li Hing Cabbage Slaw. It’s worth the additional cost for the add on of Sous-Vide Runny Egg
I’ve intentionally left out a few cuisines I also enjoy often but I don’t have a particular favorite to endorse or I think they are more subjective to your personal taste and cravings: Pizza, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, and Salad/Acái Bowl/Rice Bowl with special sauce aka Healthy Eating. 🙂
What are your favorite takeout places in PDX?
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