Eat in Portland: Old Town Pizza

Pesto Pizza made with the "original" crust, homemade pesto, spinach, sun-dried tomato, baked pine nuts, and feta cheese

On our last day in town, my mom and I split a Pesto Pizza at Old Town Pizza on NW Davis Street in Northwest Portland. Old Town Pizza's downtown location is located in the former Merchant Hotel lobby and is apparently haunted by a ghost named Nina. In addition to serving pizza with a variety of crusts and toppings, they're also a brewery.

The Pesto Pizza was topped with homemade pesto, spinach, sun-dried tomato, baked pine nuts, and feta cheese. It was as good as it sounds. The ingredients were fresh, the flavors dynamic, and the customers satisfied. No changes need to be made to a pizza this tasty.

If you've stopped by Old Town Pizza, what did you try?

Old Town Pizza

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226 NW Davis St., Portland, OR 97209

Open: Sunday - Thursday 11:30am - 11pm, Friday - Saturday 11:30am - 12am

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Eat in Portland: Blue Star Donuts

Chocolate Almond Ganache donut

While planning my trip to Portland, I added two donut shops to my list: Voodoo Doughnuts and Blue Star Donuts. With four locations throughout the city, Blue Star Donuts offers a tantalizing selection of brioche-style raised donuts. Some of the flavors include Blueberry Bourbon Basil, Chocolate Almond Ganache, and Cointreau Crème Brûlée.

My mom and I tried the Chocolate Almond Ganache, which was as good as it looks. Like Voodoo Doughnuts, Blue Star is not messing around with the raised donut. Their dough is made from a classic brioche recipe daily. The chocolate ganache is nothing short of divine. In all, this donut was incredible. If I find myself in Portland in the future, I'll make sure to try their Blueberry Bourbon Basil, an alliterative and gustatorial winner. (The latter adjective has been confirmed by the lady behind butter, sugar, flowers after all.)

Their Southeast Portland shop is a sleek take on the classic coffee and donut shop. (Did I mention they serve Stumptown Coffee? They serve Stumptown Coffee.) They've got wall-to-wall counter seating (my favorite) and an ideal location on SE Hawthorne Boulevard.

According to Jenn Harris, my favorite food writer over at the Los Angeles Times, they're opening up a location in Venice this summer. They've also got a spot in Tokyo. Sounds like the beginning of world domination to me.

If you've stopped by Blue Star Donuts, what did you try?

Blue Star Donuts

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3549 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214

Open: Daily 8am - sold out

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Coffee in Portland: Courier Coffee Roasters

Latte (12 oz.)

This is probably the best latte I've ever had. It's from the pint-sized Courier Coffee Roasters, found on SW Oak Street between 9th and 10th Avenues in Southwest Portland. This coffee shop's smack-dab in the middle of West End Select Shop, an ultra-cool women's clothing store, and Måurice, a so-called modern pastry luncheonette. It's the perfect afternoon: lunch, coffee, clothes.

My latte was incredible. It had a rich flavor and was clearly made by an expert. It provided the pick-me-up needed for a long day trekking around the city. While I ordered a 12 oz. latte, my mom had a drip coffee which she seemed to enjoy as well.

I would visit Courier Coffee Roasters again (and again and again and again... P.S. Come to SF, pretty please?) If you've stopped by Courier Coffee Roasters, what did you try?

Courier Coffee Roasters

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923 SW Oak St., Portland, OR 97205

Open: Monday - Friday 7am - 6pm, Saturday - Sunday 9am - 5pm

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Eat in Portland: Saint Cupcake

The Salty Captain and Toasted Coconut Cream


French Toast and Lemon Sparkle

While in Portland a couple weeks ago, my mom and I visited Saint Cupcake on SW Morrison Street and SW 12th Avenue in Southwest Portland. Saint Cupcake is a beautifully decorated cupcake shop with three locations throughout the city. The location we visited has an sleek, airy atmosphere with a brilliant use of bright colors. The store is as adorable as the cupcakes for sale.

We tried four mini-cupcakes during our stay: the Salty Captain, the Toasted Coconut Cream, the French Toast, and the Lemon Sparkle. The Salty Captain is made with fudgy chocolate cake, caramel buttercream, caramel sauce, and sea salt. If you're a fan of salted caramel, this cupcake is for you. (Aye aye, Captain!). The Toasted Coconut Cream is made with vanilla cake baked with toffee pieces inside, vanilla cream cheese, and toasted coconut. This is a favorite of mine, possibly due to the 1:1 frosting to cake ratio. I'm not sure of the exact ingredients in either of the cupcakes my mom tried, but she seemed to enjoy them.

I would definitely stop by Saint Cupcake if I'm in Portland in the future. In addition to a wide selection of cupcakes, they also sell brownies, cookies, pies, ice cream, cookiewiches, and ice cream cupcakes. Make sure to check out the whisk bike rake outside the store.

If you've stopped by Saint Cupcake, what did you try?

Saint Cupcake

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1138 SW Morrison St., Portland, OR 97209

Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 6pm, Sunday 11am - 5pm

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Eat in Portland: Mumbo Gumbo

Jambalaya with chicken, Andouille sausage, peppers, onions, celery, and a side of cornbread

Mumbo Gumbo is a food cart that specializes in Cajun and Creole style food in Southwest Portland. When my mom and I visited a couple weeks ago, she ordered the Jambalaya, which is made with chicken, Andouille sausage, peppers, onions, celery, and a side of cornbread. It's everything I want in jambalaya and then some. It comes with a good helping of Andouille sausage. Overall, it's a pretty spicy dish so make sure you've got some water nearby.

If you've stopped by Mumbo Gumbo, what did you try?

Mumbo Gumbo

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930 SW Washington St., Portland, OR 97205

Open: Monday - Saturday 11am - 6pm

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Eat in Portland: The Gaufre Gourmet

ABC Waffle with arugula, bacon, Camembert, and fig sauce

The Gaufre Gourmet is another one of the delicious food carts my mom and I patronized while in Portland a couple weeks ago. Located on SW 9th and Alder Street in Southwest Portland, The Gaufre Gourmet specializes in savory and sweet Belgian waffle dishes.

I ordered the ABC Waffle which comes with arugula, bacon, Camembert, and fig sauce. It is a foodie's dream. The liège style waffle was made from a "sweet brioche-style dough," according to their website, and provides the perfect base for whatever sweet or savory toppings you choose. The arugula was fresh and well-dressed, adding a tanginess to the dish. The bacon was the right amount of crispy, greasy goodness. The Camembert and fig sauce united the dynamic flavors well. This is truly a special dish. To enjoy the full experience, I'd highly recommend trying to get a bit of the waffle, arugula, bacon, cheese, and fig sauce in each bite.

If you've visited The Gaufre Gourmet, what did you try?

The Gaufre Gourmet

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SW 9th & Alder St., Portland, OR 97205

Open: Daily 10am - 3pm

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Eat in Portland: Salt & Straw

Honey Lavender and Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon ice cream


Honey Lavender and Cinnamon Snickerdoodle ice cream

A trip to Portland would not be complete without visiting Salt & Straw, a popular ice cream shop with three locations in the city. Apart from having a steady line out the door, they're known for mixing seemingly divergent flavors of ice cream to create something special. With choices like Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero and Arbequina Olive Oil, their ice cream is dynamic and anything but boring.

When my mom and I stopped by their Northwest Portland location on NW 23rd Avenue and NW Kearny Street a couple weeks ago, we opted for the sweet over the savory. I ordered the Honey Lavender and the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, while my mom tried the Honey Lavender and the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle. Their Honey Lavender was one of the most flavorful I've tried and probably my favorite anywhere. The Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon was also far from subtle. It had the bold taste Stumptown is known for with a twist of bourbon. The Cinnamon Snickerdoodle was a favorite as well. It's made with chunks of the actual cookie and a sweet treat all around.

Outside of Portland, they have another popular location on Larchmont in Los Angeles. The next time I stop by I'd like to try the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache or the Toasted Coconut with Candied Macadamia Nuts.

If you've visited Salt & Straw, what flavors did you try?

Salt & Straw

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838 NW 23rd Ave., Portland, OR 97210

Open: Daily 10am - 11pm

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Eat in Portland: Kelvin's Döner

Döner Salad with lamb and beef döner kebab, iceberg, romaine, red and green cabbage, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, carrots, feta, and tzatziki dressing

Kelvin's Döner is found in the same food pod as Nong's Khao Man Gai on SW 10th & Alder St. in Southwest Portland. I tried a bit of my mom's Döner Salad when we visited this food cart a couple weeks ago. The salad comes with delicious lamb and beef döner kebab, two types of lettuce and cabbage, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, carrots, feta, and tzatziki dressing. The ingredients are fresh and flavorful. The heaviness of the meat is balanced by the lightness of the salad. It's everything you want in the Turkish dish and an ideal lunch spot.

If you've visited Kelvin's Döner, what do you recommend trying?

Kelvin's Döner

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SW 10th & Alder St., Portland, OR 97205

Open: Monday - Friday 11am - 4pm, Saturday 11:30am - 3pm

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Eat in Portland: Nong’s Khao Man Gai

Chicken and Rice (Khao Man Gai) served with house-made sauce and a light soup


Khao Man Gai to go

When I was researching what to do in Portland, pretty much every site recommended visiting Nong’s Khao Man Gai, a food cart found in one of Southwest Portland's many food pods. According to my tour guide (whom I highly recommend), these clusters of food carts sprouted all over the city around 2009 when the economy was suffering. They feature a wide variety of food, including Georgian, Thai, Mexican, Polish, Ethiopian, and Middle Eastern cuisines to name a few. The food pods I saw in this part of the city are in groups of 15 or even a few dozen, making competition and turnover high. Nong’s Khao Man Gai has been around since the beginning and now has two carts and a restaurant. From what I can tell, they've been in business this long with good reason.

When I stopped by their cart on SW 10th and Alder St., I ordered their namesake dish: Khao Man Gai or simply chicken and rice. I was handed a brown bag adorned with illustrations of chickens of all sizes. Inside I found my meal wrapped in white butcher paper, the requisite utensils, and postcard-sized instructions on how to eat my food. My meal included perfectly poached Marys Organic Chicken, flavorful rice simmered in chicken stock and Thai herbs, a container of sauce made with fermented soybeans, ginger, garlic, Thai chilies, vinegar, house-made syrup, and soy sauce, a smaller container of sliced pepper, and a light soup on the side. The instructions on how to eat the Khao Man Gai have about six steps: open the butcher paper, pour the sauce on the chicken, make sure to take a bite with the chicken, rice, and sauce, try some of the cucumbers and cilantro on the side, try some soup, and repeat. They've even created a neat stop-motion video detailing the process.

In all, it was a pretty good meal. The chicken's juiciness was memorable. The ingredients were fresh and the flavors complemented each other well. They balanced the hotter aspects of the dish with cool cucumbers. There was no wait when I visited. However, it is hard to find a spot to eat. Many patrons eat their lunch in a public space nearby, but it would be easier to find a table for your Khao Man Gai.

If you've visited Nong’s Khao Man Gai, what do you recommend trying?

Nong’s Khao Man Gai

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SW 10th & Alder St., Portland, OR 97205

Open: Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm

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Coffee in Portland: Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Latte (8 oz.)

I've been obsessed with Stumptown Coffee Roasters ever since I tried a cappuccino made with their distinct blend at Alfred Coffee & Kitchen in Los Angeles last year. Given that Stumptown is based in Portland ("Stumptown" is a nickname for the city after all), I made sure to stop by while in town. I ordered a latte at their downtown location on SW 3rd Avenue, just a stone's throw away from Voodoo Doughnut. The latte had the bold flavor they're known for and was prepared perfectly.

The atmosphere of this store is similar to the hip coffee shops that line Valencia in San Francisco's Mission District (see exhibits A and B). Stumptown has a sleek wood interior, neon sign over an exposed brick wall, long bar down the length of the store where customers pick their poison, and trendy twenty-somethings behind the counter. Their prices are reasonable for such high quality: my 8 oz. latte was about $3 to its $4 Bay Area counterpart. If I lived in Portland, I would probably go out of my way to get my hands on a cup of Stumptown coffee daily. Although they haven't established a location in San Francisco yet, they do have a spot in the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles. Road trip?

If you've visited Stumptown Coffee Roasters, what do you recommend trying?

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

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128 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204

Open: Monday - Friday 6am - 7pm, Saturday - Sunday 7am - 7pm

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Eat in Portland: Voodoo Doughnut

Dirt doughnut doughnut: a raised yeast doughnut with vanilla frosting and Oreos


Chocolate coconut doughnut: a chocolate cake doughnut with chocolate frosting and shredded coconut

Last week I spent some time exploring Portland, Oregon with my mom. When I asked my friends what to see in Portland before leaving for my trip, Voodoo Doughnut was one of the most highly recommended places to visit. We stopped by their original location on SW 3rd Avenue near W Burnside Street in Southwest Portland. 

After waiting in line for about ten minutes, we ordered two donuts while we were there: the "dirt doughnut doughnut" and the chocolate coconut doughnut. The former is a raised yeast donut with vanilla frosting and Oreos. It was unlike any raised donut I've had before. Usually, I'm not a fan of raised donuts and I prefer cake donuts exclusively. I'll make a huge exception for Voodoo's; it's that good. Their raised yeast donut is an ideal base for the dozens of crazy toppings it will hold. The frosting and the Oreos were also not as overly sweet as expected. They've perfected the balance between too sweet and not sweet enough. The chocolate coconut donut was equally as good. They use Devil's food cake for the cake donut base and freshly shredded coconut on top. If you love chocolate and coconut, this donut is for you.

After visiting for myself, it's not surprising why Voodoo Doughnut is so popular. They have a wide selection of cleverly titled flavors at low prices. It's not uncommon to wait in a line around the block. Fortunately, they have another location aptly named Voodoo Doughnut Too that I've heard rarely has a line. Also remember to bring cash as that's all they accept.

If you've visited Voodoo Doughnut, what do you recommend trying?

Voodoo Doughnut

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22 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204

Open: 24 hours

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