Lena’s guidebook
FOOD
If you're here on a Saturday, you must make time to try their CAO LAU! This is a very special and rare Vietnamese noodle dish that you can only find here. This family run business is the sister restaurant to their original HA VL (also close by) and both locations do two soups everyday, that's it. It's a MUST while visiting Portland.
16 locals recommend
Rose VL Deli
6424 SE Powell BlvdIf you're here on a Saturday, you must make time to try their CAO LAU! This is a very special and rare Vietnamese noodle dish that you can only find here. This family run business is the sister restaurant to their original HA VL (also close by) and both locations do two soups everyday, that's it. It's a MUST while visiting Portland.
This is a great lunch or dinner spot and the best tortas in town! We especially love their refrito (vegetarian) and their carnitas. Make sure you try their house-made horchata!
73 locals recommend
Güero
200 NE 28th AveThis is a great lunch or dinner spot and the best tortas in town! We especially love their refrito (vegetarian) and their carnitas. Make sure you try their house-made horchata!
This is a deli-style grab & go shop serving up some of THE BEST and MOST AFFORDABLE Vietnamese dishes and snacks you'll find. Our favorites are their eggrolls (especially when they're fresh out of the fryer), salad rolls, deep fried tofu, tapioca noodle dishes and the Chinese sausage & rice.
10 locals recommend
Bui Natural Tofu
520 NE 76th AveThis is a deli-style grab & go shop serving up some of THE BEST and MOST AFFORDABLE Vietnamese dishes and snacks you'll find. Our favorites are their eggrolls (especially when they're fresh out of the fryer), salad rolls, deep fried tofu, tapioca noodle dishes and the Chinese sausage & rice.
We love pizza and Otto is one of our favorites! For basic topping lovers, you can't go wrong with their margherita and pepperoni. Their garlic bread is amazing.
8 locals recommend
Pizzeria Otto FoPo
7122 SE Foster RdWe love pizza and Otto is one of our favorites! For basic topping lovers, you can't go wrong with their margherita and pepperoni. Their garlic bread is amazing.
Coquine is a great pit stop for coffee and pastries during the day and transforms to one of Portland's finest high-end dining destinations in the evening. Make sure you try their cookies if you go! We also love their buckwheat biscuits and scones.
101 locals recommend
Coquine
6839 SE Belmont StCoquine is a great pit stop for coffee and pastries during the day and transforms to one of Portland's finest high-end dining destinations in the evening. Make sure you try their cookies if you go! We also love their buckwheat biscuits and scones.
Little T is the best croissant we've tried stateside since visiting family in Paris. Their baguettes are served all over Portland at restaurants as starters and delis for sandwiches. For gluten lovers, this bakery cannot be missed.
122 locals recommend
Little T American Baker
2600 SE Division StLittle T is the best croissant we've tried stateside since visiting family in Paris. Their baguettes are served all over Portland at restaurants as starters and delis for sandwiches. For gluten lovers, this bakery cannot be missed.
This is our local sushi spot and it's also our favorite. We've never once had a bad experience both dining in and getting takeout from here. Our young child loves their ikura (they use mirin to cure it) and their chirashi bowl is my favorite in town. Oh, and happy hour is amazing here!
32 locals recommend
Miyamoto
422 SE 81st AveThis is our local sushi spot and it's also our favorite. We've never once had a bad experience both dining in and getting takeout from here. Our young child loves their ikura (they use mirin to cure it) and their chirashi bowl is my favorite in town. Oh, and happy hour is amazing here!
This is Vietnamese fast food and so delicious on-the-go! We love getting banh mis to eat for lunch on hikes. Grab an iced Vietnamese coffee and a breakfast sandwich before you start your day of adventures. We love having one nearby and right off the highway!
7 locals recommend
Best Baguette
8308 SE Powell BlvdThis is Vietnamese fast food and so delicious on-the-go! We love getting banh mis to eat for lunch on hikes. Grab an iced Vietnamese coffee and a breakfast sandwich before you start your day of adventures. We love having one nearby and right off the highway!
Hands down our favorite ice cream spot! Conveniently located on the same block of our favorite Thai and pizza spots. We are not vegan but all love the cho-coco-mel, a vegan ice cream! All their flavors are amazing and if any of their rice flavors are available, give it a try.
47 locals recommend
Fifty Licks Ice Cream
2742 E Burnside StHands down our favorite ice cream spot! Conveniently located on the same block of our favorite Thai and pizza spots. We are not vegan but all love the cho-coco-mel, a vegan ice cream! All their flavors are amazing and if any of their rice flavors are available, give it a try.
For traditional, more affordable Thai food, we like E-San's. But for something different and really special, we always go to PaaDee.
110 locals recommend
PaaDee
6 SE 28th AveFor traditional, more affordable Thai food, we like E-San's. But for something different and really special, we always go to PaaDee.
Our usual order is a Caesar salad, the fennel sausage pizza with chilis on the side and the bacon pizza with a side of arugula.
140 locals recommend
Ken's Artisan Pizza
304 SE 28th AveOur usual order is a Caesar salad, the fennel sausage pizza with chilis on the side and the bacon pizza with a side of arugula.
Hands down the best Ethiopian food we've had! We love their samosas, both the veggie and bean, and I always get the veggie combo plate. Peter is the sweetest and it's a family-run business.
35 locals recommend
Bete-Lukas | Ethiopian Restaurant
2504 SE 50th AveHands down the best Ethiopian food we've had! We love their samosas, both the veggie and bean, and I always get the veggie combo plate. Peter is the sweetest and it's a family-run business.
Two words: UBE LATTE! It's about time we have a whole cafe dedicated to all the delicious Vietnamese caffeinated drinks and snacks.
6 locals recommend
PORTLAND CÀ PHÊ
2815 SE Holgate BlvdTwo words: UBE LATTE! It's about time we have a whole cafe dedicated to all the delicious Vietnamese caffeinated drinks and snacks.
BIALY! This place makes some amazing breakfast bialys and sandwiches. Our family likes to grab coffee and food and sit outside with our dog. They also have excellent cupcakes and treats for those with a sweet tooth.
36 locals recommend
Hungry Heart Bakery
414 SE Stark StBIALY! This place makes some amazing breakfast bialys and sandwiches. Our family likes to grab coffee and food and sit outside with our dog. They also have excellent cupcakes and treats for those with a sweet tooth.
PIE by the slice, whole pies, cakes by the slice, whole cakes, crumbles, coffee...This place is COMFORT in the form of pies. Our kiddo loves their heirloom apple, my partner loves their banana cream and I am a die hard coconut cream pie fan! Even if the line is long, just stand in it and it will move quickly. I promise it'll be worth the wait.
124 locals recommend
Lauretta Jean's
3402 SE Division StPIE by the slice, whole pies, cakes by the slice, whole cakes, crumbles, coffee...This place is COMFORT in the form of pies. Our kiddo loves their heirloom apple, my partner loves their banana cream and I am a die hard coconut cream pie fan! Even if the line is long, just stand in it and it will move quickly. I promise it'll be worth the wait.
For fans of the less sweet, Asian-style desserts, this spot is for you! We love their cheesecakes and also love how everything comes in single servings. We've eaten their cakes for all our pandemic birthdays and it's delicious!
SORO SORO Coffee & Dessert
2250 E Burnside StFor fans of the less sweet, Asian-style desserts, this spot is for you! We love their cheesecakes and also love how everything comes in single servings. We've eaten their cakes for all our pandemic birthdays and it's delicious!
This bakery is a total gem. It's affordable, travels well and absolutely delicious! We love getting banh mis and baos from here.
29 locals recommend
An Xuyen Bakery
5345 SE Foster RdThis bakery is a total gem. It's affordable, travels well and absolutely delicious! We love getting banh mis and baos from here.
This cafe serves our favorite (and so far, the most affordable) drip coffee in PDX and my personal favorite cortado. They also carry a locally made chai by One Stripe that is fantastic and have all the dairy alternatives for dairy-free folks.
16 locals recommend
Carnelian Coffee
6923 SE Foster RdThis cafe serves our favorite (and so far, the most affordable) drip coffee in PDX and my personal favorite cortado. They also carry a locally made chai by One Stripe that is fantastic and have all the dairy alternatives for dairy-free folks.
Neighborhoods
Mt. Tabor is a local gem. Our family enjoys visiting this special park every week throughout the year. Whether it's to play at the playground, ride our bikes on the roads (on Wednesdays the park is closed to all motorized vehicles), do some forest bathing along the many trails or to find a quiet spot for a picnic, Tabor is always our first go-to. There is also a basketball court and amphitheater next to the visitor center parking lot.
420 locals recommend
Mount Tabor
Mt. Tabor is a local gem. Our family enjoys visiting this special park every week throughout the year. Whether it's to play at the playground, ride our bikes on the roads (on Wednesdays the park is closed to all motorized vehicles), do some forest bathing along the many trails or to find a quiet spot for a picnic, Tabor is always our first go-to. There is also a basketball court and amphitheater next to the visitor center parking lot.
Richmond is defined by Division St. This is a very heavy foot-traffic area with tons of eating and shopping. Parking on Division can be tough so look for a spot on a side street and walk around!
12 locals recommend
Richmond
Richmond is defined by Division St. This is a very heavy foot-traffic area with tons of eating and shopping. Parking on Division can be tough so look for a spot on a side street and walk around!
Montavilla is defined by Stark St. We love this small street full of restaurants, bars and shops. The Observatory is well-known for its happy hour, Roscoe's list of beer on draught is hard to beat and Bipartisan Cafe is a local favorite for coffee.
34 locals recommend
Montavilla
Montavilla is defined by Stark St. We love this small street full of restaurants, bars and shops. The Observatory is well-known for its happy hour, Roscoe's list of beer on draught is hard to beat and Bipartisan Cafe is a local favorite for coffee.
City advice
Don't miss
The Columbia River Gorge and the Old Scenic Hwy is a must!
Take 84E to get to Vista House and drive back along the Old Scenic Hwy stopping by every waterfall you want to see. The hiking trails and scenic views in this area are abundant. Our favorite most accessible hike is Angel's Rest; go early in the morning to beat the crowds.
Don't miss
Headed to the Coast? Here's our favorite spots!
We love Hug Point for walking and exploring. Neskowin Beach is also a favorite of ours. Oswald West is a great hidden cove for surfing (the quarter mile hike usually keeps crowds away but weekends are a different beast). Oh, and Saddle Mountain is a great costal hike!