Portland, OR, is known for having a large percentage of locally owned restaurants and food carts with a focus on using seasonal, organic and locally sourced ingredients. Chefs in Portland offer tasty unique food that stands out, while at the same time staying conscious of how the food was grown or raised.
In Portland you will often find unusual variations of foods, taking the food you grew up on to new levels, because of the Chefs dedication to pushing the boundaries. Portland is truly a food lover's dream come true, and no matter where you decide to eat, you will likely have a meal to remember in the City.
Fresh food at San Antonio's Koi Fusion — Photo courtesy of Koi Fusion
Breakfast
Coming to Portland to explore its offerings as a culinary destination and narrowing down where to eat can be challenging. For breakfast, try the Screen Door. It’s immensely popular, and there will be a wait to eat here, but it’s worth the wait.
Screen Door dishes up large portions of Southern food with a Cajun twist. Brunch is only served on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 9 a.m. Screen Door offers options like Bananas Foster French Toast, a breakfast po-boy and Texas migas. All of their food is from local sources and organic.
After breakfast you can head over to Stumptown Coffee Roasters, where you can enjoy a cup of the most popular coffee in the City. Stumptown Coffee Roaster takes pride in not only the quality of the coffee, but also in participating in sustainable growing practices with farmers that they’ve made sure are treated fairly.
Lunch
Since breakfast was large, opt for a somewhat lighter lunch at one of the Koi Fusion locations. Koi Fusion is one of the most successful food carts in the City.
Koi Fusion has successfully blended Mexican flavors and Korean barbecue with Mama Kwan’s secret family marinades to create food unlike anything else found in Portland. Their tacos are only $2, but they are packed with flavor and fresh vegetables. Their Seoul Sliders are also incredibly delicious.
Dinner at El Gaucho — Photo courtesy of El Gaucho
Dinner
For dinner, delight yourself with a visit to El Gaucho. Although it is quite expensive to eat here, it's more than worth the splurge, because they make dining here an event. They also have an excellent happy hour menu for those on a budget.
Here, you can enjoy 28-day dry aged Niman Ranch all-natural certified Angus, including prime rib, tenderloin fillets, ribs, pork, chicken and seafood cooked over a bed of coals. They also have a fanciful tableside preparation of Caesar salad, Chateaubriand and Bananas Foster flambé.
