Where to Find Comfort Food in Portland
Pasta, Dumplings, and More!
PIZZA
Apizza Scholls
Serious Eats founder Ed Levine once dubbed this “Neo-Neapolitan” pizza destination “one of the top five pizzerias in America.”
Sunnyside
Ken’s Artisan Pizza
Grab a cheesy pie topped with Calabrian chiles and fennel sausage or mortadella and charred leeks at this wood-fired pizzeria, which was declaredLikeList the “57th best” pizzeria in the world at the annual 50 Top Pizza award ceremony in Napoli in 2022. Add on a Caesar salad and a side of meatballs in tangy tomato sauce for a hearty, warming winter meal.
Kerns
Lovely’s Fifty-Fifty
Sarah Minnick’s acclaimed wood-fired pizzeria, which was featuredLikeList on Chef’s Table: Pizza on Netflix, serves exquisite artisan pies with seasonally inspired toppings like squash and ricotta or chanterelle mushrooms.
Boise
Pizza Jerk
You’ll find offbeat combinations like the “Clam Jam” (made with a white wine cream sauce and clams) and the “It’s Always Sunny in Cully” (pepperoni, pineapple, Bunk Sandwiches hot peppers, basil, and honey) at this Connecticut-inspired pizza parlor with Portland punk rock sensibility. The menu also includes salads, beer, boozy slushies, soft serve ice cream, and Rice Krispie treats.
Downtown, Buckman, Cully
Pizza Thief
Darby Aldaco (a former executive chef at Nancy Silverton’s acclaimed Triple Beam Pizza) and Tony Pasquale run this pizzeria serving naturally leavened pies. Toppings run the gamut from local produce to house-made sausage. In addition to whole pizzas and slices, the menu also includes whole or by-the-slice focaccia, hand pies, and triple chocolate-hazelnut cookies.
Nob Hill, Northwest Industrial
Scottie’s Pizza Parlor
Brooklyn transplant Scottie Rivera produces some of the most sought-after pizza in Portland, using naturally leavened dough made with Pacific Northwest-grown wheat. Toppings range from Calabrian chilis to cilantro arugula pesto.
Hosford-Abernethy, Nob Hill
PASTA
Gabbiano’s
Ready for red sauce? This Italian American restaurant from David Sigal and Blake Foster, the duo behind the cocktail pop-up Zoo Bar, features chicken parmesan, mozzarella sticks, meatballs, duck marsala, sourdough ricotta gnocchi, lamb shank osso bucco, and other dishes that Carmela Soprano herself would approve of.
Concordia
Gumba
Fried chicken and fresh handmade pasta in the same place is a comfort food dream come true, and it’s also a reality thanks to this Northeast food cart.
Vernon
MAC’D
The childhood classic mac and cheese gets souped up with extras like bacon, pesto, and hot Cheetos at this fast-casual takeout window. You can go for a pre-set bowl like the “Goddess” (melted jack and garlic) or the “Hellapeño” (honey jalapeño), or build your own creation.
Westmoreland
Pastificio d’Oro
Chase Dopson and Maggie Irwin’s handmade pasta pop-up-turned-restaurant takes its cues from the Piedmont region of Itality, serving regional specialties like squash-stuffed tortelli and tagliatelle with ragu in addition to antipasti, dessert, and wine.
St. Johns
DUMPLINGS
Bao Bao
Nothing says comfort like a pile of pillowy dumplings, like the traditional Chinese ones from this popular steamed bun and dumpling house.
East Burnside
Duck House Chinese Restaurant
This former taproom turned Szechuan Chinese joint has become famous citywide for their delectable, must-have xiao long bao (steamed buns), wontons, and dumplings—seriously, if you’re not eating their delicious lamb dumplings ($11.95) at this very moment, you need to make some serious life corrections. But neither should you sleep on their more standard Szechuan fare, in particular their Mongolian beef. I love this stuff. Spicy, marinated beef tossed in an array of peppers and grilled onions, this dish is a meaty, mouth-rockin’ pleasure from start to finish. (And smart diners swing by for their great lunch specials in order to beat the lines that form every night for dinner.) To make matters even better, their fantastic service is always on point, so… I’m sorry, but what are you waiting for? WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Downtown
Kachka
No one does Eastern European comfort food quite like chef Bonnie Morales’s nationally acclaimed Kachka. The restaurant has plenty of options to warm your soul from within, including pelmeni, vareniki, rabbit in a clay pot, and more.
Buckman
Mama Chow’s Kitchen
This food cart favorite dispenses pan-fried chicken dumplings and a restorative wonton soup.
Downtown
XLB
This fast-casual counter-serve joint is a favorite for soup dumplings, baozi (yeast-leavened buns stuffed with fillings), wok-fried noodles, popcorn chicken, and other Chinese comfort food.
Boise
SOUTHERN FOOD
Delta Cafe
The iconic soul food destination is a prime spot for homestyle favorites like po’ boys, fried chicken, pulled pork, chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, and more.
Woodstock
Miss Delta
This down-home Southern joint was opened by Delta Cafe owners Anastasia Corya and Anton Pace in 2007, along with cooks Jennifer Hazzard and Chuck Westmoreland, serving up soulful favorites like hush puppies, gumbo, po’boys, jambalaya, fried chicken, and “trashy mac” in a variety of flavors.
Boise
Trap Kitchen PDX
Malachi (aka “Chef Spank”) and his best friend Roberto (aka “Sous Chef News”), members of rival gangs, partnered up to create the “underground culinary sensation” Trap Kitchen, a wildly popular Compton-based pop-up and catering company that counts Kendrick Lamar and SZA among its fans. The business’s Portland outpost features the brand’s signature “pineapple boats” with jasmine rice-filled pineapples and meat, as well as craveable dishes like seafood gumbo, oxtails, enchilada pie, Cajun alfredo pasta, pastrami sandwiches, garlic fries, four-cheese mac and cheese, and the popular “Marth and Snoop” (blueberry waffles and fried chicken).
Old Town-Chinatown
NOODLE SOUPS
Afuri / Afuri Ramen + Dumpling
This much-buzzed-about Tokyo ramen chain has locations in BeavertonLikeList , Old Town-Chinatown, and SlabtownLikeList . The spot is famous for its specialty, a bright, well-balanced yuzu shio ramen, but its creamy sesame tantanmen, available with a rich tonkotsu or vegan hazelnut broth, is equally worth a try.
Beaverton, Buckman, Old Town-Chinatown
Butterfly Belly Asian Cuisine
Though they’re most proud of their bone broth beef pho—their bone broth is cooked for 48-hours to get all that delicious flavor—Butterfly Belly is also an underground hit with gluten-free eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Butterfly advertises a dedicated gluten-free menu, and their menu is vast—everything from sweet potato fries to Vietnamese fusion tofu tacos! If you’re a meat-eater, I heartily recommend their OMG Pho, which comes with delicious cuts of brisket and steak. The broth is everything they promised and more. But their Garden Pho, with its shiitake mushroom broth, is also a major crowd-pleaser and they pack the bowl with plenty of veggies. SUZETTE SMITH
Pearl District
Gado Gado
The menu at Thomas and Mariah Pisha-Duffly’s acclaimed Indonesian-Chinese restaurant is full of deeply fortifying dishes like chicken and leek dumplings, bakso noodle soup with pork meatballs and wonton noodles, and Sumatran-style beef rendang (a rich, spicy beef stew).
Hollywood
Kayo’s Ramen Bar
Warm up with an order of this authentic ramen bar’s signature tan tan (a Japanese take on dan-dan noodles, a spicy, creamy Sichuan specialty or any of their other ramen dishes.
Boise
Mugen Noodle Bar
Have your very own Tampopo moment and warm up with a bowl of steaming ramen from this family-owned noodle bar, which specializes in tori paitan broth (similar to a chicken-based version of the popular creamy pork broth tonkotsu).
Tigard
Pho Oregon
Sate your craving for aromatic broth and slurpable noodles at this pho restaurant, often cited as one of the best in the state.
Madison, Beaverton
Rose VL and Ha VL
Former Portland Mercury restaurant critic Andrea Damewood calls these sister restaurants “definitively the best places to eat soup in Portland.” She writes, “James Beard-nominated Rose VL throws down the three best soups on its menu each Saturday: the super rare cao lau, a memorable Mi Quang, and a chicken curry noodle that won’t quit. Cao lau, which is technically dry noodles served with a side of broth, is shamefully unheard of in the US; because this specialty from the central Vietnam city of Hoi An heaps crispy pork bites, crackers, chicken, and all the fresh herbs over tapioca noodles for a truly wonderful bite. The turmeric noodles and curry noodle are also served at Ha VL, but you should just go to Rose VL every Saturday for the rest of your life.” She also recommends the crabflake noodle soup at Ha VL, writing, “If you haven’t been to Ha VL, start with this unusual thick-brothed baby filled with udon-thick rice noodles, crab flakes, straw mushrooms, quail eggs, shrimp, and shredded pork meatloaf. It’s among their finest soups, and certainly one you won’t find anywhere else (other than Rose VL on Thursdays).”
Foster-Powell, Jade District
XinhXinh Vietnamese Bistro
XinhXinh’s beef pho forced me back into a wholly human state. My main rave is their broth, which bursts with wonderful aromatic spices. There’s more cinnamon and star anise than in other pho I’ve tasted, but XinhXinh really makes it work—it’s not overpowering, just lovely and unique. Their vegetables game is likewise strong (although I did order extra veggies), with mushrooms, broccoli, and bok choy all making it into my bowl. SUZETTE SMITH
Buckman
SOUPS
Nak Won
Beaverton is home to many excellent Korean restaurants, but this hole-in-the-wall, beloved for its free banchan and generous portions, is consistently named as a standout. For extra comfort, try the oddly satisfying “Saving Private Ryan Canned Goods” military stew (a Korean soup with Spam, sausage, bacon, ramen, tofu, and vegetables), the fiery red kimchi stew, sundubu jjigae, beef bone broth soup, spicy seafood noodle stew, or the “Comfort Buttercup” (beef rib soup).
Beaverton
Portland Kettle
This counter-serve cafe is on a mission to “nourish Portland one home-cooked meal at a time” and does just that with dishes like cheese tortelloni with pesto, tater tot casserole, chicken noodle soup, chili, gumbo, and pastrami sandwiches.
Downtown
MISCELLANEOUS
Gravy
This beloved breakfast spot serves hefty portions of pancakes, oatmeal, challah French toast, chicken fried steak, salmon hash, and other diner-style favorites.
Mississippi
Papa Haydn
The longtime Portland mainstay has substantial classics like French onion soup, chili, croque monsieur, house-made fettuccine with mushrooms and cream sauce, and more. Save room for some sweets from their famous display case for dessert.
Nob Hill, Westmoreland
GrindWitTryz
The buzzworthy Hawaiian-Filipino restaurant, beloved for its Oahu-style cuisine, serves “ono” (delicious) dishes like katsu-breaded ahi, kalbi short ribs, and meat jun (marinated beef battered in egg and fried).
Cully
The Rambler
This North Portland tavern has a menu of filling gastropub fare, including poutine, smoked brisket chili, Frito pie, mac and cheese, and smash burgers.
Boise
VEGAN
Mirisata
This hit Sri Lankan restaurant is entirely BIPOC worker-owned and serves an all-vegan menu. One of the most popular dishes is a rice and curry plate with a variety of curries served over banana leaves. They also have a vegan version of kottu roti (a famous Sri Lankan street food typically made with godhamba roti and vegetables, egg and/or meat, and spice), made with meatless Chick’n or polos (jackfruit).
Buckman
Mis Tacones
After moving to Portland, Los Angeles transplants Carlos Reynoso and Polo Abram Bañuelos began making vegan tacos inspired by California street food. Their pop-up-turned-restaurant Mis Tacones serves up plant-based tacos, tortas, papas nachos, and Cali burritos, with hand-pressed tortillas and plenty of panache. Inspired by the Oakland restaurant Gay4U Vegan Eats, Reynoso and Bañuelos also offer free food to trans people of color upon request.
Vernon
Off the Griddle
The menu at this vegan brunch spot is full of craveable, stick-to-your-ribs fare, such as biscuits and gravy, nacho fries, jackfruit brisket sandwiches, mac and cheese, waffles, and a “brunch wrap supreme” made with house-made vegan chorizo and cheese sauce.
Mt. Scott-Arleta
For this and related articles, please visit PortlandMercury
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!