Eat Your Heart Out in Portland, OR

Honestly, this list could be a million miles long because everywhere I looked in Portland, there was another super cute and unique restaurant. Compared to Vancouver, the food scene in Portland is so much more casual and interesting and I am HERE FOR IT! We tried maybe 2% of the amazing eateries there so I think next time we visit, it’ll have to be a much longer trip so we can eat as much as possible.

The Waffle Window

The first brunch we tried in Portland was The Waffle Window and honestly with a name like that, there was no way I was going to be disappointed. If you’re not into a sweet breakfast, like my boyfriend, don’t worry, The Waffle Window has loads of savory options which were arguably better than the sweet options. I was super envious of Andrew’s gravy drenched waffle and I definitely stole more than just one bite. Sorry not sorry. They have a couple of tables outside, which is my preference, but the ambiance inside is super cute and I get total vintage soda-shop vibes from it.

No matter where you are in Portland, you can enjoy The Waffle Window at one of their four locations, which you can find here.

Pok Pok Noi

Another stand out eatery was Pok Pok Noi which bills itself as Thai drinking food – I love food, I love drinking, I especially love food after drinking so this type of cuisine is perfect! We ordered a ton of different dishes to try but the fish sauce wings were incredible. Get them spicy, not mild, you won’t regret it. They’re salty and just the right amount of spicy so they pair perfectly with a nice cold beer or cocktail. And I don’t know if I was just super hungry or not, but the spicy Thai peanuts they set out for us to munch on were also incredible so beg for extra of those.

Pok Pok actually has five locations in Portland which you can check out on their website.

The Tin Shed Garden Cafe

We showed up in Portland, checked into our place, and we were starving so we made a beeline straight for the Tin Shed Garden Cafe. We tried a bunch of items off their menu including the biscuit board with homemade jam and butter (more pls), a quesadilla with that same jam in it (surprisingly delish) and their pork tacos. I couldn’t have asked for a better first meal in Portland – I left satisfied and super full. Plus they allow dogs on their patio and even serve little doggy food which is ADORABLE. In my opinion, there’s nothing better than enjoying some good food and doing a little dog watching.

They do lunch, brunch, dinner, AND happy hour – check out their menu here.

Blue Star Donuts

Okay, you all know that every time I visit a new city I have to go to a local donut shop – I don’t know why, but I just do. I didn’t want to visit the super crowded and famous Voodoo Donuts because that line is NOT worth it so I begged to go to Blue Star Donuts instead. They have so many unique flavors – I tried Raspberry Rosemary Buttermilk – but some other incredible sounding ones were Mexican Hot Chocolate and Cointreau Creme Brulee. The buttermilk donut was perfectly fluffy and cakey and the glaze was just sweet enough with hints of rosemary. I want to go back and try one of each flavor because I seriously cannot control myself around donuts.

If you’re like me and take a long time to choose which flavor you want, check out a sampling of their menu in advance here.

Salt & Straw

Who else is jazzed that it’s finally ice cream season!?!? I know I am – ice cream is definitely a year round treat but it tastes so much better on a super hot, sunny day. After getting a sudden craving for something cold and sweet, we stopped into Salt & Straw on Alberta street and tried a whole bunch of flavors before finally settling on a few. We got a classic coffee on a waffle cone but they have so many other interesting flavors (Pear and Blue Cheese) and some seasonal flavors that there is something for any taste. A quick tip: go during off hours because that line can get brutally long sometimes. A second tip: get two cones each because you’ll definitely want more than just one!

Try your flavors in store or choose ahead of time by checking out their awesome menu.

Until next time, Portland! Can’t wait to eat my heart out again.