UPDATE: Check out our most recent guide to Portland's best inexpensive restaurants

Original story: If all you knew about Portland was what your read in glossy food magazines, you'd think the city survived on nothing but vegetable-focused, globally inspired small plates.

Locals know better.

Portland has plenty of great high-end and mid-scale restaurants. But it’s the inexpensive, mom-and-pop restaurants found in strip malls and ramshackle storefronts in far-flung neighborhoods that set the city’s food scene apart.



After presenting our 99 favorite inexpensive dishes in 2017, we're back this year to highlighting inexpensive restaurants, the east Portland guisado destination, the Jade District Cantonese restaurant with the sneaky-great dim sum menu, the pho and bun bo Hue parlors of Southeast 82nd Avenue. To pick these 50 superlative inexpensive restaurants, we headed east to Gresham, south to Oregon City and west as far as Hillsboro, with plenty of stops in Beaverton along the way, hunting for the nexus of great value and good taste.

Central Portland gets some love too. It’s not all $16 sandwiches. With the rise of the modern food court at Pine Street Market, The Zipper and Portland Food Hall, top chefs have leapt into the fast-casual game, offering close-in workers some of the city’s best burgers, pizza and more, all at reasonable prices.

As usual, we looked for restaurants with a significant portion of their mains priced at $10-$12 or less, a move that allowed us to include superlative spots such as Hat Yai and Nong’s Khao Man Gai. The vast majority of these restaurants are even less expensive. We didn’t include any food carts: Those will be featured in their own guide later this year. This year, we stayed away from bakeries and ice cream parlors, favoring places where you can get a full meal.



One other note: To avoid overlap, we didn't include any restaurants featured in our $5 challenge, which asked The Oregonian/OregonLive staffers to find the best thing they could eat for a Lincoln. Check out the $5 Challenge, where you'll find likely Cheap Eats entrants Otto's Sausage Kitchen, Binh Minh Sandwiches and Sabor Salvadoreño.

Below, find the 50 best ways to stretch your dollar in 2018.

-- Michael Russell



Grant Butler, Jamie Hale, Kjerstin Gabrielson and Amy Wang contributed to this guide

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808 Grinds Cafe

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In Cedar Hills, longtime downtown Portland Hawaiian cart 808 Grinds found a comfy forever home at the end of a strip mall alongside a DMV office and Harbor Freight. The Kalua Sandwich is a good deal at $8, tender pork under Asian slaw on a ciabatta roll with a side of macaroni salad. Specials are worth your time. On our visit, those included a Coco-Lime Mahi-mahi with sautéed spinach and coconut rice for $12.



Order: The fried chicken, with, tender, boneless chunks of dark meat ($9 platter, $8 sandwich).

-- KG

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10100 S.W. Park Way

503-477-9976

808grinds.com

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Apna Chat Bhavan

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

This low-key lunch and dinner spot is attached to an Indian grocery that’s tucked into an office park. But crowds ignore the anonymous decor for Apna’s good dosa crepes, Punjabi fried bread, goat and chicken curries, and stir-fried rice and noodle dishes loaded with Indian spices, with most dishes priced $10 or less. For a sweet finish, check out the impressive dessert case filled with dainty chocolate cakes that are just $1.99 a slice.



Order: Chana Masala, a classic chickpea curry with rice that's large enough for two people and just $5.99.

-- GB

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1815 N.W. 169th Place, #6022, Beaverton

503-718-7841

apnachatbhavan.com

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Baby Doll Pizza

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The Oregonian/Oregonlive

There's only one pizza joint in Portland named after the Manhattan topless bar of its owner’s grandfather. Baby Doll Pizza, Travis Miranda’s New York-style pizzeria is the place to go for fine Italian sandwiches, big slices, both classic and square-cut nonna-style. Here, 18-inch pies get slathered a coat of tomato sauce, a heavy sprinkle of mozzarella and toppings, some housemade or local (whole pies start at $19 and are big enough for three to share). Bonus points for handling their own deliveries (yes, including beer).



Order: One of the city's better meatball Parms ($8.50).

-- MR

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2835 S.E. Stark St.

503-459-4450

babydollpizza.com

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Basilisk

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

I understand why some people might not love the fried-chicken sandwich at Basilisk. At first glance, it looks like a jaw workout, towering above its metal tray, taller than it is wide. And the creamy coleslaw will freak out mayo-phobes. But once you grab it, the sandwich collapses to a manageable size. At first bite, buttermilk trapped inside the crunchy skin cuts through the rich chicken and buttered bun like a knife straight to the adrenal cortex, the griddled Pearl Bakery bun bringing an extra dose of crunch to the party. Stop worrying and give in to Portland's best fried-chicken sandwich.



Order: A fried-chicken sandwich ($8) and some Kool Aid-flavored soft serve ($3).

-- MR

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820 N.E. 27th Ave.

503-234-7151

basiliskpdx.com

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Beeswing

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

The highlights at this brunch-focused Cully neighborhood gem are often sweet, like the ever-so-tangy sourdough waffles ($9) loaded with enough fruit (not to mention whipped cream, butter and syrup) for us to consider it health food. And unlike its spiritual cousins Sweedeedee and Milk Glass Mrkt, Beeswing is practically a hangar, with a tall-ceiling front room papered with historic front pages from The Oregonian, dozens of seats inside and rain-soaked picnic tables waiting without. That means you’ll likely find a seat, even when it’s busy.



Order: Sourdough waffles and a cup of coffee.

-- MR

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4318 N.E. Cully Blvd.

503-477-7318

beeswingpdx.com

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Best Baguette

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The Oregonian/Oregonlive

For the amount of time some Portlanders spend thinking about banh mi, you would think we might have a signature chain. Between their fully operational drive-through on Southeast Powell (complete with a walk-in oven for producing their crust baguettes), the slightly superior Beaverton location and an upcoming outpost at Portland State University, Best Baguette is working on it. Go for the grilled chicken, pork or mellow meatball (all sub-$4), each with generous toppings of pickled carrot and daikon, jalapeños and fresh cilantro. Don’t miss out on the long list of bubble tea flavors or fresh watermelon juice (when it’s in season).

Order: Any banh mi will do, but we're partial to the meatball ($3.85).

-- KG

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3635 S.W. Hall Blvd., Beaverton

503-626–2288

8308 S.E. Powell Blvd.

503-788-3098

thebestbaguette.com

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The Big Egg

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The Oregonian/Oregonlive

UPDATE: After this post was published, we received word that The Big Egg announced that it has closed for good. This one stings.

Can griddling tortillas be considered an art form? If so, this weekday-only breakfast spot comes close, with each flour tortilla speckled with gorgeous golden polka dots. Sometime in the past year or so, The Big Egg’s sandwiches vanished, replaced with a menu built around their signature item, the classic wrap. Now you might find wraps filled with steak and potatoes, ground beef and American cheese (the “Breakfast Burgerrito”) or a veggie-heavy Thai curry I worried would have a too-heady whiff of hippie food, but ended up being delicious.

Order: The classic wrap with scrambled eggs, cremini mushrooms, yogurt-lime and poblano sauces and cheddar or gorgonzola ($9). Add bacon.

-- MR

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3039 N.E. Alberta St.

thebigegg.com

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Bless Your Heart

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

It should come as no surprise that chef John Gorham, whose burgers at Toro Bravo and Tasty N Alder often rank among the city’s best, would knock a burger-specific stand out of the park. And so it is with Bless Your Heart (BYH) Burgers, a late addition to Pine Street Market with fast-food-inspired burgers, McDonald-esque fries and a cola-friendly cocktail list. The namesake burger ($6.95) comes with a Duke’s mayo coleslaw, while the classic, either single ($6.95) or double ($9.25), has crisp-edged, well-charred patties sizzling under melted American cheese, shredded lettuce and house-made pickles.



Order: The Bless Your Heart burger and a fresh-squeezed orangeade ($4).

-- MR

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126 S.W. Second Ave.

503-719-4221

byhpdx.com

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Boke Dokie

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

This spin-off of ramen shop Boke Bowl shares its progenitor’s love of cartoon-bright branding and the color orange, but focuses its chain-ready menu narrowly on fried-chicken sandwiches, fast-food-style fries and other sides. More compact than the leaning towers at Basilisk, the fried-chicken sandwich at Boke Dokie’s two locations features a thin, crunchy chicken breast filet on a soft bun with kimchi slaw, pickles and dots of Boke's orange-colored hot sauce. For vegetarians, there are fried tofu sandwiches, rice tots and a Brussels sprout salad.



Order: A fried-chicken sandwich ($7), fries ($3) and a ginger limeade ($2.50).

-- MR

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827 S.W. Second Ave.

3646 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

bokedokie.com

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Bun Bo Hue Restaurant

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The Oregonian/Oregonlive

Are there better bowls of bun bo Hue in Portland? Maybe. Ha VL has a good one. Or you might prefer the streamlined look and clean flavors at Portland’s other bun bo Hue-focused restaurant, Teo Bun Bo Hue. But there’s something about this signature soup of Hue in Central Vietnam that just feels right in the soup shacks and Heineken-soaked karaoke dens of Southeast 82nd Avenue. Come to this edge-of-Lents restaurant for its cheery, mismatched decor and Portland’s best-known bowl of bun bo Hue, a big bowl of spicy beef broth filled with pork loaf slices, congealed blood cubes and a bouquet-sized garnish of rau ram, banana blossom, bean sprouts and lime.

Order: Bun bo Hue, of course ($9 small/$11 large).

-- MR

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7002 S.E. 82nd Ave.

503-771-1141

bunbohuerestaurant.business.site

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Checkerboard Pizza

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

What do you do after launching Portland’s signature bakery, its best wood-fired pizza and winning a James Beard Award for your cookbook writing? If you’re Ken Forkish, you turn your attention to making carefully crafted pastries and some of the city’s best pizza by the slice from a kiosk at Pine Street Market. Formerly known as Trifecta Annex, Checkerboard serves a handful of New York-style slices, including cheese, pepperoni and a few less traditional combos each day.



Order: During the 3-6 p.m. happy hour, when a 12-inch margherita pizza is $10 and draft beers are $4, practically a giveaway by downtown standards.

-- MR

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126 S.W. Second Ave.

503-299-2000

checkerboardpdx.com

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Chennai Masala

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The Oregonian/Oregonlive

This upscale restaurant in the Tanasbourne area dishes up the best Indian food in the Portland area, and at lunchtime offers one of the area’s best bargains with its $10 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. While you won’t find the dosas and goat dishes that are stars of the dinner menu, the buffet features tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, lentil curry, and plenty of naan and onion uttapam flatbreads for sopping up the rich sauces. Because the buffet is popular, dishes on the steam table are replenished frequently, so stews don’t turn gloppy and the lemon rice is always fragrant and moist.

Order: You'll return to the buffet table at least once for more of the deep-fried vegetable pakoras.

-- GB

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2088 N.W. Stucki Ave., Hillsboro

503-531-9500

chennaimasala.net

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ChickPeaDX

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The Oregonian/Oregonlive

A few years back, when ChickPeaDX was just a humble North Portland food cart, I called their falafel the best in the city. Now firmly established in Northeast Sandy Boulevard micro restaurant pod The Zipper, ChickPeaDX hasn’t changed much from the cart days. My assessment of the falafel still stands, with owner Yair Maidan’s shockingly green falafel balls fried to order then nestled among carrot ribbons, creamy eggplant and a tomato-cucumber salad in pita ($9), salads ($10) or rice bowls ($10). Splurge on the piquant mango sauce known as amba (50 cents).

Order: I sometimes miss the falafel sandwich served on light An Xuyen bakery baguettes at the cart. The pita sandwich is a fine replacement.

-- MR

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2707 N.E. Sandy Blvd.

503-741-9390

chickpeadx.com

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Darsalam Lazurdi

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The Oregonian/Oregonlive

The downtown Portland location of Portland’s only brick-and-mortar Iraqi restaurant is decorated with a mural resembling Babylon's Ishtar Gate and hosts an affordable afternoon happy hour and popular lunch buffet ($12 per person to stay, $11 to-go). The kitchen might tweak the buffet menu week-to-week, though you’ll often find smooth hummus and smoky baba ganoush, mini-doughnut-shaped falafel and warm pita. Don’t miss the lamb khema, slow-cooked shredded lamb with chickpeas in a warm, tomato-based sauce.

Order: The buffet.

-- MR

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320 S.W. Alder St.

503-444-7813

darsalamportland.com

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Dockside Saloon & Restaurant

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Not many Portland restaurants can claim a role in taking down a notorious felon and making some of the city's best hash browns. But here we are at the Dockside, a nautically themed dive all but swallowed up by north-creeping Pearl District development. Those hash browns really are a wonder, with preposterously ideal crispness, $3 on their own or a bit more with eggs or other things in one of the Dockside's bridge-themed breakfasts. But their real claim to fame was discovering a cache of documents randomly dropped in their trash bin that helped lead to Tonya Harding's guilty plea in the infamous clubbing of Nancy Kerrigan.



Order: Anything that comes with hash browns.

-- MR

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2047 N.W. Front Ave.

503-241-6433

docksidesaloon.com

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Du Kuh Bee

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Even at 9:30 on a weeknight, customers stream through the door and into the glorified passageway that serves as this dinner-only restaurant’s dining room. Grab a table for conversation or a stool at the counter to watch the staff in action. As you might expect, given that this was the former home of Frank’s Noodle House owner Frank Fong, you’re here for the noodles, an al dente pile of hand-pulled strands stir-fried with vegetables, pork, squid, black bean sauce and more ($10-$15). Also worth staying up late for: mandu soup ($10), which features plump pork dumplings and oval rice cakes packed into a beautifully flavored broth.

Order: Hand-pulled noodles, mandy soup and, if you have the dough, a sizzling platter of bulgogi, kalbi or some other Korean-style meat ($12 and up).

-- AW

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12590 S.W. First St., Beaverton

503-643-5388

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Du's Grill

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Name-checked by Portland rapper Aminé, beloved by students, cops and construction workers alike, Du's is the Pacific Northwest's ultimate inexpensive Korean-American teriyaki joint. Squeeze your car into the cramped parking lot, sit in the tidy dining room and listen to as many as three languages coming from the kitchen. There's yakisoba and chip-thin teriyaki beef, but the move here is the grilled chicken ($9.50), which comes well-sauced on an oversized plate with white rice and crisp iceberg lettuce covered in lemony miso-poppyseed dressing. And heads up to Washington County teriyaki fans: according to Du's website, a Hillsboro location is on the way this spring.





Order: Grilled teriyaki chicken.

-- MR

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5365 N.E. Sandy Blvd.

503-284-1773

dusgrill.com

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East Glisan Pizza Lounge

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If this dark, two-roomed pizzeria and bar had never experimented with Detroit-style ‘za, it still would have been a welcome addition to the Montavilla neighborhood for its good pizza, craft beer and pinball. With each square slice edged with a lattice of crisp cheese, more mozzarella oozing on top, and above that a ladleful of super-bright marinara sauce, those rectangular pies make this a proper destination. Note: Detroit pies are available only on Tuesday and Saturday. Plan accordingly.

Order: Detroit-style pizza ($12-$14, feeds two), served on Tuesdays and Saturdays only.

-- MR

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8001 N.E. Glisan St.

971-279-4273

eastglisan.com

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Enat Kitchen

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Beth Nakamura | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Portland's best Ethiopian restaurant is also one of its least expensive. Enat Kitchen sits inside a shallow storefront decorated with travel posters from Harar and Addis Ababa just a few blocks from Portland Community College’s Cascade campus. You can sit at the red-and-silver booths and scoop up individual wats or tibs using torn off pieces of injera, the teff-based flatbread, or bring friends or family and get a combo platter meant for three with split peas, crisp fish or spiced beef ($30).



Order: If it's your first time, consider trying the lunch buffet, which offers an impressive selection of Ethiopian stews for just $10.

-- MR

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300 N. Killingsworth St.

503-285-4867

enat-kitchen.mxstorefront.com

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Frank's Noodle House

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

The spinoff project from former Du Kuh Bee owner Frank Fong brings hand-pulled noodles and dishes bridging China and Korea to both Portland’s Lloyd Center neighborhood and Beaverton. Service is swift, with complimentary cabbage kimchi and cubed daikon radish hitting the table as soon as you’re seated. It’s tough to go wrong, but be sure to get at least one plate of noodles, either stir-fried or in a soup bowl big enough to share (both $9-$13). For vegetable lovers, the baby bok choy ($9) has a tender-crisp texture and is sauced with a light hand.

Order: At lunch, when spicy noodles with pork belly, squid or other meats drop to between $7 and $9.

-- AW

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822 N.E. Broadway

503-288-1007

15950 S.W. Regatta Lane, Beaverton

503-430-0901

franksnoodlehousepdx.com

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Guero

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The Oregonian/Oregonlive

For four years, Megan Sanchez and Alec Morrison made great tortas from a petite Silver Streak trailer parked off Southeast 28th Avenue. At their new home, three blocks north, they have room to experiment. The result is a street-style hamburguesa with a disc of crispy American cheese, a breakfast torta dripping braised beef juices and a torta ahogada, a traditional Jaliscan "drowned" sandwich stuffed with tender carnitas and habanero slaw and doused in an achiote-tomato sauce (all $11). Give the cart a bigger kitchen, and they'll throw in the kitchen sink.

Order: Give that hamburguesa a try. You know you want to.

-- MR

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200 N.E. 28th Ave.

503-887-9258

gueropdx.com

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Hat Yai

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Take the best part of a meal at sister restaurant Langbaan -- the cavalcade of rich curries, jasmine rice, sour soups and braised meats -- and turn it into a counter service restaurant all its own. It’s hard to believe a restaurant of this caliber could be inexpensive enough for a Cheap Eats guide, but yes, I triple-checked: the Southern Thai-style fried half chicken with sticky rice comes in at $12, while the braised beef cheek or chicken thigh in silky red Malay curry costs $11 and comes with flaky-chewy flatbread. If the restaurant is full, Hat Yai will take your food over to Prospect Bottle Shop, the beer bar next door.



Order: A curry and roti set.

-- MR

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1605 N.E. Killingsworth St.

503-764-9701

hatyaipdx.com

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Ha VL and Rose VL

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Ha VL and its sister restaurant Rose VL specialize in a dozen-odd Vietnamese soups (most around $10), including but not limited to pho, with two served per day. Ha VL is still a destination, but I like going to Rose VL to chat with Ha (Christina) Luu and William Vuong, the restaurants' founders. Go on Saturdays, when Ha VL serves its spicy bun bo hue and peppery pork ball soup and Rose VL doubles up with turmeric noodles and an ambrosial chicken curry. Beyond soup, you'll find occasional specials (including cao lao noodles at Rose VL, also on Saturdays), iced coffee, tea and tropical fruit smoothies.

Order: On a Saturday.

-- MR

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2738 S.E. 82nd Ave. (Ha)

503-772-0103

6424 S.E. Powell Blvd. (Rose)

503-206-4344

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Helvetia Tavern

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Grab a seat beneath the hats hung from every inch of the ceiling in the wooded interior of the Helvetia Tavern and spend a few minutes scanning the menu. Just kidding. You’re here for one thing and one thing only: the jumbo cheeseburger ($10.25), with its plus-size patty, cheddar cheese and special sauce. Everything between this toasted sesame buns melts together into a seriously delicious bite you may be dreaming of days later. A regular-sized cheeseburger can be had for $6.

Order: The jumbo cheeseburger.

-- JH

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10275 N.W. Helvetia Road, Helvetia

503-647-5286

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HK Cafe

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

If there’s one rule I’ve learned in a decade-plus eating around Portland and Beaverton’s generally so-so dim sum spots, it’s to arrive early, or risk running into steamer trays of gummy shrimp dumplings and clammy chicken feet. Two recent visits to HK Cafe, one just as the dim sum menu ended, the other just as the doors opened, showed two completely different restaurants. In the afternoon, most of the soggy dim sum should never have made it off the carts. In the morning, HK rivals Pure Spice as the best dim sum spot in the city, with juicy dumplings, beef and shrimp noodle wraps and shiny golden barbecue pork buns flying off the carts.

Order: Eat with your eyes (dim sum generally averages around $4 per order).

-- MR

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4410 S.E. 82nd Ave.

503-771-8866

hkcafeportland.com

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El Inka

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Update: El Inka has closed.

Out east, Pollos A La Brasa El Inka has long been one of the best restaurant deals in the metro area, an overachieving rotisserie chicken spot with good fried yuca ($8), beef heart skewers ($9.50) and citrus-soaked fish or shrimp ceviche with the plump, salty Peruvian corn nuts called cancha ($12). The highlight is that roast chicken, marinated for days, rubbed with cumin and black pepper, and, if you come at the right time, rolling on spits behind glass in the dining room.

Order: A whole chicken ($14.50; $22 with fries and salad), a 2-liter Inca Kola ($4.50) and some friends to share them with.

-- MR

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48 N.E. Division St., Gresham

503-491-0323

elinkarestaurant.com

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Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Next door to the Florida Room and just down the street from Enat Kitchen, Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine has a compact dining room with reggae music videos on the TV and a hand-drawn map of Jamaica nation in green, yellow, red and black inside. You’re here for jerk chicken, each piece given a lingering heat from Scotch bonnet peppers and a wallop of smoke from the workhorse barrel smoker out front.

Order: Either the large jerk wings ($6 for three) or a jerk meal ($10), with a leg quarter, cabbage some seriously addictive rice and beans.





-- MR

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441 N. Killingsworth St.

503-289-1423

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Justa Pasta

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

This Northwest Portland staple with its tall chalkboard menu and small rack of wines somehow manages to sell its housemade spaghetti, spinach fettuccine and whole-wheat tagliatelle with marinara, pesto or Alfredo sauces for as low as $7 or $8. On our visit, we dabbled with a pair of interesting specials. But if you're hunting for good Italian noodles on a budget, sticking to the basics at Justa Pasta might be the best pasta value in Portland.

Order: Spaghetti marinara ($7), spinach fettuccine alfredo ($8) or whole wheat tagliatelle in pesto ($10).

-- MR

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1326 N.W. 19th Ave.

503-243-2249

justapasta.com

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Kenny's Noodle House

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Despite the name, Kenny's Noodle House specializes in congee, the slow-simmered rice porridge commonly known as a hangover aid and curative throughout much of East and Southeast China. Yes, there are noodles, and they can be quite good, thin egg noodles in subtly sweet sauce with bok choy or submerged in hot broth with wispy wontons. But the traditional congee is the draw, creamy and smooth texture and filled with a cornucopia of meats.





Order: Salted pork and preserved egg congee ($7) with a side of the savory Chinese crullers called youtiao ($2.25).

-- MR

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8305 S.E. Powell Blvd.

503-771-6868

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Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

You could come here just for the ramen at this Japanese-based chain, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Kizuki sets the standard with well-balanced soups filled with chewy noodles and classic toppings. But don’t overlook the izakaya side of the menu. The pork chashu don ($9 for a large bowl) is a thing of beauty, with tender slices of pork belly nestled on white rice and then topped with scallions and seaweed. Whatever your preference, arrive early or be prepared to wait. Long lines have accompanied Kizuki since it opened as Kukai in 2015.



Order: Given the quantity of pork that it comes with, the salt-lover's shoyu ramen ($9) might be the real steal.

-- AW

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11830 N.W. Cedar Falls Drive, Beaverton

971-266-3188

kizuki.com

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Laurelhurst Market deli

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

The deli at this modern steakhouse serves impressive sandwiches for lunch seven days a week, using meat smoked and cured in-house and plenty of good Fleur de Lis ciabatta. The top seller, the ham and salami ($6.25 half/$10.95 whole) has existed in some form since the Laurelhurst Market team ran Viande Meats. For my money, it's the best Italian sandwich in town.



Order: The steak melt ($6.25/$10.95), served only on Wednesdays, as good as you would expect from a steakhouse of this caliber.

-- MR

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3155 E. Burnside St.

503-206-3097

laurelhurstmarket.com

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Loncheria Mitzil

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregon City is something of a Cheap Eats haven these days, with the Norwegian lefse at Ingrid's Scandinavian Food, the OP Wurst outpost at Oregon City Brewing and the good bread at Grano. Loncheria Mitzil was there before them all. Dishes lean toward family-style Mexican but remain surprisingly delicate, with cheese-topped enchiladas and a surprisingly tasty torta ($8) on a golden roll filled with pork, ham and American cheese. On the more traditional side, the soft fried corn turnovers called molotes ($11) are stuffed with potato and drenched in tomato sauce, while the carnitas plate ($11) comes with intensely striated pork, fluffy white rice, refried beans and a trio of warm and pliable tortillas.



Order: It's a bit above our Cheap Eats price range, but the cheese-topped enchiladas suizas ($13) are something of a specialty.

-- MR

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212 Molalla Ave., Oregon City

503-655-7197

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Love Belizean

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

At this food cart turned brick-and-mortar near Portland State University, owner Tiffany Love braises bone-in chicken in a mix of spices including garlic and achiote, then roasts the meat until the skin turns a gorgeous shade of brown. Each piece ($8) comes with beans, coconut rice, Caribbean salsa, arugula salad, fresh lime and your pick from a rainbow of Marie Sharp's Belizean hot sauces. Obsessed with the chicken, I was slow to find the super-tender beer-braised pork ($12), but now it’s firmly in the rotation.



Order: A double order of chicken ($10), which will probably leave you with leftovers.

-- MR

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1503 S.W. Broadway

503-421-5599

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Nong's Khao Man Gai

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Nong's empire is built on a signature dish: Hainanese-style poached chicken with tender rice and a gorgeous ginger sauce, a perfect meal now served at just two locations. The Portland State University cart near our office closed, and the downtown Portland food cart will soon be replaced by a hotel, but a new downtown Portland brick-and-mortar restaurant is on the way. And the Southeast Portland restaurant has its draws, including cocktails, a few dishes beyond khao man gai and some lemongrass- and pandan-flavored coconut milk soft serve dipped, if you desire, in roast coconut shavings.

Order: Khao man gai ($11; if you have the cash, add fried chicken skins for an extra $2) and a soft-serve cone ($4).

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609 S.E. Ankeny St.

503-740-2907

khaomangai.com

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The Original Pancake House

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

With its wood paneling, tightly spaced tables and friendly, old-fashioned service, The Original Pancake House is a glorious time capsule that happens to still serve some outstanding food. Enjoy the sugar rush of plate-wide crepes topped with tart cherries in a cherry wine sauce ($11.50) or tailor a Dutch Baby ($12.25) just the way you like it with butter, powdered sugar and lemon. Go on a weekday morning, when you’ll snag a table right away and you can linger over a cup of coffee that servers will never let go empty.



Order: The Dutch Baby, served with plenty of butter, powdered sugar and lemon.

-- KG

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8601 S.W. 24th Ave.

503-246-9007

originalpancakehouse.com

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Pho Nguyen

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

This breakfast and lunch destination is an open secret among local Vietnamese food fans. Found behind the Raleigh Hills Fred Meyer, the restaurant is packed just about any time you choose to visit, and for good reason. Their pho, which hits the table lightning fast, features a balanced broth with hints of clove, good noodles and quality meat. Metro area-wide, this is a top five bowl of pho.



Order: Pho ($8.75 small or $9.25-$9.75 large)

-- MR

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4795 S.W. 77th Ave., Beaverton

503-297-3389

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Pho Oregon

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Pho Oregon, which sits just across Northeast 82nd Avenue from Madison High School, is cavernous and often packed, giving off the vibe of a big-city pho house. It’s our regular go-to on weekend mornings, not just for pho, but mostly for pho. Bowls ($9.95-$10.95) arrive quickly and piping hot, with nicely cooked noodles, well-rendered brisket and a rustic-yet-elegant broth that has a strong hint of cloves and lots of caramel flavor from the beef bones.



Order: Rice plates and noodle bowls (most $12) are good, and the crispy half-moon crepe known as banh xeo ($13) is big enough to be shared, though like most everyone else here, you'll probably be eating pho.

-- MR

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2518 N.E. 82nd Ave.

503-262-8816

phooregon.net

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Pollo Norte

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Some things have changed since this Mexico City-style rotisserie chicken shack opened its overtaxed original location on Northeast 42nd Avenue. They figured out how to match supply to demand, eventually opening a second location on Northeast Glisan Street. Then the original location closed. Walk in today and you’ll find a streamlined operation, with golden-brown birds staying warm in their case, a full cocktail menu and a kitchen big enough to handle a little delivery alongside the walk-in orders. And the cabbage cooked in the chicken’s drippings is still my favorite part.



Order: With the family -- a whole bird with warm tortillas and two large sides (rice and beans, probably) costs $28 and feeds at least three.

-- MR

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2935 N.E. Glisan St.

503-719-6039

pollonorte.com

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Pure Spice

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For some, carts are an essential part of the dim sum experience. If all you care about is getting the freshest possible dumplings, head to Pure Spice, where dim sum favorites and more come fresh from the kitchen. Pork siu mai and shrimp har gow arrive in their baskets, still steaming; a fried, meat-stuffed seaweed-and-chive wrap stays crisp under a teaspoon full of chili oil. In the afternoon, the dim sum menu disappears in favor of Cantonese classics including a salted fish- and duck-fried rice that will have you dreaming of a ferry ride across Kowloon Bay.



Order: As much dim sum as your heart desires (most dishes $3.15).

-- MR

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2446 S.E. 87th Ave. Suite 101

503-772-1808

purespicerestaurant.com

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Reel M Inn

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

A favorite of celebrity chefs, degenerate hipsters and her highness Lady Gaga herself, this last of the Southeast Division Street dive bars serves Portland’s most famous fried chicken and jojos. A wait is all but guaranteed, but there’s good news: The friendly bartenders can help you negotiate your order based on what they have room for and when they next plan to drop a batch of fried-chicken in the pressure-sealed broaster. Time your next whiskey order accordingly.



Order: A four-piece basket with leg, thigh, wing, breast and jojos ($11.50).

-- MR

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2430 S.E. Division St.

503-231-3880

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Scottie's Pizza Parlor

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Owner Scott Rivera opened this pint-sized pizza nerd’s paradise after spending time at Baby Doll Pizza, East Glisan Pizza Lounge and Handsome Pizza. His passion for the craft shows through both in the good pizza and the decor, the white walls accented with red and adorned with boxes from some of America’s most blogged-about pizzerias. The restaurant is impressively fast at turning out slices, with your cheese or pepperoni often hitting the table piping hot before you’ve properly settled into your seat.



Order: A pepperoni slice ($3) and an RC Cola ($2.50) from the fountain.

-- MR

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2128 S.E. Division St.

971-544-7878

scottiespizzaparlor.com

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So Good Taste Noodle House

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

I’m not going to fight you over which Good Taste is the best. This pseudo chain (most locations are independently operated), which has roots in Seattle, offers simple congee and soups with angel-hair-thin noodles, bok choy and your choice of dumplings or meat at impressively low prices. Anyone who works downtown has probably popped into the Chinatown location, and last time I checked there were outposts in Vancouver. If there’s a reason to roll to 82nd Avenue, it’s probably the traditional roast meats hanging by the door, which I’ve enjoyed more here than at other locations.



Order: Roast pork or duck wonton noodle soup ($7.50).

-- MR

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8220 S.E. Harrison St.

503-788-6909

sogoodtastenoodle.com

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Spring

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

In winter, you’ll probably want to order a piping hot dolsot bibimbap ($11.95) or a roiling red sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew, $10.95) as you gaze out on the aisles of dried seaweed and instant ramen from the mezzanine of Korean grocery store G Mart. But Spring really shines in summer, when you’ll find most customers with their heads bent over stainless steel bowls of naengmyeon ($11.95), the cucumber-scented beef and buckwheat noodle soup. These prices might seem right on the edge of too expensive for this guide, but that’s before you factor in the banchan, six small plates of mostly pickled things included gratis with each meal, turning a simple bowl of soup or stew into a proper feast.

Order: Sundubu jjigae in winter, naengmyeon in summer.

-- MR

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3975 S.W. 114th Ave., Beaverton

503-641-3670

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Taqueria Hermanos Ochoa's

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Kjerstin Gabrielson | The Oregonian/OregonLive

With sit-down Amelia’s on Main Street and counter-service Ochoa’s just a few blocks away, downtown Hillsboro continues to be a destination for Mexican food fans, particularly on the west side. Bargain hunters should veer toward Ochoa’s. On a cold Sunday afternoon, soup was in high demand. Thick with tender pork and hominy, the pozole’s rich red broth warmed us to our core. On a lighter note, the tostadas de camaron ($8) sparkled with fresh shrimp, lime, tomatoes, lettuce and avocado, while the cheese-topped burrito “suizo” ($9) was packed so full with carnitas that it was almost too much for one sitting.



Order: Pozole ($9).

-- KG

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943 S.E. Oak St., Hillsboro

503-640-4755

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Tienda Santa Cruz

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

The hook is obvious. To find this tucked-away taqueria, you have to walk through a store strung with piñatas, past a case filled with Mexican baked goods, and into a brightly lit room painted with a mural of a boy hurling a stone at a hawk. After the surprise has worn off, it's the food that keeps you coming back, from the spicy shrimp a la diabla ($11) to the avocado-stuffed vegetarian burritos ($5) and, especially, the super-rich carnitas, tender pork slow simmered in its own fat.



Order: A carnitas plate ($11) and a bottle of Mexican coke.

-- MR

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8630 N. Lombard St.

503-286-7302

tiendasantacruz.com

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Tortilleria y Tienda De Leon's

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

This mini tortilla plant and shop is the granddaddy of east Portland’s Mexican food scene. Head inside to find the main attraction: a long deli case filled with a dozen stews called guisados bubbling in their metal trays. Order, in Spanish if you can, or by pointing through the glass toward the pork, chicken and beef simmering in a ruddy rainbow of sauces from soft green to burnt red. Each meat, from the familiar pork in chile verde to the mound of burnished pig skin, can be made into a sopping taco or an inexpensive plate with yellow rice and larded refried beans.



Order: Carne asada is for amateurs. If you need an entry point, consider the chile relleno ($11 with rice and creamy pinto beans), a golden hunk of ever-so-spicy emerald-green chile wrapped in a blanket of spongy, eggy fry hiding rivers of melted white cheese.

-- MR

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16223 N.E. Glisan St.

503-255-4356

salsaslocas.com

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Uno Mas

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Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Uno Mas (Spanish for "one more") might be Portland's most aptly named restaurant. Owned by Oswaldo Bibiano (Autentica), the restaurant serves some 20 different tacos, most grilled, some trapped in their tortilla and steamed. You can play it safe, with flat-top-seared steak or juicy chunks of achiote-rubbed chicken, but the most consistent taco I’ve found has been the earthy moronga (blood sausage), which comes pitch black and crumbled with onion and cilantro on a miniature tortilla. Eat it, then order another.



Order: The taquiza ($25), a chef's choice sampler with 12 tacos, radish, grilled onions and lime, large enough to feed a small family. See if they'll throw in a moronga or three.

-- MR

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2327 N.E. Glisan St.

503-208-2764

1914 W. Burnside St.

503-719-4768

unomastaquiza.com

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Urban Masala

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Update: Urban Masala has closed. The space is now home to Indian/Pakistani/Mediterranean restaurant Zaiqa.

Hidden behind a Burgerville in a nondescript strip mall is some of the best Indian food Washington County has to offer. The tight menu offers a mix of familiar favorites – veggie samosa, tandoori chicken, butter chicken – to less-common vegetable dishes, many priced $12 or less. You can stretch your dollar further with a $9.95 lunch buffet featuring dishes like chickpea curry or a spicy stew of potatoes and peas.



Order: Peeli Daal, a hearty stew of lentils fueled with turmeric, garlic and cumin ($9).

-- GB

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2401 N.E. Cornell Road, Hillsboro

503-844-6161

urbanmasalapdx.com

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Wei Wei

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

Wei Wei, a true mom-and-pop restaurant, serves some of the city’s most authentic food from its Sellwood-area strip mall space. Sit at one of the bright yellow chairs and tuck into open-faced pork belly bao ($2.50), with small squares of soft and fatty pork belly, a smear of dark sauce, crumbled peanuts and cilantro cradled in a fluffy steamed bun. The pork chop is flour-dusted, expertly fried, snipped into a sort of crunchy bear claw and served with white rice and a minced pork sauce. You might find yourself gnawing on the bone. Don’t miss the mini pan-seared bao ($9), crisp on the bottom, juicy in the middle and tender on top.



Order: Pork chops and bao seem to be the move.

-- MR

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7835 S.E. 13th Ave., #102

503-946-1732

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XLB

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

At Jasper Shen’s narrow, stylish Chinese restaurant, the walls are covered with a gold-on-black zodiac and the Shanghai-style soup dumplings called xiaolongbao ($11) come with super-thin, stretchy skins trapping rich broth made from pork aspic that melts as the dumplings steam. The old-school lightboard menu hides other intriguing options, including sauteed greens ($5 small/$9 large), chili shrimp wontons ($9), various bao ($10 for three) and wok-fried beef ho fun ($12).



Order: No visit to XLB would be complete without a lychee-lime soda ($3.50) and a steamer basket of the namesake dish.

-- MR

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4090 N. Williams Ave.

503-841-5373

xlbpdx.com

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Courtesy of John Valls

Just got paid?

And have a little more to spend? Then check out this ranked guide to the 27 best deals during Portland Dining Month, hand-picked from the 125 restaurants city-wide offering special $33, three-course menus this March.

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The Oregonian/OregonLive

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