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This could easily be my favorite bar in downtown Portland if it weren't for a few minor issues. The name plays off the fact that in Portland's early history, it used to be this incredibly dangerous...
This could easily be my favorite bar in downtown Portland if it weren't for a few minor issues. The name plays off the fact that in Portland's early history, it used to be this incredibly dangerous city where people would just disappear off the streets. They were kidnapped and dragged down into the infamous shanghai tunnel network that crisscrosses the underbelly of downtown only to be sold off as labor for ships coming in and out of port. Thus the bar, fittingly enough, is underground. Keeping with the Shanghai (the city, not the act of kidnapping) theme, the innards are lit by red paper lamps that throw eerie shadows on the jet-black walls. The food (Asian themed, of course) is good for an appetizer or two, but I don't think I'd plan to have dinner there. Shanghai proffers a decent enough beer selection and the cocktails are usually pretty strong. The only trouble is actually getting an order through to the bartender. Sometimes when it hasn't even been busy, I've been flat-out ignored. There's also the issue of sound, or rather, blaring, ear-splitting Industrial clash metal. If you need a respite from smoke and music, there's a bar counter near the street-level entrance. Unfortunately, the atmosphere isn't nearly as fun, so it's a toss up. This is a fantastic bar to get to before the hordes arrive.
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Living in the Northwest, Portlanders have their selection of coffee. Strangely enough, it seemed somewhat difficult for me to find a place that blended good coffee, pleasing aesthetics and...
Living in the Northwest, Portlanders have their selection of coffee. Strangely enough, it seemed somewhat difficult for me to find a place that blended good coffee, pleasing aesthetics and comfortable seating. That is until I found the Three Friends (or, as the owners are gay, I've heard the place affectionately nicknamed the Six Balls). Despite the fact that the structure is a building not a house, it's kind of like sipping java in grandma's salvation-army living room. Tables, couches, swivel chairs, both bar and window countertops - your rear has many standards of cushioning to choose from. Meanwhile, your mouth has coffee, lattes (and all the rest of that vanilla-flavored stuff), chais, a few beers by the bottle and a neat display of over a dozen teas to choose from. The place also offers a miniature pool table, free broadband Internet and an enticing bagel sandwich and pastry menu. Mostly, I'm pretty staid: I just want a 16oz and a good book.
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There are probably tons more authentic Mexican places scattered about Portland and the greater area, but the safe bet for an inexpensive quality burrito - Cha Cha Cha. Besides having a fun name, the...
There are probably tons more authentic Mexican places scattered about Portland and the greater area, but the safe bet for an inexpensive quality burrito - Cha Cha Cha. Besides having a fun name, the locations are many and cool. Two downtown (one near PSU, the other in the Pearl), one on SE Hawthorne and the last in Sellwood. Almost all locales are houses cum restaurants giving Cha that homey feel. Mostly, I've tried the burrito selection, finding the pinnacle of their Burrito Technology to lay in the aptly named Cha Burrito. The tacos are worth trying too; they are flat and round in the traditional style. You might want to skip the fish taco, however, as I received a hunk of breaded fish that would only have been appropriate if I was eating fish and chips. Their salsa verde is killer and the pico de gaillo is not bad either. Finally, cool your mouth down with an excellent horchata just before you add more hot sauce for punishment's sake.
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It's easy to drive by this bar: the building is squat, non-descript and the sign is so small, there's no way to read it from the road, leading one of my friends to argue that the name was "Detention...
It's easy to drive by this bar: the building is squat, non-descript and the sign is so small, there's no way to read it from the road, leading one of my friends to argue that the name was "Detention Center" while I firmly maintained "Prison Camp." The Slammer is just as good, even if the bar looks paradoxically like a Norman Rockwell painting from the window. I've been to bars with a minimalist take on draft selection, but this was bad. PBR was my first choice amongst Bud, Coors Light and Bridgeport IPA. The jukebox pumped mostly groan-inducing selections such as Viva, Las Vegas and Back in Black, while the food looked only a step above 7-11, but that's only because I couldn't see the mystery meat in the crock pot just over the counter. Fortunately, the pros to this place fit a niche: the bartender seemed cool, and it felt like the sort of place that would be good for a quiet afternoon beer.
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El Grillo
Category:
Mexican Restaurants
703 SW Ankeny St
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 241-0462
I've always thought that this taqueria looked like it would be pretty exciting, but the burritos, and particularly the enchilada sauce, are sadly lacking in taste. In a town that sometimes seems...
I've always thought that this taqueria looked like it would be pretty exciting, but the burritos, and particularly the enchilada sauce, are sadly lacking in taste. In a town that sometimes seems over-crowded with yummy taquerias it's a little hard to believe that one so bland could survive...and not just survive, but make enough money to pay rent in a downtown location. But El Grillo has a secret...it may not be the bland burritos that are paying the bills. If you need to use the restroom while you're here, you better be 21--the only bathroom is through the swinging door to Mary's strip club in back. I'm not sure what the relationship is between the two establishments, but it seems like a good way to get into Mary's without paying a cover, and maybe the strippers explain why El Grillo doesn't need to serve better food to make money.
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East
Category:
Bars
322 NW Everett St
Portland, Oregon 97209
(503) 226-1569
The unassuming facade on a still-unassuming block of Old Town would never lead you to believe that Portland's hottest, sleekest, most beautifully urban bar lay inside. In fact, if you're not...
The unassuming facade on a still-unassuming block of Old Town would never lead you to believe that Portland's hottest, sleekest, most beautifully urban bar lay inside. In fact, if you're not looking for East, you're likely to walk right by. Walk Inside and feel like you've stepped into Manhattan--the lights are low, the servers are hot, and the entire bar is a smoldering red except for the hip teardrop shaped white stools, which are surprisingly comfortable. Even better, the bar is non-smoking, so you won't go home smelling like an ashtray. Get here early on weekends, have a couple drinks, and leave before it fills up and takes on a meat market vibe. It's a little spendy by Portland's standards, but it's worth it for an evening of feeling like maybe you actually live in a real city.
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The Delta was the first soul food restaurant I ever went to, so while some people complain that it's not really authentic, to me it tastes like the way soul food should be. The atmosphere is...
The Delta was the first soul food restaurant I ever went to, so while some people complain that it's not really authentic, to me it tastes like the way soul food should be. The atmosphere is kitschy-cool the way your grandma's attic would be if she used to practice voodoo; the music selection is eclectic and a little crazy to say the least. Servers are pierced and hip, but generally friendly. The drink menu is exciting, but the real key is the mac and cheese. Each entree comes with your choice of two sides--a decision I used to dread, until I discovered that the answer to the conundrum was "Double Mac, please". The 1/2 barbequed chicken with red sauce is fantastic eaten cold the next day. And don't miss the 40 oz PBR, which is served elegantly in a tableside ice bucket--finally giving Pabst the respect it deserves.
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Oaks Park is famous for having the oldest still operational roller coaster with a loop the loop on it. It takes guts (or a few drinks) to get on the thing (after all, it's the oldest one in the...
Oaks Park is famous for having the oldest still operational roller coaster with a loop the loop on it. It takes guts (or a few drinks) to get on the thing (after all, it's the oldest one in the country...and that can't mean it's also the safest one) and the ride will rattle the teeth right out of your head, but it's all worth it when you see that Travel Channel special about famous roller coasters and you've actually been on one of them. In addition, Oaks Park is one of the only places where you can still roller skate to live organ music, played on an organ suspended over the skating rink. So what are you waiting for? Find yourself a date and head to Sellwood for a once in a lifetime experience that you really only need to have once.
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If you're a girl, don't take a boy here, he'll never appreciate it. Go here for a girly evening with your friends and leave him at home with a beer. I've never eaten anything other than dessert...
If you're a girl, don't take a boy here, he'll never appreciate it. Go here for a girly evening with your friends and leave him at home with a beer. I've never eaten anything other than dessert here and I can't imagine that I ever will, but I hear the food is decent. It doesn't matter though, you come here for dessert. The selection is dominated by chocolate, with usually one non-chocolate cheescake and at least one non-chocolate cake. To be honest, I've been here probably dozens of times and only ordered one thing: the boccone dolce. Sometimes I find myself dreaming of it's layers of swiss meringue, cream, fresh fruit and dark chocolate. It's so good that I probably won't ever convince myself to try anything else. Oh well.
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Absolutely worth the drive to 82nd. Nestled amongst a thousand car lots and sketchy check cashing places is this gem of a restaurant, and no, you can't just go to the Pho Van in the pearl district...
Absolutely worth the drive to 82nd. Nestled amongst a thousand car lots and sketchy check cashing places is this gem of a restaurant, and no, you can't just go to the Pho Van in the pearl district instead. When you go to Pho Van what you want is the Beef 7 Ways, and it's only available at the SE 82nd location. What I love most about Beef 7 Ways is that it's as entertaining as it is tasty; it's interactive eating. Cook paper thin slices of beef in boiling broth, soak rice paper wrappers in hot water, add noodles, cucumber, basil, cilantro, plantains or plum sauce, and dip in a variety of sauces. Each wrap is an explosion of unusual flavor and texture. Unless you're more deft with rice paper than I am, be prepared to go through a stack of napkins, but sticky fingers are a small price to pay for finding yourself in culinary heaven. If you haven't been, go. Immediately.
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