I eat out ...a lot...and I eat a lot of bentos...you know, those rice bowl things with veggies that are suppose to be good for you.
The oldest of all the bento places in Portland is Happy Bowl...it's been located on SW 5th avenue for many, many years now...but I remember the 1st one on upper SW Washington street.
It's the oldest...but it is also the best.
What makes Happy Bowl stand out from all the others? Their Teriyaki Chicken...not the chicken bowl (it's good too).. the Teryiaki Chicken.
The chicken is served as chicken thighs with a seasoning that no other bento place gets...a little sweet...a little charcoaly...nutty...the skin in particular (and I'm not a fan of skin!) is a taste that I wake up craving in the middle of night. If you haven't tried the chicken teriaki, you haven't tasted Portland.
Also good are the goyzas, and just about everything else on the menu...by the way...the menu is CHEAP...most expensive meal is about 6 bucks.
I also like to pickup yukadori sticks when I'm on the run...two sticks cost just $1.50 and they are skewers of teriyaki chicken and veggies dipped in special sauce...no carbs from bread....and filling!
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