It’s summer term. You want to graduate on time (say, in five years instead of seven) so you load yourself up with as many credits as possible. Meanwhile, you’re subjected on a daily basis to seeing pictures in your Facebook
feed of that guy from last term’s Spanish class on vacation in Machu Picchu. But even if you’re too busy to go on an expensive trip, there are some places where you can get at least a slice of summer in that hour break
between classes.
New Taste of India
1901 SW Fourth Ave.
Remember that episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 in which Brandon and Dylan get stuck in an tribal sweat lodge? (Season five, episode 17—and yes, it’s on YouTube.) I had a similar experience eating here with a classmate of mine. We both sat in the summer sun, amazingly spicy curry wraps in hand, sweating buckets and reaching a new level of spiritual foodie awareness (OK, maybe not that last part). Let me tell you about that curry wrap, though. You know how delicious naan bread is when you dip it in curry? Imagine what is, essentially, a naan burrito. Hungry yet? Be sure to ask for it extra spicy so you too can have the sort of epiphanic moment that can only come from the
combination of summer heat and the spiciest of curries.
Lily Oriental Food and Bubble Tea
Southwest Fourth and Hall streets
After you sweat yourself silly over a curry wrap, be sure walk down the street and grab a nice, cold bubble tea. Having trouble deciding on a flavor? Try taro—a root vegetable, believe it or not, with a sweet, almost grape-like color and flavor. Pro tip: be sure to get your bubble tea in blended form for maximum bubble-laden refreshment.
Joe’s Burgers
540 SW College St.
On the ground floor of University Pointe, Joe’s Burgers offers students the most traditional of all-American fare—burgers and hot dogs served on the sort of almost-stale white buns that invoke summer afternoons spent with Super Soakers and Hi-C Ecto-Cooler. Try the Diablo-Dog, a hot dog wrapped in bacon and deep fried, served with chili and jalapenos. Joe’s is also home to some of the best milkshakes around, with seasonal flavors that will blow your mind like rich peanut butter cup or summer blackberry. Pro tip No. 2: Joe’s has one of the best veggie burgers in town; it’s larger and more complex in flavor than its meaty cousin.
Tartberry Too
536 SW College St.
There’s something intangibly delicious about frozen yogurt. Something about being able to tell yourself “It’s just yogurt!” makes you feel like you’re making a healthy choice as you pile on enough toppings to get a near-$6 sticker shock after its all priced and weighed. There’s been a proliferation of frozen yogurt eateries around the city as of late, and I can assure you that Tartberry Too is among the best. The stuff is customizably delicious. Tartberry Too even serves it up in smoothie form. Smoothies are healthy, right?
Kenny and Zuke’s Delicatessen
1038 SW Stark St.
After a late night of studying, or imbibing one too many of Vanguard writer Kat Audick’s berry-tart margaritas from the July 2 issue, there’s just something refreshing about a delicious bagel on a summer morning. Kenny and Zuke’s has some of the best in Portland, and if you’re feeling ambitious you can even stick around for a full breakfast. I’ve only tried it once—it’s hard for me to pass up a tasty bagel—but the salmon hash is divine. For those looking to get their bagel on, Kenny and Zuke’s has the best shmear in town, including maple-walnut cream cheese that will satisfy even the sweetest of teeth and a lox cream cheese that is immensely rich and filling with just the slightest savory flavor of lox. Spare us, East-Coast-elitist-Portland-bagel-haters, will ya?