Milo City Café
1325 NE Broadway St
503.288.6456
A decent all-American restaurant located on a busy neighborhood on Northeast Broadway. Milo City Café has a nice ambiance: expect to see a long line of farmers’-market goers on a Saturday morning. The Mediterranean chicken linguini was done right, the portion was decent, but it could use a little more personality both restaurant- and flavor-wise. Their breakfast is excellent, however, using in-house ingredients such as raspberry jam and salad dressing.
Chaba Thai
5810 NE Sandy Blvd
503.282.3970
Chaba Thai is one of the few Thai restaurants where although a majority of its customers are non-Thai, the food is very Thai—or as Thai as we’ve been accustomed to in America. The most popular dish is pad thai, which in this case was done right; there was a nice sauce-to-noodle ratio. It’s no wonder the place is hailed as one of the best in the city at which to order pad thai. The entrée is a bit small but the price is cheap; also, the place is crammed for space so you will most likely share a table with another party.
Hollywood Burger Bar
4211 NE Sandy Blvd.
503.288.8965
Greasy burgers done right, though a weight-watcher should perhaps try elsewhere. This is a very casual (somewhat kitschy) burger joint with great food. The burger is quite juicy, a 1/3-pound patty with cheese and all the fixings, so expect multiple napkins if done right. The owners are friendly and the restaurant has a nice family feel. The fries are delicious and thick. Both times the service was excellent, which explains why this place is always crowded.
Steaming Pot Gumbolaya
5124 NE 42nd St.
503.473.8484
Located on a forgettable section of Northeast 42nd, this restaurant could use more attention. The gumbo is a nice concoction of shrimp and rice, doused in a hearty stock that makes getting a 2:30 p.m. feeling later worth it. For $6, the gumbo is a decent size—it could use more meat for your money, but the $3.25 burger is quite filling. The owner is extremely friendly and makes you feel like you’re eating at their house. The place is very small, so you can smell whatever’s cooking in the nearby kitchen. Bonus: it had scored two 100s for cleanliness from KATU news.
Tin Shed
4727 NE Fremont St.
503.288.6966
The best thing about the Tin Shed is its location. The restaurant boasts nice patio seating areas, which include a fireplace to keep the guests warm at night. The Holy Shroom burger was decent for $8.75 and instead of fries, you get your choice of Kettle chips, vegan potato salad or in-house slaw. Another item to try is the spicy Cajun burger. Known for its dog-friendly reputation, guests to the Tin Shed should be ready to mingle with some furry friends.
Horn of Africa
3939 NE MLK Blvd.
503.331.9844
This place offers a sampling of food from Ethiopia, Solamia, Djbouti and Kenya. It’s perfect for a family or group-dining event because the dishes are large and the way most of the food should be eaten is conducive to sharing. Almost all of the fare is slow cooked meat, legumes and vegetables that can be rolled into bite size morsels using traditional Ethiopian bread, which is flat but a little fluffy. There is nothing fancy about the décor and the tableware is rarely uniform which ads to the homey charm of this friendly, delicious spot.
Nicholas Restaurant
318 SE Grand Ave.
503.235.5123
Middle Eastern food at a decent price. Nicholas Restaurant may seem a bit quaint, but then again, it’s the food that counts. They actually give you a decent amount of lamb meat for $10, and the service was excellent every time. An expansive menu means you have plenty to choose from, and when in doubt, ask your server who is always very helpful. Technically, Nicholas is in Southeast, but close enough.