Welcome to Porkland

The wonderful thing about Portland’s culinary world is that, yes, there are dozens of vegetarian and vegan options in this city, but we are also blessed with an abundance of pig. As the culinary trends move from burgers to meatballs and beyond, pork products keep popping up everywhere.

Because Vanguard readers are smart with their money, here are some options for the best pig in town for under $10. So go on, satisfy your pork ardor on the cheap, and be grateful that you get to live in the luscious city of Porkland.

Spicy pork burrito, Koi Fusion ($6)
Koi Fusion, a food truck (inspired by a movement in Los Angeles, Calif.) has been parking its excellence on Southwest Sixth Avenue and College Street for several months now. Koi Fusion offers a combination of meats cooked in Korean marinades paired with the fresh flavors of Mexican cuisine. Yes, the tacos are a cheaper option, but as the long end of winter slugs forward, the burrito is a heartier option that’ll keep you warm in the rain.

The spicy pork is tender and juicy, and for those who aren’t heat lovers, you can choose between a mild or spicy sauce. The pork is layered amongst kimchi (Korean sauerkraut) fried rice with cheese, which a makes soft layer on the inside of the fresh flour tortilla. Bean sprouts, cilantro and sliced cucumber add a crisp bite to finish it off. Grab one and head to your next class, or enjoy one late night at PGE Park.

Koi Fusion
Location changes daily
Follow on Twitter @KOifusionpdx
5 out of 5 stars

BLT or BBT from Meat Cheese Bread ($8.95)
Tucked away from the bustle of downtown, way down on Stark Street, is Meat Cheese Bread. Look too quickly and you’ll miss the tiny sandwich shop adorned with a simple gray-and-white sign. Also known as Bunk’s less popular cousin, Meat Cheese Bread delivers a life-changing BLT. Nueske’s smoked bacon is thick and has a slight sweetness to it, making it the star of the sandwich. Also on the sandwich are golden beets in the winter, and farmers-market-fresh heirloom tomatoes in the summer. Both versions take the BLT to new heights on crisp sourdough slathered with aioli.

Meat Cheese Bread also offers classic sodas like Boylan and Coca-Cola in glass bottles, as well as an abundance of lovely desserts. With all of these options, you might find yourself pulling up a chair at Meat Cheese Bread instead of waiting in line outside of Bunk.

Meat Cheese Bread
1406 SE Stark St.
503-234-1700
5 out of 5 stars

Pork Rillette from Belly Timber, ($4)
If your taste is too refined for sandwiches and burritos, or if you’re just looking for something a little more special, Belly Timber on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard is a place that emanates subtle elegance. The restaurant is located inside of a mood-lit house with wooden floors and is a nice place for a quiet cocktail. Although they recently said goodbye to talented chef David Siegel and took on chef Paul Hyman, pork is still in abundance at Belly Timber.

On their charcuterie menu is the Pork Rillette, a heaping portion of a pate-like spread that has just the right amount of salt. It is served on grilled bread and although cheap, could easily serve as a hefty appetizer for two people. Pair it with a cold beer or the Everything Nice (a cocktail with Serrano Pepper-infused vodka and pineapple juice), and you’ll be feelin’ just fine.

Belly Timber
3257 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
503-235-3277
4 out of 5 stars