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  • Things to Do in Portland
    • Close Menu
      • three women walk through rows of rosesView All Things to Do in Portland
      • Parks & Gardens
      • Kid-Friendly Activities
      • Shopping
      • Food Carts & Pods Finder
      • On a Budget
      • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
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      • a person in bright clothes and high-heeled boots vogues in front of a park fountain, surrounded by manicured rose bushesView All Culture
      • Arts
      • Beer
      • Biking
      • Cannabis
      • Cultural Communities
      • Craft Spirits
      • Food
      • Makers
      • Music
      • Nightlife
      • Outdoors
      • Sports
      • Weird
      • Wine
      • MORE CULTURE
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      • aerial view of downtown area with buildings and roadways, bridges crossing a river to a smaller set of buildings that expand into the distanceView All Neighborhoods
      • Alberta Arts District
      • Belmont
      • Central Eastside
      • Division/Clinton
      • Downtown
      • Hawthorne
      • Lloyd
      • Mississippi
      • Northwest / Nob Hill
      • Old Town Chinatown
      • Pearl District
      • St. Johns
      • Sellwood-Moreland
      • Williams
      • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • Close Menu
      • aerial view of the countryside and coastal range with an old rail bridge turned bike and walking pathView All Region
      • Near the City
      • Columbia River Gorge
      • Mount Hood
      • Oregon Coast
      • Willamette Valley
      • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan Your Trip
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Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More

A biscuit sandwich with egg, sausage and melted cheese on a plate A biscuit sandwich with egg, sausage and melted cheese on a plate
i
Pine State Biscuits’ Reggie Deluxe is stacked high with buttermilk-fried chicken, a fried egg, cheddar, bacon and sausage gravy.
Credit: Praveen, via Flickr (licensed under CC BY 2.0)
Culture / Food / Portland Restaurants

Comfort Food Favorites in Portland

Chow down on the city’s best belly-warming bites.

Updated May 5, 2025 3 min read
Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More

Craving cheesy macaroni? Famished for pho? Searching for the city’s best spuds? These delicious Portland dishes make comfort food dreams come true.

Breakfast Sandwiches

The most important meal of the day is often also the coziest and most comforting — especially in Brunchtown. Local favorite Pine State Biscuits stuffs a fluffy buttermilk biscuit with fried chicken, bacon, cheese and gravy for their signature sandwich, the Reggie.

If you’re looking for a fail-safe, perfectly toasted sourdough, egg, cheese and meat creation, the pun-loving Fried Egg I’m in Love is your stop. Their most popular menu item is the Yolko Ono, a brekkie sando made up of a fried egg, homemade pesto, and a hand-pressed sausage patty. Along with other classic combinations, all three of their locations offer a variety of vegan and gluten-free options.

For a Chinese spin on the classic egg sandwich, try the authentic jian bing at Bing Mi, which wraps scrambled eggs, pickled veggies, black bean paste and chili sauce in a lacy grilled crepe.

Mac & Cheese

If ooey, gooey, cheesy goodness is what you crave, Portland has plenty to offer. Fromage­ lovers must try the gratin de macaroni at French St. Jack, a bubbling-hot crock of white cheddar, gruyere, Fourme d’Ambert and bacon.

food cart Nacheaux
Nacheaux chef and owner Anthony Brown greets customers at his cart.

Credit: Celeste Noche

For a nostalgic throwback, the Hamburger Helper at Nacheaux is a must-try. Their version includes five kinds of cheese and seasoned beef, topped with cotija, their trademark Nacheaux sauce and crumbled Hot Cheetos. The Mexican-Southern fusion cart is presently in residency at the cocktail lounge Swan Dive; check their Instagram to confirm their most current location before going.

Harlow wins as the healthiest indulgence with a gluten-free and vegan mac made of quinoa pasta, kale and hazelnut milk. But don’t let the ingredients fool you; this dish is inexplicably addictive. (Add pesto or chili for an extra kick.)

Dumplings

There’s nothing closer to a culinary hug than the Chinese dumplings at Pure Spice. With a menu specializing in Chinese food from a variety of regions, the eatery also serves other dim sum offerings and an array of soul-satisfying soups, noodle dishes, seafood and more.

For another expansive menu (includes a variety of soul-warming congees), head to either location of Master Kong in Southeast Portland. In addition to soup dumplings, they offer handmade pork and chicken dumplings served with their in-house dipping sauces.

Vegan Guide to Portland

Comfort food doesn’t have to mean meat and cheese — read on for plant-based eats that are sure to satisfy.

Read More

Potatoes

What’s more comforting than the pairing of potatoes and gravy? The addition of cheese. Inside the Cartopia pod, the reigning Potato Champion serves its take on poutine and its famed PBJ fries (fries topped with homemade satay sauce and smoky chipotle raspberry jam). You can also get the twice-fried Belgium-style pommes frites plain and paired with one of the many side aiolis and house-made condiments.

Olympia Provisions has created one of the most delicious pies made entirely out of potatoes. Yukon golds are precision sliced paper-thin and layered in a cast-iron pan with equally fine julienned onions and butter, baked to a crisp and then cut into wedges. Their acclaimed laser potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to any brunch table.

A man eats noodle soup with chopsticks and a spoon in a restaurant
Vietnamese noodle soup is the star at Southeast Portland’s Rose VL Deli.

Credit: Jason Hill for better.

Pho

This Vietnamese noodle soup is a perfect meal for rainy winter days. It’s worth a trip to James Beard-nominated Ha & VL (or their sister restaurant, Rose VL Deli ) to scope out the rotating daily offerings. Ranging from classic beef pho to turmeric noodles with shrimp cakes or a decadent crab flake soup with quail eggs and shredded pork, their soup offerings tend to sell out, so early arrival is recommended. Another local favorite include the rich, flavorsome soups at Pho Oregon.

Food

Comforting Eats in Portland

Take a bite out of these locally beloved dishes and eateries.

More Food & Dining
vegan chicken parmesan sits next to a pizza on a wood table

Must-Try Italian Restaurants in Portland

The spirit of Little Italy lives on in Portland, from Nonna-style pastas to updated takes on classic dishes.

A person sitting at a table holds a ramen spoon in a bowl

Portland Ramen Restaurants

The Portland ramen scene has exploded in recent years, spurred by the arrival of two authentic eateries straight from Tokyo.

people sit around a vast spread of Korean food arrayed on a wooden table

Portland’s Best Dumplings

From Polish pierogi to Japanese gyoza, nothing says comfort food like these doughy pockets of goodness — no matter when you visit Portland, enjoy a variety of dumplings at these terrific eateries.

outside view of a restaurant with seating

Cheap Eats in Portland

Looking for affordable, delicious food in Portland? This guide gives you an insider's look at the best cheap eats in the city, from tasty Vietnamese food to the city's best food carts and cheap vegetarian options.

a close-up of a chef cutting slices of juicy brisket

Best Barbecue in Portland

Find outstanding barbecue in Portland — tender brisket, pulled pork, sausage and more — at local restaurants and food carts.

two hands hold up a delectable fried chicken sandwich complete with sauce and veggies

Fried Chicken in Portland

From crispy Thai-style wings to succulent Southern drumsticks, Portland has some of the best finger-licking fried chicken spots.

two people eating food and drinking wine at a picnic table during a busy food festival

Portland Snacks and Where to Find Them

From small cheese plates to conveyer-belt sushi to spring rolls, find your next favorite craving at these Portland, Oregon snack spots.

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