Molly Woodstock
Molly Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More
Comfort Food Favorites in Portland
Chow down on the city’s best belly-warming bites.
Molly Woodstock
Molly Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. 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 most cozy and comforting — especially in Brunchtown. Local favorite Pine State Biscuits stuffs a fluffy buttermilk biscuit with fried chicken, bacon, cheese and gravy for their most popular sandwich, the Reggie. For a Chinese spin on the classic egg sandwich, try the authentic jian bing at downtown food cart 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. The Rookery Bar at downtown Raven & Rose gives their baked mac a British pub fare spin, with English cheddar-and-ale sauce, sharp blue cheese, garlic rye croutons and salty bites of ham. 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. Harlow wins health points with a gluten-free and vegan mac, made with quinoa pasta, kale and hazelnut milk. (Add pesto or chili for an extra treat.)
Potatoes
So many spud dishes, so little time! Head to the Cartopia food cart pod on Hawthorne to find Potato Champion, where fancy fries are topped with pulled pork, palak paneer, PB&J or poutine. Olympia Provisions cuts Yukon golds into paper-thin slices before layering them with butter and onions to create their famous laser potatoes.
Pho
This Vietnamese noodle soup is a universal favorite for rainy winter days. It’s worth a trip to Southeast 82nd Avenue’s Ha & VL to scope out the rotating daily offerings, which range from classic beef pho to turmeric noodles with shrimp cakes or a decadent crab flake soup with quail eggs and shredded pork. Other local favorites include the rich, salty soups at Pho Oregon and the balanced broths at Pho An Sandy.
