Enjoy sweet and savory brunch flavors with a French Toast Sandwich at the Big Egg.

Comfort Food Favorites in Portland

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

Updated May 20, 2021 2 min read

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck 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. 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.

Food Carts

Portland food carts offer a wide range of simple, satisfying eats and some surprisingly sophisticated fare.

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.

Food

Afuri Ramen & Izakaya in downtown Portland is a favorite spot for comforting soup.

Portland Soup Spots

Whether you’re craving ramen, Mexican pozole or classic chicken noodle, these local soup spots will warm you from the inside out.

a hand holding chopsticks hovers over a bowl of ramen. a mug of green tea and a plate of fried chicken are next to the ramen bowl on a table.

Portland Ramen Restaurants

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

A delicious spread of Chinese dumplings at XLB in North Portland.

Portland’s Best Dumplings

Every February, Portland celebrates its love for dough-wrapped delights with Dumpling Week. Best of all? Delicious dumplings are available year-round.