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Marina Martinez-Bateman
Marina Martinez-Bateman (they/them) is an equity and communications consultant and ghost tour guide who moved to Portland in 2014. Read More
Rockwood Market Hall: Portland’s Far East Food Hall
Rockwood Market Hall is Gresham’s crown jewel for good eats and fun shopping.
Marina Martinez-Bateman
Marina Martinez-Bateman (they/them) is an equity and communications consultant and ghost tour guide who moved to Portland in 2014. Read More
Opened in 2022, Rockwood Market Hall was designed with local feedback and built to serve some of the state’s most diverse residents who represent over 85 languages and the youngest demographic in the metro area. It’s located in Gresham, a city immediately east of Portland, and is about 13 miles (21.2 km) from downtown Portland.
History of Rockwood Market Hall
Rockwood Market Hall became the anchor attraction of Gresham’s Downtown Rockwood when community members protested that the development was gentrification. The project managers listened and adopted the mission of “revitalization without displacement.” Today, the hall is home to more than half a dozen food vendors and a couple retailers. The plaza boasts a splash pad for the kids (adults are welcome, too) and a state-of-the-art playground that is a perpetual source of joy for visiting and neighboring children.
Downtown Rockwood comprises several buildings: The business building that houses La Villa (an upscale Mexican restaurant), Rockwood Market Hall and a mixed-use apartment complex called AVIVA. The project encapsulates what’s essential to the people of Rockwood, who often come from marginalized backgrounds and make less per year than the average Portlander: community spirit, tenacity and creativity.
More About Rockwood Market Hall
What are the Rockwood Market Hall hours?
Is there parking at Rockwood Market Hall?
Is Rockwood Market Hall family-friendly?
Does Rockwood Market Hall deliver?
Inside Rockwood Market Hall
Rockwood Market Hall feels like an open-air market; the two-story-tall pitched ceiling features multiple skylights, towering over polished concrete floors and wood accents that invite the natural world back in.
There are low and tall tables, benches, stools and chairs, and ample space for wheelchairs and other mobility aids. At the back, one sizeable garage-style door opens to the courtyard for temperate weather and festivals.
Rockwood Market Hall Food
Alleamin African Kitchen
Local diners have called this African spot the best Somalian food in the state. The service is excellent, and they relish every opportunity to guide new customers interested in trying Somalian food and their fresh organic juices. While the lamb and goat dishes are popular, I recommend anything with their lentil sauce, which has a stew-like consistency with flavorful, al dente carrots cooked in warm spices. Their chapatis are heavenly, enormous, buttery and airy; they will blow your mind in taste and volume. All the portions are generous, and while reviewers shout out the pink hot sauce, I would happily burn every taste bud out of my mouth to drink their green hot sauce like water. Order both and decide if you’re team pink or green.
Cox Hanal Mayan Cuisine
The owner of Cox Hanal Mayan Cuisine will probably tell you all about his award-winning panuchos in his bright, cheerful manner, and you’ll get some because he is so enthusiastic about them. Full disclosure: They’re amazing. Little crunchy handmade tortillas are fried and stuffed with black bean purée, then topped with savory stewed chicken, lettuce, cabbage, onion, fresh tomato and avocado. They make an excellent side dish or snack, but the item I crave the most from Cox Hanal is their cheese empanada. They say you can do anything if you can do simple things well. Crispy, flakey, chewy and, of course, cheesy — for just a few bucks. Make sure to dip it in the provided tomato purée for a flavor combo reminiscent of an elevated grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Neo Cafe
Come here for their beloved Desi Chai (which is so popular, you can buy the chai concentrate by the growler), but stay for their made-to-order doughnuts with a rotating selection of toppings. Pronounced “neu” and meaning “small” or “eat” in zo-pau, there’s nothing small about Neo’s quality of flavors, service or vibey aesthetic.
La Michoacana Dulce
Frutas stands, Mexican businesses that primarily sell fruit with chili, lime juice, salt and chamoy (a salty, sweet-and-sour sauce), offer refreshing snacks. A frutas stand can be anything from a pushcart to a brick-and-mortar outlet like La Michoacana Dulce. Sweet treats like ice cream by the scoop, paletas and drinks like shakes, aguas frescas and mangonadas — an ice-blended drink made with mango sorbet, chopped mango, chili and chamoy — are available alongside prepared food, chips and snacks from Mexico.
It’s an excellent spot for a treat and a selfie in front of their very Instagrammable vine and neon wall. It reminds me of summers as a kid spent at the tienda with a pack of friends buying ice cream, Mexican candy and little bags of chips covered in cheese, lime and Tajín that we ate lounging on the hot sidewalks and front lawns of our Southern California barrio without a care in the world. Except now, I can buy way more snacks. And the tienda is a lot cuter these days.
Momma G’s Soup
The secret is in the name: At Momma G’s, soup is the star of the show. The shop also sells sandwiches and burgers; other reviewers have raved over her baked goods. But my go-to is the soup du jour, which is usually the best thing on offer that day. My favorite is their clam chowder, which, in my opinion, is better than anything you can find on the coast. Light, briny, and far less chewy than their canned companions, the fresh clam is the crown jewel in a soup that is already very good. If the soup du jour doesn’t hook you, the loaded potato or African peanut soups will. I confess without shame that I have licked the lid of the soup container before, and I’ll happily do it again.
Even More Delicious Eats
Rockwood Market Hall's micro-restaurant format delivers an extensive selection.
Shopping at Rockwood Market Hall
Callie’s Custom Hat Wigs
Callie’s custom human hair quick weave hat and headband wigs are the best accessories for a quick glow-up. Named after owner Tralice Lewis’ late mother, a hospice nurse with a talent for bringing out confidence in her patients, Callie’s gives excellent customer service to every wig wearer, from people suffering from medical issues to those who just want a more convenient style option. Customers rave about Lewis’ compassionate approach to her mother’s wig-making legacy, which carries over to the community as the business donates wigs to those in need. A well-made wig just might change your life.
The Other Side Nursery
This small but powerful plant purveyor tends to racks of plants outside their door and more plants inside. Adoptable plant babies are sorted by light needs; pet-safe plants are marked; and the nursery carries pots, plant decor and crystals from partner shop Stoned Princess, along with plant-themed merchandise like shirts and tote bags. Staff are full of valuable and practical advice on caring for house plants in almost every condition and will inquire about the health of your plants if they get you talking.
Rockwood Market Hall Events and Activities
Rockwood Community Market
With a focus on BIPOC, immigrant and/or queer-owned food producers, the Rockwood Community Market is a place where the diverse community can find fresh products made, grown or foraged locally. On Thursdays from June to September, the market becomes a place for community building while supporting local agriculture.
The People’s Market
This seasonal farmers’ market featuring Black, Indigenous and other people of color farmers and makers is a gathering place, a cultural touchstone for the Rockwood community, and a beautiful place to find food and goods made by marginalized business owners and makers.
Rockwood Market Hall Music Series
Each month, a musical act plays a free Sunday afternoon concert as part of the Rockwood Market Hall Music Series. Upcoming artist details can be found via Rockwood Market Hall’s Instagram or website.
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