Andrew's Guidebook
Food scene
Food spots:
Bars, Restaurants, Bruch/lunch/dinner. Things that are close by to our humble home.
Literally out the door and down half a block, KISS is a great addition to the neighborhood. The owner, Tre, has done a wonderful job with this quaint little walk-up coffee shop. Be sure to stop in for an iced coffee or hot cappuccino before exploring the hood!
KISS Coffee
3016 NE Ainsworth StLiterally out the door and down half a block, KISS is a great addition to the neighborhood. The owner, Tre, has done a wonderful job with this quaint little walk-up coffee shop. Be sure to stop in for an iced coffee or hot cappuccino before exploring the hood!
An old elementary school turned restaurant/bar/theater/hotel? What’s not to be intrigued about? Bring $5, a bathing suit, and a towel and you can even pop in the soaking pool for a swim, beer (or wine) in hand! If you aren’t familiar with the McMenamjn brothers, they have over 60 locations in the NW - most of which are quirky, unique spots similar to this. Good beer, cheap 2nd run movies, and a cool atmosphere are a plus, the wait for service can be kind of a drag from time to time, though.
538 locals recommend
McMenamins Kennedy School
5736 NE 33rd AveAn old elementary school turned restaurant/bar/theater/hotel? What’s not to be intrigued about? Bring $5, a bathing suit, and a towel and you can even pop in the soaking pool for a swim, beer (or wine) in hand! If you aren’t familiar with the McMenamjn brothers, they have over 60 locations in the NW - most of which are quirky, unique spots similar to this. Good beer, cheap 2nd run movies, and a cool atmosphere are a plus, the wait for service can be kind of a drag from time to time, though.
Good for lunch and casual dinner. Family friendly, delicious sandies. Weekend brunch is killer and not TOO busy - try their take on biscuits and gravy (tomato gravy?!?! Say WHAT?!). Featured on that Food Network show with the GUY with frosted blond tips.
162 locals recommend
P's & Q's Market
1301 NE Dekum StGood for lunch and casual dinner. Family friendly, delicious sandies. Weekend brunch is killer and not TOO busy - try their take on biscuits and gravy (tomato gravy?!?! Say WHAT?!). Featured on that Food Network show with the GUY with frosted blond tips.
A family-friendly bar/restaurant with pinball, good beer and drinks, great affordable food, and friendly wait staff. *currently closed for Covid protocol*
Jinx
3000 NE Killingsworth StA family-friendly bar/restaurant with pinball, good beer and drinks, great affordable food, and friendly wait staff. *currently closed for Covid protocol*
Arguably the best beer in the best beer town in the U.S. The food is also pretty darn good and has a wide array of lunch and dinner options.
278 locals recommend
Breakside Brewery - DEKUM
820 NE Dekum StArguably the best beer in the best beer town in the U.S. The food is also pretty darn good and has a wide array of lunch and dinner options.
Try the Juice Jr IPA....rated the 'best beer' by the Willamette Week newspaper. If you like hops, you gotta try this place out.
81 locals recommend
Great Notion Brewing and Barrel House
2204 NE Alberta StTry the Juice Jr IPA....rated the 'best beer' by the Willamette Week newspaper. If you like hops, you gotta try this place out.
Large beer menu (20+ taps and 50+ bottles), good happy hour, lots of TV screens for sports!
23 locals recommend
Concordia Ale House
3276 NE Killingsworth StLarge beer menu (20+ taps and 50+ bottles), good happy hour, lots of TV screens for sports!
Nepo 42
5403 NE 42nd AveGreat beer list, nice yard for kids to play, decent pub fair.
Started as a food cart and made itself a successful brick and mortar. Fantastic, authentic tamales. Great seasonal options.
79 locals recommend
Tamale Boy Dekum
1764 NE Dekum StStarted as a food cart and made itself a successful brick and mortar. Fantastic, authentic tamales. Great seasonal options.
Ice cream shop with a seasonal menu, only in Portland (and now in LA, I guess??).
1078 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
2035 NE Alberta StIce cream shop with a seasonal menu, only in Portland (and now in LA, I guess??).
Vegan/Veggie options, but also pretty bomb meat choices as well. Exceptionally inexpensive for the quality.
35 locals recommend
El Nutri Taco
2124 NE Alberta StVegan/Veggie options, but also pretty bomb meat choices as well. Exceptionally inexpensive for the quality.
Texas style BBQ - walk up, order, sit down, and enjoy some of the best ribs/brisket/smoked trout in town.
10 locals recommend
Podnah's BBQ
1625 Northeast Killingsworth StreetTexas style BBQ - walk up, order, sit down, and enjoy some of the best ribs/brisket/smoked trout in town.
Indian street food with plates to share (of course) and a cool open atmosphere.
625 locals recommend
Bollywood Theater
2039 NE Alberta StIndian street food with plates to share (of course) and a cool open atmosphere.
House cured meats, homemade pickled veggies, and a 2-fer option each night (feeds 2 with bev for under $30). One of the greatest kept secrets in PDX, in our humble opinion.
142 locals recommend
Grain & Gristle
1473 NE Prescott StHouse cured meats, homemade pickled veggies, and a 2-fer option each night (feeds 2 with bev for under $30). One of the greatest kept secrets in PDX, in our humble opinion.
Options galore! Can't decide if you and your group want sushi, fish 'n chips, Italian, or Mediterranean? Come here and everyone wins! Lots of kids play things as well.
24 locals recommend
Piedmont Station Food Carts
625 NE Killingsworth StOptions galore! Can't decide if you and your group want sushi, fish 'n chips, Italian, or Mediterranean? Come here and everyone wins! Lots of kids play things as well.
Serving fresh baked pastries and locally roasted coffees, this little spot is tops on the non-chain coffee houses in the area.
155 locals recommend
Woodlawn Coffee & Pastry
808 NE Dekum StServing fresh baked pastries and locally roasted coffees, this little spot is tops on the non-chain coffee houses in the area.
Within a stones throw of our place (a mere 3 blocks), indulge is a cappuccino or your drink of choice.
296 locals recommend
Extracto Coffee Roasters
2921 NE Killingsworth StWithin a stones throw of our place (a mere 3 blocks), indulge is a cappuccino or your drink of choice.
Just opened during the Summer of 2019, a Eugene based brewery serving food from Guam(?!!??), YUM!
7 locals recommend
Oakshire Beer Hall
5013 NE 42nd AveJust opened during the Summer of 2019, a Eugene based brewery serving food from Guam(?!!??), YUM!
The other half of Beast (across the street), Expatriate offers some much more inexpensive menu options and killer cocktails - beware, though, only one beer available!
195 locals recommend
Expatriate
5424 NE 30th AveThe other half of Beast (across the street), Expatriate offers some much more inexpensive menu options and killer cocktails - beware, though, only one beer available!
Incredible business model, delicious house made chai, and made to order tiny little donuts (think mini hostess but hot n fresh and seasonal). This truly is the BEST donut place in town.
219 locals recommend
Pip's Original Doughnuts & Chai
4759 NE Fremont StIncredible business model, delicious house made chai, and made to order tiny little donuts (think mini hostess but hot n fresh and seasonal). This truly is the BEST donut place in town.
Discover the goodness of Iraqi food and found it refreshingly different from typical middle eastern cuisine.
63 locals recommend
DarSalam
2921 NE Alberta StDiscover the goodness of Iraqi food and found it refreshingly different from typical middle eastern cuisine.
Incredible Hawaiian cuisine. This guy started as a food cart and was super successful so he opened a brick & mortar location on Alberta. Bring an empty belly and don't shy away from long lines, the wait is typically not as long as you'd think.
16 locals recommend
GrindWitTryz
4318 Northeast Cully BoulevardIncredible Hawaiian cuisine. This guy started as a food cart and was super successful so he opened a brick & mortar location on Alberta. Bring an empty belly and don't shy away from long lines, the wait is typically not as long as you'd think.
Leisure, Relaxing, and Outdoor Parks
Places to go when you want to relax and unwind.
Just a short walk up the street, Fernhill has a great playground for kids as well as an awesome splash pad (open Memorial Day - Labor Day), dog park, and a community-use regulation sized track for those athletes out there who want to enjoy a run.
21 locals recommend
Fernhill Park
6010 NE 37th AveJust a short walk up the street, Fernhill has a great playground for kids as well as an awesome splash pad (open Memorial Day - Labor Day), dog park, and a community-use regulation sized track for those athletes out there who want to enjoy a run.
A clothing-optional massage and spa wellness center. Safe space, tranquil, relaxing. Complete with sauna and very large hot tub.
Common Ground Wellness Cooperative
5010 Northeast 33rd AvenueA clothing-optional massage and spa wellness center. Safe space, tranquil, relaxing. Complete with sauna and very large hot tub.
Ten blocks down Ainsworth, you'll hit a park full of heritage trees, a terrific playground space, covered basketball courts, tennis court, and may even see some live bike polo, among other things.
139 locals recommend
Alberta Park
1905 NE Killingsworth StTen blocks down Ainsworth, you'll hit a park full of heritage trees, a terrific playground space, covered basketball courts, tennis court, and may even see some live bike polo, among other things.
Another great, heavily shaded park with a nice 1/2 mile running trail around the perimeter.
56 locals recommend
Wilshire Park
4116 NE 33rd AveAnother great, heavily shaded park with a nice 1/2 mile running trail around the perimeter.
One of the newest parks in the area, Khunamokwst Park sports it's own half-pipe and a great climbing area for the kids.
15 locals recommend
Kʰunamokwst Park
5200 NE Alberta StOne of the newest parks in the area, Khunamokwst Park sports it's own half-pipe and a great climbing area for the kids.
The original rose test garden in Portland, Peninsula Park is historic and absolutely breathtaking during the summer months.
154 locals recommend
Peninsula Park and Rose Gardens
700 N Rosa Parks WayThe original rose test garden in Portland, Peninsula Park is historic and absolutely breathtaking during the summer months.
Mt. Tabor, a volcanic cinder cone, is a very popular destination and features expansive views of downtown Portland, picnic areas, a dog off-leash area, natural surface and paved paths, a playground, a performance stage, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts — not to mention the picturesque outdoor reservoirs that once held the city’s drinking water.
405 locals recommend
Mt Tabor Dog Park
2219 SE Lincoln StMt. Tabor, a volcanic cinder cone, is a very popular destination and features expansive views of downtown Portland, picnic areas, a dog off-leash area, natural surface and paved paths, a playground, a performance stage, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts — not to mention the picturesque outdoor reservoirs that once held the city’s drinking water.
The Essentials
Where to get the necessities, if one should run out!
New Seasons is a 'higher end' grocery chain in Portland. They offer the essentials, plus a great deli selection, sandwiches/wraps/salads made to order, and daily soup offerings.
1022 locals recommend
New Seasons Market
5320 NE 33rd AveNew Seasons is a 'higher end' grocery chain in Portland. They offer the essentials, plus a great deli selection, sandwiches/wraps/salads made to order, and daily soup offerings.
A little further down the road than New Seasons Market, but definitely a bit easier on the wallet. Offers the essentials as far as groceries are concerned.
279 locals recommend
Safeway
6901 NE Sandy BlvdA little further down the road than New Seasons Market, but definitely a bit easier on the wallet. Offers the essentials as far as groceries are concerned.
Unfortunately, the closest TJs is still a little ways away. If you haven't shopped at one - expect nothing name brand, but everything delicious.
Trader Joe's
4121 Northeast Halsey StreetUnfortunately, the closest TJs is still a little ways away. If you haven't shopped at one - expect nothing name brand, but everything delicious.