Green Elephant Lunch is a vegetarian budget eat in Arts District, Portland.
Editorially verified May 31, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: Lunch Tuesday to Saturday 11:30-14:30; dinner from 17:00 nightly except Monday.
Address: 608 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
OTTO Pizza on Congress Street runs Portland's slice counter with unconventional pies (mashed potato bacon scallion, pulled pork mango) and classic margherita.
Try: Slice of mashed potato bacon scallion pizza
Tip: Open daily 11:00-22:00. Slice walks in; whole pies via phone.
Amato's on India Street is the original 1902 Portland sandwich counter where Giovanni Amato invented the Maine Italian sandwich, served under ten dollars.
Try: Maine Italian sandwich, original recipe
Tip: The original 1902 location is the canonical one; the Maine Italian sandwich is the order.
Becky's Diner on Commercial Street runs the cheapest waterfront breakfast in Portland, opening 05:00 daily for fishing crews and the line behind them.
Try: Eggs and hash, short stack with bacon
Tip: Daily 05:00-21:00. Cash and card both fine; queues longest 09:00-11:00 weekends.
OTTO Pizza on Congress Street runs Portland's slice counter with unconventional pies (mashed potato bacon scallion, pulled pork mango) and classic margherita.
Try: Slice of mashed potato bacon scallion pizza
Tip: Open daily 11:00-22:00. Slice walks in; whole pies via phone.
Forage Market on Washington Avenue runs wood-fired Montreal-style bagels and bagel sandwiches under twelve dollars from the East Bayside counter.
Try: Wood-fired bagel sandwich
Tip: Closes 13:00; bagels often sell out by noon weekends. Cash and card both fine; counter only, no seating.
Tu Casa on Washington Avenue runs Salvadoran pupusas, baleadas and full plates from a small East Bayside counter for under fifteen dollars apiece.
Try: Salvadoran pupusa plate
Tip: Closed Mondays. The pupusa revuelta with curtido is the easy first order.
The Holy Donut on Commercial Street runs Leigh Kellis's Maine potato donuts under five dollars apiece, in rotating seasonal flavours including wild blueberry.
Try: Maine potato donut
Tip: Sells out by mid afternoon. Pair with a Tandem espresso for under ten dollars.
