Cong Tu Bot is a vietnamese restaurant in East Bayside, Portland.
Editorially verified May 31, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Pho ga, Banh xeo, Cha gio spring rolls
Must order: The pho ga chicken broth, then banh xeo with shrimp and pork.
Tip: Wednesday to Saturday 17:00-21:00.
Address: 57 Washington Avenue, Portland, ME 04101
Izakaya Minato on Washington Avenue opened 2017 from Chef Thomas Takashi Cooke, with binchotan-grilled yakitori, donburi bowls and a deep sake list.
Signature: Yakitori skewers, Karaage chicken, Donburi rice bowls
Order: A flight of yakitori from the charcoal grill, then the chicken karaage.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday 17:00-21:30. Resy reservations open 30 days ahead.
Via Vecchia on Dana Street in the Old Port, a brick-and-ivy small-plates Italian room with handmade pasta, Maine seafood and a velvet-booth wrap-around bar.
Signature: Handmade tagliatelle, Branzino, Beef short rib agnolotti
Order: A pasta course off the daily list plus a Negroni from the 20-seat bar.
Tip: Monday-Thursday from 16:00. Reservations via the site; walk-in bar seats most weeknights.
Rose Foods on Forest Avenue opened 2017 from Chad Conley, a Jewish deli with hand-rolled bagels, house-cured lox, smoked whitefish and matzo ball soup.
Signature: Lox bagel, Matzo ball soup, Pastrami sandwich
Order: The lox bagel with whipped cream cheese, plus a cup of matzo ball soup.
Tip: Daily 07:30-14:00. Counter ordering; takeout moves fast at peak weekend brunch.
Izakaya Minato on Washington Avenue opened 2017 from Chef Thomas Takashi Cooke, with binchotan-grilled yakitori, donburi bowls and a deep sake list.
Signature: Yakitori skewers, Karaage chicken, Donburi rice bowls
Order: A flight of yakitori from the charcoal grill, then the chicken karaage.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday 17:00-21:30. Resy reservations open 30 days ahead.
Tipo on Ocean Avenue opened 2017 from Chris and Paige Gould of Central Provisions, a Neapolitan-themed Italian room in Portland's Back Cove neighbourhood.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House-made pasta, Wood-roasted vegetables
Order: The margherita from the wood oven, then a bowl of cacio e pepe.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00; dinner only. Resy reservations recommended.
Pai Men Miyake on State Street opened 2009 from Chef Masa Miyake of Miyake, with tonkotsu ramen, charcoal yakitori and izakaya plates from the open bar.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Yakitori, Buta no kakuni pork belly
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with the soft-boiled egg upgrade, then yakitori from the charcoal grill.
Tip: Daily lunch and dinner; reservations via OpenTable for dinner, walk-ins for lunch.
The Purple House in North Yarmouth, 20 minutes from Portland, opened 2018 from Krista Desjarlais with Montreal-style wood-fired bagels and sourdough pizza.
Signature: Wood-fired Montreal-style bagels, Sourdough pizza, Egg sandwiches
Order: An everything bagel with cream cheese and house-cured gravlax, plus a pizza by the slice.
Tip: Friday to Sunday only; opens 08:00, closes when the bagels run out (usually early afternoon).
