Southern Thai$alberta-artsMon-Fri 11:30-21:00, Sat-Sun 11:30-22:00
Earl Ninsom and Alan Akwai's Southern Thai chicken shop in NE Portland, with rice-flour-battered free-range chicken and sweet-spicy chili sauce.
Signature: Fried chicken, Roti and curry
Order: The three-piece fried chicken plate with curry roti
Tip: Two outposts (Killingsworth, Belmont) and a stall at Eem Pod. Killingsworth is the original room.
Southern Thai$hawthorne-belmontMon-Fri 11:30-21:00, Sat-Sun 11:30-22:00
The Belmont outpost of Earl Ninsom's Southern Thai chicken concept in Portland, with rice-flour fried chicken, khao soi and walk-in counter seating.
Signature: Fried chicken, Khao soi
Order: Khao soi with the half chicken
Tip: Counter ordering, table service. Open daily 11:30-21:00. No reservations.
Southern American$$east-burnside-kernsSun-Thu 08:30-21:30, Fri-Sat 08:30-22:00
Nicole and David Mouton's Southern dining room on E Burnside in Portland since 2006, the canonical Portland fried-chicken plate and a published hushpuppy.
Signature: Buttermilk fried chicken and sweet potato waffles, Praline bacon and biscuits
Order: Buttermilk fried chicken on a sweet potato waffle with hot honey
Tip: Brunch 08:30-14:00, dinner 16:30-21:00 daily. Reservations for the dining room; bar takes walk-ins.
American Brunch$$alberta-artsMon-Fri 08:00-14:00, Sat-Sun 08:00-15:00
The LGBTQ-, women- and veteran-owned brunch garden on NE Alberta in Portland, with topping-layered potato cakes, vegan tofu bowls and pineapple mimosas.
Signature: Biscuits and bacon gravy, Vegan tofu bowl
Order: The biscuits and bacon gravy with potato cakes
Tip: Dog-friendly with a doggie menu. The covered patio is the seat to ask for in summer.
Pizza$$hawthorne-belmontDaily 17:00-21:00
Brian and Kim Spangler's 18-inch sourdough pies on SE Hawthorne in Portland, in business since 2004 and still the canonical Portland Neapolitan pizza.
Signature: Pizza margherita, Calzone
Order: The classic Margherita with house mozzarella
Tip: Phone orders open at 16:00. Dough sells out on weekends; arrive by 17:30 or risk no pie.
Pizzeria$$mississippi-williamsDaily 17:00-22:00
The Smith family's whole-grain sourdough pizza and house-churned ice cream room on N Mississippi in Portland, all foraged toppings and seasonal flavours.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House-made ice cream
Order: The pie with chanterelles and fontina, in season
Tip: Walk-in only with a handful of booths. The ice cream rotates weekly with foraged flavours.