5 cheap eats rooms in Portland, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in Portland — the places editors actually return to. All Portland food.
Hat Yai ★ 4.6
alberta-arts · 1605 NE Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97211
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.
Tip: Two outposts (Killingsworth, Belmont) and a stall at Eem Pod. Killingsworth is the original room.
Nong's Khao Man Gai ★ 4.5
hawthorne-belmont · 609 SE Ankeny St, Ste C, Portland, OR 97214
Nong Poonsukwattana's Thai chicken-and-rice counter in southeast Portland, started as a 2009 food cart and now the canonical khao man gai in town.
Tip: Two locations: SE Ankeny is the original cart-turned-shop. SW 13th Ave is the downtown counter.
Hat Yai Belmont ★ 4.5
hawthorne-belmont · 605 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
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.
Tip: Counter ordering, table service. Open daily 11:30 to 21:00. No reservations.
Pine State Biscuits ★ 4.3
hawthorne-belmont · 3640 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
The Belmont biscuit counter that put Portland on the breakfast map in 2008, with fried chicken, gravy and the Reggie sandwich Diners Drive-Ins made famous.
Tip: Open daily 07:00 to 14:00. Cash and card. Order at the counter; expect a 15-minute wait on weekends.
Lardo ★ 4.3
hawthorne-belmont · 1212 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Rick Gencarelli's chef-driven sandwich shop on SE Hawthorne in Portland, founded as a 2010 food cart and four-time Willamette Week Best Sandwich winner.
Tip: Counter order. The chefwich rotates monthly and is a collaboration with a guest chef.