For BBQ try Buster's in Tigard. The set-up is cafeteria style, but the BBQ is good and they have a good condiment bar, with several types of BBQ sauce. I always get the pulled pork, but hear that the BBQ chicken is very good. To be clear, this is "dry" Texas BBQ, so the meat is smoked, not cooked in sauce.

For diner food there is the Black Bear Diner on TV Hwy. Good, big breakfasts, but expect a wait on the weekend. Lunches are good too, but not so hot for dinner.

Something you might care to try, too, should you go to the Museum of Science and Industry, is the food cart pod at 12th and Hawthorne. There's a good site: foodcartsportland.com that gives the run down on all the pods (a bevy of food carts); you might also check yelp.com for reviews of particular carts.

Something that might be fun, especially if you are used to BART and such, is take the Trimet Max line -- from a transit center in or around Beaverton -- to the Zoo; you could also go onto downtown Portland and check out some of the food carts there.

As another poster said, the chowhole pickings in the Beaverton area aren't all that hot. A lot of chain restaurants.

Another good and inexpensive Hawaiian place is Hapa Grill, which is a little further from your base of operation.

-----
Black Bear Diner
13435 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy, Beaverton, OR 97005

Hapa Grill
14625 SW Teal Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97007

Responding to your preferences for things inexpensive, bar-atmosphere and good beer, I would recommend you try the Racoon Lodge -- in particular their "Den" downstairs, which is a bar. It is the HQ of Cascade Brewing. They are known for their sour beers (lactic fermentation). They also have a phenomenal German wheat beer (Summer Ghose), the likes of which I have never had elsewhere.

They have an 11 (small) glass sampler of everything they have on tap. They have a usual happy hour that extends to all day Saturday and Sunday (some happy hour food menu items and their three main beers $3.25/pint). They also have a Tightwad Tuesday, which again is happy hour all day and a special menu of inexpensive items -- I'm talking tasty dollar fish tacos, and cup of soup and salad for $1.75. The food is good, but not outstanding; however, for some good and unique beers and inexpensive pub grub, it can't be beat.

Now this is out on the western side of Portland, bordering with Beaverton (the 'burbs), but it isn't all that far from downtown and there's a direct bus connection between the two.

Two other suggestions:

Upright Brewery. This place is in the Rose Quarter, however, it has limited hours (Fridays and Saturdays), so check their website for details. They have some outstanding open-fermentation beers. This is a very minimalist place, basically a basement brewery with a few tables and no food; however, the beers must be tried. Can take the Yellow line Max to get here.

Another really good brewpub is Lompoc Brewery's Fifth Quadrant. Their beers are all top of the line and the food I had was good, and that which others around me had looked good too. Again, reasonably priced; can also take the Max Yellow line to get to this place, getting off at the station near Failing St. and walking about five blocks east (including taking the Failing Bridge -- who doesn't want to say they've walked the Failing Bridge?). Right next door is a dessert place and another door down is Lompoc's Sidebar, which has tastings of additional unique beers on Friday nights. This place has a very nice atmosphere and interior and I think you'll appreciate the bar there too.

Whatever you do, don't go to any McMenniman's establishments. Friends don't let friends drink at McMennimans -- it's that bad.

I've heard good things about a number of carts at the Mississippi Marketplace pod (a "pod" is a group of food carts at one location), but haven't been there myself. I have two recommendations in SE PDX:

The "Over the Top" cart at the 50th and Division pod (called Ala Carts); it serves "wild" game burgers (farm-raised bison, elk, boar, emu, rabbit, etc.) which are delicious, along with a side of outstanding coleslaw; they also have various veggie tempura items. There are a bunch of other carts there, most of which are open at dinner time too, so you'll have some choices; however, I haven't tried any others there. In addition, during the winter months the pod has an enclosed eating space along with heaters.

The other pod I recommend is Good Food Here at 43rd and Belmont. There are a number of very good carts here -- of many varieties, all open for dinner as far as I have observed. I've also noticed that a lot of young families dine here at dinner time. The place also has covered picnic tables. You definitely can't go wrong going here.

There is a comprehensive Portland foodcart site: foodcartsportland.com that cross references carts by location as well as type of food.

From your timing issue, I can't tell if you talking about this coming weekend or a weekend this summer. In either case I still recommend the aforementioned pods.

For your Hawthorne excursion I recommend the food cart pod at 12th and Hawthorne, and another at 43rd and Belmont. At the former I love Bernie's BBQ -- very tasty, spicy Cajun bbq (n.b. not much in veggie fare, however), items are large and ought to be shared ($9 for a trough-load of jambalaya). At the latter I like the middle-eastern truck (Abyla?); had a great falafel sandwich for $5.

Can second the first two suggestions, particularly the second for being in an unusual location, i.e. alone in the middle of a charming residential neighborhood.

I also like Mickey Finn's pub (about 43rd and Woodstock). Has a good variety of beers and good pub fare.

If you're going by car, I most highly recommend the 72nd Street Pub (on 72nd, just south of Flavel -- take Woodstock east, up to 72nd and then turn right [south]); it's just past the second light (Flavel) along 72nd. This place has awesome chow at reasonable prices. Had a gigantic, highly tasty buffalo burger with bacon, cheese and mushrooms; it's too big to eat as a burger -- I could only get it in my mouth by cutting the burger in half and eating it open-faced. Their fish 'n chips are also great. And they have the best hand-battered onion rings I've ever had. They also have some very homey dishes like pork chops with mashed potatoes and gravy. All of these entrees are enough for two meals, for example: the pork chop plate comes with two juicy pork chops.

Many revolutions around the sun back, there was a place on Powell, between 82nd and 92nd, called "Spudnuts" or something to that effect, which made donuts with a potato-based dough which were moist and tasty. Anyone know if it is still possible to get a spudnut in this town (or greater metro area)?

I also recommend Deschutes for both excellent food and beer.

One place nobody else has mentioned is the Widmer Gasthaus Pub. Good brews and good food that has a bit of a european bent (German and Scottish) to it. It's a little ways out in the N/NW industrial district, but not far by car from downtown. They have a nice deal for a couple of two listed entrees and a desert for $25.

And if you are going to Bailey's Taproom -- just for the beer as another poster has pointed out, then you should by all means also go across the alley/street to Tugboat Brewing, which features some great beers and SUPERB cider and has a very funky ambience. Highly recommend happy hour with cheaper beer prices and easy-going, friendly regulars. Never tried their food options, which are limited and primitive -- nachos and such.

Another great place is Kells', an Irish pub in downtown. They serve a wide variety of great beers on tap, have excellent food dishes and often live music. Be sure to have your waiter do the dollar/quarter trick onto the ceiling -- he'll know what you mean and once you look at the ceiling you'll kinda know what I mean.

And just plain IXNAY on any McMenamins joint unless you're searching out zymurgized swill and limp, greasy fries -- and an overkill of hippy-dippy artwork of moons, suns and stars with faces and the like (not that there's anything wrong with it in moderation, but to the exclusion of all else gets a little tiresome). It is the Starbucks of pubs -- only Starbuck's product is relatively far better.

And frankly, since Portland is brewpub Mecca, you really ought to try more than just one of these establishments during your visit. I'd also say ixnay on many of the trendy haute' (and relatively expensive) cuisine places talked up on this board, and rather spend your money and time and satiate your hunger and thirst at brewpubs.

On the subject of brew houses, how's the Laurelwood brew and pizza place?

-----
Bailey's Taproom
213 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205

Laurelwood Restaurant
5115 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97213

Can't recommend anything near PDX Airport, but since you're going to be essentially in SE Portland, I'd recommend you go the 50 (short) blocks south to the Hawthorne District (on Hawthorne St. (Ave?) Also down Division about the same number of blocks is this Pok Pok Thai place that is raved about. At 41st and Division is a really good bistro/cafe/bar -- Sckavone's.

Nearer to the Airport, down Sandy Boulevard is The Rheinlander, which is a long-standing German restaurant.

In any case, the streets of Portland are easier to navigate than the Streets of San Francisco, so anything in SE Portland is not really that far or long away.

-----
Pok Pok
3226 SE Division St, Portland, OR

Sckavone's
4100 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

I have not tried this service; however, it is a SERVICE. If they are delivering food from restaurants, then I imagine they are paying the menu price. They gotta charge something for their time and gas. Otherwise they'd be a charity, and I don't see their telethons making a lot of money.

Hometown Pizza on SE 72nd (just north of Woodstock) is a Mom 'n Pop place that delivers (otherwise is only take-out). I know the pizza zealots here on this board will likely attack me for suggesting such a "travesty" of a place, i.e. it is not A Pizza Scholls or Ken's; however, it is good pizza by my standards. Don't know their precise delivery range, however. I take out, so I don't know if and what is the delivery charge.

Generally I don't do delivery food, so can't provide any other recommendations.

-----
Hometown Pizza
5902 SE 72nd Ave, Portland, OR 97206

Haven't had any from either in a long time, I admit, but I remember them both having good product, with Edelweiss perhaps having slightly more exotic items; however, the vibe at Otto's was always much more copacetic than that at Edelweiss's. Not as crowded and certainly with less aggressive and fewer grim-visaged customers than E's. The Woodstock area is also a nice, low-key commercial district to patronize.

Stump Town Coffee is the place to go for java, or so many rave. As another poster said, the microbrew scene is not to be missed; my favorite is Tugboat Brewing on Broadway. Otherwise, it is really the food cart/wagon scene that is not to be missed. There are several lots full of these food wagons (with all different sorts of ethnic foods and such) in downtown; however, I can't tell you the specific street corners. There is also one on the east side at 12th and Hawthorne (walkable from downtown). Something else to consider is the Saturday Market by the Burnside Bridge (is actually Sat. and Sun.); more food carts as well as arts and crafts stuff.

It's not food (although they have a coffee shop), but Powell's Books is not to be missed if you at all like books)).

Some may tell you to go to Burgerville USA as a quintessential Portland burger joint. I say skip it.

-----
Burgerville
8218 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97220

It's likely too late for your visit, twinikenic, but I'll add to the discussion, particularly since I was on a recent pub crawl in downtown PDX.

First and foremost, I recommend Tugboat Brewery, which happens to be right across the street/alley from Bailey's. TB is the working man's brewpub. Old-fashioned and quaint. But most importantly it has good brews. Had a dry, brown cider, Spire Mtn (from Olympia?), which is the only good hard cider I have ever had. This place has been around for a longtime, too, and has been brewing its own good beers. Once had a most deliciously crisp and clean rye beer of their making. TB's prices are slightly lower than other's as well. A very friendly atmosphere like a local neighborhood bar. No attitude here.

Liked Bailey's Tap Room well enough, but was crowded and had kinda a chi-chi atmosphere. Liked that they had sampler trays available.

Rogue was purdee good. A wide variety of selections and all are quite good. Bonus points for handing out free samplers.

Deschuttes is a bit on the trendy and crowded side (think Gordon Biersch if you are from California), but they have good beer. What sold me on the place was that I was having a dickens of a time getting served at the admittedly crowded bar and when I final did catch a bartender's eyes I waved my arm and apparently had a very glum/annoyeddispirited look on my face, as he gave me a free pint.

For a more low-key and pubby experience, with the exception of the Tugboat, I would recommend any of the pubs in SE Portland, which others here are suggesting, although I cannot vouch for any in particular. I do like the Laurelthirst for a pub with live music; it is on SE Belmont.

Move along, citizens, nothing to see here. The doughnuts are certainly nothing special, besides their unusual toppings, and the time I went there, there was a drunk bum in front of me in line who, besides talking a lot and wasting my and the doughnut monger's time, knocked over his coffee on the counter, causing me to wait even longer to be served the mediocre, slightly over-priced product. The place looks purdee dirty too. Give me a Cambodian-refugee-made LA doughnut any time over Voodoo's.

Sorry Leonardo, on this is one we agree.

nkeane,

Have you ever had Rocco's pizza? And if it is so horrendous, please do give the details. Otherwise, why so derisive a response without explaining yourself?

Really your derisiveness says it all.

Just tried the place out, on account of this thread and it being in my former neck of the woods in SE PDX.

I don't get your harsh criticism of the ambience there. It's a little pizza joint. What do you want? I'm just happy not to see/hear a blaring t.v. and video games (Yeah, I'm talking to you, sycophants of Apizza Scholls). It's a little neighborhood establishment with rustic furniture. Geez.

As for the pizza: not bad, and with a lot of tasty sauce. Bites of the crust were good, although others tasted like motzah-bread dough. I did find it very good and chewy left over and cold the next morning). I do find, however, being charged for cheese as a topping to be tres beat, particularly given the base price. Also ordered with anchovies, and was disappointed in the paucity of said fishies (about 1.5 per piece of pie); I like to be able to taste anchovies in every bite -- rather than just one or two -- of each pieceof pizza.

Service was good and friendly. And they have a few good beers on tap.

I might try it again, but if this is considered amongst the best 'za in PDX, then I'm going to commit seppuku with a pizza cutter.

The best pizzas I've had in Portland recently are Hometown Pizza (SE 72, just north of Woodstock; take-out/delivery and cash-only) and Rocco's Pizza, kitty-corner to Powell's Books, downtown. The former has tasty, well-topped pies, and while the latter hasn't any atmosphere to speak of, it is in an excellent location for biblio/chowphiles and has very tasty and large slices.

Once upon a time, when it dressed so fine, Bridgeport Brewery had good pizza, but I hear they've revamped their food offerings for the worse.

Where is that in Hood River? Near the old center part of town or elsewhere? Is it visible from the freeway?

Thanks All, for the replies yay or nay on AS. I particularly appreciate the others willing to tell it like it is and not go along with the pizza lemmings. Got a lot of laughs and some pizza joint ideas out of it.

Grazie

I'm down with food carts and holes in the wall. I dig taco trucks. I like In-and-Out burgers and good diner food, etc., etc. But I'm not going to wait 45 minutes to an hour for any of it and be forced to eat it in extremely unsavory conditions, i.e. cramped, bustling/chaotic place with incessant video game noise.

Yeah, I was a dishwasher there and got fired. NOT. Nor do I run the Baghad Theatre pizza place.

But yes, in fact, I do have at least a hand axe to grind. I tried the much-touted-on-this-board Voodoo donuts and was most unimpressed by it. Then I went to AS, again on the high recommendation of so many here, and found it severely wanting in several key dining respects; so egregious were the drawbacks that I decided to leave rather than deal with the heart ache and high blood pressure of trying to get one of their purportedly stupendous pizzas.

I didn't say "any" Portlander who is familiar with New Haven pizza must be a Yalie; rather I said that most Portlanders who are in the know on this are Yalies. I'll stand by this statement. Please, let New Haven pizza eating Portlanders sound off on this: let's have a poll (although I grant you that this isn't the board for it).

Thanks for the tips, Mallory. I'll try them. As I understand it, Ken's has a new place around 28th and Division, which will likely be the Ken's I try.

And thanks for coming out to tell truth to power (i.e. the herd).

To the devoted Apizza Scholls cultists:

Thanks for your replies, some of which were informative and even helpful. I figured I would get stoned (as in have rocks hurled at) for my impunity to question the dining experience there; however, I am left unimpressed by your excuses in defense of the place.

First off, I am not a fan of chichi food by any measure. I don't care for chic OR trendy restaurants, which I think is part of the reason I wasn't impressed with what I saw at APizza's, i.e. people in the foyer bunched up shoulder to shoulder waiting for Pizza Godot, while in the service-less dining area tables sat empty. I strongly prefer mom-n-pop/hole-in-the-wall/funky joints which actually want my business. Apparently consequently I don't get the reference to Babbo -- have no idea what it is (likely some pretentious, fanny-pants ristorante, which you wouldn't catch me dead waiting in line for. So don't impugning my quite-less-than-glowing review of your false mecca or making presumptions about my tastes in dining establishments. On the other hand, if you think my value system for judging a restaurant is catty wompus, that's fine; however, I have just as much right to think yours are tragically misaligned -- indeed, I wager I am not the only person with views similar to my own.

Next, this place ain't no pizza parlor. I've been in pizza parlors all over this great big nation of ours, and every pizza parlor I have ever stepped into has always had someone behind the counter; there was NOONE on duty behind the counter or in the dining area when we came in. In pizza parlors you can come in and sit down immediately if there are empty tables. At Apizza that night, there were easily two dozen people scrunched together in the foyer while tables remained empty. This place acts as if it is a sit-down restaurant, but it had NO host or hostess, although there was a sign up sheet. Furthermore, every pizza joint I have ever gone into has some decorations, some color; like I said before, this place looks like it hasn't been redecorated since it was a mid-70's wine bar or cafe. For heaven's sake, the owners apparently hail from New Haven and do "New-Haven" style pizza, so why not have some pictures of New Haven hanging on the walls?

Also last time I checked, pizza parlors do take-out - in fact, it is often a large component of their business. The fact that this place, as well as Ken's Artisan Pizza, only do take out when they deign to really sticks in my craw. I don't do beholdency to businesses which want to play games like this. So they make a limited amount of dough and can then only sell a limited number of pies; good for them, it's a free country; hence I'm also free to rag on them for their egregious business plan and service, am I not? These things, besides just the flavor of the food, govern my opinion of a restaurant. I just don't do lying supine for my dine-out grub.

And it's not that I am not willing to wait 45 minutes for a table (particularly if I knew ahead of time and planned accordingly); however, I am not going to wait 45 minutes in order to eat really good pizza within 10 feet of a noisy video game, in a cramped, bustling non-descript drab brown and yellow hole. I used to wait 45 minutes for a table in a favorite pizza parlor/
Italian restaurant in greater LA, but there was ALWAYS a person behind the counter -- not to mention any number of waitresses and busboys out and about.

Nor is it that I mind kids or kid-friendly places (admittedly, Chucky Cheese is the exception here); I still like to go to a Pietro's pizza, but at least all Pietro's have the space to accommodate young families (incuding video games tucked away from the dining area). Neither is the case at Apizza.

And as for the Apizza apologists employing the well-that's-how-it-is-in-New-Haven line: Portland ain't New Haven, thank goodness; the Rose City has a bounty of good chow holes -- the vast majority with some character, atmosphere and or decent service -- to choose from. It's one thing as a college kid (I'm assuming most Portlanders who have any first-hand experience with New Haven pizza joints are Yalies) to wait with your friends for half an hour or more for good food, but noisy dining, since that is de rigueur in dining halls. I just the other night had a bad dining experience at my favorite pizzeria. A large and boisterous co-ed group, all wearing black t-shirts sporting "drinking team" on the back, came in and got rather rowdy until they were served their pizza (which literally shut their pie holes). Objectively speaking, it ruined an otherwise very nice dining experience with someone I had brought there for the first time. Don't tell me set and setting have no effect on the dining experience. dinner time should lower blood pressure rather than raise it.

As for the order a glass of wine and chill suggestion, there was no one up front to order anything from, and sipping wine while scrunched shoulder to shoulder with strangers isn't my idea of relaxation. If they had a bar -- like any self-respecting Italian restaurant does -- that would be another matter, but they don't, so I won't.

Since they only do take-out on occasion and evidently the 'za would lose some of its zazz on the trip home in the cardboard box, don't see me ever achieving evident pizza nirvana in PDX. Oh well.

So go ahead Apizza enthusiasts, knock yourselves out throwing stones at me; I'm a big boy and can take the pain, but I have yet to hear anything that would make me want to give it another try. The combination of incessant video game noise, general bedlam and lack of regular take-out service is a deal breaker for me. Belittle me, if you want, Apizza appeasers, for my blasphemous views. I'm a chowhound who has his standards and is quite comfortable with them. I'm sticking to calling out the emperor on his clothes here, just like the guy who threw his shoe at Bush took his licks for telling it like it is. I've thrown my shoe Apizza Scholls.

Tried going to Apizza Scholls. Got there at 5pm on a Sunday; it apparently opens at 4pm. Found a foyer full of waiting patrons, mostly empty tables and no host or hostess, or any waiter or waitress for that matter. Found a sign-up list and put my name on it. The place was loud: loud music and loud incessant noise from a video game, which abutted the dining area. Went to use the bathroom -- they evidently have all of one whole bathroom -- and had to wait a while, but at least it was clean enough. Upon leaving the bathroom I was again confronted by the wall of noise and chaos of young families with kids running all over the place, and still most of the tables were empty, although there was now at least an employee manning the host position. Did I mention that there is no decor to speak of unless you dig early 70's yellow and brown painted walls?

This was supposed to be my birthday meal and I decided no way was I going to hang around this circus with my dinner companion for god knows how long to try some of the highly touted pizza. We left. It looks like they have to go boxes, so some day I will try ordering a pizza for pick-up if they indeed DO that sort of thing, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit down in that place and attempt to enjoy a meal.

Perhaps the pizza is indeed very good, but it is the bottom of the barrel atmosphere-wise. And the service was non-existent.

Besides being unimpressed with the place, I am even more unimpressed by all the rave reviews of this joint, which fail to mention this aspect of the place.

Have others found this place lacking in this respect? Looking for a reality check here, folks.

Sorry, I don't remember the name. Anyway, it's a moot point now and frankly you weren't missing much. Friends who ate there semi-regularly said it had been on the decline for a while. I remember there was a Filipino restaurant thread a while back; I didn't consider throwing this place into the discussion because I felt it was at best mediocre.

Have found a couple of hole-in-the-wall places along SE 72nd for no-nonsense chow:

The first is Hometown Pizza (just north of Woodstock). It is solely a take-out place, but they have very good pizza. This is old-school pizza with heaps of toppings and relatively thin crust baked just right, i.e. neither burnt nor soggy. Caveat emptor: they only take cash. This place has been around for a few years at least. Reasonably priced Mom 'n Pop place.

The other is the 72nd Street Pub and Family Restaurant (just south of Flavel, on the eastside of the street, where a Philippine restaurant was until recently. It's good, pubby food with a few down-home entries, such as pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, along with delicately fried vegetables.. What is incredible there are their onion rings: home-made batter and a heaping plate of them for about $5.50. I haven't had such good onion rings for a long time. Very friendly, attentive service and once again a Mom n' Pop establishment and reasonably priced. They do take plastic.

I like to support little Mom n' Pop places whenever I can. Hence this post. Check 'em out.

Brunswickrules,

Sorry to say I haven't come upon ideal places yet. For the record, I don't live in/near Portland, but visit frequently, so I haven't had the chance to check out the Fubon or Food Front recommendations yet.

I know exactly what you mean about bargain prices for olives and feta. I lived around the corner from a Lebanese grocery with all kinds of imported goods and goodies at reasonable prices.

Which part of town are you in? I have spotted a middle eastern grocery store/butcher in Beaverton (on TV hwy or Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, I forget which), but have yet to stop and check it out.

I hope to do some pavement pounding and following up on these tips this coming Labor Day weekend, and will post back to this thread.

By chance I came upon this method: Bake (without foil) in an oven until almost done, i.e. just starting to get soft. Refrigerate overnight. The next day slice and make home fries ( I use pepper, canola oil and healthy butter substitute for the frying oil -- but feel free to include salt if that's your bag). They taste just like thick steak fries.

Actually, no, I haven't noticed that; Portlanders on this post anyway are not saying great things about Seattle. Rather there are ex-Seattle-lites who have moved to Salem, OR, talking about how Seattle is far better food-wise than Salem (Duh!), and thinking that somehow makes for a comparison between Seattle and Portland.

Furthermore, it seems the number of posts regarding PDX, from PDX'ers, has dropped off due to other websitesdedicated to Portland food, so trying to make some general inference regarding Portlanders' postings here would be dodgy at best.

Roasted/baked potatoes and yams on the grill are very good. Just wash and put on the grill whole, preferably under coals or low flames; the skins will get crispy, but the innards will be tasty. I like root vegetables baked/roasted whole, so rutabagas, turnips, beets and parsnips ought to be good. Stir-fried carrots are good, so I bet roasted/grilled whole carrots would be mighty fine, too. Basically veggie that is big enough not to fall through the grill bars ought to be yummy. Sliced-long-way squash ought to be good too (these I'd brush with olive oil and herbs).

As for the person recommending quartered head of romaine grilled, seems like there would be a whole lot of wilting going on there.