This time of year, many Pilots are far from home and missing the familiar bites of the Thanksgiving season.
It may not be your grandma’s pumpkin pie or the highly debated marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole, but some of the best fall flavors are right here in Portland.
Gather around: The Beacon brings you our favorite local spots that are serving comfort by the forkful, all season long.
Toya Ramen & Bar
Recommended by Kalena O’Connell, Living Section Editor
You read that right — this holiday season, we are ditching the Cup Noodles and treating ourselves to the good stuff. Toya Ramen & Bar handcrafts its noodles daily for the perfect slurpable bite that has crowned them Portland’s best ramen. The restaurant’s modern take on this classic dish offers familiar favorites like shoyu and miso ramen that are worthy of celebration. If you are feeling adventurous, opt for a soupless noodle, such as the carbonaramen or O.G. abura soba, which is perfectly paired with appetizers that can make an eggplant lover out of anyone. Whether you choose to dine in on the action or have it delivered to your door, Toya Ramen & Bar is a meal you’ll be thankful for.
Casa Italia
Recommended by Kaylee Monahan, Copy and Opinions Editor
Thanksgiving is about community, and what better place to gather around the dinner table than at a restaurant with “home” in the name? Nestled on Division Street beneath an arbor of twinkling lights, Casa Italia is a quaint and cozy eatery serving up authentic Italian cuisine. With fresh, seasonal ingredients, every dish feels like it was made to share — for you pasta lovers out there, my personal favorite is the rigatoni alla bolognese, but my mom swears by the lasagna. And if you’re not in the mood for their sweet tiramisu or triple chocolate cake to top off an evening of holiday festivities, Salt & Straw is a few blocks down the road.
PDX Sliders
Recommended by Brady McCracken, News Reporter
“She say, ‘Do you love me?’ I tell her, ‘Only partly. I only love [PDX Sliders] and my mama, I’m sorry.’” I think that’s what Drake said in his 2018 hit single, “God’s Plan.” And if you ever wonder what God’s plan is for you, the first step is to head to the nearest PDX Sliders. With three locations spread across East Portland — and the closest only four-and-a-half miles from campus — you owe it to yourself to try the fourth-best burger in America, according to National Geographic. The burger joint began in 2014 as a food cart in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood before expanding to a restaurant three years later. Truly of, by and for the people, PDX Sliders’ burgers are named after the iconic bridges of Portland. The menu provides a selection of beef, chicken, pork and veggie sliders. I personally recommend the Hawthorne — an outstandingly delicious slider with a beef patty, bacon, goat cheese and sweet, sweet strawberry preserve on brioche — my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The restaurant also offers loaded fries and salads that are equally fulfilling for the heart and stomach. So what is God’s plan? I say it’s to drop everything and head on over to PDX Sliders.
Grassa
Recommended by Darcy Boss, News Reporter
As a pasta lover, this local spot opened up a whole new definition of delicious. With so much to choose from, you won’t be let down at Grassa. It’s the perfect place to have a night out with exquisite pasta. I highly recommend their mac and cheese, which has the perfect amount of cheese topped with bread crumbs. The aesthetic environment of Grassa makes it even more enjoyable to take fun pictures and enjoy time out on Quimby street. You know what else is great about Grassa? There is a nearby ice cream shop called Kate’s Ice Cream that will perfectly top off your evening.
Cathedral Coffee
Recommended by Reem Alshaban, News Reporter
You can’t call yourself a true UP student if you haven’t tried Cathedral Coffee. This cafe offers a wide array of mouth-watering pastries, like turnovers, cookies, banana bread and quiches. They also boast beverages that scream fall and winter vibes, with their more popular ones being a dirty chai latte, charcoal mocha and more classic options like an Americano and almond milk latte. The atmosphere makes frequenters feel right at home with colorful graffiti art on the cafe’s walls and a variety of comfortable seating options. The best part of Cathedral Coffee, however, is the small library nook for those wanting to relax with a hot beverage and a good book. If you’d like a taste of cold-weather coziness, order their cinnamon roll alongside a generous serving of scalding hot chocolate, perfect for warming up as Portland eases into winter.
Bua of Siam
Recommended by Kaeden Souki, Sports Editor
Two Words: yellow curry. Need I say more? Perhaps not, but I’ll attest that Bua of Siam, located on Lombard Street in the heart of St. Johns, makes up for its run-of-the-mill pricing with beautiful flavors, a pleasant atmosphere and delightful service. If a variety of vegetables — often potatoes, onions and carrots — stewed together with tender meat in a sauce of perfect spices and coconut milk, paired with delectably warm and fluffy white rice doesn’t convince you, the variety of Thai cuisine that is offered will be your best friend. Popular items like pad thai, drunken noodles, spicy basil fried rice topped with fried egg or a lively bowl of tom yum are all incredible dishes to sustain you through the cold and wet winters of the Pacific Northwest.
Ba Mee Thai Noodle House
Recommended by Samantha Zavala, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor
We all know the best treat for a rainy fall day is soup. Add in hand-pulled noodles, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for the best fall remedy. Ba Mee Thai Noodle House, only a 10 minute drive from campus, has plenty of delicious dishes to warm you up and keep you coming back for more. The menu features delicious Thai dishes, all made with locally sourced ingredients. Ba Mee is known for its rich, roasted duck, which, in my opinion, is best enjoyed in their house noodle soup. The flavorful broth in the soup, alongside the noodles and vegetables, are the best way to warm up on a chilly day.
Gabbiano’s
Recommended by Owen Lefort, News Reporter
Not only is Gabbiano’s chicken parmesan on point, but they also offer the largest mozzarella sticks in town — called shot-zzarella sticks — which are the size of shot glasses. Gabbianos’s is also home to a hand-painted Italian fresco of Mt. Hood, bringing a homey feel with a touch of Portland to this traditional Italian restaurant. Being family-style, meals are not pre-portioned and are instead shared by the whole table. So come hungry (or merely peckish), and you will leave happy.
Fire on the Mountain
Recommended by Camille Kuroiwa-Lewis, Editor-in-Chief
Not a fan of Thanksgiving Turkey? Try some Thanksgiving buffalo wings instead. Fire on the Mountain has the best wings and chicken sandwiches within a 10-minute drive from campus. Their lunch deals, Jamaican Jerk sauce and seating ambience are all well worth the short commute. But for wing lovers of all kinds, Fire on the Mountain also has boneless and vegan wings, along with 12 sauces, dry rubs and monthly specials. Fire on the Mountain has a wing for everyone this holiday season.
This list was compiled by The Beacon staff. We can be reached at beaconeditor@upbeacon.com.
