Coffee is synonymous with the Pacific Northwest, and they take that shit seriously. I wouldn’t call myself a coffee snob, but if I’m spending $5 on a cappuccino, I’d like it to feel worth it. I visited several coffee shops, and Sterling was hands down my favorite. The attention to detail paid to a single drink was kind of crazy. The latte art presented on my cup was worthy of framing. But it’s not only the presentation; the drink’s taste was second to none. At Sterling, they clearly prioritize quality in every way with no compromise. The cafe is tastefully decorated with a beautiful minimalist design. It’s a perfect place to sit and enjoy a house-made pastry and art gallery latte.
This is a must-stop and needs that morning fix if you’re near Slab Town. Pure Portland coffee nerd perfection.

I knew I’d find good food on this trip. But I had no idea that I’d discover the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had. The $5 (yep, $5) breakfast sandwich at Fehrenbacher Hof was one of the best surprises I’ve ever had. A perfectly steamed egg is topped with Tillamook cheddar caramelized on a griddle. The protein and cheese are wedged into an English muffin and slathered with Reuben sauce and tomato. You can add meat; I went without it. The taste was next level. The sharp cheddar had crisped to the side of the muffin to create a crunchy texture. The Reuben sauce added a unique complexity to the soft egg. And every bite reminded me that the experience would be over too soon.
The tiny cafe operates out of an old Victorian home. They are currently only open for takeout, and everything is made from scratch. The whole setup makes it feel like you are buying food from a lovely German grandmother. If you have time, I think this is a must-stop. They offer a breakfast burrito for $6, beautiful pastries, and specialty coffee drinks. It’s a one-stop-shop, and you feel like you’re in a fairytale. Win-win.

If the prospect of tacos on homemade tortillas doesn’t get you excited, I think you’re a sociopath. A good taco is among one of life’s greatest joys. And Don Jalapeño serves up pure happiness wrapped in ground masa every day except Sundays. The pastor and machaca tacos were some of the best I’ve had. And everything is prepared fresh right in front of you when you order. The machaca is profoundly savory and tender. It is cooked with scrambled eggs and cheese and offers unique textures and complex flavors. The pastor is comforting and simple with a perfectly soft bite. They obviously don’t skimp on marination, and any pastor lover will swoon over this fantastic staple. I didn’t expect to find good tacos in Portland. This was a stupid assumption. A food cart for every cuisine exists in Portland. So as you’re searching for your lunch and faced with the existential crisis of choosing just one option, don’t sleep on the tacos. Head to Don jalapeño and feed your soul.

Another city, another donut. But I tell you that Pip’s is unlike any donut I’ve ever had. The small cafe was the world’s first chai and donut shop. They specialize in miniature donuts made fresh for every customer. And they offer several gourmet chai options that all come from secret family recipes. It’s always amazing to find an eating establishment where the staff is as passionate as the owner. And it’s immediately evident at Pip’s that the employees enjoy their jobs. How else would the donuts end up so delicious?
When I say the donuts are unique, I mean they are special. I bit into the rhubarb jam donut expecting good and wound up with beautiful. There is a crisp skin from the fryer that introduces the airy softness of the interior. The dough is sweet but not too sweet and perfectly rounded by the tangy zip of the rhubarb. The pastry is the size of a golf ball, and somehow it bests the experience of its full-size relative. Simple. Balanced. Perfect. A donut is more than a donut. And a place that offers an exciting ethos, story, and history behind the product they serve. Skip Voodoo and head to Pip’s.

My dinner at Jacqueline may have been one of the most enjoyable meals I’ve had. This menu caught my eye because of its exciting seafood and seasonal cuisine approach. It’s a super stylish and elegant restaurant with an unpretentious vibe. I had been anxiously awaiting this reservation for months. So the fact that my experience ended up being so good makes me overjoyed.
Every plate was unique and balanced. The warm baguette was some of the best bread I’ve had in a restaurant. The grits with seasonal mushrooms were bold and flavorful without being too salty. But the main dishes quickly stole the show once they arrived. The coconut shrimp was a spin on a simple classic. Served with mint and cilantro over citrus and avocado purée. It was unlike any shrimp I had ever eaten before. The fried exterior was akin to tempura but less sweetness to allow the shrimp’s flavor to take the front seat. The sole Milanese was next. Two tender filets perfectly fried in a crispy batter with muscat grapes and pine nuts. Every bite crunched like a gourmet fish stick. Tell me that doesn’t sound perfect?
The whole meal was refreshing. Traditional dishes with added twists to create flavors like I’d never had before. When’s the last time you left a meal feeling inspired? After I ate that Milanese, I wanted to create things. I tried to change the world. I didn’t, though. I just went to bed and dreamt about the next time I get to visit Jacqueline.

I was told that when visiting Portland, it is essential to indulge in some Thai food. Being a man of honor, I wanted to abide by this tradition. Little did I know, it would be the best Thai food I’d ever eaten. This fact made all the more remarkable considering it came from a food cart equipped with one wok and a lone chef. I mentioned being inspired by Jacqueline. Bloom Lao brought the same inspiration. I ordered the crispy rice salad with meatballs. The depth of flavor packed into this dish was out of this world. It’s just an exciting plate; I don’t know how to describe it. Crispy rice, in general, is a gift from angels. But Bloom took it even further by adding the perfect blend of spices, sauce, and tender meatballs. I could eat that meal again and again and never get sick of it.
Food like this feeds my heart. It’s a single person making something from pure passion and love of the craft. It creates a connection more profound than just chewing and swallowing and reminds me that food is art. Do I even have to tell you? Go. Go now! Save me a meatball, though!

This was a last-minute decision and probably one of the better ones I’ve ever made. I had no frame of reference for West African cuisine before Akadi. But now, it may be a contender for my favorite genre of food. Foods have genres, right? Anyway. The restaurant is beautiful. The space is basically a sprawling art gallery where you can purchase delicious, elegant food. The service was bad; we waited for about 25 minutes to be acknowledged. But once that first plate came, I didn’t even care.
We began with the Suya wings, which were absolutely unreal. These peanut dry-rubbed pieces of heaven are served with a mustard sauce. And the shatter from the skin melting into the tender meat yields a food high unlike any other I’ve ever had. It’s the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. For the main dish, I ordered the Jollof meal with Tilapia. The Tilapia was served the whole beside a mountain of red rice and coleslaw. Forget everything you thought you knew about white fish. The depth of flavor and texture in that thing can’t be described. There was love, respect, world peace, and friendship in every tender morsel of that fish. I went into a daze as I gobbled each piece with scoops of the delicate rice. And when I finished, I was left wondering what other cuisines I’d been missing this whole time. But you live, and you learn. And Akadi taught me that West African food is maybe one of the world’s greatest drugs…er foods.

So that’s it! Portland as I experienced it. I left hungry for more but satisfied with the ground I had covered. I’d love to tell you that I left no stone unturned, but I’d be lying. I could eat out every night for months in that city and barely scratch the surface. It’s a fantastic place with so much beauty and pulse. And I’ll think about it nonstop until I get to return. Maybe next time I’ll try Voodoo? Probably not. Pip’s is better. Have fun!