Tops Spots For Pickled Foods in Portland

Recently, scientists discovered a potential link between eating fermented foods and decreased social anxiety. Since pickles are almost synonymous with Portland, this seems like a real win-win situation. Here now, eight favorite places to get a pickle fix right now.

1) Tanuki (8029 SE Stark St.): Go for the kimchi or the oshinko, which has both Japanese and Korean-style pickles.

2) Olympia Provisions (1632 NW Thurman St. or 107 SE Washington St.): Get a side of pickled eggs or pickled vegetables. Or, order one of the three charcuterie boards which frequently come with a variety of pickled accompaniments.

3) Kachka (720 SE Grand Ave.): Order the pickle back for just a buck to go with any of the vodkas on their extensive list. You’ll get pickle juice from whatever happens to be the housemade pickle at the moment.

Pickled herring from Fenrir. [Photo: Fenrir website]

4) Fenrir (2005 SE 11th Ave. ): This Eastside wine bar offers three pickled foods: eggs, mackerel, and mushrooms. Enjoy with a specialty cocktail or just before you have the rabbit crépinette, which comes with pickled mustard seed.

5) Woodsman Tavern (4537 SE Division St.): Go for a snack board which comes with pickles, or try the fermented ramps with cucumber and watermelon.

6) River Pig Saloon (529 NW 13th Ave.): Put pickle health benefits on the back burner and dig into the fried pickle basket. It comes with a nutritious side of ranch dressing.

7) Killer Burger (4644 NE Sandy Blvd.): A more unusual option for pickle lovers is this spot's peanut-butter-pickle-bacon burger.

8) Foster Burger (5339 SE Foster Rd.): Another pick for the burger (and veggie burger) lovers among us, here most burgers come with some kind of housemade pickle ranging from cucumber to beets to kimchee.

—Lisa Knisely