Oso Market’s Colin And Holly Howard On Their Favorite Portland Restaurant

Oregon is home to a lot of restaurants, bars, wineries, and breweries, but there are tons of hidden gems that the majority of Portlanders aren't unearthing. To help guide us to these potential discoveries, we've enlisted some of our city's many food players to share their recommendations for a recurring feature we call Dining Confidential.

When we asked Oso Market + Bar's Colin and Holly Howard where they like to eat, they were hard pressed to pick just one place.

Holly loves Biwa's pork stew, Firehouse's margherita pies, and Smokehouse Tavern's deviled eggs, while Colin says he's always trying to figure out a way to squeeze in a pho-and-cocktail happy hour at Fish Sauce.

But there is one restaurant that holds a special place in this couple's collective heart, and for sentimental reasons, too. The good kind.

That place is Mirakutei, the ramen, sushi, and Japanese tapas spot located at 536 E Burnside. The Howards specifically love the kitchen's black cod.

"We ate here the night we got engaged," Colin and Holly explain, "and practically teared up over the black cod. The glaze is darkly flavored with a light smokiness to it. The meat of the cod is so light and buttery. The relationship between the two is seamless and makes you want to pound your fist on the table after each bite. The simplicity of the space and the professionalism of the kitchen staff let you know how important the quality of the menu is here."