In a town with plenty of perfectly inoffensive but forgettably adorned coffee shops, Cyclemaster’s two-fisted embrace of scooter-mad character is refreshing, if something of an acquired taste. Cyclemaster brews vibrant beans from its sister Two Strokes Coffee amid new and vintage motor scooters and local art hung on charcoal-colored walls. The weekday food offerings are typically modest, but weekends usually offer breakfast sandwiches. When not hosting the occasional engine-revving bike meetup, Cyclemaster is a terrific mellow midday hangout on Lombard.

Though Tiny Bubble Room does pour a couple sparkling wines by the glass, the namesake bubbles here are decidedly of the malted beverage variety. Simply on the strength of its over two dozen beers and ales on tap, Tiny Bubble Room is one of North Portland’s top taprooms. The handsome if sparely decorated bar also boasts impressive bourbon and tequila lists, alongside plenty of other spirits and respectable wine offerings. Add a spacious, covered patio with firepits, a Louisiana-by-way-of-Oregon food menu, and an enticing happy hour, and Tiny Bubble Room is far more than just an oasis for beer nerds.

Perhaps no regional Mexican cuisine gets as much love in Portland these days (apart from perhaps Tijuana’s quesabirria) as Oaxaca. The latest NoPo outpost for the land of the moles is El Yike Oaxaqueno, named for Oaxaca’s yique (sometimes spelled yikin or yike), a goat barbacoa stew that utilizes corn kernels ground into small pieces — chunkier than masa but smaller than full kernels or hominy. Difficult to find outside of Oaxaca and the California coast, yique is the crown jewel here at El Yike, but the rest of the menu is no slouch, including mole amarillo, mole Oaxaqueno, and a solid selection of tamales, empanadas, and of course the ever popular tacos.

King Burrito’s evident mission in life is to make sure not one patron goes home hungry. More than 15 generously stuffed burritos highlight the menu, including a wide range of meats and veggies. And while the occasional burger is not unusual on Portland-area Mexican menus, King Burrito may just take the crown in the diversity and scale of its burger and hot dog offerings, including a king-size hot dog and a half-pound king burger, each overflowing with toppings. The pragmatic, fluorescent-lit dining area may be full at busier hours, so be prepared to grab food to go. The King’s kitchen is typically open until 11 p.m. for those late-night hunger pangs.

Arbor Lodge is blessed with several divey neighborhood watering holes — including Barlow Tavern and Mousetrap Tavern — each with their own merits, but the intimate Sweet Home Bar & Grill is perhaps the most pure dive of them all, best measured by pre-noon weekday patrons and occupancy rates on video poker machines . The food is greasy bar fare but prepared as if the kitchen wants to make sure its regulars keep coming back. Drinks are generously poured with most cocktails well under $10, increasingly rare in Portland. Join the rowdy karaoke nights every Friday and Saturday, or elbow up to a shark or two on Tuesday pool nights at the cerulean blue felt pool table.

Sushi One offers Arbor Lodgers a prototypical neighborhood sushi restaurant, with a particular emphasis on freshly sourced ingredients and generous portions. While nigiri, sashimi, and rolls are the main attraction, Sushi One also offers excellent ramen as well as some land-locked entrees like teriyaki and yakisoba. Order takeout or dine in the small, unpretentious dining room.

The funky, partially covered Grind House Coffee is more than a cart yet not quite a full coffee shop. Necessarily takeout-only on especially hot or cold days, Grind House has built a loyal base of regulars on the strength of its consistently excellent coffee, using single origin beans via Extracto. Also on offer are two kinds of chai, hot chocolate, and a small-but-mighty food menu including bagel sandwiches and a carb-free breakfast cup featuring egg, cheese, tomato, and avocado. GrindHouse is open mornings and early afternoons seven days a week.

An iconic sight on north Interstate for nearly 100 years, Nite Hawk is a reliable something-for-everyone diner and lounge, providing a varied but unintimidating food menu of dishes like chicken fried steak, chili, and liver and onions in a nostalgia-inducing leather and frosted glass setting. Breakfast is served all day, and the lounge includes a full bar and three pool tables. Get in the green felt action at the regular Sunday night “8 ball pool tournament.” Nite Hawk has a small patio but expect nearby smokers.