After working up an appetite during a capoeira or kung fu session at Flying Tortoise, head behind the building for a restorative meal of pulled pork, shrimp and grits, or barbecue chicken from the Dinner Bell food cart. This formerly downtown cart relocated to North Tabor, touching on barbecue staples and traditions across the American South. Visitors will find cheesy grits topped with shrimp and collard greens, gooey macaroni and cheese loaded with pulled pork or chicken, and tender spare ribs. For the full experience, grab a beer from the Beer Spot food cart next door to pair with your smoked meats.

A convenience store is a convenience store is a convenience store… unless it’s the home of this hidden gem of a taqueria. Located inside J & T Market, this small dine-in or takeout counter from Adrian Flores serves everything from morning breakfast burritos stuffed with eggs and beans to morisqueta, a rice-and-pork-rib dish from Flores’ home state of Michoacán. One standout is the birria de chivo, available as a taco or in a big bowl with tortillas on the side. Sitting at one of the lime-green and yellow tables, ice-cold bottles of Jarritos or a frosty Modelo (yes, there is an on-premises liquor license) work well as pairings for a steaming bowl of pozole or a wet burrito.

Served with sides of giant jojos and house-made coleslaw, Alabama-style chicken is the headliner at this casual, Southern-rustic comfort food spot from Portland culinary legend Ben Bettinger. Available grilled or fried, the juicy house chicken starts off with a zesty Fresno pepper marinade before hitting the smoker, basted in Big’s “white gold” barbecue sauce. Dry spice-tossed wings and chicken sandwiches round out the menu, but really, it’s about the straight-up smoked birds. Fried mac and cheese bites, mashed potatoes, and a black-eyed pea salad serve as strong sides, available on their own or as a part of chicken combos.

Teal diner banquettes and eclectic wall art add the aura of a classic 1950s diner to this unfussy, eccentric pizza parlor on Northeast Glisan. Under a ceiling of golden stars, tuck into a house special like the “Lucy I’m Home,” in which spicy beef, cheddar, tomatoes, and green chiles land on a chewy crust layered with chipotle sauce. Diners also have the option to make their own from a robust meat, veggies, and cheese list, or mix it up with a calzone or salad. While eating, check out the display of pizza box artwork, a tradition dating from American Dream’s early days.

This cozy, elevated gastropub is a neighborhood favorite for a mid-week dinner, whether it’s a date or a family dinner. Decked out in wood paneling with golden sunshine during the day and intimate mood lighting at night, regulars sit down to giant burgers and sandwiches or comfort food like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. In true tavern form, a well-stocked bar slings house cocktails or frosty craft beers on draft. Weekend brunch is also on deck, with staples like eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles, and biscuits and gravy. The outdoor tables along Burnside are the way to go for drinks and bites on warm, summer evenings.

Enter through the sunshine-yellow door of this tiny blue building along Burnside to find where North Tabor-ites go for a beer. Founded by Sonia Marie and Theo Leikam in 2014, this kosher-certified craft brewery keeps things light and fun with its rotating line-up of punny house brews. IPAs are the headliners, like the citrusy Janis Hoplin or a West Coast IPA with notes of stone fruit and pine dubbed the Because I’m Hoppy. For the non-hopheads, balanced lagers, dark stouts, and a constantly-refreshed selection of session brews balance out the menu. Craft cocktails are available if you’re not in the mood for beer.

One of Seven Virtues’ three locations around town, the local coffee roaster chain’s North Tabor outpost is a snug, peaceful space looking onto Glisan Street. Ideal for catching up with friends or getting some work done, visitors can expect to find a drinks menu centered around Seven Virtues’ single-origin, house-roasted coffees. Those in need of something more filling can go the sweet route with a rotating selection of baked goods and pastries or a tried-and-true bagel sandwich.