While technically a Northeast 82nd spot, Happy Dragon lands below I-84, so we’re including it. By outside appearances, Happy Dragon looks like a longstanding institution on 82nd, the sort of mid-century Chinese restaurant that might just be coasting on a decades-old reputation. In fact, Happy Dragon is a relatively recent arrival from the Salem area, setting up in its current digs in 2018 and quickly earning enthusiastic word of mouth praise for its Cantonese fare. Happy Dragon offers a lovely assortment of vegetable and seafood entrees, but the main attraction here is the Peking duck — pricier than some, but one of the best in town, with multiple courses and truly succulent meat.

Launched in 2022 by Kenny’s Noodle House veteran Corina Wang, Fortune offers rich, tender barbecue, chewy house-made noodles, and broths with depth to get lost in. The large menu can be stressful at the takeout counter with line behind you, but with such affordable prices, it won’t sting to order multiple items for sharing and future leftovers. Visitors should head straight for the char siu, lacquered and juicy, with a handful of house-made wontons stuffed with plump shrimp. Parking can be challenging in the small lot, but residential parking is typically easy to nab along nearby 83rd avenue.

Sharing a bustling strip mall with Teo Bun Bo Hue and several other restaurants that could have easily made this list, Jin Jin Deli pulls off the rare hat trick of specializing in elements of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese fare and somehow nailing all three. Its roster runs deepest in Vietnamese dishes, and its complex, intricately seasoned noodle soups have earned Eater’s praise on more than one occasion. The high-ceilinged dining room never feels claustrophobic but can fill up in busier times of day, so prepare to grab takeout.

After Chongqing Huo Guo closed in February 2017, the Universal Plaza strip mall was left with a gaping vacancy. However, Pot & Spicy opened up in 2018 to fill the void. Despite the name, this is not a “cook at your own table” Chongqing-style hot pot experience; instead, choose among more than 30 skewer options, delivered in a bucket of hot broth. The Taiwanese popcorn chicken and the lotus root salad appetizers are also popular staples.

This twenty-some seat, homestyle restaurant takes an array of Vietnamese standards and revamps them in entirely vegan and vegetarian-friendly forms. Run by two Buddhist nuns, Van Hanh creates its own faux meats to simulate meat-centric meals. If mock meats are not for you, there are still plenty of vegetable-heavy entrees, such as the bean curd and peanut-packed Buddha Bowl and the spicy papaya salad.

Located in the same shopping center as Ha VL, Beijing Hot Pot sits at the opposite end of the interactivity spectrum, well-suited to group dining. With broth wells built into the tables and a range of meats, vegetables, and dipping sauces, the table will quickly fill up with various accoutrements to allow for a highly personalized, improvisatory experience. Parties can — and should — opt for multiple broths, with original, spicy, and vegetable available.

Just past Fubonn’s grocery store doors lies this sweet Asian bakery, with glass cases showing off beautifully crafted cakes, fruit tarts, cream puffs, and more. The periphery holds neatly packaged cookies, egg custard tarts, loaves of bread, and sweet or savory buns for easy to-go options. Bring home one of the masterful mooncakes, with flavors including red bean and lotus.

When it comes to pho, this outpost of mini-chain Pho Hung breaks down its menu by different types of diner. Categorized from “beginners” through to “adventurous eaters,” the aromatic broth and rice noodles at Pho Hung are largely differentiated by diners’ comfort with ingredients like tripe and tendon. The heart of any good pho is its broth, and Pho Hung’s slow-simmered, slightly sweet beef broth is among Portland’s best. Pho Hung also boasts a fun assortment of bubble teas for a post-lunch treat.

Hiding in plain sight in a neighborhood best known for its East and Southeast Asian fare is some of Portland’s best Indian food, dished out of a humble cart in the bustling Eastport pod across from Walmart. Tender chicken, lamb, or veggies arrive in complex curries, creamy kormas, and spicy bhunas, along with crisp and fluffy naan and crunchy, peppery popadam. With 24 other carts in the pod, those in the party hankering for other options have plenty to choose from.

One of Portland’s premier dim sum destinations, HK Cafe is often packed to the gills on weekend mornings, with those seeking beautiful, plump har gow and perfectly round buns. Those looking to avoid the lines can find an even vaster menu available — along with the threat of decision fatigue — for dinner. HK supplements its classic Cantonese dishes with an especially deep roster of seafood entrees, including salt and pepper soft-shell crab, smelt, and shrimp in maggi sauce.

Southeast 82nd and its surrounding neighborhoods are blessed with dozens of food carts serving Mexican food, many with their justifiably loyal regulars. Worth exploring among the sea of tacos and tamales is the burrito island at Habanero Burrito, conveniently located in a dispensary parking lot on the corner of 82nd and Southeast Holgate. The chewy, toasted handmade tortillas are much more than a simple fillings vehicle, and both animal and plant-based proteins and grilled expertly. Vegan cheese and sour cream are available to flip any vegetarian item to full vegan.

On a street mostly populated with sports lounges and dive bars, the Lion’s Eye manages to harmonize with the unpretentious vibes of Southeast 82nd while standing out from the crowd by virtue of its terrific beer and whiskey lists, top-notch bartenders, and striking black pool tables. The back patio may be the neighborhood’s best. Note: there is no dedicated parking lot for The Lion’s Eye, but the surrounding residential streets typically have plenty of options.