So Good Taste serves Cantonese cuisine, including wonton soup, congee, noodles, and family-style bundles for up to eight diners. Meats such as roasted duck and pork are displayed in a glass case in the dining room, and they’re cut-to-order for dine-in or take-out meals. Don’t miss the wonton soup with crispy roasted pork, or the ginger and green onion steamed chicken.

Chicken or beef? Regular or spicy? At Teo Bun Bo Hue, there’s only a handful of options from which to choose. For traditionalists, the classic Vietnamese bun bo hue comes with all the fixings — rice noodles, congealed pork blood, pork knuckle, fatty tendon, pork sausage, and an array of fresh vegetables served on the side. For the faint-of-heart, the chicken pho offers a lighter flavor profile to enjoy with complimentary tea.

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 November to fill the mall’s hot pot void. For a unique experience, try choosing from their 30 skewer options to boil in hot pot 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 with a nonprofit philosophy, Van Hanh creates their 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 Buddha Bowl and Bird’s Nest.

Lauded as Portland’s best soup shop alongside sister restaurant Rose VL, Ha VL has been an anchor to the Jade District. Peter Vuong and his family serve two soups a day, six days a week in the Wing Ming Market Center. The banh mi sandwiches are also some of the best in the city, with variations such as Chinese sausage or a very tender meatball filling. There’s clear talent in the family: Peter’s mother Christina, chef/owner/matriarch of Rose VL, was nominated by the James Beard Association for Best Chef Northwest in 2017.

Located in the same strip mall parking lot as FuBonn Shopping Center, O’Sushi consistently cranks out some of the better track sushi in town. As most conveyor belt sushi goes, it is quick and cheap, but O’Sushi sweetens the deal by offering happy hour all day. Plates hover in the $2 price range for a wide variety of fresh fish and hot appetizers, making it an ideal pit stop.

Just past Fubonn’s grocery store doors lies this sweet Asian bakery. Their glass cases show off beautifully crafted cakes, fruit tarts, cream puffs, and more, while 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 moon cakes, with flavors including red bean and lotus.

At the center of the Jade District lies one of Portland’s largest dim sum restaurants. With over 250 seats and an all-day dim sum menu, Ocean City carts around an impressive assortment of Chinese dishes. If the pick-from-the-cart format is too intimidating, ask for a menu. The service can come off aggressive, but assertion is key.

Located in the same strip mall as WinCo, the year-old restaurant has opened a new door to Korean food in Southeast Portland. Staples such as dolsot bibimbap (rice in a hot stone bowl) and the budae jigae (army stew) are served searing hot from flame to table. While waiting for these to cool, Chungdam serves a host of complimentary banchan, or small side dishes such as kimchi, fermented cucumbers, and mung beans. Wash down the heat and spice with Korean Hite beer while taking in the K-Pop soundtrack.

Just off 82nd Avenue on Powell, Kenny’s Noodle House has a modest exterior, yet it’s a Cantonese hot-spot that dishes out thoughtfully-prepared congee and various noodle soups. Try the wonton and beef brisket noodle soup with a side of the ever-popular savory Chinese donut, best enjoyed by dipping it into hot broth.

Best Baguette provides fresh fare on the busy stretch of Highway 26, blending Vietnamese and French cuisine in a counter-service sandwich shop. With options from the traditional banh mi to a ham croissant sandwich, the drive-thru window makes it a perfect stop for anyone in need of a quick bite and a coffee.