Lents is the rare Portland neighborhood that retains an unmistakable identity despite being bisected by a major freeway. Neither the roar of I-205 nor thermometer-bursting record heat can suppress the iconoclastic spirit of this Southeast Portland hub — a neighborhood perhaps best epitomized by its scandal-prone baseball mascot. The used car lots and Taco Bells belie the fact that Lents has some of the best, most uncompromising dining experiences in Portland — from bite-sized balls of smoked brisket to soup enriched with pork blood, and from delicate Italian pastries to mountains of all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue.
Lents may be off the beaten path for westsiders and inner-easters, but in fact it’s Portland’s third most populous neighborhood (after Centennial and Hazelwood), so don’t be surprised to find some of these gems packed with locals in the know.
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