It’s hard to get much further from the Big Easy than the Pacific Northwest, but Portland has a surprisingly vibrant red beans and rice scene. Homesick Pelicans fans and okra-loving Portlanders can take the short walk north from the Moda Center to the Mumbo Gumbo cart, for servings of shrimp and grits or the namesake dish. This cart specializes in customizable gumbo: Assemble a dish with rice, a base, and choice of protein like hot links or shrimp. If that doesn’t appeal, the cart also has some strong specials, like the Nipsey Hussle — a brioche roll stuffed with remoulade-tossed shrimp. Just save room for banana pudding or sweet potato pie.

Quick, casual, and easy, Cafe Yumm is a hyper-local chain serving burrito-adjacent rice bowls, which arrive with a swirl of the tangy-salty, hard-to-pin-down Yumm Sauce. The sauce makes the dish, as well as the optional jalapeno-sesame salsa; Cafe Yumm is good option for those looking for something fast, vegetarian-friendly, and unique to Oregon.

Spirit of ‘77 is one of Portland’s most popular sports bars for both its food and games. Visitors play foosball and skee-ball while they wait for platters of nachos or tacos filled with beer-battered cod; on certain nights, it’s the spot to watch games around its projector screen or tvs. The beer list has a tight list of Oregon beers, including options from Heater Allen and Fort George.

Da Shave Ice douses mounds of delicate and fluffy ice with an eye-popping syrup arsenal — think: mango, guava, lychee, root beer, and shark’s blood (coconut and strawberry) among them. Visitors can create flavor combos or opt for chef’s choice specials like da lava flow, with coconut and sharks blood syrup, fresh strawberries, strawberry boba, ube drizzle, condensed milk drizzle, and vanilla ice cream.

Even though Kuu has conceded somewhat to Portland’s seemingly unquenchable need for sushi and expanded its menu accordingly, the heart of this Japanese restaurant lies firmly in its udon and soba noodle dishes. These chewy house-made noodles have real flavor, not just serving as a delivery vehicle for other tastes, and are topped with a range of restrained-but-umami-rich vegetables, proteins, and sauces. Pair with a saké flight or hot green tea in the serenely designed dining room filled with natural light.

This Couch Street Chinese restaurant is a nice spot for those hoping to grab something to eat on the way: Folks can pop by here and pick up a trio of bao, in flavors like curry chicken, spicy tofu, and sweet lotus seed. Those with a little extra time can stick around for a bowl of wonton soup or congee, ideal for chilly days.

Old school Portland legend Hiro Ikegaya opened Mirakutei in 2011, a favorite for Sapporo-style ramen and exceptional cuts of sushi; it’s now owned by longtime employees Nicolas and Job Martinez. It’s a dependable mainstay for raw fish, but the restaurant coaxes in locals for its scrambled-egg-laden genki ramen, as well. Grab takeout, dine in Mirakutei’s spacious dining room, or try to snag limited sidewalk seating.

Gabriel Rucker’s Canard is the kind of spot where meals begin with yuzu-salted oysters, followed by foie gras dumplings, a pile of duck fat pancakes, and coconut cream Paris-brest. The airy bar space, with plenty of natural light, is even a fun stop for a soft-serve parfait on hot days, with things like pine cone fudge or ginger snap streusel. Big spenders can upgrade and hit Le Pigeon — Rucker’s legendary special occasion spot — next door.

For no-nonsense coffee and doughnuts, Delicious Donuts is the no-longer-hidden gem with bangin’ fritters and glazed doughnut breakfast sandwiches. Sure, Portland is known for other doughnuts, but Delicious is many of the locals’ favorite. Delicious is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 5 a.m. until the shop runs out of doughnuts.

Nong’s Khao Man Gai remains a bucket-list Portland restaurant, known as the home of Portland’s nationally celebrated Thai chicken and rice. Though the original cart is gone, the casual Ankeny restaurant still delivers the goods, as well as underrated alternatives like chicken with peanut sauce. Tourists should buy a bottle of the restaurant’s famous ginger sauce to take home. Dine elbow-to-elbow with lunch-breaking locals or stretch out on Nong’s expanded sidewalk patio.

Directly next to Nong’s Khao Man Gai, Kinboshi has a cult following of ramen devotees, who flock to the restaurant for its brick-red, spicy velvety tonkotsu, chilly hazelnut milk hiyashi, and and hearty miso. The red is not too spicy and decadently silken, even better with the addition of bamboo shoots.