A brilliant purple yam, ube is a quintessential Filipino ingredient, the foundation of traditional preparations like halaya jam. Thanks to the tuber’s irresistibly bright violet hue, though, it has also become an Instagram-famous ingredient, adding a splash of color to treats of all stripes.
Beyond its bright color, ube lends an earthy sweetness and a little nuttiness to dishes that incorporate the yam, from ube ensaymadas at Pinoy bakeries to ube mochi pancake mix on the shelves of Trader Joe’s. So it makes sense that food businesses around Portland have been using the eye-catching starch in creative ways, glazing doughnuts and mixed into ice cream.
This map is dedicated to restaurants, pop-ups, and food carts using ube in both classic and inventive fashions. For another Southeast Asian ingredient having its moment, Eater Portland’s pandan map is also worth a look. Note: The points on this map guide are not ranked; rather, they’re organized geographically.
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