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Updating the Eater PDX HeatMap: Where to Eat Now

by Erin DeJesus
4 comments / new
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by Erin DeJesus
4 comments / new

Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort, etc., and more often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the "it" (ie, newest) places of the moment.

Thus, we offer the Eater HeatMap, which will change often to continually highlight where the food-focused crowds are flocking to at this very second. And two May openings are garnering some serious buzz: Andy Ricker's hotly anticipated Sen Yai, and the comfortable neighborhood spot Old Salt.


2013 HeatMap Updates:
1/3/2013: Added: Ava Gene's, Verde Cocina en la Perla
2/7/2013: Added: Tasty N Alder, Raven & Rose
3/7/2013: Added: Levant, Racion, Kingdom of Roosevelt, Tarad
4/4/2013: Added: The Fireside
5/2/2013: Added: din din Supper Club, Sok Sab Bai
6/6/2013: Added: Sen Yai, Old Salt Marketplace

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Sen Yai

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Andy Ricker takes his familiar approach to Thai cooking — authentic, unexpected, and street-influenced — and applies it to the humble noodle, devoting an entire menu to stir-fried and soup-stewed iterations of the dish. As expected, the place is already packed, and bonus points for its large outdoor patio, a perfect spot for summertime day-drinking.

3384 Southeast Division Street, Portland, OR 97202
503-236-3573
503-236-3573

Also featured in:

Old Salt Marketplace

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The team behind NE's comfortable bar Grain & Gristle joins forces with Pastaworks alum Tray Satterfield to bring a similar homey spot to the Cully neighborhood. Chef Tim Wastell churns out simple-yet-hearty dishes from the open-hearth kitchen; meanwhile, the lunchtime deli offers sandwiches and salads crafted from house-butchered and cured meats.

5027 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218
(971) 255-0167
(971) 255-0167

Also featured in:

din din supper club

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Courtney Sproule's always meticulously planned, always surprising series of "din din" supperclub dinners now have a permanent brick-and-mortar home. But the concept — rotating themed dinner parties — remains the same, with the even calendar shifting every few weeks. The spot also provides a charming site for a leisurely weekend brunch.

920 Northeast Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97232
971-544-1350
971-544-1350

Sok Sab Bai

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Beloved food cart Sok Sab Bai upgrades to a full-on restaurant allowing chef Nyno Thol to expand his menu of Cambodian classics. Cart favorites like steamed buns, chicken plates, and flavorful bowls of soup remain; new items include pan-fried bass, pork chops, and rotating specials.

2625 SE 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97202
(971) 255-0292
(971) 255-0292

Also featured in:

The Fireside

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NW 23rd's famous Music Millenium space gets a new fired-up tenant in the form of The Fireside, a solid neighborhood restaurant where most dishes arrive to the table with perfectly applied grilled marks. The upscale take on campfire food produces dishes like a pork shank with beans; pan-fried trout; and a refreshing farro-and-sunchoke salad (get it with smoked trout). And the theme carries over into Sue Erickson's cocktail list, as well, in drinks like the smoky, mezcal-driven "Backyard Grillin'" and the uniquely mushroomy "Foragers 'Tail."

801 NW 23rd St, Portland, OR 97210
(503) 477-9505
(503) 477-9505

Also featured in:

Levant

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Chef Scott Snyder fills a hole in the local culinary scene with Levant, a restaurant that combines "Arabesque" influences (from Turkey, Palestine, North Africa) with French techniques and fine-dining aesthetics. Share plates like stuffed grilled squid with chickpeas and a dessert of kanafeh and a smoky roasted pear sorbet; you'll want to hog entrees like a rose-scented duck breast and a plate of lamb served four ways.

2448 E Burnside St., Portland, OR 97214
(503) 954-2322
(503) 954-2322

Also featured in:

Ración

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Tabla alum Anthony Cafiero branches out with his first restaurant, the 18-seat Ración, and the spot allows his modernist sensibilities to emerge in playful-yet-accessible dishes like cauliflower panna cotta and sous-vide egg with ​hazelnut romesco. There's one five-course tasting menu available nightly, though a separate section of "modernist tapas" is available a la carte in the lounge.

1205 SW Washington St, Portland, OR 97205
(971) 276-8008
(971) 276-8008

Also featured in:

The Kingdom of Roosevelt

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Thistle chef Eric Bechard makes a splashy return to Portland with his diminutive Kingdom of Roosevelt, which features an adventurous, foraged menu teeming with game animals. Vegans need not apply, but rich flavors abound: Dive into Bechard's corn dumplings and sprouted rye porridge, "forager's pie," and pickled elk tongue.

2035 SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 477-9286
(503) 477-9286

Also featured in:

Tarad Thai Market and Restaurant

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Part market, mostly restaurant, the adorable Tarad features a Chaing Mai native in the kitchen, dishing up savory steamed buns, traditional noodle dishes, and regional specialties like yum look chin salads and guay tiew kua aai (a refreshing noodles-and-romaine dish). Bonus points: The kitchen doesn't shy away from spice when asked, and spot is open until 3a.m. on weekends to sate those drunken khao soi gai cravings.

601 SE Morrison st., Portland, OR 97214
(503) 234-4102
(503) 234-4102

Also featured in:

Tasty 'N Alder

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John Gorham expands his popular Tasty N Sons concept with the just-opened downtown spot Tasty N Alder. At brunch, chef Kyle Prewitt gets to explore world flavors in comforting dishes like Korean fried chicken (they put an egg on it) and bibimbop with bacon and eggs. Dinner service leans toward a steakhouse vibe, with clams Casino, bacon-wrapped shrimp cocktail, and several cuts available by the half or whole portion.

580 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
(503) 621-9251
(503) 621-9251

Also featured in:

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Sen Yai

3384 Southeast Division Street, Portland, OR 97202

Andy Ricker takes his familiar approach to Thai cooking — authentic, unexpected, and street-influenced — and applies it to the humble noodle, devoting an entire menu to stir-fried and soup-stewed iterations of the dish. As expected, the place is already packed, and bonus points for its large outdoor patio, a perfect spot for summertime day-drinking.

3384 Southeast Division Street, Portland, OR 97202
503-236-3573
503-236-3573

Old Salt Marketplace

5027 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218

The team behind NE's comfortable bar Grain & Gristle joins forces with Pastaworks alum Tray Satterfield to bring a similar homey spot to the Cully neighborhood. Chef Tim Wastell churns out simple-yet-hearty dishes from the open-hearth kitchen; meanwhile, the lunchtime deli offers sandwiches and salads crafted from house-butchered and cured meats.

5027 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218
(971) 255-0167
(971) 255-0167

din din supper club

920 Northeast Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97232

Courtney Sproule's always meticulously planned, always surprising series of "din din" supperclub dinners now have a permanent brick-and-mortar home. But the concept — rotating themed dinner parties — remains the same, with the even calendar shifting every few weeks. The spot also provides a charming site for a leisurely weekend brunch.

920 Northeast Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97232
971-544-1350
971-544-1350

Sok Sab Bai

2625 SE 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97202

Beloved food cart Sok Sab Bai upgrades to a full-on restaurant allowing chef Nyno Thol to expand his menu of Cambodian classics. Cart favorites like steamed buns, chicken plates, and flavorful bowls of soup remain; new items include pan-fried bass, pork chops, and rotating specials.

2625 SE 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97202
(971) 255-0292
(971) 255-0292

The Fireside

801 NW 23rd St, Portland, OR 97210

NW 23rd's famous Music Millenium space gets a new fired-up tenant in the form of The Fireside, a solid neighborhood restaurant where most dishes arrive to the table with perfectly applied grilled marks. The upscale take on campfire food produces dishes like a pork shank with beans; pan-fried trout; and a refreshing farro-and-sunchoke salad (get it with smoked trout). And the theme carries over into Sue Erickson's cocktail list, as well, in drinks like the smoky, mezcal-driven "Backyard Grillin'" and the uniquely mushroomy "Foragers 'Tail."

801 NW 23rd St, Portland, OR 97210
(503) 477-9505
(503) 477-9505

Levant

2448 E Burnside St., Portland, OR 97214

Chef Scott Snyder fills a hole in the local culinary scene with Levant, a restaurant that combines "Arabesque" influences (from Turkey, Palestine, North Africa) with French techniques and fine-dining aesthetics. Share plates like stuffed grilled squid with chickpeas and a dessert of kanafeh and a smoky roasted pear sorbet; you'll want to hog entrees like a rose-scented duck breast and a plate of lamb served four ways.

2448 E Burnside St., Portland, OR 97214
(503) 954-2322
(503) 954-2322

Ración

1205 SW Washington St, Portland, OR 97205

Tabla alum Anthony Cafiero branches out with his first restaurant, the 18-seat Ración, and the spot allows his modernist sensibilities to emerge in playful-yet-accessible dishes like cauliflower panna cotta and sous-vide egg with ​hazelnut romesco. There's one five-course tasting menu available nightly, though a separate section of "modernist tapas" is available a la carte in the lounge.

1205 SW Washington St, Portland, OR 97205
(971) 276-8008
(971) 276-8008

The Kingdom of Roosevelt

2035 SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

Thistle chef Eric Bechard makes a splashy return to Portland with his diminutive Kingdom of Roosevelt, which features an adventurous, foraged menu teeming with game animals. Vegans need not apply, but rich flavors abound: Dive into Bechard's corn dumplings and sprouted rye porridge, "forager's pie," and pickled elk tongue.

2035 SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 477-9286
(503) 477-9286

Tarad Thai Market and Restaurant

601 SE Morrison st., Portland, OR 97214

Part market, mostly restaurant, the adorable Tarad features a Chaing Mai native in the kitchen, dishing up savory steamed buns, traditional noodle dishes, and regional specialties like yum look chin salads and guay tiew kua aai (a refreshing noodles-and-romaine dish). Bonus points: The kitchen doesn't shy away from spice when asked, and spot is open until 3a.m. on weekends to sate those drunken khao soi gai cravings.

601 SE Morrison st., Portland, OR 97214
(503) 234-4102
(503) 234-4102

Tasty 'N Alder

580 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

John Gorham expands his popular Tasty N Sons concept with the just-opened downtown spot Tasty N Alder. At brunch, chef Kyle Prewitt gets to explore world flavors in comforting dishes like Korean fried chicken (they put an egg on it) and bibimbop with bacon and eggs. Dinner service leans toward a steakhouse vibe, with clams Casino, bacon-wrapped shrimp cocktail, and several cuts available by the half or whole portion.

580 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
(503) 621-9251
(503) 621-9251

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