So, apparently I haven't posted here yet.
First of all, Chaos Cafe on the corner of SE 27 and Powell in Portland makes some of the best food I have ever had in my life, and their prices are pretty reasonable, assuming you're not a poor college student. Poor anything else? You're set. I recommend their Bagel Sandwiches, their Lucky Day Parfait, and their soup of the day (regardless of what it is). One thing to know though: they specialize in amazing food, not amazing service. A couple of the folks who work there are really great, but there's about a 50% chance the service will be slow, the waiter/waitress will be kind of out of it, and/or your order will be wrong. In the case of a wrong order, politely inform them of it. All the staff there are extremely friendly.
Backspace Cafe. Similar menu (everything's vegetarian, lots of things are vegan, lots of house stuff) to Chaos, but not quite as good, a bit more expensive, they don't tend to mess up orders, it's a consistently long wait for food that isn't pre-made, and all of their staff talk really quietly, so it's a pain in the ass to tell what they're saying. It's a good place to grab a good meal if you're in downtown Portland. Their address is 115 NW 5th Avenue, Portland, OR.
Voodoo Doughnuts. I doubt many people haven't heard of these guys, but I feel like it should be mentioned no less. Delicious doughnuts, good prices, VERY WHIMSICAL. Also, they have a second location on NE 15th and Davis now. Check it out! It's quite spacious and much better suited for large groups of people.
Nikola's. Two of the most delicious dinners I've ever had, and furthermore two of the most memorable dinners I've enjoyed with my mother, were spent at this fantastic restaurant on Grand Avenue in Portland, between Madison and Morrison (not quite sure which street exactly...Taylor?). Their menu is Mediterranean, and is responsible for giving me a very firm respect for Hummus, Spinach, and Tomatoes. All three of these items are used in such a delicious manner that I know of no words which can accurately describe the flavours. An enourmous meal here costs $8-$10, and if that's a lot for you, then save up for it. Seriously. The food is unbelievable.
City Thai is a cozy little family owned-and-run Thai restaurant in Hillsdale. To get there from Portland, drive south along Naito Parkway, and take the Beaverton-Hillsdale (Highway 10) exit. It's easy to miss, so be ready for it! It's in the shopping center on your right shortly after you pass Wilson High School. You'll find it tucked away in the back of the shopping center. Anyway, you'll find yourself entering this dimly lit, sweet-smelling little restaurant with nice tables and friendly staff, and you'll typically be the only person (or people) there, because apparently nobody knows of this place. Find a table, and scan the menu. HOLY CRAP, THAT'S A LOT OF OPTIONS. Something like 80 entrees, and every single one can be prepared with Beef, Chicken, Pork, Shrimp, Tofu, or Veggies. They also have a ton of appetizers and other menu items. I think a meal here runs from $6.50 to $13, but I haven't eaten there in over a year, so I'm not quite sure. Anyway, order an entree that seems good; I really like their Rad Nar with Tofu. Outrageously good in my opinion. Also, go ahead and order an appetizer. Anything that you'd typically like anywhere else. Egg rolls? Spring rolls? Just pick one. Get one of their sauces with it too. I typically go for their peanut sauce.
Your appetizer will arrive in a minute or two with whatever drinks you ordered, if any, and you'll see it beautifully prepared and presented on an exquisite ceramic platter that seems like it must have been specifically crafted to present that exact appetizer in that exact quantity. In fact, it probably was. Your entree will arrive just as you're finishing your appetizer on a similarly astounding plate, and between what you see and smell, you'll be reveling at the notion of what this fantastic food will taste like. Work your way through the food gradually, and take your time to enjoy everything in front of you. Don't plan on finishing it all. I tend to leave with a full meal's worth of leftovers, and I'm the kind of guy who can devour a five-pound burrito in 15 minutes (as seen at Kumoricon staff preservation 2009), so that's saying something.
There are a lot of Pizzerias in Portland, but in my opinion, there are five tiers, each of which grows increasingly smaller according to the quality of the pizza.
Tier one: Chain pizza - Dominos, Pizza Hut, Round Table, Pietro's, Little Caesar's, Papa John's...all of these chains make edible pizza, but not great pizza
Tier two: Good chains - Pizza Schmizza, Rovente, and I'm sure there are others, but I don't know of them.
Tier three: Indie - It's A Beautiful Pizza, Old Town Pizza, Flying Pie, Rocco's, and numerous others.
Tier four: outstanding - Hammy's Pizza, Joe's Truck Stop (RIP :'<), and a handful of others.
Tier five: Hot Lips
I don't need to tell you about Hot Lips. If you haven't been there, get there. If you have, get there. FANTASTIC PIZZA. Also, if you like pesto sauce, you love Hot Lips.
A few other things to share:
Chipotle is one of the finest Mexican food chains I have ever encountered, and the price is pretty decent.
McGrath's Fish House serves a lot of fantastic seafood. Unfortunately, this is an establishment that I can't even fathom being able to afford to eat at. A meal here runs from $25 to $60...be prepared for triple figures if you plan on drinking there.
Quiznos has a lot of great food. I can't afford to pay over $5 for a single meal any more, but if I could still drop $5 casually, I'd still frequent Quiznos regularly. Their bread bowls are fantastic. Their flatbread sammies are also quite awesome.
The best Mexican food I've ever had was at a restaurant whose name I can't remember. It's in Salem, IIRC 3 blocks north of Borderland Games. If you find this place, please tell me the name. The food was phenomenal.
