Cheap Eats 2011: Noho's Hawaiian Cafe

By STACY BROWNHILL

In typical Portland progression, the new Noho's Hawaiian Cafe on Northeast Fremont Street has one-upped the Southeast Clinton Street location. The Fremont Noho's offers the same mouthwatering, tender marinated "spicy Korean chicken" ($8.65 for a "menehune," or so-called small, and $14.15 for a "blalah," meaning leftovers for days) and expertly done kalua pork ($8.85, $13.85), served with sticky white rice and macaroni salad that's better than your grandma's. But unlike Southeast, the Northeast Noho's has a warm, woody bar, lovely outside patio and a happy hour from 3 to 6 pm that will leave you as full as dinner anywhere else. The service is outstanding—this undercover reviewer got offered a complimentary sample plate of teriyaki steak and pork before her meal. If you have the strength to save room for dessert, the coconut cake ($3.95) and chocolate-jalapeño pie ($3.50) are fresh and flavorful.

WWeek 2015

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