PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK.
NOW WILLAMETTE WEEK NEEDS YOU.

The need for strong, independent local journalism
is more urgent than ever. Please support the city we
love by joining Friends of Willamette Week.

Chef Zhao

(Joey/Flickr)

By Mattie John Bamman
Firing up on North Lombard in May 2018, Chef Zhao brought quality takes on mostly Chinese-American staples to a neighborhood otherwise starved for Chinese food. For the uninitiated, the trick is finding the housemade plates, which are not always clearly marked on the menus. A massive serving, the house special noodle ($13.95-$14.95) is a refreshing dish filled with juicy mushrooms, wilted fresh spinach and your choice of pork, chicken, beef or shrimp. Wontons ($6.95) in Sichuan mah lah chili oil are some of the hottest in Portland, with supple wrappers and crunchy pork and vegetable filling.

GO: 4828 N Lombard St., 503-477-8072, 11 am-9:30 pm Monday-Thursday, , 11 am-10 pm Friday-Sunday