The Top Five Places to Eat in Portland This Week

Hot Plates, coming through!

Mapo tofu. IMAGE: Andrea Johnson.

1. Szechuan Garden

18725 NW Walker Road, Beaverton, 971-245-5676, szechuangarden.net.

Finding credible Sichuanese food outside its home territory can be a challenge. So the arrival of Szechuan Garden deep in suburban Beaverton is cause for elation. For a well-rounded meal, order at least one hot pot dish, a fried item, noodles, a vegetable and maybe a bonus dish. Ignore the chile ratings on the menu—they are only there for the fearful.

Read the full review: Szechuan Garden's Authentic Sichuanese Cuisine Brings the Heat but Won't Leave a Burn.

(Christine Dong)

2. Vertical Diner

8124 SW Barbur Blvd., 503-206-6150, verticaldiner.com.

Housed inside a restored 5,500-square-foot space in Hillsdale originally built in 1969, Vertical Diner still feels like something out of the Mad Men era when you walk in, save for maybe the lack of ashtrays—and the entirely meatless menu. A plant-based take on the classic American diner, everything on the menu is made in-house, from the seitan to the cheese sauce. Standouts include the Buffalo Tigers, perfect little golden-fried seitan nuggets coated in a zippy wing sauce. The pancakes, in particular, are perfect. If you didn't know they were vegan in advance, you could never guess.

Read the full review: Vertical Diner Looks Straight Out of the '60s, With One Twist: It's Entirely Vegan.

(Briana Ybanez)

3. Zapapizza

503 W Burnside St., 971-373-8287, zapapizzapdx.com.

Blazing new trails in the pizza world is tricky, but Portland is one of the best places to try. And if veteran restaurateur Nick Zukin has his way, Mexican-style deep dish is the next big thing. At Zapapizza, the pies are topped with everything from taquitos to chilaquiles. But underneath the novelty, it's just damn good pizza—some of the best seen on the west side of the river in a long time.

Read the full review: Zapapizza Tops Its Pies With Taquitos and Chilaquiles. But Underneath the Novelty, It's Just Damn Good Pizza.

Jojos-chickensandwich

4. Jojo

Jojo, 3582 SE Powell Blvd., 503-309-4768, jojopdx.com.

Situated in a pod behind a strip club on Southeast Powell, this periwinkle-blue food truck is a throwback to the days when food trucks were underpriced and hard to find. In this case, $10 for the flagship chicken sandwich is a steal, given the quality and size. The kicker is the perfect pile of slaw and jojo sauce—a Duke's mayo and Heinz ketchup hybrid—to lube the thing up properly without collapsing the bread after two bites.

Related: How Does Popeyes' Viral Chicken Sandwich Compare to the Portland-Made Versions?

(Rocky Burnside)

5. Carne

2512 NE Broadway, 503-206-6075, carnepdx.com.

Carne is basically the budget version of Ox. That's meant as a major compliment. The small Irvington steakhouse and bar prepares its meats with a similar Latin touch, at prices that won't make your eyes cross when the bill arrives. Sixteen bucks gets you an 8-ounce tenderloin topped with verdant chimichurri sauce and a side of crispy potatoes bravas. It's not just good for the price, either—it far outstrips it.

Read the full review: New Latin American Bar and Grill Carne Is Basically the Budget Version of Ox.

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