The Top Five Places to Eat in Portland This Week

1. Baes Fried Chicken

Four years after pulling the plug on his previous attempt at a fried chicken joint, fast-casual kingpin Micah Camden's newest project doles out fresh, juicy birds with ruthless efficiency and alarming consistency. The hot chicken, in particular, is destined to be the subject of citywide hype. The level of heat is tolerable for most, preserving the smoky, peppery flavor without scorching taste buds.

Read the full review: Baes Chicken Redeems One of Portland Restaurateur Micah Camden's Biggest Failures.

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 completely 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.

3. 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.

4. Top Burmese

413 NW 21st Ave., 503-477-5985, topburmese.com.

The booming Burmese takeout spot has since traded its tiny rectangle-shaped room with a lone table for a slightly larger space inside the former Kim Jong's Smokehouse, and the menu has expanded in the process. But the dishes that wowed us the first time around remain the all-stars—like the fermented tea leaf salad and the incredible five-pack of golden-brown samosas.

5. 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.