written by Julie Lee | photo courtesy of Rock Creek Corner
Portland offers an endless culinary treasure hunt, so to properly dig deep into all the area has to offer, we recommended you veer off the beaten path. Here are some of our favorite “off track” haunts.
Rock Creek Corner
Found: a foodie’s hidden gem. A quick drive west lands you at the charming Rock Creek Corner, a cozy respite set in a 1930s refurbished building with an inviting outdoor patio. Split between an all-ages side and an adults-only bar, this restaurant caters to the masses: comfort-inspired, farm to table dishes sourced from the onsite garden, intimate overstuffed booths, and a killer bar with TV’s, a pool table and live music on summer nights. The menu is classic yet ambitious. Standout stars include Wagyu beef burgers, bacon-wrapped steak, and carnitas tacos piled high with freshly harvested lettuce and tomatoes.
18515 NW West Union Rd., Portland | rockcreekcorner.com
Rae’s Lakeview Lounge
This self-proclaimed darling of the upper Alphabet District is neatly tucked behind the busy streets of Northwest Portland. By name, it sounds refined, like something belonging in the Rat Pack era, but instead it’s uber casual and the perfect post-work landing pad for the white-collared, the blue-collared and the no-collared. Sunday brunch is a happy surprise: heaping plates of food and bottomless mimosas.
1900 NW 27th Ave., Portland | raesportland.com
Skyline Tavern
Perched atop a mountain, Skyline Tavern is a legendary haunt for generations of city folk looking for an intermission from the “see and be seen” scene. In a survivalist move, the menu was upgraded a couple of years ago to feature locally-purveyed goodies from the likes of Olympia Provisions, Grand Central Bakery and Ruby Jewel Ice Cream.
8031 N.W. Skyline Blvd., Portland | skytav.com
Tortilleria Y Tienda De Leon
In an “all things for all people” setting, Tortilleria Y Tienda De Leon is part grocery store, part deli, part restaurant, with no curb appeal and implausibly great food. Bargain-priced, made-from-scratch Mexican fare is a labor of love for the De Leon family. Their infamous Salsas Locas can be found at New Seasons and Green Zebras stores.
16223 N.E. Glisan St., Portland | salsalocas.com
Du Kuh Bee
Blink and you’ll miss this tiny joint on the edge of downtown Beaverton, and with that blink you’ll be missing out on some of the most authentic Korean food the Portland metro has to offer. The hand-pulled noodles are tossed with perfectly spiced meats of your choice and inspire one thought: “more, please.”
12590 SW 1st St., Beaverton
