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1. Little Bird
215 SW 6th Ave., 503-688-5952, littlebirdbistro.com.
Gabe Rucker's iconic downtown bistro recently rebooted, with a new chef de cuisine in Xan Gilmartin and a revamped menu taking cues from Rucker's more recent venture, Canard, giving traditional, high-class French cuisine a lowbrow American twist. New offerings include a chicken cobb salad dressed with "ranch de Provence" and a sandwich combining a French dip and French onion soup. Whaaa?
Related: Restaurant Guide 2018: Little Bird Bistro
2. Bake on the Run
1122 SE Tacoma St., 503-877-8602.
You probably wouldn't expect to find chow mein on the menu at Portland's only Guyanese food cart. But then, given the rarity of the cuisine at Bake on the Run, just about everything is unexpected. The titular bake is a soft, fried, semi-sweet puff bread that came to Guyana by way of Trinidad and Barbados. Think of it as a homemade Hot Pocket. It's an addictively savory snack that's versatile enough to eat for brunch or dinner.
Read the full review: Bake on the Run Introduces Portland to the Eclectic Tastes of Guyana.
3. Marie's
8727 N Lombard St., 503-283-0494.
When fried-chicken utopia Dub's closed (for the third time) last year, Portland soul-food lovers mourned hard. Three months later, the business is again resurfacing—albeit temporarily, and not in its own spot. For now through spring, chef William "Dub" Travis will be acting as chef-in-residence at St. Johns tavern Marie's, serving brisket, ribs and his world-beating fried chicken. Get it while you can.
Related: North Portland Soul Food Destination Dub's Is Resurfacing In St. Johns.
4. Kargi Gogo
3039 NE Alberta St., 503-764-9552, kargigogo.com.
Georgian khachapuri cheese breads have been trending across America for several years, and they've arrived in Portland thanks to Kargi Gogo. Rip off a piece of bread and drag it through the liquid cheese—it's like pizza and fondue had a baby.
Read the full review: Kargi Gogo Is Portland's Home for Georgian Acharuli Khachapuri, the World's Best Cheese Bread.
5. XinhXinh
970 SE Madison St., 971-229-1492.
The menu here is a classic Vietnamese-American deli/soup-shop hybrid, with a range of banh mi, pho and vermicelli bowl offerings accompanied by varying broths and proteins. There are surprises, however—the Crunchy Salad is a pre-dressed bowl of cabbage in a wonderful fish sauce and honey vinaigrette. Crunchy, savory and sweet all at once, it's the best dish here.
Read the full review: Xinhxinh Excels at Vietnamese Classics, but It's Got Some Surprises for You, Too