Help for a friend in Portland

[enbell]

My friend just moved up to Portland so I am trying to garner up a list of great places for eating. I am trying to come up with an eclectic list for her. I have been searching the boards as well as the food cart website but I have been going of what looks good to me, and what seems to get at least decent recommendations. I know they are in an apartment of the Willamette river - haven't heard back on a more specific location. She and her boyfriend are in their late twenties (she moved to get residence for school) so mid-range places would be most practical. They eat pretty much anything and everything but do appreciate locally sourced places. Added bonus would be ethnic groceries and open air markets. Here is the random list I've generated so far, thanks in advance - because really, I have no idea!

http://www.awesomecone.com/
http://www.portlandporridge.com/
Thai Tea Cart
http://bombaychaathouse.org/SP/Home.html
http://shalimarfood.com/default.aspx
http://www.ayblagrill.com/menugrill.htm

http://www.bunksandwiches.com/
http://www.tabla-restaurant.com/
http://www.laurelhurstmarket.com/
http://www.urbanfarmerrestaurant.com/

[enbell]

Recent e-mail update:
"I just got back from a farmers market and let me tell you, this is a foodies paradise. the markets are beautiful with lots of fresh everything, and stuff I haven't seen in stores before. The market foods they are cooking for people to buy smell enticing and are bright and vivid in color. Lots of veggies, vegan and healthy foods for our bodies...you would love it too!"

Thanks Portland hounds; so far, so good - I can't wait to go visit!

[cheeseisheaven]

Your friends are going to love Portland..there is a farmers market almost every day of the week in the summer!
I love Meat Cheese Bread's breakfast burrito, and they have great sandwiches and salads, too
www.meatcheesebread.com/
The cart pods are plentiful...foodcartsportland.com...I can't even keep up!
In the same cart pod as the cone place, the pie spot has a great mini pecan pie and the flying fish cart has the best eggs and great fish
I cannot rec the Sugar Cube cart enough. So delicious!!!
Fubonn market on 82nd is among the best, and extramsg has a list of markets on portlandfood.org
You are a lovely friend!

-----
Meat Cheese Bread
1406 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97214

[chalmers]

Awesome cone ranges from middling to great, depending on what you get. It's gimmicky, but not without its selling point. It wouldn't be my pick for the best food cart in Portland. Porridge is gone, as far as aI know. Thai Tea is just an average Thai cart. If you really want Thai from a cart, Nong's or Gin are probably two of the better. Shaiimar is out in the boonies - fine if you're nearby, but nothing special. Bombay Chaat House is mainly notable for the amount of food you get moreso than to quality - it's fine for western Indian food, but nothing amazing.

Your other suggestions are solid. If you explained more about your friend's tastes/budget/location, we could help more.

[enbell]

Thank you for the pointers. My friend and her boyfriend grill a lot at home when they entertain. When I would com over though with my vegetarian contribution to the meal they both ate it and enjoyed it - so I'd say they are well rounded non pretentious omnivores. They eat fresh produce and locally sourced food as much as they can. Simple over elaborate presentation, but when cooking they don't mind taking time on the front end to ensure an excellent result. We met running, so they are health-minded to an extent - but have active lifestyles so they don't stress over it. Not so much my friend - but her boyfriend loves his beer. In her last email she raved over the endless varieties of kale at the market. We had our favorite spots in Boise where they made a point to get to know the owner; they look to feel at home in a place that they enjoy and support. I hop this helps define them a bit more. Thank you again - E

[bbqboy]

http://portlandfood.org/

[jpc8015]

Some of my favorite places in Portland are:

Screen Door

Podnah's Pit

Kenny & Zuke's

Petite Provence

The Portland Monthly has some great aritcles on restaurants around town. This month they have some articles on the neighborhood Farmers Markets.

http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/eat...

[enbell]

Thank you!

[Leonardo]

An "apartment of the Willamette River" could be anywhere.
Urban Farmer & Laurelhurst Mkt are not what I call mid-range.
Bombay Chaat House is an Indian veg cart that I like. Killer $5 lunch special, enough for two unless you have an eating disorder.
Bunk has two central locations, one for lunch the other a later-hours bar. Good sandwiches.
I would definately recommend Tabla, also the nearby Navarre for locally sourced.
They need to go to http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/ several locations/dates.

Send them to portlandfood.org and portlandfoodanddrink.com Most of the local Chowhound traffic is tourist-oriented.

[enbell]

Thank you - I know that location is vague:) I thought I'd include a few nicer options for a splurge here and there. Thanks for the other tips - they will love the farmers market pointer.