Ok, I have no idea why, but I've been fantasizing and fantasizing about Portland food--particularly about a good, cheap Chinese place which may or may not exist. So those of you who know Portland, what's the food scene like? Those of you who don't, what are you wildest Portland food fantasies?

The only thing I know about Portland food is that it has a lot of eclectic options, lots of vegan food, and there's apparently a mythic store called Voodoo Donuts.

I've heard the sushi is amazing.

I am also extremely excited about the food. I don't know much, but I've heard that Portland has one of the cheapest and fastest growing food scenes. I've heard they have a melting pot of food carts. I saw some badass looking place on Anthony Bourdain's show No Reservations; a donut shop called Voodoo Donuts with all kinds of crazy doughnut-food combinations. I am also looking forward to trying goeyduc, which is a large clam-like animal that they eat in the PNW.

Voodoo Donuts is kinda cool the first few times you go, and then you're like "Alright I get it, you sell donuts with funny names," and then it gets old. The donuts are fairly good. It's also in a kind of sketch area of Portland - right next to a porn theater. There are always about 20 bums sitting outside begging for donuts / money.

I was just in Portland last night for a friend's show which was a lot of fun, but the real fun came afterward when we went to the foodcarts on Hawthorne, where I had the extreme delight of watching people receive free french fries for ordering naked. This was at 3:30 am after thousands had gone on a naked bike ride through downtown.

The fries looked really tasty. The bodies, on the other hand, were an entirely different story.

The food in portland is amazing. You will have no trouble finding a cheap Chinese restaurant (or ten), pancakes at 3 am, greek delis, $2 burritos, teriyaki, vegan ANYTHING, or waffle sandwiches.

Voodoo donuts is great, and actually part of the fun is the sketchiness. However, they also just opened a new location that's a little more legit. It's open 21 hours a day and has everything from the huge cock and balls donut, to their voodoo doll donut complete with red jelly "blood" filling.

The best thing about Portland food is that you're always finding things you didn't know you needed, but then become super important. Like places that serve exclusively cupcakes.

Vegan "anything" sounds absolutely fantastic.

yes. very yes. and i'm not even exaggerating. We have a vegan mini mall.

For those wondering about the cheap Chinese place near campus, it exists. If you have really high standards for Chinese food you're better off looking in the Pearl District, but if you want good crappy Chinese food it's right down Woodstock and you can usually find others with an inkling for it so you don't have to walk alone. Also, I think it's right next to a Thai place...I forget whether or not it's Thai. Whatever, something from Asia that's not Chinese.

As far as the general food scene goes, Portland has one of the best in the country, apparently rivaling San Francisco.

This makes me so happy. Hurrah! What about raw vegan?

Good Chinese food is kind of hard to come by in Portland. There is one place called Wong's King that is absolutely fantastic. Apparently there are a couple of places with good Chinese-American good but I've never had Chinese-American food so I cannot attest to how good it is. There is a lot of good Japanese and Thai good here : ) Food in Portland is amazing. There are food carts with cheap ethnic and comfort food. There are a ton of amazing restaurants. When you get here all you have to do is ask around and we will help fulfill your culinary fantasy : )

Anyone know any good Indian restaurants? (:

Nicholas restaurant is pretty far from campus but they have the most amazing cheap middle eastern/lebanese food.
There is a ton of stuff to choose from but unfortunately it's looking like my budget is gonna keep me on campus most of the time...

We northwesterners don't eat gooeyduck. I've never seen it on a menu and they are IMPOSSIBLE to dig up. Clams and everything else seafood, however.......

STAY AWAY FROM THE HOTCAKE HOUSE
that is all.

hahaha...I was just about to sing the praises of the Hotcake House. you should go at least once and then decide how you feel.

there's a decent (if kind of boring) Thai place up Woodstock. it's good on those mornings when everyone wakes up hungover and Commons is closed and you're all starving.

there are some pretty good places to eat on Hawthorne, varying in price range...and you WILL become very familiar with Voodoo Donuts.

Turvey, how could you?!

The Hotcake House is awesome and Michael just wishes he were that cool. As it stands he is only 'pretty alright.'

Also they're good in the wee hours of the morning when even Homer's is closed.

I may be bitter towards the hotcaek haüs because it defeated me, stone cold.
I went there ONCE the week before finals and was sick for like, five days.
Voodoo donuts isn't a place, it is a way of life. That way of life being putting bacon on EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING.
http://www.bakonvodka.com/

but dude, you could get donuts and then watch porn. i dunno, sounds like the ultimate combo to me.

There's a joke about glazed donuts here but I am classier than that.

you be hatin' on the hotcake haus. shame! (although, I do admit it's rather sick-inducing).

In bacon news: an alarm clock. that cooks bacon. WHAT? http://www.mathlete.com/portfolio/wakeNbacon.php

Portland food is in general really really delicious. A lot of really excellent seafood, if you like that. There are quite a few very skilled and creative chefs working in the city, which makes it an exciting place to be, from a culinary standpoint!

In terms of non haute cuisine, but still good/Portland tradition, food carts (tasty and cheap), Voodoo (can't avoid it), and, well, Stumptown for coffee. The Hotcake House is a place you'll inevitably end up some time during your time at Reed and which manages to fit all the aspects (both positive and negative) of a "greasy spoon".

Near campus (up Woodstock), Tom Yum has fairly good Thai food (a warning: don't go to the chinese restaurant next door. It is terrifying). The Delta serves good Southern food in epic proportions (I'm a sucker for the grits and black-eyed peas). Otto's has a good brat. Lonely Planet for burritos of both meat/veg varieties.

If you'd like any suggestions for my fav restaurants (I have most of them written down somewhere), I'd be happen to find those for you.

Vindalho on SE Clinton is supposed to be very good but expensive (though I can't speak from personal experience - it wasn't open the day I tried to go with some friends). There are several Indian restaurants in PDX of varying qualities (including carts!).

Bombay
Cricket
Club

The Hot Cake Haus
is
AWESOME.

Does anyone know what the meal plan food is like? I'm thinking that from the price it's got to be pretty damn good and lots of choices.

Also if anyone can reccomend a good tea shop I'd be grateful, being British I cannot survive without a good cup of Earl Grey every day.

suggestions of restauraunts would be great if you have a list. It sounds like there's a really wide mix of foods available, I'm especially happy there's a Thai place near campus.

bacon vodka must be made up...why would anyone want a bacon flavoured alcohol?

It's Amurica. And to add to this bacon-filled conversation: http://www.baconnaise.com/