Portland is home to many beloved restaurants and food carts, and luckily for adventurous diners, each year brings exciting new culinary destinations to try. In January, Eater published a list of the best places to eat in Portland that opened within the past six months, which includes spots all over town serving everything from decadent fish sandwiches to delicate Vietnamese pastries. I set out to determine if these restaurants are worth a spot on this list and worth your time as a broke college student.
Located between the Pioneer Place mall and the Portland waterfront, Edan Pizza opened in late 2025 and serves Neapolitan-style pizzas, which feature a charred, puffy crust and a thin center filled with toppings. The restaurant mainly serves pizza — each available as 11- or 16-inch pies — but offers a wide variety of options, including vegan substitutions.
I ordered an 11 inch of The Classic which has tomato puree, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms and red onion. The pizza was made fresh to order and arrived at the perfect temperature. In my first bite, I noticed how fresh all of the toppings were — the mushrooms were beefy, the onion was tangy and the pepperoni was meaty and tender. When I reached the outer crust, I was surprised by the combination of flaky, crispy portions and bready core. I could have eaten a whole pizza made solely of the dough because it was so flavorful and warm. The whole meal was an incredible textural experience as the crunchy toppings settled onto a thick layer of sauce and squishy crust before giving way to the crunchy edges. My only complaint is that the middle of the pizza was somewhat soggy with all the toppings. Fair warning, though, an 11-inch pizza is a lot of food, so bring an appetite if you plan on ordering one for yourself, as I was full for the rest of the day.
The restaurant is easy to reach via TriMet, but it is in a somewhat deserted part of Portland. The interior is casual and airy; it seems perfect for a group. The price seemed a bit steep at first — $21 for the pizza and a soda — but the ingredients were high quality and the portion size was
generous, so I think it was worth it. If I am in the area, I would happily eat at Edan Pizza again and think it would be a fun place to visit with friends.
This Central Eastside bakery is open again after taking an eight-month break and offers flavorful Vietnamese pastries and drinks. As I stepped through the door, I was hit by the smell of coconut and coffee. The menu is small, but beautiful, proven by the neatly arranged display of pastries. I ordered the signature pandan bánh bò nướng — a light green tapioca cake spiced with pandan, a flavorful green plant, and served with a smooth coconut cream. I also got the salted egg/coconut tart and a kẹo mè xửng huế latte, an iced latte with sweetened peanut milk and sesame cream.
I truly had no idea what to expect, but I was completely blown away by each item. The pandan cake had a soft, dense texture, reminiscent of chewy noodles, but not too thick. It was not sweet like most cakes, but featured a light coconut and vanilla flavor that paired excellently with the sweet, salty cream it was served with. Likewise, the tart was not as sweet as expected, but rather leaned on the salt and nuttiness of coconut. The thick custard was topped with curls of dried coconut for a soft bite that was not overpowered by coconut. The latte was one of the most unique and scrumptious things I have tasted. It was almost like a milkshake, but not quite as rich. It had a delightful texture with the cream on top and peanuts inside. I am not someone who normally enjoys coffee, but this was perfect for me; the sweetness and nuttiness added fabulously to the espresso flavor. Despite the pastries being gluten and dairy-free, they were still quite rich, and I felt pretty full afterwards.
The bakery’s warm interior, high ceilings and bright colors added to the comforting meal. However, this is not the easiest place to get to from campus and can be difficult by car due to traffic and parking. Also, they are only open three days a week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which I find a bit inconvenient. That being said, I am still thinking about the latte and would most certainly visit again for that. The prices are a bit higher than other cafes, with the latte at $8.30, but it is a tip-free establishment. Overall, the incredibly unique experience makes it worth it.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, this restaurant welcomed me with the scent of fresh bread and a bustling atmosphere similar to other businesses on Southeast Division Street. The deli boasts Jewish-Italian lunch food made with fresh, house-made ingredients and a “chef-driven approach.” I was looking for a hearty lunch, so I settled on the corned beef sandwich, potato salad and house-made orange dreamsicle soda. The soda arrived quickly, having just been mixed behind the counter. Delicate cream sat atop a pale orange drink with specks of vanilla. Upon my first sip, I was surprised by how shake-like the soda was without being too thick or overpowering. The vanilla flavor stood out the most and the sweet creaminess was very refreshing.
Once I received my food, I found some outdoor seating at a nearby food cart pod, as the deli’s interior was quite small and busy. I eagerly dug into my sandwich — two pieces of soft, flavorful marbled rye filled with tasty corned beef and a crisp cabbage slaw. It was loaded with fillings, making it a little difficult to eat. I also found it difficult to taste any horseradish flavor, which made it a bit boring, but the meat was quite good. The potato salad was topped with fried onion, creating a crisp contrast to the soft salad. However, when I took my first bite, the taste was off. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and there were plenty of herbs, but there was an overly vinegary taste that I could not shake. To make matters worse, the pickle that came with my sandwich was practically inedible. I never knew pickles could be so bitter, alcoholic and dull.
I was definitely full after my meal, but certainly not satisfied. My favorite part of the meal was the soda because it had the best flavor, but that is not enough to convince me to return, especially considering the whole meal cost me $29. Sadly, Dream Deli did not live up to my dreams, and I am sure I could find many other tastier lunch spots in the area.
After venturing throughout the city, I am only more eager to find delectable, unique food to judge and I look forward to new restaurant openings. The city has so much more to offer in terms of food carts, cafes andrestaurants, so prepare your appetite and get out there.
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