Anyone that knows Jay Gee, knows that Jay Gee loves food. It rates right up there amongst his other manly passions of football, music, women, foot comfort, and jokes. Jay Gee can often be found out on the town sampling the great local fare that Portland has to offer. Jay Gee is a wealth of knowledge about great food in his local area, but recently Jay Gee thought, why not share this wealth of knowledge with the world? Everyone else wants to experience deliciousness, and Jay Gee has the info on where the deliciousness lies. So, here goes…
Cheap Food in Portland That Jay Gee Whiz Likes and Thinks You Might Like – Part I
Cajun Bowl at Cricket Café
Everyone knows that white people love their breakfast. Well, not exactly. This white guy likes breakfast okay, but usually is busy trying to rush to the office on weekdays and on weekends has a hard time getting himself out of the house before 1pm. But, in the times that I’ve had breakfast, I’ve had some good shit, but the best shit probably comes out of the Cricket Café. I’m not sure if the dish is actually called the Cajun Bowl, but that is the best way I can describe it. It is a mix of hollandaise, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, home fries, eggs, ham and some other elements that I’m probably missing at this time. Actually I can’t really remember exactly what’s in it. I just know that if you have a hangover, you should probably get down to Cricket Café and eat this until it’s eaten. Then digest. Then go for a run. Then drink some water. Then take a nap. And repeat.
Kinta’s Wondrous Noodle at Kinta
Delightfully simple and very satisfying, Kinta’s Wondrous Noodles has the distinction of being the only vegan dish on this list. Pick your four fresh vegetables (I usually choose Chard, Mushrooms, Broccoli, and Onion-riddled Tofu) and your noodle style (go with rice), wait ten minutes, and happily consume. Praise the shy waitress who works there every day. She may likely give you free dessert.
Smoked BBQ Wings at Clay’s Smokehouse Grill
These wings were the first item I ever had at Clay’s Smokehouse Grill. Unfortunately, nothing else that I had at the restaurant from that date onward ever compared. The restaurant itself is somewhat mediocre, but these wings are too tasty to pass up and worth the trip by themselves. Better yet, the wings go for 25 cents a piece on Sundays. Prepare to get sloppy. Don’t wear anything white.
Chicken Curry Soup at Pok Pok
I used to order this for lunch back when Pok Pok was just a to-go ordering window with a limited selection. Now that the restaurant has grown up into a full-fledged bar and restaurant with plenty of packed-in seating, this is still my favorite choice on the menu. If you’re ever around SE Division during lunch time, pick this up from the To Go menu and go find a nice, quiet, secluded place so nobody can distract you from your chicken or see what a mess you’re making of yourself as the sauce drips from your beard.
Ahi Tacos at Imbibe
If you’re on inner Southeast Portland and are in the mood for a beer, some light but filling food, and some good conversation, make your way over to Imbibe on Hawthorne. Head Cook Jody Cooper will serve you up an artfully presented plate of Ahi Tacos. They’re very fresh and seared to perfection with a sauce that finds a good balance of tang, sweet, and heat. Well done.
That ought to satiate your hunger pangs until the next installment. If you have any favorite cheap dishes, or, in Pteradactually’s case, debate my selections, let the world know.
10 sucka ass fools had something to say:
That Cajun bowl is perfect with Cricket's awesome Cajun bloody mary...
Hmmm...I wonder which neighborhood JGW lives in.
Agreed SZ, there seems to be a pretty strong bias to SE restaurants in that post.
As the blogs resident NoPo-er I feel obliged to add my own NoPo's best restaurants list. Stay tuned for a new post.
I didn't know JGW liked women.
Excellent choices all around. I'm not sure Clay's wings are so praise worthy, though they certainly are a bargain. The best thing I've had at Pok Pok was a catfish dish. I'm not usually a catfish fan, but this was possibly the best dish I've had in years. I think it might have been a special, but if not, I couldn't recommend it more.
I don't know what Kinta does - presentation? - but their seemingly simple dishes are simply delicious.
Being an impatient sort, the only problem I see with Cricket Cafe is the wait. But fear not. If you're hungry, hungover, and in a hurry their to-go sandwiches, while fairly plain are ideally suited for weekend morning medicine.
An all-Southeast list was not featured on purpose, but I can assure you that my next installment will be all non-SE fare.
This joker does not like it when people eat Ahi tacos ... it makes him feel strangely violated.
There are some good ones downtown too. Not counting carts, because, well, they don't count, here are 5 cheap, grubbin' places to get a lunctime meal downtown: (this list will have a vegan/veggie bent)
Rocco's: Huge slices of pizza cheaper than (certain kinds of) dirt. They custom make vegan slices of pizza that are large enough to share. With beer, lunch is about 6 bucks.
Gandhi's: Cheap, but delicious Indian food. Not a lot of variety but what they have is good. Large plate is under 5 bucks.
Steamers and Dumplings: Needs a better name, but has bargain food that you can't find a lot of other places. The edamame alone is worth going for.
Rice Junkies: Yakisoba with veggies, and your choice of protien (tofu, chicken, etc) and lots of sauces to further customize, again for quite cheap.
Qdoba: A step above Chipolte, I'd say, though it's a bit cheaper. Their mexican gumbo is worth going for and then coming back on at least a bi-weekly basis.
Ate the wondrous noodles for lunch today. Super awesome.
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