Best Restaurants

The Big 12 of 2015 Sleeper hits and seriously personal cuisine defined the best Portland menus of the year—here are the 12 hottest places to eat right now.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

PHOTOGRAPHY

Intimate Photos of Warhol and Basquiat Reveal the Artsy Grit of ‘80s NYC

From Warhol to Basquiat to Miles Davis, see some of Paige Powell's 10,000 photographs of the NYC art scene in a new Portland Art Museum exhibition.

10/19/2015 By Fiona McCann

MUSIC

How Blitzen Trapper Builds Powerhouse Indie Rock Live Sets

Frontman Eric Earley shares the method behind his live shows.

10/19/2015 By Jason Cohen

5 THINGS ABOUT

What's Next for Portland's Animation Powerhouse Laika?

The Hillsboro HQ of films like Boxtrolls, Coraline, and ParaNorman is working on its next masterpiece.

10/19/2015 By Marty Patail

THE ESSENTIALS

November's Pop Culture Hot List

The show, the book, the band, and the comic book that you can’t miss this month.

10/19/2015 By Fiona McCann

PREVIEW

Will the New Wordstock Literary Festival Charm Portland Readers?

Everyone agreed the lit fest desperately needed a rewrite. Is this the sequel we've been waiting for?

10/19/2015 By Fiona McCann

TRACK STAR

Why Indie Rock's Hottest Tickets Send Their Songs to RAC

The Portland-based remix pro harnesses the power of other artists' voices to make his own music.

10/19/2015 By Ramona DeNies

Eat & Drink

BEST RESTAURANTS

Are You a True Portland Food Fan? Take Our Quiz!

How do you rate on the scale of ultimate Portland food fanaticism? Find out now.

10/20/2015 By Kelly Clarke

THE MENU MAKERS

Meet the Local Farmers, Ranchers, and Beekeepers that Drive Portland Menus

Learn the stories behind the names you've come to know—and find out what ingredients will be inspiring Portland chefs in the future.

10/19/2015 By Kelly Clarke and Allison Jones

THE MENU MAKERS

How Ayers Creek Farm Creates Tomorrow's Heirloom Ingredients

The Gaston-based couple stay busy selecting the fruits, vegetables, and grains on your future dinner plate.

10/19/2015 By Kelly Clarke

THE MENU MAKERS

Camas Country Mill Brings the Wheat to Portland's Bakeries and Pizzerias

Meet the miller behind your favorite local slices, loaves, and bagels.

10/19/2015 By Kelly Clarke

THE MENU MAKERS

After 25 Years, Sustainable Meat Pioneer Nicky USA Is Just Getting Started

The wild game distributors and ranchers have supplied the best local meats to local restaurants for the better part of three decades. Here's what's next.

10/19/2015 By Allison Jones

THE MENU MAKERS

Bee Local is Saving Oregon Bees, One Rooftop Hive at a Time

Portland's "bee whisperer" Damian Magista brings a touch of local sweetness to kitchens around town.

10/19/2015 By Kelly Clarke

MENU MAKERS

Oregon's DeNoble Farms Keeps its Organic Vegetable Secrets in the Family

How the farmers market favorite turned a hobby flower farm into a full-family business inspiring chefs around Portland.

10/19/2015 By Allison Jones

ESSAY

Can Portland Chefs Save the Northwest's At-Risk Seafood Stocks?

Modern fishing is wiping out the world's fish, but local restaurants could provide a solution.

10/19/2015 By Lee Van Der Voo

LONG LIVE THE KING

Why King Burrito Is Still North Portland’s Greatest Burrito Joint (After 24 Years)

The NoPo taco standby continues to thrive in its third decade with one winning strategy: keep doing things the way they've always been done.

10/19/2015 By Margaret Seiler

BEST RESTAURANTS

The Top Portland Food Trends of 2015

Every year has its culinary obsessions (remember house-churned butter? Harissa?) This year is no exception.

10/19/2015 By Benjamin Tepler

TOP TABLES

The 50 Best Portland Restaurants For Any Occasion

Dine your way through Portland's top places to sit down for a great meal, whether you're looking for take-out or a ten-course affair.

10/19/2015 Edited by Kelly Clarke

RECIPE

Dominate Your Thanksgiving Potluck with Country Cat’s Savory-Sweet Spoonbread

It's a side, it's dessert, it's dinner—whatever you call it, it's a stunner. (Did we mention there's bacon?)

10/19/2015 By Benjamin Tepler

KITCHEN ARSENAL

Top Gear: Portland Chef Edition

From high tech to super Luddite, these gadgets help Portland's best chefs geek out.

10/19/2015 By Ramona DeNies

Recipe

This Portland Cocktail is the Anti-Pumpkin Spice Latte

American Local shows off the lighter side of fall drinking.

10/19/2015 By Benjamin Tepler

BEST RESTAURANTS

Portland Monthly's Rising Star Restaurant of the Year: Coquine

How a California couple moved in and put the Michelin in Mount Tabor.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

BEST RESTAURANTS

Portland's Best New Restaurants of 2015

Sleeper hits and seriously personal cuisine defined the best Portland menus of the year—here are the 12 hottest places to eat right now.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

BEST RESTAURANTS

Portland's Most (Overly?) Ambitious New Restaurant: Renata

Our love letter (sort of) to the year’s most-hyped restaurant

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

BEST RESTAURANTS

Portland's Best New Barbecue: The People's Pig

Cliff Allen embraces only one school of barbecue: his own.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

BEST RESTAURANTS

The Ultimate Portland Cheese Plate at Chizu

Steve Jones just wants to make cheese fun. Mission accomplished.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

BEST RESTAURANTS

The 4 Most Memorable Portland Restaurant Moments of the Year

A handful of standing ovations are in order for the year's best menu, dish, spread, and cuisine.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

BEST RESTAURANTS

Portland Monthly's Restaurant of the Year: Nodoguro

A posse of playfully intense foodies reimagine Japanese food, one feast at a time.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

BEST RESTAURANTS

Portland's Best Spot for Pig & Booze: Hamlet

A slinky, single-minded Pearl District bar gives you three reasons to go whole hog.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

BEST RESTAURANTS

Portland Monthly's Rising Star Restaurant of the Year: Nomad.PDX

Two upstarts transform a shabby urban space into a modernist showcase—tweezers, Wonder Bread, and beauty in tow.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

Editor's Note

EDITORS' NOTE

Why a Rainy Fall Feels Extra Necessary in Portland This Year

Our executive editor meditates on the joys of autumnal hibernation after a summer for the record books.

10/27/2015 By Rachel Ritchie

Home & Real Estate

BIG PICTURE

Skyscrapers Made of Super-Strength Wood Could Transform Portland’s Skyline

How cross-laminated timber could replace concrete and steel in future Portland buildings.

10/19/2015 By Zach Dundas

HOME DESIGN

How a Portland Architect Built His Dream Home in Six Months

In July 2012, Jamin Aasum set out to build a modern abode overlooking Industrial Northwest Portland in time to get married inside—on New Year's Eve. Here's how he did it.

10/19/2015 By Amara Holstein

News & City Life

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Introducing Our 2015 Light a Fire Winners

Light A Fire is Portland Monthly’s annual showcase of local individuals and organizations making Portland a better place to live, love, give, and grow.

10/21/2015 By Portland Monthly Magazine

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Lifetime Achievement: Jean DeMaster of Human Solutions

Providing low-income housing, utility assistance, employment training, and eviction prevention for Portland families

10/20/2015 By Rachel Ritchie

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Exceptional Community Contribution: Stoel Rives for I Have a Dream Oregon

The local law firm believes in I Have a Dream Oregon, to the tune of $800,000

10/20/2015 By Marty Patail

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Extraordinary Volunteer: Eleanore Rubinstein of Store to Door

Helping seniors and those with disabilities live full, independent lives

10/20/2015 By Margaret Seiler

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Most with the Least: Rebuilding Together

Tapping the power of community volunteers to rehab homes around the city for those in need

10/20/2015 By Rachel Sandstrom

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Game-Changing Project: Right Brain Initiative

Demonstrating the need for art in the classroom, every day

10/20/2015 By Ramona DeNies

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Extraordinary Executive Director: Andrew Mason of Open School

Redefining education for Portland's at-risk students

10/20/2015 By Allison Jones

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Inspiring Creativity: Disjecta Contemporary Art Center

The Portland cultural institution curates the best of regional contemporary art.

10/20/2015 By Fiona McCann

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Keeping Us Healthy: De Paul Treatment Centers

Taking a full continuum approach to the treatment of substance abuse and addiction

10/20/2015 By Benjamin Tepler

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Emerging Leader: Giovanni McKenzie of Queer Intersections Portland

Helping LGBT youth navigate the intersections of immigrant status, gender identity, and race.

10/20/2015 By Rachel Ritchie

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Portland's Best New Nonprofit: Villages NW

Helping seniors spend their golden years at home rather than an assisted-care facility

10/20/2015 By Kelly Clarke

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Extraordinary Board Member: Anita Yap of the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon

Reenergizing SE 82nd into the vibrant Jade District, complete with summer night markets and community spirit

10/20/2015 By Zach Dundas

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Caring for the Planet: Friends of Trees

Creating community and greener cities, one tree at a time.

10/20/2015 By Katie Vaughan

LONG STORY SHORT

Could Portland's Makers Spark A New Industrial Revolution?

ADX founder Kelly Roy explores the potential of small, hands-on workspaces and their impact on the industrial economy.

10/19/2015 By Zach Dundas

GIVE US YOUR CALIFORNIANS

Why Portland Needs As Many Californians As We Can Get

Forget the "No Californians" bumper stickers. For Portland's white-hot tech scene, "outsiders" can't come soon enough.

10/19/2015 By Marty Patail

PDX INDEX

Portland Hockey Unleashed! The Winterhawks, the City’s Best Sports Team, Takes the Ice

A by-the-numbers look at the Western Hockey League stars of the Rose City

10/19/2015 By Katie Vaughan

Style & Shopping

STYLE PROFILE

Bobby Bonaparte on Gender-Neutral Clothing and Keeping Fashion Local

The Portland designer on the Asian aesthetic and why gender-specific clothing is on its way out.

10/19/2015 By Eden Dawn

BIG IDEAS

Portland-Based Vacasa Is Shaking Up the Vacation Rental Game

How the local start-up grew from managing one beach property to making nearly $100 million annually.

10/19/2015 By Zach Dundas

WINNING FINDS

Trophy Case: The Best Local Stuff of November 2015

This month’s hottest locally made goods, from a blanket homage to the Pacific Crest Trail to leather iPhone wallets.

10/19/2015 By Marty Patail

Travel & Outdoors

TRAIL OF THE MONTH

Stunning Fall Color and Wildlife at Southwest Washington’s Conboy Lake

An animal watcher's paradise lies just two hours away, home to elk, coyotes, and over 200 varieties of birds.

10/19/2015 By Brian Barker