Karen Brooks eats, drinks and thinks about food for Portland Monthly, as the magazine's trend-spotting food critic at large. Karen's reviews and think pieces ferret out the restaurants, food carts, and maverick thinkers defining Portland's food voice. In 2017, Karen won one of the food world's most prestigious titles: the James Beard Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Reviewer Award. She's penned nine books on food and drink, and in 2020 guest-starred on Hulu's food series, Eater's Guide to the World.

Dining Picks

The Best Burgers in Portland

Smashburgers, tavern burgers, sliders, and veggie and vegan burgers at our favorite carts and restaurants in the city.

08/13/2025 By Alex Frane, Brooke Jackson-Glidden, and Matthew Trueherz

Best Restaurants

The 50 Best Restaurants in Portland Right Now

The legends, new voices, and wild ideas that make Portland a major dining destination.

07/01/2025 Edited by Karen Brooks

Dining Guide

Portland’s Most Romantic, Date-Worthy Restaurants

Planning a date with that special someone? Peep this list first.

02/10/2025 By Karen Brooks, Katherine Chew Hamilton, Alex Frane, and Matthew Trueherz

Reviews

The New Portland Restaurants That Make Us Hopeful

Portland’s food soul rallies again, small and personal to the core.

11/20/2024 By Karen Brooks

Breaking News

Acclaimed Portland Chef Naomi Pomeroy Has Died

The James Beard winner and icon of Portland's DIY food scene died in a tragic river accident over the weekend.

07/15/2024 By Karen Brooks

Best Restaurants

The 50 Best Restaurants in Portland Right Now

The legends, new voices, and wild ideas that make Portland a major dining destination.

06/04/2024 Edited by Karen Brooks

Sweet Tooth

An Opinionated Guide to Portland's Best Bakeries

The city’s defining croissants, breads, and essential baked goods, exhaustively researched.

03/13/2024 By Karen Brooks and Matthew Trueherz

Review

Yaowarat Is Portland Monthly’s Restaurant of the Year

At Yaowarat, four friends locate the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown by way of Portland. Welcome to one of America’s newest originals.

01/24/2024 By Karen Brooks Photography by Thomas Teal

Breaking Food News

James Beard Chef Gregory Gourdet Inks a Major Deal on a Home Cookbook

The acclaimed Kann chef will add a new ingredient to his second global cookbook: easy.

10/31/2023 By Karen Brooks

Review

Meat Sweats and Fog Machines at Portland’s Jeju

At Jeju, wood-fired Korean BBQ meets karaoke in a fine-dining house party.

10/27/2023 By Karen Brooks Photography by Thomas Teal

Bar Week 2023

These Portland Bars Serve Killer Food

Where to satisfy the drunchies with cheesy, crunchy fried goodness, from burgers to wonton nachos.

10/13/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

First Look

Opening Oct 6, Four Culinary All-Stars Bring Bangkok's Chinatown Street Food to Yaowarat

What happens when the minds behind Eem, Expatriate, and Langbaan join forces with a Sweedeedee alum? We’re about to find out.

10/02/2023 By Karen Brooks

Review

Kee’s #Loaded Kitchen Is Way Bigger than a Food Cart

Kiauna “Kee” Nelson delivers astounding soul food, a community haven, and a credo for living: winners only.

08/25/2023 By Karen Brooks Photography by Thomas Teal

Review

Okta Is Now Oregon Wine Country’s Greatest Restaurant, Ever

One year after opening, Michelin-starred chef Matthew Lightner and wine curator Ron Acierto deliver a new definition of food, wine, and Oregon on McMinnville’s main drag.

07/27/2023 By Karen Brooks

Eats

The Houston Blacklight Lands This Week

The third project from Portland’s acclaimed Gado Gado team opens July 26 on SE Clinton, with irreverence in tow (think disco, Atomic-age fantasy, and mapo tofu fries).

07/25/2023 By Karen Brooks

Food

Korean BBQ Omakase, Karaoke Headline Han Oak's Much-Awaited Sequel, Jeju

We got the deets on the new restaurant, opening imminently, with a fresh vision of whole-animal Korean barbecue.

06/15/2023 By Karen Brooks

Food News

The New Ritz-Carlton, Portland Restaurant Might Just Surprise Us

Michelin-starred Pedro Almeida and cult carnitas chef Lauro Romero are ditching preconceived notions from kitchen hierarchy to snobby vibe.

05/30/2023 By Karen Brooks

Lunch

5 Great Grab-and-Go Sandwiches for Portland Picnics

Spontaneous beach trips and park picnics are calling. We’ve got your instant sustenance.

05/17/2023 By Karen Brooks

Dining Picks

Portland’s Essential Outdoor Dining Spots

Seven places with a singular blend of food and fun. Backyard rhinestone bar with fish sauce caramel ribs, anyone?

05/11/2023 By Karen Brooks

Where to Eat Now

A Whirlwind Food and Drink Tour through Portland's Dame Collective

Where to find carnitas tacos, old-school pasta, matcha lattes, and one wild tahini and chili crisp bialy— all from Northeast’s collaborative restaurant group.

05/10/2023 By Karen Brooks