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.

Breaking News

The Word on Micah Camden’s Heart Pizza, Opening Friday, February 24

The cofounder of mini-chain breakouts Blue Star Donuts and Little Big Burger unveils his new Portland pizza concept and spills the beans on another project: fast, fresh Chinese in LA.

02/22/2017 By Karen Brooks

Cheat Sheet

Where to Score the Best Three-Course Deals during Portland Dining Month

Here are our 15 top picks for March’s money-saving bonanza.

02/22/2017 By Benjamin Tepler

Word of Mouth

Slurp Your Way through Some of Portland's Finest Soups

Yes, there's the ramen boom. But that's a whole other story. Right now, Portland soup makers excel at small-batch Vietnamese, remodeled classics, and poetic seasonal expressions. Here are a few favorites.

02/20/2017 By Karen Brooks

Coffee Guide: International Bakeries

Pastries without Borders: 6 Globe-Trotting Portland Bakeries

Swedish cinnamon knots to Japanese kare doughnuts, butter is a universal language.

02/20/2017 By Kelly Clarke, Karen Brooks, and Benjamin Tepler

Coffee Guide: Morning Glories

Portland's 10 Best Pastries

Canelé to croissants, crostata to coffee cake, this is why we get out of bed.

02/20/2017 By Benjamin Tepler, Kelly Clarke, and Karen Brooks

Coffee Guide: Standout Shops

16 Places in Portland to Drink Coffee Right Now

From hand-roasted beans to double-decker buses to scene-stealing décor, these destinations are in a class of their own.

02/20/2017 By Benjamin Tepler, Karen Brooks, Kelly Clarke, and Rebecca Jacobson

Breaking News

The Early Word on Star Chef Chris Cosentino’s Jackrabbit

The celebrated, offal-obsessed San Francisco chef prepares to open his first Portland restaurant. Here’s what you need to know.

02/01/2017 By Karen Brooks

Breaking News

SuperBite and Kask Launch Bold Happy Hour

Get ready for $2 super bites, Nashville-style hot fried cauliflower, and a remodeled legend from star chefs Greg and Gabi Denton: the double-stacked cheeseburger.

01/16/2017 By Karen Brooks

Breaking News

The Inside Scoop on Tiffin Asha’s New Brick-and-Mortar, Opening January 5 on NE Killingsworth

The standout Southern Indian food cart puts down roots, with a new collection of playful dosas, kebabs, appam pancakes, and one very labor-intensive cup of coffee.

01/04/2017 By Karen Brooks

Word of Mouth

How Milk Glass Mrkt Got Its Groove

Irresistible baked goods. A killer veggie sando. Retro-mod style. Here’s why the N Killingsworth cafe-market needs to be on your list.

12/20/2016 By Karen Brooks

Restaurant Review

Baker Ken Forkish Masters a New Collection of Outstanding Breads

Crusty levain loaves to butter-crackling spelt croissants, the lord of Ken’s Artisan Bakery has a new swagger at Trifecta Annex.

12/20/2016 By Karen Brooks

Eat This Now

Where to Eat This Week: Dec 7–14

From caramel apple cider at Sterling Coffee Roasters to stuffed mussels at Headwaters, these are the things you must eat and drink this week.

12/07/2016 By Eat Beat Team

Local Giving

Give Thanks at Coffeehouse Northwest—and Raise Money for Immigrants and Refugees

The local cafe's long-running Thanksgiving charity free-for-all returns, this year benefiting Portland's Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization.

11/22/2016 By Kelly Clarke

Word of Mouth

The 11 Best Things Food Critic Karen Brooks Ate in 2016

Beef tartare to old-school pizza to Japanese shaved ice, here are the year’s defining dishes.

11/14/2016 By Karen Brooks

Eat Here Now

Where to Eat This Week: Nov 1–8

Lunch at Luce, crêpes at Little Bird, and bone broth at Broth Bar are your required eating for the week.

10/31/2016 By Eat Beat Team

Breaking News

Chef Johnny Leach to Open Playful Mexican Spot Chalino

A pair of Stray Dogs and Xico alums rethink Mexican on North Williams this winter.

10/26/2016 By Karen Brooks

Best Restaurants 2016

Portland's Best New Restaurants of 2016

Dynamic change, new players, and deliciously bold concepts executed with serious attention to detail: here are the 12 places that define Portland’s food scene right now.

10/10/2016 By Karen Brooks, Kelly Clarke, and Benjamin Tepler

Best Restaurants 2016

Portland’s Best New Restaurants of 2016

Dynamic change, new players, and deliciously bold concepts executed with serious attention to detail: here are the 12 places that define Portland’s food scene right now.

10/10/2016 By Karen Brooks, Kelly Clarke, and Benjamin Tepler

Best Restaurants 2016: Bucket List

30 Portland Restaurants for the Ultimate Local Dining Bucket List

Hope you’re hungry. Here are 30 top picks from Portland Monthly editors.

10/10/2016 By Kelly Clarke, Karen Brooks, and Benjamin Tepler

Best Restaurants 2016: Repeat Offenders

Four Portland Dishes We Ate Over and Over and Over Again in 2016

Fried catfish to porridge (no, really), we just can’t get enough.

10/10/2016 By Benjamin Tepler, Karen Brooks, and Kelly Clarke