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.

PROFILE

How Salt & Straw Captured Portland in a Cone

The story of the city's rapidly growing ice cream empire, as told through five of Salt & Straw's signature flavors.

08/01/2014 Photography by Karen Brooks

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Nong’s Khao Man Gai Puts Down Roots

Karen Brooks explores coconut soft serve and “chicken squeezing” at the Thai wonder’s new brick and mortar.

07/29/2014 By Karen Brooks

PORTLAND RESTAURANTS

Ranking Salt & Straw's Best (and Worst) Flavors Ever

We look back at ice cream emperors Kim and Tyler Malek's winning creations—and a few that flopped.

07/11/2014 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING NEWS

Eb & Bean Artisan Fro-Yo Shop Opens on NE Broadway

With organic-centric toppings, fresh berry compote, and righteously tart flavors, a cool new shop puts the obsession in frozen yogurt.

07/01/2014 By Karen Brooks

WORD OF MOUTH

What to Eat in Portland, Right Now

Portland Monthly food critic Karen Brooks dishes on the restaurants, obsessions, and under-the-radar finds of the month.

07/01/2014 By Karen Brooks

HIT LIST

A Handy Guide to Portland's Best UnRestaurants

Glimpse the next phase of Portland dining at these 11 pop-up dinners, secret back rooms, and farm fresh feasts.

07/01/2014 By Karen Brooks

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Charting the Rise of Portland's Hottest UnRestaurants

In back rooms, on off nights, and behind borrowed counters, forward-thinking chefs are redefining dinner in Portland.

07/01/2014 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING NEWS

Café Castagna Gets a Middle Eastern Accent

On June 26, one of Portland’s iconic neighborhood cafes adds a new chef, a new menu, and a fresh direction.

06/24/2014 By Karen Brooks

HIT LIST

Our 4 New Farmers Market Obsessions

Inspirations from the mother ship of local eating: the Portland Farmers Market at PSU.

06/02/2014 By Karen Brooks

INSIDE SCOOP

Is Langbaan Portland’s Best New Restaurant?

As Portland’s restaurant scene grows up and gets more diverse, the most exciting food is popping up in unlikely places.

05/28/2014 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING NEWS

3 Reasons to Get Excited about Division's Pizza Maria

Thomas Keller’s baking collaborator Sean Coyne is ready to unleash his wood-fired Neapolitan-esque pies on SE Division Street. We got the inside word.

05/21/2014 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING NEWS

Chef Vitaly Paley Joins the Pop-Up Revolution

In June, a godfather of Portland’s food scene will reset the table of his youth with drinking foods, hand-cured caviar, and, yes, Russian rap.

05/20/2014 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING NEWS

Salt & Straw Expanding to Los Angeles in August

Portland’s artisan ice cream explorers are launching a shop in LA’s Larchmont Village.

05/12/2014 By Karen Brooks

EAT HERE NOW

Thali Supper Club Settles In at Din Din

As more Portland restaurants open their doors to supper-club squatters, a roving Indian feast cooks up May’s spicy Goan menu and June’s Indian Street Fare dishes.

05/05/2014 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING FOOD NEWS

Clyde Common Chef Shuffle: Leach Out, Carlo Lamagna In

In one crazy weekend, a promising chef from David Chang's ranks is out, and a butcher-loving alum of Chicago's Perennial Virant steps up to reshape an iconic PDX destination.

05/04/2014 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING FOOD NEWS

Chef Johnny Leach Departs Clyde Common

It was one of the most anticipated menu makeovers in Portland. But six months in, the former David Chang-empire chef has been relieved of duty at the famed restaurant and craft cocktail bar.

05/04/2014 By Karen Brooks

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Bollywood Theater's Spicy Sequel in Southeast

The new Division Street outpost of Troy MacLarty's Indian street food hub offers bright spices and international supplies in a cinematic setting.

05/01/2014 By Karen Brooks

HIT LIST

10 Portland-Style Junk Food Favorites

Portlanders are turning your favorite greasy, sugary, salty snacks into artisan masterpieces.

05/01/2014 By Karen Brooks and Kelly Clarke

BREAKING NEWS

Palace Cakes to Open Downtown this Summer

Two Tarts Bakery spins off a cake-centric shop, with by the slice options, pick-your-own buttercreams, and mini-batch ice creams.

04/29/2014 By Karen Brooks

FOOD EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Two Portland Chefs, Two Vegetable Dinners, One Leap Forward

Vegetable whisperers Joshua McFadden of Ava Gene’s and Gregory Gourdet of Departure get to the root of culinary collaboration.

04/23/2014 By Karen Brooks