There's a wealth of regional specialties to explore in Portland this week, as Bajala brings Baja California-inspired fare to Nob Hill, the Japanese bakery Tanaka expands to Gresham, and the Indian-Pakistani spot Zaiqa opens in South Waterfront. Plus, read about the James Beard Awards and an upcoming queer lounge. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide.

NEW OPENINGS

Bajala Like List
Co-owners Juan Flores and Lizbeth Sanchez debuted this new Baja California-inspired cart at the Nob Hill Food Carts pod on June 1, specializing in battered fish and shrimp tacos.
Nob Hill

Bar Loon Like List
The team behind Bellwether Bar opened Bar Loon in the space of the recently closed vegan bar Sweet Hereafter Like List , featuring wine and European-inspired small plates with plant-based options, last Saturday, June 8.
Sunnyside

LoRo Coffee Like List and Ranch Pizza Like List
Bridgetown Bites reports that this coffee shop and pizzeria opened inside the former Hungry Heart location in Montavilla last Thursday, June 6—the two will share the space, with cafe service during mornings and pizza later in the day.
Montavilla

Tanaka Gresham Like List
The Japanese bakery and katsu sandwich shop launched a new outpost inside Alta Civic Station in Gresham on Wednesday.
Gresham

Zaiqa Like List
Named for the Urdu word for "flavor," this Indian and Pakistani spot opens inside the former Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen Like List space today, serving a menu of biryani, curries, kebabs, "Chicken 65" (a spicy Indian specialty made with deep-fried chicken and red chilis), and more.
South Waterfront

FUTURE OPENINGS

CLOSURES

Cicoria Like List
According to a press release, the Italian red sauce joint known for its party-cut pizza plans to close its doors on June 29. The release states, "The decision to cease operations has been driven by the increasingly challenging market conditions that have made it difficult to sustain the restaurant." However, the restaurant hopes to reopen with a new concept.
Richmond

Emperor Georgiou's Tea Room Like List  
This queer, Black, neurodivergent-owned tea room named for the Star Trek Terran emperor portrayed by Michelle Yeoh has closed permanently, as owners Brendon and Wellington Georgiou plan to move California to spend time with family.
Kenton

OTHER FOOD NEWS

Portlanders take home James Beard Awards
The James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards on Monday, and two familiar Portland names received big honors: Langbaan Like List took home the award for Outstanding Restaurant, while Gregory Gourdet received Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific for his work at Kann Like List .

POP-UPS AND EVENTS

SnackFest Remind Like List
I don't know about you, but I feel that humanity really peaked when we came up with the concept of snacking. This festival from the people who brought you Portland Night Market is of the same mind, featuring hot food vendors, food trucks, vendors, live entertainment, demos, educational breakout sessions, special pop-ups, and much more, all revolving around bite-sized munchies. Go forth and live deliciously.
Alder Block

Bu-Tai-Tian Dessert Nights Past Event Like List
It's a common refrain that the highest praise for a dessert in Chinese culture is that it's "not too sweet." In celebration of that sentiment, you won't find any cloyingly sugary confections at this tasting—just perfectly balanced treats from over 10 local AANHPI vendors. Enjoy the peaceful, verdant ambience of Lan Su Garden as you stroll around and marvel over the not-excessively-saccharine creations.
Lan Su Chinese Garden, 7-9 pm

Kindness Farm Pride Party Past Event Like List
Get dolled up in your most cottagecore ensemble to frolic amongst your fellow queers in the idyllic pastoral setting of Kindness Farm, a community farm led by queer, immigrant, and refugee volunteers. The festivities will include a tea tent with blends made with herbs grown on the farm, outdoor games like cornhole and giant Jenga, picnic table painting, flower printing, farm tours, dancing, and freebies (including kombucha, CBD soda, and snacks). You're also welcome to help participate in building a pride altar—bring candles and offerings.
Kindness Farm, Pleasant Valley, 5-9 pm

Breakside Woodlawn Block Party Past Event Like List
If Breakside Brewing's Woodlawn location was a person, it'd be a freshman in high school. Help them celebrate their 14th year with a block party featuring live music, a bouncy obstacle course, Salt & Straw ice cream, Bauman's Cider, Erath Winery wine, and of course, plenty of beer, including rare specialty brews.
Breakside Brewery, 12-9 pm

Drag Brunch at Freeland Spirits Past Event Like List
Dig into brunch and imbibe boozy beverages while the fabulous queens Boujee Cherry, Kharisma, Jocelyn Knobs, and Jayla Rose stun with their jaw-dropping performances. We queer people love our multiple beverages, so it's extra fitting that Freeland Spirits has concocted a fruity little rainbow-hued pride cocktail flight, featuring the passion fruit-flavored "Dancing Queen," pineapple-flavored "Born This Way," blueberry-flavored "Over the Rainbow," and dragonfruit-flavored "Unicorn Gimlet." A percentage of proceeds from the event and from flight purchases will go to Basic Rights Oregon, the state's leading LGBTQ2SIA+ advocacy group.
Freeland Spirits, 12-3 pm

Khushbu Shah in Conversation With Erin DeJesus Past Event Like List
With her debut cookbook Amrikan: 125 Recipes From the Indian Diaspora, Food & Wine writer and editor Khushbu Shah asks the question, “What is Indian food in America?” She delves into the answer not only with irresistible-sounding recipes I'm eager to add into my rotation, like saag paneer lasagna, achari paneer pizza, spinach tadka dal with rice, panipuri mojitos, and masala chai Basque cheesecake, but also with images and essays that meditate on the connection between food and identity. As Shah told the New York Times in a 2019 interview, "Food is undeniably intersectional. It’s impossible — it’s irresponsible — to deny it." She'll chat about the release with Eater executive editor Erin DeJesus.
Powell's City of Books, 3 pm

Sapphic Sundays Remind Like List
In celebration of Pride Month, the vibey, neon-illuminated bar Pink Rabbit will cater to "queer girls and theys" each Sunday in June. Enjoy drink specials, all-day happy hour, crafts, music, and gay movies. Personally, I hope that But I'm a Cheerleader, Chappell Roan, and lots of bedazzling are all part of the (queer) agenda.
Pink Rabbit, 3 pm

Portland Beer Week Past Event Like List
The annual celebration of all things beery and beautiful in the Pacific Northwest returns in grand style, stretching the definition of "week" to encompass 10 whole days, and sprawling all over the city like a freshly shaken can of lager popped with no regard, featuring a wide range of events at notable breweries and venues. This year's lineup includes a pizza party, a "Make Your Own IPA Ice Cream" event, pop-ups, tap takeovers, special releases, workshops, a wrestling-themed "Snackdown" competition, and more.
Various locations

SPECIALS