Portland's Best Cheap Eats 2008

Middle Eastern noshing fare that won’t drain your pocketbook.

Reviews:

• “Amazing! If a resauraunt can keep me coming back for over 8 years like this, it deserves 5 stars!!!”
• “Great food, but no room to eat it”
• “Terrible Service! Don’t go with more than 4 people, ever!”
• “Great food if you can get through the door.”
• “Up Close”

Nicholas’ Restaurant

Festive taqueria in the Pearl offers a variety of tacos and other traditional dishes.

Reviews:

• “Cha Cha Cha…highly recommended”
• “go to byways nextdoor instead!”
• “que delicioso”
• “Always enjoy my Relleno Burrito”
• “What the heck?”

Tips: Try a variety of Mexican beer or a Jarritos, a super-sweet Mexican soda, bound to cut the hottest of salsas.

Cha! Cha! Cha!

Inexpensive Cajun-style fare in a place where you never know who you’ll share a table with.

Reviews:

• “DANGER, DANGER!!!!”
• “one of my favorites”
• “Better mac and cheese than your mom could ever hope to make.”
• “Cool atmosphere, high energy, good people watching, HORRIBLE food! "
• “Whiny reviewers”

Tips: Only two beers are served at Montage: Rainier and Mickey’s—in the bottle.

Le Bistro Montage or email Le Bistro Montage

A traditional slice to satisfy the New Yorker at heart.

Reviews:

• “Great tasting pizza”
• “Best Pizza outside of NYC!!!!”
• “tasty pizza, rude help”
• “See it to believe it.”
• “Our favorite Portland pizza – very similar to New York pizza as I remember it.”

Tips: Try to get a window seat, or during the summer, a sidewalk table. Both spots make for prime people watching.

Escape From New York Pizza

Creperie combines subtle elegance with French cuisine to create beaucoup romance.

Reviews:

• “Delectable crepes, attentive staff”
• “It makes me le happy”
• “I never had a chance to try the food”
• “Very delicious! Great atmosphere.”
• “Great Crepes, Terrible Service”

Tips: After 10pm, only those 21 and older are permitted.

Le Happy

A deep-fry diner serving up Americana fare in kitschy style.

Reviews:

• “THE Greasy hamburger joint of Portland”
• “Re: IT AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE”
• “delicious chocolate malts!”
• “help”
• “awesome.”

Tips: This diner is cash only, but does have an ATM on-site.

Skyline Restaurant

Fresh pasta from the source.

Reviews:

• “Great pasta!”
• “Best Alfredo ever”
• “Best Neighborhood Pasta Place”
• “Puzzled by the great food in a cafeteria type of setting…”
• “Our favorite Italian!”

Tips: The intimate space fills up quick, especially during lunch hours. Call ahead and order your lunch to go.

Justa Pasta Co

This longtime favorite is northwest Portland’s mecca for fresh and inexpensive sushi.

Reviews:

• “Best service”
• “Best Sushi I’ve ever had!!! "
• “Tasty sushi!”
• “Uninspired…”
• “My favorite!”

Tips: Mio doesn’t take reservations for groups smaller than six. During rush times, the wait can be in excess of 30 minutes. Get on the list, then peruse the popular 23rd Avenue shops like Music Millennium.

Mio Sushi

Restaurant specializes in pizza sold by the slice and offers fresh sauce and toppings at bargain prices.

Reviews:

• “Cheap and Chill”
• “Good eats.”
• “At least they have cheap pitchers!”
• “Bad pizza”
• “certainly better around”

Tips: The restaurant stocks a variety of domestic beers and microbrews.

Rocco’s Pizza

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