🍴 Portland’s unique new restaurants and bars

Oregon Needs 29K Homes Built a Year

To address Oregon’s housing shortage, 29,500 homes need to be built each year, according to the state Office of Economic Analysis’s first housing needs report. That’s less than the 36,000-a-year target Gov. Tina Kotek set, but significantly more than have been built in any year since 2005:

• Number of residential permits in 2022: 20,000
• In 2023: 18,000
• In 2024 (by Nov.): just over 13,000. [Oregon Capital Chronicle]

Egg Price Spike Worse Here

The average price of a dozen eggs in the U.S. was $4.15 in December — and because of bird flu, it’s expected to rise 20% this year. But the prices are even higher in Oregon and Washington, where free-range eggs are required. As of Monday, the lowest price for a dozen at a local Fred Meyer was $7.49. [Associated Press]

Increase of Food Assistance

The Oregon Food Bank saw a 31% increase in visits seeking food assistance last year. The group and others are pushing for the Oregon Legislature to offer food assistance to immigrants who don’t qualify for federal support. [KATU]

Trump Tariffs Will Hit Key Oregon Industries

In the week since President Trump took office, he’s already threatened many of our closest trading partners with tariffs and started the process to engage in mass deportations. Oregonian business reporter Mike Rogoway explains which industries will be most affected and how Portland life will be impacted. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

The word “distinctive” comes to mind for the new food and drink options that arrived on the Portland scene this month. They might be weird, but they’re good:

Toasted S’mores Bar | 1126 SW Alder St. (Downtown)

Hours: Wed. - Fri., 4 - 11:30 p.m.; Sat. - Sun., 3 - 11:30 p.m.

This one might seem like a gimmick. But the collaboration between the people behind Nico’s Ice Cream and Moonstruck Chocolate is simply delicious. It fills a s’mores-sized hole in downtown left when the previous shop (with the same theme, at the same location) closed last year.

Go for: The novelty of having s’mores made for you with a kitchen blowtorch.

Stay for: For the variety. Try the caramel or mint-and-chocolate options.

Return for: A free s’mores on your birthday.

Pleasure Mountain | 5513 NE 30th Ave. (Concordia)

Hours: Open at 5 p.m. daily. Closes at 10 p.m. on Sunday, 10:30 on Monday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Gabbiano’s, Wilder, Expatriate, Lil' Dame, and Bardo are already part of the grouping of excellent food and drink all clustered around Northeast Killingsworth at 30th. With Pleasure Mountain, they have one more, a bar focused on Indian-flavored cocktails.

Go for: Trying out the newcomer to the neighborhood.

Stay for: Snacks. Hearty but light, with plenty of vegetables to make you feel virtuous.

Return for: Unique cocktails, with a blend of distinctive flavors that still manage to highlight the taste of spirit.

Popups to Catch Right Now

🍝 Estes has moved from Lil’ Dame to Broder Nord. Go for the pasta!

🌶️ Los Roast, a chile company, is branching out and serving a popup restaurant meal this Sunday for anyone longing for the taste of New Mexico.

🍴 Javelina has become the city’s first Indigenous restaurant, serving food midday (through 6 p.m.) at Lil’ Dame. They’ll expand next month into dinner service with a tasting menu venture called Inɨ́sha.

Notable Expansions This Month

🍜 Kayo Ramen opened a second location, this one in Beaverton. Go for the ramen. Stay for the tacos.

🥐 Ken’s Bakery opened an annex adjacent to their current location. Go for the new space. Stay for Ken’s tasty flavors.