24 Hours in Portland | Skipping Viral Spots, These 3 Real Deal Eaterie

Before arriving in Portland, I scrolled through too many Xiaohongshu viral recommendations. In the end, I decided to "do the opposite"—seek out spots that hadn’t been flooded with posts. Turns out, over two days of eating, the surprises far outnumbered the misses. The rabbit at the German joint was so good we licked the plate, the hotel steakhouse we hit for a free credit blew us away, and only the Russian restaurant left me staring at beet soup in confusion… 🌙 Evening of Day 1: Stammtisch (German) — Waiting hungry for this rabbit? Totally worth it We stumbled on this little German spot randomly, noticing no line and heading in. Only to be told, "Only bar menu now—dinner menu starts in an hour." Fueled by "we’re already here" stubbornness, we waited with growling stomachs. And man, was it worth it—this is the joy of skipping viral spots! Must-order: Rabbit Bunnies are actually delicious! Roasted with a slightly crispy exterior, the meat falls apart at the lightest fork prod, infused with black pepper and rosemary smoke. The pickles and mashed potatoes on the side cut through the richness perfectly. My friend laughed while eating, "Bunnies are cute, but this meat? Cuter." We even dug out every last bit from the bone crevices😜 Other German classics hit the mark too: The Thuringian sausage in the platter oozes juice when bitten, splattering oil on our lips; the sauerkraut isn’t overly salty, with a fermented tang that pairs great with bread. The dim lighting and wooden tables feel like stepping into a Munich biergarten, and even the server—with a touch of German (uncle) bluntness—said, "Rabbit’s our bestseller. You’ll love it." He wasn’t lying. 🌃 Late Night of Day 1 + Morning of Day 2: Urban Farmer (Steakhouse) — Grabbing a hotel perk, only to be blown away The steakhouse attached to our hotel—we only went for the "stay-and-get restaurant credit" perk. But from dinner to brunch, we were hit with one surprise after another. Dinner starters you can’t skip: The beef tartare is incredible! Fresh minced beef mixed with raw egg and pickles, zero fishiness. The star is the bone marrow toast—scoop out the marrow, slather it on crispy-toasted bread, and it’s like a "concentrated meat bomb" in every bite. Even my friend, who usually hates marrow, fought for bites. Mains are rock-solid: Dry-aged ribeye, seared outside and pink inside, juices running through the grain—just a sprinkle of salt and it’s mind-blowing. The pork chop is shockingly tender, with a caramelized crust, paired with apple purée that cuts the richness. Even the trout is pan-fried with crispy skin and tender flesh, topped with popping fish roe. Brunch the next day was even nicer: No crowds like viral spots, sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows. Order the smoked salmon toast—bread crispy outside, soft inside, piled high with thick salmon, paired with a runny poached egg. Lingering until 11 AM, we were tempted to never leave🥰 🌌 Evening of Day 2: Kachka (Russian) — Didn’t quite get it, but fried chicken saved the day Russian food was truly a "mystery box" experience: The tolerable bits: Dumplings and egg sandwich. The dumplings are like giant wontons, filled with beef and onion, served with sour cream that adds a tangy kick—passable. The egg sandwich has crispy-toasted bread, runny egg, and melty cheese—salty and satisfying. But the beet soup and short rib soup? Total confusion. The beet soup is dark red, sweet with an earthy aftertaste—first sip had me (frowning). The short rib soup tastes like "beef vegetable porridge" but under-seasoned, like it forgot the salt. We stared at our bowls, then grabbed our phones—ordered takeout fried chicken from next-door Hat Yai to the rescue🤣 Hat Yai’s fried chicken is a true savior: Thin, crispy skin like paper, juicy meat that drips, sprinkled with garlicky chili powder, paired with sweet-sour sauce. One bite washed away all the "Russian food trauma." After 24 hours, the biggest takeaway: Portland’s best spots really aren’t on viral lists. The rabbit at the German joint, the marrow toast at the steakhouse, even the rescue fried chicken—all more memorable than the "must-eats" I scrolled past. Next time, I’ll keep doing this—follow your stomach—never goes wrong. #Portland ##ChristmasGetaway #PortlandEats #Seattle #FoodieAdventure