Portland Food Map 🧭｜From Lobster Rolls to Duck Fat Fries

A roundup of 7 Portland spots I tried—from friend-recommended seafood shacks to two-day-in-a-row brunch spots, an Italian place so bad I wanted to it, and a hidden sashimi gem in an alley. Follow this list to eat well and avoid the duds～ 🦞 Becky’s Diner：Lobster Fresh Enough to Bounce, That Seafood Cream Bowl Steals the Show A friend insisted, “You haven’t been to Portland till you’ve eaten at Becky’s,” so we went opening night Must-try: The “seafood medley” in the top left (just show the photo to staff) is a hidden king! Lobster, scallops, shrimp swimming in rich cream sauce—creamy but not heavy, like “concentrated ocean in a bowl”; The lobster roll is a classic, though the bread isn’t butter-toasted (so not the best texture I’ve had), but the lobster meat is shockingly fresh—bright white and sweet. Skip: Baked potato and mixed vegetables are sad: whole plain baked potato and steamed veggies with zero seasoning. Drinks are pricey, but $40/person without alcohol is enough. 🍣 Isf trading：Sashimi Hidden in an Alley, Uni Sweet as “Sea Candy” Right in the alley next to Becky’s—check hours to avoid a wasted trip— Their sashimi set is a steal: thick-cut salmon, tender tuna, squid so crisp it “snaps,” and salmon roe that pops like tiny flavor bombs (my favorite!). The uni is sweet with zero fishiness—so good I bought a second batch to make sashimi rice bowls before leaving. The squid sashimi was my friend’s pick—we’re still raving about it! ☀️ Bayside American Cafe：Brunch Worth a 30-Minute Wait (We Ate Here Two Days Straight) Lines are long, but trust me— Stars of the menu: Lobster benedict: runny egg yolk mixes with lobster and hollandaise, and the roasted potato on the side is seasoned to perfection (spicy and crispy); Fruit bowl is huge! Mounds of blueberries, strawberries, mango with Greek yogurt—refreshing enough to balance rich dishes; Omelet with sausage and bacon: fluffy egg (wrapping) savory meat, so satisfying. Heads up: The “lobster scramble” has goat cheese—skip if you hate that tangy sheepy flavor; Chai latte is weak, wheat bread is forgettable, but everything else? Amazing. ❌ Via Vecchia：Only the Mussels Are Good—Run from Everything Else The most “split-personality” restaurant ever— The mussels are incredible: plump, juicy, in a garlic-white wine sauce so good we debated “coming back just for three plates”; Everything else? Inedible. Pasta is rock-hard, steak is tough, portions tiny, prices steep, and the dining room is freezing. Save your money. 🍟 Duckfat：Duck Fat Fries So Good, Eat Them Hot or Regret It After Via Vecchia, we needed comfort food— These fries are life-changing: crispy outside, fluffy inside, coated in duck fat aroma. Eat them in-house! They go soggy fast when cold, and the garlic aioli dip takes them to another level. One bite, and the bad meal memories fade. 🌊 Street&co：Murakami-Recommended Seafood Spot, Lobster Pasta to Die For Famous for being a Haruki Murakami favorite, we ordered the “Lobster for two” ($95)— Lobster, clams, scallops, mussels pile high over pasta coated in creamy lobster sauce. So rich, so fresh—only downside: too much pasta, which gets cold by the end. Worth it for the seafood alone; next time, I’m trying more dishes! 🥞 Hot suppa：Brunch Dark Horse, Kale Lovers Rejoice Another brunch gem with hidden perks— Choosing kale as your side is genius: sautéed soft with garlic, way better than boring veggies; Pulled pork is massive, smoky-sweet, perfect on bread; Chai latte is just okay, but the food is good enough to overlook it. After this Portland food run, the biggest surprises were alleyway sashimi at Isf trading and two-day Bayside brunches. Via Vecchia can stay (blocked). Next trip: more mussels, hot duck fat fries, and enough sashimi to take home—that’s how you do Portland right～ #PortlandEats #BrunchGuide #SeafoodLovers #FoodieTips