Krista Garcia

Portland

Writer at Freelance

Writer, ex-librarian, glutton, crank. Uninfluential. Deeply uninterested in boomers or millennials.

Articles

The Spots of Summer, Portland Edition

1 week ago | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

Portland isn’t rife with decadent Vegas-style buffets, so the Sunday all-you-can-eat seafood brunch at Salty’s feels like a novelty in a city that prides itself on being down to earth. There’s limited outdoor seating, but the nautical-themed dining rooms with big windows still allow primo views of boats cruising by. Next stop: Phuket Cafe’s enclosed patio seating that’s modeled after a train car in Thailand.
Javelina - Review - Cully - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

RESERVE A TABLENative dishes rarely make the leap from home to professional kitchen, which is why locals have been excited for Javelina, Portland’s first indigenous restaurant.
Chelo - Review - Concordia - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

1 month ago | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

Chef Luna Contreras, known for her produce-forward Mexican pop-ups and collabs, has landed permanently at Concordia’s Dame, Thursday to Sunday. While the latest incarnation feels like a neighborhood joint, it’s a destination restaurant in disguise. You could stop in on the early side (they take walk-ins at the bar) for a glass of rosé and a wild halibut tostada topped with crispy leeks and smoked trout roe and imagine you’re in a Mexico City wine bar.
The Smokin’ Oak - Review - Eliot - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

2 months ago | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

In a reverse commute, this Vancouver, Washington restaurant brings traditional Texas-style beef brisket smoked low and slow over 100% white oak to the Cartside Food Carts near the Moda Center. Brisket is available by the pound, and you want a mix of sliced lean and fatty beef that’s just jiggly enough to cut with a fork. The cart also serves smoked chicken, pork ribs, and our pick: pulled pork with carnitas-like charred ends, paired with white bread and pickles.
Oathbreaker Pie - Review - Mt. Tabor - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

2 months ago | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

An offshoot of the Neapolitan pizza cart Paladin, Oathbreaker in Mt. Tabor’s Hinterland pod, bakes thin, crispy NYC-style pies and slices that are almost floppy—perfect for folding if you want to cosplay as a New Yorker. The short menu features the standout Beholder, a spin on pepperoni with roasted garlic ricotta and de rigueur hot honey (yes, there’s also housemade chili crisp available) for a sweet and savory twist.
The 20 Best Food Carts In Portland - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

2 months ago | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

Sure, lots of cities have food trucks. But in those cities, you might be hard-pressed to find ones serving Pueblan mole next to Japanese egg salad sandos, and Guyanese bakes stuffed with salt cod. Not in Portland. A staggering amount of options is the beauty of food cart culture in a city that isn’t old enough to have staunch traditions.
Baby Doll Review - Kerns - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

Oct 3, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

Pizza-by-the-slice isn’t the norm in Portland. Baby Doll’s floppy, foldable plain slices to the rescue. They’re as close as you’re going to get to the ones from a typical NYC joint. This Kerns counter-service restaurant, with seating and a full bar, is still pure Portland, though, thanks to a vegan-friendly menu and sides of ranch, the tangy condiment so popular that a local chain proudly named itself Ranch Pizza.
Pizza Thief Review - Slabtown - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

Oct 3, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

Pizza Thief is co-owned by a serious baker, so it’s no surprise that this Slabtown spot is doing justice to the crust. It’s made from naturally leavened sourdough that’s both crisp and tangy. Notably, the pizzas are sold in a whole 18” form and by the slice from the enclosed counter display. We like the atypical combination of the Valley Girl’s green olives, broccolini, and pungent aged provolone contrasted with the herby pesto cream base.
Dimo’s Apizza Review - Central Eastside - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

Oct 3, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

Dimo’s on Lower Burnside are cracker-thin-crust specialists and the spot for New Haven-style pizzas, minus the traditional coal oven. These pies get briefly blasted in a prominent wood-fired oven covered in penny tiles, producing extra crispy pies with aggressively charred crusts.
Cafe Olli Review - King - Portland, OR - The Infatuation

Oct 3, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Krista Garcia

We love this all-day cafe in Northeast Portland for its ricotta toast and savory porridge. But we'll never say no to posting up under the high beamed ceilings for the stellar lineup of wood-fired pies. Cafe Olli’s crown jewel is the pomodoro pizza, a deceptively simple thin-crust stunner topped with concentrated tomato sauce and nearly translucent shaved garlic.