Where to Get Delivery in Portland, According to a Local

Where to Get Delivery in Portland, According to a Local

Not all takeout is created equal.

Not all takeout is created equal.

Thai Peacock

From pad see ew to drunken noodles, this downtown restaurant serves all the Thai takeout staples, but its salmon dishes give the menu a distinctly Pacific Northwest spin. Get a peanut-dusted filet with pad Thai or garlic fried rice — both of which come with a tart, lime-spiked fish sauce. The khao soi, crisp egg noodles in a rich curry broth, is another smart choice for nights that call for something cozy. Go ahead and add on a Thai milk tea; the restaurant delivers it without ice, so it doesn’t arrive watered down.

Devil’s Dill

Devil’s Dill in Hawthorne is a late-night staple, making it a useful delivery option. There are no boring cold deli sandwiches here; the numbered menu runs from red wine-braised beef with grilled peppers, cheddar, and horseradish aioli to sandwiches stacked with salami, mortadella, provolone, kale, and cherry-pepper relish. Vegetarians don’t have to compromise, either. The No. 7 layers grilled house-made seitan and slaw onto crusty bread, topped with a chile-garlic barbecue sauce.

Master Kong

Master Kong isn’t the place for kung pao chicken or sweet-and-sour pork; it specializes in Northern Chinese dishes like house-made pork dumplings and steaming bowls of beef brisket noodle soup. Congee is an especially good choice for delivery, as is the jianbing: a savory multigrain crepe wrapped around egg, pickled radishes, herbs, and a crunchy wonton cracker. Both are packaged with care and hold up remarkably well on their journey.

Los Tamales Locos

Tamales are especially delivery-friendly; they’re individually wrapped, hold their heat, and taste just as good reheated the next day. At Los Tamales Locos, a Oaxacan food cart in Lents, choose from fillings like braised pork mole, chicken chile verde, or rajas with cheese, onions and jalapeños. Despite the name, the menu goes well beyond tamales, with street tacos, bowls, and burritos. And thanks to Grubhub, you can get it all delivered straight to your door.

Nong’s Khao Man Gai

Ordering at Nong’s Khao Man Gai is straightforward: Order the dish that made the restaurant famous. The khao man gai pairs tender poached chicken with fragrant jasmine rice cooked in chicken stock and Thai herbs, served with a light soup and Nong’s punchy ginger sauce on the side. On one of Portland’s reliably gray, rainy days, go for the Super Soup, which uses that same chicken and rice base submerged in a big, restorative bowl of broth.

Gresham Burrito Shop

Gresham Burrito Shop has your bases covered from breakfast onward. Starting at 8 a.m., hefty breakfast burritos come filled with eggs, refried beans, cheese, and your choice of meat. Later in the day, the Oregon burrito is a popular choice, stuffed with carne asada, potatoes, and pico de gallo tucked into a flour tortilla that holds up remarkably well, even with delivery. The burritos are big, filling, and reasonably priced (all under $15), making this unassuming spot a neighborhood favorite.

Taste Tickler

A Portland institution since the ’70s, Taste Tickler draws lunch crowds with Italian subs like the Famous Tickler, overstuffed with ham, salami, and pepperoni. But the Korean-influenced hot sandwiches make this spot interesting; choose from bulgogi, spicy pork, or chicken teriyaki which come tucked into a hoagie roll topped with kimchi. Sandwiches are available in three sizes, but delivery is a good excuse to go all-in on the 14-inch — eat half for now, save half for later.

An Xuyên Bakery

This Foster-Powell Vietnamese bakery is best known for its banh mi, but don’t forget to add some pastries to your delivery bag. Sandwiches come on crisp, house-made French bread layered with pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeños, and fillings like barbecue pork, Vietnamese meatball, or lemongrass pork. Then, there’s the bakery case, stocked with cream puffs, coconut tarts, and impossibly light Japanese-style cheesecakes that make it easy to turn a quick lunch into a rounded-out meal.

Khao Moo Dang

Khao Moo Dang’s Thai-Chinese food is just as satisfying in front of the TV as it is at the restaurant on Hawthorne Boulevard. Order the namesake khao moo dang, rice topped with five-spice pork loin, crispy pork belly, Chinese sausage, and a soft-boiled egg, served with gravy and bone broth on the side. The dry egg noodles are another good delivery choice: the broth is packaged separate from the noodles and toppings, so the dish isn’t soggy before you eat.

Lawless Barbecue

Barbecue is a surprising yet practical delivery meal because smoked meats don’t wilt or deflate during a quick car ride. At Central Eastside’s Lawless, the ideal to-go barbecue platter includes brisket burnt ends lacquered in a Kansas City-style sauce, a couple of pork ribs, and a link of house-made green chile cheddar sausage. Tack on sides like collard greens and mac and cheese to round out your order. Save room for the banana pudding layered with candied pecans and cream cheese whipped cream — it’s worth adding to your order even when everyone insists they’re too full for dessert.

Nicholas Restaurant

Nicholas Restaurant has been a reliable spot for Lebanese food in southeast Portland since the ’80s. On the menu you’ll find traditional lamb and chicken kabob alongside mezza platters that make an especially good delivery spread. Try the Arabian Breeze, which comes with hummus, hamara, majadra, fried cauliflower, and falafel. Whatever the order, tack on a few pitas to mop up every last bite.