Tasty n Alder

Had the pleasure of having dinner here during a recent trip to Portland. Came across Tasty n Alder simply by looking on Unilocal and as the previous reviews indicated the restaurant was very good. Ended up sitting at the bar since I was by myself and the bartenders were both very pleasant and helpful.
The beer selection was good. Not an extensive list, but everything was local which I appreciated. I ended up having a couple of the Barley Brown’s, Pallet Jack IPA, OR. It was a very tasty IPA and something I would drink again if I had the opportunity.
For dinner I ended up getting a couple small things. I wasn’t extremely hungry so they sufficed together to provide a nice meal.
To start I had the Smoked Trout board. The trout by itself was very good. Not too smoky and not dry by any means. It was accompanied by bread, soft boiled eggs, a cucumber salad, and some sort of cream cheese which I could have eaten an entire tub of.
To follow I had the Duck Duck Potatoes… And man were they good! There’s something about crispy potatoes with a soft fried egg oozing over them that is just heavenly. Then you add a nice of shredded duck to the bowl and you have the perfect little dish.
I definitely recommend you check this place out if you’re in the Portland area.

Superb!
Tried the midday menu.
Everything we tasted was excellent:
Drinks: tasty Mary, Raw hide
Radicchio, steakhouse sandwich & the super tasty Ribeye.
Recommend!

I’ve been wanting to eat at Tasty n Alder since I moved to Portland. My friends were in town this weekend visiting, so I thought this would be a perfect time to try it! Sadly, I was under-​impressed with my brunch here… maybe it’s just that we didn’t know what to order? The waitress was helpful with recommendations and knowledgeable about all the dishes we asked about, but it was still hard to choose.
I ordered the Bim Bop bacon and eggs — this dish has rice, bean sprouts, carrots, bacon, and an egg that comes out in a hot skillet bowl. You stir it all around and it basically makes a fried rice. About a year ago, I tried a different variation of this for a dinner meal that was wonderful, but the one at Tasty was pretty average. It was flavorful, but the kimchi really overpowered the bacon or egg — it ended up just tasting like a kimchi fried rice, which wasn’t what I exactly had pictured for my breakfast.
The other people in my party ordered the Polenta and Sugo (delicious, but a little heavy), the Blanc omelette (which was absolutely soaked in oil so my friend could only finish part of it), the Bacon Cheddar and Egg sandwich (probably the best meal of the group), and the Northwest Migas (one of the vegetarian options, but it wasn’t anything special).
I would like to return to Tasty n Alder to try different dishes to see if my opinion changes. But in the meantime, I’m pretty disappointed that a highly anticipated brunch spot didn’t live up to our expectations.

YUM. This was our first stop on our recent trip to Portland, and it definitely did not disappoint. When we first walked in, we were quoted an hour and 45 minutes (for 2). We really wanted to try the food, but didn’t want to wait that long. To our luck, 2 seats opened up at the bar and we couldn’t sit down fast enough.
Once seated, we ordered the Kentucky Peach & Oregon Orchard. These are unlike any champagne cocktails you’ve ever had. I’m not a huge fan of bourbon, but the Kentucky Peach was sooooo tasty. The Oregon Orchard was even better, since it was made with my favorite, gin. They were both super refreshing. For food, my boyfriend and I shared the fried egg biscuit with fried chicken. Mmm. One of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever had.
I can’t wait to come back here and try the rest of their tasty options!

Came here for late breakfast/​late lunch. We only ended up waiting 30 minutes for 2 seats at the bar to open up, otherwise we would had to wait at least an hour to 2 hours to get seated. I’m glad we didn’t because the foods were a bit over hyped.
The foods were pretty good although pricey, especially the kim chi chicken plate. Just rice, fried korean chicken covered sweet and spicy sauce, and a few chunks of kim chi. Okay meal, because it doesn’t par up to bon chon chicken or other Korean fried chicken but it at least had a spicy kick to it. The taste was a bit catered to American taste. I wasn’t very hungry so the portions were okay, but I must warn that the meal isn’t large enough to satisfy a hungry person.
Bf had the iron steak. I am blanking out on the name. Small slices of medium rare steak in a tiny plate. Okay this probably wouldn’t be a good dish for a meal but fortunately we weren’t hungry. I had a bourbon drink mixed with bitters and citrus. Great way to start my morning!
The foods didn’t appeal to me here and the wait was just too long. The workers and bartenders were incredibly friendly though and definitely go out of their way to make you feel comfortable.

Tasty N Alder was an awesome bar/​restaurant to dine at in the Pearl District of downtown Portland. We arrived before dinner and enjoyed their bar menu, which was just as delicious as it looked on the menu. Had some of the best fries ever and enjoyed the radicchio salad along with a cheese/​pâté platter that hit the spot! Sat at the bar and had a great chat with the bartender. Perfect spot for an early meal!

I have really high hopes for restaurants in Portland because this is such a big foodie city. At over 1K reviews at 4.5 stars, I expect some good food but sadly, I was super disappointed.
We had a group of 8 people (including two kids) and were seated within 5 minutes since we came at 5:30pm (when it opens again for dinner). We did sort of a family style so everyone picked something off the menu and we all shared. There are some peanuts on the table to share with a spoon of salt on the side. I found that weird. I guess people can sprinkle their nuts with salt? ;) Anyways onto the menu. We ordered
Radicchio Salad ($ 12– whole order) –lardons. manchego. chopped six minute egg. This was actually pretty tasty and one of the best dishes. Pretty good salad.
Bone Marrow Toast ($ 16) — This was okay. I am not a big Bone Marrow fan but this was one of the better bone marrows I’ve tasted compared to others
Bulgogi Short Ribs ($ 15) This was served with house kimchi. This was the saltiest short ribs ever! Just give me a spoonful of salt why don’t you. I took one bite and it was game over. I needed a bowl of rice or something. Way to salty. We had left overs. Usually I would take food home but this was not worth saving
Montréal Rub Ribeye ($ 29) This was also salty as well. Not the best
Gaucho Ribeye ($ 29) This was fairly decent but a little salty as well
Grilled Half Chicken ($ 22) There was only two left in the kitchen so we put in our order fast to get this. OMG SALTY! Does this place know how to season their food??? Do not get!
Duck Duck Potatoes ($ 8) This was probably one of the more decent dishes but too bad it was small since it’s a side. The fried egg goes well with it.
Cedar Plank Salmon ($ 29) This was very bland. Very tasteless. We had some left overs because no one wanted to finish it
The cheeseburger for the kids was actually better than the rest of the adult food. Reminds me of Carls Jr/​Burger King.
Moscow Mules– These were pretty decent. Super strong but good.
Overall, this place sure does love salt! I was super disappointed. Everyone in the group was super disappointed. Pricey and a waste of money. Never ever going back here again. I wonder if Tasty n Sons is the same. Salty? Maybe we came on a bad day? Maybe breakfast is better? Who knows

The good:
— friendly, helpful service
— amazing food
The bad:
— If I nit pick… noisy?
After a long day out in the Columbia River Valley and at the Draper Girls’ Country Farm, it was time to meet up with our friends again for dinner. This time they suggested Tasty n Alder, and I’ve gotta say, it’s now one of my favorite restaurants of all time!
We didn’t have reservations, so we walked over from our hotel and put our name on the list. They informed us of a wait of 30 – 40 minutes, took down my cell phone number, and we headed out to walk around the neighborhood while we waited. Maybe 15 minutes later, our table was ready and they called us. Our friends hadn’t met up with us yet, but they sat us anyway.
Once seated, the wife and I ordered a drink and an appetizer for all of us to share. Once our friends arrived, we went over the menu, and with the help of our server, made the rest of our selections. During that time, our first item had arrived, which was the Smoked Trout & Accoutrements ($ 13). The trout was just as good smoked salmon in its own, unique way. While hot smoked, it wasn’t hard or tough at all. It was accompanied by some whole grain bread, soft boiled egg and roasted beets.
Next up was the Goat Cheese Dumplings Arabiata ($ 15). These dumplings were more like goat cheese gnudi that melts in your mouth, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and swimming in a zesty tomato sauce. The grilled bread that accompanied was really tasty and was great sopping up the sauce.
Our third course was a no-​brainer to me — Chanterelle & Squash Orzo Risotto ($ 15). Chanterelles are among my favorite mushrooms, and while I prefer rice based risottos, this was very flavorful, light and seasonal. Loved it.
The next dish is really a side, but I had to try it when I saw it — Duck Duck Potatoes ($ 8). As you may have guessed by the name, these were potatoes fried in duck fat and topped with a fried duck egg! What isn’t there to like about potatoes cooked in duck fat with a runny duck egg on top?!
Our fifth dish was a challenge to eat splitting 4 ways — Baja Tacos ($ 18). Halibut, apple avocado sauce, escabeche. Admittedly, I wasn’t really looking forward to this one since I don’t like fish tacos, but this changed my mind! The halibut was perfectly crispy on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside, and the whole thing was so full of fresh flavors and so well balanced… I wouldn’t hesitate to order it again.
Our 2^nd to the last course was the Wagyu Skirt Steak from Snake River Farms ($ 22). The steak was served with a side of chimichurri and was cut for family style sharing. It was well seasoned and perfectly cooked to medium rare. While there were more expensive wagyu options, I’m not really a fan of super fatty wagyu steaks, so this one was a perfect balance for me and plenty tender.
Our last course was by far the most memorable one — Cedar Plank Salmon ($ 29). We weren’t told what was on the salmon since it was a chef’s choice creation, but man was it good! I’m not generally a fan of cooked salmon, as many I’ve had weren’t so good. But this was cooked to a perfect medium/​medium-​rare. The herb/​green blend on top married well with the fish and smokiness from the cedar, and just look at that caramelization! This was hands down of my my favorite dishes of the entire trip and a real eye opener for me. It’s now a must whenever we return to this restaurant.
So, despite the large quantity of food earlier, we still had dessert, which was perfectly proportioned for us — Chocolate Potato Donuts with Crème Anglaise. These were by far the best chocolate donuts I’ve ever had. If I wasn’t so full, I probably would have wanted an entire plate to myself! The sauce really helped to balance out the entire dish too and is a definite order again.
In all, Tasty n Alder was an amazing meal with incredible company. It is the quintessential Portland restaurant I was looking for serving uniquely Pacific Northwest cuisine done to an extremely high level of precision. The price wasn’t too bad either given the quality of food and service. But, don’t think this place is a great romantic date night… Between the crowds and the open kitchen, it has a lively atmosphere, but is an excellent restaurant and is conveniently located. It’s also worth noting that all dishes are ala carte; no starches served with the fish, steaks, etc. and are all meant for sharing. So bring a group so you can sample more items!
When in Portland you MUST visit Tasty n Alder!

I liked it! The place has big windows and is very open. This place was the only place with good taste in music! Their service was on point and attentive. Dude even broke down how the process works when ordering.
We ordered a chocolate potato donut, spicy chicken, and bim bam bap (sp?) The chocolate donut was doughy and was sitting on top of a sweet white cream. It was fork licking good! The spicy chicken was indeed that, spicy, but the cucumbers definitely complimented the dish. The bim bam bap came out piping hot. The eggs were cooked perfectly where the yolk was runny and soft to break.
I would definitely come back here! Everything about this place was positive: the vibe, the service, and the food!

Right when we checked in to our hotel we knew we wanted to eat here. Our friends raved about this place and same with some of the locals we asked for recommendations! This place did not disappoint. We came at 5 hoping to eat an early dinner but they don’t seat until 530 so we put our names on the list and just walked around. At 530 we were seats promptly!
The menu was pretty extensive and had so many options we had a hard time choosing, but overall we were quite pleased with what we ate!
Foie gras with toast and pineapple jelly: ⁵⁄₅: rich, buttery and decadent! It was so delicious my taste buds were dancing! The foie, toast and pineapple together paired together so well. You had some sweet with savory and let’s just say it was so good we wished we had ordered another one! The only gripe we had was we wish there was another slice of toast to go with it.
Beef tartare Hmong style: ⁵⁄₅: wow, flavor explosion! Did not expect it to be so good! The flavors were so good! It really reminded me of Vietnamese beef salad except tartare version. The egg, the lime, the spices and the crunchy noodles mixed together made this dish so good! I wanted more of this!
Lamb rendang stew: ⁴⁄₅: flavorful and comforting. The lamb did not taste gamey and the spices were on point for the rendang. The only gripe we really had was that there was too much rice and too little stew/​sauce. It was barely enough to cover the amount of rice given.
Steak: ⁵⁄₅: I forgot which one we got, but it was delicious ! It was a big juicy steak cooked to medium rare perfection! It wasn’t too fatty but the spices they used made this so tasty!
Overall, we absolutely loved this place. We thought this was the best place we ate at during out Portland trip! We would definitely come back here in the future!
Total for 2: $ 108

The food here is so good, if I was a dog I would roll in it.
We ordered way too much. The bulgogi short ribs with house kimchi, the goat cheese dumplings arrabiata, the rending Indonesian lamb stew, and the duck duck potatoes. Each plate was a delicacy, but if I had to rate them in order of which I’d be willing to eat and nothing else for the rest of my life, it would be 1. Potatoes, 2. Lamb, 3. Short ribs, and 4. Dumplings. Those poor dumplings didn’t stand a chance against the spicy crazy flavors in the other three selections, but they were great. Those dumplings among the other three dishes were like me at the gym surrounded by Holly, Ronda, and Laila — sure I’m awesome and can hold my own, but with those three ladies my light kind of dims. Poor dumplings, you were awesome but you shared the table with shooting stars from planet Nom Nom.
Go on an empty stomach and order everything you can. Take friends and make a solemn pact that everyone has to order something different so you can taste as much as possible. Don’t take that asshat friend who never lets anyone take a bite off his plate. That guy can just sit this one out.

Have you ever gone on someone’s Instagram and wondered why all the pics they post are of food, but then realized that if they’re really eating all that, there’s probably a good reason they’re not posting pics of themselves?
That sums up my last Portland visit. I ate an absurd amount of food, and probably would have needed to put my camera on panoramic mode to capture all of me. So the world never got a glimpse of the «super sized» version of me, and were left to salivate over my eats. Undoubtedly a big part of who I am today was shaped by my time living in Portland, and everytime I go back my gut, hips, and thighs are really shaped by all the delicious restaurants I go to.
Tasty n Alder was the best meal I had on my last trip, and I’d go as far as to say there’s not a better brunch spot in the heart of Downtown Portland (on SW 12^th & Alder). One of the great things about brunch in these parts is that it’s served daily from 9am– 2pm, not just on weekends, allowing you to go early on a weekday without having to wait in line. If you’re already in Downtown then I see no reason to make an extra special trip out to Tasty n Sons in North Portland, when there’s Tasty N Alder here.
The most «must get» BRUNCH dish might just be the POTATOES BRAVAS. Now, I’m not necessarily saying it’s the best thing there, but it can easily work as an appetizer for just yourself, or be shared with others. The potatoes are tasty in their own right, but they’re complemented by amazing aioli and the over easy egg is like the cherry on top.
For a larger plate, it’s hard to pass up the KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN (w/​short grain rice, house kimchi, eggs two ways). I much prefer this style of fried chicken over that at The Screen Door, and I don’t say that out of any allegiance to the Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. It’s more flavorful and everything mixed in like the cucumbers and egg yolk goes so well together.
Other impressive plates to tantalize you with include their Chocolate Potato Doughnut, Cast Iron Frittata, Auntie Paula’s French Toast, and Bim Bop Bacon & Eggs (and I haven’t even brought up their dinner menu yet — hello Foie Gras w/​Pineapple Jam and Wagyu Skirt Steak).
Some day I’d love to try the «Dim Summore» cocktail (vodka, tomato, hoisin, lime, Sriracha, ginger) but even I can only consume so many calories on one sitting (without the chair giving out).

A phenomenal breakfast/​brunch place overall!
WARNING: expect a very very long wait (at least more than an hour)!
I highly recommend their Steak and Cheddar Eggs and Bim Bop Bacon and Egg. This place is all about family style, so all the dishes are made to share.
*Steak and Cheddar Eggs — medium rare steak cooked to perfection. Instead of scrambled eggs, you could request for sunny-​side ups, which I thought was a better alternative. The sweetened cornmeal pancake pairs really well with the savory flavors of the steak and eggs. I went nuts over the pancake. It was delicious.
*Bim Bop Bacon and Egg — If you are a fan of kimchi and familiar with bimbimbap, you must try this! I love it when American restaurants put a twist on Asian food. In this case, this bim bop bowl comes with crunchy bits of bacon. Everything in this bowl just works really well together. I never thought I would say this but this place serves a better bimbimbap than any other authentic Korean restaurants I have tried.
Friendly staff and great ambiance! I will definitely be back!

Quel délice ! Ce restaurant est parfait pour un brunch le midi en famille ou entre amis. Chaque plat est à partager ce qui rend le moment très chaleureux. Nous avons essayé la radish salad qui est superbe, accompagné d’un burger et enfin un fameux banana bread au caramel. À essayer absolument lors de votre visite de la ville. Attention, il peut y avoir de l’attente car l’adresse est courue.

WOW. A must-​eat when you’re in Portland. I understand why this place is so popular now. Yes, there’s a long wait but it’s because this restaurant is fantastic. The hostess took our name and phone number down so we could explore the local area while we waited for a table. The estimated wait time was 45 minutes but we got a call back in less than 20 minutes!
The service is really friendly and willing to answer any questions you may have. Food came out in a reasonable manner, although it doesn’t all come out at once… they say everything is meant to be shared although we each ordered our own dish.
For starters, we got the radicchio salad and it was probably one of the best salads I’ve had. It was delicious! There was a perfect amount of dressing, manchego, bacon eggs, etc… There was perfect balance throughout and I appreciated the generous portion of bacon! For my main entrée, I had to get the Korean fried chicken. Oh my goodness, talk about tasty! The chicken was juicy and perfectly fried and sauced. I liked how, when you mix the kimchi in with the chicken and rice, it adds a nice crunch to the bowl. Not to mention the cucumbers on the side as well. And as always, I feel like eggs go well with anything so top on an egg and it’s a ¹⁰⁄₁₀ in my book.
I love this place! I can’t wait to come to Portland and come here again!

Hot diggity, Matt Iggit-​E — you’ve introduced me to quite the brunch locale!
Our meal was a quick and dirty, having a full day of rip-​roaring event (read: kitty clipboard purchasing) planning ahead of us. A snap decision made simple once I spotted the Hot Damn Omelette ($ 11): a veritable mélange of hot links. green beans. caramelized onions. and pepper jack folded in delicately toasted eggs. A real powerhouse that disappeared all too quickly; good thing we had a $ 2 chocolate potato donut starter. Y’know, for research.
Mattycakes E got the Korean fried chicken bi bim bap ($ 14), and I’ve got admit: our friendship is now on the rocks, simply because he didn’t offer me a bite. Smelled great. Jerk.
As if it hasn’t been echoed a billion times before, expect a wait — we moseyed in at 10:30 on a Wednesday, and we oh so fortunate to snag an awkward two-​top. Others, not as lucky. Do yourself a favor: cut out anybody you love to reduce seat count, and it’s possible you might, just maybe, get sat during your intended meal.
Thanks for the warm-​up, TnA. I’ll be back for the Hangtown Fry.