PDX: NoHo's Hawaiian Cafe

2525 SE Clinton St
Portland, OR 97202
(503) 233-5301
Map

Menu via NoHo's Website
Review via Yelp

This is what the sign looks like!

In a city saturated with numerous middle of the road teriyaki joints, it can be a real chore to find a good one. NoHo's Hawaiian grill is just the spot if you're looking for cheap, delectable and authentic teriyaki. With a menu and portions large enough to please even King Kamehameha, this place will keep you coming back to try such succulent specials as the Kahlua Pork (offered on Friday's only) or the highly touted Phil's Ono Chicken. Upon my visit to NoHo's I was greeted and seated by a nice young woman CLEARLY imported directly FROM HAWAII! Her English was was surprisingly good enough to communicate my basic order. I had the special of the day - Vegetables with my choice of chicken (teriyaki chicken, in this case) - washed down with a tasty glass of Passion Orange Guava (POG Juice).

These are the specials!!!!!1!

My food arrived promptly: perfectly grilled pieces of mouthwatering chicken served atop a bed of broccoli, onions, cauliflower, snow peas and various other delicious veggies all smothered in a not-to-sweet, not-to-syrupy teriyaki sauce. I've tried countless amounts of teriyaki joints and NoHo's sauce is easily the best I've had. The portion was humongous! There would have been enough food to feed me for at least 2 meals had I not starved myself for 6 hours prior to eating.

This is the food I ate!

Aesthetically, NoHo's isn't anything special. The restaurant itself is quite small and only has enough seating for about 30 people. It's definitely not the type of place you could take a large group to, as the small wooden tables are placed sporadically throughout. One perk I found, however, lies in the fact NoHo's seems to be more than just a name, but a rule to boot! There were absolutely NO prostitutes present during the whole time I was eating! What a relief, but how'd they do that? From a cost standpoint, NoHo's, for the amount of food and quality, is a real bargain. While I failed to snap a candid photo of my receipt, my meal was still under $15 after tip which is quite the deal when you consider one trip can feed you twice. I would strongly recommend NoHo's to anyone looking for some truly delicious teriyaki who hates having to eat around skanky bitches.

Ethnicity/Style: Hawaiian
Atmosphere: A+ (Lived up to the name, NO HOES HERE!)
Bathroom: N/A
Service: B
Taste: A-
Portion: A
Selection: A
Price: $$

LA: Manzanillo Taco Truck

Eagle Rock Blvd near York Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Map


Carne asada is not a crime!
In honor of Taco Truck Night, two of my coworkers (Fred & Nico) and I went on a hunt for a delicious taco truck for lunch. After a brief drive, we found Manzanillo. The service was efficient to say the least. I received my food freshly cooked before my eyes within two minutes.


After we received our individual paper bags of delicious Mexican food, we hopped back into Nico's car to eat our lunch at the office. My chicken burrito was stuffed full of moist cuts of chicken and ample amounts of vegetables, rice, and beans. The flour tortilla that housed the meal was a bit too thick and doughlike. But overall, the burrito was nearly perfect (could have used some jalapeños and sour cream).


Since this was a taco truck I figured it would have been stupid to not order a few, especially at only a dollar each. Oh man, I was happy I two because they were great! The carne asada tacos were excellently overstuffed for their corn tortillas. The meat was wonderfully seasoned and was topped with a delicious salsa roja.


I decided to copy Nico and ordered a ice cold can of Hawaiian Punch, which ended up being the perfect compliment to this greasy/spicy meal.


A burrito, two tacos, and a can of Hawaiian Punch for $5.75 is a great deal. If you are in the area and have a craving for some tasty tacos look no further than the truck with a shrimp painted on the back. Manzanillo delivers a perfect meal without making a dent in the old checking account.

If you are an Angeleno, then you may have heard about the ridiculous new restrictions that could affect a taco truck near you. If you disagree with this as much as I do, head over to Save Our Taco Trucks and sign the petition.

Ethnicity/Style: Mexican Taco Truck
Atmosphere: B (I ate at my desk which is a crummy way to spend lunch)
Bathroom: N/A
Service: A
Taste: B
Portion: A
Selection: B
Price: $