Tag Archives: Boda

Boda “Very Thai” Kitchen + Bar

Boda, located on Congress Street, is the place I choose more than any other when I can’t face the prospect of my own cooking. The reasons for this go-to designation are plentiful: fantastic unpretentious food, some of the best staff on the planet, a large diverse menu that is divided equally between small plates and traditional larger offerings, and they even have parking. Even better, they are everyday-affordable and make my favorite mai tai!

While Boda offers plenty of delicious dishes large enough to share, when I dine there I almost always focus on the Thai street food that they serve tapas style. You really can’t go wrong ordering anything cooked on a stick whether it’s: shrimp, pork belly, shitakes, tofu, beef or Portobello. They are all served with yummy dipping sauces, and so good that I have a hard time not ordering them all! I love everything they make, but my absolute favorites have to be the: fried quail eggs served in a cast iron skillet (Savory Good!!), crispy fried squid (sweet and crunchy),fried sticky rice (crunchy carb joy!). And the mai tai (of course!).

Quail Eggs

Quail Eggs

Rice Ball

Rice Ball

Crispy Squid

Crispy Squid

Mai Tai

Mai Tai

14 Portland Area Happy Places

These are some of the restaurants that make the food I love. They span the range from inexpensive to quite pricey, but every one of them is worth trying.

1) Central Provisions, arguably one of the best restaurant in the country. Chef Chris Gould specializes in making visually stunning and immensely satisfying small plates.
Smoked carrots

2) Hugo’s is a delicious ballet filled with edible art accompanied by unparalleled service. A full sensory experience.
Rabbit Terrine

3) Miyake Fore St just from the sea perfection. There is a reason that Chef Masao Miyake receives James Beard nominations year after year.
omakase sashimi

4) David’s Opus 10 Chef Bo Byrne serves up intricate seven course meals in an intimate setting.
Butter Poached Lobster, Caramelized Onion and Vanilla Bean Risotto Cake, Citrus Truffle Micro Greens

5) Eventide Oyster Co. sibling to Hugo’s next door,this restaurant serves some of the most beautiful seafood you may ever see. Amazing oyster selection and a lobster roll made that sill make any visit worth remembering.
Char

6) Boda Thai street food served in a casual environment with some of the friendliest wait staff in town. My can’t miss, their quail eggs and many tasty skewers.
mai tai

8) Slab Siciian Street Food carb heaven. Each slab is a giant pillow of happiness. At six bucks for a one pound hand slab, it is one of the best deals anywhere. As you can see from the photo below, they makes some pretty good sandwiches too.
Pork Sandwich

9) Nosh Kitchen Bar sister restaurant to Slab, if you are looking for the most over the pork fat related experience go here. Amazing fries (my favorite are bacon dusted), filthy good sandwiches and the option of adding pork belly and foie gras to any dish.
Nosh

10) Bao Bao delightful dumplings,asian salads and cocktails. Delicious, satisfying and inexpensive. What more can you ask? Overseen by celebrity chef Cara Sadler.
pork bun

11) Palace Diner simple food prepared with the finest local ingredients. Don’t let the menu fool you these simple dishes will blow you away. Bon Appetit called their tuna sandwich one of the best things they ate in 2014.
Palace Royal

12) Hot Suppa this beloved neighborhood spot serves delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a touch of southern flair.
Grits w chili and poached eggs

13) Sur Lie, new kid on the block, serving inspired small plates with influences from the chef’s Puerto Rican heritage.
Maine Oatmeal Pudding

14) Little Bigs savory hand pies and delicious donuts that are guaranteed to blow you away with flavor and creativity.
Donuts and Hand Pies