Sunset Magazine Dubs Portland 'Best Food Town in the West'

SOUTHEAST—Nate Tilden, the restless restaurateur behind Clyde Common, Olympia Provisions, Pépé le Moko, and Spirit of 77, has teamed up with Clyde chef Carlo Lamagna (and four other investing partners) to open Honky Tonk Taco, which launched on Monday at 3384 SE Division Street in Andy Ricker's old Sen Yai noodle spot. Tilden says to expect monthly "taco fights" between local chefs (winners will be immortalized, Lucha Libra-style on a "Wall of Fame") and a barbacoa pit, which will be used to slow cook whole goats every Saturday for all-day Sunday barbacoa specials.

DOWNTOWN—In addition to naming Portland as the "Best Food Town in the West"—shouting out by name Pok Pok, Langbaan, Chesa, Blue Star Donuts, and ChickPeaDX—Sunset magazine pays special tribute to Vitaly Paley's downtown Imperial, which the glossy names as the "Best Hotel Restaurant in the West."

NORTHEAST—After months of planning, building, and decorating, Mikey Lynch's Mars Wine Bar & Kitchen finally opened its doors at 2393 NE Fremont Street in the Alameda Neighborhood, where residents have been dropping by to enjoy sharable small plates and mains like prawn scampi and blackened pork tenderloin, and pairable, mostly underrepresented wines. Lynch says the neighborhood's residents have offered plenty of emotional support, too, after he discovered that his new spot had been broken into and trashed the night before its soft opening. In fact, they've been so supportive that he got busy enough last week to launch both lunch and weekend brunch service.