If anyone is prepared for the hungry crowds of Burger Week, it’s Slowburger, the NE neighborhood family-friendly burger bar. Unbeknownst to many, they’ve been quietly running their own $5 burger special all year round, where they offer a rotating assortment of experimental burgers. Their Hawaii 503 starts with the same great basic burger patty from Slowburger’s classic menu—a Columbia River Reserve beef patty—then adds a dollop of a healthy salsa slaw of pineapple, napa cabbage, green and red onion, fresh ginger, mint, and just the right amount of jalapeño. (Fear not, spice-averse friends: There’s a gentle kick and just that.) The Hawaii 503 is then lightly drizzled in a housemade sweet teriyaki sauce. Plumped down between the halves of a Grand Central brioche, you’ve got a real sweet burger on your hands—sweet like it wants to treat you real nice. I also noticed a little smoky treat to the slaw from the light char of the pineapple. All these pieces fit together just right. SUZETTE SMITH

The Portland Mercury’s Burger Week—AKA the best week of your life—runs from Aug 8-13. Feast on amazing $5 burgers at 35 restaurants… and while you’re at it, we challenge you to donate $5 to Oregon Food Bank for every burger you eat!

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