Beulahland

118 NE 28th, 235-2794

So you’re on Northeast 28th, you’re broke again, and you’re starvin’. Why not try Beulahland, the homiest bar on the street? They’ve got a surprisingly large menu of cheap and tasty sandwiches and burgers, plus a mean soup of the day. Avoid the veggie burger, which tastes like flour and is super messy, but hit up the pasta salad real good; it’s practically gourmet. Beulahland also serves breakfast until noon, does tasty espresso drinks, has a great beer selection, and the staff is as friendly as it gets. Just don’t try to eat anything there on a Tuesday evening. It’s trivia night, and you’ll be lucky to score a Rolling Rock through the teeming mass of sweaty players (including Steve Malkmus). JWS

Green Papaya

1135 SW Morrison, 248-2112

Green Papaya, one of the latest in the boom of fabulous new Portland restaurants, offers, most notably, the best filet mignon you’ll ever eat. The bite sized pieces have the texture of a marshmallow, and drizzled with a cognac butter sauce. Other stars of the menu include the Thai chili marinated prawns with delicate greenbeans, and feel confident ordering any fish special they’re offering (the salmon was perfect). Dinner, drinks, and appetizers at Green Papaya will run you about $20 a person. However, it’s worth it. But if those prices are too rich for your blood, try lunch, where the price of Papaya’s famed steak drops from $16 to $9. And if that’s still too much? Try their happy hour from 4-6 pm where an order of the rich dessert-like coconut gulf prawns will run you two little dollars, but still allow you a taste of the chef’s acute skill. KS

Foti’s Greek Deli

1740 E Burnside, 232-0274

Once you get in the habit of grabbing lunch at Foti’s, you may become addicted. Their gyros and vegetarian souvlaki (feta cheese, onions, tomatoes, tzataki on a pita) sandwiches are both generous and delicious. The Greek salad is authentic; tomatoes, onion, cucumbers, olives, feta, marinated for hours in a Greek oil and vinegar dressing. You can also scare up a couple Jo-Jos for a quarter or two so you’re not stuck with a whole order. KS