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    Black Water

    4.3 (324 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Black Water Takeout or Delivery

    Black Water Photos

    BLACK WATER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Live music

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    Recommended Reviews - Black Water

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    Ube cinnamon roll (so dense, not good)
    Maria W.

    I was hoping to like this restaurant for a late night snack, but it was a huge let down. I ordered via Uber Eats: I got the mozz sticks and Ube cinnamon roll. When the food arrived, I was thrilled, but disappointment soon followed after the mozz sticks didn't give that sting of cheeze with each bite. The cheeze remained tucked inside the breading. The cheeze wasn't solid either, but mushy. It was weird. I was hoping it'll be like Korny Vibes (Houston, TX) mozz sticks which is the closest I've tasted to the animal based one. Their mozz sticks were cooked right so the mozz would be create a string cheeze while the breading stayed together. At Black Water, it was a complete letdown and missed my craving. The Ube cinnamon roll wasn't any better. It was extremely dense. The flavor of ube faint and wasn't throughout the the roll. I couldn't even finish it because of the dryness. Gross trash. When I'm back in Portland, I won't visit again. By far the worst vegan restaurant I've been to.

    Chili cheese fries and burger
    Deedee C.

    Came here since was craving burgers and was in between this place and Tulip Shop Tavern (really good smash burgers). Picked this place since we've been here before and wanted to support a vegan business. And omg, they do have really good vegan burgers and chili cheese fries. But wow. Their chili cheese fries are massive and oh so delicious! The chilli tastes proper (no weird flavors) and the vegan cheese was scrumptious! It also stays melty unlike regular cheese. And they give proper amount of sauce. I just kept eating it because it was that good. The crowd here does trend young (mid 20's - mid 30's) and it can get packed towards 8pm. Service could be faster but it's also because there weren't many servers. Either way, solid food and crowd. Can't wait to come back for more

    Scorpion burger with a side of cheese sauce
    Patrick M.

    Scorpion burger is always a well earned classic! It came out super hot and fresh and the extra side of cheese dip cup for $3 hit the spot. The new location in Portland has its own parking lot and little private back patio. There is plenty of seating and bar service structure. I want to try the whole menu and full bar!

    Kiara T.

    I love that this place is open late and you can get good food and drinks. The service was fast and friendly. I highly recommend the Buffalo soy wings! Some time has pass and I still stink about the wings. My brother thought the soy wings was actually chicken. Can't wait to go next time and check out one of their shows, it looks like a cool environment.

    Madison B.

    Such a cool place. The grilled cheese and tots are excellent. There is live music, pinball, and even a photo booth. Attached to a record shop.

    Tots and Chix Caesar Salad
    Rebecca R.

    Wow, wow, wow. This may sound ridiculous to say about something as simple as tater tots, but those were the single best thing I've eaten in some time. The amount pictured here is also the "small" size so the portion is great. I also had the chicken Caesar salad. The dressing was thick, tangy and creamy. I really enjoyed the tofu chicken. I prefer tofu over other meat substitutes. Even the croutons tasted fresh. This place is giving dimly-lit dive bar, but this is NOT your average bar food. The attention to quality ingredients is very apparent. I'm only here for the weekend, but I'm pretty sure I'll be back. Thank you for doing justice to vegan food.

    Shane S.

    I recently went to the all vegan metal and punk bar Black Water. Black Water also has it's own record label. Kudos for having an all vegan menu. The word heavy metal was coined by writer William S. Burroughs in his novel Naked Lunch back in 1959. Perhaps the first heavy metal band was Black Sabbath that formed in 1968 almost a decade after the word heavy metal came into existence. I am a longtime fan of both Burroughs and Black Sabbath. I also love punk especially the Stooges who were an inspiration to punk rock. I love the Ramones probably the first punk band along with Clash whose music I also love. My musical tastes are varied. I didn't like the music that was played here though and found it a bit abrasive. Perhaps it was Black Metal or Death Metal. I am not sure. It wasn't played overly loud yet just vibe with it. I feel the Vegan Black Metal Chef would love it here. I went with the cheeze burger that came with a house patty, chao cheese, burger sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. Service was friendly and kind. I think the veggie burgers are made in house and black bean based. It was a great veggie burger and affordable to boot. I am not a fan of beyond meat and impossible meat although know some folks love them. I am glad they exist as much better folks eat these meat analogs than factory farmed meat. Cruelty-free dining is where it is at. I much prefer a good house made black bean veggie burger any day and Black Water delivers. I also got a kale salad. Awesome they have kale salad on the menu. The kale salad was marinated kale, toasted sunflower seeds, pickled onion tossed in a tahini dressing. I didn't really like the kale salad though and found it underwhelming. Didn't seem like the kale was marinated enough and felt like some tahini was thrown on some raw kale. I have had much better kale salads. Glad there was a kale salad option though on the menu. They have live music here and although the music wasn't my thing some folks might love it. Support your local vegan punkand metal bar!

    Mac and cheese
    Melanie T.

    Food Amazing Nachos Incredible Mac & cheese- really good on a nacho chip Caesar salad- I added tomato Loud crazy music Great Service

    Chix sandwich and Tots
    Alicia D.

    This was my first meal in Portland and it did not disappoint! I was in search of a vegan and gluten free meal and found this thru my search! Walking up to it, I was a little skeptical and going inside was even more questionable because I don't typically expect good food from a bar but holy crap! My vegan chicken sandwich on a gluten-free bun was fantastic! It was well flavored, and fresh and hot! Also gluten-free were the tator tots fried to perfection and crispy! I am so glad I did not judge this place by the outside and gave it a chance. I wish I had more time because I would have tried more items throughout my trip. Highly recommend, especially if you have food allergies or intolerances. The bartender was really friendly and helpful as well and provided great service!

    Holly S.

    Typical pub style food. Nothing fancy. You order at the counter before sitting down. Self-serve water is available. Tried the Bacon Broccoli Slaw. The broccoli was blanched/steamed perfectly, so it still had a lot of crunch. The dressing was very mild, not much flavor. The soy bacon curls were mostly salty... didn't get much of any other flavor. The westerner was meh. The patty itself is very very gummy. It was extremely difficult to cut, even with a steak knife. The crispy onions were far from crispy, they were a mangled, soggy, sticky wad, literally like they had been sitting at the bottom of a warmer pan. TBH they were actually disgusting. The BBQ sauce was good, had a nice peppery flake in it and that burger sauce was next level. Service was great. I don't plan to return.

    Buffalo sandwich with a side of tots and house-made vegan ranch
    Stephanie B.

    I don't even know where to start - Black Water is so awesome! Great food, beer, and general atmosphere. This is not only my favorite vegan spot in Portland, but it's easily in my top 3 vegan restaurants I've ever eaten at. Heck, it's one of my favorite restaurants EVER. I love how inventive and tasty each dish I've tried has been - from Black Water's spin on "pulled pork", to the cashew cheeze. Everything has been delicious, and the brew selection is pretty sweet, too. And don't even get me started on their house-made sauces, such as their chipotle and ranch. So delicious, and great for dipping fries or tots. Pay for drinks and food up front at the counter. Tables are cleared and wiped down quickly, making for a nice, clean eating environment. I also appreciate that Black Water has gender neutral restrooms. All around a GREAT place that I highly recommend for an excellent meal, beer, and welcoming environment!

    Buffalo Wings- the best I have ever had! Vegan or otherwise !

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    10 months ago

    The best burger you'll ever have is the scorpion burger. Their desserts too are good. Great prices and portions

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Loved Black Water at the old location and I love them here too. Great drinks, vegan food, bartender and patron vibes.

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    6 months ago

    $2.00 for a small side of anything? Mayo, extra dressing? Want both another $4 to your bill

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    Great vegan dive bar food! Maybe has some sad vibes but still pleasant. Overall recommend if you're looking for some vegan food in a pinch!

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The food was absolutely delicious. The environment was really fun and clean and everyone was just really awesome. That works there.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Black Water

    Are you vegan only, or have vegetarian too?

    Yes! Vegan food is vegetarian, too!

    Is it only 21+ after certain hours? Noticed some other bars/restaurants in Portland do that.

    They are all ages until 11pm every night

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Vegan 17,213 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Kau Kau - Special fresh oysters from the Pacific Northwest with ogo and charcoal.

    Kau Kau

    4.4(49 reviews)
    2.1 miAlberta Arts District, Vernon, Northeast Portland

    I was casually walking down Alberta enjoying the beautiful day with my dining companion, not even…read morethinking about lunch when the window/storefront/something or other made me skid to a halt saying to my subconscious, "this is Hawaii food." Laulau, chicken long rice...CHICKEN LONG RICE! I haven't had that in years and suddenly my mouth was watering. None of the other plate lunch/Hawaiian food places in PDX have had that to my knowledge, and I needed to have it now. My dining companion was taking in the meat jun on the menu, as well as the fried rice omelette. We went in and ordered the chicken adobo fried rice omelette and chicken long rice on the side. Double starch, double chicken, check. Loved that the menu pointed out they serve koshihikari rice. I knew I was in good hands. No medium grain rice for this gal. The service was friendly, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. There was a nice note on the wall saying the table would be bussed by staff, so we didn't have to play the guessing game of "search for the bus bins." Clean tables, bright light from the windows, good food. The adobo gravy on the omelette was winnahs. The omelette itself was not holding a candle to Elena's Food Truck, but tasty and filling. The chicken long rice was perfect. The only improvement would have been a nice hit of white pepper, maybe. The only thing not quite to my liking was the mac salad, but that didn't stop us from mopping our plates clean. We will be back for everything else on the menu.

    Kau Kau is a cool and authentic Hawaiian eatery located on Alberta St. There is street parking all…read morearound the area. Inside, they have a modern and cozy setup with about 4-5 tables for seating. For their menu, they have a nice selection of dishes and combos to choose from. Wifey and I ended up grabbing a Hawaiian Combo with a Lilikoi Limeade. We enjoyed the food and the authentic flavors. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Definitely stop by to support them if you are ever in the area!

    Photos
    Kau Kau - Menu and counter

    Menu and counter

    Kau Kau - Special lau lau plate

    Special lau lau plate

    Kau Kau - Hawaiian plate with kalua pig, tako luau, lomi lomi salmon, rice and mac salad. I think the only thing missing for me is some haupia!

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    Hawaiian plate with kalua pig, tako luau, lomi lomi salmon, rice and mac salad. I think the only thing missing for me is some haupia!

    Casa Madera

    Casa Madera

    4.6(17 reviews)
    2.2 miSabin, Northeast Portland

    We came here on a whim in a Saturday evening since it is within walking distance of Portland…read morePlayhouse. We were warmly greeted, seated in a booth, and promptly served a basket of crispy tortilla chips and homemade salsa. The family-friendly atmosphere had a cozy neighborhood destination vibe. We shared a carne asada platter with a chile relleno and taco al pastor. The carne asada was amazing! Generous portion of grilled meat that was perfectly seasoned. All the sides you would want...guac, pico de gallo, sour cream, grilled scallion and jalapeño, rice, beans cheese plus your choice of tortillas to wrap it all up in. The chile relleno had lots of melty cheese and was thinly battered, just my style. So much yummy food, plenty for two. We had grapefruit Jaritos and n/a Corona but the margaritas look to be very popular, we even saw several huge ones with two straws being shared. Cannot comment on dessert, not enough room. We will definitely be back. Perfect pre-theater dinner and looks to be a great spot for family dining. We'll be back!!

    If you are in NE Portland and want some genuine Mexican food, this is your neighborhood restaurant…read more& bar destination. Picture is their Taco Tuesday offering. You have your choice of 4 proteins and you have to pick one or two. All four are filling and flavorful. The complimentary red salsa and fresh tortilla chips begin your meal with a nice start. The can and draft beers are cold! Service is top notch too. The management and wait staff strive to serve you quickly, friendly and professionally. A favorite meal on the Happy Hour Menu is their ground beef enchiladas with refried beans & rice. Served with a $5 Draft Pint of Dos Equis (or two).

    Photos
    Casa Madera - Complimentary chips and salsa

    Complimentary chips and salsa

    Casa Madera - Carne Asada. Yum. Best I've had in Portland ... and I am picky.

    Carne Asada. Yum. Best I've had in Portland ... and I am picky.

    Casa Madera - Queso added Fresh Jalapeños

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    Queso added Fresh Jalapeños

    Gumba - Delicious eggplant olive oil cake

    Gumba

    4.5(594 reviews)
    2.2 miVernon, Alberta Arts District, Northeast Portland
    $$

    It feels like every time Gumba moves, they go a bit further upscale -- not so much the prices…read more(although those have gone up too, but hey, it's 2026), but the style. I tried out the new location on Alberta for a date, and I was glad I did. The seafood pasta was only one step below Daily Catch's famous seafood linguine in Boston, just really excellent. And, of course, they still have their famous "fry bread".

    Portland is full of pasta-bilities, and Gumba is definitely one of them. I made the reservation…read morethrough Tock, and the process was simple and convenient.When we arrived, however, it still took quite a while to get seated, which did make me wonder how much difference the reservation actually made. We started with a round of cocktails and a few shared bites for the table. The Fry Bread a Neapolitan-style bread served with Parmigiano and garlic-rosemary oil, alongside burrata was a great start. We also ordered the Charred Calamari, marinated with mint, parsley, chive, and red bell pepper, which was fresh and flavorful. For the mains, everyone ordered their own entrée, and the table generally seemed happy with the dishes. The Autumn Harvest cocktail ended up being a crowd favorite and paired really well with the meal. I also tried one of their vermouths, which I enjoyed. Overall, it was a good experience with solid food and drinks. However , nothing particularly stood out to me in a way that would make me rush back anytime soon.

    Photos
    Gumba
    Gumba - Tagliatelle

    Tagliatelle

    Gumba - Squid ink Spaghettini

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    Squid ink Spaghettini

    Black Water - vegan - Updated May 2026

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