"With The Zipper, a cluster of micro-restaurants in a former used-car parking lot in Northeast Portland, Guerilla Development (the same company behind The Ocean pod, down the street) has proved that even the tiniest sliver of vacant land can be put to use. Paydirt, a popular neighborhood bar, anchors the pod; folded in are also four micro-restaurants serving up a worldly—and mostly fried—array of bites. Chow down on tall fried chicken sandwiches and Kool-Aid soft serve at Basilisk; or, for some of the most creative Asian food in town, head to Wares, next door: The mini-spinoff of Chef Joanna Ware’s acclaimed restaurant Smallwares serves up dishes like steaming bowls of kimchi stew with Korean rice cakes and fried cheese curd risotto." - Danielle Centoni
