"Republic Café and Ming Lounge is one of the last great Portland time capsules, a moody, neon-lit Chinese American restaurant that’s been holding it down in Old Town since 1922. Inside, you’ll find muraled walls and booths that have seen better days, while chop suey, egg foo young, and fried shrimp—served with ketchup and hot mustard, of course—are still menu staples. Next door, the Ming Lounge doubles as a dive bar, art space, and performance venue, with cheap, strong drinks and a rotating lineup of events that prove Portland hasn’t lost its quirky soul. Sure, some might call it seedy, but that’s exactly why you’ll fall in love with it." - Krista Garcia