"Portland lacks a robust deli culture, but it does have legit bagels. Henry Higgins’ is among the best—and that’s why they often sell out by 11am. The original Foster-Powell location with limited seats sells breakfast sandwiches and gooey reubens. But we suggest going the purist route and ordering a simple bagel with cream cheese to appreciate the shiny, chewy crust and dense interior that separates a great bagel from a dinner roll with a hole in it. Lightly sweet pumpernickel and lox cream cheese or the one with nutty sesame and scallion are great combos. The beauty of being 2,500 miles from NYC is that you can order a blueberry bagel or a seasonal apple walnut schmear and no one will care. If you prefer bialys, which are extremely scarce in town, this spot bakes a limited amount on weekends." - krista garcia
