Black Water
Vegan restaurant · Rose City ·
Creative cocktails, vegan pub eats, and live bands
Creative cocktails, vegan pub eats, and live bands
"Black Water Bar, now located on NE Sandy, is an old-school punk-metal-hardcore music venue that built its reputation as an all-ages venue with knockout vegan bar food. Although the menu features many snacks, like pierogies with sour cream and chili cheese fries, the veggie burgers remain Black Water’s standout. The “meaty” black bean, seitan, and beet burger comes in several variations, like the Western with Thrilling Foods bacon and crispy fried onions or the Scorpion with melty Chao cheese and grilled jalapenos. Recent specials include the John Prineapple burger with grilled pineapple, slaw, toasted sesame seeds, and miso aioli. Diners can wash down a burger and heaping side of tots with cocktails that have names like Bloody Moses and Dirty Martin. Burger specials are announced regularly on Instagram." - Anastasia Sloan
"There’s no shortage of vegan junk food in the city, with places like Hungry Tiger slinging vegan corn dogs and Gnarly’s loading its sidewinder fries with grilled onion, bakon, and cheese. Vegan bar and punk hangout Black Water contributes to this Portland tradition with nachos topped with ground seitan, cashew cheeze, pickled jalapeños, salsa, and sour cream. For an extra $2, the bar will sub in tots for chips." - Janey Wong
"Portland is thick with vegan bars, so the ones that persevere need more to define them than simply seitan. Broadway’s 100 percent vegan, punk-meets-metal Black Water has attitude in spades. After the closure of Alberta’s the Know, Black Water became a crucial venue in Portland’s punk scene, and after some pandemic downtime it’s back to hosting frequent live shows. As for the food, Black Water competes with Portland’s best in vegan bar-food staples, with the wings being a particular favorite. Drinks range from the clever (and delicious) Kwisatz Sazerac to $3 cans of Rainier." - Nathan Williams
"While the music-venue-meets-vegan-bar has not resumed events, it offers comfort foods such as chili “cheese” fries and buffalo soy curl hoagies for takeout and delivery. On weekends, this beloved old school Portland spot offers a rotating brunch plate, available on its own or as a brunch box for two complete with mimosas. From breakfast burritos to blueberry pancakes to chicken fried tofu with gravy, Black Water Bar announces the brunch of the week on Facebook and Instagram on Fridays. Order online on the website." - Waz Wu
"Run by sushi chef Michelle Soto, who has a decade of experience, this pop-up produces stunning sushi platters with classics like stuffed inari and specialty rolls such as the Godzilla—tempura-fried spicy “crab,” cream cheese, avocado, spicy mayo, and unagi sauce—and donates a portion of weekly sales to different social justice organizations." - Waz Wu