Flying Elephants at PDX

Not greeted on entry, menu straightforward, A few questions on order, some struggles with menu items. Party had bacon sandwich, 2x teriyaki and chicken enchilada. Teriyaki didn't shine, slow in coming out, pretty dry. Paying process smooth. Table area a little messy.

This café is tucked away at the south end of the main level of the terminal, and as such, a lot of visitors to PDX are not likely to see it. It's one of the few dining options available to a traveler or visitor before the security gate. Most of what they offer, depending on time of day, are grab-and-go items, but Elephants' food quality has always been a cut above most other places, even when it's not prepared immediately before consumption. Hot soup, sandwiches, coffee, cookies, and various entreés are available during their operating hours, which are 5am to 7:30pm daily, barring special occasions. They're good in a pinch, good in a rush, and good even when you have plenty of time to spare, lounging about, waiting for your flight.

My friend and I stopped in for a quick bite to eat after they landed at PDX, our food was ready quickly, the staff was friendly and prices we're reasonable for being at an airport. It is located next to the exit point by the C gates glass doors and southside ticket counters. They also offer a variety of grab and go snacks too.

The coffee is fantastic. The croissant taste buttery and delicious. And the most important thing that they don’t just serve you; but the actually talk to you, ask and start small conversations. This is so important in a business that you leave a mark. Thanks for a coffee well done and for being so friendly. I highly recommend it.

All that is left of an amazing grill cheese on sourdough bread. A great selection of pre-made sandwich, salads. The daily menu is great, and the staff very friendly. Totally on top of the COVID19 requirements, and ask very nicely for you to wear a mask.

I GOT FOOD POISONING FROM THIS PLACE! I had a very unpleasant experience with this establishment. Yesterday 08/13, I ordered the mac and cheese dish and observed that it appeared to have been left out for an extended period. The noodles were excessively dry and hard, the bread crumble lacked its usual crunch, and there was very little amount of cheese sauce. The meal was so horrible that I couldn't finish it, and the small portion I consumed made me terribly sick. Roughly ten minutes after consuming it, I began to experience stomach discomfort. This discomfort persisted through the night, leading to a restless sleep and a full day of feeling unwell, which also affected my work performance. Due to this situation, I was not able to eat anything today and just have been feeling miserable the entire day. In addition, a lot of the tables across the long bench were dirty and the staff didn’t seem to mind that at all. I do not recommend this establishment and strongly advise against visiting it. I’d give zero stars if I could Update: on Wednesday night (8/16) I started to feel really really sick, with an extreme stomach pain and non stop vomiting. I had to visit the emergency room as the pain was unbearable.

I wouldn't know if the food was good. We could only get pre-packaged food and a pot pie that was mediocre at best. We were ignored. We saw a menus with food we could not order.. We were told we couldn't sit on benches We were passed over to serve a woman who walked in front of us.. They had coffee Nope!! Oops they didn't.. The guy ringing us up left us mid-transaction. To someone who was helping someone else.. So we didn't have anyone’s attention. I have worked in the service industry - I worked in the service industry for a decade. Hearing “we close in 15 minutes so we don't have many options” so, yeah its a bit insulting.. As I have my kids eat, I hear oh! One minute til we close.. Turning away customers. I don't care how long your day was. You aren't in the right line of work. I have never not tipped. This was the first time I opted to not tip. A couple of jerks. I would use other words.

The best service, and the kindest staff I’ve had the pleasure to meet! My very first time travelling abroad from Canada, I found myself here to grab food and a place to sit as I waited a few hours for a bus. There were some issues with my card, and I wasn’t able to pay immediately, but I was given the meal anyways, not only were they nice enough to do this, but I was personally helped by one of the staff to remedy the issue with my bank. Due to these kindnesses, I would wholeheartedly recommend this place to anyone. They truly helped me in a stressful situation. Additionally, they serve some of the best Smoked Bacon Mac. & Cheese I’ve ever had.

This café is tucked away at the south end of the main level of the terminal, and as such, a lot of visitors to PDX are not likely to see it. It's one of the few dining options available to a traveler or visitor before the security gate. Most of what they offer, depending on time of day, are grab-and-go items, but Elephants' food quality has always been a cut above most other places, even when it's not prepared immediately before consumption. Hot soup, sandwiches, coffee, cookies, and various entreés are available during their operating hours, which are 5am to 7:30pm daily, barring special occasions. They're good in a pinch, good in a rush, and good even when you have plenty of time to spare, lounging about, waiting for your flight.

There's no arguing the appeal of the main Deli in downtown Portland. This little bodega version of its big sister tries, but I'm not sure it really succeeds. They have a fascinating array of third-party products referring to all the exotic candies and snacks on the display shelves in front of the counter. I work out of PDX often enough but not really during the times it's open which is 0500 - 1930 each day. When I was fortunate enough to do so, I picked up a caprese sandwich from the cold case on two stops and lately I got a slice of the vegetable frittata from the hot case. I was surprised by the quality of the items. The caprese used to be the reason I'd make a point of visiting FE, but the ones I had were dry and rather flavorless for $10 a sandwich. You can see what the frittata looks like below. It didn't appeal visually but I plunged ahead anyway. Beyond salty. It was hard to make out anything other than textures past the sodium. However, I paid $8 for it so I soldiered on to get me through my flight and on to my destination. I might try a couple of other things, but it might be time for me to favorite another concession at my main airport.

Leaving Via PDX and have some time before my flight, decided to grab some food. As far as I can tell this is the only choice. There might be something else past security but I didn't want to get there and find nothing, so I decided to eat at Flying Elephants. Basic, but appealing, look and vibe. They have a counter displaying some of their food options, sort of cafeteria style. I ordered a cup of potato leak soup and a piece of lasagna. The soup flavor wasn't bad.. fairly bland but could still taste the leek a bit. The texture wasn't silky smooth but I wasn't expecting much. The lasagna had crispy breadcrumbs on top which made it look yummy to me. But it was pretty bad. I mean it is perfectly edible, but just as far as lasagna goes I wouldn't choose to eat this rendition given most other choices. For my drink I had a bottled Jarritos guava soda. It all came out to $13. They also sell chocolate and jelly beans which i assume are just branded versions of existing products. If there were another choice, I'd suggest choosing it. Otherwise, this place will fill your belly if nothing else. Edit: there are many good looking restaurants once you pass security. If you're flying out, I'd encourage you to skip Elephants. I wish I had.

We had a few hours before we could check in our luggage. This eatery is the only one just outside the security check in area. There were a few tables for dining and was maintained well by someone quickly cleaning the table immediately after the customer finished dining. There were many choices on the menu and we chose the corn chowder and chicken pot pie. The food was delicious, but a little bland for our taste. Both items were served hot and wait time was minimal. We will probably come back again when we are in the area.

One tea, two hot chocolates, one latte (two inches of stale coffee covered by three inches of foam).......$17.82. Had to clean our own disgusting tables (it was 4:30 pm and staff was not busy.) Never again.

So me and my Co worker just got in from NY wanted to get something to eat we decided to go and eat here. Everything was going good the food was great then this worker from the restaurant came over and said you need to move your bag. There was plenty of room and it wasn't blocking anything. The guy was really Rude and he didn't say hey can you please move your bag. No he had to order me to do it and that is not great customer service. I will not be eating there ever again.

Food was okay. Has lots of grab and go. Service wasn't bad but not great. The cost of stuff there was absolutely out of control. I know they always overcharge in airports but jfc paying like $7 for a tiny tray with 5 carrots and celery with ranch and a few tomatoes is ridiculous.

This is a great place for vegans who are hungry at the PDX airport. Their coconut curry is really yummy, made with whole food ingredients. The workers make no claim that the food is made there-- it isn't. It is shipped in from their central location. Nonetheless, it was a welcome surprise to have such a yummy plant based meal. There is no ambiance. It's fast food. But it was yummy and the service was good. UPDATE: I went back later and tried the sweet potato kale soup. It was an absolutely delicious combination of textures and seasonings. The potato chunks were perfectly cooked. The spices and seasonings were comforting and warming. I will be seeking out food from their other locations during future trips to Portland.

Flying Elephants at PDX is one of seven locations of the Elephants Delicatessen chain. This one is located inside PDX airport pre-security near the Clock tower Market. You will find the same wonderful foods here that all the other Elephants locations carry. There is a great assortment of grab and go packaged foods including sandwiches, salads, sides and desserts. The hot foods counter serves up soups, breakfast items and hot entrees. A variety of beverages are available including coffee drinks, tea, wine by the glass and bottle, beer and cider. I was happy to know that most of the food sold here is allowed through security. You can enjoy a delicious meal during your flight. Of course your neighbors will be green with envy while they munch on stale crackers but live and learn. This location is open every day 365 days of the year from 5am-9pm. So if you have no fancy dinner to attend on a holiday, Flying Elephants is here to serve you. Happy hour is every day from 3pm-6pm. What more can you ask for?

If you want something quick, this is the spot! The food was just about average. Taste better than TV dinner, I guess? I ordered teriyaki chicken and a can of coke. The bill came to $12.50, you pay more since it's located inside the airport. Unfortunately, I don't see any employees wiping down the tables or emptying out the trash. How come? You are suppose to use clorox wipe to disinfect the tables? Dont get me wrong, the employees were friendly and I love the environment. Thank you!

Going to the Portland Airport used to be fun. There were great restaurants and interesting shops. No more! The only place to eat before going through security is Flying Elephants. You can get pre-packaged food that has been kept in a warmer all day. Having no other choice, I tried the tortilla soup. The broth was fine and there wad plenty of chicken. There was NO cheese, NO green onion, NO avocado and NO tomato. There were 5 bits of corn and the equivalent of less than one tortilla chip. There were NO clean tables Every single table needed to be scrubbed. There was no hand sanitizer in the dispenser. The staff was pleasant.

I got stuck at the airport for some hours, so one of the ticketing agents sent me to this restaurant at the end. I really wasn't expecting much as airport food is usually ridiculously expensive and foul tasting. What a pleasant surprise! I ordered coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The coffee as expected in Portland was excellent. The breakfast sandwich was the right consistency and just a little spicy. The bread was soft and fresh. As I was walking through the line, I noticed four kinds soup. They looked delicious, but it was 6:30 am and I wasn't in a soupish mood. This place is a pleasant surprise.

Ron is getting ready to go to Mexico in a couple of weeks, so he needed to pick up a few travel-related items, so he invited me to go Flying Elephant's Deli at Portland Airport for dinner. We took the Red Line MAX train there which is as easy as pie. Elephants is one of the most reliable places I know of to eat. They have everything in stock from sandwiches to hot food items to pop to dessert. We had the most scrumptious chicken and cheese enchiladas and chocolate mousse pie. As always, we talked and laughed throughout the meal. Our lovely young server dished up our enchiladas while Ron got the pie and cold drinks in the refrigerated section. Elephant Delis are located all over Portland. You get great food and good value for your money. Do give them a try sometime.

I brought coffee here and they were nice enough to offer me a sample. This was after I already purchased. Really great customer service. I don't think I have ever been offered a sample in this type of store before. Really cool. More stores should take note of this!

Easy to find this very cute shop! Tried the tomato citrus soup. So good on a rainy and cold Portland day. They also sell sandwiches and various candies.

I liked it! We had fruit, grilled cheese, and macaroni and cheese with bacon. Everything was tasty and fresh. Staff was busy, but remain courteous and efficient. Prices were reasonable for well-made, fresh food. It's outside of security so we were able to meet a friend for lunch. I would definitely stop by here again for a meal I was at PDX.

I usually have low expectations regarding Airport food, and as such am rarely disappointed. PDX has been an exception, starting with their promise that prices are same at the Airport or off. I arrived this morning from SFO at around 11 AM and immediately took the Shuttle to my Hotwire Hotel Surprise. This time it's the Country Suites and my good luck streak continues. However, this Hotel is off Airport (and Max), so I ended up taking the Shuttle back to PDX, so that I could catch the TriMet. By that time it was Noon-ish and decided that Lunch here was a better option than taking my chances on 82nd Avenue (AKA - The Avenue of the Roses). Flying Elephants immediately caught me attention, especially since I wanted to order and sit myself, and enjoy a draft beer as a bonus. Their Roast Beef Sandwich (with blue cheese, sweet onions, and other good stuff on fresh bread), along with a bag of chips, and a Porter hit on all cylinders. The red seats were also comfortable and this place seemed very popular, especially among folks who actually worked at PDX. There are also other options, including "grab and go", inviting soups, and hot dishes. I'm sure I'll be back regardless of which side of Security I need to be.

Did the job and soup and salad were tasty. Workers very nice and helpful when asking about the food. Better than most airport selections.

This might be my favorite airport food ever! The soups are excellent, the New Mexico casserole is so much comfort. It's not much for ambiance or seating, but it fits the busy cafe atmosphere. Their staff are knowledgeable and keep the shop stocked with plenty of goodies and treats, in addition to the super healthy fare. Options to feed yourself shouldn't ever be as challenging as an airport makes it...this place is a gem, expect nothing less from PDX. My only complaint is that it's before security-- making the last minute purchase of the Aardvark sauce or a Stumptown bottle an impossibility on the plane. *pout*

Small little shop right before Terminal D security check point. They do offer a few gluten free items in the cold case, i.e. pre-packaged salads. They also offer a small GF creme brulee.The GF options are designated by a symbol on the item price tag/description. There is a small seating area in the cafe as well to enjoy you goods if they won't pass through security.

I have no idea why I have never had the "Mama Leone's" soup!! Freaking delicious and the staff here are fantastic!

I just got off the plane and wanted some munchies. I stopped by the Flying Elephants and bought an oatmeal raisin cookie and a cup of coffee. They came to $4.50 - what a bargain! The cookie tasted delicious and fresh and the coffee was really good. The employees at the counter were very pleasant. I will be sure to look for them during my visit in Portland.

So first off: It's an airport cafe. I wouldn't put it up against other vegan-friendly restaurants. That being said, Flying Elephants is probably the best eatery for vegans and vegetarians in PDX. Not only did they have a couple yummy breakfast options (I got really cheap oatmeal plus fixings because they were on the cusp of breakfast and lunch), but they also had lots and lots of vegan treats from one of the local vegan bakeries. They also had a vegan sandwich noted on the lunch deli sandwich section, but none were currently out for purchase (they were probably making them, as it wasn't quite lunchtime yet). And uhm, let's not forget all the chocolate... :D Definitely a GREAT option for hungry vegans who usually have to lug along lots of extra snacks and meals or else starve.

After choosing from what looked like gas station food packaging, I got the tomato/orange soup and the chicken enchilada verde. HOLY CRAP, it was actually very good. I'm impressed. Great job!

This location is closed as of April 2021. There is a smaller version with a limited menu on the baggage claim level (one story down) at the north escalator.

This cute location with a French flavor in design has all the healthy, organic, or gluten free choices one could wish for and that at an airport. It sits near gates D, E, and F of the middle walkway across from Real Mother Goose and the Powell bookstore. When you are in a hurry, grab a healthy sandwich to go. When leisure time is more at your disposal before you have to check in, sit down at the little tables with your choice of soup, salad and/or a delightfully tasty cappuccino or juice. The chocolate bars have all been sourced with regard to child labor, also an important factor in choosing your foods carefully these days, because when the season for reaping arrives, many children are pulled from school to get the large amounts of crops hauled in on time. All in all, a better place to spend your money and time.

Stopped by yesterday morning about 9 or 10, was up outside of security and I thought let me see if Flying Elephants has any thing new and healthy. I was going here regularly for a while for their drip coffee. But now that another place has decent drip theirs no need for me to go so far. I seen they had a soup that looked interesting. And I double checked be sure it was vegan and it was! Got a large and it was really good. I believe it was called Basque Squash with white bean. It was hearty and tasted good. And it warmed me up. Thanks Flying Elephant. Now if you can just make your vegan salads and wraps a normal size or lower the price. Because they are way too expensive for the small amount of food that you get. Small plastic containers sell for between 5.50 and 6.50. and the wrap is 7 or 7.50. I'm going to qualify this and be fair..... These things taste good and are at least some what healthy. But I resist all the time purchasing any of these items.

Love Elephants! I appreciate that they have a location at the airport and that they open at 5am =). Food MAMA LEONE'S SOUP - This soup is lightly creamy, tomato, chicken, otherness DELICIOUS. The pint comes with bread and the half comes with saltines. MARRION BERRY SCONE - The scone is moist and has the Marion berry filling which is just sweet enough and not overpowering, I would HIGHLY suggest both. They have to-go sandwiches that you can take through security that I also enjoy but they are pricy in the $7 range.

Being able to land/fly out of Pdx and grab Shelly's vegan sandwich wrap or Tomato orange soup or bring on an outbound flight their chicken enchiladas for next day lunch is always a great convenience. As a frequent flier - to have an elephant's pop up at an airport is just a dream. You cannot find similar hot dinner options at other airports unless you have centurion lounge access. Also the vast options of local beverages from smoothies to kombucha is a plus.

Just when I thought PDX couldn't get any better, they've continued to provide new and interesting food options at the airport. And what a truly appreciate is that rather than national chains, the places that are opening are some of Portland's favorites like the Beaverton Bakery and Flying Elephants Deli. This location opened in November and is located in the Oregon Market before you pass through security. They have pre-made deli sandwiches in a refrigerated case so you can grab and go. If you have more time, you can order a grilled panini or pick up a hot entree. This time I ordered one of their soups and would recommend the zucchini curry. I've also had their vegetarian breakfast biscuit. For me, PDX offers a fond farewell to my beloved Portland and a warm embrace upon my return. Happy travels!

Summary: Go to Stanford's - it's way better and worth the effort. Recently, in connecting through PDX with a two+ hour layover, I was faced with the dilemma of finding food. Good food. So, I took to my trusty Yelp app and searched for something good, and Flying Elephants came up as the highest rated place. When I discovered it was on the wrong (read:other) side of security, I hesitated. Did I want to deal with running the gauntlet of terrorist-inspired nasty governmental drones to get good food? Did I want to waste my chance to eat at a GREAT restaurant that is a known quantity (Stanford's) in order to take a chance on a place so many Yelpers raved about? Hell yes, Yelp has never steered me wrong...so off I went. True to the other reviews, Flying Elephants had a menu that looked healthy and interesting. Since it was about 6:30 PM, some of the entrée's were already consumed, so I went with a tuna melt and some Mac & Cheese. Immediately after ordering, the friendly counter guy reached into a refrigerator below the counter and pulled out a cellophane-wrapped, pre-made, flat and ugly sandwich thing that made the sandwiches Starbucks makes look positively decadent. Yuck! When I mentioned to the counter guy "I thought you made these when they were ordered", he told me they were made earlier. I've posted a picture of the sign outside Flying Elephants that clearly states "Great Local Foods From Scratch...". From scratch implies they make some stuff now. By their definition, they could sell Twinkies under the same claim! When I got my SMALL sandwich, it wasn't bad. The Mac & Cheese wasn't bad either. But I had walked right past Stanford's to come here...and they have a Mac & Cheese that will blow your mind and rocket you into outer space - it's that good. I felt let down. I had skipped a chance to have a truly outstanding meal for this. All things considered, I don't think I'll be back. If I want a pre-made sandwich, I'll just spend the same amount and get something that looks better and is bigger at Starbucks (and not have to deal with the associated security hassles). And if I want to spin the roulette wheel and deal with institutional security or run the risk of an invasive cavity search, I'll go to Stanford's. It's easily worth the hassle Sadly, this is the first time Yelp has led me astray.

Yum!!! Local, delicious grub that isn't overpriced at the PDX airport! There are so many choices here that it's hard to pick what you want. I'd suggest getting something to take with you on the plane, but make sure you're not overwhelmed by your carry-on. (Sometimes passengers can get away with way too much baggage.) I'd suggest grabbing a sandwich or a pastry and a coffee beverage. Just make sure you get a drink you can finish before you get to the security checkpoint. I hate it when I overshoot and have to throw out perfectly good coffee because the line went quicker than I thought! (If only the lines were always short!) Stop in. I'm sure you can spare a minute for a tasty treat.

First time trying a elephants in pdx. I live in pdx but was waiting for a friend to get off a flight. Went to the (hot line ) and the older gal that was serving was very rude. Seemed like she had a short temper. Thing that bothered me the most was while she was serving food she wasn't wearing any type of gloves. I believe that is a health code violation. Not sure I'm going to come back. I frequent the airport every week. The gal at the register was very pleasant and nice.

Seriously awesome this place delivers at the airport. When I'm about to fly later in the day I know I can stop buy for all sorts of great treats and beer. They have amazing soups and nice people working here. When I come in I always grab a snack here to eat whilst on the Max. If you have any sort of craving they can crush it and usually in a healthy way. I'm all about this place!

The reviews for this place definitely lured us in. And Flying Elephants lived up to every expectation we had. We've learned not to expect much from airport stops, but PDX definitely had us questioning our preset notions. Case in Point: Flying Elephants With a full case of to-go items, including a large selection of gluten-free, the most harried of travelers can find something to grab on the way to their flight. Or if you have some time to spare, you can order something from the hot bar and sit for a spell. We fell into the latter category for this trip. I went with the biscuit & gravy and I couldn't pass up on the cinnamon roll. For my beverage, I wasn't in the mood for a full on caffeine assault, so I opted for the hot chocolate with a shot of espresso which they were happy to accomodate for me. The biscuit was substantial and smothered in gravy. Impressive seasoning for an airport vendor - usually I have to add a decent amount of pepper, but not this time. The cinnamon roll was more like a pastry. It had the light, airy texture of a croissant and plenty of icing swirled on top so you got a little with each bite. The hot cocoa-espresso was perfect. Just the right amount of caffeine to keep me alert until my plane boarded, but not enough to make my stomach upset. All of this was had for a really reasonable price too. So next time you're flying out of PDX, I highly suggest you fly by Flying Elephants even if just to grab something to go.

There are many reasons why Portland International Airport receives such lofty accolades, one is that retailers are restricted from charging higher prices than at their other locations. This make already cool Flying Elephants such an attractive draw. The breakfast burrito is a healthy and value deal (especially at an airport) for $5, you can opt for veggie or sausage. They have such a wide, creative array of food and drink offerings.; many hits and a few misses. One favorite is the Bruce Cost unfiltered Ginger Ale, a great refresher before flying. The staff is usually very friendly and accomadating.

I love love love this place! I can't believe it's "airport" food. It's like real good stuff! Healthy and tasty! They even have a section that tells you what will pass security check and what won't. I ended up coming here on my way back to Portland, and grabbed a sandwich, which was very tasty. I think I went back to this place on my way out of Portland, too! I think I grabbed a breakfast thing and was very satisfied with that too! Yelp 365 Challenge #17/365

Pretty dang good for being a grab and go choice in the airport. The salad was crisp with lots of flavor. The thing I wish it had was calories listed for the salad choice.

Having been to the Bradley International at LAX many a times, I've grown a pre-conceived notion of what airport food is like. Barely acceptable quality food, bland-as-possible flavor, and highly over priced. Flying Elephants at PDX has restored my faith (if I ever had one) in airport food. The people are great here. Same can be said about most of the people we met in Oregon. People are nice in general, so people in service are especially nice. My wife and I had a pleasant conversation with the workers while we ate our lunch and waited for our flight back to Long Beach. The food was great: everything from the grilled cheese sandwich to the turkey and ham sandwich. I have a feeling that better quality air and water helps. As Fuji A mentioned, this place IS located outside of security. For the travelers that are in a hurry, this is not the ideal location for them. But, if you are a casual traveler and you have some time to spare (and you're traveling on a Tuesday or Wednesday), Flying Elephants is a great place to stop for a quick lunch sandwich and a bottle of beer. Besides, the name of the place is FLYING ELEPHANTS. How cool is that. :0)

The worst experience at Flying Elephant ever. The "hot breakfast" food was mediocre, at best. Burnt; dry; bland and it took forever to get. I'm hugely disappointed. I've been to this location before as well as other and used to love it and arrived at the airport early just to eat here. Boo. :(

I would expect that a hot sandwich would be...... you got it Hot. I sat down and unwrapped the tuna melt - a hot sandwich - only to see bread that was not toasted, tuna was cold and dry and the cheese should be .... melted, but wasn't. They said they couldn't heat it up because I already took it. They suggested that I "buy" another sandwich. They couldn't care any less about having decent quality food or customer satisfaction. Restaurants make mistakes - no big deal - just make it right. No offer to give a refund, remake the sandwich. Just "if you don't like that we can sell you another one" kind of attitude.

Just had a fantastic Cubano sandwich, toasted perfectly. Hard to believe I had such good food at an airport. There is a good reason why PDX gets such high ratings from travelers.

This place is WORTH going through security screening a second time! My flight started out of Redmond airport and then had a connection in PDX before I would fly out to Houston. I was researching the various food choices online to see what what I would have to choose from. I had never been to Flying Elephants before but came to conclusion that this would probably be my BEST option. The downside... I would have to go through security again since they are located in the general public area. *Arrrrgh!!!* I thought to myself--- but having good fuel for the tank is a top priority! So I decided to give them a try, not only for something to eat while I was there in PDX, but to get a sandwich to eat later on for lunch (since you don't get meals on planes unless you pay for them... and we all know they're not that great either). FIRST IMPRESSIONS It seemed much smaller in person than in the photos. I think people did a good job of taking photos from all the best angles, but when I actually got there I though, "oh wow, it's small!" As you can see from the photos there are about two red counch/lounge areas to sit out. They were all full when I got there. HOWEVER, there is a LOT of seating almost right next to them, that's open to anyone and everyone. FOOD CHOICES I had two goals, first to find something for breakfast and then to find something to take with me on the plane. A few people took a photo of their sandwich area which is where you can choose from pre-made sandwiches. If you're just looking for a tasty sandwich I think you're have no problem. I had the more difficult challenge of trying to find an alkaline choice (pretty difficult normally, and VERY difficult at an airport). I noticed "Shelly's Vegan Wrap" and was THRILLED to see Kale, Broccoli, cabbage, etc. as the ingredients. I grabbed one to eat for lunch while on the plane. I took a photo of this as well so you can see what it was like. I wanted to also try their breakfast burrito which they have two options for, vegan or meat (sausage I think?). I went for the vegan option which has beans and chilies in it. It also came with salsa (see photo). *NOTE* All of their sandwiches were TSA approved and they had a nice sigh there saying so. I'm not sure if there any sandwiches that AREN'T approved, but as someone who hadn't flown in a while, it gave me full assurance that I wouldn't have to depart with my new found food treasure going through security. TASTE EXPERIENCE The breakfast burrito was quite good. What stood out to me most is the wrap itself. The texture and taste of that was quite remarkable. Although not a monster burrito in size (like something from Chipotle) I found it to be filling and didn't want to eat anything else. The salsa was nice but nothing remarkable. I like spicy foods but the salsa didn't taste spicy to me. As far as airport food goes, I thought this was a good value at around $5 (i believe?). I would eat it again, though it's not on the level of food experiences that I would eagerly anticipate the next time I'd get one. After getting on the plane and about 3 hours later I pulled out "Shelly's Vegan Wrap" to try. My first thought, was "oh my, how am I going to eat this on a plane." It was wrapped really well so it didn't fall apart at all on me, but the contents are lots of little pieces that could fall out on you fairly easily. I just took my time eating this, and everything worked out fine. No messes, though again, the potential is definitely there if you're not careful. Taste wise, this was actually remarkable!! The wrap itself was delicious, the dressing was subtle and did it's job very well (I don't normally like having dressing on food but this was great). The bits of grape and apple add some sweetness to this meal which went really well with the flavorful bites of kale, carrot, cabbage and broccoli. I was REALLY impressed with this sandwich for how well they balanced it being something healthy and yet very tasty. It took we a LONG while to eat both parts, and I was full after finishing them both. It was perfect, and still fresh even after being in my bag for about 3 hours. ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS I'm SO GLAD I decided to give this place a try, even though it meant having to go through security again. Next time I'm in PDX, this will be my go-to place and I'll stock up on meals to take with me. I think I scanned the drink area and didn't see anything for me. I pretty much drink water (alkaline if possible) or pure vegetable juices (as in juiced). I believe they had Kamboucha and a few Snapple esque type products. My suggestion for improvement would be to have some water with a pH of 8 or above (I actually found some at another airport!) or coconut water. However, I totally get it if not enough people want that (yet) to warrant offering it. THANK YOU to Flying Elephants for providing me w/ some TRUE healthful eating, you're earned my business and I'll be back!!

If you can't have gluten, try the flourless chocolate tort. It is very rich and intensely chocolatey. I recommend sharing it with a friend--though I have certainly eaten the whole thing by myself in one sitting! Elephant's has other good foods too. I like their tomato soup and veggie breakfast scramble. If you drink coffee or tea, bring your own travel thermos for a discount. Though the airport is a high-stress location, the staff are always great! To top it off, they donate to the local food bank so this is definitely a business worth supporting!

This is some of the best airport food in the US. It's like a mini whole foods plus a stumptown coffee plus a neighborhood cafe in one! Prices are extremely reasonable too. Try the soup! They also serve stumptown beans and cold brew.

Other than my own store, this is my go-to airport restaurant over the last four years. Fresh food, lots of allergy-friendly options, and a really kind staff. Their soup is amazing, particularly the Elephant Cure, the Nigerian Peanut Soup, and the Dill Pickle Soup. Also, a full wall of delicious drinks ranging from kombucha to soda to alcohol. Other foods to look for: their curry, Ratatouille, and the pastrami sandwich.

Well, I finally found good Airport food in Portland. The Flying Elephant has actually taken their concept outside the airport and managed to bring it into the airport and maintain great quality. How about that! Killer grilled Breakfast BLT with Hollandaise sauce. Great tasting coffee and pastries. Very cool concept, excellent service, really nice staff. Very large selection of food product in a compact space. Oustanding price/value.

Great breakfast options, including healthy oatmeal. Can't beat these prices in an airport! We loved the ham breakfast panini.

Awesome airport grab and go, including a hot bar with surprisingly tasty Mexican food. I had a verde pork chili over a corn cake with a Deschutes IPA. This was a civilized and delicious stop during an 8-hour flight delay.