Tea Chai Té

"What was once known as Tea Chai Té is now Portal Tea Company, though not much else has changed. It’s hard to top the cozy charm of the original Nob Hill location inside an organically labyrinthine Victorian house, but the Sellwood location — built in and around an honest-to-goodness railroad caboose — just might do it. Year-round Christmas lights and a few of grandma’s couches amplify the ramshackle charm, but the tea selection is anything but shallow. Portal steeps and pours more than 100 teas, from well-known Chinese and Japanese green teas to the harder-to-find Amazonian guayusa leaf tea." - Nathan Williams, Eater Staff

"From the outside, this red converted train car may seem like something food cart adjacent, but behind the facade lies a winding, inviting cafe space packed with fun cozy spots for work and tea. Those wincing at the thought of wooden wishbone chairs, good news: There are plenty of couches, love seats, and armchairs here, plus your typical two-tops and bistro tables. Tea options are extensive, ranging from hulking iced herbal bubble teas to nuanced Darjeelings and pu’erh. When it’s time for lunch, Taiwanese cafe Wei Wei is a short walk away." - Asia Alvarez

"Tea Chai Te is one of the city’s preeminent teahouses, serving 120 different tea choices including 15 different chai blends, all of which can be customized to order with different sweeteners, milks, and boba options. Traditionalists will be pleased by the masala and Kashmiri chai, whereas people looking to get out of their comfort zones can choose between a smoky chipotle chocolate chai, a vanilla rose chai, a pumpkin spice chai, and several other creative flavors. There’s a particular charm to the Sellwood location, fashioned out of an old train caboose, but during the pandemic any location will do. Orders can be placed online for pickup at all four locations in Portland. All online orders can specify sweetness and choice of sweetener and dairy." - Nick Townsend