the lowdown: East Chinatown Lounge 322 NW Everett St., Portland, 97209 |503.226.1569 | Website | Entrees $4 - $10 | Dinner only

3 of the 5 curry bowls are vegan.

Created by the owner’s of Tube and Doug Fir, East’s bastard location is north of the downtown scene and east of the pearl district scene which they consider the garden district (think Chinese and Magic Gardens). It’s close to the max though making it a reasonable spot to grab some cheap happy hour before catching the max for the Justin Timberlake concert. Yes, you heard me right. I had the “Tofu w/ thai green curry” and during happy hour was only $4. With no vegetables and little spice in the curry, it wasn’t my favorite. But it helped me sustain as I joined the ranks of thousands of screaming fans and started thinking about 30 other ways I would have liked to have spent my 100 dollar cover charge.