Restaurants in Hillsboro

Bouquets of bamboo enliven the tapestry-draped walls of Yuki Sushi and Sake Bar, where fresh-minded chefs craft traditional Japanese fare using local organic ingredients whenever possible. Sushi rolls feature some of the chef's own creations, such as the Atomic crawfish, which dons a cape of Cajun salsa and tempura, is made up of fresh jalapeño and cream cheese, and imbues feasters with superpowers. Yuki's house teriyaki liberally ladles over much of the hot-entree menu at both the Portland and Hillsboro locations, and sake from both overseas and Oregonian brewers keeps diners' thirst sated. Both spots offer either dine-in or carry-out, and [drinks and sushi specials pepper the weekly calendar.

Relying on traditional recipes from northern and southern India, the chefs at Mayura Indian Grill & Bar forge their halal-friendly menu of meaty and vegetarian dishes. Their specialty lies in filling dosas with spicy lentil chutney or potato curry, but they also simmer house-made cottage cheese alongside fragrant herbs and seek out seasonal vegetables for some of their entrees. They can marinate orders of chicken and lamb in one of their spice-infused sauces before roasting them in a clay oven that burns more intensely than a bodybuilder's love of lunges.

Dishes, whether meat or vegetable based, end up on the dining-room tables' crisp, white linens, which, along with the rows of corrugated pillars, imbue the space with a stately air. Beyond mealtimes, Mayura embraces south Asian culture by occasionally showcasing Indian films for the community.

Barkeeps dispense seven rotating drafts and pour out more than 700 microbrews and imported beers at Birra Deli, which derives its name from the Italian word for beer. Soups, salads, and hot and cold sandwiches concocted from local ingredients complement each hop- or malt-heavy libation. Amid a colorful interior of neon beer signs, arcade games, and a flat-screen television, the deli hosts regular beer tastings where customers can win unique prizes, such as cryogenic freezing chambers that keep beers chilled for up to 100 years. In addition to brews in the eatery, visitors can bring home sudsy treats in bottles, cases, or kegs in a variety of brands and sizes.

Sports stream from a fleet of televisions that line almost every wall inside The Spot Sports Bar & Grill. As diners root on their favorite teams and shoot pool, the wait staff hustles between high-top tables and stools with pulled-pork sandwiches and pizzas. The eclectic menu also includes deep-fried peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches and super nachos that pack a hearty mix of cheese, beans, vegetables, and choice of meat. Chefs draw from Asian recipes to sprinkle honey-roasted walnuts and a creamy honey-lemon glaze over deep-fried tiger prawns. A DJ busts out the latest tunes on Friday and Saturday nights, and families gather around the giant projector screen for Tuesday karaoke, singing favorite hits or reciting the Latin phrase woven into their family crest.

It was a family tradition: Big Al Costillo and his son Adam would feast on massive cheesesteaks and watch the Phillies game, collecting dollops of sizzling hot cheese on their plates. When the Costillo family moved from Philadelphia to Florida, the duo was devastated to find that the local cheesesteaks paled in comparison to the beloved sandwiches they enjoyed back home. "We spent six years trying every local spot that claimed they had a real philly cheesesteak, only to be disappointed," Adam explained to reporters from Atlantic Avenue. Unable to stifle their craving any longer, Big Al and his son opened their own cheesesteak shop— Big Al's Steak. They arranged for fresh Italian steak rolls to be shipped to their restaurant straight from Philadelphia before firing up the grills in the kitchen. There, they layered the crusty bread with thin slices of juicy, rib-eye steak before topping it off with Cheese Whiz, provolone, and American cheese.

Since then, Big Al's Beef has expanded to numerous locations in Florida and the West Coast, including Tualatin, Oregon, and has earned numerous awards from publications such as New Times Magazine. These cheerful, laid-back eateries faithfully follow the Philadelphia tradition, doling out authentic cheesesteaks, as well as hoagies, french fries, onion rings, Tastykakes, and even tall, cold beers to wash it all down