Forget the greasy takeout containers of yore. We’ve scoured Hillsboro’s culinary landscape, separating the sublime from the subpar. While some spots still serve up lackluster lo mein, we’ve unearthed gems where every bite—from delicate dumplings to fiery mapo tofu—transports you straight to the streets of Chengdu. Prepare to crave.
China Wok
$ | (503) 615-8800 | WEBSITE
China Wok was always there through thick and thin. A generous plate of comforting care, topped with that familiar chili oil. China Wok in Hillsboro gets this. The classic American Chinese spot is a firm part of the local community and a bowl of pork fried rice always goes down a treat.
Dancing Dragon Restaurant
$ | (503) 640-4510 | WEBSITE
It’s little surprise that this legendary Hillsboro spot offers cross-generational Chinese classics like chow mein and sesame chicken alongside hearty portions of sweet and sour pork. You can get pretty much any American-Chinese dish here. If you asked for extra sauce on your egg rolls, the friendly staff will probably do that too.
Biryani Express PDX
$ | (503) 207-6768 | WEBSITE
The misty-eyed (quickly ageing) among us will remember the good times. When one single dollar, or 100 of Uncle Sam’s pennies, would get you a generous plate of biryani with variable spice levels and some sides. Halcyon days. Biryani Express PDX doesn’t operate that kind of deal, but the Hillsboro restaurant has a quality that’s a cut above the rest.
P.F. Chang’s
$$ | (503) 533-4580 | WEBSITE
Before the era of endless takeout apps and fusion confusion, there was the simple joy of reliable Chinese-American comfort. There were predictable menus, there were familiar flavors, there was the scent of soy sauce and ginger wafting from the kitchen. But there were also moments, like a perfectly balanced beef and broccoli or a refreshing strawberry lemonade, that only a well-run establishment could deliver. It’s similar at P.F. Chang’s.
So let your cravings guide you to this consistently welcoming spot, where servers like Abel, Geordie, and Calia make you feel right at home in the warm, spacious dining room—perfect for families and large groups, with thoughtful touches like gluten-free and nut-free options ensuring everyone leaves satisfied.
Yummy Time
$ | (503) 746-6262 | WEBSITE
Yummy Time is a master of casual Chinese bites, and we mean that as the highest praise. This hidden gem in Hillsboro feels, in many ways, like the snack counter of a bustling Asian food hall. One that also happens to serve wonderfully satisfying food. Its Orange Box is a case in point. Crispy, packed with flavor, and fried just right so it holds its crunch. Your typical takeout spot could never.
Asian Kitchen Grill
$ | (503) 941-9807 | WEBSITE
Diet Coke. Diet Pepsi. Beverages that were not called Diet but that we wanted to gulp because they’d bravely abandoned flavor in the name of zero calories. This was the age of fast food as a guilty pleasure and although we no longer condone a drive-thru habit, we still worship at the altar of our quick-fix cravings. Go to this Hillsboro spot, pick up old faithful, then trot through the clean, organized space to the friendly counter at the front for sesame balls and fresh-woked meals.
Very reasonable, very fresh, very “Because I deserve it”. The owners remember your name, the kids love the food, and the local artist’s art on the walls adds just enough charm to make you forget you’re in a basic dining area. It’s not fancy, but the chicken combo and pot stickers are yummy enough to make you a regular since 2013.
Good Taste Noodle House
$ | (503) 693-6878 | WEBSITE
Some Chinese joints come with a plastic fork, require a leap of faith about authenticity, and will leave you craving MSG quicker than you can say ‘takeout, ugh’. The salt and pepper tofu from Good Taste Noodle House has a lot in common with the comforting noodle soup of our childhoods. Crispy tofu flies out of this Hillsboro spot’s kitchen in under 10 minutes and its generous portions offer the sweet satisfaction of happily shovelling potstickers from white container to mouth.