Portland’s Hyped Filipino Panaderia Balong Is Finally Open

Good news everyone! Balong’s brick-and-mortar location is finally open!

Balong was launched as a pop-up in 2023 by chef Justin Dauz, and it almost instantly acquired a reputation as one of the finest breakfast sandwiches around, not just for the bouyant, slightly sweet pan de sal that Dauz bakes himself, but the sausage (which Dauz makes himself) and the sun-dried tomato and garlic aioli.

It took over the space that used to be Meianna Bakery in April and has been going through a soft opening phase, but as of last week it is open open. The Oregonian reports that it’s open from Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and offering sandwiches alongside fancy hashbrowns and an array of baked goods including “cheddar-scallion biscuits, cheese-stuffed pan de sal, calamansi-strawberry bars and Cinnabon-inspired coffee rolls.”

The bad news is that you should expect lines.

More news you should know:

3 Doors Down, the restaurant, is coming back

Remember 3 Doors Down? Not “If I go crazy will you still call me Superman” 3 Doors Down, but the restaurant near Reed that predates the band by several years and probably got tired of the jokes ages ago. Bridgetown Bites reports the restaurant is reopening in June under original owner Dave Marth (who sold the place in 2019; it closed in 2024). Expect the classic pasta dishes 3 Doors Down was known for, alongside maybe some Asian dishes Marth has been tinkering with, according to Bridgetown Bites.

Food Cart Week is back too

For the fourth year, Portland’s Food Cart Week is back and it’s happening right now. This is an annual event where a lot of food carts (over 130, according to the Oregonian) offer meals for under $15. The event has a website where you can browse carts by location or cuisine style. It runs until Sunday, May 18.

Screaming Sammies is also back

Screaming Sammies, a seasonal ice cream sandwich stand, has returned to Sellwood-Moreland, reports Bridgetown Bites. These artisanal sandwiches are made by a guy Bridgetown Bites refers to only as “Gary,” who wears a bowtie, and the stand itself is an outlandishly old-fashioned red-and-white-striped affair. Last year a Redditor noted the stand “kinda looks like a prank show setup.” But it’s not a prank, as far as we know.