Ugh, you ruined my diet and I loved you for it. Damn you, deliciously unique ice cream! I came here with my GF, after hearing so much about the unique flavors of Salt & Straw and how it's been featured on multiple television shows. I'm not a fan of fame, but after being allowed to taste every single ice cream by one of the kindest servers and ordering a tasting tray of four of our favorite icecreams with a homemade waffle cone on the side, I'd say that Salt and Straw deserves all of their notoriety. I'm sure the seasonable menus will change, but some of their basic (haha, I laugh at that word, since most of the flavors are anything but) flavors still remain some of my favorites. I really liked the olive oil ice cream, the strawberry and balsamic vinaigrette, pear and bleu cheese, Stumptown coffee and burnside bourbon. I think the 4-piece $9 tasting tray may have been a bit extreme, but looking at my selfies with those delicious frozen treats, I think I enjoyed them quite a bit =P Food: 5 stars Price: 3 stars Service: 5 stars
(5)
Teala A.
Once again....... I don't wait in lines...... But for this I will. I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but I am always so curious about their pairings and love the fact that you can try everything and there is no judgement. In fact, the folks working there are always warm and helpful and seem to honestly enjoy their jobs. Obviously S&S is doing lots right because their employees seem happy and the line is constant. Well done.
(5)
Isah K.
So good. Waffle cones made on site so the aroma is just divine. So many interesting combinations of flavors, thankfully the offer samples. Which flavor should you try? Try them all.
(5)
Jenn W.
The line was lo-o-o-ong when we came by at around 7pm on a 95 degree weather day. Maybe 30-40 minutes? Tried a bunch of flavors (we had just been to the Alphabet district location a couple days prior heh) and ended up getting the honey lavender. It became my favorite flavor and I regret not getting that the first time! The texture of the ice cream was much better at this location, maybe because more customers means going through batches more quickly. I definitely recommend Salt & Straw to everyone visiting Portland. Heads up that scoops are huge! I am an ice cream fiend but one scoop was definitely enough for me.
(4)
Arti N.
//PDX Sweetheart Foodie Trip: Aug 21-23, 2015- Stop 5 of 7// Hubs and I made our first out-of-town "entire weekend" getaway since the l'il miss arrived 5.5 years ago. Cue the music! But seriously, hubs was a good sport and I ratcheted my normal foodie weekend levels WAY down. With S&S, I had heard that you **must** try, and so we did. Especially since we had just had lunch across the street at Pok Pok (ok with about a 1.5 hour break in between to walk around... a LOT). The queue wasn't too bad when we arrived at the tail end ~4pm last Saturday afternoon, it ran it's normal U-shape inside + out the door and to the end of the storefront on the sidewalk (roughly a 1/2 hour wait). I really loved the idea that when you get to the front you can try as many flavors as you want without holding up folks behind you (who can order and move past you quite nicely to pay). Unfortunately we didn't do that... since while waiting in line and reading the flavors, hubs and I decided on a tasting flight of 4 flavors figuring we could get more sampling that way. From the August specials, we choose "Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake" (ummm, you know that was all me, hubs was basically making faces at every description of this flavor) and the "Lemon Cucumber Sorbet" (no... not lemon AND cucumber, but a type of cucumber called lemon). From the classic flavors menu, we choose "Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper" and "Freckled Woodblock Chocolate". -- Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake~ "A lightly malted, salted chocolate ice cream, light and unobtrusive, sets the table for professional-grade cupcake debauchery. The ice cream is loaded with gooey, bite-sized pieces of cupcake that are topped with chocolate ganache and doused in coffee syrup to keep them soft and moist. Those are good, but they need something else...like maybe little crunchy snaps of chocolate-coated potato chips? Oh, yes, and a generous ribbon of house-made caramel. This flavor is inspired by the infamous CCPC cupcake from Kit Jensen's former bakeshop, The Sugar Cube!" -- Lemon Cucumber Sorbet~ "Spa on a spoon. This is a lemon cucumber sorbet, not a lemon and cucumber sorbet. It's one thing, a lemon cucumber. It is, in fact, a sweet, lemony-looking cucumber, out of which we make this lovely, pale yellow, elegant, and delicately fresh sorbet. These lemon cucumbers were grown by amazing kids! This sorbet is a collaboration with Food Works, a program that teaches kids incredible life skills through farming. Food Works is completely run by students aged 14-21. More than just a "learning farm," Food Works is a sustainable agriculture and land-management commitment through which kids learn to farm, practice business and finance skills, and learn about healthy cooking and eating. Supporting projects like Food Works is one of the most important aspects of our company and we're humbled and happy to cook with them, anytime." -- Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper~ "It's triple Oregon Strawberry! Made with strawberries, jam, and syrup from Oregon Hill Farms. Honey Balsamic from a fifth-generation beekeeper at Honeyridge Farms, and locally imported, rare Cubeb Pepper (not to make it spicy... just a trick we learned from the Italians to pepper fruit to bring out the flavor." -- Freckled Woodblock Chocolate~ "Roasting cocoa beans in a 19th century-old fire roaster, Woodblock is the first bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Portland. We add in a bit of Jacobsen sea salt, the first to harvest salt from the Oregon coast in over 200 years, and then use an old-school ice cream making technique called "freckling" to suspend the chocolate in an untempered state." For hubs, his favs were the LC sorbet and the FW choco. For me, my favs were the LC sorbet and the CCPCC. Neither one of us dug the SHBw/BP (WAY too balsamic-y). And neither one of us felt the texture (we prefer creamy) or tastiness even came close to Mora Creamery in WA state. I guess we tend to be ice cream purists and not big fans of the crazy flavors. Hey, when you have an out of this world pistachio flavored ice cream (like Mora), why mess with it?
(3)
Eric A.
WOW....truly is all I can say in between each bite of ice cream. I went in for vanilla and came out with 5 different flavors. The place is über modern and there is a line out the door (a good sign). A great place to take the kids, an after dinner aperitif or when you need a pick me up! Everyone us super friendly and helpful. Not to mention the samples are phenomenol! You will never want another ice cream after trying Salt and Straw. I will be in Portland every 5 weeks for business and I will be at this place each visit!!
(5)
Flavia A.
What is there to say but Almond Brittle With Salted Ganache? (You're welcome to read my review of Salt & Straw on NW 23rd for the full scoop). Get it? Full scoop? Har har. Just enjoy. And yes it's worth the wait.
(5)
Donna S.
ambiance//***** with the amount of foot traffic they get...there is plenty of space to wait along w/ a section of show & tell of their artisanal flavors...where the ingredients are sourced from also random knick knack keepsakes for those who wish to share with the world that they've been salt & straw service//***** the people here completely understand the seriousness of selecting the proper ice cream for your current mood ever patiently scooping tasters for you before selecting the flavor food//***** they cover everything from classic vanilla to earthy lavender to the wildly creative bleu cheese & pear i'm a sucker for unique flavors like bleu cheese & ear thank goodness they opened up near me!!^^ ~*~ delicious and interesting...i will never be bored eating their flavors~
(5)
Samantha Z.
Currently eating two scoops of chocolatey something or another. What's better than the ice cream? The customer service. Felicia helped us tonight and she was so sweet! She let us taste a million flavors, and was so kind. Five stars for her!!
(5)
Rhyann B.
Delicious! I really enjoy visiting Salt and Straw. The ice cream is consistently great, and the rotating flavors are always new and inventive. I'm a fan of the Almond Brittle and Ganache flavor. They also just had a Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Cupcake flavor for August that was probably my favorite of all the flavors I've had there. I have a couple reasons for not giving it a 5. 1. The line is always pretty ridiculous. You can expect to wait at least 30 minutes. If the weather is nice, it can be more like an hour. It is good ice cream, but waiting a long time for it is a bit of a bummer. 2. I've had better ice cream in Portland. I visited What's the Scoop in NE, and it was fantastic (and I really didn't have to wait).
(4)
Nikki D.
This place is awesome if you're down to try new and interesting flavor combo of ice cream. I got the carrot carrot cake which was a seasonal flavor. Tasted exactly like a carrot cake, down to the cream cheese frosting. I also got to taste a few different flavors trying to make my decision, cucumber lime, and a rhubarb flavored one. The line for this place can be very long depending on the hour of the day that you go. Super busy after dinner time. Other than that, they have super friendly service and delicious ice cream.
(4)
Helen S.
Awesome ice cream with many creative flavors. Friendly staff! The line was out the door but totally worth the wait. It moved pretty quickly. The way to go is the flight sampler for $9. You get to try several flavors, but wish I could try them all! My favorite by far was the stumptown coffee and bourbon! Very rich and flavorful coffee flavor, one of the best coffee ice creams I've ever had. Also tried the cinnamon snicker doodle (real chunks of cookie), carrot cake (a seasonal flavor), and almond brittle (one of their most popular flavors)! Highly recommend this place! Hope they open up more locations!
(5)
Michael S.
So come with me where dreams are born and dessert is never blah. Just think of yummy things, and ice creams for kings, forever, at Salt & Straw! Salt & Straw is like a fairy tale land of ice cream dreams. There's no need for Peter Pan and little kids singing to reach this Yummy Yummy Land where you never grow up. Simply find some street parking nearby and join the line out the front door filled with Lost Boys, Tinkerbells, Tiger Lilys, and the occasional Captain Hook. Actually, the original and dreamy flavors of Salt & Straw are so magical, you just may be singing like a little kid again. Here's a quick list of flavors for kids or adults to plan which free samples you'll try. * Double Fold Vanilla * Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars * Pear & Blue Cheese * Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper * Honey Lavender * Arbequina Olive Oil * Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon * Cinnamon Snickerdoodle * Chocolate Gooey Brownie * Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache * Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons * Freckled Woodblock Chocolate Each month has 5-6 unique flavors available, so, you should plan on visiting Salt & Straw at least 12 times a year because some of those flavors are just as magical as the daily flavors. The hype for the ice cream here is huge and, clearly, this fantasy land is no secret. Believe the hype because there really is a place where dreams are born, scooped, licked, and loved ... again and again. There really is a place called Salt & Straw.
(5)
Wennie H.
Believe the hype. There's a reason this place is on the best ice cream list. I guess this months theme is street food and I have never in my life experienced anything like it. A few people told me about this place and also told me it was super busy. I was on a coffee date and we decided to hit it up after lunch...but when we were walking past to the pie place, the smell of fresh waffle cones changed everything. The shop is bright, airy, minimalistic and just had a good overall feel. Also, no line at 11am! I tried a couple flavors: the strawberry balsamic with black pepper (super good), the potato champion poutine (f***ing crazy good), the nongs khao man gai peanut butter (weird but not terrible), the chocolate gooey brownie (super rich), and almond brittle with salted ganache (not bad). But I settled on the coconut with petunias salted caramel bar. HOLY GUACAMOLE GOOD. When I tried it, I swear my eyes rolled to the back of my head, my mouth became slack and my date said, "that good, huh?" Literally a mouthgasm. So, so rich and creamy and bad for you, it's amazing. The scoops are massive, the staff friendly and the space great. This is going to become my favorite ice cream place in PDX.
(4)
Zack S.
Salt & Straw has turbo hype. If you live in Portland and you're talking about dessert, Salt & Straw is one of the first things to come up in conversation. Does this place live up to the legend that is told of it? Yes. Yeeesss. Holy crap, yes. This is the best ice cream I have ever had in my entire life and it deserves the recognition it has gained. The salted caramel I'd delicious, cinnamon snicker doodle is to die for, and pear and blue cheese is... Well... It's pear and blue cheese... But you NEED to come here if you are looking for the best ice cream in Portland. TL;DR: It's like you're eating ice cream but it tastes way better.
(5)
Kalusha C.
I don't see the hype about this place, the ice cream is too sweet and weird. I swear it screams diabetes!
(1)
Catherine N.
That smell! The moment you walk past the store (even from across the street), the smell of fresh cooking waffle cones permeates the air. I don't know how anyone can resist stopping into Salt & Straw. They had a really fun menu with a special chocolate menu. The staff is so welcoming and friendly and will give you tastes of anything you want. They use metal spoons and actually have a hole in the counter that acts as the 'spoon shoot' for used tasting spoons. We settled on the tasting flight for $9 because I like to eat a little of a lot of things. Added a $1 waffle cone because (explained above). This is definitely the way to go. You get for pretty big scoops, so it's such a bargain compared to a bunch of single scoop. strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper - this was my favorite. Refreshing, sweet, & smooth with an occasional awakening from the vinegar-not too much black pepper taste though Woodblocks hand roasted chocolate and toasted sesame- smooth and not too rich with nice hints of nuttiness from the sesame Xocolatt and David's brown butter chocolate bar -this was the most chocolatey of the ones we sampled. Pretty straight-forward and slightly salty (nice touch) Sea salt with Caramel (not sea salt caramel)-sea salt ice cream with caramel swirls- this was our least favorite but the bites that had a lot of caramel were good. Loved it even though I'm not a huge ice cream person. Reasonable prices for artisan ice cream in unique flavors. Well deserving of their reputation.
(5)
Steph Y.
Came here while visiting my bff and ordered the stump town coffee & burnside bourbon ice cream and was instantly won over. The coffee flavor was strong and the ice cream was smooth and rich so needless to say I inhaled it. The server was also really friendly and chatted with us while she was scooping my order.
(5)
Lexie V.
The ice cream here is rich. I mean RICH. It's excellent, don't get me wrong, but this is the kind of place where a single scoop will suffice. I went for a double scoop and could not continue past the top scoop! The top scoop was rhubarb crumble with anise and it was amazing! Creamy with the perfect balance of tart sweetness and freckled with bits of coffee cake crumble. Very good and refreshing! The waffle cones are house-made and are fresh and crispy. The bottom scoop was a salted caramel and it was overpowered by the intense salt. I couldn't hack it. I wasn't woman enough for this scoop. Next time, I go single and stick with my limits. Anyway, cool place with great, friendly staff and a fun vibe.
(4)
Sarah B.
Back in Portland for a day after an entire summer away, and couldn't skip this stop! Never disappointing and always surprising me with new flavors. A must!
(5)
Shendi X.
I'm still dreaming of this ice cream. My boo and I stayed at a nearby AirBnB; I initially scoffed at the lines our first few nights, but we stuck it out eventually, and were very pleased with the results. Definitely rivals Bi-Rite in SF. Flavor-wise, I loved the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and the Chocolate with Gooey Brownies. The Freckled Woodblock Chocolate and the Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars were also quite good. You MUST go if visiting a city with a Salt & Straw! (In Portland, the Alberta location is less busy. :))
(5)
Dana G.
A philosophical PDX question (may apply to other cities too). Does a Disneyland-style line that zig-zags through the restaurant, out the door, and down the street mean that the populous agrees this eatery is clearly Five Stars? Or does that inconvenience and whatever caused it cause the loss of a star or two. Oh for goodness sake. Without the line I woulda said five stars. I'm not sure I ever tried Salt & Straw when I lived in PDX. I did not get on the bandwagon. I may have missed an opportunity (or maybe it was a near-miss!!). Salt & Straw was the final stop of my first ever Dana's Food Tour PDX (cue cheering), Hungry Friend and Hungry Me (no longer really hungry at all, but I was willing to put my back into it all in the name of science. Or something). I followed Hungry Friend's guidance and had a great time tasting flavors, and ended up with a cone I loved. First of all, the smell. The smell of the cones is intoxicating. Even without the ice cream, the cone smell and cone would be a fine storefront. Dear Salt & Straw: A proposal for your next venture. Second, the experience. Once we made it to the front of the line, I was impressed with the coordination and good-naturedness of our ice cream scooper woman. I was also impressed with the fact that all the scoopers looked like vibrant glowing yoga instructors. I guess I've lived in the country for too long. Third, the taste and texture. I sampled several flavors, and finally decided on a half-scoop (the classic) sea salt with caramel topped by (a May Flowers flavor of the month) wildflower honey with ricotta walnut lace cookies on top (man o man what a mouthful of a name to go with the mouthful of Yum!). The texture was perfect- both the cookies crumbled in the top scoop, and also the texture of the ice cream itself. It was thick, gelato-ish. And it didn't even cost like twenty bucks for this magic ice cream. It remember it being maybe $3.50. Suchadeal.
(4)
Jay P.
It was a hot day and my sweet tooth was hankering for something sugary and my body for something cooling. We were close to salt and straw so that is where we headed. To our surprise there was a short line this time around and the wait was quite reasonable. Usually the wait is significant and out the door. While waiting I was reading the menu and I told my friend that they serve food now when I read "poutine" on the board. He corrected me and said that it was actually the flavor of the ice cream. I told him that it can't be, because that would be disgusting, but sure enough it was true. I didn't go this route and took his suggestion of trying the snickerdoodle flavor, which actually sounded much more appetizing than poutine. Glad I took his sugesstion, because it was delicious. The first spoon was simply devine and oh so wonderful. The first thing that hits the mouth is the cinnamon, it was as it I was sodomizing a warm and gooey cinnamon roll, but in this case enjoyed it very much. Then after the cinnamon there was the cookie itself. It was moist and buttery and complimented everything very well. Even they have many arrays flavors that you wouldn't think would go together and make you think that it wouldn't work, but today I did not feel like an adventure and wanted to go with a sure think and nothing beats the snickerdoodle. A must try.
(5)
Spencer T.
Not just the best ice cream in Portland. This is easily some of the best (if not THE best) ice cream I've ever had in my life. Most recently, I went with a seasonal flavor (rhubarb crumble with toasted anise), split with a standard (honey lavender). Definitely good. The former managed to tame the anise nicely, while still keeping it as a fine background note, making it a good summer flavor. The latter was simple and sweet, and I can see it working well with many flavors as well as on its own. I'd also strongly recommend the sea salt/caramel and the Stumptown Coffee/Burnside Bourbon. Oh yeah, and the almond brittle/salted ganache. Those are my usual flavors. Salt & Straw is very good about allowing people to try samples. This time, I tried the wildflower honey/ricotta-walnut lace cookies, as well as the rhubarb one. The honey-ricotta was good, and I'd definitely recommend it, but I was craving something summery, so I went with the rhubarb. Here's a couple things they don't list on their board. For one, it costs a buck to do half-and-half scoops. Kind of harsh, if you ask me, though I always do it anyways. Also, the waffle cones are $1.50. Definitely worth springing for. You know that incredible smell that always permeates the block where Salt & Straw is located? That's the waffle cones, being baked fresh every day. The lines are a drag. Then again, they usually appear when it's a warm, clear, beautiful night in the City of Roses, and they lend themselves well to people-watching and conversing with friends. There's a reason this place is so popular. Definitely demands multiple visits this summer.
(5)
Christina S.
Woohoo! Get to check this place off my Portland list. Came here after a meal at Pok Pok. Got the almond brittle with salted ganache on a sugar cone and it was delicious. The service was friendly and I was able to sample a few flavors before picking the one I wanted. This place is worth checking out if are craving ice cream in Portland!
(4)
Tiffany H.
Step 1- find parking Step 2- prepare for waiting in line Step 3- realize the parking and line was worth it as you try several amazing flavors of ice cream from friendly staff Step 4- make the tough decision on settling on only one thing and enjoy it outside in the beautiful summer weather. Step 5- repeat The strawberry balsamic with black pepper is the absolute best, in my opinion. The chocolate gooey brownie is great for chocolate lovers. They always have something fun to try as well, like the food cart flavors now, so be adventurous! If yo want an easier tie with parking and a shorter line, come during off-peak times- weeknights are easier than weekends, and realize on any 90 degree summer day anyone in Portland who knows about ice cream will already be here.
(5)
Alvin N.
WOW, The Quality of Salt & Straw is Amazing! This Company certainly takes pride of their product! They use Many Local Oregon Ingredients! I always order an Ice Cream Flight to try 4 flavors everytime I stop by! Their Staff is always Friendly! Portlandia, you are lucky to have this place! You must not miss their Salted Caramel, it is ooey gooey goodness! :D
(5)
Elliott D.
I get embarrassed when I feel like I've asked for too many testers, so sometimes I go to the end of the line to come back for more (getting another guy to help me the 2nd time around). On this occasion, the flavors I tried on Round 1 (Arbequina Olive Oil, Honey Lavender, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Cracked Pepper, & Spiked Egg Nog) just didn't speak to my taste buds. The Honey Lavender, for example, was way too lavender-infused, to the point of making me feel like I was eating a candle (I've had divine honey lavender in the past). On Round 2 I reluctantly settled upon: ***PEAR & BLUE CHEESE - The delicate, sweet flavor of Oregon Trail Northwest Bartlett Pears from Salem, OR with perfectly aged cumbles of Rogue Creamery's Crater Lake Blue Cheese (recently named the best in the world at a fancy competition in France) mixed throughout. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty interesting, with generous chunks of soft pear in the forefront, and little bits of blue cheese to finish it off in a non-overwhelming way. But it was just strange enough to make it so that I couldn't completely relax and go for it. Probably my own fault for not choosing something more "normal", but nothing else stood out to me. ***COCONUT WITH PETUNIA'S SALTED CARAMEL BARS - A coconut based, non-dairy ice cream made in collaboration with our good friends at Petunia's Pastries. Petunia's salted caramel bars are special because they are both vegan and gluten-free, but are so delicious that we would be none the wiser! For a bit of extra yumminess we swirl in hand-burned caramel and housemade chocolate ganache. This was my "normal" option to mix with my weird option, a selection that I didn't realize until just now was non-dairy (I'd call that a major success). This was pretty good I guess, with crunchy/gooey caramel and chocolate mix-ins, but not particularly interesting or life-changing. ALL IN ALL: My first main grievance is that they're trying to be really Bohemian with the flavors, but many a time it felt like they were trying way too hard, and the flavor combinations just ended up being "Oh that was novel, look what flavor I just tried..." instead of "Holy freaking crap I just crapped my pants due to all of this unrestrained deliciousness". My second grievance is that the overall consistency isn't as dreamy as, let's say even a Cold Stone. I don't know if it's an extra egg yolk, the lack thereof, or the serving temperature or whatnot, but it's just missing something. I was sure to get a freshly made waffle cone as they smelled ever so divine, but it ended up tasting surprisingly unremarkable. I guess I've probably had my fill of Salt & Straw for a while.
(3)
John O.
Believe the hype. Damn good. Also, to skip the line, go to the front and buy a pint. Don't tell anyone this secret though.
(5)
Emily E.
I love how unique this place is. I've been hear multiple times and I'm very satisfied! I sampled: Cinnamon snicker doodle ( It was amazing) & Honey Lavender I loved them both but I wanted something unique. So I decided to get the honey lavender. Now it's my new favorite ice cream! At first it's a little strange but as you keep tasting it, it is delicious!!! My uncle got the cinnamon snicker doodle in a milkshake which was a-mazing. My dad got the olive oil ice cream! I didn't try it but he absolutely loved it! I'm excited to try out more flavors. They usually have a huge line but the line this time wasn't out the door! I've seen salt and straw mentioned on almost every post/article mentioning ice cream! I would defiantly recommend this place to anyone!!!
(5)
Dustin R.
Outstanding ice cream! But something about people waiting in line over an hour for ice cream just pisses me off. I'm not the sort of person who can waste my time in the ice cream line so I only come here when it is not crowded. Pro tip: you can ask for as many ice cream samples as you like!
(3)
Michelle M.
BOMB DOT COM!! This place has become one of my favorite ice cream places. Customers are able to sample as many flavors they want. They had cute small silver spoons and a small shoot in the counter/wall to dispose used spoons. Here, you can also buy pints of their ice cream they have in their freezer section. Since I happen to enjoy the Stumptown flavor, I had to try the Stumptown coffee ice cream - amazing. Also, I got the strawberry honey balsamic with cracked black pepper. I typically am not a person the enjoys fruity ice cream, but this one was a hit with me. The flavor complexes complemented each other so well. There were in-house strawberry jam chunks with the subtle taste of the black pepper and the added sweetness from the balsamic. For those visiting, this place is a must!
(5)
Angik S.
If you are looking for awesome ice cream, head to cool Moon or what's the scoop. But I am a fan of this place simply because of the flavors. Last year they had an orange rhubarb flavor which is the best ice cream flavor I have ever tasted. This year they have the special food cart flavors. The Viking soul food and koi fusion flavors are the bomb. But all of them are good. Definitely try them.
(4)
Varun B.
Love this place. I used to live in San Francisco, and the bar set for ice cream there typically tended to be Bi-Rite Creamery and Humphrey-Slocombe, in my opinion -- both of which are highly reputable places and known to many. I have to say, Salt and Straw, was quite the delightful surprise because I felt that it honestly was better than both of those places that I love in SF. Their flavors are all very well balanced and unique. The ice cream itself isn't too heavy like some others. Go here. Take samples -- like all of them. And then pick your favorite double scoop (or a split single scoop, which we did). Oh, and DEFINITELY get the waffle cone. It not only smells delicious, but tastes so as well.
(5)
Nicole E.
Looking for unique flavors of fresh ice cream? This is the place to go. I had a roasted strawberry and toasted white chocolate scoop. Other flavors included things like olive oil and lavender. Mine was delicious and my friends loves theirs too.
(4)
Tiffany L.
I love me some fancy ice cream. To avoid the lines, we came early to sample a bunch of flavors. I loved them all but ended up getting the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle (loved the cookies pieces in the ice cream). Thumbs up!
(4)
Patrick _.
When it comes to Ice Cream I am a very traditional person. I don't like to get too crazy, but when visiting Portland I knew I would have to stop and get some. The foodie side of me wanted try all the weird flavors, but I narrowed it down to three. I tried the Garam Masala and Cinnamon Cauliflower, it was kinda gross and just not for me. Ultimately I ended up getting Olive Oil and Pear and Blue Cheese. It was the best Ice Cream I have ever had. Overall the line was small and the service was fast and friendly landing this place a well deserved five stars.
(5)
Portia D.
LOVE this place! Signature being the Sea Salt and Carmel but trust me the Strawberry Balsamic with Black Pepper is the real hidden gem on the menu. First off service! I was a first timer coming here and while in line trying to pick three flavors to try. I wanted to try them all but I thought no way would any place do this. Got up to the front and Riley was more than willing to let me try EVERYTHING! WHAT!?! Not only did Riley let me try everything but it was done with a smile and I was given a brief profile of each flavor. Second are the flavors! Olive oil flavor who would think this would be delicious? But it is and you will want more of it. Green Fennel Maple, Lemon Cucumber Sorbet, Snickerdoodle and more! Creativity is definitely not in short supply here. Love that the menu seasonal and new flavors are always rotating in and out. Even though there will usually be a line it will be worth the wait. Two thumbs way up for this place!
(5)
Madie N.
GREAT ICE CREAM!!! Very helpful staff as well. My mom and I were very fortunate to come to Salt & Straw with no line. We sampled everything and we loved all of it. We ended up each getting a little more ice cream than we could handle, but the 900 calories was worth it.
(5)
MyTien P.
Everyone in California knows that I am a huge ice cream fanatic so I was really excited to finally give Salt & Straw a try. I was not disappointed! I ordered a scoop of the Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream and it was pure perfection. The strips of sea salt caramel was amazing and wasn't overpowering at all. It might have been the best salted caramel ice cream I've tried yet (Bi-Rite in San Francisco is also delicious). The ice cream wasn't too creamy and had the right consistency. I also really enjoyed the warm sugar cone here and highly recommend getting it with your ice cream! This place definitely lived up to my expectations and it is now one of my favorite ice cream shops. I will definitely be coming back here when I visit Portland. Good thing they recently just opened a Salt & Straw in Los Angeles!!
(5)
Klee L.
Delicious! The flavors are unique and worth expanding your horizons for. But the best part(ok not maybe the best,,,, but sure is important) was the service! When you wait in line for 20 minutes (which I hear is not bad for a hot day) and are greeted with a smile, cheer and great attitude it truly makes all the difference! I commend the owners and managers for having such a great staff. I hope it means they are happy to be there! Ok, it also doesn't hurt to be able to try EVERYTHING with a HUGE sample on such a tiny spoon. A true and favorable gem. BTW... Try the coconut ice cream!
(5)
Lena L.
Possibly the best ice cream ever! Mostly because the offer lavender ice cream!!!!! So many tasty options!
(5)
Tracy Joy K.
Came here twice during my weekend trip to Portland, long wait but quality ice cream that was well worth it! They have a ton of unique flavors like Honey Balsamic and Black Pepper, Honey Lavender, Coffee & Bourbon. The long line is usually because of the tons of samples people try but when it's your turn definitely take advantage and try them out. I had the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons - probably the best sea salt caramel ice cream I've had - loved how salty it was and one scoop was definitely a hefty helping. Delectable for sure. :)
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Loren John B.
As a Bay Area resident, I've had my share of popular ice cream. Bi-Rite, Mitchell's, Smitten, Humphry Slocombe, and Ici are all great. After stuffing my face at Pok Pok, my friend and I figured this would be a great dessert spot. We braved the line for a good 30 minutes (it's like this at almost every location I've come across in Portland). I only tasted the seasonal flavors available for the month of March. I sampled the salted caramel cupcake, and the lumberjack stack. I went with a waffle cone, because it seemed thats what everyone else was doing. It's pretty cool that you can see them make the waffle cones in-house right next to the flavor counter. I ended up getting a single scoop of the lumberjack stack, and I was just amazed with how good it was. Blueberries and bits of pancakes in ice cream are well executed. I felt my jaw tingle after every bite, you know the good kind of tingle when you eat something sweet and delicious. I'd have to say, Salt & Straw would have to be in the same class as Bi-Rite. Had I stayed in Portland a little longer, I would have gone again and tried at least one of its regular flavors. The wait is pretty ridiculous for some ice cream, but it's a good thing the flavors are bomb and the staff are super helpful.
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Jewel M.
I finally tried this place and it was sooo good. I had their vegan flavor: coconut with Petunia's salted caramel bars. It is also swirled with caramel and chocolate ganache. It did not disappoint. I went ahead and bought the pint for $9. Even though it was quite good, for the price this will only be a treat on occasion. I hope to see more vegan flavors in the future.
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Jessie M.
Holy crap, the line is insane. Seemingly at all hours of the day. I mean it's good not THAT good. We did the ice cream flight and tried the balsamic strawberry with black pepper, the vanilla, the chocolate brownie, and the olive oil. It was fun and I don't understand why everyone doesn't get the flight... it's $9 for so much ice cream.
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Yuan J.
Salt & Straw never disappoints. I've now been to all 3 locations and each visit was a delight. As a first time goer, I would recommend getting: Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons, Balsamic Strawberry, and Honey Lavender. If you can go more than once, also get the Pear with Blue Cheese (the cheese is so subtle and not overpowering AT ALL), Tahini Cardamom, and the Coconut with Salted Caramel Bars. Also, don't be too discouraged by the line, even if it goes out the door and wraps around the corner. The line goes pretty fast since serving each customer won't take that long.
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Cylix S.
Seriously, there is no down side to the quality of the ice cream here! Crazy flavors, I wish there were more shops like this here in Spokane. It gets busy, but ive never had to wait longer than 15-20 minutes. They dont rush you into trying the different flavors and making a decision. They are very patient and polite- I am planning on taking my wife here for my upcoming birthday.
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Robbin A.
Absolutely delicious ice cream. The whole place smells like freshly made waffle cones the moment you walk in. This is exceptionally close to Bi-Rite ice cream from San Francisco; the only reason why this isn't a 5 is because I didn't wish I had it back home. Their honey lavender was excellent, as was their sea salt caramel, which I'm assuming they are known for. The service was quick and friendly, and I love places that give you samples on actual spoons! Good to know that those are being washed and reused. They do this really cool thing where the specials change every so often. Since I'm allergic to uncooked egg yolks, I couldn't have any of the specials of the month, which were inspired by local elementary school kids. That's okay - I had the honey lavender and salted caramel as an ENORMOUS single scoop in my waffle cone. Drool. Anyway, it's always a plus when the people know what goes into their ice cream. I was lucky enough that about 80% of them weren't made with egg yolks, which meant I didn't have to worry about an allergic reaction. This was the only ice cream shop I went to in Portland, and I am okay with that. Considering not just one, but two Portland folks recommended it to me, it is absolutely worth the visit if you have never been to an ice cream shop like this before.
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Nitar L.
I'm an LA native and wanted my S&S cherry to be popped by the OG location so I booked a trip to Portland. Totally worth it! The line can get pretty long, like out-the-door-on-to-the-sidewalk long. I thought of it like an attraction and didn't mind the 30+ minute wait. There are plenty of things to keep you entertained, like S&S swag! There are tees, mugs, and other local products for sale. (You can find Andy Ricker's SOM drinking vinegars there, too!) I made it out with a scoop of something glorious (I forgot what it was, but you really can't go wrong with any of the flavors here) in a waffle cone, a t-shirt, and a mug! Yep, I'm a total tourist :)
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Twylla S.
We happened upon this place while walking the streets of downtown. We peered at the unconventional menu and the tremendously long line and we're both perplexed and curious. These are not your typical ice cream flavors, and honestly, the weirder they sound the more delicious they are.... The first time we stopped in I wasn't feeling experimental so I went with a sea salt caramel ribbon. It was good, ideal for your boring friends which will find it delicious but nothing out of their comfort realm. My adventurous husband sampled a few of the stranger flavors and settled on a strawberry with balsamic and black pepper. I was apprehensive...but once I tasted it I knew we were dealing with some true ice cream pioneering here and that I should have gone all out. Needless to say two days later I got a hankering for some experimental ice cream tasting. This time I went pear and blue cheese in a sugar cone. All I can tell you is yes. You have to try it. It's savory and sweet. The blue cheese is present but not like you would expect, it gives a savory creaminess to the whole experience. Without it the flavor would be so overly sweet on its own. I hope they bring one of these to Chicago.
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Amy L.
Love it one of my favorite ice cream places and it's a lot closer on the SE side. I've been here when they were just a little cart to a full store. I love the variety of rotating flavors they have. There was ones I really love are Sourdough olive oil with salted chocolate ganache and the cassis sorbet. My regular go to is the Almond brittle with salted ganache. Cons: Parking is a pain and there's always a long line.
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Fawn W.
Seriously good ice cream. The salted caramel (they have a fancier name for it here) is delicious! Worth the line.
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Christianne F.
Almond brittle salted ganache.... Enough said! Wait... Want more sweet than savory? What about... seasonal flavors like Oregon Peach with toasted walnut? Oh, they're local Organic and All natural And the best damn ice cream I've ever had. Waffle cone itself is pretty amazeballs. Trust me, you're going to have a hard time picking a flavor or two... You'll want them all! There's a reason why the line is long. Hooray that there is now one in Los Angeles!
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Dian K.
There are a lot of gourmet ice cream places nowadays. One weirder sounding flavor rivaling another. As a thorough researcher, I've tried most of them, but I kept coming back to Salt & Straw. They are the best of the bunch. The 3 different locations is one proof of it (and they recently open a location in LA). The hoards of people rain or shine waiting is another. I like this location the best because it seems like the line moves faster here. Beginning of the month, I always try the different flavors of the month. More than likely I would come back to my tried and true favorite, the salted caramel. Remember! If you want to skip the line, head straight to the freezer, get a pint and cut in front of the hoards of people - this is allowed!
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Andrea V.
Ummm YUM! Wow. Really good ice cream. Had the strawberry honey balsamic with cracked black pepper, and my mom had the honey lavender. Just amazing favors. Also tasted the coconut with strawberry rhubarb pie. Was also amazing! Soo glad we stopped here on our trip! Nice girl who helped us too.
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Angela D.
Just like all the other famous ice cream shops with creative flavors, this one delivers inventive flavor combinations and has a cult following. Now, let me just say that I'm not huge on ice cream. It's good, but I'd much rather have some sort of pastry for dessert. In addition, I only like eating ice cream when it's warm out. So, I thought the shop was cute and they had some cool sounding flavors. The workers were all really friendly and were happy to give multiple samples. The fragrant smell of waffle cone wafted through the shop priming me for some ice creamy goodness. I ended up tasting the honey lavender, which I wasn't a fan of. I also tried the freckled woodblock chocolate, which was quite good. Not overly chocolate, which is what I was afraid of. It had a hint of salt to it, which I think worked really well with the chocolate. I ordered the children's scoop in a sugar cone and thoroughly enjoyed it. Props to them for using local ingredients and their creative flavors, but they are nothing outstanding in the ice cream world.
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Kristal B.
Excellent unique ice cream flavors. The sundaes were especially wonderful. Great, speedy and friendly customer service. Would highly recommend this ice cream shop!
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John R.
This is a great spot to take someone visiting from out of town, or to go after dinner nearby. The flavor options are exotic and taste exquisite and homemade. I tasted a few samples (considered the norm here) before settling on the Lavender Honey. One can often smell the waffle cones baking from the street. These are the penultimate cones, should you crave that apex of experience. Other options abound however. The ice cream can be icy but is always cold and good. The crowds can be bad here, with lines reaching down the block at certain times and temperatures. Great options, friendly service. Prices are on the high side, though, so consider your options. What they offer can be had elsewhere, to some degree. Enjoy!
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Tara D.
- Fast, friendly, and patient service - kudos on hiring for friendliness and helpfulness - Excellent ice cream - fresh and creamy - Amazing selection of flavors - To go containers also available; easy to grab Although we have Salt & Straw in LA, I first d
(5)
Andrew H.
I lived in Portland for 5 years*. I am lactose intolerant.** I never got to visit Salt and Straw...but it wasn't because I feared the impending malaise and cramping that follows a high dose of everyone's favorite milk sugar. It was simply that I never got around to it. On a return visit, I decided to finally do the deed. I'm no ice cream aficionado, but the ice cream here was stunning. I'm obsessed with all things unique and Salt and Straw does not disappoint! They had a THANKSGIVING DINNER flight! How crazy is that? I am a bit ashamed though. I sampled over a half-dozen flavors...and then...I went with their most popular one (salted caramel). Sigh...when did I become so #basic? The staff here were surprisingly friendly despite the long line and my gross indecisiveness. I was worried they were going to surly and mean to keep the line moving, not the case. *Man, when did Division become The Pearl? **(I lost the ability to process high amounts of lactose in college, where I rarely drank milk or ate ice cream...yes, that is possible.)
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Marie D.
#NAME?
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Ben H.
Flavor- and variety-wise, S&S is the best ice cream shop in Southeast Portland. It's location in the heart of the Division restaurant strip makes it an easily accessible option after dinner if you are in the area. Baristas are friendly and allow you to try any of the flavors before ordering which adds to the experience. The only downside is the long wait if you try to go anytime after 5.
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Steve S.
A must try for locals that haven't been yet and visitors of our beautiful city. Interesting flavors make it a lot of fun, yummy and something for everyone. Shop is always nice and clean, lots of style and the staff has always been super friendly. Thanks guys!
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Carissa B.
The ice cream flavors are creative and delicious. The wait to get up to the counter to order is always crazy long but is the only downside to this fun ice cream spot
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Leela S.
After coming here, I now wonder why flavours like olive oil or pear and blue cheese aren't commonplace at ice cream parlours everywhere. I didn't end up getting a scoop of either (Stumptown bourbon, you stole my heart) but I sure enjoyed being able to taste them. I happened to visit on a super rainy day at an odd time, so I escaped the infamous line. I don't know if I'd be willing to endure a line out the door, but I would certainly be game to buy a pint and enjoy it in the queue-free comfort of my home. Buuuut I don't live in Portland. Ha, don't mind me.
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Ashly d.
Fun and tasty flavours + local and quality ingredients = win win. If you like fresh and delicious ice cream, go.
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Devon B.
We waited for a bit, but the ice cream was worth it. I ordered a seasonal flavor for August-- green fennel maple. It was just enough flavor without being overwhelming. I tried the strawberry balsamic black pepper. It is definitely an acquired taste. I also sample the olive oil, which was nice, but would have needed another flavor. The gal helping us was very accommodating and allowed us to sample multiple flavors.
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Melissa M.
The Honey Lavender ice cream is the best! I've tried other ones, and they always make it too gooey honey or too intense of a lavender, but, of course, Salt & Straw makes it perfectly! We also loved the Coconut Strawberry Rhubarb Pie one. If you can't decide, just get the sampler!
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Monica C.
Lavender ice cream is MY FAVORITE!! This ice cream is so whacky and crazy and yummy in my tummy I would go much more often but unfortunately the lines are so outrageously long!! They make their cones fresh though so at least you get to smell the waffle cones while you wait hah. Good tip is if you just get a pint instead of a cone you can skip the line! awesome! GO THERE ESPECIALLY IF UR VISITING!
(5)
Celine L.
My new favorite ice cream place.... This place is amazing. We went really early so there was almost no line, and got to try many flavors that they offered. One aspect that I found amazing of Salt and Straw was their ability to use the most unique ingredients and be able create delicious flavors of ice cream right. I've had ice cream places that had unique ingredients, but their execution.. wasn't so good. Everything I tried here was so sinfully delicious yet heavenly that it should be illegal. Their scoop sizes are also enormous, one scoop means two scoops in one. It was ridiculous. The one flavor that stuck out to me the most was their bone marrow and bourbon smoked cherries. Who even thinks of bone marrow as an ice cream flavor? This flavor was very smokey with a slight hint of cherries, which I enjoyed but definitely could not eat a scoop of that. I ended up getting four flavors- Salt and Straw allows half scoops which I was really excited about- so this was supposedly two scoops (but was actually four). Sea Salt w Caramel Ribbons- I actually didn't order this one, but it was still delicious. There was caramel and sea salt everywhere, and it was very smooth and creamy. Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache- The almond brittle was the best part of this ice cream- it seemed to be caramelized or something, and complemented the flavor so well. Strawberry Honey Balsamic w Black Pepper- I hate strawberry ice cream. But when I tried this, I fell in love. The strawberry ice cream had a bit of puree which added more flavor, and there was a slight hint of honey and balsamic that finished off the flavor. I didn't taste the black pepper though. Arbequina Olive Oil- so this is apparently Oprah's favorite olive oil brand.. and damn was it good. As olive oil is my favorite flavor, I had high expectations for this- and this flavor definitely met them. The olive oil had a slight kick instead of the standard olive oil flavor, and was very creamy. The best I've had. After trying this place, I aimed for going to Salt and Straw every day before I left, which was a hard feat as lines are ridiculously long. All of my friends recommended me to go here, and I could most definitely see why. With all the flavors so unique and flawlessly done, one really can't dislike this place. Until next time...
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Raja S.
Consistent with the flavors across all of their locations. Somehow liked the location in Alphabet district better
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Connie Y.
Creamy ice cream. Freshly made waffle cones. Tons of flavors. What's not to love? My boyfriend and I ended up trying almost all the flavors while we were here. The lady who was scooping our ice cream for us was super nice about it too. She encouraged us to try more flavors... Which we did! Because we don't know when we would be back in Portland again. Don't be intimidated by the line. The line was out the door when we arrived during a Saturday afternoon and it took about 20 minutes to get to the front. That's not a bad wait at all since popular ice cream places in San Francisco may take a little longer than that. Some flavors I liked? -- Sea salt with caramel ribbons -- Stumptown coffee & burnside bourbon -- Cinnamon snickerdoodle -- Chocolate gooey brownie -- Arbequina olive oil -- Sea salt caramel cupcake Side note: Pok Pok is located a block away so it's a good idea to get that first and come here for dessert! Enjoy!
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Ashley P.
While my friend and I were visiting Portland, we had to visit the infamous Salt & Straw! I got the salt and caramel flavor which I like more than the traditional salted caramel that most ice cream and yogurt shops serve because it had a greater kick of the salt. They had plenty of unique flavors, and I tried a bunch. Definitely the place to go if you're up for a novelty flavor. This place was definitely a step up from the LA ice cream shops that have been trending with unique flavors because of the service! Normally there's some sort of 2 sample limit and people get annoyed when you want to try too many things, but it's the opposite here! They want you to try as many flavors, until you find the right one for you, definitely something I was not used to at other places! Side note that doesn't have much to do with the ice cream--If you end up going, check out the soap in the bathroom, pretty gnarly. It's a powdered soap that I believe is called Boraxo used in the old days. Left my hands super soft!
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Lehua S.
This place is seriously some of the best ice cream ive ever had. I'm definitely not a dessert person, so me wanting to come here every time I'm in Portland is a HUGE DEAL. I'm not too big into all the wacky flavours, although I did really like pear and blue cheese. I wish they had the staple flavours all year round, like mint chocolate chip. Great place ugh!! I want it as I type.
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Kelsie H.
Yes please!!! I'll take another!! Came here this evening with family that told us this place was amazing!!!! And they were so right! Long line, but moves fast! Sample any of the flavors. I tried the honey lavender and peach with blu cheese. I ended up with a half and half single scoop: honey lavender and sea salt caramel. They were fantastic!!!!!! When I visit Portland, this will be a must!!' Yummmmm!!!!
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Chris S.
Delicious gourmet ice cream. Gets busy but the line moves pretty quickly and it's worth the wait. Some of the flavors are a trip. The Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon was amazing.
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Shannon M.
The line never seems to disappear, even on a weeknight after 9pm, so I did it. Waited in line for ice cream. And I don't regret it. So many crazy, creative flavor combinations. I ordered the tasting flight (why wouldn't everyone order this??) and sampled the Balsamic Strawberry and cracked pepper, Vanilla, Chocolate with Brownie, and Olive Oil. My favorites were the Strawberry and Chocolate. I wish I could have tried more, but four scoops was already too much...
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Whitney G.
The line was crazy but it's part of the experience. Make sure you have plenty of time if your putting this on your agenda. When we went they had crazy flavors that infused savory food cart items with ice cream. Worth the wait at least once! Homemade fresh waffle cones are a must.
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Tiffanie R.
At the end of the day it's just ice cream and I'm not a big ice cream fanatic, BUT this ice cream is exceptional. For ice cream it's 5 star stuff. Ultra creamy, fresh home made, simple ingredients formed into one of a kind, creative flavors only found here at Salt & Straw. In the last 72 hours I've had the: Honey Lavender, Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, Almond Brittle w/ Salted Granache all with thier in house made waffle cone. Also tried Pear & Blue Cheese and Arbequina Olive Oil - both strangely good, light, refreshing. Love that they use Organic & local ingredients. Very inexpensive too. It's kind of addictive. The line typically has about 30 people ahead of you, leads out the door and wraps around the corner - still people happily wait and I've done it several times now in just a few days. Worth it.
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Jessica P.
I missed Salt & Straw on my first stop in Portland, so when we moved here it was a must visit...immediately! We knew we were in the right place because there was a line out the door. The line moved very quickly, they definitely have it together, especially on sunny days! We knew we wanted a flight, I'm convinced I would get a flight of just about anything if it was offered, the hard part was deciding on 4 flavors. We went with mainly seasonal flavors, knowing we would have plenty of time to try all of their regulars. The theme was May Flowers and we settled on Dandelion Sorbet with Spring Flowers, Strawberry Meadow Marmalade, Cherry Blossom, and one classic flavor the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle. We immediately dug in, I was battling my husband and a 2 year old with her own spoon, so I had to move fast! The ice cream was absolute perfection. It is creamy and flavorful, and so well balanced. The Dandelion Sorbet was surprisingly flavorful and so good, I wasn't a huge fan of the flowers, it was just weird chewing on them, but it was one of my favorites. The Cherry Blossom had a mild flavor, it wouldn't be my top choice. The strawberry Meadow Marmalade was so good. It had a strong strawberry flavor and a ribbon of sweet honey running through it. We ended up buying a pint, oh yes they sell pints! The Cinnamon Snickerdoodle is the thing dreams are made of, seriously. It is so creamy and cinnamon-y, and it has chunks of Snickerdoodles. OMG! I was also able to sample the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and it is dreamy delicious, probably our next pint. I'm so excited to continue to explore the menu and I'm equally excited that they have a monthly menu that changes. We also decided that we will be getting a pint to bring home when we go from now on. It's a little pricey at $9 a pint, but you can't beat the flavor and knowing that it's made fresh from people who care. If I could I would have a mini Salt & Straw in my house, this is what ice cream is supposed to taste like people!
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Benjamin K.
Stellar friendly local service from employees who obviously like working here. Ice cream is exotic and truly creative in nature. Be forewarned it is mega rich in flavor... A single cone for me would have been more than enough over my double cone. Chocolate with speckles was delicious and the salted caramel coconut was insanely gooey and rich! Wowza!
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Janet H.
The best ice cream I've ever had!!! Hailing from San Francisco Bay Area, I've been spoiled by other great creameries, but my mind was blown after a few sample bites of Salt & Straw! I've never had ice cream so flavorful and so tasty! Don't let the long lines scare you... it goes by fairly quick. If not, it's TOTALLY worth the wait. Once you reach the counter, the employees let you try samples. Our server was so kind, patient and helpful! She gave great recommendations for complementing different flavors together. We couldn't pick just one flavor so we got the four sampler... no regrets. I got the more "tame" flavors, like strawberry balsamic, honey lavender, sea salt caramel and the almond fritter. My favorites were the strawberry and honey lavender! You must get those! This is also a great dessert spot to cool off your mouths after eating Pok Pok wings! It does get quite crowded in here... in fact, a man almost knocked our ice cream off the table! Rude!
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Christine S.
As Tom on Parks and Recs claims, you should TREAT. YO. SELF! (...to some Salt & Straw, of course!) Salt and Straw ice cream is handmade and uses all natural and organic ingredients. They also use local ingredients from family owned farms. Walking in, you'll see a long list of different ice cream flavors to try. It's hard to just pick a few! - Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons: I usually don't like salted caramel ice cream if it's too sweet or too salty, but this one was just right! - Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Black Pepper: unlike SF's Bi-Rite's Balsamic Strawberry ice cream (which was just okay), this one was heavenly! It stands out because they have bits (chunks?) of strawberry jam in the ice cream. I really liked the contrast of the jam and the creamy ice cream, and the waffle cone was bomb! - Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon: coffee ice cream is awesome on its own, but add bourbon, and you got a real winner! Although the total was $12 for three people (two sugar cones and one waffle cone), the portions are pretty big! I almost couldn't finish my whole waffle cone. Definitely worth it if you're craving ice cream.
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Michael L.
Forget it. Don't go. If you go, you'll never like ordinary ice cream again. There's a reason there's a line out the door most times. The server will let you try as many flavors as you want, no rush. This is rich, creamy ice cream. Not mousse like 50 Licks, and the preference is yours. I like both. No, I love both. Going to Salt and Straw brought me back to those times when going out for ice cream was something to be excited about. Yum!
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M G.
Friendly staff and deeeeeelicious ice cream!! Please open a store in California... Specifically in the Bay Area!
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Tracy D.
O M G! Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon ice cream? WOW! These guys do a bang up, very friendly and fast, business. They make their own cones in house and the smell wafting out draws you in. Just go try them, they are fantastic and some of the best ice cream I've ever had.
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Rosh E.
Location: Along the street with Pok Pok, Richmond Bar, etc. You can't miss it with it's wooden sign. They also have a parking lot right next to it, but it does get packed pretty quick. Customer Service: The ladies scooping your ice cream were very friendly and did not hesitate to make small conversation and also give out samples Decor: It's very simple, nothing fancy but simple is key sometimes! Presentation of Food: Like any other ice cream shop. Cup or cone. Waffle cones. And samplers came on this nicely presented wooden board with four glass cups. How did the food taste?: We got the sampler which came with four different kinds of ice cream. I ended up getting the stumptown coffee and the rose ice cream. The other two my friend picked out which I didn't try because I was just so into the rose ice cream! The coffee was just eh. But see when I was in SF I got lost on Valencia Street and ended up at an Indian Ice Cream shop. They had exotic flavors such as rose which I tried for the first time and loved. I never went back to that ice cream shop because I don't remember where it was. So when I saw they had it here I knew I had to get it to see if they did just as good as a job and they did! It's very light, and tasty! I would have gotten the milk and cereal flavor but I only picked two since I split the sampler. The milk and cereal isn't too bad. The way the girl described it is that they wanted to create an effect where the taste of the ice cream is like how the milk would taste like after you ate a bowl of lucky charms. YUM! Overall Experience: I would come back if in Portland again!
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Michele B.
Amazing ice cream! You can sample as many as you want before you make your choices, they periodically switch up some flavors, which makes it exciting! Love the flights, you taste 4 flavors for $9 it is great to share; it's one scoop of each flavor you choose in bowls on a wooden holder! The staff is always so friendly! Be ready to wait in line, but don't be discouraged if it's into the driveway, it moves fast and from the driveway entrance the wait in my experience has be 30 minutes or less and sooooo worth the wait. Easy for pets to come along too.
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Natalie M.
Honestly what's not to love about the place that made farm to cone ice cream in PDX cool?! Although it's small, and on any given summer night there's a line out the door, don't worry you won't wait too long. Plus a little wait makes the ice cream that much sweeter. When I moved to LA for a short period of time last year I was thrilled to see that Salt & Straw made the trip with me, yet slightly jealous that we had to share it with anyone outside of Portland. Every flavor is amazing, my favorite in PDX is the Gooey Chocolate Brownie and the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. This is my petition to bring Salted Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough from LA to PDX! It's to die for good and makes me sad that I can't get it now that I am back in PDX. Secrets for the first timers, you can sample as many flavors as you want before selecting your choice and if you can't decide go for the ice cream flight! It's about $9 for several different flavors (I think 5). Your stomach will be happy you did it, trust me. Overall it's my favorite ice cream place in a city full of frozen dairy treats. Also check back each month as they have monthly themes bringing in new flavors in addition to the classic flavors available year round
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Dorsey S.
This is ice cream you need in your life. New flavors every month! DO IT
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John L.
I've tried many ice cream places all over the US and I must say Salt & Straw is definitely one of the best. Not only has been consistently awesome but also consistently daring and innovative with new flavors. This place used to have much shorter lines than Alberta and Alphabet, but the lines seem to be getting longer and longer the last few times I've been. Probably because there are so many new restaurants and condos along Division in that area. Just a side note, Alberta lines seem to have gotten slightly better and Alphabet lines have been the worst since it opened. Despite the lines, I keep going back. Awesome regular items ever changing monthly specials with themes. Never gets boring.
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Denea Y.
This is my favorite location of the three, as the line seems to be the shortest. While I always entertain the idea of deviating from my favorite and sampling the unusual monthly flavor specials, I usually come back to my beloved lavender honey. They're sorbets are always amazing and refreshing, including some with heirloom tomatoes and another with watermelon. This is a monthly venture, at the least, and always a treat for visitors!
(5)
Denise K.
Flavor and sensory overload! What unique flavors! I give S&S 5 stars because service was extremely friendly and they don't rush you when you're deciding on what samples to try and what flavors to order. Apparently S&S's olive oil ice cream is Oprah's favorite ice cream flavor. It was so unique, rich yet subtle - this flavor definitely tickled my tastebuds! We got a strawberry ricotta and loved it... Some chocolate flavor and another lemon meringue cookie flavor...Everything was delectable! You can't go wrong at S&S! Can't decide on what flavors you want? Pay a little extra and do "split scoops". Hello, 4 flavors in a cup? Yes, please!
(5)
Ellre V.
A trip to Salt & Straw is another must in Portland. Where else can you try a Pear and Blue Cheese Ice Cream or a Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper? I was completely satisfied with my first visit here. There was no long line, I was able to sample as many flavors that I so desired, and the workers knew all about the flavors and were able to help me pair my Pear and Blue Cheese scoop with the perfect complementary flavor of a Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon scoop. So glad they opened up a location closer to me in Los Angeles!
(5)
Margie S.
Expect long lines! The ice cream and waffles cones are worth it though. The line moves quickly especially if you're surrounded by good company.
(5)
Darlene B.
Ice Cream...I've had some really good ice cream before, but this one is not my favorite. With an overwhelming selection on their menu, I had a hard time picking. I tried two flavors in a cup. Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Coconut w/ Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars. These 2 flavors did not go well together...i poorly picked. I'm in a coconut ice cream phase, and this attempt killed my vibe. The Salted Caramel Bar pieces were extremely large and overpowered the coconut flavor. I feel like this was a place I had to try while in Portland...but I should of chose something else. They have cool shop tees and pints to go!
(3)
Cristi D.
(5)
Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: We were searching for things to do in Portland during the days while my husband was at work and we were ready to play...and along came high reviews for Salt & Straw. Our plan to hit up each of the three locations throughout Portland was thwarted, but we still managed to sample one scoop shop's fare! Type of cuisine: "We're Salt & Straw, Portland's farm-to-cone ice cream shop. Our ice cream is handmade in small-batches using only all-naturaldairy with the best local, sustainable and organic ingredients Oregon has to offer, as well as imported flavors from small,handpicked farms and producers around the world. We start with fresh, local, all-natural cream from family owned farms in the Willamette Valley. Our ice cream is made with 17% butterfat, very little air in the churn process, and a low sweetness level...so the flavors can really shine through!" Ambiance: A country home meets a circus tent with sleek and minimalist design. A hard space to capture in just a few simple words, yet the welcome is warm and inviting, and the focus certainly on the frozen treats! What I ordered: Too full for a full scoop (or two), I sampled my way through the establishment along with my friends, one of whom ordered a thick vanilla milkshake and the other selected two scoops: one of the Strawberry Honey Balsamic and the second a scoop of the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon. I sampled everything from the Salted Caramel Cupcake (too sweet and extremely salty), the Lumberjack Stack (very mapley and not enough pancake), and the Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper (pretty amazing), to the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon (may have been the favorite) and the Pear with Blue Cheese (definite favorite)! What I loved: I was stunned, surprised and intrigued by my absolute favorite: Pear with Blue Cheese! The Stumptown Coffee a very close second, and the Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper a flavorful, sweet surprise coming in third. Why I loved it: Simple ingredients, healthy sample sizes and amazingly creative flavors worth an out-of-the-way drive. Cost: High ($3 - $8 per serving)
(5)
Maggie L.
You can sample as many flavors as you want. The people here are so nice. They have some unique flavors and most taste great. I liked the pear and blue cheese, salted caramel, olive oil and coffee & bourbon. You can get half and half for $.50 extra. They also have some Student Invented flavors, which were invented by local elementary school students and part of the profit goes back to the schools. The A Lick of Happiness is delicious!
(5)
Stacy C.
We've driven by dozens of times and always wondered why people would be so foolish to wait in such a long line with so many other icecream/gelato/yogurt options in the city.... But now we get it :) Definitely the best ice-cream we've had in years. I had the goat cheese and lingonberry in my first scoop- enough goat cheese to make it unmistakable without being too tangy or bitter. My second scoop was of the balsamic strawberry w/black pepper- also true to its word and very jammy, though very little pepper at the end. Both are a true delight. My husband had the stumptown coffee ice-cream (which honestly tastes just like his morning stumptown cup of coffee out of our keurig) and and pear & blue cheese- wow... very sweet and tangy, but oh so good...! If indulging with a partner, make sure one of you grabs a spot in line while the other finds parking. There were about 30 peeps in front of us and we waited 15 minutes or so... not so bad! Good service too. My husband had 3 samples before ordering and I had 2. We'll definitely return!
(5)
Grace L.
Yum yum yum yum yum! The ice cream here is rich and flavorful and they have a gazillion of flavors so there's bound to be something that will satisfy your sweet (or salty) tooth! Super friendly. Super patient. Willing to let you sample a lot of flavors. Waffle cone is made fresh and delicious!
(5)
Daisy K.
Unique flavors, super friendly staff and... the option to taste test all the weird flavors before settling on something you want to actually consume a scoop or two of a flavor you can enjoy. The one I finally settled on was the Almond Brittle with salted ganache... and wow. Speechless at how amazing this flavor is. The right amount of crunch paried with the saltiness and richly bitterness of the dark ganache. If they made gallons of this ice cream, I would take it with me.
(5)
Iris L.
I love salt and straw and all their new seasonal flours however some classic flours taste more watery than two years ago. It is kind of sad after the business grow rapidly the quality of the products go down. But it still really good ice cream thigh
(4)
Lady S.
If you are ever within 2 hours of this place you need to come try it out! My family visits at least monthly, and we never leave disappointed. The Rose City Riot is my new favorite flavor this month. You often have to park a block or three away if you come by car, but it's very worth it. Note: If you buy pints from the freezer, you don't have to wait in the (often) long line.
(5)
Allan C.
Great ice cream to have while in Portland. Lucked out to have them during the intense heat during our brief stay!
(5)
Andrea C.
Salt & Straw ice cream met my expectations. They had a unique set of flavors. I'm, however, very boring and not as adventurous when it comes to flavors and I usually stick with coffee haha. But! Their coffee ice cream did NOT disasspoint. It was Stumptown coffee and burboun flavored. Drooooool. Although the line was really long, it moved along pretty fast. What I really liked was that the workers there looked like they really enjoyed what they were doing and offered as many samples as we wanted. Like how they gave samples with actual metal spoons. The girl that was helping us also told us that there is a Salt & Straw in Hollywood so if I ever need to get my fix, I can just make the drive out there :) Will definitely make a stop here again next time I'm in town! :)
(4)
Angel I.
BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD. Good thing I don't live in Portland or I would be in trouble. But when I am in Portland, I am at Salt & Straw EVERYDAY! :) Very unique flavors for their ice cream, and everything is truly local and artisan. Expect waits, but the wait is well worth it.
(5)
Joanna L.
This is the best ice cream I have ever had. Anywhere. The line was about 20 minutes on a recent night but I would have waited longer. Once at the front the server let us try everything we wanted to before making a selection. The flavors are so unique and the ingredients are locally sourced. I decided on a waffle cone with cinnamon snickerdoodle and strawberry balsamic black pepper favors. I might join the pint of the month club soon!!
(5)
Annette C.
It's not bad but not great either. Probably a 3 1/2 stars. We tried 4 of the classic flavors - salted caramel ribbon, woodblock chocolate, chocolate with gooey brownie & almond brittle. You can definitely taste the salt in the flavors. I'll try it again if the lines are not long.
(3)
Ken W.
DELICIOUS ice cream. EXCELLENT customer service. I came with 2 buddies and waited in line for about fifteen minutes. The line moved pretty fast as the service is quick. The girl helping us was so sweet. Despite the line, she told us to try out as many flavors as we'd like to, was explaining each flavor, and just kept moving us down, letting us sample more and more ice cream. She didn't make us feel rushed at all, and at one point I completely forgot about the giant line behind us. Their cocktail flavors were excellent, in which I went with a double scoop. A heaping double scoop that is. You can't go wrong here, especially after sampling one after another until you find the flavor that dances on your taste buds. Salt & straw is always unique and delicious, and I understand the usual line. It's worth the wait. If all the people working are as sweet as this girl was, they deserve 6/5 stars. Thank you blonde girl, you made us all happy with ice cream.
(5)
Adrienne I.
Whoooooaaa. Amazing,and I don't even love ice cream. I tasted strawberry balsamic pepper (yummy and strangely buttery, almost got this as my scoop), sea salt caramel (yummy yum yum), olive oil (not for me...it literally tastes like oil), almond brittle (yummy crispiness), lavender honey (not for me either... It tasted like a spa smells), and pear blue cheese (I got a whole scoop of this, not too blue cheesey and the pears were delightful. They were so super nice about letting me try it all. A culinary foodie treat for sure!
(5)
Debbie L.
Always the best ice cream and town. Really spoiled now and only go to Salt & Straw for ice cream. I love their changing flavors for the holidays and then their regular flavors always there too! I had a sundae a while back and it was good but I think I'll just stick to the ice cream by itself. I recommend Salt & Straw not just for the "sight-seeing" or "touristy" folks, but for everyone or anyone that wants to taste what real ice cream is supposed to taste like!
(5)
Fu W.
What do you do when there are so many interesting flavors available?! The only thing you could do... Get. Them. All. Yes, ALL. 17 flavors to be exact, with four tasting flights and one kid scoop. And yes, they were all delicious. Each one was flavorful without being overpowering, not too sweet, and not too rich, executed with interesting and complementary combinations of ingredients. This was definitely not just an ice cream shop with gimmicky crazy flavors. With the advantage of tasting so many different flavors side by side, it was easy to tell the top notch quality and uniqueness in every single one. Salt & Straw did not disappoint. We happily huddled around our samplers while others looked on with jealousy, and we finished everything, pushing the limits of our lactose intolerance. Worth it! =D Highlights: Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon Honey Lavender Arbequina Olive Oil Rose City Riot Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper Pear with Blue Cheese
(4)
Liza S.
Wow. Just wow. The single most amazing ice cream ever. Ok, here's the details: I was completely set on the honey lavender, but wanted to try a few others. I tried the rhubarb saffron, found it a little too sweet. Moved on to the strawberry lemon verbena, and OMG I was in love. Light, lemony, a little tart and a little sweet. Perfect for a warm evening. I wanted both, the lavender and the strawberry lemon verbena-but that's a challenge, even in a fresh made waffle cone. So, what to do? The wonderfully helpful lady helping us offered to split the scoop so I could have both! I was completely happy. My companion had the woodblock chocolate. I tend to shy away from chocolate ice cream because it's generally too sweet for me. This chocolate was rich, dark, and almost smoky. An incredible chocolate that has a complexity rarely found in ice cream. Ok, here's the good, less good, and what to expect if you've never visited: Good: Flavors- amazing variety and quality Cones- the fresh waffle cones are incredible. Thin and crisp. Samples- love being able to taste and use a real (tiny) spoon, no plastic! Service- awesome. It was late in the evening, and everyone was happy and helpful. Less good: The line- it is a fairly quick moving line, but it looks daunting when driving/walking by. If I hadn't read the amazing reviews on Yelp, I might have gone somewhere else. Confusion when it's your turn- we weren't really sure what was going on, might be a better way of moving people through. So if it's your first time, expect to wait a bit and be a little overwhelmed by all the choices. This was my first time, and I looked at the menu before I visited, so I had a short list of what I wanted to try. I recommend that. Also take your time and try things. They are very nice about giving tastes. Don't let the line scare you away. There were probably 40 people ahead of us and it took us maybe 15 minutes. It was completely worth the wait and I would wait even longer. It was that good.
(5)
Brooks M.
another portland staple. while it is indeed amazing i am not willing to wait in line for many things over an hour. rocked it this time when we walked by on easter sunday at 6 pm and the line was only 10 deep to the door! bam! a. thank you salt & straw for being open on a holiday, that's a-mazing b. thanks for always having amazing service, knowledgable staff and quality product that never disappoints. the win this week was a fudge brownie ice cream malt. win.
(4)
Michelle G.
Solid ice cream shop with unique artisan flavors that are PNW inspired! Great for a hot day but be prepared for the long line!
(4)
Alex P.
It's weird and fun, but that's it. It's definitely the best weird flavored ice cream you'll find, but holy Moses that is it. If you say this is actually the best ice cream you've ever had, you're kidding yourself. This is the perfect place for "foodies" that want to feel like they have a sophisticated pallet for eating "artesian" ice cream that normal people don't like. The favors aren't actually good, they just aren't terrible. All this said, I did smile when I took my first few licks, so maybe it's worth it. Overall, I give Salt & Straw an eye-roll/5
(2)
Trudy S.
Always too busy at night so stopped off for breakfast. Stumptown coffee wirh bourbon, pear and blue cheese, hot fudge brownie sundae are all fantastic. Get them soon though...they might not be there next week!
(5)
Shireen J.
Oh goodness! The sea salt and caramel was absolutely delicious!! The lavender honey also comes highly recommended. The chocolate brownie is good but not the best even though I usually pick chocolate everywhere I go. I also tried the delicious snicker doodle. The waffles cones are made fresh and make the entire store smell great. Worth it!
(5)
Elizabeth R.
I visited this place on NYE 2014, so my memory may be enhanced by sparkling wine and cocktails... but I'm still going say that I loved it! I was very happy to be warmly greeted and given ample time to sample and choose my flavor even though they were VERY busy. This place clearly exists for interesting flavors, so don't waste your time getting something typical. Stretch your ice-cream taste buds and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jo R.
Not worth it- not worth the line, not worth the money. I can make better ice cream, and I think I can make it faster than I can get through the line here.
(2)
Linh N.
They have vegan ice cream!! Yes, my friends. Dairy free and Egg-free ice cream. Vegans, lactose-intolerants, and egg- and dairy-allergy friends can unite and cheer! Their vegan ice cream when I went was a coconut milk ice cream with chunks of salted caramel bars. It was de-effing-licious. Now, let's get this clear though, I am neither vegan, lactose-intolerant, nor do I have food allergies, but my 1.5 year old daughter who has had to avoid most ice creams all her life, can finally enjoy a taste of creamy frozen deliciousness from an ice cream shop. And I of course, got to taste the various types of ice creams before trying them. My personal favorites were lavendar and salted caramel. If you want just a scoop of ice cream but can't decide on which flavor to commit to, you can split it into 2 flavors like what I did. This location barely had a line when I went on a Monday holiday afternoon (Labor day). There were probably about 8 seats or so. I am already missing this place!
(5)
Shanna C.
Ice cream always hits the spot on a warm day! We got lucky and didn't have to deal with a long line. They have some interesting flavors (some that were a bit too weird sounding). To be honest, I probably would have loved it if I didn't live around the corner from Cloud City (which I prefer). So yeah..good ice cream, cool space, and unique flavors!
(4)
Jared H.
Ok. I was hesitant about the long line because I can't stand waiting in line especially when I have 3 kids in tow. But the wait was totally worth it. My kids had one that tasted just like lucky charms. They were ecstatic about it and can't wait to go back to get more. My wife had a coffee one and it was awesome and I had one with real pistachios in it and it was phenomenal. Surprisingly the prices weren't that terrible. Usually when you go to a place that always has a line out the door you expect to get ripped off but prices really weren't that bad. Sadly you will probably pay about the same at a Baskin Robins. I am telling everyone that they have to go here, especially if they are visiting Portland.
(5)
Barton R.
Everything you've heard is true. The line is long, the service is city-best, and the ice cream...Oh, that smooth, creamy, delectable ice cream. It's not often that I get to eat vegan ice cream out on the town, and Salt & Straw's vegan selections both blew me completely out of the water. Coconut + Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is absolutely to die for.
(5)
Christina L.
OMG SO NOMSIES! after late lunch at pok pok, we only had room for 2 small scoops - and after tasting a few flavors, decided on the coconut and pumpkin - but with exotic bits included! mmmm!! such a chic little spot, and people working there are passionate and knowledgeable about their flavors and product..! nice work!
(5)
Anna R.
I hate how much I actually love this place. When I first heard the hype I thought eh, ice cream can't be thattttt good. But it is! The ice cream is unbelievably creamy and delicious. I'm a huge fan of the honey lavender and salted carmel (like everyone else). Their seasonal flavors can be a little wild but they are great! But alas, with quality comes a hefty price tag. This is not your DQ swirl cone. You'll probably spend at least $5 for a sizable cone. But I can get over that because it really is just so.damn.good. I will be back again and again.
(5)
Lena V.
I have never been a fan of much sweets so it wasn't to my surprise I wasn't all that crazy about this place. I tried the almond brittle with salted ganache. I really enjoyed it until I encountered the salted ganache and it was just too much. When I had a sample, the salted ganache wasn't there so i didn't know how it was going to be. The salted ganache was just way too huge. Half way through, I was picking them out. The almond brittle was yummy though.
(3)
Vy T.
The flavors at this place are unique to say the least. The staff was very friendly and you can try samples before you order. All the ice cream is pretty heavy, with lots of toppings swirled in to make the ice cream flavors really stand out. There are seasonal flavors, changing depending on local products avalaible. I'm glad that they're opening a location in LA, and the flavors will be created from local ingredients!
(4)
Amanda M.
Amazing and unique flavors of gelato! They let you try anything you want to and even offer a sampler where you can try small portions of 3 different flavors. They have sweet, savory, and everything in between. This is great to have after Pok Pok's chicken wings (from Pok Pok or the Whiskey Bar).
(5)
Rachel H.
So since I've heard about the long lines I went around noon on a Tuesday. Was able to find parking and didn't have to wait in line at all. The aroma inside the store, holy shiz. I got s flight with 4/5 of the Thanksgiving flavors.
(4)
Linh F.
i honestly don't need to say much about salt & straw since this is a portland staple. portland natives love it, tourists come here just to eat it, and it's one of oprah's favorite things! i will, however, confirm what everyone has said before me. this place is awesome! yes, there are long lines all throughout the day but we really didn't mind. this was the second place we went to after we got off the plane and ate it every day until we left. too much? we don't think so. salt & straw has three locations... we visited two of them. so they have a their list of permanent flavors and then a few rotating flavors. their featured flavors the week we were there were signature cocktails! our absolute favorites: - cinnamon snickerdoodle - chunks of cookies in the ice cream! - almond brittle ganache also, waffle cones are a must. you can literally smell them when you are waiting in line. with that said, you wouldn't be that big of a loser if you didn't get a waffle cone (or would you? jk). you have the choice of sugar cone or cup. you also have a ton of options with regard to your scoops. single, double, split, kids size or even a sample flight! ok, so a few tips. if you get a chance, i would go to the location on division (pictured above). it is new so the decor is stupid cute. fresher and lighter than the original location on 23rd (pictured below). lots of natural light and there's a hole in the counter wall for your spoon (mentioned and pictured above). it's the little things. we cannot stop raving about this place. add this to your list if you are in town!
(5)
Mark G.
Was a little upsetting standing in the long line, but more than worth it one I tasted their ice cream. The sea salt with caramel and woodblock chocolate were delicious. Definitely will stand in that long line tomorrow
(5)
Dennis M.
We came 15 min before they closed on last Tuesday and forgot my lef overs (from Pok Pok). We realized and went back after we left just only 5 minutes (around 11pm) but they closed already so I knocked the door and one of them saw us, at that moment I saw the other employee eating my leftovers. (manager, please check on video cams). I stood there for a minute and they still not open the door after i've been knocked on the door many times, surely, because they saw me and got caught eating my leftovers. gross. bad experience i've ever had.
(1)
Jett B.
best. ice cream. ever. Honestly, I don't usually like the really crazy stuff, like Peking Duck Bun, but most of their creative concoctions usually score big with me. Last week I had chocolate covered potato chip salted caramel and it was a winner.
(5)
Greg A.
Me and the wife came here during our vacation to Portland. Everyone kept telling us to go here. All their ice cream flavors sounded so good we just ended up getting the flight. All of them were above average. Great ice cream here.
(5)
Pissed O.
Oh how I love you salt and straw. I hear the owner is not very professional but holy yum is it tasty!
(5)
Alice L.
My advice: -Avoid the long lines by going before lunch (yep, that means have it at 10 or 11am, what better excuse??) and before dinner (around 3-4pm). Another yelper just took the time to personally inform me that apparently, "only assholes get ice cream at 10am to avoid the lines." So if you're part of the elite few that loves ice cream any time of the day, I proudly quote Dave Skylark, "hate us cuz you ain't us!" -Get a split cone, which is 2 kid sized scoops for $4.45, so you can not only try smaller amounts of 2 flavors but also mix it. My favorite mixes have been the Stumptown Coffee and Salted Caramel (soooo good). -Any weather is ice cream weather so don't think the cold or rain will make it less busy. -They have their usual flavors and they have monthly seasonal flavors, which are DIVINE and change according to what's available locally. -Lastly, they just opened up a store in L.A. for all the Cali folks but the flavors are a little different because they use locally sourced ingredients. Their ice cream is always just right: not too dense with just the right amount of ice crystals in it.
(5)
Neil W.
This was recommended to us and after a disappointing lunch we happened to drive by and wanted a pick me up. They have a great selection of flavors; very unique and well thought out. I had two scoops; one of the coffee bourbon and one of the almond brittle with salted ganache. The coffee was good, not great. I had a hard time picking up any bourbon notes. The almond brittle was great. It was a good balance of flavors without going overboard. My wife had a ricotta, honey, lavender ice cream. The description was so long that we have trouble remembering all that was in it. She still talks about it. It was one of the best ice cream flavors she has had. They really did a good job mixing those flavors.
(5)
Julian M.
The confectionary wizards at Salt and Straw combines flavors that should not go together but somehow magically do. Whether it's in a scoop of Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero, which finds the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, or the smoky Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, every scoop is filled with Wonka-esque deliciousness. Even classic flavors are given a foodie overhaul with options like Double Fold Vanilla, which uses twice as many vanilla beans, or Strawberry Balsamic. The only downside to this creamery is how small the shop is; be prepared to stand for at least 10 minutes for a scoop, although once you've tasted a bite you'll forgot all about the wait.
(5)
Mariam H.
My friend lives directly above this Salt and Straw location. Trust me, after a few days of smelling freshly made waffle cones no one could resist stopping in for a scoop. First off - I am extremely lactose intolerant so I only allowed myself samples of the dairy options. The flavor sample that stood out the most was olive oil (dairy). I was so shocked by how delicious it was!! It had a nice savory/sweet thing going on. I chose the strawberry rhubarb pie in the end, a non-dairy option. They literally make a rhubarb pie and mix it in the ice cream. Best non-dairy ice cream I have ever Tip: Go during a week day if you hate lines, people on dates and fighting for parking.
(5)
Jo L.
I've been to some other pretty well known and highly ranked ice cream places, and S&S was pretty good, but I don't think I'm falling on the floor crying in awe of the ice cream there. I do love that basically the entire block smells like waffle cones. I mean, if you didn't want ice cream before you were in the vicinity of S&S then you probably would by the time you managed to get around the line out the door. There was, as usual (from the other reviews here) a line out the door, but it moved relatively quickly. I had the strawberry balsamic ice cream with black pepper and it was pretty good. I also tried some of the other ones, like the strawberry and Pimm's flavor (which turned out to not have any Pimm's in it), the coffee/bourbon one, the birthday cake and blackberry (which was waaaaaay too sweet because of the frosting(!!) flavored cake), the cucumber and berry sorbet, and a few others. I liked the range of options, and the menu is helpfully posted inside AND out to minimize on indecision and flavor envy, and all of the flavors were tasty but again, not mind-blowingly-I'm-crying-because-this-is-so-good tasty. The staff there were super helpful and knowledgeable about the flavors, and I only felt minimally rushed while I made my purchase. We also got some really tasty shortbread cookies on an impulse buy, and those were great. More seating in the area would be nice too. It's worth going to if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek it out.
(4)
Kathryn H.
Great assortment of flavors. Perfect balance of sweetness so that it's not overwhelming. Be prepared to wait in line.
(5)
Gracie L.
Yep, Salt & Straw really is As Good As it Gets! This place tops ALL other ice cream shops you've ever tried! Now, their exotic flavors do come and go, but they'll always have something delicious and interesting to try. My personal favor (thus far) is the Strawberry Balsamic. It's SOOOOO good! Definitely do the sampler- you get a hefty scoop of four different flavors. Plus, you can even try a little bite at the front counter before you order (just so you know you like what you get). I love Salt & Straw- please come to San Diego!!!!!!
(5)
Jessie M.
Amazing! Best ice cream I've had in the U.S. by far! The flavors are great and out-of-the-box. It's hard to pick a favorite flavor because they're all so good but I think the honey lavender stuck out a little more for me. Not only are the flavors amazing, but the texture is so rich and creamy! They need to open one in Utah! I totally rave about this place all the time! It's a MUST-TRY
(5)
Robin N.
New. Favorite. Ice cream. I LOVE Salt and Straw! The ice cream is creamy and flavorful without being overly rich. I got the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and a Chocolate-flavored ice cream that was apparently inspired by a few local elementary school kids. Cute! Also they give you a ton of good-sized samples. ;) Thanks to the friendly blue-haired girl who served me!
(5)
Lana N.
I'm in love with this place, yes the line is long, but it's definitely worth the wait. After lunch we walked over and probably stood in line for a good 20 minutes before it was our turn. We asked for a few tastings since we have never been here and they were really happy to offer us whatever we had asked. We ended up getting the following: - The stumptown coffee and bourban - this was absolutely amazing! The coffee taste was great and the subtle taste of the bourban absolutely balanced out the flavors. - Sea salt with caramel - my son had this and he said it was delicious. The ice cream was soft and the caramel added that extra wow factor to the ice cream flavor. I hope one day Salt and Straw will expand and especially to CA! Such a unique taste to the ice cream flavors that keeps you wanting to come back for more! I am a huge fan!!
(5)
Ezra B.
Salt and Straw is definitely worth your time, especially for ice cream aficionados! I visited in January on a business trip, and boy, was I happy I did! I posted a photo of their flavors listed when I visited, and you can see the variety: Pear w/Blue Cheese; Honey Lavender; Cinnamon Snickerdoodle -- the list goes on! I had a scoop of Cinnamon Snickerdoodle and a scoop of "The Universe II," which is a whole variety of "fix-ins". Gosh, both flavors were so good! I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Crystal H.
SO worth the wait. Also, the wait at this location was far less than in the Alphabet district (and with a far less douchey clientele). We sampled several amazing flavors and I ended up getting a pear and blue cheese scoop, which I thought I'd just sample on a lark but it was soooo good!! Important note--if you want to skip the line (and the free samples) you can get a pint at the front.
(5)
Jamie L.
back to California after 4 wonderful days in Portland. I will miss the trails, coffee, and food stands of course, but most of all I will miss the cinnamon snicker doodle and almond ganache flavored icecream in the waffle cone from Salt and Straw
(5)
Amanda N.
Smell the delicious waffle cones before even entering the shop. Employees are helpful and friendly.Huge selections of flavors along with some seasonal ones. Great to be able to sample before buying. Have pint sizes available to purchase. They can also ship you ice cream to your home. Whether you stopped in with only a few customers or a long line out the door, they are quick so don't be discourage
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Joyce V.
I was almost denied my favorite ice cream again due to the line down the block! I begged & pleaded then I was finally able to convince my husband to go after dinner at Pok Pok if it was still open. Luckily Salt & Straw is open until 11:00pm. We walked over after dinner about 15 minutes to closing. There were still a lot of people eating their ice cream outside but no long line. We were able to try different ice creams without feeling rushed. I ended up getting my favorite Sea Salt Ice Cream w/ Caramel Ribbon & my husband got the Coffee & Bourbon both in a waffle cone. We were both in heaven. We will always enjoy this Portland ice cream when we visit but I'm so thrilled that we are getting our very own Salt & Straw in Los Angeles! I just hope that people are just as nice as the people of Portland.
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Grey G.
I've been here three times. Each time the flavors have been mind bogglingly incredible. This is a great place to bring very patient out of towners. On one occasion, I got some sort of brownie sundae. The brownie was heated in a microwave. Ick. On another occasion, I asked about a flavor called "The Universe". The employee & I joked about asking "what's in the universe?", Neil Degrasse Tyson was mentioned. I asked if The Universe had ginger in it, she said -without hesitation- it didn't. So I ordered it. After having a bad reaction to The Universe, I'm going to go out on a limb and say she was full of shit and that she just wanted to get the eternally long line moving rather than actually checking. Speaking of which, the line here is always mind-numbingly long. Plan on being as drunk as needed or bring a good playlist/book while you wait. You will be here at least 30 minutes before you even reach the front of the queue. And when you get your ice cream, there will be no where to sit inside S&S, so you better hope it's nice out.
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Sarah G.
I was beyond happy to visit S&S twice during out PDX trip. Also, note that there are times where this place does NOT have a line 100+ strong. We lucked out on our first visit, which was sometime in the late afternoon for a post-lunch snacking. I had to start with a sampler, of course... Honey Lavender, Pear w Blue Cheese, Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon and... my current food crush: Goat Cheese & Marionberry Habanero! Then a day later, with oh so find memories we tried again after dinner. The line was obscene at 10pm on a weeknight. Seeing as how we didn't have to wait in line the first time I wasn't about to start now. So we came back the following day, mid-afternoon again. And apparently we lucked out again because I was able to get my waffle cone on in record time. This visit, it was all about me and the Goaty, creamy, slightly spicy Berry-sweet wonderland that I still dream about over a month later. Yes, it's difficult being in a long distance relationship with an ice cream flavor all the way on the west coast, but when were reunited again... Oh how sweet it will be.
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Bethany K.
YUM. First time visiting the SE location, and while there was a ghastly long line, I wasn't really surprised since it was the weekend and hot out. Service was fabulous, the flavors were delicious, there was space to sit inside (and lots of people standing around outside with ice cream too) -- just an overall awesome stop. Everyone who comes to Portland needs to eat some S&S. Dooo itttttt
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Ani S.
Why is there always an obscene line down the block?? I have been here a couple times when it's an odd hour and there's no wait but no way would I wait an hour for a $7 scoop of iced olive oil. I have been unpleasantly surprised with most of their flavors and just can't stand the huge crowds. No thanks!
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Brody L.
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Rob C.
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Alexandra S.
At long last, we have checked the box on the missing experience in our tour of West Coast artisanal ice cream shops: the legendary Salt & Straw. And while it lives up to its rep as Portland's best ice cream, I can't put it at the very top of the ice cream heap, because it still doesn't come close the the standard set by San Francisco's Bi-Rite. If you are a normal person comparing ice cream options in one city, however, Salt & Straw is well worth a visit. It has the most friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff that we've encountered at any ice cream shop -- eager to help us choose the right flavor, and even to scooping in the exact order we preferred (yes, I *do* care which flavor is on the top, and which is on the bottom). The ice cream flavor options do a good job of spanning the esoteric (olive oil; green fennel & maple; bone marrow & bourbon cherries -- in one flavor!) and the relatively traditional (chocolate, almond brittle, vanilla). However even the more traditional flavors skew sophisticated -- the gooey brownie, for example, includes hunks of EXTREMELY bitter chocolate brownies. In other words, you are more likely to be thrilled than your kids are. Flavor intensity is very good, but the ice cream itself still isn't as rich or creamy as I'd like. And one of our scoops (the cinnamon snickerdoodle -- surprisingly, it may have been my favorite flavor) had a little chunk of ice in it, which while not a huge deal, isn't something that should show up in a super fancy ice cream. All in all, I'd say it's a very good ice cream, but I wouldn't brave an hour-long lineup for it. We'll be back, but not during rush hour!
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Eileen W.
FIVE STARS: for the excellent ice cream. Fine ice cream pleasure center. A great OT experience. ZERO STARS: for the ridiculous queue, out the door and down the street. It's hilarious. Why wait just to select an ice cream cone, when I can immediately buy a single-serving-size container and be on my way with a busy spoon. Is it really about Yuppies/Hipsters being seen by each other doing that really cool thing, waiting in line with all those beautiful people, those other Yuppies/Hipsters? And the selfies! Hahahaha!
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Nidhi K.
How I wish that Yelp had half stars. I would give Salt & Straw 3.5 stars if I could; I can't seem to understand what the huge 5-star hype is around this place. Maybe it's because I'm from the Bay Area where I've eaten at several top-notch local creameries. Or maybe it's because I went a little too crazy with my flavor choices here. The wait: I appreciated that there was no line! This is apparently an unfrequented location because I was there on a Friday afternoon; I had expected a super long line. The service: Very good! I must have sampled 6 different flavors, and the scooper behind the counter didn't even hesitate. The flavors: I finally settled on the Sea Salt w/ Caramel, which unfortunately was WAY. TOO. SALTY. As in, I felt like I was eating spoonfuls of salt. (I threw it away.) My other scoop was Honey Balsamic Strawberry w/ Cracked Pepper, which was decent. My dad got the Strawberry w/ Cilantro Lime Cheesecake, which was great! Then he got Vanilla, which he said was quite good. I think the moral of this review is to not go too crazy with the flavors. It might taste fine as a sample, but you might not be able to finish the whole scoop. P.S. If you're not a local, sample the Marionberry flavor -- apparently the berry was discovered at Oregon State and is only found in OR & WA!
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Tim C.
The ice cream here is pretty good quality, but some of the flavors are hit or miss. Since much of the Yelp community recommended it, I tried the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. I wouldn't recommend it. The Ganache was just huge chunks of dense chocolate and salt, which just didn't appeal to me. The Almond Brittle was very tasty, but also overwhelmed the ice cream. I honestly barely got any ice cream - it really felt like just a cup of Almond Brittle and Salted Ganache. I also had a scoop of their Mint Julep ice cream, which was much better. It tasted like actual mint (the herb), and not the artificial mint flavoring that most mint ice cream tastes like. Unfortunately, I think it's a seasonal flavor. Some of the other flavors I sampled were ok - nothing too impressive, but very interesting. If you read some of the descriptions of the flavors, they are very... Portland. Just read them, hopefully you'll know what I'm talking about. The service was very nice, and I liked the design and layout of the place. Solid place for ice cream, but make sure you sample before you get a whole scoop - or else you might end up with something that isn't your cup of tea, especially with such unique flavors.
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Sudipto G.
Yay, I'm a fan. but only of some of the flavors. Please try out all of them and you will know what I mean. Some of them are downright terrible to taste. But they have some gems, like the Almond Brittle with Ganache, and Sea Salt with Caramel, but off late I have found there seasonal flavors pretty bad, so will check it out again maybe after a couple of months, till then I'll go out to the other great ice cream places out here in PDX.
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Dora T.
We sampled quite a few flavors before deciding on the flight of four ice creams though the waffle cone looked good too. Pear bleu cheese. Honey lavender. Arbequina Olive oil. Strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper. My favorite was the pear bleu cheese. I'm looking forward to trying out the newly opened store in L.A
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Will C.
I had a chance to try out their ice cream the last time I was here. I tried the coconut with salted caramel bars. It was not bad. I'll probably try other flavors the next time I am here.
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Ron S.
Great ice cream, good flavors, good environment to be in. The staff is always friendly even when there's a huge line! The waffle cones were inconsistent (hole at the bottom etc.) . A little pricey for ice cream but it might be worth it if you want to taste all of the extraordinary flavors Salt & Straw offers. *C'mon, bigger scoops please. 5-6 bucks a cone...I expect more.
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Dana J.
Fantastic!! The best ice cream experience there is. From the attentive service to the exquisite and complex flavors, this is a portland MUST!
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Anthony N.
A Portland version of Molly Moons. Similar but slightly different. I came here after getting Sunday brunch (around 1ish) with come friends and there was only a few people there before us. Shortly after we got there, the place filled up. Salt and Straw had a lot of the same flavors as Molly Moons and they also make their own waffle cones, but IMHO the strawberry balsamic was better at Salt and Straw and the cone was just ok. Overall, great place for ice cream, but not better than Molly Moons.
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Fran B.
I've been giving out 5 stars for everything, not because I have no standards.... but because everything is just so great lol. I feel like Portland is pretty creative when it comes to food. Salt & Straw has ice creams flavors that are so unique! I mean, there are some similarities to Bi-Rite in SF but I feel like this is just slightly better....... I got the honey lavender, but I didn't come to that choice easily. I was freaking out trying to decide which flavor to get, but in the end, that is what I chose lol. My bf got the snickerdoodle, which was packed with cinnamon sweetness flavor mm mmm. I got to try the olive oil ice cream as well, and BOYEE that is smooth. I never expected olive oil ice cream to taste so........... olive oily? But it did, and it worked. I wish I got to try the strawberry balsamic, but I didn't wanna be one of those pesky customers who samples every single flavor.......... but I should've. THE REGRETS! But that honey lavender was pretty great. My bf was not a fan of "flowery" flavors lol, so he didn't really like it. But I thought it had just the right amount of fragrance, honey, and subtle lavender tones. It was also SMOOOOTH. Not necessarily creamy or milky, just...... smooth. You know? Some ice creams are not that creamy in texture because it's not supposed to be a creamy flavor........ but this was creamy in texture without having too much of a creamy flavor. Am I making sense? Does anyone even care? lol Anyway, slightly overpriced but f* it. If I find myself in Portland again, you bet your ass I'm coming back!
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courtney f.
Amazing Ice Cream!!!! Hellish Suburban encroachment that causes huge ass lines. Worth it tho....
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Nicole B.
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Leslie E.
Every time i walk by this location the heavenly wafting scent of waffle cones makes me seriously reevaluate my decision to reduce sugar in my diet... Their flavors are divine. Everything from the extremely adventurous to a few more tame choices so everyone can find something to their tastes. I ADORE the lavender honey ice cream, which tastes like faery food to me! The lines are usually long and a bit claustrophobic, but it does move fast and is worth the wait! Staff is very generous about giving samples of flavors to help you decide.
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Rebecca C.
Shared two scoops with Derek Collins. One honey and lavender and the other salted caramel. Yum!
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My L.
I've tried the Salt and Straw in Larchmont and didn't think I'd need to go to the Portland one but I'm so glad I did!! I had the potato chip and chocolate one which was SOO good!! I also had the coffee and bourbon which was a good mix to it. It was a nice dessert after going to Pok Pok down the street. There's seating outside so you can eat your ice cream outside.
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Anthony P.
One Easter Sunday I found myself alone in town, so I decided to treat myself to some ice cream. As I waited in line at the Alphabet District Location of Salt & Straw, a white man with dreads played a giant bell bowl across the street. Looking around at the hipsters and tourists waiting in line with me for hand-made artisan ice cream, I could only imagine that I'd found my way into an episode of Portlandia. Nonetheless, the Ice Cream was truly delicious. The flavors are creative- pear and blue cheese, thai iced tea, and more. However, even the basics are just better than other ice creams. If you don't mind a little bit of a circus (or even enjoy it), then wait in line and buy a scoop. While you're at it, take home a hand-packed quart since you waited in line anyway. Try something novel and something classic. You will not be disappointed by either.
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Lia M.
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Sarah E.
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Maurice M.
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John H.
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Adam S.
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Don B.
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Kelley K.
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Melissa S.
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Michele R.
It was a gray afternoon with a threat of rain. (In Portland? What a surprise.) That didn't deter me, Portland native that I am, from dragging my hubby to see what all the buzz was about at Salt & Straw. He saw the line and said "You must be kidding". No, I wasn't. And after the friendly people behind the counter managed to be all smiles and keep the line moving even with offering up samples of anything one wanted to try, and after we made our selections and were sitting in the crowded but inviting space to savor every bite, my husband said "This was absolutely worth it. I'm glad we came." THE DRILL Line up, it moves quickly, and peruse the standard flavors menu, about a dozen options, or the seasonal flavors menu, maybe five more, from the boards above the service counter or take a paper menu to read the choices. You can order your ice cream in a cone or a cup, and in the latter in kids', single, double or split scoop sizes. THE ICE CREAM We chose the split ($4.25) which allows two flavors in a single scoop. We relished every bite of our choices, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and Stumptown Coffee with Bourbon. Both were incredibly delicious. Sweet Potato with Candied Pecans and Pumpkin Custard with Chevre were two others we asked to sample and they will be on our list to order if we get back to the area while the Thanksgiving Season options are still available. As for the Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey option on this list...well, I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food but the "...turkey fat caramel with fried turkey skin brittle..." on the description was deterrent. This time at least. THE VIBE Interesting up to date take on an ice cream shop; look up for ceiling designs. In spite of the crowds things were chill (bad pun I know) inside, quiet enough to have a conversation and everyone seemed just happy to be there. A very nice young guy with his infant daughter in snuggly on his chest even stood to offer me his seat, noting I had trouble standing on my own (MS at work) in the SRO crowd. A warm gesture in a frozen treats store. Seating is at a handful of fixed high counter stools near the door, behind the line where you queue up, and maybe a dozen more seats at standard height fixed stools or benches on the exit door side. THIS N THAT: 1) ACCESSIBILITY: The mom with a stroller who said "Thanks but it's not stroller friendly in there" as we offered to hold the door for her to get in is a pretty good tip off that this place may be a challenge for people using wheelchairs too. Level in and throughout but the queue space is tight and there doesn't seem to be a place where people using wheelchairs could easily sit to eat inside with others given the fixed stools. Just a heads up if you or someone you travel with keeps that in mind. I do as on a future visit in, this could be any of us. 2) PARKING: So it goes in Portland neighborhoods that it is a challenge everywhere. 3) PINT TO FOOD BANK DONATION: Pre packed pints are available for sale from a case near the exit door. For every pint you buy of the Thanksgiving flavors, Salt & Straw will donate a pint to the Oregon Food Bank. Sweet.
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Chi D.
Really nice workers and efficient too. Great ice cream flavors. Line was pretty long but it goes fairly quick!! YAY!! have fun. Good luck and good eats!!!
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Cyndi A.
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Bryan D.
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Emily H.
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John K.
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Emily D.
Wow the flavors! There are so many varied, interesting and well balanced. How to turn a poutine into a dessert? I don't know but every flavor I had a chance to sample was excellent. Prepare for a wait with lines down the block but once to the counter it is quite an ice cream experience. They were happy to let me try many and even offered if I want I could try them all! I settled on a half scoop of brittle and salted ganache and half scoop of honey lavender. Honey lavender on top so as not to lose a subtle flavor. Both were excellent! Brittle and salted ganache was amazing to many areas of my tongue. The salty sweet flavor combination and generous ganache-ing were fabulous. I love lavender and while in Portland tried many items with the lavender essence in it many of which were subtle and easily lost amongst other flavors. Of the lavender ice creams I tried salt and straws honey Lavender ice cream impressed me with the most prominent lavender taste. By no means over powering but noticeable not only at the first taste but through the whole scoop. A must stop while in the area, try coming at an off time for a slightly shorter line.
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Melissa T.
I'm not an ice cream person, but I loved this ice cream shop...so much that I visited twice on my 4 day trip to Portland! Unlike a lot of ice cream shops, I felt comfortable sampling multiple flavors, and I didn't feel pressured to make a decision despite the increasingly long line outside the door. Even after I thought I was done sampling, the employee suggested one of the seasonal flavors, which turned out to be excellent. The cups or sugar cones are complimentary, but if you want a waffle cone, it's a dollar extra. During my first visit, I opted for the $9 ice cream flight. I sat in the window and got a lot of envious stares from passersby. I got the Arbequina olive oil, strawberry honey balsamic vinegar, sea salt with caramel, and almond brittle with salted ganache. My husband loved the olive oil, while my personal favorite was the almond brittle. While the ice cream flight is fun and pretty and all, I do feel $9 for 4 small scoops of ice cream is a lot. For that reason, I made sure to get a waffle cone the second time. I got the almond brittle and seasonal favorite rhubarb crumble with toasted anise. Unbeknownst to me, the employee gave me a "split scoop," which is one scoop split into 2 flavors. There is a 50 cent upcharge for this... I would have preferred two full scoops, but oh well... If you're getting more than one flavor, I would advise you to specify what you want to avoid this mix-up. Overall, the flavors are great and innovative, the ice cream shop is spacious, and the employees are friendly. It's a definite stop on a visit to Portland.
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Lina N.
Freshly made waffle. Really good ice cream! Many good ideas of seasonal flavors. You must taste them. Sehr gutes Eis. Einfach probieren. Normalerweise mag ich keine Eiswaffeln. Doch diese sind selbst gebacken und Lecker.
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Donna P.
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John B.
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Emmanuel C.
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Dalena T.
Portland must try, I remember reading an article about top 100 ice creameries you must try in the country, salt and straw was up there on that list ! The difference from salt and straw to most ice cream places is their unique flavors, each season they tend to have special flavors they switch up when I went this time they had unique flavors from like honey lavender and sea salt I've cream with Carmel to crazy flavors like green fennel and maple, carrot watermelon sorbet, to bone marrow and bourbon smoked cherries . they sound crazy but definitely worth trying, you'll be surprised how the craziest combinations can taste. Sugar cones are free if you want the option of a cone or a cup , but the waffle cones are made fresh and taste amazing definitely worth the extra dollar. They have different scoop sizes but they do mention on the menu that if you get a normal 1 scoop you have the option of getting two flavors so essentially getting half scoops of two flavors. something you should consider especially at a place like salt and straw !
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Carissa B.
The ice cream flavors are creative and delicious. The wait to get up to the counter to order is always crazy long but is the only downside to this fun ice cream spot
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Eric B.
Oh boy I love ice cream, and I really liked Salt and Straw. Strawberry balsamic with black pepper was very tasty. For me, the balsamic and particularly the pepper were a little subtle. Easily forgotten. It was a bit like very good strawberry ice cream with good ideas in it. Same goes for the sea urchin, although I think it worked better in this case. Do you really want that much sea urchin flavor? It was there, and tasty. One of my favorites. Honey lavender might have been my favorite, which surprised me. Simple, but very assertive lavender flavor coming through - in a good way. Refreshing and delightful. Rhubarb crumble with toasted anise was also terrific. I was left wanting slightly more of that licorice anise flavor to come through, but thoroughly enjoyable. The actual product is quite gourmet. Just terrific ice cream. Very consistent, no crystallization. True artisanal work. Flavor balances could use a bit more tweaking/balancing, but the bold inventiveness of the flavors makes up all the ground there. Great shop.
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Rachel G.
So much hype, but overall I think it lives up to it. There's always a line, but TBH it moves incredibly quickly. I've never stood there more than 15 minutes. People say its expensive, but really--you easily pay $3.50-4 for a waffle cone at Coldstone or similar these days. Wouldn't you rather pay that extra buck and get ingredients that are 1000x better, plus amazing flavors? You would. Flavors I've flaved that were awesome: Stumptown + Burnside Bourbon. Right in my wheelhouse and prob my overall favorite. Freckled woodblock chocolate. Love it. Apricot and hops (summer seasonal). Everything you'd hope it would and then some. Honey lavender. Great, but I can't eat a whole cone of something that lavender-y. Strawberry balsamic. Superb, very refreshing and complex.
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courtney f.
Amazing Ice Cream!!!! Hellish Suburban encroachment that causes huge ass lines. Worth it tho....
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Christy B.
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Seana S.
Lots of options to choose from, but nothing to fuss over. No crazy toppings. No milk options. Just ice cream. I was feeling kinda wild n crazy and decided to try the pear and blue cheese. It was surprisingly delicious. I mean- duh! That's why I ordered it. I also love cheese. So this was the obvious choice. There's a couple Salt & Straws that opened up in the LA area too. So if I need my cheese and ice cream fix... I know where to go.
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Rena W.
ALWAYS down to go to Salt & Straw. And I don't even mind the wait because I need the time to pin down a selection from their extensive menu of THEE best flavors of ice cream EVARR. But in all seriousness, as soon as I step into the shop, the smell of the freshly made waffle cones cuts me to the core and I know I'm where I'm meant to be. I really, really like how they're doing monthly flavor themes, as it gives me an excuse to go, at the very least, once a month because those flavors are technically limited edition ~ I was a big fan of the August vegetable series, the fennel flavor stole my heart, PLEASE BRING IT BACK. The fennel paired with the lavender honey OOH GURL. When I tasted that combination, it was one of those beautiful moments where you want to congratulate yourself because you freaking killed it. Also, never feel guilty about sampling flavors. NEVER. Sample until you've found The One (or The Pair or The Trio or just get a gosh darn flight). Back again soon, xoxo
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Chris E.
One of the best ice cream shops I've probably EVER ever been to! Despite arriving at around 11:15pm, the line was still going strong out the door. Supposedly they close at 11pm, but it's good to know that they are willing to still serve new customers despite being way past their closing time. As stated, there was a bit of a line, but it was worth every second of waiting! The wait was no more than 15 minutes and thank goodness for that. They serve a creative variety of custom, unique flavors. The flavors were seasonal, but while I was there in June, they had mouth-watering concoctions, such as Sea Salt with Caramel, Honey Lavender, Chocolate Gooey Brownie, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper and Stumptown Coffee & Bourbon - just to name a few. Mouth watering yet?!? I ended up ordering the Honey Lavender single scoop on a waffle cone and they were extremely generous with the scoop. The cone was huge, but it still looked more like a double scoop had been planted into my cone! That's how big the scoop was! Anyhow, the ice cream was soft and perfect! It absolutely satisfied my craving that night. It's unfortunate I do not live near Portland, but if I did, it wouldn't be good news for the spare tire forming at my waistline as I'd want to try each and EVERY flavor!
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Elsie W.
I love ice cream. I don't understand why there's such a long line at both locations at all times. But the line goes fast and you can look through the menu on the chalkboard while you wait. It's definitely a top tourist attraction to say the least. Yes, their ice cream is quite good. Not the best I've ever had or anything mind-blowing, but I do appreciate their unique flavors. Very creative and the open space to sit is great.
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Cindy C.
I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM. All day everyday. I honestly don't think I could survive without a week of ice cream (not even kidding...). Reasons why I bolted for this place when it popped into my line of vision as we cruised down Division Street, looking for a dinner place. Ice cream for dinner? I'm down. Upon entering this store, I was greeted by a friendly lady who was soo nice - all the samples of ice cream I asked for had huge scoops on the small metal spoons! I was pretty blown away by how generous that was, considering the fact that the line was getting longer and longer by the moment, and I personally am a horribly indecisive person when it comes to choosing flavors. FLAVORS - Petunia's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie: Strong strawberry base, with chunks of rhubarb. One of the best strawberry flavors I've ever had. - Pear & Blue Cheese: Not a huge cheese fan (why did I even try this?), but it was an interesting combination. I could taste the sweetness of the pear, but the cheese was slightly overwhelming. - Cinnamon Snickerdoodle: If you love snickerdoodle cookies, you must get this. It tastes exactly like one, without the cinnamon being too overpowering. - Carrot Carrot Cake (seasonal): So disappointed that LA doesn't have this as their seasonal flavors, since it's literally the bomb. Chunks of carrot cake, swirled into the carrot base with utter perfection. Did they also add in a tinge of cream cheese frosting? Mind blowing. - Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake (seasonal): Absolutely surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this flavor. The potato chip wasn't outstandingly salty or out of place - in fact, it complimented the hints of caramel and the chunks of the coffee cupcake. PS: the chips are coated with chocolate ;) - Green Fennel & Maple (seasonal): Didn't enjoy this because it was so weird! Fennel in ice cream? Maybe not this time, sorry... but my dad liked it haha. I ended up getting a double split scoop of Petunia's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and Carrot Carrot Cake in a cup. Came out to be around $6 - pricey for ice cream (so minus 1 star), but their scoops are pretty huge. I recommend asking for as many samples as you like, until you feel comfortable with your flavor - DO NOT be shy! Basically everyone at the counter is asking for samples, and no one's judging! + Metered street parking + Non-dairy options (sorbets)
(4)
George C.
Not sure if all the hype is justified or perhaps I just don't like ice cream as much as I thought. Waited about 40 minutes in line although most of their flavors are pretty good. 3 stars for the wait and the ice cream not being that impressive to me. I got a flight with stumpside coffee with Burnside Bourbon, birthday cake blackberries, olive oil, and pear with bleu cheese. The pear was by far the best since the Bleu cheese is pretty subtle although I did get a large chunk of Bleu cheese that was pretty strong. The olive oil ice cream has an overbearing amount of olive oil flavor although getting a sample of it is pretty good. The birthday cake blackberries was on the rich side and was quite sweet but the coffee with Bourbon was a perfect blend of sweetness and coffee flavor. I did enjoy that you could sample as much as you wanted!
(3)
Dan M.
Definitely worth trying. The wait is not as long as the line appears and it moves quickly. The flavors are unique and they will allow tastes before you decide. I enjoyed the ice cream quite a bit.
(4)
LanChi N.
Read a few local reviews and this place showed up as a must go when in Portland...So my brother and I ended up here on a whim... We were welcomed with sweet smells of waffle cones and sugary sweetness. We were pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu this were not your typical flavors they were very much gourmet and sounded amazing. I'm so glad I was able to get samples but I limited myself to 2. I didn't want to be that annoying customer that asked for to much. The samples I tried were the Albequina Olive Oil and the Goat Cheese MarionBerry Habenero. Both were amazing but I figured I would go with the smoother flavor of the olive oil partially because the slow burn of Habenero as Delish as it was one taste was enough. My brother decided he wanted something refreshing and went with the Mt.Hood Strawberry Sorbet which was exactly flavor wise what he had been looking for full of fruit flavor with no filler just fresh and naturally sweetened. Overall I shall agree with others in that this really a special treat local dairy just taste naturally buttery and delicious it's just such a clean flavor that spoils you where no ice cream could be the same. The is the definition of artisan flavored that are rotated by month and by local flavor and season. We just happened to stop by during berry season lol. I do wish my brother and I had realized hey had ice cream flights we both could easily gotten multiple flavor a but we were happy with our selections. But if you can decided get an ice cream flight for $9.
(4)
Andy O.
Bit of a line, but worth every minute. This is the best ice cream ever. Anywhere. Period. If you read my other reviews, you'll find that long lines almost always equate to blah-blah-overrated-not-worth-the-wait-minus-Âstars. Not the case here. This is seriously, seriously, deliciously legit ice cream. The flavors are the perfect balance between "oh, that's just supermarket plain" and "okay, that's just a stupid gimmick". You can taste the actual ingredients, but they don't do nonsense hat-trick flavors. When I eat ice cream, I don't want to eat it for novelty's sake; I want to eat it because it's a flavor I know I'll like, it know it will taste delicious, and it will make me nice and lazy for the next couple hours. Imagine my surprise when I found that there's one in my hometown (Los Angeles)! Seriously, imagine it! Now multiply it by like, I don't know, eighteen or something. That's how I feel about THAT. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ALL SCREAM!!!!!
(5)
Stephen M.
Seriously good. I had the carrot cake and Stumptown. Really loved it. Beyond that, it's a great vibe. The people are friendly. They let me try like 5 flavors before I landed on these. The line is long, but it goes semi-quickly and there was a great street musician entertaining us all on the banjo and kazoo. Really fun. Recommend this place for sure.
(4)
Jennell K.
Great unique flavors! I personally LOVED the August vegetable specials, especially the carrot carrot cake and the cucumber lemon sorbet (sooo refreshing on a hot day)!! The cauliflower was :.. Interesting :) it tasted as it sounds. The sea salt caramel is a favorite go to, and the honey lavender is very comforting and dreamlike as it melts in your mouth. The servers were amazing as well! Can't beat the experience even though there's a long line out the door!
(4)
Kevin K.
Location specific review: Located next to pok pok. My girlfriend and I naturally had to get a sweet treat after our savory meal at pok pok. This one was nice because it is not as crowded as the alphabet district location. I was able to try a ton of flavors hehehe without getting that anxiety attack of the next person in line hovering over my shoulder. Staff was super friendly and helpful in their description of their flavors. No complaints here! General overview: Best ice cream I've ever had. Top five desserts I've ever had and it's just ice cream. Well I shouldn't just say just ice cream because their ingenuity and creativity push the boundaries of what your taste buds can handle. They have their solid foundation flavors and then they have their special flavors. Their special flavors consist of favorite dishes from local restaurants which seriously make your head turn. For example, they had a poutine flavored ice cream, and kimchi and jasmine rice; they were super flavorful and delicious. My recommendations for a mind blowing ice cream experience is the sea salt with caramel ribbons and the almond brittle with salted ganache. Seriously both are unreal.
(5)
N C.
Five stars all the way. Interesting but simple flavors. I love how they have a limited amount of options so I don't have to be so indecisive. Honey lavender and sea salt caramel are my favs. But the ladies at the counter are pretty nice about samples, but PLEASE don't sample every flavor when there's a long line behind you (geez). Attentive employees. Simple looking ice cream spot. Make sure to get your ice cream on a fresh waffle. Btw- parking can be a pain in the behind. But this place still deserves 5 delicious stars!
(5)
Elizabeth G.
Our out of town guests wanted to know if Portland had serious good Gelato, and we insisted on bringing them to Salt & Straw, even though it is not Gelato, it is also not to be passed by by any ice cream aficionado. We arrived at a perfect time, about 2:30 in the afternoon. There was no line, and we got superb service from the waitress, who graciously let us try all the street food flavors of the month, and more. I personally chose the Kim Chi ice cream, while more cautious members of our group had the signature Sea Salt Carmel. I of course want their Sea Urchin ice cream to make a come back, as it was my all time favorite here.
(5)
Celina P.
Tempted to stop at Salt & Straw on a hot Portland day...and am SO glad I did! Pleasantly surprised to find out they had 2 vegan options, both of which I tried. Food: I had the August sorbet special (cucumber + lemon), and the coconut strawberry rhubarb flavor. Both were unique and deliciously fantastic. The cucumber and lemon was light, but citrus-y sweet, and the coconut flavor had gluten free chucks of rhubarb cake or something amazing. Vegan ice cream is hit or miss, but Salt & Straw definitely knows how to make it right! Service: Very nice, cheerful servers, and willing to give multiple samples! Generous scoops too, which is unusual for some nicer ice cream shops. Ambiance: Small shop, long line on the weekend, but nice little outdoor seating area. This is a must stop for those with a sweet tooth. I can only imagine how amazing the non-vegan flavors are too!
(5)
Barbara P.
Very interesting!! I've never seen people line up on multiple sides of an ice cream shop and WAIT for ice cream cones all hours of the day.. But it happens every day at salt & straw in all 3 Portland locations! In addition they offer the most unique flavors of ice cream I've ever seen.....like olive oil, Thai peanut butter sauce, and lemon cucumber. Very tasty!!!
(5)
Rachel R.
The most hyped AND best ice cream in Portland?! Yaaaas, indeed. Get the coconut rhubarb pie and blackberry birthday cake. Together. Double fist them from two separate cones. But.... The flavors are less interesting than at the LA location. However, if you can't fly to Los Angeles for ice cream, this is your best bet.
(4)
Adrienne L.
BEST ICE CREAM in PORTLAND. I first had Salt & Straw at their LA location. I was blown away. The quality and flavor is comparable to SF institutions. The Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache could rival Bi-rite's Salted Caramel. So after one very enjoyable meal at Roe (best meal I've had in Portland), I still made sure I had space for Salt & Straw nearby. Priorities. Apparently with the right amount of restraint and planning, you CAN eat it all. But not if the place is closed. So we hustled since it was just before 11 pm when we left Roe. Amazingly Salt & Straw was still welcoming the last of the line with their energetic service. I didn't think I could love them anymore! I probably sampled half the menu and settled on one scoop each of Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars. The lady scooping asked which flavor I preferred on the bottom. In all my ice cream indulging, I don't believe I've ever been asked that. A good question indeed. It does impact your whole cone experience - do you put your favorite on the bottom and finish with it last? Tough life decisions here. Between the awesome service, delicious flavors, and wonderful creamy texture, Salt & Straw is hands down a 5-Star Creamery for this ice cream snob :)
(5)
Dashiell B.
Good flavors, hours, people, ambiance and price. What more could you ask? Had one of the August special flavors ( carrot cake). I don't even love sweets and this was perfectly flavored, creamy and in a waffle cone that was airy, crispy and delicate unlike any I've had.
(5)
Victoria G.
Absolutely delicious. Unique flavors made with local and seasonal ingredients. Great texture and bold taste. The staff is friendly and the space is clean. Portion sizes are great for the price and they let you taste test as many flavors as you want! I had the Almond Brittle & Ganache as well as the Stumptown Coffee. My partner had Vanilla. But we taste tested many and enjoyed them. Ample seating. Street parking in a nice quiet part of town. I'd go back!
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Kristen M.
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Mark M.
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Ben F.
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Amanda S.
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Jon W.
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Drea V.
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Carissa B.
The ice cream flavors are creative and delicious. The wait to get up to the counter to order is always crazy long but is the only downside to this fun ice cream spot
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Chelsea M.
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courtney f.
Amazing Ice Cream!!!! Hellish Suburban encroachment that causes huge ass lines. Worth it tho....
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Alvin Y.
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Autumn S.
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Tony M.
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Chris J.
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Michelle S.
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Steven H.
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Mariam H.
My friend lives directly above this Salt and Straw location. Trust me, after a few days of smelling freshly made waffle cones no one could resist stopping in for a scoop. First off - I am extremely lactose intolerant so I only allowed myself samples of the dairy options. The flavor sample that stood out the most was olive oil (dairy). I was so shocked by how delicious it was!! It had a nice savory/sweet thing going on. I chose the strawberry rhubarb pie in the end, a non-dairy option. They literally make a rhubarb pie and mix it in the ice cream. Best non-dairy ice cream I have ever Tip: Go during a week day if you hate lines, people on dates and fighting for parking.
(5)
Seana S.
Lots of options to choose from, but nothing to fuss over. No crazy toppings. No milk options. Just ice cream. I was feeling kinda wild n crazy and decided to try the pear and blue cheese. It was surprisingly delicious. I mean- duh! That's why I ordered it. I also love cheese. So this was the obvious choice. There's a couple Salt & Straws that opened up in the LA area too. So if I need my cheese and ice cream fix... I know where to go.
(4)
Rena W.
ALWAYS down to go to Salt & Straw. And I don't even mind the wait because I need the time to pin down a selection from their extensive menu of THEE best flavors of ice cream EVARR. But in all seriousness, as soon as I step into the shop, the smell of the freshly made waffle cones cuts me to the core and I know I'm where I'm meant to be. I really, really like how they're doing monthly flavor themes, as it gives me an excuse to go, at the very least, once a month because those flavors are technically limited edition ~ I was a big fan of the August vegetable series, the fennel flavor stole my heart, PLEASE BRING IT BACK. The fennel paired with the lavender honey OOH GURL. When I tasted that combination, it was one of those beautiful moments where you want to congratulate yourself because you freaking killed it. Also, never feel guilty about sampling flavors. NEVER. Sample until you've found The One (or The Pair or The Trio or just get a gosh darn flight). Back again soon, xoxo
(5)
Stephen M.
Seriously good. I had the carrot cake and Stumptown. Really loved it. Beyond that, it's a great vibe. The people are friendly. They let me try like 5 flavors before I landed on these. The line is long, but it goes semi-quickly and there was a great street musician entertaining us all on the banjo and kazoo. Really fun. Recommend this place for sure.
(4)
Chris E.
One of the best ice cream shops I've probably EVER ever been to! Despite arriving at around 11:15pm, the line was still going strong out the door. Supposedly they close at 11pm, but it's good to know that they are willing to still serve new customers despite being way past their closing time. As stated, there was a bit of a line, but it was worth every second of waiting! The wait was no more than 15 minutes and thank goodness for that. They serve a creative variety of custom, unique flavors. The flavors were seasonal, but while I was there in June, they had mouth-watering concoctions, such as Sea Salt with Caramel, Honey Lavender, Chocolate Gooey Brownie, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper and Stumptown Coffee & Bourbon - just to name a few. Mouth watering yet?!? I ended up ordering the Honey Lavender single scoop on a waffle cone and they were extremely generous with the scoop. The cone was huge, but it still looked more like a double scoop had been planted into my cone! That's how big the scoop was! Anyhow, the ice cream was soft and perfect! It absolutely satisfied my craving that night. It's unfortunate I do not live near Portland, but if I did, it wouldn't be good news for the spare tire forming at my waistline as I'd want to try each and EVERY flavor!
(5)
Cindy C.
I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM. All day everyday. I honestly don't think I could survive without a week of ice cream (not even kidding...). Reasons why I bolted for this place when it popped into my line of vision as we cruised down Division Street, looking for a dinner place. Ice cream for dinner? I'm down. Upon entering this store, I was greeted by a friendly lady who was soo nice - all the samples of ice cream I asked for had huge scoops on the small metal spoons! I was pretty blown away by how generous that was, considering the fact that the line was getting longer and longer by the moment, and I personally am a horribly indecisive person when it comes to choosing flavors. FLAVORS - Petunia's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie: Strong strawberry base, with chunks of rhubarb. One of the best strawberry flavors I've ever had. - Pear & Blue Cheese: Not a huge cheese fan (why did I even try this?), but it was an interesting combination. I could taste the sweetness of the pear, but the cheese was slightly overwhelming. - Cinnamon Snickerdoodle: If you love snickerdoodle cookies, you must get this. It tastes exactly like one, without the cinnamon being too overpowering. - Carrot Carrot Cake (seasonal): So disappointed that LA doesn't have this as their seasonal flavors, since it's literally the bomb. Chunks of carrot cake, swirled into the carrot base with utter perfection. Did they also add in a tinge of cream cheese frosting? Mind blowing. - Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake (seasonal): Absolutely surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this flavor. The potato chip wasn't outstandingly salty or out of place - in fact, it complimented the hints of caramel and the chunks of the coffee cupcake. PS: the chips are coated with chocolate ;) - Green Fennel & Maple (seasonal): Didn't enjoy this because it was so weird! Fennel in ice cream? Maybe not this time, sorry... but my dad liked it haha. I ended up getting a double split scoop of Petunia's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and Carrot Carrot Cake in a cup. Came out to be around $6 - pricey for ice cream (so minus 1 star), but their scoops are pretty huge. I recommend asking for as many samples as you like, until you feel comfortable with your flavor - DO NOT be shy! Basically everyone at the counter is asking for samples, and no one's judging! + Metered street parking + Non-dairy options (sorbets)
(4)
George C.
Not sure if all the hype is justified or perhaps I just don't like ice cream as much as I thought. Waited about 40 minutes in line although most of their flavors are pretty good. 3 stars for the wait and the ice cream not being that impressive to me. I got a flight with stumpside coffee with Burnside Bourbon, birthday cake blackberries, olive oil, and pear with bleu cheese. The pear was by far the best since the Bleu cheese is pretty subtle although I did get a large chunk of Bleu cheese that was pretty strong. The olive oil ice cream has an overbearing amount of olive oil flavor although getting a sample of it is pretty good. The birthday cake blackberries was on the rich side and was quite sweet but the coffee with Bourbon was a perfect blend of sweetness and coffee flavor. I did enjoy that you could sample as much as you wanted!
(3)
Dan M.
Definitely worth trying. The wait is not as long as the line appears and it moves quickly. The flavors are unique and they will allow tastes before you decide. I enjoyed the ice cream quite a bit.
(4)
LanChi N.
Read a few local reviews and this place showed up as a must go when in Portland...So my brother and I ended up here on a whim... We were welcomed with sweet smells of waffle cones and sugary sweetness. We were pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu this were not your typical flavors they were very much gourmet and sounded amazing. I'm so glad I was able to get samples but I limited myself to 2. I didn't want to be that annoying customer that asked for to much. The samples I tried were the Albequina Olive Oil and the Goat Cheese MarionBerry Habenero. Both were amazing but I figured I would go with the smoother flavor of the olive oil partially because the slow burn of Habenero as Delish as it was one taste was enough. My brother decided he wanted something refreshing and went with the Mt.Hood Strawberry Sorbet which was exactly flavor wise what he had been looking for full of fruit flavor with no filler just fresh and naturally sweetened. Overall I shall agree with others in that this really a special treat local dairy just taste naturally buttery and delicious it's just such a clean flavor that spoils you where no ice cream could be the same. The is the definition of artisan flavored that are rotated by month and by local flavor and season. We just happened to stop by during berry season lol. I do wish my brother and I had realized hey had ice cream flights we both could easily gotten multiple flavor a but we were happy with our selections. But if you can decided get an ice cream flight for $9.
(4)
Andy O.
Bit of a line, but worth every minute. This is the best ice cream ever. Anywhere. Period. If you read my other reviews, you'll find that long lines almost always equate to blah-blah-overrated-not-worth-the-wait-minus-Âstars. Not the case here. This is seriously, seriously, deliciously legit ice cream. The flavors are the perfect balance between "oh, that's just supermarket plain" and "okay, that's just a stupid gimmick". You can taste the actual ingredients, but they don't do nonsense hat-trick flavors. When I eat ice cream, I don't want to eat it for novelty's sake; I want to eat it because it's a flavor I know I'll like, it know it will taste delicious, and it will make me nice and lazy for the next couple hours. Imagine my surprise when I found that there's one in my hometown (Los Angeles)! Seriously, imagine it! Now multiply it by like, I don't know, eighteen or something. That's how I feel about THAT. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ALL SCREAM!!!!!
(5)
Jennell K.
Great unique flavors! I personally LOVED the August vegetable specials, especially the carrot carrot cake and the cucumber lemon sorbet (sooo refreshing on a hot day)!! The cauliflower was :.. Interesting :) it tasted as it sounds. The sea salt caramel is a favorite go to, and the honey lavender is very comforting and dreamlike as it melts in your mouth. The servers were amazing as well! Can't beat the experience even though there's a long line out the door!
(4)
Elsie W.
I love ice cream. I don't understand why there's such a long line at both locations at all times. But the line goes fast and you can look through the menu on the chalkboard while you wait. It's definitely a top tourist attraction to say the least. Yes, their ice cream is quite good. Not the best I've ever had or anything mind-blowing, but I do appreciate their unique flavors. Very creative and the open space to sit is great.
(4)
Kevin K.
Location specific review: Located next to pok pok. My girlfriend and I naturally had to get a sweet treat after our savory meal at pok pok. This one was nice because it is not as crowded as the alphabet district location. I was able to try a ton of flavors hehehe without getting that anxiety attack of the next person in line hovering over my shoulder. Staff was super friendly and helpful in their description of their flavors. No complaints here! General overview: Best ice cream I've ever had. Top five desserts I've ever had and it's just ice cream. Well I shouldn't just say just ice cream because their ingenuity and creativity push the boundaries of what your taste buds can handle. They have their solid foundation flavors and then they have their special flavors. Their special flavors consist of favorite dishes from local restaurants which seriously make your head turn. For example, they had a poutine flavored ice cream, and kimchi and jasmine rice; they were super flavorful and delicious. My recommendations for a mind blowing ice cream experience is the sea salt with caramel ribbons and the almond brittle with salted ganache. Seriously both are unreal.
(5)
N C.
Five stars all the way. Interesting but simple flavors. I love how they have a limited amount of options so I don't have to be so indecisive. Honey lavender and sea salt caramel are my favs. But the ladies at the counter are pretty nice about samples, but PLEASE don't sample every flavor when there's a long line behind you (geez). Attentive employees. Simple looking ice cream spot. Make sure to get your ice cream on a fresh waffle. Btw- parking can be a pain in the behind. But this place still deserves 5 delicious stars!
(5)
Elizabeth G.
Our out of town guests wanted to know if Portland had serious good Gelato, and we insisted on bringing them to Salt & Straw, even though it is not Gelato, it is also not to be passed by by any ice cream aficionado. We arrived at a perfect time, about 2:30 in the afternoon. There was no line, and we got superb service from the waitress, who graciously let us try all the street food flavors of the month, and more. I personally chose the Kim Chi ice cream, while more cautious members of our group had the signature Sea Salt Carmel. I of course want their Sea Urchin ice cream to make a come back, as it was my all time favorite here.
(5)
Celina P.
Tempted to stop at Salt & Straw on a hot Portland day...and am SO glad I did! Pleasantly surprised to find out they had 2 vegan options, both of which I tried. Food: I had the August sorbet special (cucumber + lemon), and the coconut strawberry rhubarb flavor. Both were unique and deliciously fantastic. The cucumber and lemon was light, but citrus-y sweet, and the coconut flavor had gluten free chucks of rhubarb cake or something amazing. Vegan ice cream is hit or miss, but Salt & Straw definitely knows how to make it right! Service: Very nice, cheerful servers, and willing to give multiple samples! Generous scoops too, which is unusual for some nicer ice cream shops. Ambiance: Small shop, long line on the weekend, but nice little outdoor seating area. This is a must stop for those with a sweet tooth. I can only imagine how amazing the non-vegan flavors are too!
(5)
Barbara P.
Very interesting!! I've never seen people line up on multiple sides of an ice cream shop and WAIT for ice cream cones all hours of the day.. But it happens every day at salt & straw in all 3 Portland locations! In addition they offer the most unique flavors of ice cream I've ever seen.....like olive oil, Thai peanut butter sauce, and lemon cucumber. Very tasty!!!
(5)
Rachel R.
The most hyped AND best ice cream in Portland?! Yaaaas, indeed. Get the coconut rhubarb pie and blackberry birthday cake. Together. Double fist them from two separate cones. But.... The flavors are less interesting than at the LA location. However, if you can't fly to Los Angeles for ice cream, this is your best bet.
(4)
Adrienne L.
BEST ICE CREAM in PORTLAND. I first had Salt & Straw at their LA location. I was blown away. The quality and flavor is comparable to SF institutions. The Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache could rival Bi-rite's Salted Caramel. So after one very enjoyable meal at Roe (best meal I've had in Portland), I still made sure I had space for Salt & Straw nearby. Priorities. Apparently with the right amount of restraint and planning, you CAN eat it all. But not if the place is closed. So we hustled since it was just before 11 pm when we left Roe. Amazingly Salt & Straw was still welcoming the last of the line with their energetic service. I didn't think I could love them anymore! I probably sampled half the menu and settled on one scoop each of Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars. The lady scooping asked which flavor I preferred on the bottom. In all my ice cream indulging, I don't believe I've ever been asked that. A good question indeed. It does impact your whole cone experience - do you put your favorite on the bottom and finish with it last? Tough life decisions here. Between the awesome service, delicious flavors, and wonderful creamy texture, Salt & Straw is hands down a 5-Star Creamery for this ice cream snob :)
(5)
Dashiell B.
Good flavors, hours, people, ambiance and price. What more could you ask? Had one of the August special flavors ( carrot cake). I don't even love sweets and this was perfectly flavored, creamy and in a waffle cone that was airy, crispy and delicate unlike any I've had.
(5)
Victoria G.
Absolutely delicious. Unique flavors made with local and seasonal ingredients. Great texture and bold taste. The staff is friendly and the space is clean. Portion sizes are great for the price and they let you taste test as many flavors as you want! I had the Almond Brittle & Ganache as well as the Stumptown Coffee. My partner had Vanilla. But we taste tested many and enjoyed them. Ample seating. Street parking in a nice quiet part of town. I'd go back!
(4)
Xiao Z.
Ugh, you ruined my diet and I loved you for it. Damn you, deliciously unique ice cream! I came here with my GF, after hearing so much about the unique flavors of Salt & Straw and how it's been featured on multiple television shows. I'm not a fan of fame, but after being allowed to taste every single ice cream by one of the kindest servers and ordering a tasting tray of four of our favorite icecreams with a homemade waffle cone on the side, I'd say that Salt and Straw deserves all of their notoriety. I'm sure the seasonable menus will change, but some of their basic (haha, I laugh at that word, since most of the flavors are anything but) flavors still remain some of my favorites. I really liked the olive oil ice cream, the strawberry and balsamic vinaigrette, pear and bleu cheese, Stumptown coffee and burnside bourbon. I think the 4-piece $9 tasting tray may have been a bit extreme, but looking at my selfies with those delicious frozen treats, I think I enjoyed them quite a bit =P Food: 5 stars Price: 3 stars Service: 5 stars
(5)
Teala A.
Once again....... I don't wait in lines...... But for this I will. I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but I am always so curious about their pairings and love the fact that you can try everything and there is no judgement. In fact, the folks working there are always warm and helpful and seem to honestly enjoy their jobs. Obviously S&S is doing lots right because their employees seem happy and the line is constant. Well done.
(5)
Isah K.
So good. Waffle cones made on site so the aroma is just divine. So many interesting combinations of flavors, thankfully the offer samples. Which flavor should you try? Try them all.
(5)
Jenn W.
The line was lo-o-o-ong when we came by at around 7pm on a 95 degree weather day. Maybe 30-40 minutes? Tried a bunch of flavors (we had just been to the Alphabet district location a couple days prior heh) and ended up getting the honey lavender. It became my favorite flavor and I regret not getting that the first time! The texture of the ice cream was much better at this location, maybe because more customers means going through batches more quickly. I definitely recommend Salt & Straw to everyone visiting Portland. Heads up that scoops are huge! I am an ice cream fiend but one scoop was definitely enough for me.
(4)
Arti N.
//PDX Sweetheart Foodie Trip: Aug 21-23, 2015- Stop 5 of 7// Hubs and I made our first out-of-town "entire weekend" getaway since the l'il miss arrived 5.5 years ago. Cue the music! But seriously, hubs was a good sport and I ratcheted my normal foodie weekend levels WAY down. With S&S, I had heard that you **must** try, and so we did. Especially since we had just had lunch across the street at Pok Pok (ok with about a 1.5 hour break in between to walk around... a LOT). The queue wasn't too bad when we arrived at the tail end ~4pm last Saturday afternoon, it ran it's normal U-shape inside + out the door and to the end of the storefront on the sidewalk (roughly a 1/2 hour wait). I really loved the idea that when you get to the front you can try as many flavors as you want without holding up folks behind you (who can order and move past you quite nicely to pay). Unfortunately we didn't do that... since while waiting in line and reading the flavors, hubs and I decided on a tasting flight of 4 flavors figuring we could get more sampling that way. From the August specials, we choose "Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake" (ummm, you know that was all me, hubs was basically making faces at every description of this flavor) and the "Lemon Cucumber Sorbet" (no... not lemon AND cucumber, but a type of cucumber called lemon). From the classic flavors menu, we choose "Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper" and "Freckled Woodblock Chocolate". -- Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake~ "A lightly malted, salted chocolate ice cream, light and unobtrusive, sets the table for professional-grade cupcake debauchery. The ice cream is loaded with gooey, bite-sized pieces of cupcake that are topped with chocolate ganache and doused in coffee syrup to keep them soft and moist. Those are good, but they need something else...like maybe little crunchy snaps of chocolate-coated potato chips? Oh, yes, and a generous ribbon of house-made caramel. This flavor is inspired by the infamous CCPC cupcake from Kit Jensen's former bakeshop, The Sugar Cube!" -- Lemon Cucumber Sorbet~ "Spa on a spoon. This is a lemon cucumber sorbet, not a lemon and cucumber sorbet. It's one thing, a lemon cucumber. It is, in fact, a sweet, lemony-looking cucumber, out of which we make this lovely, pale yellow, elegant, and delicately fresh sorbet. These lemon cucumbers were grown by amazing kids! This sorbet is a collaboration with Food Works, a program that teaches kids incredible life skills through farming. Food Works is completely run by students aged 14-21. More than just a "learning farm," Food Works is a sustainable agriculture and land-management commitment through which kids learn to farm, practice business and finance skills, and learn about healthy cooking and eating. Supporting projects like Food Works is one of the most important aspects of our company and we're humbled and happy to cook with them, anytime." -- Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper~ "It's triple Oregon Strawberry! Made with strawberries, jam, and syrup from Oregon Hill Farms. Honey Balsamic from a fifth-generation beekeeper at Honeyridge Farms, and locally imported, rare Cubeb Pepper (not to make it spicy... just a trick we learned from the Italians to pepper fruit to bring out the flavor." -- Freckled Woodblock Chocolate~ "Roasting cocoa beans in a 19th century-old fire roaster, Woodblock is the first bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Portland. We add in a bit of Jacobsen sea salt, the first to harvest salt from the Oregon coast in over 200 years, and then use an old-school ice cream making technique called "freckling" to suspend the chocolate in an untempered state." For hubs, his favs were the LC sorbet and the FW choco. For me, my favs were the LC sorbet and the CCPCC. Neither one of us dug the SHBw/BP (WAY too balsamic-y). And neither one of us felt the texture (we prefer creamy) or tastiness even came close to Mora Creamery in WA state. I guess we tend to be ice cream purists and not big fans of the crazy flavors. Hey, when you have an out of this world pistachio flavored ice cream (like Mora), why mess with it?
(3)
Eric A.
WOW....truly is all I can say in between each bite of ice cream. I went in for vanilla and came out with 5 different flavors. The place is über modern and there is a line out the door (a good sign). A great place to take the kids, an after dinner aperitif or when you need a pick me up! Everyone us super friendly and helpful. Not to mention the samples are phenomenol! You will never want another ice cream after trying Salt and Straw. I will be in Portland every 5 weeks for business and I will be at this place each visit!!
(5)
Flavia A.
What is there to say but Almond Brittle With Salted Ganache? (You're welcome to read my review of Salt & Straw on NW 23rd for the full scoop). Get it? Full scoop? Har har. Just enjoy. And yes it's worth the wait.
(5)
Donna S.
ambiance//***** with the amount of foot traffic they get...there is plenty of space to wait along w/ a section of show & tell of their artisanal flavors...where the ingredients are sourced from also random knick knack keepsakes for those who wish to share with the world that they've been salt & straw service//***** the people here completely understand the seriousness of selecting the proper ice cream for your current mood ever patiently scooping tasters for you before selecting the flavor food//***** they cover everything from classic vanilla to earthy lavender to the wildly creative bleu cheese & pear i'm a sucker for unique flavors like bleu cheese & ear thank goodness they opened up near me!!^^ ~*~ delicious and interesting...i will never be bored eating their flavors~
(5)
Samantha Z.
Currently eating two scoops of chocolatey something or another. What's better than the ice cream? The customer service. Felicia helped us tonight and she was so sweet! She let us taste a million flavors, and was so kind. Five stars for her!!
(5)
Rhyann B.
Delicious! I really enjoy visiting Salt and Straw. The ice cream is consistently great, and the rotating flavors are always new and inventive. I'm a fan of the Almond Brittle and Ganache flavor. They also just had a Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Cupcake flavor for August that was probably my favorite of all the flavors I've had there. I have a couple reasons for not giving it a 5. 1. The line is always pretty ridiculous. You can expect to wait at least 30 minutes. If the weather is nice, it can be more like an hour. It is good ice cream, but waiting a long time for it is a bit of a bummer. 2. I've had better ice cream in Portland. I visited What's the Scoop in NE, and it was fantastic (and I really didn't have to wait).
(4)
Nikki D.
This place is awesome if you're down to try new and interesting flavor combo of ice cream. I got the carrot carrot cake which was a seasonal flavor. Tasted exactly like a carrot cake, down to the cream cheese frosting. I also got to taste a few different flavors trying to make my decision, cucumber lime, and a rhubarb flavored one. The line for this place can be very long depending on the hour of the day that you go. Super busy after dinner time. Other than that, they have super friendly service and delicious ice cream.
(4)
Michael S.
So come with me where dreams are born and dessert is never blah. Just think of yummy things, and ice creams for kings, forever, at Salt & Straw! Salt & Straw is like a fairy tale land of ice cream dreams. There's no need for Peter Pan and little kids singing to reach this Yummy Yummy Land where you never grow up. Simply find some street parking nearby and join the line out the front door filled with Lost Boys, Tinkerbells, Tiger Lilys, and the occasional Captain Hook. Actually, the original and dreamy flavors of Salt & Straw are so magical, you just may be singing like a little kid again. Here's a quick list of flavors for kids or adults to plan which free samples you'll try. * Double Fold Vanilla * Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars * Pear & Blue Cheese * Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper * Honey Lavender * Arbequina Olive Oil * Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon * Cinnamon Snickerdoodle * Chocolate Gooey Brownie * Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache * Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons * Freckled Woodblock Chocolate Each month has 5-6 unique flavors available, so, you should plan on visiting Salt & Straw at least 12 times a year because some of those flavors are just as magical as the daily flavors. The hype for the ice cream here is huge and, clearly, this fantasy land is no secret. Believe the hype because there really is a place where dreams are born, scooped, licked, and loved ... again and again. There really is a place called Salt & Straw.
(5)
Dana G.
A philosophical PDX question (may apply to other cities too). Does a Disneyland-style line that zig-zags through the restaurant, out the door, and down the street mean that the populous agrees this eatery is clearly Five Stars? Or does that inconvenience and whatever caused it cause the loss of a star or two. Oh for goodness sake. Without the line I woulda said five stars. I'm not sure I ever tried Salt & Straw when I lived in PDX. I did not get on the bandwagon. I may have missed an opportunity (or maybe it was a near-miss!!). Salt & Straw was the final stop of my first ever Dana's Food Tour PDX (cue cheering), Hungry Friend and Hungry Me (no longer really hungry at all, but I was willing to put my back into it all in the name of science. Or something). I followed Hungry Friend's guidance and had a great time tasting flavors, and ended up with a cone I loved. First of all, the smell. The smell of the cones is intoxicating. Even without the ice cream, the cone smell and cone would be a fine storefront. Dear Salt & Straw: A proposal for your next venture. Second, the experience. Once we made it to the front of the line, I was impressed with the coordination and good-naturedness of our ice cream scooper woman. I was also impressed with the fact that all the scoopers looked like vibrant glowing yoga instructors. I guess I've lived in the country for too long. Third, the taste and texture. I sampled several flavors, and finally decided on a half-scoop (the classic) sea salt with caramel topped by (a May Flowers flavor of the month) wildflower honey with ricotta walnut lace cookies on top (man o man what a mouthful of a name to go with the mouthful of Yum!). The texture was perfect- both the cookies crumbled in the top scoop, and also the texture of the ice cream itself. It was thick, gelato-ish. And it didn't even cost like twenty bucks for this magic ice cream. It remember it being maybe $3.50. Suchadeal.
(4)
Jay P.
It was a hot day and my sweet tooth was hankering for something sugary and my body for something cooling. We were close to salt and straw so that is where we headed. To our surprise there was a short line this time around and the wait was quite reasonable. Usually the wait is significant and out the door. While waiting I was reading the menu and I told my friend that they serve food now when I read "poutine" on the board. He corrected me and said that it was actually the flavor of the ice cream. I told him that it can't be, because that would be disgusting, but sure enough it was true. I didn't go this route and took his suggestion of trying the snickerdoodle flavor, which actually sounded much more appetizing than poutine. Glad I took his sugesstion, because it was delicious. The first spoon was simply devine and oh so wonderful. The first thing that hits the mouth is the cinnamon, it was as it I was sodomizing a warm and gooey cinnamon roll, but in this case enjoyed it very much. Then after the cinnamon there was the cookie itself. It was moist and buttery and complimented everything very well. Even they have many arrays flavors that you wouldn't think would go together and make you think that it wouldn't work, but today I did not feel like an adventure and wanted to go with a sure think and nothing beats the snickerdoodle. A must try.
(5)
Spencer T.
Not just the best ice cream in Portland. This is easily some of the best (if not THE best) ice cream I've ever had in my life. Most recently, I went with a seasonal flavor (rhubarb crumble with toasted anise), split with a standard (honey lavender). Definitely good. The former managed to tame the anise nicely, while still keeping it as a fine background note, making it a good summer flavor. The latter was simple and sweet, and I can see it working well with many flavors as well as on its own. I'd also strongly recommend the sea salt/caramel and the Stumptown Coffee/Burnside Bourbon. Oh yeah, and the almond brittle/salted ganache. Those are my usual flavors. Salt & Straw is very good about allowing people to try samples. This time, I tried the wildflower honey/ricotta-walnut lace cookies, as well as the rhubarb one. The honey-ricotta was good, and I'd definitely recommend it, but I was craving something summery, so I went with the rhubarb. Here's a couple things they don't list on their board. For one, it costs a buck to do half-and-half scoops. Kind of harsh, if you ask me, though I always do it anyways. Also, the waffle cones are $1.50. Definitely worth springing for. You know that incredible smell that always permeates the block where Salt & Straw is located? That's the waffle cones, being baked fresh every day. The lines are a drag. Then again, they usually appear when it's a warm, clear, beautiful night in the City of Roses, and they lend themselves well to people-watching and conversing with friends. There's a reason this place is so popular. Definitely demands multiple visits this summer.
(5)
Christina S.
Woohoo! Get to check this place off my Portland list. Came here after a meal at Pok Pok. Got the almond brittle with salted ganache on a sugar cone and it was delicious. The service was friendly and I was able to sample a few flavors before picking the one I wanted. This place is worth checking out if are craving ice cream in Portland!
(4)
Tiffany H.
Step 1- find parking Step 2- prepare for waiting in line Step 3- realize the parking and line was worth it as you try several amazing flavors of ice cream from friendly staff Step 4- make the tough decision on settling on only one thing and enjoy it outside in the beautiful summer weather. Step 5- repeat The strawberry balsamic with black pepper is the absolute best, in my opinion. The chocolate gooey brownie is great for chocolate lovers. They always have something fun to try as well, like the food cart flavors now, so be adventurous! If yo want an easier tie with parking and a shorter line, come during off-peak times- weeknights are easier than weekends, and realize on any 90 degree summer day anyone in Portland who knows about ice cream will already be here.
(5)
Alvin N.
WOW, The Quality of Salt & Straw is Amazing! This Company certainly takes pride of their product! They use Many Local Oregon Ingredients! I always order an Ice Cream Flight to try 4 flavors everytime I stop by! Their Staff is always Friendly! Portlandia, you are lucky to have this place! You must not miss their Salted Caramel, it is ooey gooey goodness! :D
(5)
Zack S.
Salt & Straw has turbo hype. If you live in Portland and you're talking about dessert, Salt & Straw is one of the first things to come up in conversation. Does this place live up to the legend that is told of it? Yes. Yeeesss. Holy crap, yes. This is the best ice cream I have ever had in my entire life and it deserves the recognition it has gained. The salted caramel I'd delicious, cinnamon snicker doodle is to die for, and pear and blue cheese is... Well... It's pear and blue cheese... But you NEED to come here if you are looking for the best ice cream in Portland. TL;DR: It's like you're eating ice cream but it tastes way better.
(5)
Kalusha C.
I don't see the hype about this place, the ice cream is too sweet and weird. I swear it screams diabetes!
(1)
Dustin R.
Outstanding ice cream! But something about people waiting in line over an hour for ice cream just pisses me off. I'm not the sort of person who can waste my time in the ice cream line so I only come here when it is not crowded. Pro tip: you can ask for as many ice cream samples as you like!
(3)
Michelle M.
BOMB DOT COM!! This place has become one of my favorite ice cream places. Customers are able to sample as many flavors they want. They had cute small silver spoons and a small shoot in the counter/wall to dispose used spoons. Here, you can also buy pints of their ice cream they have in their freezer section. Since I happen to enjoy the Stumptown flavor, I had to try the Stumptown coffee ice cream - amazing. Also, I got the strawberry honey balsamic with cracked black pepper. I typically am not a person the enjoys fruity ice cream, but this one was a hit with me. The flavor complexes complemented each other so well. There were in-house strawberry jam chunks with the subtle taste of the black pepper and the added sweetness from the balsamic. For those visiting, this place is a must!
(5)
Yvette H.
(5)
Denise M.
(3)
(5)
Elliott D.
I get embarrassed when I feel like I've asked for too many testers, so sometimes I go to the end of the line to come back for more (getting another guy to help me the 2nd time around). On this occasion, the flavors I tried on Round 1 (Arbequina Olive Oil, Honey Lavender, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Cracked Pepper, & Spiked Egg Nog) just didn't speak to my taste buds. The Honey Lavender, for example, was way too lavender-infused, to the point of making me feel like I was eating a candle (I've had divine honey lavender in the past). On Round 2 I reluctantly settled upon: ***PEAR & BLUE CHEESE - The delicate, sweet flavor of Oregon Trail Northwest Bartlett Pears from Salem, OR with perfectly aged cumbles of Rogue Creamery's Crater Lake Blue Cheese (recently named the best in the world at a fancy competition in France) mixed throughout. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty interesting, with generous chunks of soft pear in the forefront, and little bits of blue cheese to finish it off in a non-overwhelming way. But it was just strange enough to make it so that I couldn't completely relax and go for it. Probably my own fault for not choosing something more "normal", but nothing else stood out to me. ***COCONUT WITH PETUNIA'S SALTED CARAMEL BARS - A coconut based, non-dairy ice cream made in collaboration with our good friends at Petunia's Pastries. Petunia's salted caramel bars are special because they are both vegan and gluten-free, but are so delicious that we would be none the wiser! For a bit of extra yumminess we swirl in hand-burned caramel and housemade chocolate ganache. This was my "normal" option to mix with my weird option, a selection that I didn't realize until just now was non-dairy (I'd call that a major success). This was pretty good I guess, with crunchy/gooey caramel and chocolate mix-ins, but not particularly interesting or life-changing. ALL IN ALL: My first main grievance is that they're trying to be really Bohemian with the flavors, but many a time it felt like they were trying way too hard, and the flavor combinations just ended up being "Oh that was novel, look what flavor I just tried..." instead of "Holy freaking crap I just crapped my pants due to all of this unrestrained deliciousness". My second grievance is that the overall consistency isn't as dreamy as, let's say even a Cold Stone. I don't know if it's an extra egg yolk, the lack thereof, or the serving temperature or whatnot, but it's just missing something. I was sure to get a freshly made waffle cone as they smelled ever so divine, but it ended up tasting surprisingly unremarkable. I guess I've probably had my fill of Salt & Straw for a while.
(3)
John O.
Believe the hype. Damn good. Also, to skip the line, go to the front and buy a pint. Don't tell anyone this secret though.
(5)
Emily E.
I love how unique this place is. I've been hear multiple times and I'm very satisfied! I sampled: Cinnamon snicker doodle ( It was amazing) & Honey Lavender I loved them both but I wanted something unique. So I decided to get the honey lavender. Now it's my new favorite ice cream! At first it's a little strange but as you keep tasting it, it is delicious!!! My uncle got the cinnamon snicker doodle in a milkshake which was a-mazing. My dad got the olive oil ice cream! I didn't try it but he absolutely loved it! I'm excited to try out more flavors. They usually have a huge line but the line this time wasn't out the door! I've seen salt and straw mentioned on almost every post/article mentioning ice cream! I would defiantly recommend this place to anyone!!!
(5)
Angik S.
If you are looking for awesome ice cream, head to cool Moon or what's the scoop. But I am a fan of this place simply because of the flavors. Last year they had an orange rhubarb flavor which is the best ice cream flavor I have ever tasted. This year they have the special food cart flavors. The Viking soul food and koi fusion flavors are the bomb. But all of them are good. Definitely try them.
(4)
Varun B.
Love this place. I used to live in San Francisco, and the bar set for ice cream there typically tended to be Bi-Rite Creamery and Humphrey-Slocombe, in my opinion -- both of which are highly reputable places and known to many. I have to say, Salt and Straw, was quite the delightful surprise because I felt that it honestly was better than both of those places that I love in SF. Their flavors are all very well balanced and unique. The ice cream itself isn't too heavy like some others. Go here. Take samples -- like all of them. And then pick your favorite double scoop (or a split single scoop, which we did). Oh, and DEFINITELY get the waffle cone. It not only smells delicious, but tastes so as well.
(5)
Nicole E.
Looking for unique flavors of fresh ice cream? This is the place to go. I had a roasted strawberry and toasted white chocolate scoop. Other flavors included things like olive oil and lavender. Mine was delicious and my friends loves theirs too.
(4)
Tiffany L.
I love me some fancy ice cream. To avoid the lines, we came early to sample a bunch of flavors. I loved them all but ended up getting the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle (loved the cookies pieces in the ice cream). Thumbs up!
(4)
Patrick _.
When it comes to Ice Cream I am a very traditional person. I don't like to get too crazy, but when visiting Portland I knew I would have to stop and get some. The foodie side of me wanted try all the weird flavors, but I narrowed it down to three. I tried the Garam Masala and Cinnamon Cauliflower, it was kinda gross and just not for me. Ultimately I ended up getting Olive Oil and Pear and Blue Cheese. It was the best Ice Cream I have ever had. Overall the line was small and the service was fast and friendly landing this place a well deserved five stars.
(5)
Portia D.
LOVE this place! Signature being the Sea Salt and Carmel but trust me the Strawberry Balsamic with Black Pepper is the real hidden gem on the menu. First off service! I was a first timer coming here and while in line trying to pick three flavors to try. I wanted to try them all but I thought no way would any place do this. Got up to the front and Riley was more than willing to let me try EVERYTHING! WHAT!?! Not only did Riley let me try everything but it was done with a smile and I was given a brief profile of each flavor. Second are the flavors! Olive oil flavor who would think this would be delicious? But it is and you will want more of it. Green Fennel Maple, Lemon Cucumber Sorbet, Snickerdoodle and more! Creativity is definitely not in short supply here. Love that the menu seasonal and new flavors are always rotating in and out. Even though there will usually be a line it will be worth the wait. Two thumbs way up for this place!
(5)
Madie N.
GREAT ICE CREAM!!! Very helpful staff as well. My mom and I were very fortunate to come to Salt & Straw with no line. We sampled everything and we loved all of it. We ended up each getting a little more ice cream than we could handle, but the 900 calories was worth it.
(5)
MyTien P.
Everyone in California knows that I am a huge ice cream fanatic so I was really excited to finally give Salt & Straw a try. I was not disappointed! I ordered a scoop of the Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream and it was pure perfection. The strips of sea salt caramel was amazing and wasn't overpowering at all. It might have been the best salted caramel ice cream I've tried yet (Bi-Rite in San Francisco is also delicious). The ice cream wasn't too creamy and had the right consistency. I also really enjoyed the warm sugar cone here and highly recommend getting it with your ice cream! This place definitely lived up to my expectations and it is now one of my favorite ice cream shops. I will definitely be coming back here when I visit Portland. Good thing they recently just opened a Salt & Straw in Los Angeles!!
(5)
Klee L.
Delicious! The flavors are unique and worth expanding your horizons for. But the best part(ok not maybe the best,,,, but sure is important) was the service! When you wait in line for 20 minutes (which I hear is not bad for a hot day) and are greeted with a smile, cheer and great attitude it truly makes all the difference! I commend the owners and managers for having such a great staff. I hope it means they are happy to be there! Ok, it also doesn't hurt to be able to try EVERYTHING with a HUGE sample on such a tiny spoon. A true and favorable gem. BTW... Try the coconut ice cream!
(5)
Lena L.
Possibly the best ice cream ever! Mostly because the offer lavender ice cream!!!!! So many tasty options!
(5)
Tracy Joy K.
Came here twice during my weekend trip to Portland, long wait but quality ice cream that was well worth it! They have a ton of unique flavors like Honey Balsamic and Black Pepper, Honey Lavender, Coffee & Bourbon. The long line is usually because of the tons of samples people try but when it's your turn definitely take advantage and try them out. I had the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons - probably the best sea salt caramel ice cream I've had - loved how salty it was and one scoop was definitely a hefty helping. Delectable for sure. :)
(4)
Amy L.
Love it one of my favorite ice cream places and it's a lot closer on the SE side. I've been here when they were just a little cart to a full store. I love the variety of rotating flavors they have. There was ones I really love are Sourdough olive oil with salted chocolate ganache and the cassis sorbet. My regular go to is the Almond brittle with salted ganache. Cons: Parking is a pain and there's always a long line.
(5)
Fawn W.
Seriously good ice cream. The salted caramel (they have a fancier name for it here) is delicious! Worth the line.
(5)
Loren John B.
As a Bay Area resident, I've had my share of popular ice cream. Bi-Rite, Mitchell's, Smitten, Humphry Slocombe, and Ici are all great. After stuffing my face at Pok Pok, my friend and I figured this would be a great dessert spot. We braved the line for a good 30 minutes (it's like this at almost every location I've come across in Portland). I only tasted the seasonal flavors available for the month of March. I sampled the salted caramel cupcake, and the lumberjack stack. I went with a waffle cone, because it seemed thats what everyone else was doing. It's pretty cool that you can see them make the waffle cones in-house right next to the flavor counter. I ended up getting a single scoop of the lumberjack stack, and I was just amazed with how good it was. Blueberries and bits of pancakes in ice cream are well executed. I felt my jaw tingle after every bite, you know the good kind of tingle when you eat something sweet and delicious. I'd have to say, Salt & Straw would have to be in the same class as Bi-Rite. Had I stayed in Portland a little longer, I would have gone again and tried at least one of its regular flavors. The wait is pretty ridiculous for some ice cream, but it's a good thing the flavors are bomb and the staff are super helpful.
(5)
Jewel M.
I finally tried this place and it was sooo good. I had their vegan flavor: coconut with Petunia's salted caramel bars. It is also swirled with caramel and chocolate ganache. It did not disappoint. I went ahead and bought the pint for $9. Even though it was quite good, for the price this will only be a treat on occasion. I hope to see more vegan flavors in the future.
(4)
Jessie M.
Holy crap, the line is insane. Seemingly at all hours of the day. I mean it's good not THAT good. We did the ice cream flight and tried the balsamic strawberry with black pepper, the vanilla, the chocolate brownie, and the olive oil. It was fun and I don't understand why everyone doesn't get the flight... it's $9 for so much ice cream.
(4)
Yuan J.
Salt & Straw never disappoints. I've now been to all 3 locations and each visit was a delight. As a first time goer, I would recommend getting: Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons, Balsamic Strawberry, and Honey Lavender. If you can go more than once, also get the Pear with Blue Cheese (the cheese is so subtle and not overpowering AT ALL), Tahini Cardamom, and the Coconut with Salted Caramel Bars. Also, don't be too discouraged by the line, even if it goes out the door and wraps around the corner. The line goes pretty fast since serving each customer won't take that long.
(5)
Cylix S.
Seriously, there is no down side to the quality of the ice cream here! Crazy flavors, I wish there were more shops like this here in Spokane. It gets busy, but ive never had to wait longer than 15-20 minutes. They dont rush you into trying the different flavors and making a decision. They are very patient and polite- I am planning on taking my wife here for my upcoming birthday.
(5)
Robbin A.
Absolutely delicious ice cream. The whole place smells like freshly made waffle cones the moment you walk in. This is exceptionally close to Bi-Rite ice cream from San Francisco; the only reason why this isn't a 5 is because I didn't wish I had it back home. Their honey lavender was excellent, as was their sea salt caramel, which I'm assuming they are known for. The service was quick and friendly, and I love places that give you samples on actual spoons! Good to know that those are being washed and reused. They do this really cool thing where the specials change every so often. Since I'm allergic to uncooked egg yolks, I couldn't have any of the specials of the month, which were inspired by local elementary school kids. That's okay - I had the honey lavender and salted caramel as an ENORMOUS single scoop in my waffle cone. Drool. Anyway, it's always a plus when the people know what goes into their ice cream. I was lucky enough that about 80% of them weren't made with egg yolks, which meant I didn't have to worry about an allergic reaction. This was the only ice cream shop I went to in Portland, and I am okay with that. Considering not just one, but two Portland folks recommended it to me, it is absolutely worth the visit if you have never been to an ice cream shop like this before.
(4)
Nitar L.
I'm an LA native and wanted my S&S cherry to be popped by the OG location so I booked a trip to Portland. Totally worth it! The line can get pretty long, like out-the-door-on-to-the-sidewalk long. I thought of it like an attraction and didn't mind the 30+ minute wait. There are plenty of things to keep you entertained, like S&S swag! There are tees, mugs, and other local products for sale. (You can find Andy Ricker's SOM drinking vinegars there, too!) I made it out with a scoop of something glorious (I forgot what it was, but you really can't go wrong with any of the flavors here) in a waffle cone, a t-shirt, and a mug! Yep, I'm a total tourist :)
(5)
Twylla S.
We happened upon this place while walking the streets of downtown. We peered at the unconventional menu and the tremendously long line and we're both perplexed and curious. These are not your typical ice cream flavors, and honestly, the weirder they sound the more delicious they are.... The first time we stopped in I wasn't feeling experimental so I went with a sea salt caramel ribbon. It was good, ideal for your boring friends which will find it delicious but nothing out of their comfort realm. My adventurous husband sampled a few of the stranger flavors and settled on a strawberry with balsamic and black pepper. I was apprehensive...but once I tasted it I knew we were dealing with some true ice cream pioneering here and that I should have gone all out. Needless to say two days later I got a hankering for some experimental ice cream tasting. This time I went pear and blue cheese in a sugar cone. All I can tell you is yes. You have to try it. It's savory and sweet. The blue cheese is present but not like you would expect, it gives a savory creaminess to the whole experience. Without it the flavor would be so overly sweet on its own. I hope they bring one of these to Chicago.
(5)
Christianne F.
Almond brittle salted ganache.... Enough said! Wait... Want more sweet than savory? What about... seasonal flavors like Oregon Peach with toasted walnut? Oh, they're local Organic and All natural And the best damn ice cream I've ever had. Waffle cone itself is pretty amazeballs. Trust me, you're going to have a hard time picking a flavor or two... You'll want them all! There's a reason why the line is long. Hooray that there is now one in Los Angeles!
(5)
Dian K.
There are a lot of gourmet ice cream places nowadays. One weirder sounding flavor rivaling another. As a thorough researcher, I've tried most of them, but I kept coming back to Salt & Straw. They are the best of the bunch. The 3 different locations is one proof of it (and they recently open a location in LA). The hoards of people rain or shine waiting is another. I like this location the best because it seems like the line moves faster here. Beginning of the month, I always try the different flavors of the month. More than likely I would come back to my tried and true favorite, the salted caramel. Remember! If you want to skip the line, head straight to the freezer, get a pint and cut in front of the hoards of people - this is allowed!
(5)
Andrea V.
Ummm YUM! Wow. Really good ice cream. Had the strawberry honey balsamic with cracked black pepper, and my mom had the honey lavender. Just amazing favors. Also tasted the coconut with strawberry rhubarb pie. Was also amazing! Soo glad we stopped here on our trip! Nice girl who helped us too.
(5)
Angela D.
Just like all the other famous ice cream shops with creative flavors, this one delivers inventive flavor combinations and has a cult following. Now, let me just say that I'm not huge on ice cream. It's good, but I'd much rather have some sort of pastry for dessert. In addition, I only like eating ice cream when it's warm out. So, I thought the shop was cute and they had some cool sounding flavors. The workers were all really friendly and were happy to give multiple samples. The fragrant smell of waffle cone wafted through the shop priming me for some ice creamy goodness. I ended up tasting the honey lavender, which I wasn't a fan of. I also tried the freckled woodblock chocolate, which was quite good. Not overly chocolate, which is what I was afraid of. It had a hint of salt to it, which I think worked really well with the chocolate. I ordered the children's scoop in a sugar cone and thoroughly enjoyed it. Props to them for using local ingredients and their creative flavors, but they are nothing outstanding in the ice cream world.
(3)
Kristal B.
Excellent unique ice cream flavors. The sundaes were especially wonderful. Great, speedy and friendly customer service. Would highly recommend this ice cream shop!
(5)
John R.
This is a great spot to take someone visiting from out of town, or to go after dinner nearby. The flavor options are exotic and taste exquisite and homemade. I tasted a few samples (considered the norm here) before settling on the Lavender Honey. One can often smell the waffle cones baking from the street. These are the penultimate cones, should you crave that apex of experience. Other options abound however. The ice cream can be icy but is always cold and good. The crowds can be bad here, with lines reaching down the block at certain times and temperatures. Great options, friendly service. Prices are on the high side, though, so consider your options. What they offer can be had elsewhere, to some degree. Enjoy!
(4)
Wennie H.
Believe the hype. There's a reason this place is on the best ice cream list. I guess this months theme is street food and I have never in my life experienced anything like it. A few people told me about this place and also told me it was super busy. I was on a coffee date and we decided to hit it up after lunch...but when we were walking past to the pie place, the smell of fresh waffle cones changed everything. The shop is bright, airy, minimalistic and just had a good overall feel. Also, no line at 11am! I tried a couple flavors: the strawberry balsamic with black pepper (super good), the potato champion poutine (f***ing crazy good), the nongs khao man gai peanut butter (weird but not terrible), the chocolate gooey brownie (super rich), and almond brittle with salted ganache (not bad). But I settled on the coconut with petunias salted caramel bar. HOLY GUACAMOLE GOOD. When I tried it, I swear my eyes rolled to the back of my head, my mouth became slack and my date said, "that good, huh?" Literally a mouthgasm. So, so rich and creamy and bad for you, it's amazing. The scoops are massive, the staff friendly and the space great. This is going to become my favorite ice cream place in PDX.
(4)
Catherine N.
That smell! The moment you walk past the store (even from across the street), the smell of fresh cooking waffle cones permeates the air. I don't know how anyone can resist stopping into Salt & Straw. They had a really fun menu with a special chocolate menu. The staff is so welcoming and friendly and will give you tastes of anything you want. They use metal spoons and actually have a hole in the counter that acts as the 'spoon shoot' for used tasting spoons. We settled on the tasting flight for $9 because I like to eat a little of a lot of things. Added a $1 waffle cone because (explained above). This is definitely the way to go. You get for pretty big scoops, so it's such a bargain compared to a bunch of single scoop. strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper - this was my favorite. Refreshing, sweet, & smooth with an occasional awakening from the vinegar-not too much black pepper taste though Woodblocks hand roasted chocolate and toasted sesame- smooth and not too rich with nice hints of nuttiness from the sesame Xocolatt and David's brown butter chocolate bar -this was the most chocolatey of the ones we sampled. Pretty straight-forward and slightly salty (nice touch) Sea salt with Caramel (not sea salt caramel)-sea salt ice cream with caramel swirls- this was our least favorite but the bites that had a lot of caramel were good. Loved it even though I'm not a huge ice cream person. Reasonable prices for artisan ice cream in unique flavors. Well deserving of their reputation.
(5)
Steph Y.
Came here while visiting my bff and ordered the stump town coffee & burnside bourbon ice cream and was instantly won over. The coffee flavor was strong and the ice cream was smooth and rich so needless to say I inhaled it. The server was also really friendly and chatted with us while she was scooping my order.
(5)
Lexie V.
The ice cream here is rich. I mean RICH. It's excellent, don't get me wrong, but this is the kind of place where a single scoop will suffice. I went for a double scoop and could not continue past the top scoop! The top scoop was rhubarb crumble with anise and it was amazing! Creamy with the perfect balance of tart sweetness and freckled with bits of coffee cake crumble. Very good and refreshing! The waffle cones are house-made and are fresh and crispy. The bottom scoop was a salted caramel and it was overpowered by the intense salt. I couldn't hack it. I wasn't woman enough for this scoop. Next time, I go single and stick with my limits. Anyway, cool place with great, friendly staff and a fun vibe.
(4)
Sarah B.
Back in Portland for a day after an entire summer away, and couldn't skip this stop! Never disappointing and always surprising me with new flavors. A must!
(5)
Shendi X.
I'm still dreaming of this ice cream. My boo and I stayed at a nearby AirBnB; I initially scoffed at the lines our first few nights, but we stuck it out eventually, and were very pleased with the results. Definitely rivals Bi-Rite in SF. Flavor-wise, I loved the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and the Chocolate with Gooey Brownies. The Freckled Woodblock Chocolate and the Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars were also quite good. You MUST go if visiting a city with a Salt & Straw! (In Portland, the Alberta location is less busy. :))
(5)
Helen S.
Awesome ice cream with many creative flavors. Friendly staff! The line was out the door but totally worth the wait. It moved pretty quickly. The way to go is the flight sampler for $9. You get to try several flavors, but wish I could try them all! My favorite by far was the stumptown coffee and bourbon! Very rich and flavorful coffee flavor, one of the best coffee ice creams I've ever had. Also tried the cinnamon snicker doodle (real chunks of cookie), carrot cake (a seasonal flavor), and almond brittle (one of their most popular flavors)! Highly recommend this place! Hope they open up more locations!
(5)
Melissa M.
The Honey Lavender ice cream is the best! I've tried other ones, and they always make it too gooey honey or too intense of a lavender, but, of course, Salt & Straw makes it perfectly! We also loved the Coconut Strawberry Rhubarb Pie one. If you can't decide, just get the sampler!
(5)
Celine L.
My new favorite ice cream place.... This place is amazing. We went really early so there was almost no line, and got to try many flavors that they offered. One aspect that I found amazing of Salt and Straw was their ability to use the most unique ingredients and be able create delicious flavors of ice cream right. I've had ice cream places that had unique ingredients, but their execution.. wasn't so good. Everything I tried here was so sinfully delicious yet heavenly that it should be illegal. Their scoop sizes are also enormous, one scoop means two scoops in one. It was ridiculous. The one flavor that stuck out to me the most was their bone marrow and bourbon smoked cherries. Who even thinks of bone marrow as an ice cream flavor? This flavor was very smokey with a slight hint of cherries, which I enjoyed but definitely could not eat a scoop of that. I ended up getting four flavors- Salt and Straw allows half scoops which I was really excited about- so this was supposedly two scoops (but was actually four). Sea Salt w Caramel Ribbons- I actually didn't order this one, but it was still delicious. There was caramel and sea salt everywhere, and it was very smooth and creamy. Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache- The almond brittle was the best part of this ice cream- it seemed to be caramelized or something, and complemented the flavor so well. Strawberry Honey Balsamic w Black Pepper- I hate strawberry ice cream. But when I tried this, I fell in love. The strawberry ice cream had a bit of puree which added more flavor, and there was a slight hint of honey and balsamic that finished off the flavor. I didn't taste the black pepper though. Arbequina Olive Oil- so this is apparently Oprah's favorite olive oil brand.. and damn was it good. As olive oil is my favorite flavor, I had high expectations for this- and this flavor definitely met them. The olive oil had a slight kick instead of the standard olive oil flavor, and was very creamy. The best I've had. After trying this place, I aimed for going to Salt and Straw every day before I left, which was a hard feat as lines are ridiculously long. All of my friends recommended me to go here, and I could most definitely see why. With all the flavors so unique and flawlessly done, one really can't dislike this place. Until next time...
(5)
Raja S.
Consistent with the flavors across all of their locations. Somehow liked the location in Alphabet district better
(4)
Connie Y.
Creamy ice cream. Freshly made waffle cones. Tons of flavors. What's not to love? My boyfriend and I ended up trying almost all the flavors while we were here. The lady who was scooping our ice cream for us was super nice about it too. She encouraged us to try more flavors... Which we did! Because we don't know when we would be back in Portland again. Don't be intimidated by the line. The line was out the door when we arrived during a Saturday afternoon and it took about 20 minutes to get to the front. That's not a bad wait at all since popular ice cream places in San Francisco may take a little longer than that. Some flavors I liked? -- Sea salt with caramel ribbons -- Stumptown coffee & burnside bourbon -- Cinnamon snickerdoodle -- Chocolate gooey brownie -- Arbequina olive oil -- Sea salt caramel cupcake Side note: Pok Pok is located a block away so it's a good idea to get that first and come here for dessert! Enjoy!
(5)
Monica C.
Lavender ice cream is MY FAVORITE!! This ice cream is so whacky and crazy and yummy in my tummy I would go much more often but unfortunately the lines are so outrageously long!! They make their cones fresh though so at least you get to smell the waffle cones while you wait hah. Good tip is if you just get a pint instead of a cone you can skip the line! awesome! GO THERE ESPECIALLY IF UR VISITING!
(5)
Leela S.
After coming here, I now wonder why flavours like olive oil or pear and blue cheese aren't commonplace at ice cream parlours everywhere. I didn't end up getting a scoop of either (Stumptown bourbon, you stole my heart) but I sure enjoyed being able to taste them. I happened to visit on a super rainy day at an odd time, so I escaped the infamous line. I don't know if I'd be willing to endure a line out the door, but I would certainly be game to buy a pint and enjoy it in the queue-free comfort of my home. Buuuut I don't live in Portland. Ha, don't mind me.
(4)
Ashly d.
Fun and tasty flavours + local and quality ingredients = win win. If you like fresh and delicious ice cream, go.
(5)
Ashley P.
While my friend and I were visiting Portland, we had to visit the infamous Salt & Straw! I got the salt and caramel flavor which I like more than the traditional salted caramel that most ice cream and yogurt shops serve because it had a greater kick of the salt. They had plenty of unique flavors, and I tried a bunch. Definitely the place to go if you're up for a novelty flavor. This place was definitely a step up from the LA ice cream shops that have been trending with unique flavors because of the service! Normally there's some sort of 2 sample limit and people get annoyed when you want to try too many things, but it's the opposite here! They want you to try as many flavors, until you find the right one for you, definitely something I was not used to at other places! Side note that doesn't have much to do with the ice cream--If you end up going, check out the soap in the bathroom, pretty gnarly. It's a powdered soap that I believe is called Boraxo used in the old days. Left my hands super soft!
(5)
Lehua S.
This place is seriously some of the best ice cream ive ever had. I'm definitely not a dessert person, so me wanting to come here every time I'm in Portland is a HUGE DEAL. I'm not too big into all the wacky flavours, although I did really like pear and blue cheese. I wish they had the staple flavours all year round, like mint chocolate chip. Great place ugh!! I want it as I type.
(5)
Kelsie H.
Yes please!!! I'll take another!! Came here this evening with family that told us this place was amazing!!!! And they were so right! Long line, but moves fast! Sample any of the flavors. I tried the honey lavender and peach with blu cheese. I ended up with a half and half single scoop: honey lavender and sea salt caramel. They were fantastic!!!!!! When I visit Portland, this will be a must!!' Yummmmm!!!!
(5)
Chris S.
Delicious gourmet ice cream. Gets busy but the line moves pretty quickly and it's worth the wait. Some of the flavors are a trip. The Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon was amazing.
(5)
Shannon M.
The line never seems to disappear, even on a weeknight after 9pm, so I did it. Waited in line for ice cream. And I don't regret it. So many crazy, creative flavor combinations. I ordered the tasting flight (why wouldn't everyone order this??) and sampled the Balsamic Strawberry and cracked pepper, Vanilla, Chocolate with Brownie, and Olive Oil. My favorites were the Strawberry and Chocolate. I wish I could have tried more, but four scoops was already too much...
(4)
Whitney G.
The line was crazy but it's part of the experience. Make sure you have plenty of time if your putting this on your agenda. When we went they had crazy flavors that infused savory food cart items with ice cream. Worth the wait at least once! Homemade fresh waffle cones are a must.
(5)
Tiffanie R.
At the end of the day it's just ice cream and I'm not a big ice cream fanatic, BUT this ice cream is exceptional. For ice cream it's 5 star stuff. Ultra creamy, fresh home made, simple ingredients formed into one of a kind, creative flavors only found here at Salt & Straw. In the last 72 hours I've had the: Honey Lavender, Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, Almond Brittle w/ Salted Granache all with thier in house made waffle cone. Also tried Pear & Blue Cheese and Arbequina Olive Oil - both strangely good, light, refreshing. Love that they use Organic & local ingredients. Very inexpensive too. It's kind of addictive. The line typically has about 30 people ahead of you, leads out the door and wraps around the corner - still people happily wait and I've done it several times now in just a few days. Worth it.
(5)
Christine S.
As Tom on Parks and Recs claims, you should TREAT. YO. SELF! (...to some Salt & Straw, of course!) Salt and Straw ice cream is handmade and uses all natural and organic ingredients. They also use local ingredients from family owned farms. Walking in, you'll see a long list of different ice cream flavors to try. It's hard to just pick a few! - Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons: I usually don't like salted caramel ice cream if it's too sweet or too salty, but this one was just right! - Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Black Pepper: unlike SF's Bi-Rite's Balsamic Strawberry ice cream (which was just okay), this one was heavenly! It stands out because they have bits (chunks?) of strawberry jam in the ice cream. I really liked the contrast of the jam and the creamy ice cream, and the waffle cone was bomb! - Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon: coffee ice cream is awesome on its own, but add bourbon, and you got a real winner! Although the total was $12 for three people (two sugar cones and one waffle cone), the portions are pretty big! I almost couldn't finish my whole waffle cone. Definitely worth it if you're craving ice cream.
(5)
Michael L.
Forget it. Don't go. If you go, you'll never like ordinary ice cream again. There's a reason there's a line out the door most times. The server will let you try as many flavors as you want, no rush. This is rich, creamy ice cream. Not mousse like 50 Licks, and the preference is yours. I like both. No, I love both. Going to Salt and Straw brought me back to those times when going out for ice cream was something to be excited about. Yum!
(5)
Jessica P.
I missed Salt & Straw on my first stop in Portland, so when we moved here it was a must visit...immediately! We knew we were in the right place because there was a line out the door. The line moved very quickly, they definitely have it together, especially on sunny days! We knew we wanted a flight, I'm convinced I would get a flight of just about anything if it was offered, the hard part was deciding on 4 flavors. We went with mainly seasonal flavors, knowing we would have plenty of time to try all of their regulars. The theme was May Flowers and we settled on Dandelion Sorbet with Spring Flowers, Strawberry Meadow Marmalade, Cherry Blossom, and one classic flavor the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle. We immediately dug in, I was battling my husband and a 2 year old with her own spoon, so I had to move fast! The ice cream was absolute perfection. It is creamy and flavorful, and so well balanced. The Dandelion Sorbet was surprisingly flavorful and so good, I wasn't a huge fan of the flowers, it was just weird chewing on them, but it was one of my favorites. The Cherry Blossom had a mild flavor, it wouldn't be my top choice. The strawberry Meadow Marmalade was so good. It had a strong strawberry flavor and a ribbon of sweet honey running through it. We ended up buying a pint, oh yes they sell pints! The Cinnamon Snickerdoodle is the thing dreams are made of, seriously. It is so creamy and cinnamon-y, and it has chunks of Snickerdoodles. OMG! I was also able to sample the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and it is dreamy delicious, probably our next pint. I'm so excited to continue to explore the menu and I'm equally excited that they have a monthly menu that changes. We also decided that we will be getting a pint to bring home when we go from now on. It's a little pricey at $9 a pint, but you can't beat the flavor and knowing that it's made fresh from people who care. If I could I would have a mini Salt & Straw in my house, this is what ice cream is supposed to taste like people!
(5)
Benjamin K.
Stellar friendly local service from employees who obviously like working here. Ice cream is exotic and truly creative in nature. Be forewarned it is mega rich in flavor... A single cone for me would have been more than enough over my double cone. Chocolate with speckles was delicious and the salted caramel coconut was insanely gooey and rich! Wowza!
(5)
Janet H.
The best ice cream I've ever had!!! Hailing from San Francisco Bay Area, I've been spoiled by other great creameries, but my mind was blown after a few sample bites of Salt & Straw! I've never had ice cream so flavorful and so tasty! Don't let the long lines scare you... it goes by fairly quick. If not, it's TOTALLY worth the wait. Once you reach the counter, the employees let you try samples. Our server was so kind, patient and helpful! She gave great recommendations for complementing different flavors together. We couldn't pick just one flavor so we got the four sampler... no regrets. I got the more "tame" flavors, like strawberry balsamic, honey lavender, sea salt caramel and the almond fritter. My favorites were the strawberry and honey lavender! You must get those! This is also a great dessert spot to cool off your mouths after eating Pok Pok wings! It does get quite crowded in here... in fact, a man almost knocked our ice cream off the table! Rude!
(5)
Rosh E.
Location: Along the street with Pok Pok, Richmond Bar, etc. You can't miss it with it's wooden sign. They also have a parking lot right next to it, but it does get packed pretty quick. Customer Service: The ladies scooping your ice cream were very friendly and did not hesitate to make small conversation and also give out samples Decor: It's very simple, nothing fancy but simple is key sometimes! Presentation of Food: Like any other ice cream shop. Cup or cone. Waffle cones. And samplers came on this nicely presented wooden board with four glass cups. How did the food taste?: We got the sampler which came with four different kinds of ice cream. I ended up getting the stumptown coffee and the rose ice cream. The other two my friend picked out which I didn't try because I was just so into the rose ice cream! The coffee was just eh. But see when I was in SF I got lost on Valencia Street and ended up at an Indian Ice Cream shop. They had exotic flavors such as rose which I tried for the first time and loved. I never went back to that ice cream shop because I don't remember where it was. So when I saw they had it here I knew I had to get it to see if they did just as good as a job and they did! It's very light, and tasty! I would have gotten the milk and cereal flavor but I only picked two since I split the sampler. The milk and cereal isn't too bad. The way the girl described it is that they wanted to create an effect where the taste of the ice cream is like how the milk would taste like after you ate a bowl of lucky charms. YUM! Overall Experience: I would come back if in Portland again!
(4)
Michele B.
Amazing ice cream! You can sample as many as you want before you make your choices, they periodically switch up some flavors, which makes it exciting! Love the flights, you taste 4 flavors for $9 it is great to share; it's one scoop of each flavor you choose in bowls on a wooden holder! The staff is always so friendly! Be ready to wait in line, but don't be discouraged if it's into the driveway, it moves fast and from the driveway entrance the wait in my experience has be 30 minutes or less and sooooo worth the wait. Easy for pets to come along too.
(5)
Natalie M.
Honestly what's not to love about the place that made farm to cone ice cream in PDX cool?! Although it's small, and on any given summer night there's a line out the door, don't worry you won't wait too long. Plus a little wait makes the ice cream that much sweeter. When I moved to LA for a short period of time last year I was thrilled to see that Salt & Straw made the trip with me, yet slightly jealous that we had to share it with anyone outside of Portland. Every flavor is amazing, my favorite in PDX is the Gooey Chocolate Brownie and the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. This is my petition to bring Salted Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough from LA to PDX! It's to die for good and makes me sad that I can't get it now that I am back in PDX. Secrets for the first timers, you can sample as many flavors as you want before selecting your choice and if you can't decide go for the ice cream flight! It's about $9 for several different flavors (I think 5). Your stomach will be happy you did it, trust me. Overall it's my favorite ice cream place in a city full of frozen dairy treats. Also check back each month as they have monthly themes bringing in new flavors in addition to the classic flavors available year round
(5)
Dorsey S.
This is ice cream you need in your life. New flavors every month! DO IT
(5)
M G.
Friendly staff and deeeeeelicious ice cream!! Please open a store in California... Specifically in the Bay Area!
(5)
Tracy D.
O M G! Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon ice cream? WOW! These guys do a bang up, very friendly and fast, business. They make their own cones in house and the smell wafting out draws you in. Just go try them, they are fantastic and some of the best ice cream I've ever had.
(5)
Devon B.
We waited for a bit, but the ice cream was worth it. I ordered a seasonal flavor for August-- green fennel maple. It was just enough flavor without being overwhelming. I tried the strawberry balsamic black pepper. It is definitely an acquired taste. I also sample the olive oil, which was nice, but would have needed another flavor. The gal helping us was very accommodating and allowed us to sample multiple flavors.
(5)
Ben H.
Flavor- and variety-wise, S&S is the best ice cream shop in Southeast Portland. It's location in the heart of the Division restaurant strip makes it an easily accessible option after dinner if you are in the area. Baristas are friendly and allow you to try any of the flavors before ordering which adds to the experience. The only downside is the long wait if you try to go anytime after 5.
(4)
Steve S.
A must try for locals that haven't been yet and visitors of our beautiful city. Interesting flavors make it a lot of fun, yummy and something for everyone. Shop is always nice and clean, lots of style and the staff has always been super friendly. Thanks guys!
(5)
John L.
I've tried many ice cream places all over the US and I must say Salt & Straw is definitely one of the best. Not only has been consistently awesome but also consistently daring and innovative with new flavors. This place used to have much shorter lines than Alberta and Alphabet, but the lines seem to be getting longer and longer the last few times I've been. Probably because there are so many new restaurants and condos along Division in that area. Just a side note, Alberta lines seem to have gotten slightly better and Alphabet lines have been the worst since it opened. Despite the lines, I keep going back. Awesome regular items ever changing monthly specials with themes. Never gets boring.
(5)
Denea Y.
This is my favorite location of the three, as the line seems to be the shortest. While I always entertain the idea of deviating from my favorite and sampling the unusual monthly flavor specials, I usually come back to my beloved lavender honey. They're sorbets are always amazing and refreshing, including some with heirloom tomatoes and another with watermelon. This is a monthly venture, at the least, and always a treat for visitors!
(5)
Denise K.
Flavor and sensory overload! What unique flavors! I give S&S 5 stars because service was extremely friendly and they don't rush you when you're deciding on what samples to try and what flavors to order. Apparently S&S's olive oil ice cream is Oprah's favorite ice cream flavor. It was so unique, rich yet subtle - this flavor definitely tickled my tastebuds! We got a strawberry ricotta and loved it... Some chocolate flavor and another lemon meringue cookie flavor...Everything was delectable! You can't go wrong at S&S! Can't decide on what flavors you want? Pay a little extra and do "split scoops". Hello, 4 flavors in a cup? Yes, please!
(5)
Ellre V.
A trip to Salt & Straw is another must in Portland. Where else can you try a Pear and Blue Cheese Ice Cream or a Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper? I was completely satisfied with my first visit here. There was no long line, I was able to sample as many flavors that I so desired, and the workers knew all about the flavors and were able to help me pair my Pear and Blue Cheese scoop with the perfect complementary flavor of a Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon scoop. So glad they opened up a location closer to me in Los Angeles!
(5)
Margie S.
Expect long lines! The ice cream and waffles cones are worth it though. The line moves quickly especially if you're surrounded by good company.
(5)
Darlene B.
Ice Cream...I've had some really good ice cream before, but this one is not my favorite. With an overwhelming selection on their menu, I had a hard time picking. I tried two flavors in a cup. Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Coconut w/ Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars. These 2 flavors did not go well together...i poorly picked. I'm in a coconut ice cream phase, and this attempt killed my vibe. The Salted Caramel Bar pieces were extremely large and overpowered the coconut flavor. I feel like this was a place I had to try while in Portland...but I should of chose something else. They have cool shop tees and pints to go!
(3)
Tara D.
- Fast, friendly, and patient service - kudos on hiring for friendliness and helpfulness - Excellent ice cream - fresh and creamy - Amazing selection of flavors - To go containers also available; easy to grab Although we have Salt & Straw in LA, I first d
(5)
Andrew H.
I lived in Portland for 5 years*. I am lactose intolerant.** I never got to visit Salt and Straw...but it wasn't because I feared the impending malaise and cramping that follows a high dose of everyone's favorite milk sugar. It was simply that I never got around to it. On a return visit, I decided to finally do the deed. I'm no ice cream aficionado, but the ice cream here was stunning. I'm obsessed with all things unique and Salt and Straw does not disappoint! They had a THANKSGIVING DINNER flight! How crazy is that? I am a bit ashamed though. I sampled over a half-dozen flavors...and then...I went with their most popular one (salted caramel). Sigh...when did I become so #basic? The staff here were surprisingly friendly despite the long line and my gross indecisiveness. I was worried they were going to surly and mean to keep the line moving, not the case. *Man, when did Division become The Pearl? **(I lost the ability to process high amounts of lactose in college, where I rarely drank milk or ate ice cream...yes, that is possible.)
(4)
Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: We were searching for things to do in Portland during the days while my husband was at work and we were ready to play...and along came high reviews for Salt & Straw. Our plan to hit up each of the three locations throughout Portland was thwarted, but we still managed to sample one scoop shop's fare! Type of cuisine: "We're Salt & Straw, Portland's farm-to-cone ice cream shop. Our ice cream is handmade in small-batches using only all-naturaldairy with the best local, sustainable and organic ingredients Oregon has to offer, as well as imported flavors from small,handpicked farms and producers around the world. We start with fresh, local, all-natural cream from family owned farms in the Willamette Valley. Our ice cream is made with 17% butterfat, very little air in the churn process, and a low sweetness level...so the flavors can really shine through!" Ambiance: A country home meets a circus tent with sleek and minimalist design. A hard space to capture in just a few simple words, yet the welcome is warm and inviting, and the focus certainly on the frozen treats! What I ordered: Too full for a full scoop (or two), I sampled my way through the establishment along with my friends, one of whom ordered a thick vanilla milkshake and the other selected two scoops: one of the Strawberry Honey Balsamic and the second a scoop of the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon. I sampled everything from the Salted Caramel Cupcake (too sweet and extremely salty), the Lumberjack Stack (very mapley and not enough pancake), and the Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper (pretty amazing), to the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon (may have been the favorite) and the Pear with Blue Cheese (definite favorite)! What I loved: I was stunned, surprised and intrigued by my absolute favorite: Pear with Blue Cheese! The Stumptown Coffee a very close second, and the Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper a flavorful, sweet surprise coming in third. Why I loved it: Simple ingredients, healthy sample sizes and amazingly creative flavors worth an out-of-the-way drive. Cost: High ($3 - $8 per serving)
(5)
Maggie L.
You can sample as many flavors as you want. The people here are so nice. They have some unique flavors and most taste great. I liked the pear and blue cheese, salted caramel, olive oil and coffee & bourbon. You can get half and half for $.50 extra. They also have some Student Invented flavors, which were invented by local elementary school students and part of the profit goes back to the schools. The A Lick of Happiness is delicious!
(5)
Stacy C.
We've driven by dozens of times and always wondered why people would be so foolish to wait in such a long line with so many other icecream/gelato/yogurt options in the city.... But now we get it :) Definitely the best ice-cream we've had in years. I had the goat cheese and lingonberry in my first scoop- enough goat cheese to make it unmistakable without being too tangy or bitter. My second scoop was of the balsamic strawberry w/black pepper- also true to its word and very jammy, though very little pepper at the end. Both are a true delight. My husband had the stumptown coffee ice-cream (which honestly tastes just like his morning stumptown cup of coffee out of our keurig) and and pear & blue cheese- wow... very sweet and tangy, but oh so good...! If indulging with a partner, make sure one of you grabs a spot in line while the other finds parking. There were about 30 peeps in front of us and we waited 15 minutes or so... not so bad! Good service too. My husband had 3 samples before ordering and I had 2. We'll definitely return!
(5)
Lady S.
If you are ever within 2 hours of this place you need to come try it out! My family visits at least monthly, and we never leave disappointed. The Rose City Riot is my new favorite flavor this month. You often have to park a block or three away if you come by car, but it's very worth it. Note: If you buy pints from the freezer, you don't have to wait in the (often) long line.
(5)
Allan C.
Great ice cream to have while in Portland. Lucked out to have them during the intense heat during our brief stay!
(5)
Andrea C.
Salt & Straw ice cream met my expectations. They had a unique set of flavors. I'm, however, very boring and not as adventurous when it comes to flavors and I usually stick with coffee haha. But! Their coffee ice cream did NOT disasspoint. It was Stumptown coffee and burboun flavored. Drooooool. Although the line was really long, it moved along pretty fast. What I really liked was that the workers there looked like they really enjoyed what they were doing and offered as many samples as we wanted. Like how they gave samples with actual metal spoons. The girl that was helping us also told us that there is a Salt & Straw in Hollywood so if I ever need to get my fix, I can just make the drive out there :) Will definitely make a stop here again next time I'm in town! :)
(4)
Angel I.
BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD. Good thing I don't live in Portland or I would be in trouble. But when I am in Portland, I am at Salt & Straw EVERYDAY! :) Very unique flavors for their ice cream, and everything is truly local and artisan. Expect waits, but the wait is well worth it.
(5)
Joanna L.
This is the best ice cream I have ever had. Anywhere. The line was about 20 minutes on a recent night but I would have waited longer. Once at the front the server let us try everything we wanted to before making a selection. The flavors are so unique and the ingredients are locally sourced. I decided on a waffle cone with cinnamon snickerdoodle and strawberry balsamic black pepper favors. I might join the pint of the month club soon!!
(5)
Annette C.
It's not bad but not great either. Probably a 3 1/2 stars. We tried 4 of the classic flavors - salted caramel ribbon, woodblock chocolate, chocolate with gooey brownie & almond brittle. You can definitely taste the salt in the flavors. I'll try it again if the lines are not long.
(3)
Shireen J.
Oh goodness! The sea salt and caramel was absolutely delicious!! The lavender honey also comes highly recommended. The chocolate brownie is good but not the best even though I usually pick chocolate everywhere I go. I also tried the delicious snicker doodle. The waffles cones are made fresh and make the entire store smell great. Worth it!
(5)
Elizabeth R.
I visited this place on NYE 2014, so my memory may be enhanced by sparkling wine and cocktails... but I'm still going say that I loved it! I was very happy to be warmly greeted and given ample time to sample and choose my flavor even though they were VERY busy. This place clearly exists for interesting flavors, so don't waste your time getting something typical. Stretch your ice-cream taste buds and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Ken W.
DELICIOUS ice cream. EXCELLENT customer service. I came with 2 buddies and waited in line for about fifteen minutes. The line moved pretty fast as the service is quick. The girl helping us was so sweet. Despite the line, she told us to try out as many flavors as we'd like to, was explaining each flavor, and just kept moving us down, letting us sample more and more ice cream. She didn't make us feel rushed at all, and at one point I completely forgot about the giant line behind us. Their cocktail flavors were excellent, in which I went with a double scoop. A heaping double scoop that is. You can't go wrong here, especially after sampling one after another until you find the flavor that dances on your taste buds. Salt & straw is always unique and delicious, and I understand the usual line. It's worth the wait. If all the people working are as sweet as this girl was, they deserve 6/5 stars. Thank you blonde girl, you made us all happy with ice cream.
(5)
Adrienne I.
Whoooooaaa. Amazing,and I don't even love ice cream. I tasted strawberry balsamic pepper (yummy and strangely buttery, almost got this as my scoop), sea salt caramel (yummy yum yum), olive oil (not for me...it literally tastes like oil), almond brittle (yummy crispiness), lavender honey (not for me either... It tasted like a spa smells), and pear blue cheese (I got a whole scoop of this, not too blue cheesey and the pears were delightful. They were so super nice about letting me try it all. A culinary foodie treat for sure!
(5)
Debbie L.
Always the best ice cream and town. Really spoiled now and only go to Salt & Straw for ice cream. I love their changing flavors for the holidays and then their regular flavors always there too! I had a sundae a while back and it was good but I think I'll just stick to the ice cream by itself. I recommend Salt & Straw not just for the "sight-seeing" or "touristy" folks, but for everyone or anyone that wants to taste what real ice cream is supposed to taste like!
(5)
Fu W.
What do you do when there are so many interesting flavors available?! The only thing you could do... Get. Them. All. Yes, ALL. 17 flavors to be exact, with four tasting flights and one kid scoop. And yes, they were all delicious. Each one was flavorful without being overpowering, not too sweet, and not too rich, executed with interesting and complementary combinations of ingredients. This was definitely not just an ice cream shop with gimmicky crazy flavors. With the advantage of tasting so many different flavors side by side, it was easy to tell the top notch quality and uniqueness in every single one. Salt & Straw did not disappoint. We happily huddled around our samplers while others looked on with jealousy, and we finished everything, pushing the limits of our lactose intolerance. Worth it! =D Highlights: Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon Honey Lavender Arbequina Olive Oil Rose City Riot Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper Pear with Blue Cheese
(4)
Liza S.
Wow. Just wow. The single most amazing ice cream ever. Ok, here's the details: I was completely set on the honey lavender, but wanted to try a few others. I tried the rhubarb saffron, found it a little too sweet. Moved on to the strawberry lemon verbena, and OMG I was in love. Light, lemony, a little tart and a little sweet. Perfect for a warm evening. I wanted both, the lavender and the strawberry lemon verbena-but that's a challenge, even in a fresh made waffle cone. So, what to do? The wonderfully helpful lady helping us offered to split the scoop so I could have both! I was completely happy. My companion had the woodblock chocolate. I tend to shy away from chocolate ice cream because it's generally too sweet for me. This chocolate was rich, dark, and almost smoky. An incredible chocolate that has a complexity rarely found in ice cream. Ok, here's the good, less good, and what to expect if you've never visited: Good: Flavors- amazing variety and quality Cones- the fresh waffle cones are incredible. Thin and crisp. Samples- love being able to taste and use a real (tiny) spoon, no plastic! Service- awesome. It was late in the evening, and everyone was happy and helpful. Less good: The line- it is a fairly quick moving line, but it looks daunting when driving/walking by. If I hadn't read the amazing reviews on Yelp, I might have gone somewhere else. Confusion when it's your turn- we weren't really sure what was going on, might be a better way of moving people through. So if it's your first time, expect to wait a bit and be a little overwhelmed by all the choices. This was my first time, and I looked at the menu before I visited, so I had a short list of what I wanted to try. I recommend that. Also take your time and try things. They are very nice about giving tastes. Don't let the line scare you away. There were probably 40 people ahead of us and it took us maybe 15 minutes. It was completely worth the wait and I would wait even longer. It was that good.
(5)
Brooks M.
another portland staple. while it is indeed amazing i am not willing to wait in line for many things over an hour. rocked it this time when we walked by on easter sunday at 6 pm and the line was only 10 deep to the door! bam! a. thank you salt & straw for being open on a holiday, that's a-mazing b. thanks for always having amazing service, knowledgable staff and quality product that never disappoints. the win this week was a fudge brownie ice cream malt. win.
(4)
Michelle G.
Solid ice cream shop with unique artisan flavors that are PNW inspired! Great for a hot day but be prepared for the long line!
(4)
Alex P.
It's weird and fun, but that's it. It's definitely the best weird flavored ice cream you'll find, but holy Moses that is it. If you say this is actually the best ice cream you've ever had, you're kidding yourself. This is the perfect place for "foodies" that want to feel like they have a sophisticated pallet for eating "artesian" ice cream that normal people don't like. The favors aren't actually good, they just aren't terrible. All this said, I did smile when I took my first few licks, so maybe it's worth it. Overall, I give Salt & Straw an eye-roll/5
(2)
Trudy S.
Always too busy at night so stopped off for breakfast. Stumptown coffee wirh bourbon, pear and blue cheese, hot fudge brownie sundae are all fantastic. Get them soon though...they might not be there next week!
(5)
Jo R.
Not worth it- not worth the line, not worth the money. I can make better ice cream, and I think I can make it faster than I can get through the line here.
(2)
Linh N.
They have vegan ice cream!! Yes, my friends. Dairy free and Egg-free ice cream. Vegans, lactose-intolerants, and egg- and dairy-allergy friends can unite and cheer! Their vegan ice cream when I went was a coconut milk ice cream with chunks of salted caramel bars. It was de-effing-licious. Now, let's get this clear though, I am neither vegan, lactose-intolerant, nor do I have food allergies, but my 1.5 year old daughter who has had to avoid most ice creams all her life, can finally enjoy a taste of creamy frozen deliciousness from an ice cream shop. And I of course, got to taste the various types of ice creams before trying them. My personal favorites were lavendar and salted caramel. If you want just a scoop of ice cream but can't decide on which flavor to commit to, you can split it into 2 flavors like what I did. This location barely had a line when I went on a Monday holiday afternoon (Labor day). There were probably about 8 seats or so. I am already missing this place!
(5)
Shanna C.
Ice cream always hits the spot on a warm day! We got lucky and didn't have to deal with a long line. They have some interesting flavors (some that were a bit too weird sounding). To be honest, I probably would have loved it if I didn't live around the corner from Cloud City (which I prefer). So yeah..good ice cream, cool space, and unique flavors!
(4)
Jared H.
Ok. I was hesitant about the long line because I can't stand waiting in line especially when I have 3 kids in tow. But the wait was totally worth it. My kids had one that tasted just like lucky charms. They were ecstatic about it and can't wait to go back to get more. My wife had a coffee one and it was awesome and I had one with real pistachios in it and it was phenomenal. Surprisingly the prices weren't that terrible. Usually when you go to a place that always has a line out the door you expect to get ripped off but prices really weren't that bad. Sadly you will probably pay about the same at a Baskin Robins. I am telling everyone that they have to go here, especially if they are visiting Portland.
(5)
Barton R.
Everything you've heard is true. The line is long, the service is city-best, and the ice cream...Oh, that smooth, creamy, delectable ice cream. It's not often that I get to eat vegan ice cream out on the town, and Salt & Straw's vegan selections both blew me completely out of the water. Coconut + Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is absolutely to die for.
(5)
Christina L.
OMG SO NOMSIES! after late lunch at pok pok, we only had room for 2 small scoops - and after tasting a few flavors, decided on the coconut and pumpkin - but with exotic bits included! mmmm!! such a chic little spot, and people working there are passionate and knowledgeable about their flavors and product..! nice work!
(5)
Anna R.
I hate how much I actually love this place. When I first heard the hype I thought eh, ice cream can't be thattttt good. But it is! The ice cream is unbelievably creamy and delicious. I'm a huge fan of the honey lavender and salted carmel (like everyone else). Their seasonal flavors can be a little wild but they are great! But alas, with quality comes a hefty price tag. This is not your DQ swirl cone. You'll probably spend at least $5 for a sizable cone. But I can get over that because it really is just so.damn.good. I will be back again and again.
(5)
Lena V.
I have never been a fan of much sweets so it wasn't to my surprise I wasn't all that crazy about this place. I tried the almond brittle with salted ganache. I really enjoyed it until I encountered the salted ganache and it was just too much. When I had a sample, the salted ganache wasn't there so i didn't know how it was going to be. The salted ganache was just way too huge. Half way through, I was picking them out. The almond brittle was yummy though.
(3)
Vy T.
The flavors at this place are unique to say the least. The staff was very friendly and you can try samples before you order. All the ice cream is pretty heavy, with lots of toppings swirled in to make the ice cream flavors really stand out. There are seasonal flavors, changing depending on local products avalaible. I'm glad that they're opening a location in LA, and the flavors will be created from local ingredients!
(4)
Amanda M.
Amazing and unique flavors of gelato! They let you try anything you want to and even offer a sampler where you can try small portions of 3 different flavors. They have sweet, savory, and everything in between. This is great to have after Pok Pok's chicken wings (from Pok Pok or the Whiskey Bar).
(5)
Rachel H.
So since I've heard about the long lines I went around noon on a Tuesday. Was able to find parking and didn't have to wait in line at all. The aroma inside the store, holy shiz. I got s flight with 4/5 of the Thanksgiving flavors.
(4)
Linh F.
i honestly don't need to say much about salt & straw since this is a portland staple. portland natives love it, tourists come here just to eat it, and it's one of oprah's favorite things! i will, however, confirm what everyone has said before me. this place is awesome! yes, there are long lines all throughout the day but we really didn't mind. this was the second place we went to after we got off the plane and ate it every day until we left. too much? we don't think so. salt & straw has three locations... we visited two of them. so they have a their list of permanent flavors and then a few rotating flavors. their featured flavors the week we were there were signature cocktails! our absolute favorites: - cinnamon snickerdoodle - chunks of cookies in the ice cream! - almond brittle ganache also, waffle cones are a must. you can literally smell them when you are waiting in line. with that said, you wouldn't be that big of a loser if you didn't get a waffle cone (or would you? jk). you have the choice of sugar cone or cup. you also have a ton of options with regard to your scoops. single, double, split, kids size or even a sample flight! ok, so a few tips. if you get a chance, i would go to the location on division (pictured above). it is new so the decor is stupid cute. fresher and lighter than the original location on 23rd (pictured below). lots of natural light and there's a hole in the counter wall for your spoon (mentioned and pictured above). it's the little things. we cannot stop raving about this place. add this to your list if you are in town!
(5)
Mark G.
Was a little upsetting standing in the long line, but more than worth it one I tasted their ice cream. The sea salt with caramel and woodblock chocolate were delicious. Definitely will stand in that long line tomorrow
(5)
Dennis M.
We came 15 min before they closed on last Tuesday and forgot my lef overs (from Pok Pok). We realized and went back after we left just only 5 minutes (around 11pm) but they closed already so I knocked the door and one of them saw us, at that moment I saw the other employee eating my leftovers. (manager, please check on video cams). I stood there for a minute and they still not open the door after i've been knocked on the door many times, surely, because they saw me and got caught eating my leftovers. gross. bad experience i've ever had.
(1)
Jett B.
best. ice cream. ever. Honestly, I don't usually like the really crazy stuff, like Peking Duck Bun, but most of their creative concoctions usually score big with me. Last week I had chocolate covered potato chip salted caramel and it was a winner.
(5)
Greg A.
Me and the wife came here during our vacation to Portland. Everyone kept telling us to go here. All their ice cream flavors sounded so good we just ended up getting the flight. All of them were above average. Great ice cream here.
(5)
Pissed O.
Oh how I love you salt and straw. I hear the owner is not very professional but holy yum is it tasty!
(5)
Alice L.
My advice: -Avoid the long lines by going before lunch (yep, that means have it at 10 or 11am, what better excuse??) and before dinner (around 3-4pm). Another yelper just took the time to personally inform me that apparently, "only assholes get ice cream at 10am to avoid the lines." So if you're part of the elite few that loves ice cream any time of the day, I proudly quote Dave Skylark, "hate us cuz you ain't us!" -Get a split cone, which is 2 kid sized scoops for $4.45, so you can not only try smaller amounts of 2 flavors but also mix it. My favorite mixes have been the Stumptown Coffee and Salted Caramel (soooo good). -Any weather is ice cream weather so don't think the cold or rain will make it less busy. -They have their usual flavors and they have monthly seasonal flavors, which are DIVINE and change according to what's available locally. -Lastly, they just opened up a store in L.A. for all the Cali folks but the flavors are a little different because they use locally sourced ingredients. Their ice cream is always just right: not too dense with just the right amount of ice crystals in it.
(5)
Neil W.
This was recommended to us and after a disappointing lunch we happened to drive by and wanted a pick me up. They have a great selection of flavors; very unique and well thought out. I had two scoops; one of the coffee bourbon and one of the almond brittle with salted ganache. The coffee was good, not great. I had a hard time picking up any bourbon notes. The almond brittle was great. It was a good balance of flavors without going overboard. My wife had a ricotta, honey, lavender ice cream. The description was so long that we have trouble remembering all that was in it. She still talks about it. It was one of the best ice cream flavors she has had. They really did a good job mixing those flavors.
(5)
Julian M.
The confectionary wizards at Salt and Straw combines flavors that should not go together but somehow magically do. Whether it's in a scoop of Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero, which finds the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, or the smoky Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, every scoop is filled with Wonka-esque deliciousness. Even classic flavors are given a foodie overhaul with options like Double Fold Vanilla, which uses twice as many vanilla beans, or Strawberry Balsamic. The only downside to this creamery is how small the shop is; be prepared to stand for at least 10 minutes for a scoop, although once you've tasted a bite you'll forgot all about the wait.
(5)
Daisy K.
Unique flavors, super friendly staff and... the option to taste test all the weird flavors before settling on something you want to actually consume a scoop or two of a flavor you can enjoy. The one I finally settled on was the Almond Brittle with salted ganache... and wow. Speechless at how amazing this flavor is. The right amount of crunch paried with the saltiness and richly bitterness of the dark ganache. If they made gallons of this ice cream, I would take it with me.
(5)
Iris L.
I love salt and straw and all their new seasonal flours however some classic flours taste more watery than two years ago. It is kind of sad after the business grow rapidly the quality of the products go down. But it still really good ice cream thigh
(4)
Jo L.
I've been to some other pretty well known and highly ranked ice cream places, and S&S was pretty good, but I don't think I'm falling on the floor crying in awe of the ice cream there. I do love that basically the entire block smells like waffle cones. I mean, if you didn't want ice cream before you were in the vicinity of S&S then you probably would by the time you managed to get around the line out the door. There was, as usual (from the other reviews here) a line out the door, but it moved relatively quickly. I had the strawberry balsamic ice cream with black pepper and it was pretty good. I also tried some of the other ones, like the strawberry and Pimm's flavor (which turned out to not have any Pimm's in it), the coffee/bourbon one, the birthday cake and blackberry (which was waaaaaay too sweet because of the frosting(!!) flavored cake), the cucumber and berry sorbet, and a few others. I liked the range of options, and the menu is helpfully posted inside AND out to minimize on indecision and flavor envy, and all of the flavors were tasty but again, not mind-blowingly-I'm-crying-because-this-is-so-good tasty. The staff there were super helpful and knowledgeable about the flavors, and I only felt minimally rushed while I made my purchase. We also got some really tasty shortbread cookies on an impulse buy, and those were great. More seating in the area would be nice too. It's worth going to if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek it out.
(4)
Kathryn H.
Great assortment of flavors. Perfect balance of sweetness so that it's not overwhelming. Be prepared to wait in line.
(5)
Gracie L.
Yep, Salt & Straw really is As Good As it Gets! This place tops ALL other ice cream shops you've ever tried! Now, their exotic flavors do come and go, but they'll always have something delicious and interesting to try. My personal favor (thus far) is the Strawberry Balsamic. It's SOOOOO good! Definitely do the sampler- you get a hefty scoop of four different flavors. Plus, you can even try a little bite at the front counter before you order (just so you know you like what you get). I love Salt & Straw- please come to San Diego!!!!!!
(5)
Jessie M.
Amazing! Best ice cream I've had in the U.S. by far! The flavors are great and out-of-the-box. It's hard to pick a favorite flavor because they're all so good but I think the honey lavender stuck out a little more for me. Not only are the flavors amazing, but the texture is so rich and creamy! They need to open one in Utah! I totally rave about this place all the time! It's a MUST-TRY
(5)
Robin N.
New. Favorite. Ice cream. I LOVE Salt and Straw! The ice cream is creamy and flavorful without being overly rich. I got the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and a Chocolate-flavored ice cream that was apparently inspired by a few local elementary school kids. Cute! Also they give you a ton of good-sized samples. ;) Thanks to the friendly blue-haired girl who served me!
(5)
Lana N.
I'm in love with this place, yes the line is long, but it's definitely worth the wait. After lunch we walked over and probably stood in line for a good 20 minutes before it was our turn. We asked for a few tastings since we have never been here and they were really happy to offer us whatever we had asked. We ended up getting the following: - The stumptown coffee and bourban - this was absolutely amazing! The coffee taste was great and the subtle taste of the bourban absolutely balanced out the flavors. - Sea salt with caramel - my son had this and he said it was delicious. The ice cream was soft and the caramel added that extra wow factor to the ice cream flavor. I hope one day Salt and Straw will expand and especially to CA! Such a unique taste to the ice cream flavors that keeps you wanting to come back for more! I am a huge fan!!
(5)
Ezra B.
Salt and Straw is definitely worth your time, especially for ice cream aficionados! I visited in January on a business trip, and boy, was I happy I did! I posted a photo of their flavors listed when I visited, and you can see the variety: Pear w/Blue Cheese; Honey Lavender; Cinnamon Snickerdoodle -- the list goes on! I had a scoop of Cinnamon Snickerdoodle and a scoop of "The Universe II," which is a whole variety of "fix-ins". Gosh, both flavors were so good! I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Crystal H.
SO worth the wait. Also, the wait at this location was far less than in the Alphabet district (and with a far less douchey clientele). We sampled several amazing flavors and I ended up getting a pear and blue cheese scoop, which I thought I'd just sample on a lark but it was soooo good!! Important note--if you want to skip the line (and the free samples) you can get a pint at the front.
(5)
Jamie L.
back to California after 4 wonderful days in Portland. I will miss the trails, coffee, and food stands of course, but most of all I will miss the cinnamon snicker doodle and almond ganache flavored icecream in the waffle cone from Salt and Straw
(5)
Amanda N.
Smell the delicious waffle cones before even entering the shop. Employees are helpful and friendly.Huge selections of flavors along with some seasonal ones. Great to be able to sample before buying. Have pint sizes available to purchase. They can also ship you ice cream to your home. Whether you stopped in with only a few customers or a long line out the door, they are quick so don't be discourage
(4)
Joyce V.
I was almost denied my favorite ice cream again due to the line down the block! I begged & pleaded then I was finally able to convince my husband to go after dinner at Pok Pok if it was still open. Luckily Salt & Straw is open until 11:00pm. We walked over after dinner about 15 minutes to closing. There were still a lot of people eating their ice cream outside but no long line. We were able to try different ice creams without feeling rushed. I ended up getting my favorite Sea Salt Ice Cream w/ Caramel Ribbon & my husband got the Coffee & Bourbon both in a waffle cone. We were both in heaven. We will always enjoy this Portland ice cream when we visit but I'm so thrilled that we are getting our very own Salt & Straw in Los Angeles! I just hope that people are just as nice as the people of Portland.
(5)
Grey G.
I've been here three times. Each time the flavors have been mind bogglingly incredible. This is a great place to bring very patient out of towners. On one occasion, I got some sort of brownie sundae. The brownie was heated in a microwave. Ick. On another occasion, I asked about a flavor called "The Universe". The employee & I joked about asking "what's in the universe?", Neil Degrasse Tyson was mentioned. I asked if The Universe had ginger in it, she said -without hesitation- it didn't. So I ordered it. After having a bad reaction to The Universe, I'm going to go out on a limb and say she was full of shit and that she just wanted to get the eternally long line moving rather than actually checking. Speaking of which, the line here is always mind-numbingly long. Plan on being as drunk as needed or bring a good playlist/book while you wait. You will be here at least 30 minutes before you even reach the front of the queue. And when you get your ice cream, there will be no where to sit inside S&S, so you better hope it's nice out.
(3)
Sarah G.
I was beyond happy to visit S&S twice during out PDX trip. Also, note that there are times where this place does NOT have a line 100+ strong. We lucked out on our first visit, which was sometime in the late afternoon for a post-lunch snacking. I had to start with a sampler, of course... Honey Lavender, Pear w Blue Cheese, Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon and... my current food crush: Goat Cheese & Marionberry Habanero! Then a day later, with oh so find memories we tried again after dinner. The line was obscene at 10pm on a weeknight. Seeing as how we didn't have to wait in line the first time I wasn't about to start now. So we came back the following day, mid-afternoon again. And apparently we lucked out again because I was able to get my waffle cone on in record time. This visit, it was all about me and the Goaty, creamy, slightly spicy Berry-sweet wonderland that I still dream about over a month later. Yes, it's difficult being in a long distance relationship with an ice cream flavor all the way on the west coast, but when were reunited again... Oh how sweet it will be.
(5)
Bethany K.
YUM. First time visiting the SE location, and while there was a ghastly long line, I wasn't really surprised since it was the weekend and hot out. Service was fabulous, the flavors were delicious, there was space to sit inside (and lots of people standing around outside with ice cream too) -- just an overall awesome stop. Everyone who comes to Portland needs to eat some S&S. Dooo itttttt
(5)
Ani S.
Why is there always an obscene line down the block?? I have been here a couple times when it's an odd hour and there's no wait but no way would I wait an hour for a $7 scoop of iced olive oil. I have been unpleasantly surprised with most of their flavors and just can't stand the huge crowds. No thanks!
(2)
Grace L.
Yum yum yum yum yum! The ice cream here is rich and flavorful and they have a gazillion of flavors so there's bound to be something that will satisfy your sweet (or salty) tooth! Super friendly. Super patient. Willing to let you sample a lot of flavors. Waffle cone is made fresh and delicious!
(5)
Fran B.
I've been giving out 5 stars for everything, not because I have no standards.... but because everything is just so great lol. I feel like Portland is pretty creative when it comes to food. Salt & Straw has ice creams flavors that are so unique! I mean, there are some similarities to Bi-Rite in SF but I feel like this is just slightly better....... I got the honey lavender, but I didn't come to that choice easily. I was freaking out trying to decide which flavor to get, but in the end, that is what I chose lol. My bf got the snickerdoodle, which was packed with cinnamon sweetness flavor mm mmm. I got to try the olive oil ice cream as well, and BOYEE that is smooth. I never expected olive oil ice cream to taste so........... olive oily? But it did, and it worked. I wish I got to try the strawberry balsamic, but I didn't wanna be one of those pesky customers who samples every single flavor.......... but I should've. THE REGRETS! But that honey lavender was pretty great. My bf was not a fan of "flowery" flavors lol, so he didn't really like it. But I thought it had just the right amount of fragrance, honey, and subtle lavender tones. It was also SMOOOOTH. Not necessarily creamy or milky, just...... smooth. You know? Some ice creams are not that creamy in texture because it's not supposed to be a creamy flavor........ but this was creamy in texture without having too much of a creamy flavor. Am I making sense? Does anyone even care? lol Anyway, slightly overpriced but f* it. If I find myself in Portland again, you bet your ass I'm coming back!
(5)
Leslie E.
Every time i walk by this location the heavenly wafting scent of waffle cones makes me seriously reevaluate my decision to reduce sugar in my diet... Their flavors are divine. Everything from the extremely adventurous to a few more tame choices so everyone can find something to their tastes. I ADORE the lavender honey ice cream, which tastes like faery food to me! The lines are usually long and a bit claustrophobic, but it does move fast and is worth the wait! Staff is very generous about giving samples of flavors to help you decide.
(5)
Rebecca C.
Shared two scoops with Derek Collins. One honey and lavender and the other salted caramel. Yum!
(5)
My L.
I've tried the Salt and Straw in Larchmont and didn't think I'd need to go to the Portland one but I'm so glad I did!! I had the potato chip and chocolate one which was SOO good!! I also had the coffee and bourbon which was a good mix to it. It was a nice dessert after going to Pok Pok down the street. There's seating outside so you can eat your ice cream outside.
(4)
Anthony P.
One Easter Sunday I found myself alone in town, so I decided to treat myself to some ice cream. As I waited in line at the Alphabet District Location of Salt & Straw, a white man with dreads played a giant bell bowl across the street. Looking around at the hipsters and tourists waiting in line with me for hand-made artisan ice cream, I could only imagine that I'd found my way into an episode of Portlandia. Nonetheless, the Ice Cream was truly delicious. The flavors are creative- pear and blue cheese, thai iced tea, and more. However, even the basics are just better than other ice creams. If you don't mind a little bit of a circus (or even enjoy it), then wait in line and buy a scoop. While you're at it, take home a hand-packed quart since you waited in line anyway. Try something novel and something classic. You will not be disappointed by either.
(5)
Michele R.
It was a gray afternoon with a threat of rain. (In Portland? What a surprise.) That didn't deter me, Portland native that I am, from dragging my hubby to see what all the buzz was about at Salt & Straw. He saw the line and said "You must be kidding". No, I wasn't. And after the friendly people behind the counter managed to be all smiles and keep the line moving even with offering up samples of anything one wanted to try, and after we made our selections and were sitting in the crowded but inviting space to savor every bite, my husband said "This was absolutely worth it. I'm glad we came." THE DRILL Line up, it moves quickly, and peruse the standard flavors menu, about a dozen options, or the seasonal flavors menu, maybe five more, from the boards above the service counter or take a paper menu to read the choices. You can order your ice cream in a cone or a cup, and in the latter in kids', single, double or split scoop sizes. THE ICE CREAM We chose the split ($4.25) which allows two flavors in a single scoop. We relished every bite of our choices, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and Stumptown Coffee with Bourbon. Both were incredibly delicious. Sweet Potato with Candied Pecans and Pumpkin Custard with Chevre were two others we asked to sample and they will be on our list to order if we get back to the area while the Thanksgiving Season options are still available. As for the Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey option on this list...well, I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food but the "...turkey fat caramel with fried turkey skin brittle..." on the description was deterrent. This time at least. THE VIBE Interesting up to date take on an ice cream shop; look up for ceiling designs. In spite of the crowds things were chill (bad pun I know) inside, quiet enough to have a conversation and everyone seemed just happy to be there. A very nice young guy with his infant daughter in snuggly on his chest even stood to offer me his seat, noting I had trouble standing on my own (MS at work) in the SRO crowd. A warm gesture in a frozen treats store. Seating is at a handful of fixed high counter stools near the door, behind the line where you queue up, and maybe a dozen more seats at standard height fixed stools or benches on the exit door side. THIS N THAT: 1) ACCESSIBILITY: The mom with a stroller who said "Thanks but it's not stroller friendly in there" as we offered to hold the door for her to get in is a pretty good tip off that this place may be a challenge for people using wheelchairs too. Level in and throughout but the queue space is tight and there doesn't seem to be a place where people using wheelchairs could easily sit to eat inside with others given the fixed stools. Just a heads up if you or someone you travel with keeps that in mind. I do as on a future visit in, this could be any of us. 2) PARKING: So it goes in Portland neighborhoods that it is a challenge everywhere. 3) PINT TO FOOD BANK DONATION: Pre packed pints are available for sale from a case near the exit door. For every pint you buy of the Thanksgiving flavors, Salt & Straw will donate a pint to the Oregon Food Bank. Sweet.
(4)
Chi D.
Really nice workers and efficient too. Great ice cream flavors. Line was pretty long but it goes fairly quick!! YAY!! have fun. Good luck and good eats!!!
(5)
Emily D.
Wow the flavors! There are so many varied, interesting and well balanced. How to turn a poutine into a dessert? I don't know but every flavor I had a chance to sample was excellent. Prepare for a wait with lines down the block but once to the counter it is quite an ice cream experience. They were happy to let me try many and even offered if I want I could try them all! I settled on a half scoop of brittle and salted ganache and half scoop of honey lavender. Honey lavender on top so as not to lose a subtle flavor. Both were excellent! Brittle and salted ganache was amazing to many areas of my tongue. The salty sweet flavor combination and generous ganache-ing were fabulous. I love lavender and while in Portland tried many items with the lavender essence in it many of which were subtle and easily lost amongst other flavors. Of the lavender ice creams I tried salt and straws honey Lavender ice cream impressed me with the most prominent lavender taste. By no means over powering but noticeable not only at the first taste but through the whole scoop. A must stop while in the area, try coming at an off time for a slightly shorter line.
(5)
Melissa T.
I'm not an ice cream person, but I loved this ice cream shop...so much that I visited twice on my 4 day trip to Portland! Unlike a lot of ice cream shops, I felt comfortable sampling multiple flavors, and I didn't feel pressured to make a decision despite the increasingly long line outside the door. Even after I thought I was done sampling, the employee suggested one of the seasonal flavors, which turned out to be excellent. The cups or sugar cones are complimentary, but if you want a waffle cone, it's a dollar extra. During my first visit, I opted for the $9 ice cream flight. I sat in the window and got a lot of envious stares from passersby. I got the Arbequina olive oil, strawberry honey balsamic vinegar, sea salt with caramel, and almond brittle with salted ganache. My husband loved the olive oil, while my personal favorite was the almond brittle. While the ice cream flight is fun and pretty and all, I do feel $9 for 4 small scoops of ice cream is a lot. For that reason, I made sure to get a waffle cone the second time. I got the almond brittle and seasonal favorite rhubarb crumble with toasted anise. Unbeknownst to me, the employee gave me a "split scoop," which is one scoop split into 2 flavors. There is a 50 cent upcharge for this... I would have preferred two full scoops, but oh well... If you're getting more than one flavor, I would advise you to specify what you want to avoid this mix-up. Overall, the flavors are great and innovative, the ice cream shop is spacious, and the employees are friendly. It's a definite stop on a visit to Portland.
(4)
Lina N.
Freshly made waffle. Really good ice cream! Many good ideas of seasonal flavors. You must taste them. Sehr gutes Eis. Einfach probieren. Normalerweise mag ich keine Eiswaffeln. Doch diese sind selbst gebacken und Lecker.
(5)
Dalena T.
Portland must try, I remember reading an article about top 100 ice creameries you must try in the country, salt and straw was up there on that list ! The difference from salt and straw to most ice cream places is their unique flavors, each season they tend to have special flavors they switch up when I went this time they had unique flavors from like honey lavender and sea salt I've cream with Carmel to crazy flavors like green fennel and maple, carrot watermelon sorbet, to bone marrow and bourbon smoked cherries . they sound crazy but definitely worth trying, you'll be surprised how the craziest combinations can taste. Sugar cones are free if you want the option of a cone or a cup , but the waffle cones are made fresh and taste amazing definitely worth the extra dollar. They have different scoop sizes but they do mention on the menu that if you get a normal 1 scoop you have the option of getting two flavors so essentially getting half scoops of two flavors. something you should consider especially at a place like salt and straw !
(5)
Carissa B.
The ice cream flavors are creative and delicious. The wait to get up to the counter to order is always crazy long but is the only downside to this fun ice cream spot
(4)
Eric B.
Oh boy I love ice cream, and I really liked Salt and Straw. Strawberry balsamic with black pepper was very tasty. For me, the balsamic and particularly the pepper were a little subtle. Easily forgotten. It was a bit like very good strawberry ice cream with good ideas in it. Same goes for the sea urchin, although I think it worked better in this case. Do you really want that much sea urchin flavor? It was there, and tasty. One of my favorites. Honey lavender might have been my favorite, which surprised me. Simple, but very assertive lavender flavor coming through - in a good way. Refreshing and delightful. Rhubarb crumble with toasted anise was also terrific. I was left wanting slightly more of that licorice anise flavor to come through, but thoroughly enjoyable. The actual product is quite gourmet. Just terrific ice cream. Very consistent, no crystallization. True artisanal work. Flavor balances could use a bit more tweaking/balancing, but the bold inventiveness of the flavors makes up all the ground there. Great shop.
(4)
Rachel G.
So much hype, but overall I think it lives up to it. There's always a line, but TBH it moves incredibly quickly. I've never stood there more than 15 minutes. People say its expensive, but really--you easily pay $3.50-4 for a waffle cone at Coldstone or similar these days. Wouldn't you rather pay that extra buck and get ingredients that are 1000x better, plus amazing flavors? You would. Flavors I've flaved that were awesome: Stumptown + Burnside Bourbon. Right in my wheelhouse and prob my overall favorite. Freckled woodblock chocolate. Love it. Apricot and hops (summer seasonal). Everything you'd hope it would and then some. Honey lavender. Great, but I can't eat a whole cone of something that lavender-y. Strawberry balsamic. Superb, very refreshing and complex.
(5)
courtney f.
Amazing Ice Cream!!!! Hellish Suburban encroachment that causes huge ass lines. Worth it tho....
(5)
Alexandra S.
At long last, we have checked the box on the missing experience in our tour of West Coast artisanal ice cream shops: the legendary Salt & Straw. And while it lives up to its rep as Portland's best ice cream, I can't put it at the very top of the ice cream heap, because it still doesn't come close the the standard set by San Francisco's Bi-Rite. If you are a normal person comparing ice cream options in one city, however, Salt & Straw is well worth a visit. It has the most friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff that we've encountered at any ice cream shop -- eager to help us choose the right flavor, and even to scooping in the exact order we preferred (yes, I *do* care which flavor is on the top, and which is on the bottom). The ice cream flavor options do a good job of spanning the esoteric (olive oil; green fennel & maple; bone marrow & bourbon cherries -- in one flavor!) and the relatively traditional (chocolate, almond brittle, vanilla). However even the more traditional flavors skew sophisticated -- the gooey brownie, for example, includes hunks of EXTREMELY bitter chocolate brownies. In other words, you are more likely to be thrilled than your kids are. Flavor intensity is very good, but the ice cream itself still isn't as rich or creamy as I'd like. And one of our scoops (the cinnamon snickerdoodle -- surprisingly, it may have been my favorite flavor) had a little chunk of ice in it, which while not a huge deal, isn't something that should show up in a super fancy ice cream. All in all, I'd say it's a very good ice cream, but I wouldn't brave an hour-long lineup for it. We'll be back, but not during rush hour!
(4)
Eileen W.
FIVE STARS: for the excellent ice cream. Fine ice cream pleasure center. A great OT experience. ZERO STARS: for the ridiculous queue, out the door and down the street. It's hilarious. Why wait just to select an ice cream cone, when I can immediately buy a single-serving-size container and be on my way with a busy spoon. Is it really about Yuppies/Hipsters being seen by each other doing that really cool thing, waiting in line with all those beautiful people, those other Yuppies/Hipsters? And the selfies! Hahahaha!
(4)
Nidhi K.
How I wish that Yelp had half stars. I would give Salt & Straw 3.5 stars if I could; I can't seem to understand what the huge 5-star hype is around this place. Maybe it's because I'm from the Bay Area where I've eaten at several top-notch local creameries. Or maybe it's because I went a little too crazy with my flavor choices here. The wait: I appreciated that there was no line! This is apparently an unfrequented location because I was there on a Friday afternoon; I had expected a super long line. The service: Very good! I must have sampled 6 different flavors, and the scooper behind the counter didn't even hesitate. The flavors: I finally settled on the Sea Salt w/ Caramel, which unfortunately was WAY. TOO. SALTY. As in, I felt like I was eating spoonfuls of salt. (I threw it away.) My other scoop was Honey Balsamic Strawberry w/ Cracked Pepper, which was decent. My dad got the Strawberry w/ Cilantro Lime Cheesecake, which was great! Then he got Vanilla, which he said was quite good. I think the moral of this review is to not go too crazy with the flavors. It might taste fine as a sample, but you might not be able to finish the whole scoop. P.S. If you're not a local, sample the Marionberry flavor -- apparently the berry was discovered at Oregon State and is only found in OR & WA!
(3)
Tim C.
The ice cream here is pretty good quality, but some of the flavors are hit or miss. Since much of the Yelp community recommended it, I tried the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. I wouldn't recommend it. The Ganache was just huge chunks of dense chocolate and salt, which just didn't appeal to me. The Almond Brittle was very tasty, but also overwhelmed the ice cream. I honestly barely got any ice cream - it really felt like just a cup of Almond Brittle and Salted Ganache. I also had a scoop of their Mint Julep ice cream, which was much better. It tasted like actual mint (the herb), and not the artificial mint flavoring that most mint ice cream tastes like. Unfortunately, I think it's a seasonal flavor. Some of the other flavors I sampled were ok - nothing too impressive, but very interesting. If you read some of the descriptions of the flavors, they are very... Portland. Just read them, hopefully you'll know what I'm talking about. The service was very nice, and I liked the design and layout of the place. Solid place for ice cream, but make sure you sample before you get a whole scoop - or else you might end up with something that isn't your cup of tea, especially with such unique flavors.
(3)
Sudipto G.
Yay, I'm a fan. but only of some of the flavors. Please try out all of them and you will know what I mean. Some of them are downright terrible to taste. But they have some gems, like the Almond Brittle with Ganache, and Sea Salt with Caramel, but off late I have found there seasonal flavors pretty bad, so will check it out again maybe after a couple of months, till then I'll go out to the other great ice cream places out here in PDX.
(4)
Dora T.
We sampled quite a few flavors before deciding on the flight of four ice creams though the waffle cone looked good too. Pear bleu cheese. Honey lavender. Arbequina Olive oil. Strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper. My favorite was the pear bleu cheese. I'm looking forward to trying out the newly opened store in L.A
(5)
Will C.
I had a chance to try out their ice cream the last time I was here. I tried the coconut with salted caramel bars. It was not bad. I'll probably try other flavors the next time I am here.
(4)
Ron S.
Great ice cream, good flavors, good environment to be in. The staff is always friendly even when there's a huge line! The waffle cones were inconsistent (hole at the bottom etc.) . A little pricey for ice cream but it might be worth it if you want to taste all of the extraordinary flavors Salt & Straw offers. *C'mon, bigger scoops please. 5-6 bucks a cone...I expect more.
(3)
Dana J.
Fantastic!! The best ice cream experience there is. From the attentive service to the exquisite and complex flavors, this is a portland MUST!
(5)
Anthony N.
A Portland version of Molly Moons. Similar but slightly different. I came here after getting Sunday brunch (around 1ish) with come friends and there was only a few people there before us. Shortly after we got there, the place filled up. Salt and Straw had a lot of the same flavors as Molly Moons and they also make their own waffle cones, but IMHO the strawberry balsamic was better at Salt and Straw and the cone was just ok. Overall, great place for ice cream, but not better than Molly Moons.
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(5)Xiao Z.
Ugh, you ruined my diet and I loved you for it. Damn you, deliciously unique ice cream! I came here with my GF, after hearing so much about the unique flavors of Salt & Straw and how it's been featured on multiple television shows. I'm not a fan of fame, but after being allowed to taste every single ice cream by one of the kindest servers and ordering a tasting tray of four of our favorite icecreams with a homemade waffle cone on the side, I'd say that Salt and Straw deserves all of their notoriety. I'm sure the seasonable menus will change, but some of their basic (haha, I laugh at that word, since most of the flavors are anything but) flavors still remain some of my favorites. I really liked the olive oil ice cream, the strawberry and balsamic vinaigrette, pear and bleu cheese, Stumptown coffee and burnside bourbon. I think the 4-piece $9 tasting tray may have been a bit extreme, but looking at my selfies with those delicious frozen treats, I think I enjoyed them quite a bit =P Food: 5 stars Price: 3 stars Service: 5 stars
(5)Teala A.
Once again....... I don't wait in lines...... But for this I will. I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but I am always so curious about their pairings and love the fact that you can try everything and there is no judgement. In fact, the folks working there are always warm and helpful and seem to honestly enjoy their jobs. Obviously S&S is doing lots right because their employees seem happy and the line is constant. Well done.
(5)Isah K.
So good. Waffle cones made on site so the aroma is just divine. So many interesting combinations of flavors, thankfully the offer samples. Which flavor should you try? Try them all.
(5)Jenn W.
The line was lo-o-o-ong when we came by at around 7pm on a 95 degree weather day. Maybe 30-40 minutes? Tried a bunch of flavors (we had just been to the Alphabet district location a couple days prior heh) and ended up getting the honey lavender. It became my favorite flavor and I regret not getting that the first time! The texture of the ice cream was much better at this location, maybe because more customers means going through batches more quickly. I definitely recommend Salt & Straw to everyone visiting Portland. Heads up that scoops are huge! I am an ice cream fiend but one scoop was definitely enough for me.
(4)Arti N.
//PDX Sweetheart Foodie Trip: Aug 21-23, 2015- Stop 5 of 7// Hubs and I made our first out-of-town "entire weekend" getaway since the l'il miss arrived 5.5 years ago. Cue the music! But seriously, hubs was a good sport and I ratcheted my normal foodie weekend levels WAY down. With S&S, I had heard that you **must** try, and so we did. Especially since we had just had lunch across the street at Pok Pok (ok with about a 1.5 hour break in between to walk around... a LOT). The queue wasn't too bad when we arrived at the tail end ~4pm last Saturday afternoon, it ran it's normal U-shape inside + out the door and to the end of the storefront on the sidewalk (roughly a 1/2 hour wait). I really loved the idea that when you get to the front you can try as many flavors as you want without holding up folks behind you (who can order and move past you quite nicely to pay). Unfortunately we didn't do that... since while waiting in line and reading the flavors, hubs and I decided on a tasting flight of 4 flavors figuring we could get more sampling that way. From the August specials, we choose "Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake" (ummm, you know that was all me, hubs was basically making faces at every description of this flavor) and the "Lemon Cucumber Sorbet" (no... not lemon AND cucumber, but a type of cucumber called lemon). From the classic flavors menu, we choose "Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper" and "Freckled Woodblock Chocolate". -- Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake~ "A lightly malted, salted chocolate ice cream, light and unobtrusive, sets the table for professional-grade cupcake debauchery. The ice cream is loaded with gooey, bite-sized pieces of cupcake that are topped with chocolate ganache and doused in coffee syrup to keep them soft and moist. Those are good, but they need something else...like maybe little crunchy snaps of chocolate-coated potato chips? Oh, yes, and a generous ribbon of house-made caramel. This flavor is inspired by the infamous CCPC cupcake from Kit Jensen's former bakeshop, The Sugar Cube!" -- Lemon Cucumber Sorbet~ "Spa on a spoon. This is a lemon cucumber sorbet, not a lemon and cucumber sorbet. It's one thing, a lemon cucumber. It is, in fact, a sweet, lemony-looking cucumber, out of which we make this lovely, pale yellow, elegant, and delicately fresh sorbet. These lemon cucumbers were grown by amazing kids! This sorbet is a collaboration with Food Works, a program that teaches kids incredible life skills through farming. Food Works is completely run by students aged 14-21. More than just a "learning farm," Food Works is a sustainable agriculture and land-management commitment through which kids learn to farm, practice business and finance skills, and learn about healthy cooking and eating. Supporting projects like Food Works is one of the most important aspects of our company and we're humbled and happy to cook with them, anytime." -- Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper~ "It's triple Oregon Strawberry! Made with strawberries, jam, and syrup from Oregon Hill Farms. Honey Balsamic from a fifth-generation beekeeper at Honeyridge Farms, and locally imported, rare Cubeb Pepper (not to make it spicy... just a trick we learned from the Italians to pepper fruit to bring out the flavor." -- Freckled Woodblock Chocolate~ "Roasting cocoa beans in a 19th century-old fire roaster, Woodblock is the first bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Portland. We add in a bit of Jacobsen sea salt, the first to harvest salt from the Oregon coast in over 200 years, and then use an old-school ice cream making technique called "freckling" to suspend the chocolate in an untempered state." For hubs, his favs were the LC sorbet and the FW choco. For me, my favs were the LC sorbet and the CCPCC. Neither one of us dug the SHBw/BP (WAY too balsamic-y). And neither one of us felt the texture (we prefer creamy) or tastiness even came close to Mora Creamery in WA state. I guess we tend to be ice cream purists and not big fans of the crazy flavors. Hey, when you have an out of this world pistachio flavored ice cream (like Mora), why mess with it?
(3)Eric A.
WOW....truly is all I can say in between each bite of ice cream. I went in for vanilla and came out with 5 different flavors. The place is über modern and there is a line out the door (a good sign). A great place to take the kids, an after dinner aperitif or when you need a pick me up! Everyone us super friendly and helpful. Not to mention the samples are phenomenol! You will never want another ice cream after trying Salt and Straw. I will be in Portland every 5 weeks for business and I will be at this place each visit!!
(5)Flavia A.
What is there to say but Almond Brittle With Salted Ganache? (You're welcome to read my review of Salt & Straw on NW 23rd for the full scoop). Get it? Full scoop? Har har. Just enjoy. And yes it's worth the wait.
(5)Donna S.
ambiance//***** with the amount of foot traffic they get...there is plenty of space to wait along w/ a section of show & tell of their artisanal flavors...where the ingredients are sourced from also random knick knack keepsakes for those who wish to share with the world that they've been salt & straw service//***** the people here completely understand the seriousness of selecting the proper ice cream for your current mood ever patiently scooping tasters for you before selecting the flavor food//***** they cover everything from classic vanilla to earthy lavender to the wildly creative bleu cheese & pear i'm a sucker for unique flavors like bleu cheese & ear thank goodness they opened up near me!!^^ ~*~ delicious and interesting...i will never be bored eating their flavors~
(5)Samantha Z.
Currently eating two scoops of chocolatey something or another. What's better than the ice cream? The customer service. Felicia helped us tonight and she was so sweet! She let us taste a million flavors, and was so kind. Five stars for her!!
(5)Rhyann B.
Delicious! I really enjoy visiting Salt and Straw. The ice cream is consistently great, and the rotating flavors are always new and inventive. I'm a fan of the Almond Brittle and Ganache flavor. They also just had a Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Cupcake flavor for August that was probably my favorite of all the flavors I've had there. I have a couple reasons for not giving it a 5. 1. The line is always pretty ridiculous. You can expect to wait at least 30 minutes. If the weather is nice, it can be more like an hour. It is good ice cream, but waiting a long time for it is a bit of a bummer. 2. I've had better ice cream in Portland. I visited What's the Scoop in NE, and it was fantastic (and I really didn't have to wait).
(4)Nikki D.
This place is awesome if you're down to try new and interesting flavor combo of ice cream. I got the carrot carrot cake which was a seasonal flavor. Tasted exactly like a carrot cake, down to the cream cheese frosting. I also got to taste a few different flavors trying to make my decision, cucumber lime, and a rhubarb flavored one. The line for this place can be very long depending on the hour of the day that you go. Super busy after dinner time. Other than that, they have super friendly service and delicious ice cream.
(4)Helen S.
Awesome ice cream with many creative flavors. Friendly staff! The line was out the door but totally worth the wait. It moved pretty quickly. The way to go is the flight sampler for $9. You get to try several flavors, but wish I could try them all! My favorite by far was the stumptown coffee and bourbon! Very rich and flavorful coffee flavor, one of the best coffee ice creams I've ever had. Also tried the cinnamon snicker doodle (real chunks of cookie), carrot cake (a seasonal flavor), and almond brittle (one of their most popular flavors)! Highly recommend this place! Hope they open up more locations!
(5)Michael S.
So come with me where dreams are born and dessert is never blah. Just think of yummy things, and ice creams for kings, forever, at Salt & Straw! Salt & Straw is like a fairy tale land of ice cream dreams. There's no need for Peter Pan and little kids singing to reach this Yummy Yummy Land where you never grow up. Simply find some street parking nearby and join the line out the front door filled with Lost Boys, Tinkerbells, Tiger Lilys, and the occasional Captain Hook. Actually, the original and dreamy flavors of Salt & Straw are so magical, you just may be singing like a little kid again. Here's a quick list of flavors for kids or adults to plan which free samples you'll try. * Double Fold Vanilla * Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars * Pear & Blue Cheese * Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper * Honey Lavender * Arbequina Olive Oil * Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon * Cinnamon Snickerdoodle * Chocolate Gooey Brownie * Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache * Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons * Freckled Woodblock Chocolate Each month has 5-6 unique flavors available, so, you should plan on visiting Salt & Straw at least 12 times a year because some of those flavors are just as magical as the daily flavors. The hype for the ice cream here is huge and, clearly, this fantasy land is no secret. Believe the hype because there really is a place where dreams are born, scooped, licked, and loved ... again and again. There really is a place called Salt & Straw.
(5)Wennie H.
Believe the hype. There's a reason this place is on the best ice cream list. I guess this months theme is street food and I have never in my life experienced anything like it. A few people told me about this place and also told me it was super busy. I was on a coffee date and we decided to hit it up after lunch...but when we were walking past to the pie place, the smell of fresh waffle cones changed everything. The shop is bright, airy, minimalistic and just had a good overall feel. Also, no line at 11am! I tried a couple flavors: the strawberry balsamic with black pepper (super good), the potato champion poutine (f***ing crazy good), the nongs khao man gai peanut butter (weird but not terrible), the chocolate gooey brownie (super rich), and almond brittle with salted ganache (not bad). But I settled on the coconut with petunias salted caramel bar. HOLY GUACAMOLE GOOD. When I tried it, I swear my eyes rolled to the back of my head, my mouth became slack and my date said, "that good, huh?" Literally a mouthgasm. So, so rich and creamy and bad for you, it's amazing. The scoops are massive, the staff friendly and the space great. This is going to become my favorite ice cream place in PDX.
(4)Zack S.
Salt & Straw has turbo hype. If you live in Portland and you're talking about dessert, Salt & Straw is one of the first things to come up in conversation. Does this place live up to the legend that is told of it? Yes. Yeeesss. Holy crap, yes. This is the best ice cream I have ever had in my entire life and it deserves the recognition it has gained. The salted caramel I'd delicious, cinnamon snicker doodle is to die for, and pear and blue cheese is... Well... It's pear and blue cheese... But you NEED to come here if you are looking for the best ice cream in Portland. TL;DR: It's like you're eating ice cream but it tastes way better.
(5)Kalusha C.
I don't see the hype about this place, the ice cream is too sweet and weird. I swear it screams diabetes!
(1)Catherine N.
That smell! The moment you walk past the store (even from across the street), the smell of fresh cooking waffle cones permeates the air. I don't know how anyone can resist stopping into Salt & Straw. They had a really fun menu with a special chocolate menu. The staff is so welcoming and friendly and will give you tastes of anything you want. They use metal spoons and actually have a hole in the counter that acts as the 'spoon shoot' for used tasting spoons. We settled on the tasting flight for $9 because I like to eat a little of a lot of things. Added a $1 waffle cone because (explained above). This is definitely the way to go. You get for pretty big scoops, so it's such a bargain compared to a bunch of single scoop. strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper - this was my favorite. Refreshing, sweet, & smooth with an occasional awakening from the vinegar-not too much black pepper taste though Woodblocks hand roasted chocolate and toasted sesame- smooth and not too rich with nice hints of nuttiness from the sesame Xocolatt and David's brown butter chocolate bar -this was the most chocolatey of the ones we sampled. Pretty straight-forward and slightly salty (nice touch) Sea salt with Caramel (not sea salt caramel)-sea salt ice cream with caramel swirls- this was our least favorite but the bites that had a lot of caramel were good. Loved it even though I'm not a huge ice cream person. Reasonable prices for artisan ice cream in unique flavors. Well deserving of their reputation.
(5)Steph Y.
Came here while visiting my bff and ordered the stump town coffee & burnside bourbon ice cream and was instantly won over. The coffee flavor was strong and the ice cream was smooth and rich so needless to say I inhaled it. The server was also really friendly and chatted with us while she was scooping my order.
(5)Lexie V.
The ice cream here is rich. I mean RICH. It's excellent, don't get me wrong, but this is the kind of place where a single scoop will suffice. I went for a double scoop and could not continue past the top scoop! The top scoop was rhubarb crumble with anise and it was amazing! Creamy with the perfect balance of tart sweetness and freckled with bits of coffee cake crumble. Very good and refreshing! The waffle cones are house-made and are fresh and crispy. The bottom scoop was a salted caramel and it was overpowered by the intense salt. I couldn't hack it. I wasn't woman enough for this scoop. Next time, I go single and stick with my limits. Anyway, cool place with great, friendly staff and a fun vibe.
(4)Sarah B.
Back in Portland for a day after an entire summer away, and couldn't skip this stop! Never disappointing and always surprising me with new flavors. A must!
(5)Shendi X.
I'm still dreaming of this ice cream. My boo and I stayed at a nearby AirBnB; I initially scoffed at the lines our first few nights, but we stuck it out eventually, and were very pleased with the results. Definitely rivals Bi-Rite in SF. Flavor-wise, I loved the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and the Chocolate with Gooey Brownies. The Freckled Woodblock Chocolate and the Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars were also quite good. You MUST go if visiting a city with a Salt & Straw! (In Portland, the Alberta location is less busy. :))
(5)Dana G.
A philosophical PDX question (may apply to other cities too). Does a Disneyland-style line that zig-zags through the restaurant, out the door, and down the street mean that the populous agrees this eatery is clearly Five Stars? Or does that inconvenience and whatever caused it cause the loss of a star or two. Oh for goodness sake. Without the line I woulda said five stars. I'm not sure I ever tried Salt & Straw when I lived in PDX. I did not get on the bandwagon. I may have missed an opportunity (or maybe it was a near-miss!!). Salt & Straw was the final stop of my first ever Dana's Food Tour PDX (cue cheering), Hungry Friend and Hungry Me (no longer really hungry at all, but I was willing to put my back into it all in the name of science. Or something). I followed Hungry Friend's guidance and had a great time tasting flavors, and ended up with a cone I loved. First of all, the smell. The smell of the cones is intoxicating. Even without the ice cream, the cone smell and cone would be a fine storefront. Dear Salt & Straw: A proposal for your next venture. Second, the experience. Once we made it to the front of the line, I was impressed with the coordination and good-naturedness of our ice cream scooper woman. I was also impressed with the fact that all the scoopers looked like vibrant glowing yoga instructors. I guess I've lived in the country for too long. Third, the taste and texture. I sampled several flavors, and finally decided on a half-scoop (the classic) sea salt with caramel topped by (a May Flowers flavor of the month) wildflower honey with ricotta walnut lace cookies on top (man o man what a mouthful of a name to go with the mouthful of Yum!). The texture was perfect- both the cookies crumbled in the top scoop, and also the texture of the ice cream itself. It was thick, gelato-ish. And it didn't even cost like twenty bucks for this magic ice cream. It remember it being maybe $3.50. Suchadeal.
(4)Jay P.
It was a hot day and my sweet tooth was hankering for something sugary and my body for something cooling. We were close to salt and straw so that is where we headed. To our surprise there was a short line this time around and the wait was quite reasonable. Usually the wait is significant and out the door. While waiting I was reading the menu and I told my friend that they serve food now when I read "poutine" on the board. He corrected me and said that it was actually the flavor of the ice cream. I told him that it can't be, because that would be disgusting, but sure enough it was true. I didn't go this route and took his suggestion of trying the snickerdoodle flavor, which actually sounded much more appetizing than poutine. Glad I took his sugesstion, because it was delicious. The first spoon was simply devine and oh so wonderful. The first thing that hits the mouth is the cinnamon, it was as it I was sodomizing a warm and gooey cinnamon roll, but in this case enjoyed it very much. Then after the cinnamon there was the cookie itself. It was moist and buttery and complimented everything very well. Even they have many arrays flavors that you wouldn't think would go together and make you think that it wouldn't work, but today I did not feel like an adventure and wanted to go with a sure think and nothing beats the snickerdoodle. A must try.
(5)Spencer T.
Not just the best ice cream in Portland. This is easily some of the best (if not THE best) ice cream I've ever had in my life. Most recently, I went with a seasonal flavor (rhubarb crumble with toasted anise), split with a standard (honey lavender). Definitely good. The former managed to tame the anise nicely, while still keeping it as a fine background note, making it a good summer flavor. The latter was simple and sweet, and I can see it working well with many flavors as well as on its own. I'd also strongly recommend the sea salt/caramel and the Stumptown Coffee/Burnside Bourbon. Oh yeah, and the almond brittle/salted ganache. Those are my usual flavors. Salt & Straw is very good about allowing people to try samples. This time, I tried the wildflower honey/ricotta-walnut lace cookies, as well as the rhubarb one. The honey-ricotta was good, and I'd definitely recommend it, but I was craving something summery, so I went with the rhubarb. Here's a couple things they don't list on their board. For one, it costs a buck to do half-and-half scoops. Kind of harsh, if you ask me, though I always do it anyways. Also, the waffle cones are $1.50. Definitely worth springing for. You know that incredible smell that always permeates the block where Salt & Straw is located? That's the waffle cones, being baked fresh every day. The lines are a drag. Then again, they usually appear when it's a warm, clear, beautiful night in the City of Roses, and they lend themselves well to people-watching and conversing with friends. There's a reason this place is so popular. Definitely demands multiple visits this summer.
(5)Christina S.
Woohoo! Get to check this place off my Portland list. Came here after a meal at Pok Pok. Got the almond brittle with salted ganache on a sugar cone and it was delicious. The service was friendly and I was able to sample a few flavors before picking the one I wanted. This place is worth checking out if are craving ice cream in Portland!
(4)Tiffany H.
Step 1- find parking Step 2- prepare for waiting in line Step 3- realize the parking and line was worth it as you try several amazing flavors of ice cream from friendly staff Step 4- make the tough decision on settling on only one thing and enjoy it outside in the beautiful summer weather. Step 5- repeat The strawberry balsamic with black pepper is the absolute best, in my opinion. The chocolate gooey brownie is great for chocolate lovers. They always have something fun to try as well, like the food cart flavors now, so be adventurous! If yo want an easier tie with parking and a shorter line, come during off-peak times- weeknights are easier than weekends, and realize on any 90 degree summer day anyone in Portland who knows about ice cream will already be here.
(5)Alvin N.
WOW, The Quality of Salt & Straw is Amazing! This Company certainly takes pride of their product! They use Many Local Oregon Ingredients! I always order an Ice Cream Flight to try 4 flavors everytime I stop by! Their Staff is always Friendly! Portlandia, you are lucky to have this place! You must not miss their Salted Caramel, it is ooey gooey goodness! :D
(5)Elliott D.
I get embarrassed when I feel like I've asked for too many testers, so sometimes I go to the end of the line to come back for more (getting another guy to help me the 2nd time around). On this occasion, the flavors I tried on Round 1 (Arbequina Olive Oil, Honey Lavender, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Cracked Pepper, & Spiked Egg Nog) just didn't speak to my taste buds. The Honey Lavender, for example, was way too lavender-infused, to the point of making me feel like I was eating a candle (I've had divine honey lavender in the past). On Round 2 I reluctantly settled upon: ***PEAR & BLUE CHEESE - The delicate, sweet flavor of Oregon Trail Northwest Bartlett Pears from Salem, OR with perfectly aged cumbles of Rogue Creamery's Crater Lake Blue Cheese (recently named the best in the world at a fancy competition in France) mixed throughout. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty interesting, with generous chunks of soft pear in the forefront, and little bits of blue cheese to finish it off in a non-overwhelming way. But it was just strange enough to make it so that I couldn't completely relax and go for it. Probably my own fault for not choosing something more "normal", but nothing else stood out to me. ***COCONUT WITH PETUNIA'S SALTED CARAMEL BARS - A coconut based, non-dairy ice cream made in collaboration with our good friends at Petunia's Pastries. Petunia's salted caramel bars are special because they are both vegan and gluten-free, but are so delicious that we would be none the wiser! For a bit of extra yumminess we swirl in hand-burned caramel and housemade chocolate ganache. This was my "normal" option to mix with my weird option, a selection that I didn't realize until just now was non-dairy (I'd call that a major success). This was pretty good I guess, with crunchy/gooey caramel and chocolate mix-ins, but not particularly interesting or life-changing. ALL IN ALL: My first main grievance is that they're trying to be really Bohemian with the flavors, but many a time it felt like they were trying way too hard, and the flavor combinations just ended up being "Oh that was novel, look what flavor I just tried..." instead of "Holy freaking crap I just crapped my pants due to all of this unrestrained deliciousness". My second grievance is that the overall consistency isn't as dreamy as, let's say even a Cold Stone. I don't know if it's an extra egg yolk, the lack thereof, or the serving temperature or whatnot, but it's just missing something. I was sure to get a freshly made waffle cone as they smelled ever so divine, but it ended up tasting surprisingly unremarkable. I guess I've probably had my fill of Salt & Straw for a while.
(3)John O.
Believe the hype. Damn good. Also, to skip the line, go to the front and buy a pint. Don't tell anyone this secret though.
(5)Emily E.
I love how unique this place is. I've been hear multiple times and I'm very satisfied! I sampled: Cinnamon snicker doodle ( It was amazing) & Honey Lavender I loved them both but I wanted something unique. So I decided to get the honey lavender. Now it's my new favorite ice cream! At first it's a little strange but as you keep tasting it, it is delicious!!! My uncle got the cinnamon snicker doodle in a milkshake which was a-mazing. My dad got the olive oil ice cream! I didn't try it but he absolutely loved it! I'm excited to try out more flavors. They usually have a huge line but the line this time wasn't out the door! I've seen salt and straw mentioned on almost every post/article mentioning ice cream! I would defiantly recommend this place to anyone!!!
(5)Dustin R.
Outstanding ice cream! But something about people waiting in line over an hour for ice cream just pisses me off. I'm not the sort of person who can waste my time in the ice cream line so I only come here when it is not crowded. Pro tip: you can ask for as many ice cream samples as you like!
(3)Michelle M.
BOMB DOT COM!! This place has become one of my favorite ice cream places. Customers are able to sample as many flavors they want. They had cute small silver spoons and a small shoot in the counter/wall to dispose used spoons. Here, you can also buy pints of their ice cream they have in their freezer section. Since I happen to enjoy the Stumptown flavor, I had to try the Stumptown coffee ice cream - amazing. Also, I got the strawberry honey balsamic with cracked black pepper. I typically am not a person the enjoys fruity ice cream, but this one was a hit with me. The flavor complexes complemented each other so well. There were in-house strawberry jam chunks with the subtle taste of the black pepper and the added sweetness from the balsamic. For those visiting, this place is a must!
(5)Angik S.
If you are looking for awesome ice cream, head to cool Moon or what's the scoop. But I am a fan of this place simply because of the flavors. Last year they had an orange rhubarb flavor which is the best ice cream flavor I have ever tasted. This year they have the special food cart flavors. The Viking soul food and koi fusion flavors are the bomb. But all of them are good. Definitely try them.
(4)Varun B.
Love this place. I used to live in San Francisco, and the bar set for ice cream there typically tended to be Bi-Rite Creamery and Humphrey-Slocombe, in my opinion -- both of which are highly reputable places and known to many. I have to say, Salt and Straw, was quite the delightful surprise because I felt that it honestly was better than both of those places that I love in SF. Their flavors are all very well balanced and unique. The ice cream itself isn't too heavy like some others. Go here. Take samples -- like all of them. And then pick your favorite double scoop (or a split single scoop, which we did). Oh, and DEFINITELY get the waffle cone. It not only smells delicious, but tastes so as well.
(5)Nicole E.
Looking for unique flavors of fresh ice cream? This is the place to go. I had a roasted strawberry and toasted white chocolate scoop. Other flavors included things like olive oil and lavender. Mine was delicious and my friends loves theirs too.
(4)Tiffany L.
I love me some fancy ice cream. To avoid the lines, we came early to sample a bunch of flavors. I loved them all but ended up getting the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle (loved the cookies pieces in the ice cream). Thumbs up!
(4)Patrick _.
When it comes to Ice Cream I am a very traditional person. I don't like to get too crazy, but when visiting Portland I knew I would have to stop and get some. The foodie side of me wanted try all the weird flavors, but I narrowed it down to three. I tried the Garam Masala and Cinnamon Cauliflower, it was kinda gross and just not for me. Ultimately I ended up getting Olive Oil and Pear and Blue Cheese. It was the best Ice Cream I have ever had. Overall the line was small and the service was fast and friendly landing this place a well deserved five stars.
(5)Portia D.
LOVE this place! Signature being the Sea Salt and Carmel but trust me the Strawberry Balsamic with Black Pepper is the real hidden gem on the menu. First off service! I was a first timer coming here and while in line trying to pick three flavors to try. I wanted to try them all but I thought no way would any place do this. Got up to the front and Riley was more than willing to let me try EVERYTHING! WHAT!?! Not only did Riley let me try everything but it was done with a smile and I was given a brief profile of each flavor. Second are the flavors! Olive oil flavor who would think this would be delicious? But it is and you will want more of it. Green Fennel Maple, Lemon Cucumber Sorbet, Snickerdoodle and more! Creativity is definitely not in short supply here. Love that the menu seasonal and new flavors are always rotating in and out. Even though there will usually be a line it will be worth the wait. Two thumbs way up for this place!
(5)Madie N.
GREAT ICE CREAM!!! Very helpful staff as well. My mom and I were very fortunate to come to Salt & Straw with no line. We sampled everything and we loved all of it. We ended up each getting a little more ice cream than we could handle, but the 900 calories was worth it.
(5)MyTien P.
Everyone in California knows that I am a huge ice cream fanatic so I was really excited to finally give Salt & Straw a try. I was not disappointed! I ordered a scoop of the Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream and it was pure perfection. The strips of sea salt caramel was amazing and wasn't overpowering at all. It might have been the best salted caramel ice cream I've tried yet (Bi-Rite in San Francisco is also delicious). The ice cream wasn't too creamy and had the right consistency. I also really enjoyed the warm sugar cone here and highly recommend getting it with your ice cream! This place definitely lived up to my expectations and it is now one of my favorite ice cream shops. I will definitely be coming back here when I visit Portland. Good thing they recently just opened a Salt & Straw in Los Angeles!!
(5)Klee L.
Delicious! The flavors are unique and worth expanding your horizons for. But the best part(ok not maybe the best,,,, but sure is important) was the service! When you wait in line for 20 minutes (which I hear is not bad for a hot day) and are greeted with a smile, cheer and great attitude it truly makes all the difference! I commend the owners and managers for having such a great staff. I hope it means they are happy to be there! Ok, it also doesn't hurt to be able to try EVERYTHING with a HUGE sample on such a tiny spoon. A true and favorable gem. BTW... Try the coconut ice cream!
(5)Lena L.
Possibly the best ice cream ever! Mostly because the offer lavender ice cream!!!!! So many tasty options!
(5)Tracy Joy K.
Came here twice during my weekend trip to Portland, long wait but quality ice cream that was well worth it! They have a ton of unique flavors like Honey Balsamic and Black Pepper, Honey Lavender, Coffee & Bourbon. The long line is usually because of the tons of samples people try but when it's your turn definitely take advantage and try them out. I had the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons - probably the best sea salt caramel ice cream I've had - loved how salty it was and one scoop was definitely a hefty helping. Delectable for sure. :)
(4)Loren John B.
As a Bay Area resident, I've had my share of popular ice cream. Bi-Rite, Mitchell's, Smitten, Humphry Slocombe, and Ici are all great. After stuffing my face at Pok Pok, my friend and I figured this would be a great dessert spot. We braved the line for a good 30 minutes (it's like this at almost every location I've come across in Portland). I only tasted the seasonal flavors available for the month of March. I sampled the salted caramel cupcake, and the lumberjack stack. I went with a waffle cone, because it seemed thats what everyone else was doing. It's pretty cool that you can see them make the waffle cones in-house right next to the flavor counter. I ended up getting a single scoop of the lumberjack stack, and I was just amazed with how good it was. Blueberries and bits of pancakes in ice cream are well executed. I felt my jaw tingle after every bite, you know the good kind of tingle when you eat something sweet and delicious. I'd have to say, Salt & Straw would have to be in the same class as Bi-Rite. Had I stayed in Portland a little longer, I would have gone again and tried at least one of its regular flavors. The wait is pretty ridiculous for some ice cream, but it's a good thing the flavors are bomb and the staff are super helpful.
(5)Jewel M.
I finally tried this place and it was sooo good. I had their vegan flavor: coconut with Petunia's salted caramel bars. It is also swirled with caramel and chocolate ganache. It did not disappoint. I went ahead and bought the pint for $9. Even though it was quite good, for the price this will only be a treat on occasion. I hope to see more vegan flavors in the future.
(4)Jessie M.
Holy crap, the line is insane. Seemingly at all hours of the day. I mean it's good not THAT good. We did the ice cream flight and tried the balsamic strawberry with black pepper, the vanilla, the chocolate brownie, and the olive oil. It was fun and I don't understand why everyone doesn't get the flight... it's $9 for so much ice cream.
(4)Yuan J.
Salt & Straw never disappoints. I've now been to all 3 locations and each visit was a delight. As a first time goer, I would recommend getting: Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons, Balsamic Strawberry, and Honey Lavender. If you can go more than once, also get the Pear with Blue Cheese (the cheese is so subtle and not overpowering AT ALL), Tahini Cardamom, and the Coconut with Salted Caramel Bars. Also, don't be too discouraged by the line, even if it goes out the door and wraps around the corner. The line goes pretty fast since serving each customer won't take that long.
(5)Cylix S.
Seriously, there is no down side to the quality of the ice cream here! Crazy flavors, I wish there were more shops like this here in Spokane. It gets busy, but ive never had to wait longer than 15-20 minutes. They dont rush you into trying the different flavors and making a decision. They are very patient and polite- I am planning on taking my wife here for my upcoming birthday.
(5)Robbin A.
Absolutely delicious ice cream. The whole place smells like freshly made waffle cones the moment you walk in. This is exceptionally close to Bi-Rite ice cream from San Francisco; the only reason why this isn't a 5 is because I didn't wish I had it back home. Their honey lavender was excellent, as was their sea salt caramel, which I'm assuming they are known for. The service was quick and friendly, and I love places that give you samples on actual spoons! Good to know that those are being washed and reused. They do this really cool thing where the specials change every so often. Since I'm allergic to uncooked egg yolks, I couldn't have any of the specials of the month, which were inspired by local elementary school kids. That's okay - I had the honey lavender and salted caramel as an ENORMOUS single scoop in my waffle cone. Drool. Anyway, it's always a plus when the people know what goes into their ice cream. I was lucky enough that about 80% of them weren't made with egg yolks, which meant I didn't have to worry about an allergic reaction. This was the only ice cream shop I went to in Portland, and I am okay with that. Considering not just one, but two Portland folks recommended it to me, it is absolutely worth the visit if you have never been to an ice cream shop like this before.
(4)Nitar L.
I'm an LA native and wanted my S&S cherry to be popped by the OG location so I booked a trip to Portland. Totally worth it! The line can get pretty long, like out-the-door-on-to-the-sidewalk long. I thought of it like an attraction and didn't mind the 30+ minute wait. There are plenty of things to keep you entertained, like S&S swag! There are tees, mugs, and other local products for sale. (You can find Andy Ricker's SOM drinking vinegars there, too!) I made it out with a scoop of something glorious (I forgot what it was, but you really can't go wrong with any of the flavors here) in a waffle cone, a t-shirt, and a mug! Yep, I'm a total tourist :)
(5)Twylla S.
We happened upon this place while walking the streets of downtown. We peered at the unconventional menu and the tremendously long line and we're both perplexed and curious. These are not your typical ice cream flavors, and honestly, the weirder they sound the more delicious they are.... The first time we stopped in I wasn't feeling experimental so I went with a sea salt caramel ribbon. It was good, ideal for your boring friends which will find it delicious but nothing out of their comfort realm. My adventurous husband sampled a few of the stranger flavors and settled on a strawberry with balsamic and black pepper. I was apprehensive...but once I tasted it I knew we were dealing with some true ice cream pioneering here and that I should have gone all out. Needless to say two days later I got a hankering for some experimental ice cream tasting. This time I went pear and blue cheese in a sugar cone. All I can tell you is yes. You have to try it. It's savory and sweet. The blue cheese is present but not like you would expect, it gives a savory creaminess to the whole experience. Without it the flavor would be so overly sweet on its own. I hope they bring one of these to Chicago.
(5)Amy L.
Love it one of my favorite ice cream places and it's a lot closer on the SE side. I've been here when they were just a little cart to a full store. I love the variety of rotating flavors they have. There was ones I really love are Sourdough olive oil with salted chocolate ganache and the cassis sorbet. My regular go to is the Almond brittle with salted ganache. Cons: Parking is a pain and there's always a long line.
(5)Fawn W.
Seriously good ice cream. The salted caramel (they have a fancier name for it here) is delicious! Worth the line.
(5)Christianne F.
Almond brittle salted ganache.... Enough said! Wait... Want more sweet than savory? What about... seasonal flavors like Oregon Peach with toasted walnut? Oh, they're local Organic and All natural And the best damn ice cream I've ever had. Waffle cone itself is pretty amazeballs. Trust me, you're going to have a hard time picking a flavor or two... You'll want them all! There's a reason why the line is long. Hooray that there is now one in Los Angeles!
(5)Dian K.
There are a lot of gourmet ice cream places nowadays. One weirder sounding flavor rivaling another. As a thorough researcher, I've tried most of them, but I kept coming back to Salt & Straw. They are the best of the bunch. The 3 different locations is one proof of it (and they recently open a location in LA). The hoards of people rain or shine waiting is another. I like this location the best because it seems like the line moves faster here. Beginning of the month, I always try the different flavors of the month. More than likely I would come back to my tried and true favorite, the salted caramel. Remember! If you want to skip the line, head straight to the freezer, get a pint and cut in front of the hoards of people - this is allowed!
(5)Andrea V.
Ummm YUM! Wow. Really good ice cream. Had the strawberry honey balsamic with cracked black pepper, and my mom had the honey lavender. Just amazing favors. Also tasted the coconut with strawberry rhubarb pie. Was also amazing! Soo glad we stopped here on our trip! Nice girl who helped us too.
(5)Angela D.
Just like all the other famous ice cream shops with creative flavors, this one delivers inventive flavor combinations and has a cult following. Now, let me just say that I'm not huge on ice cream. It's good, but I'd much rather have some sort of pastry for dessert. In addition, I only like eating ice cream when it's warm out. So, I thought the shop was cute and they had some cool sounding flavors. The workers were all really friendly and were happy to give multiple samples. The fragrant smell of waffle cone wafted through the shop priming me for some ice creamy goodness. I ended up tasting the honey lavender, which I wasn't a fan of. I also tried the freckled woodblock chocolate, which was quite good. Not overly chocolate, which is what I was afraid of. It had a hint of salt to it, which I think worked really well with the chocolate. I ordered the children's scoop in a sugar cone and thoroughly enjoyed it. Props to them for using local ingredients and their creative flavors, but they are nothing outstanding in the ice cream world.
(3)Kristal B.
Excellent unique ice cream flavors. The sundaes were especially wonderful. Great, speedy and friendly customer service. Would highly recommend this ice cream shop!
(5)John R.
This is a great spot to take someone visiting from out of town, or to go after dinner nearby. The flavor options are exotic and taste exquisite and homemade. I tasted a few samples (considered the norm here) before settling on the Lavender Honey. One can often smell the waffle cones baking from the street. These are the penultimate cones, should you crave that apex of experience. Other options abound however. The ice cream can be icy but is always cold and good. The crowds can be bad here, with lines reaching down the block at certain times and temperatures. Great options, friendly service. Prices are on the high side, though, so consider your options. What they offer can be had elsewhere, to some degree. Enjoy!
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(3)Tara D.
- Fast, friendly, and patient service - kudos on hiring for friendliness and helpfulness - Excellent ice cream - fresh and creamy - Amazing selection of flavors - To go containers also available; easy to grab Although we have Salt & Straw in LA, I first d
(5)Andrew H.
I lived in Portland for 5 years*. I am lactose intolerant.** I never got to visit Salt and Straw...but it wasn't because I feared the impending malaise and cramping that follows a high dose of everyone's favorite milk sugar. It was simply that I never got around to it. On a return visit, I decided to finally do the deed. I'm no ice cream aficionado, but the ice cream here was stunning. I'm obsessed with all things unique and Salt and Straw does not disappoint! They had a THANKSGIVING DINNER flight! How crazy is that? I am a bit ashamed though. I sampled over a half-dozen flavors...and then...I went with their most popular one (salted caramel). Sigh...when did I become so #basic? The staff here were surprisingly friendly despite the long line and my gross indecisiveness. I was worried they were going to surly and mean to keep the line moving, not the case. *Man, when did Division become The Pearl? **(I lost the ability to process high amounts of lactose in college, where I rarely drank milk or ate ice cream...yes, that is possible.)
(4)Marie D.
#NAME?
(3)Ben H.
Flavor- and variety-wise, S&S is the best ice cream shop in Southeast Portland. It's location in the heart of the Division restaurant strip makes it an easily accessible option after dinner if you are in the area. Baristas are friendly and allow you to try any of the flavors before ordering which adds to the experience. The only downside is the long wait if you try to go anytime after 5.
(4)Steve S.
A must try for locals that haven't been yet and visitors of our beautiful city. Interesting flavors make it a lot of fun, yummy and something for everyone. Shop is always nice and clean, lots of style and the staff has always been super friendly. Thanks guys!
(5)Carissa B.
The ice cream flavors are creative and delicious. The wait to get up to the counter to order is always crazy long but is the only downside to this fun ice cream spot
(4)Chelsea M.
(5)Leela S.
After coming here, I now wonder why flavours like olive oil or pear and blue cheese aren't commonplace at ice cream parlours everywhere. I didn't end up getting a scoop of either (Stumptown bourbon, you stole my heart) but I sure enjoyed being able to taste them. I happened to visit on a super rainy day at an odd time, so I escaped the infamous line. I don't know if I'd be willing to endure a line out the door, but I would certainly be game to buy a pint and enjoy it in the queue-free comfort of my home. Buuuut I don't live in Portland. Ha, don't mind me.
(4)Ashly d.
Fun and tasty flavours + local and quality ingredients = win win. If you like fresh and delicious ice cream, go.
(5)Devon B.
We waited for a bit, but the ice cream was worth it. I ordered a seasonal flavor for August-- green fennel maple. It was just enough flavor without being overwhelming. I tried the strawberry balsamic black pepper. It is definitely an acquired taste. I also sample the olive oil, which was nice, but would have needed another flavor. The gal helping us was very accommodating and allowed us to sample multiple flavors.
(5)Melissa M.
The Honey Lavender ice cream is the best! I've tried other ones, and they always make it too gooey honey or too intense of a lavender, but, of course, Salt & Straw makes it perfectly! We also loved the Coconut Strawberry Rhubarb Pie one. If you can't decide, just get the sampler!
(5)Monica C.
Lavender ice cream is MY FAVORITE!! This ice cream is so whacky and crazy and yummy in my tummy I would go much more often but unfortunately the lines are so outrageously long!! They make their cones fresh though so at least you get to smell the waffle cones while you wait hah. Good tip is if you just get a pint instead of a cone you can skip the line! awesome! GO THERE ESPECIALLY IF UR VISITING!
(5)Celine L.
My new favorite ice cream place.... This place is amazing. We went really early so there was almost no line, and got to try many flavors that they offered. One aspect that I found amazing of Salt and Straw was their ability to use the most unique ingredients and be able create delicious flavors of ice cream right. I've had ice cream places that had unique ingredients, but their execution.. wasn't so good. Everything I tried here was so sinfully delicious yet heavenly that it should be illegal. Their scoop sizes are also enormous, one scoop means two scoops in one. It was ridiculous. The one flavor that stuck out to me the most was their bone marrow and bourbon smoked cherries. Who even thinks of bone marrow as an ice cream flavor? This flavor was very smokey with a slight hint of cherries, which I enjoyed but definitely could not eat a scoop of that. I ended up getting four flavors- Salt and Straw allows half scoops which I was really excited about- so this was supposedly two scoops (but was actually four). Sea Salt w Caramel Ribbons- I actually didn't order this one, but it was still delicious. There was caramel and sea salt everywhere, and it was very smooth and creamy. Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache- The almond brittle was the best part of this ice cream- it seemed to be caramelized or something, and complemented the flavor so well. Strawberry Honey Balsamic w Black Pepper- I hate strawberry ice cream. But when I tried this, I fell in love. The strawberry ice cream had a bit of puree which added more flavor, and there was a slight hint of honey and balsamic that finished off the flavor. I didn't taste the black pepper though. Arbequina Olive Oil- so this is apparently Oprah's favorite olive oil brand.. and damn was it good. As olive oil is my favorite flavor, I had high expectations for this- and this flavor definitely met them. The olive oil had a slight kick instead of the standard olive oil flavor, and was very creamy. The best I've had. After trying this place, I aimed for going to Salt and Straw every day before I left, which was a hard feat as lines are ridiculously long. All of my friends recommended me to go here, and I could most definitely see why. With all the flavors so unique and flawlessly done, one really can't dislike this place. Until next time...
(5)Raja S.
Consistent with the flavors across all of their locations. Somehow liked the location in Alphabet district better
(4)Connie Y.
Creamy ice cream. Freshly made waffle cones. Tons of flavors. What's not to love? My boyfriend and I ended up trying almost all the flavors while we were here. The lady who was scooping our ice cream for us was super nice about it too. She encouraged us to try more flavors... Which we did! Because we don't know when we would be back in Portland again. Don't be intimidated by the line. The line was out the door when we arrived during a Saturday afternoon and it took about 20 minutes to get to the front. That's not a bad wait at all since popular ice cream places in San Francisco may take a little longer than that. Some flavors I liked? -- Sea salt with caramel ribbons -- Stumptown coffee & burnside bourbon -- Cinnamon snickerdoodle -- Chocolate gooey brownie -- Arbequina olive oil -- Sea salt caramel cupcake Side note: Pok Pok is located a block away so it's a good idea to get that first and come here for dessert! Enjoy!
(5)Ashley P.
While my friend and I were visiting Portland, we had to visit the infamous Salt & Straw! I got the salt and caramel flavor which I like more than the traditional salted caramel that most ice cream and yogurt shops serve because it had a greater kick of the salt. They had plenty of unique flavors, and I tried a bunch. Definitely the place to go if you're up for a novelty flavor. This place was definitely a step up from the LA ice cream shops that have been trending with unique flavors because of the service! Normally there's some sort of 2 sample limit and people get annoyed when you want to try too many things, but it's the opposite here! They want you to try as many flavors, until you find the right one for you, definitely something I was not used to at other places! Side note that doesn't have much to do with the ice cream--If you end up going, check out the soap in the bathroom, pretty gnarly. It's a powdered soap that I believe is called Boraxo used in the old days. Left my hands super soft!
(5)Lehua S.
This place is seriously some of the best ice cream ive ever had. I'm definitely not a dessert person, so me wanting to come here every time I'm in Portland is a HUGE DEAL. I'm not too big into all the wacky flavours, although I did really like pear and blue cheese. I wish they had the staple flavours all year round, like mint chocolate chip. Great place ugh!! I want it as I type.
(5)Kelsie H.
Yes please!!! I'll take another!! Came here this evening with family that told us this place was amazing!!!! And they were so right! Long line, but moves fast! Sample any of the flavors. I tried the honey lavender and peach with blu cheese. I ended up with a half and half single scoop: honey lavender and sea salt caramel. They were fantastic!!!!!! When I visit Portland, this will be a must!!' Yummmmm!!!!
(5)Chris S.
Delicious gourmet ice cream. Gets busy but the line moves pretty quickly and it's worth the wait. Some of the flavors are a trip. The Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon was amazing.
(5)Shannon M.
The line never seems to disappear, even on a weeknight after 9pm, so I did it. Waited in line for ice cream. And I don't regret it. So many crazy, creative flavor combinations. I ordered the tasting flight (why wouldn't everyone order this??) and sampled the Balsamic Strawberry and cracked pepper, Vanilla, Chocolate with Brownie, and Olive Oil. My favorites were the Strawberry and Chocolate. I wish I could have tried more, but four scoops was already too much...
(4)Whitney G.
The line was crazy but it's part of the experience. Make sure you have plenty of time if your putting this on your agenda. When we went they had crazy flavors that infused savory food cart items with ice cream. Worth the wait at least once! Homemade fresh waffle cones are a must.
(5)Tiffanie R.
At the end of the day it's just ice cream and I'm not a big ice cream fanatic, BUT this ice cream is exceptional. For ice cream it's 5 star stuff. Ultra creamy, fresh home made, simple ingredients formed into one of a kind, creative flavors only found here at Salt & Straw. In the last 72 hours I've had the: Honey Lavender, Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, Almond Brittle w/ Salted Granache all with thier in house made waffle cone. Also tried Pear & Blue Cheese and Arbequina Olive Oil - both strangely good, light, refreshing. Love that they use Organic & local ingredients. Very inexpensive too. It's kind of addictive. The line typically has about 30 people ahead of you, leads out the door and wraps around the corner - still people happily wait and I've done it several times now in just a few days. Worth it.
(5)Jessica P.
I missed Salt & Straw on my first stop in Portland, so when we moved here it was a must visit...immediately! We knew we were in the right place because there was a line out the door. The line moved very quickly, they definitely have it together, especially on sunny days! We knew we wanted a flight, I'm convinced I would get a flight of just about anything if it was offered, the hard part was deciding on 4 flavors. We went with mainly seasonal flavors, knowing we would have plenty of time to try all of their regulars. The theme was May Flowers and we settled on Dandelion Sorbet with Spring Flowers, Strawberry Meadow Marmalade, Cherry Blossom, and one classic flavor the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle. We immediately dug in, I was battling my husband and a 2 year old with her own spoon, so I had to move fast! The ice cream was absolute perfection. It is creamy and flavorful, and so well balanced. The Dandelion Sorbet was surprisingly flavorful and so good, I wasn't a huge fan of the flowers, it was just weird chewing on them, but it was one of my favorites. The Cherry Blossom had a mild flavor, it wouldn't be my top choice. The strawberry Meadow Marmalade was so good. It had a strong strawberry flavor and a ribbon of sweet honey running through it. We ended up buying a pint, oh yes they sell pints! The Cinnamon Snickerdoodle is the thing dreams are made of, seriously. It is so creamy and cinnamon-y, and it has chunks of Snickerdoodles. OMG! I was also able to sample the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and it is dreamy delicious, probably our next pint. I'm so excited to continue to explore the menu and I'm equally excited that they have a monthly menu that changes. We also decided that we will be getting a pint to bring home when we go from now on. It's a little pricey at $9 a pint, but you can't beat the flavor and knowing that it's made fresh from people who care. If I could I would have a mini Salt & Straw in my house, this is what ice cream is supposed to taste like people!
(5)Benjamin K.
Stellar friendly local service from employees who obviously like working here. Ice cream is exotic and truly creative in nature. Be forewarned it is mega rich in flavor... A single cone for me would have been more than enough over my double cone. Chocolate with speckles was delicious and the salted caramel coconut was insanely gooey and rich! Wowza!
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(5)Janet H.
The best ice cream I've ever had!!! Hailing from San Francisco Bay Area, I've been spoiled by other great creameries, but my mind was blown after a few sample bites of Salt & Straw! I've never had ice cream so flavorful and so tasty! Don't let the long lines scare you... it goes by fairly quick. If not, it's TOTALLY worth the wait. Once you reach the counter, the employees let you try samples. Our server was so kind, patient and helpful! She gave great recommendations for complementing different flavors together. We couldn't pick just one flavor so we got the four sampler... no regrets. I got the more "tame" flavors, like strawberry balsamic, honey lavender, sea salt caramel and the almond fritter. My favorites were the strawberry and honey lavender! You must get those! This is also a great dessert spot to cool off your mouths after eating Pok Pok wings! It does get quite crowded in here... in fact, a man almost knocked our ice cream off the table! Rude!
(5)Christine S.
As Tom on Parks and Recs claims, you should TREAT. YO. SELF! (...to some Salt & Straw, of course!) Salt and Straw ice cream is handmade and uses all natural and organic ingredients. They also use local ingredients from family owned farms. Walking in, you'll see a long list of different ice cream flavors to try. It's hard to just pick a few! - Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons: I usually don't like salted caramel ice cream if it's too sweet or too salty, but this one was just right! - Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Black Pepper: unlike SF's Bi-Rite's Balsamic Strawberry ice cream (which was just okay), this one was heavenly! It stands out because they have bits (chunks?) of strawberry jam in the ice cream. I really liked the contrast of the jam and the creamy ice cream, and the waffle cone was bomb! - Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon: coffee ice cream is awesome on its own, but add bourbon, and you got a real winner! Although the total was $12 for three people (two sugar cones and one waffle cone), the portions are pretty big! I almost couldn't finish my whole waffle cone. Definitely worth it if you're craving ice cream.
(5)Michael L.
Forget it. Don't go. If you go, you'll never like ordinary ice cream again. There's a reason there's a line out the door most times. The server will let you try as many flavors as you want, no rush. This is rich, creamy ice cream. Not mousse like 50 Licks, and the preference is yours. I like both. No, I love both. Going to Salt and Straw brought me back to those times when going out for ice cream was something to be excited about. Yum!
(5)M G.
Friendly staff and deeeeeelicious ice cream!! Please open a store in California... Specifically in the Bay Area!
(5)Tracy D.
O M G! Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon ice cream? WOW! These guys do a bang up, very friendly and fast, business. They make their own cones in house and the smell wafting out draws you in. Just go try them, they are fantastic and some of the best ice cream I've ever had.
(5)Rosh E.
Location: Along the street with Pok Pok, Richmond Bar, etc. You can't miss it with it's wooden sign. They also have a parking lot right next to it, but it does get packed pretty quick. Customer Service: The ladies scooping your ice cream were very friendly and did not hesitate to make small conversation and also give out samples Decor: It's very simple, nothing fancy but simple is key sometimes! Presentation of Food: Like any other ice cream shop. Cup or cone. Waffle cones. And samplers came on this nicely presented wooden board with four glass cups. How did the food taste?: We got the sampler which came with four different kinds of ice cream. I ended up getting the stumptown coffee and the rose ice cream. The other two my friend picked out which I didn't try because I was just so into the rose ice cream! The coffee was just eh. But see when I was in SF I got lost on Valencia Street and ended up at an Indian Ice Cream shop. They had exotic flavors such as rose which I tried for the first time and loved. I never went back to that ice cream shop because I don't remember where it was. So when I saw they had it here I knew I had to get it to see if they did just as good as a job and they did! It's very light, and tasty! I would have gotten the milk and cereal flavor but I only picked two since I split the sampler. The milk and cereal isn't too bad. The way the girl described it is that they wanted to create an effect where the taste of the ice cream is like how the milk would taste like after you ate a bowl of lucky charms. YUM! Overall Experience: I would come back if in Portland again!
(4)Michele B.
Amazing ice cream! You can sample as many as you want before you make your choices, they periodically switch up some flavors, which makes it exciting! Love the flights, you taste 4 flavors for $9 it is great to share; it's one scoop of each flavor you choose in bowls on a wooden holder! The staff is always so friendly! Be ready to wait in line, but don't be discouraged if it's into the driveway, it moves fast and from the driveway entrance the wait in my experience has be 30 minutes or less and sooooo worth the wait. Easy for pets to come along too.
(5)Natalie M.
Honestly what's not to love about the place that made farm to cone ice cream in PDX cool?! Although it's small, and on any given summer night there's a line out the door, don't worry you won't wait too long. Plus a little wait makes the ice cream that much sweeter. When I moved to LA for a short period of time last year I was thrilled to see that Salt & Straw made the trip with me, yet slightly jealous that we had to share it with anyone outside of Portland. Every flavor is amazing, my favorite in PDX is the Gooey Chocolate Brownie and the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. This is my petition to bring Salted Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough from LA to PDX! It's to die for good and makes me sad that I can't get it now that I am back in PDX. Secrets for the first timers, you can sample as many flavors as you want before selecting your choice and if you can't decide go for the ice cream flight! It's about $9 for several different flavors (I think 5). Your stomach will be happy you did it, trust me. Overall it's my favorite ice cream place in a city full of frozen dairy treats. Also check back each month as they have monthly themes bringing in new flavors in addition to the classic flavors available year round
(5)Dorsey S.
This is ice cream you need in your life. New flavors every month! DO IT
(5)John L.
I've tried many ice cream places all over the US and I must say Salt & Straw is definitely one of the best. Not only has been consistently awesome but also consistently daring and innovative with new flavors. This place used to have much shorter lines than Alberta and Alphabet, but the lines seem to be getting longer and longer the last few times I've been. Probably because there are so many new restaurants and condos along Division in that area. Just a side note, Alberta lines seem to have gotten slightly better and Alphabet lines have been the worst since it opened. Despite the lines, I keep going back. Awesome regular items ever changing monthly specials with themes. Never gets boring.
(5)Denea Y.
This is my favorite location of the three, as the line seems to be the shortest. While I always entertain the idea of deviating from my favorite and sampling the unusual monthly flavor specials, I usually come back to my beloved lavender honey. They're sorbets are always amazing and refreshing, including some with heirloom tomatoes and another with watermelon. This is a monthly venture, at the least, and always a treat for visitors!
(5)Denise K.
Flavor and sensory overload! What unique flavors! I give S&S 5 stars because service was extremely friendly and they don't rush you when you're deciding on what samples to try and what flavors to order. Apparently S&S's olive oil ice cream is Oprah's favorite ice cream flavor. It was so unique, rich yet subtle - this flavor definitely tickled my tastebuds! We got a strawberry ricotta and loved it... Some chocolate flavor and another lemon meringue cookie flavor...Everything was delectable! You can't go wrong at S&S! Can't decide on what flavors you want? Pay a little extra and do "split scoops". Hello, 4 flavors in a cup? Yes, please!
(5)Ellre V.
A trip to Salt & Straw is another must in Portland. Where else can you try a Pear and Blue Cheese Ice Cream or a Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper? I was completely satisfied with my first visit here. There was no long line, I was able to sample as many flavors that I so desired, and the workers knew all about the flavors and were able to help me pair my Pear and Blue Cheese scoop with the perfect complementary flavor of a Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon scoop. So glad they opened up a location closer to me in Los Angeles!
(5)Margie S.
Expect long lines! The ice cream and waffles cones are worth it though. The line moves quickly especially if you're surrounded by good company.
(5)Darlene B.
Ice Cream...I've had some really good ice cream before, but this one is not my favorite. With an overwhelming selection on their menu, I had a hard time picking. I tried two flavors in a cup. Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Coconut w/ Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars. These 2 flavors did not go well together...i poorly picked. I'm in a coconut ice cream phase, and this attempt killed my vibe. The Salted Caramel Bar pieces were extremely large and overpowered the coconut flavor. I feel like this was a place I had to try while in Portland...but I should of chose something else. They have cool shop tees and pints to go!
(3)Cristi D.
(5)Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: We were searching for things to do in Portland during the days while my husband was at work and we were ready to play...and along came high reviews for Salt & Straw. Our plan to hit up each of the three locations throughout Portland was thwarted, but we still managed to sample one scoop shop's fare! Type of cuisine: "We're Salt & Straw, Portland's farm-to-cone ice cream shop. Our ice cream is handmade in small-batches using only all-naturaldairy with the best local, sustainable and organic ingredients Oregon has to offer, as well as imported flavors from small,handpicked farms and producers around the world. We start with fresh, local, all-natural cream from family owned farms in the Willamette Valley. Our ice cream is made with 17% butterfat, very little air in the churn process, and a low sweetness level...so the flavors can really shine through!" Ambiance: A country home meets a circus tent with sleek and minimalist design. A hard space to capture in just a few simple words, yet the welcome is warm and inviting, and the focus certainly on the frozen treats! What I ordered: Too full for a full scoop (or two), I sampled my way through the establishment along with my friends, one of whom ordered a thick vanilla milkshake and the other selected two scoops: one of the Strawberry Honey Balsamic and the second a scoop of the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon. I sampled everything from the Salted Caramel Cupcake (too sweet and extremely salty), the Lumberjack Stack (very mapley and not enough pancake), and the Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper (pretty amazing), to the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon (may have been the favorite) and the Pear with Blue Cheese (definite favorite)! What I loved: I was stunned, surprised and intrigued by my absolute favorite: Pear with Blue Cheese! The Stumptown Coffee a very close second, and the Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper a flavorful, sweet surprise coming in third. Why I loved it: Simple ingredients, healthy sample sizes and amazingly creative flavors worth an out-of-the-way drive. Cost: High ($3 - $8 per serving)
(5)Maggie L.
You can sample as many flavors as you want. The people here are so nice. They have some unique flavors and most taste great. I liked the pear and blue cheese, salted caramel, olive oil and coffee & bourbon. You can get half and half for $.50 extra. They also have some Student Invented flavors, which were invented by local elementary school students and part of the profit goes back to the schools. The A Lick of Happiness is delicious!
(5)Stacy C.
We've driven by dozens of times and always wondered why people would be so foolish to wait in such a long line with so many other icecream/gelato/yogurt options in the city.... But now we get it :) Definitely the best ice-cream we've had in years. I had the goat cheese and lingonberry in my first scoop- enough goat cheese to make it unmistakable without being too tangy or bitter. My second scoop was of the balsamic strawberry w/black pepper- also true to its word and very jammy, though very little pepper at the end. Both are a true delight. My husband had the stumptown coffee ice-cream (which honestly tastes just like his morning stumptown cup of coffee out of our keurig) and and pear & blue cheese- wow... very sweet and tangy, but oh so good...! If indulging with a partner, make sure one of you grabs a spot in line while the other finds parking. There were about 30 peeps in front of us and we waited 15 minutes or so... not so bad! Good service too. My husband had 3 samples before ordering and I had 2. We'll definitely return!
(5)Grace L.
Yum yum yum yum yum! The ice cream here is rich and flavorful and they have a gazillion of flavors so there's bound to be something that will satisfy your sweet (or salty) tooth! Super friendly. Super patient. Willing to let you sample a lot of flavors. Waffle cone is made fresh and delicious!
(5)Daisy K.
Unique flavors, super friendly staff and... the option to taste test all the weird flavors before settling on something you want to actually consume a scoop or two of a flavor you can enjoy. The one I finally settled on was the Almond Brittle with salted ganache... and wow. Speechless at how amazing this flavor is. The right amount of crunch paried with the saltiness and richly bitterness of the dark ganache. If they made gallons of this ice cream, I would take it with me.
(5)Iris L.
I love salt and straw and all their new seasonal flours however some classic flours taste more watery than two years ago. It is kind of sad after the business grow rapidly the quality of the products go down. But it still really good ice cream thigh
(4)Lady S.
If you are ever within 2 hours of this place you need to come try it out! My family visits at least monthly, and we never leave disappointed. The Rose City Riot is my new favorite flavor this month. You often have to park a block or three away if you come by car, but it's very worth it. Note: If you buy pints from the freezer, you don't have to wait in the (often) long line.
(5)Allan C.
Great ice cream to have while in Portland. Lucked out to have them during the intense heat during our brief stay!
(5)Andrea C.
Salt & Straw ice cream met my expectations. They had a unique set of flavors. I'm, however, very boring and not as adventurous when it comes to flavors and I usually stick with coffee haha. But! Their coffee ice cream did NOT disasspoint. It was Stumptown coffee and burboun flavored. Drooooool. Although the line was really long, it moved along pretty fast. What I really liked was that the workers there looked like they really enjoyed what they were doing and offered as many samples as we wanted. Like how they gave samples with actual metal spoons. The girl that was helping us also told us that there is a Salt & Straw in Hollywood so if I ever need to get my fix, I can just make the drive out there :) Will definitely make a stop here again next time I'm in town! :)
(4)Angel I.
BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD. Good thing I don't live in Portland or I would be in trouble. But when I am in Portland, I am at Salt & Straw EVERYDAY! :) Very unique flavors for their ice cream, and everything is truly local and artisan. Expect waits, but the wait is well worth it.
(5)Joanna L.
This is the best ice cream I have ever had. Anywhere. The line was about 20 minutes on a recent night but I would have waited longer. Once at the front the server let us try everything we wanted to before making a selection. The flavors are so unique and the ingredients are locally sourced. I decided on a waffle cone with cinnamon snickerdoodle and strawberry balsamic black pepper favors. I might join the pint of the month club soon!!
(5)Annette C.
It's not bad but not great either. Probably a 3 1/2 stars. We tried 4 of the classic flavors - salted caramel ribbon, woodblock chocolate, chocolate with gooey brownie & almond brittle. You can definitely taste the salt in the flavors. I'll try it again if the lines are not long.
(3)Ken W.
DELICIOUS ice cream. EXCELLENT customer service. I came with 2 buddies and waited in line for about fifteen minutes. The line moved pretty fast as the service is quick. The girl helping us was so sweet. Despite the line, she told us to try out as many flavors as we'd like to, was explaining each flavor, and just kept moving us down, letting us sample more and more ice cream. She didn't make us feel rushed at all, and at one point I completely forgot about the giant line behind us. Their cocktail flavors were excellent, in which I went with a double scoop. A heaping double scoop that is. You can't go wrong here, especially after sampling one after another until you find the flavor that dances on your taste buds. Salt & straw is always unique and delicious, and I understand the usual line. It's worth the wait. If all the people working are as sweet as this girl was, they deserve 6/5 stars. Thank you blonde girl, you made us all happy with ice cream.
(5)Adrienne I.
Whoooooaaa. Amazing,and I don't even love ice cream. I tasted strawberry balsamic pepper (yummy and strangely buttery, almost got this as my scoop), sea salt caramel (yummy yum yum), olive oil (not for me...it literally tastes like oil), almond brittle (yummy crispiness), lavender honey (not for me either... It tasted like a spa smells), and pear blue cheese (I got a whole scoop of this, not too blue cheesey and the pears were delightful. They were so super nice about letting me try it all. A culinary foodie treat for sure!
(5)Debbie L.
Always the best ice cream and town. Really spoiled now and only go to Salt & Straw for ice cream. I love their changing flavors for the holidays and then their regular flavors always there too! I had a sundae a while back and it was good but I think I'll just stick to the ice cream by itself. I recommend Salt & Straw not just for the "sight-seeing" or "touristy" folks, but for everyone or anyone that wants to taste what real ice cream is supposed to taste like!
(5)Fu W.
What do you do when there are so many interesting flavors available?! The only thing you could do... Get. Them. All. Yes, ALL. 17 flavors to be exact, with four tasting flights and one kid scoop. And yes, they were all delicious. Each one was flavorful without being overpowering, not too sweet, and not too rich, executed with interesting and complementary combinations of ingredients. This was definitely not just an ice cream shop with gimmicky crazy flavors. With the advantage of tasting so many different flavors side by side, it was easy to tell the top notch quality and uniqueness in every single one. Salt & Straw did not disappoint. We happily huddled around our samplers while others looked on with jealousy, and we finished everything, pushing the limits of our lactose intolerance. Worth it! =D Highlights: Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon Honey Lavender Arbequina Olive Oil Rose City Riot Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper Pear with Blue Cheese
(4)Liza S.
Wow. Just wow. The single most amazing ice cream ever. Ok, here's the details: I was completely set on the honey lavender, but wanted to try a few others. I tried the rhubarb saffron, found it a little too sweet. Moved on to the strawberry lemon verbena, and OMG I was in love. Light, lemony, a little tart and a little sweet. Perfect for a warm evening. I wanted both, the lavender and the strawberry lemon verbena-but that's a challenge, even in a fresh made waffle cone. So, what to do? The wonderfully helpful lady helping us offered to split the scoop so I could have both! I was completely happy. My companion had the woodblock chocolate. I tend to shy away from chocolate ice cream because it's generally too sweet for me. This chocolate was rich, dark, and almost smoky. An incredible chocolate that has a complexity rarely found in ice cream. Ok, here's the good, less good, and what to expect if you've never visited: Good: Flavors- amazing variety and quality Cones- the fresh waffle cones are incredible. Thin and crisp. Samples- love being able to taste and use a real (tiny) spoon, no plastic! Service- awesome. It was late in the evening, and everyone was happy and helpful. Less good: The line- it is a fairly quick moving line, but it looks daunting when driving/walking by. If I hadn't read the amazing reviews on Yelp, I might have gone somewhere else. Confusion when it's your turn- we weren't really sure what was going on, might be a better way of moving people through. So if it's your first time, expect to wait a bit and be a little overwhelmed by all the choices. This was my first time, and I looked at the menu before I visited, so I had a short list of what I wanted to try. I recommend that. Also take your time and try things. They are very nice about giving tastes. Don't let the line scare you away. There were probably 40 people ahead of us and it took us maybe 15 minutes. It was completely worth the wait and I would wait even longer. It was that good.
(5)Brooks M.
another portland staple. while it is indeed amazing i am not willing to wait in line for many things over an hour. rocked it this time when we walked by on easter sunday at 6 pm and the line was only 10 deep to the door! bam! a. thank you salt & straw for being open on a holiday, that's a-mazing b. thanks for always having amazing service, knowledgable staff and quality product that never disappoints. the win this week was a fudge brownie ice cream malt. win.
(4)Michelle G.
Solid ice cream shop with unique artisan flavors that are PNW inspired! Great for a hot day but be prepared for the long line!
(4)Alex P.
It's weird and fun, but that's it. It's definitely the best weird flavored ice cream you'll find, but holy Moses that is it. If you say this is actually the best ice cream you've ever had, you're kidding yourself. This is the perfect place for "foodies" that want to feel like they have a sophisticated pallet for eating "artesian" ice cream that normal people don't like. The favors aren't actually good, they just aren't terrible. All this said, I did smile when I took my first few licks, so maybe it's worth it. Overall, I give Salt & Straw an eye-roll/5
(2)Trudy S.
Always too busy at night so stopped off for breakfast. Stumptown coffee wirh bourbon, pear and blue cheese, hot fudge brownie sundae are all fantastic. Get them soon though...they might not be there next week!
(5)Shireen J.
Oh goodness! The sea salt and caramel was absolutely delicious!! The lavender honey also comes highly recommended. The chocolate brownie is good but not the best even though I usually pick chocolate everywhere I go. I also tried the delicious snicker doodle. The waffles cones are made fresh and make the entire store smell great. Worth it!
(5)Elizabeth R.
I visited this place on NYE 2014, so my memory may be enhanced by sparkling wine and cocktails... but I'm still going say that I loved it! I was very happy to be warmly greeted and given ample time to sample and choose my flavor even though they were VERY busy. This place clearly exists for interesting flavors, so don't waste your time getting something typical. Stretch your ice-cream taste buds and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Jo R.
Not worth it- not worth the line, not worth the money. I can make better ice cream, and I think I can make it faster than I can get through the line here.
(2)Linh N.
They have vegan ice cream!! Yes, my friends. Dairy free and Egg-free ice cream. Vegans, lactose-intolerants, and egg- and dairy-allergy friends can unite and cheer! Their vegan ice cream when I went was a coconut milk ice cream with chunks of salted caramel bars. It was de-effing-licious. Now, let's get this clear though, I am neither vegan, lactose-intolerant, nor do I have food allergies, but my 1.5 year old daughter who has had to avoid most ice creams all her life, can finally enjoy a taste of creamy frozen deliciousness from an ice cream shop. And I of course, got to taste the various types of ice creams before trying them. My personal favorites were lavendar and salted caramel. If you want just a scoop of ice cream but can't decide on which flavor to commit to, you can split it into 2 flavors like what I did. This location barely had a line when I went on a Monday holiday afternoon (Labor day). There were probably about 8 seats or so. I am already missing this place!
(5)Shanna C.
Ice cream always hits the spot on a warm day! We got lucky and didn't have to deal with a long line. They have some interesting flavors (some that were a bit too weird sounding). To be honest, I probably would have loved it if I didn't live around the corner from Cloud City (which I prefer). So yeah..good ice cream, cool space, and unique flavors!
(4)Jared H.
Ok. I was hesitant about the long line because I can't stand waiting in line especially when I have 3 kids in tow. But the wait was totally worth it. My kids had one that tasted just like lucky charms. They were ecstatic about it and can't wait to go back to get more. My wife had a coffee one and it was awesome and I had one with real pistachios in it and it was phenomenal. Surprisingly the prices weren't that terrible. Usually when you go to a place that always has a line out the door you expect to get ripped off but prices really weren't that bad. Sadly you will probably pay about the same at a Baskin Robins. I am telling everyone that they have to go here, especially if they are visiting Portland.
(5)Barton R.
Everything you've heard is true. The line is long, the service is city-best, and the ice cream...Oh, that smooth, creamy, delectable ice cream. It's not often that I get to eat vegan ice cream out on the town, and Salt & Straw's vegan selections both blew me completely out of the water. Coconut + Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is absolutely to die for.
(5)Christina L.
OMG SO NOMSIES! after late lunch at pok pok, we only had room for 2 small scoops - and after tasting a few flavors, decided on the coconut and pumpkin - but with exotic bits included! mmmm!! such a chic little spot, and people working there are passionate and knowledgeable about their flavors and product..! nice work!
(5)Anna R.
I hate how much I actually love this place. When I first heard the hype I thought eh, ice cream can't be thattttt good. But it is! The ice cream is unbelievably creamy and delicious. I'm a huge fan of the honey lavender and salted carmel (like everyone else). Their seasonal flavors can be a little wild but they are great! But alas, with quality comes a hefty price tag. This is not your DQ swirl cone. You'll probably spend at least $5 for a sizable cone. But I can get over that because it really is just so.damn.good. I will be back again and again.
(5)Lena V.
I have never been a fan of much sweets so it wasn't to my surprise I wasn't all that crazy about this place. I tried the almond brittle with salted ganache. I really enjoyed it until I encountered the salted ganache and it was just too much. When I had a sample, the salted ganache wasn't there so i didn't know how it was going to be. The salted ganache was just way too huge. Half way through, I was picking them out. The almond brittle was yummy though.
(3)Vy T.
The flavors at this place are unique to say the least. The staff was very friendly and you can try samples before you order. All the ice cream is pretty heavy, with lots of toppings swirled in to make the ice cream flavors really stand out. There are seasonal flavors, changing depending on local products avalaible. I'm glad that they're opening a location in LA, and the flavors will be created from local ingredients!
(4)Amanda M.
Amazing and unique flavors of gelato! They let you try anything you want to and even offer a sampler where you can try small portions of 3 different flavors. They have sweet, savory, and everything in between. This is great to have after Pok Pok's chicken wings (from Pok Pok or the Whiskey Bar).
(5)Rachel H.
So since I've heard about the long lines I went around noon on a Tuesday. Was able to find parking and didn't have to wait in line at all. The aroma inside the store, holy shiz. I got s flight with 4/5 of the Thanksgiving flavors.
(4)Linh F.
i honestly don't need to say much about salt & straw since this is a portland staple. portland natives love it, tourists come here just to eat it, and it's one of oprah's favorite things! i will, however, confirm what everyone has said before me. this place is awesome! yes, there are long lines all throughout the day but we really didn't mind. this was the second place we went to after we got off the plane and ate it every day until we left. too much? we don't think so. salt & straw has three locations... we visited two of them. so they have a their list of permanent flavors and then a few rotating flavors. their featured flavors the week we were there were signature cocktails! our absolute favorites: - cinnamon snickerdoodle - chunks of cookies in the ice cream! - almond brittle ganache also, waffle cones are a must. you can literally smell them when you are waiting in line. with that said, you wouldn't be that big of a loser if you didn't get a waffle cone (or would you? jk). you have the choice of sugar cone or cup. you also have a ton of options with regard to your scoops. single, double, split, kids size or even a sample flight! ok, so a few tips. if you get a chance, i would go to the location on division (pictured above). it is new so the decor is stupid cute. fresher and lighter than the original location on 23rd (pictured below). lots of natural light and there's a hole in the counter wall for your spoon (mentioned and pictured above). it's the little things. we cannot stop raving about this place. add this to your list if you are in town!
(5)Mark G.
Was a little upsetting standing in the long line, but more than worth it one I tasted their ice cream. The sea salt with caramel and woodblock chocolate were delicious. Definitely will stand in that long line tomorrow
(5)Dennis M.
We came 15 min before they closed on last Tuesday and forgot my lef overs (from Pok Pok). We realized and went back after we left just only 5 minutes (around 11pm) but they closed already so I knocked the door and one of them saw us, at that moment I saw the other employee eating my leftovers. (manager, please check on video cams). I stood there for a minute and they still not open the door after i've been knocked on the door many times, surely, because they saw me and got caught eating my leftovers. gross. bad experience i've ever had.
(1)Jett B.
best. ice cream. ever. Honestly, I don't usually like the really crazy stuff, like Peking Duck Bun, but most of their creative concoctions usually score big with me. Last week I had chocolate covered potato chip salted caramel and it was a winner.
(5)Greg A.
Me and the wife came here during our vacation to Portland. Everyone kept telling us to go here. All their ice cream flavors sounded so good we just ended up getting the flight. All of them were above average. Great ice cream here.
(5)Pissed O.
Oh how I love you salt and straw. I hear the owner is not very professional but holy yum is it tasty!
(5)Alice L.
My advice: -Avoid the long lines by going before lunch (yep, that means have it at 10 or 11am, what better excuse??) and before dinner (around 3-4pm). Another yelper just took the time to personally inform me that apparently, "only assholes get ice cream at 10am to avoid the lines." So if you're part of the elite few that loves ice cream any time of the day, I proudly quote Dave Skylark, "hate us cuz you ain't us!" -Get a split cone, which is 2 kid sized scoops for $4.45, so you can not only try smaller amounts of 2 flavors but also mix it. My favorite mixes have been the Stumptown Coffee and Salted Caramel (soooo good). -Any weather is ice cream weather so don't think the cold or rain will make it less busy. -They have their usual flavors and they have monthly seasonal flavors, which are DIVINE and change according to what's available locally. -Lastly, they just opened up a store in L.A. for all the Cali folks but the flavors are a little different because they use locally sourced ingredients. Their ice cream is always just right: not too dense with just the right amount of ice crystals in it.
(5)Neil W.
This was recommended to us and after a disappointing lunch we happened to drive by and wanted a pick me up. They have a great selection of flavors; very unique and well thought out. I had two scoops; one of the coffee bourbon and one of the almond brittle with salted ganache. The coffee was good, not great. I had a hard time picking up any bourbon notes. The almond brittle was great. It was a good balance of flavors without going overboard. My wife had a ricotta, honey, lavender ice cream. The description was so long that we have trouble remembering all that was in it. She still talks about it. It was one of the best ice cream flavors she has had. They really did a good job mixing those flavors.
(5)Julian M.
The confectionary wizards at Salt and Straw combines flavors that should not go together but somehow magically do. Whether it's in a scoop of Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero, which finds the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, or the smoky Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, every scoop is filled with Wonka-esque deliciousness. Even classic flavors are given a foodie overhaul with options like Double Fold Vanilla, which uses twice as many vanilla beans, or Strawberry Balsamic. The only downside to this creamery is how small the shop is; be prepared to stand for at least 10 minutes for a scoop, although once you've tasted a bite you'll forgot all about the wait.
(5)Mariam H.
My friend lives directly above this Salt and Straw location. Trust me, after a few days of smelling freshly made waffle cones no one could resist stopping in for a scoop. First off - I am extremely lactose intolerant so I only allowed myself samples of the dairy options. The flavor sample that stood out the most was olive oil (dairy). I was so shocked by how delicious it was!! It had a nice savory/sweet thing going on. I chose the strawberry rhubarb pie in the end, a non-dairy option. They literally make a rhubarb pie and mix it in the ice cream. Best non-dairy ice cream I have ever Tip: Go during a week day if you hate lines, people on dates and fighting for parking.
(5)Jo L.
I've been to some other pretty well known and highly ranked ice cream places, and S&S was pretty good, but I don't think I'm falling on the floor crying in awe of the ice cream there. I do love that basically the entire block smells like waffle cones. I mean, if you didn't want ice cream before you were in the vicinity of S&S then you probably would by the time you managed to get around the line out the door. There was, as usual (from the other reviews here) a line out the door, but it moved relatively quickly. I had the strawberry balsamic ice cream with black pepper and it was pretty good. I also tried some of the other ones, like the strawberry and Pimm's flavor (which turned out to not have any Pimm's in it), the coffee/bourbon one, the birthday cake and blackberry (which was waaaaaay too sweet because of the frosting(!!) flavored cake), the cucumber and berry sorbet, and a few others. I liked the range of options, and the menu is helpfully posted inside AND out to minimize on indecision and flavor envy, and all of the flavors were tasty but again, not mind-blowingly-I'm-crying-because-this-is-so-good tasty. The staff there were super helpful and knowledgeable about the flavors, and I only felt minimally rushed while I made my purchase. We also got some really tasty shortbread cookies on an impulse buy, and those were great. More seating in the area would be nice too. It's worth going to if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek it out.
(4)Kathryn H.
Great assortment of flavors. Perfect balance of sweetness so that it's not overwhelming. Be prepared to wait in line.
(5)Gracie L.
Yep, Salt & Straw really is As Good As it Gets! This place tops ALL other ice cream shops you've ever tried! Now, their exotic flavors do come and go, but they'll always have something delicious and interesting to try. My personal favor (thus far) is the Strawberry Balsamic. It's SOOOOO good! Definitely do the sampler- you get a hefty scoop of four different flavors. Plus, you can even try a little bite at the front counter before you order (just so you know you like what you get). I love Salt & Straw- please come to San Diego!!!!!!
(5)Jessie M.
Amazing! Best ice cream I've had in the U.S. by far! The flavors are great and out-of-the-box. It's hard to pick a favorite flavor because they're all so good but I think the honey lavender stuck out a little more for me. Not only are the flavors amazing, but the texture is so rich and creamy! They need to open one in Utah! I totally rave about this place all the time! It's a MUST-TRY
(5)Robin N.
New. Favorite. Ice cream. I LOVE Salt and Straw! The ice cream is creamy and flavorful without being overly rich. I got the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and a Chocolate-flavored ice cream that was apparently inspired by a few local elementary school kids. Cute! Also they give you a ton of good-sized samples. ;) Thanks to the friendly blue-haired girl who served me!
(5)Lana N.
I'm in love with this place, yes the line is long, but it's definitely worth the wait. After lunch we walked over and probably stood in line for a good 20 minutes before it was our turn. We asked for a few tastings since we have never been here and they were really happy to offer us whatever we had asked. We ended up getting the following: - The stumptown coffee and bourban - this was absolutely amazing! The coffee taste was great and the subtle taste of the bourban absolutely balanced out the flavors. - Sea salt with caramel - my son had this and he said it was delicious. The ice cream was soft and the caramel added that extra wow factor to the ice cream flavor. I hope one day Salt and Straw will expand and especially to CA! Such a unique taste to the ice cream flavors that keeps you wanting to come back for more! I am a huge fan!!
(5)Ezra B.
Salt and Straw is definitely worth your time, especially for ice cream aficionados! I visited in January on a business trip, and boy, was I happy I did! I posted a photo of their flavors listed when I visited, and you can see the variety: Pear w/Blue Cheese; Honey Lavender; Cinnamon Snickerdoodle -- the list goes on! I had a scoop of Cinnamon Snickerdoodle and a scoop of "The Universe II," which is a whole variety of "fix-ins". Gosh, both flavors were so good! I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Crystal H.
SO worth the wait. Also, the wait at this location was far less than in the Alphabet district (and with a far less douchey clientele). We sampled several amazing flavors and I ended up getting a pear and blue cheese scoop, which I thought I'd just sample on a lark but it was soooo good!! Important note--if you want to skip the line (and the free samples) you can get a pint at the front.
(5)Jamie L.
back to California after 4 wonderful days in Portland. I will miss the trails, coffee, and food stands of course, but most of all I will miss the cinnamon snicker doodle and almond ganache flavored icecream in the waffle cone from Salt and Straw
(5)Amanda N.
Smell the delicious waffle cones before even entering the shop. Employees are helpful and friendly.Huge selections of flavors along with some seasonal ones. Great to be able to sample before buying. Have pint sizes available to purchase. They can also ship you ice cream to your home. Whether you stopped in with only a few customers or a long line out the door, they are quick so don't be discourage
(4)Joyce V.
I was almost denied my favorite ice cream again due to the line down the block! I begged & pleaded then I was finally able to convince my husband to go after dinner at Pok Pok if it was still open. Luckily Salt & Straw is open until 11:00pm. We walked over after dinner about 15 minutes to closing. There were still a lot of people eating their ice cream outside but no long line. We were able to try different ice creams without feeling rushed. I ended up getting my favorite Sea Salt Ice Cream w/ Caramel Ribbon & my husband got the Coffee & Bourbon both in a waffle cone. We were both in heaven. We will always enjoy this Portland ice cream when we visit but I'm so thrilled that we are getting our very own Salt & Straw in Los Angeles! I just hope that people are just as nice as the people of Portland.
(5)Grey G.
I've been here three times. Each time the flavors have been mind bogglingly incredible. This is a great place to bring very patient out of towners. On one occasion, I got some sort of brownie sundae. The brownie was heated in a microwave. Ick. On another occasion, I asked about a flavor called "The Universe". The employee & I joked about asking "what's in the universe?", Neil Degrasse Tyson was mentioned. I asked if The Universe had ginger in it, she said -without hesitation- it didn't. So I ordered it. After having a bad reaction to The Universe, I'm going to go out on a limb and say she was full of shit and that she just wanted to get the eternally long line moving rather than actually checking. Speaking of which, the line here is always mind-numbingly long. Plan on being as drunk as needed or bring a good playlist/book while you wait. You will be here at least 30 minutes before you even reach the front of the queue. And when you get your ice cream, there will be no where to sit inside S&S, so you better hope it's nice out.
(3)Sarah G.
I was beyond happy to visit S&S twice during out PDX trip. Also, note that there are times where this place does NOT have a line 100+ strong. We lucked out on our first visit, which was sometime in the late afternoon for a post-lunch snacking. I had to start with a sampler, of course... Honey Lavender, Pear w Blue Cheese, Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon and... my current food crush: Goat Cheese & Marionberry Habanero! Then a day later, with oh so find memories we tried again after dinner. The line was obscene at 10pm on a weeknight. Seeing as how we didn't have to wait in line the first time I wasn't about to start now. So we came back the following day, mid-afternoon again. And apparently we lucked out again because I was able to get my waffle cone on in record time. This visit, it was all about me and the Goaty, creamy, slightly spicy Berry-sweet wonderland that I still dream about over a month later. Yes, it's difficult being in a long distance relationship with an ice cream flavor all the way on the west coast, but when were reunited again... Oh how sweet it will be.
(5)Bethany K.
YUM. First time visiting the SE location, and while there was a ghastly long line, I wasn't really surprised since it was the weekend and hot out. Service was fabulous, the flavors were delicious, there was space to sit inside (and lots of people standing around outside with ice cream too) -- just an overall awesome stop. Everyone who comes to Portland needs to eat some S&S. Dooo itttttt
(5)Ani S.
Why is there always an obscene line down the block?? I have been here a couple times when it's an odd hour and there's no wait but no way would I wait an hour for a $7 scoop of iced olive oil. I have been unpleasantly surprised with most of their flavors and just can't stand the huge crowds. No thanks!
(2)Brody L.
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(5)Rob C.
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(5)Denise M.
(3)Alexandra S.
At long last, we have checked the box on the missing experience in our tour of West Coast artisanal ice cream shops: the legendary Salt & Straw. And while it lives up to its rep as Portland's best ice cream, I can't put it at the very top of the ice cream heap, because it still doesn't come close the the standard set by San Francisco's Bi-Rite. If you are a normal person comparing ice cream options in one city, however, Salt & Straw is well worth a visit. It has the most friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff that we've encountered at any ice cream shop -- eager to help us choose the right flavor, and even to scooping in the exact order we preferred (yes, I *do* care which flavor is on the top, and which is on the bottom). The ice cream flavor options do a good job of spanning the esoteric (olive oil; green fennel & maple; bone marrow & bourbon cherries -- in one flavor!) and the relatively traditional (chocolate, almond brittle, vanilla). However even the more traditional flavors skew sophisticated -- the gooey brownie, for example, includes hunks of EXTREMELY bitter chocolate brownies. In other words, you are more likely to be thrilled than your kids are. Flavor intensity is very good, but the ice cream itself still isn't as rich or creamy as I'd like. And one of our scoops (the cinnamon snickerdoodle -- surprisingly, it may have been my favorite flavor) had a little chunk of ice in it, which while not a huge deal, isn't something that should show up in a super fancy ice cream. All in all, I'd say it's a very good ice cream, but I wouldn't brave an hour-long lineup for it. We'll be back, but not during rush hour!
(4)Eileen W.
FIVE STARS: for the excellent ice cream. Fine ice cream pleasure center. A great OT experience. ZERO STARS: for the ridiculous queue, out the door and down the street. It's hilarious. Why wait just to select an ice cream cone, when I can immediately buy a single-serving-size container and be on my way with a busy spoon. Is it really about Yuppies/Hipsters being seen by each other doing that really cool thing, waiting in line with all those beautiful people, those other Yuppies/Hipsters? And the selfies! Hahahaha!
(4)Nidhi K.
How I wish that Yelp had half stars. I would give Salt & Straw 3.5 stars if I could; I can't seem to understand what the huge 5-star hype is around this place. Maybe it's because I'm from the Bay Area where I've eaten at several top-notch local creameries. Or maybe it's because I went a little too crazy with my flavor choices here. The wait: I appreciated that there was no line! This is apparently an unfrequented location because I was there on a Friday afternoon; I had expected a super long line. The service: Very good! I must have sampled 6 different flavors, and the scooper behind the counter didn't even hesitate. The flavors: I finally settled on the Sea Salt w/ Caramel, which unfortunately was WAY. TOO. SALTY. As in, I felt like I was eating spoonfuls of salt. (I threw it away.) My other scoop was Honey Balsamic Strawberry w/ Cracked Pepper, which was decent. My dad got the Strawberry w/ Cilantro Lime Cheesecake, which was great! Then he got Vanilla, which he said was quite good. I think the moral of this review is to not go too crazy with the flavors. It might taste fine as a sample, but you might not be able to finish the whole scoop. P.S. If you're not a local, sample the Marionberry flavor -- apparently the berry was discovered at Oregon State and is only found in OR & WA!
(3)Tim C.
The ice cream here is pretty good quality, but some of the flavors are hit or miss. Since much of the Yelp community recommended it, I tried the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. I wouldn't recommend it. The Ganache was just huge chunks of dense chocolate and salt, which just didn't appeal to me. The Almond Brittle was very tasty, but also overwhelmed the ice cream. I honestly barely got any ice cream - it really felt like just a cup of Almond Brittle and Salted Ganache. I also had a scoop of their Mint Julep ice cream, which was much better. It tasted like actual mint (the herb), and not the artificial mint flavoring that most mint ice cream tastes like. Unfortunately, I think it's a seasonal flavor. Some of the other flavors I sampled were ok - nothing too impressive, but very interesting. If you read some of the descriptions of the flavors, they are very... Portland. Just read them, hopefully you'll know what I'm talking about. The service was very nice, and I liked the design and layout of the place. Solid place for ice cream, but make sure you sample before you get a whole scoop - or else you might end up with something that isn't your cup of tea, especially with such unique flavors.
(3)Sudipto G.
Yay, I'm a fan. but only of some of the flavors. Please try out all of them and you will know what I mean. Some of them are downright terrible to taste. But they have some gems, like the Almond Brittle with Ganache, and Sea Salt with Caramel, but off late I have found there seasonal flavors pretty bad, so will check it out again maybe after a couple of months, till then I'll go out to the other great ice cream places out here in PDX.
(4)Dora T.
We sampled quite a few flavors before deciding on the flight of four ice creams though the waffle cone looked good too. Pear bleu cheese. Honey lavender. Arbequina Olive oil. Strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper. My favorite was the pear bleu cheese. I'm looking forward to trying out the newly opened store in L.A
(5)Will C.
I had a chance to try out their ice cream the last time I was here. I tried the coconut with salted caramel bars. It was not bad. I'll probably try other flavors the next time I am here.
(4)Ron S.
Great ice cream, good flavors, good environment to be in. The staff is always friendly even when there's a huge line! The waffle cones were inconsistent (hole at the bottom etc.) . A little pricey for ice cream but it might be worth it if you want to taste all of the extraordinary flavors Salt & Straw offers. *C'mon, bigger scoops please. 5-6 bucks a cone...I expect more.
(3)Dana J.
Fantastic!! The best ice cream experience there is. From the attentive service to the exquisite and complex flavors, this is a portland MUST!
(5)Anthony N.
A Portland version of Molly Moons. Similar but slightly different. I came here after getting Sunday brunch (around 1ish) with come friends and there was only a few people there before us. Shortly after we got there, the place filled up. Salt and Straw had a lot of the same flavors as Molly Moons and they also make their own waffle cones, but IMHO the strawberry balsamic was better at Salt and Straw and the cone was just ok. Overall, great place for ice cream, but not better than Molly Moons.
(4)Fran B.
I've been giving out 5 stars for everything, not because I have no standards.... but because everything is just so great lol. I feel like Portland is pretty creative when it comes to food. Salt & Straw has ice creams flavors that are so unique! I mean, there are some similarities to Bi-Rite in SF but I feel like this is just slightly better....... I got the honey lavender, but I didn't come to that choice easily. I was freaking out trying to decide which flavor to get, but in the end, that is what I chose lol. My bf got the snickerdoodle, which was packed with cinnamon sweetness flavor mm mmm. I got to try the olive oil ice cream as well, and BOYEE that is smooth. I never expected olive oil ice cream to taste so........... olive oily? But it did, and it worked. I wish I got to try the strawberry balsamic, but I didn't wanna be one of those pesky customers who samples every single flavor.......... but I should've. THE REGRETS! But that honey lavender was pretty great. My bf was not a fan of "flowery" flavors lol, so he didn't really like it. But I thought it had just the right amount of fragrance, honey, and subtle lavender tones. It was also SMOOOOTH. Not necessarily creamy or milky, just...... smooth. You know? Some ice creams are not that creamy in texture because it's not supposed to be a creamy flavor........ but this was creamy in texture without having too much of a creamy flavor. Am I making sense? Does anyone even care? lol Anyway, slightly overpriced but f* it. If I find myself in Portland again, you bet your ass I'm coming back!
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(5)courtney f.
Amazing Ice Cream!!!! Hellish Suburban encroachment that causes huge ass lines. Worth it tho....
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(5)Leslie E.
Every time i walk by this location the heavenly wafting scent of waffle cones makes me seriously reevaluate my decision to reduce sugar in my diet... Their flavors are divine. Everything from the extremely adventurous to a few more tame choices so everyone can find something to their tastes. I ADORE the lavender honey ice cream, which tastes like faery food to me! The lines are usually long and a bit claustrophobic, but it does move fast and is worth the wait! Staff is very generous about giving samples of flavors to help you decide.
(5)Rebecca C.
Shared two scoops with Derek Collins. One honey and lavender and the other salted caramel. Yum!
(5)My L.
I've tried the Salt and Straw in Larchmont and didn't think I'd need to go to the Portland one but I'm so glad I did!! I had the potato chip and chocolate one which was SOO good!! I also had the coffee and bourbon which was a good mix to it. It was a nice dessert after going to Pok Pok down the street. There's seating outside so you can eat your ice cream outside.
(4)Anthony P.
One Easter Sunday I found myself alone in town, so I decided to treat myself to some ice cream. As I waited in line at the Alphabet District Location of Salt & Straw, a white man with dreads played a giant bell bowl across the street. Looking around at the hipsters and tourists waiting in line with me for hand-made artisan ice cream, I could only imagine that I'd found my way into an episode of Portlandia. Nonetheless, the Ice Cream was truly delicious. The flavors are creative- pear and blue cheese, thai iced tea, and more. However, even the basics are just better than other ice creams. If you don't mind a little bit of a circus (or even enjoy it), then wait in line and buy a scoop. While you're at it, take home a hand-packed quart since you waited in line anyway. Try something novel and something classic. You will not be disappointed by either.
(5)Lia M.
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(5)Michele R.
It was a gray afternoon with a threat of rain. (In Portland? What a surprise.) That didn't deter me, Portland native that I am, from dragging my hubby to see what all the buzz was about at Salt & Straw. He saw the line and said "You must be kidding". No, I wasn't. And after the friendly people behind the counter managed to be all smiles and keep the line moving even with offering up samples of anything one wanted to try, and after we made our selections and were sitting in the crowded but inviting space to savor every bite, my husband said "This was absolutely worth it. I'm glad we came." THE DRILL Line up, it moves quickly, and peruse the standard flavors menu, about a dozen options, or the seasonal flavors menu, maybe five more, from the boards above the service counter or take a paper menu to read the choices. You can order your ice cream in a cone or a cup, and in the latter in kids', single, double or split scoop sizes. THE ICE CREAM We chose the split ($4.25) which allows two flavors in a single scoop. We relished every bite of our choices, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and Stumptown Coffee with Bourbon. Both were incredibly delicious. Sweet Potato with Candied Pecans and Pumpkin Custard with Chevre were two others we asked to sample and they will be on our list to order if we get back to the area while the Thanksgiving Season options are still available. As for the Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey option on this list...well, I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food but the "...turkey fat caramel with fried turkey skin brittle..." on the description was deterrent. This time at least. THE VIBE Interesting up to date take on an ice cream shop; look up for ceiling designs. In spite of the crowds things were chill (bad pun I know) inside, quiet enough to have a conversation and everyone seemed just happy to be there. A very nice young guy with his infant daughter in snuggly on his chest even stood to offer me his seat, noting I had trouble standing on my own (MS at work) in the SRO crowd. A warm gesture in a frozen treats store. Seating is at a handful of fixed high counter stools near the door, behind the line where you queue up, and maybe a dozen more seats at standard height fixed stools or benches on the exit door side. THIS N THAT: 1) ACCESSIBILITY: The mom with a stroller who said "Thanks but it's not stroller friendly in there" as we offered to hold the door for her to get in is a pretty good tip off that this place may be a challenge for people using wheelchairs too. Level in and throughout but the queue space is tight and there doesn't seem to be a place where people using wheelchairs could easily sit to eat inside with others given the fixed stools. Just a heads up if you or someone you travel with keeps that in mind. I do as on a future visit in, this could be any of us. 2) PARKING: So it goes in Portland neighborhoods that it is a challenge everywhere. 3) PINT TO FOOD BANK DONATION: Pre packed pints are available for sale from a case near the exit door. For every pint you buy of the Thanksgiving flavors, Salt & Straw will donate a pint to the Oregon Food Bank. Sweet.
(4)Chi D.
Really nice workers and efficient too. Great ice cream flavors. Line was pretty long but it goes fairly quick!! YAY!! have fun. Good luck and good eats!!!
(5)Cyndi A.
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(5)Emily H.
(5)John K.
(4)Emily D.
Wow the flavors! There are so many varied, interesting and well balanced. How to turn a poutine into a dessert? I don't know but every flavor I had a chance to sample was excellent. Prepare for a wait with lines down the block but once to the counter it is quite an ice cream experience. They were happy to let me try many and even offered if I want I could try them all! I settled on a half scoop of brittle and salted ganache and half scoop of honey lavender. Honey lavender on top so as not to lose a subtle flavor. Both were excellent! Brittle and salted ganache was amazing to many areas of my tongue. The salty sweet flavor combination and generous ganache-ing were fabulous. I love lavender and while in Portland tried many items with the lavender essence in it many of which were subtle and easily lost amongst other flavors. Of the lavender ice creams I tried salt and straws honey Lavender ice cream impressed me with the most prominent lavender taste. By no means over powering but noticeable not only at the first taste but through the whole scoop. A must stop while in the area, try coming at an off time for a slightly shorter line.
(5)Melissa T.
I'm not an ice cream person, but I loved this ice cream shop...so much that I visited twice on my 4 day trip to Portland! Unlike a lot of ice cream shops, I felt comfortable sampling multiple flavors, and I didn't feel pressured to make a decision despite the increasingly long line outside the door. Even after I thought I was done sampling, the employee suggested one of the seasonal flavors, which turned out to be excellent. The cups or sugar cones are complimentary, but if you want a waffle cone, it's a dollar extra. During my first visit, I opted for the $9 ice cream flight. I sat in the window and got a lot of envious stares from passersby. I got the Arbequina olive oil, strawberry honey balsamic vinegar, sea salt with caramel, and almond brittle with salted ganache. My husband loved the olive oil, while my personal favorite was the almond brittle. While the ice cream flight is fun and pretty and all, I do feel $9 for 4 small scoops of ice cream is a lot. For that reason, I made sure to get a waffle cone the second time. I got the almond brittle and seasonal favorite rhubarb crumble with toasted anise. Unbeknownst to me, the employee gave me a "split scoop," which is one scoop split into 2 flavors. There is a 50 cent upcharge for this... I would have preferred two full scoops, but oh well... If you're getting more than one flavor, I would advise you to specify what you want to avoid this mix-up. Overall, the flavors are great and innovative, the ice cream shop is spacious, and the employees are friendly. It's a definite stop on a visit to Portland.
(4)Lina N.
Freshly made waffle. Really good ice cream! Many good ideas of seasonal flavors. You must taste them. Sehr gutes Eis. Einfach probieren. Normalerweise mag ich keine Eiswaffeln. Doch diese sind selbst gebacken und Lecker.
(5)Donna P.
(1)John B.
(5)Emmanuel C.
(2)Dalena T.
Portland must try, I remember reading an article about top 100 ice creameries you must try in the country, salt and straw was up there on that list ! The difference from salt and straw to most ice cream places is their unique flavors, each season they tend to have special flavors they switch up when I went this time they had unique flavors from like honey lavender and sea salt I've cream with Carmel to crazy flavors like green fennel and maple, carrot watermelon sorbet, to bone marrow and bourbon smoked cherries . they sound crazy but definitely worth trying, you'll be surprised how the craziest combinations can taste. Sugar cones are free if you want the option of a cone or a cup , but the waffle cones are made fresh and taste amazing definitely worth the extra dollar. They have different scoop sizes but they do mention on the menu that if you get a normal 1 scoop you have the option of getting two flavors so essentially getting half scoops of two flavors. something you should consider especially at a place like salt and straw !
(5)Carissa B.
The ice cream flavors are creative and delicious. The wait to get up to the counter to order is always crazy long but is the only downside to this fun ice cream spot
(4)Eric B.
Oh boy I love ice cream, and I really liked Salt and Straw. Strawberry balsamic with black pepper was very tasty. For me, the balsamic and particularly the pepper were a little subtle. Easily forgotten. It was a bit like very good strawberry ice cream with good ideas in it. Same goes for the sea urchin, although I think it worked better in this case. Do you really want that much sea urchin flavor? It was there, and tasty. One of my favorites. Honey lavender might have been my favorite, which surprised me. Simple, but very assertive lavender flavor coming through - in a good way. Refreshing and delightful. Rhubarb crumble with toasted anise was also terrific. I was left wanting slightly more of that licorice anise flavor to come through, but thoroughly enjoyable. The actual product is quite gourmet. Just terrific ice cream. Very consistent, no crystallization. True artisanal work. Flavor balances could use a bit more tweaking/balancing, but the bold inventiveness of the flavors makes up all the ground there. Great shop.
(4)Rachel G.
So much hype, but overall I think it lives up to it. There's always a line, but TBH it moves incredibly quickly. I've never stood there more than 15 minutes. People say its expensive, but really--you easily pay $3.50-4 for a waffle cone at Coldstone or similar these days. Wouldn't you rather pay that extra buck and get ingredients that are 1000x better, plus amazing flavors? You would. Flavors I've flaved that were awesome: Stumptown + Burnside Bourbon. Right in my wheelhouse and prob my overall favorite. Freckled woodblock chocolate. Love it. Apricot and hops (summer seasonal). Everything you'd hope it would and then some. Honey lavender. Great, but I can't eat a whole cone of something that lavender-y. Strawberry balsamic. Superb, very refreshing and complex.
(5)courtney f.
Amazing Ice Cream!!!! Hellish Suburban encroachment that causes huge ass lines. Worth it tho....
(5)Christy B.
(5)Seana S.
Lots of options to choose from, but nothing to fuss over. No crazy toppings. No milk options. Just ice cream. I was feeling kinda wild n crazy and decided to try the pear and blue cheese. It was surprisingly delicious. I mean- duh! That's why I ordered it. I also love cheese. So this was the obvious choice. There's a couple Salt & Straws that opened up in the LA area too. So if I need my cheese and ice cream fix... I know where to go.
(4)Rena W.
ALWAYS down to go to Salt & Straw. And I don't even mind the wait because I need the time to pin down a selection from their extensive menu of THEE best flavors of ice cream EVARR. But in all seriousness, as soon as I step into the shop, the smell of the freshly made waffle cones cuts me to the core and I know I'm where I'm meant to be. I really, really like how they're doing monthly flavor themes, as it gives me an excuse to go, at the very least, once a month because those flavors are technically limited edition ~ I was a big fan of the August vegetable series, the fennel flavor stole my heart, PLEASE BRING IT BACK. The fennel paired with the lavender honey OOH GURL. When I tasted that combination, it was one of those beautiful moments where you want to congratulate yourself because you freaking killed it. Also, never feel guilty about sampling flavors. NEVER. Sample until you've found The One (or The Pair or The Trio or just get a gosh darn flight). Back again soon, xoxo
(5)Chris E.
One of the best ice cream shops I've probably EVER ever been to! Despite arriving at around 11:15pm, the line was still going strong out the door. Supposedly they close at 11pm, but it's good to know that they are willing to still serve new customers despite being way past their closing time. As stated, there was a bit of a line, but it was worth every second of waiting! The wait was no more than 15 minutes and thank goodness for that. They serve a creative variety of custom, unique flavors. The flavors were seasonal, but while I was there in June, they had mouth-watering concoctions, such as Sea Salt with Caramel, Honey Lavender, Chocolate Gooey Brownie, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper and Stumptown Coffee & Bourbon - just to name a few. Mouth watering yet?!? I ended up ordering the Honey Lavender single scoop on a waffle cone and they were extremely generous with the scoop. The cone was huge, but it still looked more like a double scoop had been planted into my cone! That's how big the scoop was! Anyhow, the ice cream was soft and perfect! It absolutely satisfied my craving that night. It's unfortunate I do not live near Portland, but if I did, it wouldn't be good news for the spare tire forming at my waistline as I'd want to try each and EVERY flavor!
(5)Elsie W.
I love ice cream. I don't understand why there's such a long line at both locations at all times. But the line goes fast and you can look through the menu on the chalkboard while you wait. It's definitely a top tourist attraction to say the least. Yes, their ice cream is quite good. Not the best I've ever had or anything mind-blowing, but I do appreciate their unique flavors. Very creative and the open space to sit is great.
(4)Cindy C.
I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM. All day everyday. I honestly don't think I could survive without a week of ice cream (not even kidding...). Reasons why I bolted for this place when it popped into my line of vision as we cruised down Division Street, looking for a dinner place. Ice cream for dinner? I'm down. Upon entering this store, I was greeted by a friendly lady who was soo nice - all the samples of ice cream I asked for had huge scoops on the small metal spoons! I was pretty blown away by how generous that was, considering the fact that the line was getting longer and longer by the moment, and I personally am a horribly indecisive person when it comes to choosing flavors. FLAVORS - Petunia's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie: Strong strawberry base, with chunks of rhubarb. One of the best strawberry flavors I've ever had. - Pear & Blue Cheese: Not a huge cheese fan (why did I even try this?), but it was an interesting combination. I could taste the sweetness of the pear, but the cheese was slightly overwhelming. - Cinnamon Snickerdoodle: If you love snickerdoodle cookies, you must get this. It tastes exactly like one, without the cinnamon being too overpowering. - Carrot Carrot Cake (seasonal): So disappointed that LA doesn't have this as their seasonal flavors, since it's literally the bomb. Chunks of carrot cake, swirled into the carrot base with utter perfection. Did they also add in a tinge of cream cheese frosting? Mind blowing. - Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake (seasonal): Absolutely surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this flavor. The potato chip wasn't outstandingly salty or out of place - in fact, it complimented the hints of caramel and the chunks of the coffee cupcake. PS: the chips are coated with chocolate ;) - Green Fennel & Maple (seasonal): Didn't enjoy this because it was so weird! Fennel in ice cream? Maybe not this time, sorry... but my dad liked it haha. I ended up getting a double split scoop of Petunia's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and Carrot Carrot Cake in a cup. Came out to be around $6 - pricey for ice cream (so minus 1 star), but their scoops are pretty huge. I recommend asking for as many samples as you like, until you feel comfortable with your flavor - DO NOT be shy! Basically everyone at the counter is asking for samples, and no one's judging! + Metered street parking + Non-dairy options (sorbets)
(4)George C.
Not sure if all the hype is justified or perhaps I just don't like ice cream as much as I thought. Waited about 40 minutes in line although most of their flavors are pretty good. 3 stars for the wait and the ice cream not being that impressive to me. I got a flight with stumpside coffee with Burnside Bourbon, birthday cake blackberries, olive oil, and pear with bleu cheese. The pear was by far the best since the Bleu cheese is pretty subtle although I did get a large chunk of Bleu cheese that was pretty strong. The olive oil ice cream has an overbearing amount of olive oil flavor although getting a sample of it is pretty good. The birthday cake blackberries was on the rich side and was quite sweet but the coffee with Bourbon was a perfect blend of sweetness and coffee flavor. I did enjoy that you could sample as much as you wanted!
(3)Dan M.
Definitely worth trying. The wait is not as long as the line appears and it moves quickly. The flavors are unique and they will allow tastes before you decide. I enjoyed the ice cream quite a bit.
(4)LanChi N.
Read a few local reviews and this place showed up as a must go when in Portland...So my brother and I ended up here on a whim... We were welcomed with sweet smells of waffle cones and sugary sweetness. We were pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu this were not your typical flavors they were very much gourmet and sounded amazing. I'm so glad I was able to get samples but I limited myself to 2. I didn't want to be that annoying customer that asked for to much. The samples I tried were the Albequina Olive Oil and the Goat Cheese MarionBerry Habenero. Both were amazing but I figured I would go with the smoother flavor of the olive oil partially because the slow burn of Habenero as Delish as it was one taste was enough. My brother decided he wanted something refreshing and went with the Mt.Hood Strawberry Sorbet which was exactly flavor wise what he had been looking for full of fruit flavor with no filler just fresh and naturally sweetened. Overall I shall agree with others in that this really a special treat local dairy just taste naturally buttery and delicious it's just such a clean flavor that spoils you where no ice cream could be the same. The is the definition of artisan flavored that are rotated by month and by local flavor and season. We just happened to stop by during berry season lol. I do wish my brother and I had realized hey had ice cream flights we both could easily gotten multiple flavor a but we were happy with our selections. But if you can decided get an ice cream flight for $9.
(4)Andy O.
Bit of a line, but worth every minute. This is the best ice cream ever. Anywhere. Period. If you read my other reviews, you'll find that long lines almost always equate to blah-blah-overrated-not-worth-the-wait-minus-Âstars. Not the case here. This is seriously, seriously, deliciously legit ice cream. The flavors are the perfect balance between "oh, that's just supermarket plain" and "okay, that's just a stupid gimmick". You can taste the actual ingredients, but they don't do nonsense hat-trick flavors. When I eat ice cream, I don't want to eat it for novelty's sake; I want to eat it because it's a flavor I know I'll like, it know it will taste delicious, and it will make me nice and lazy for the next couple hours. Imagine my surprise when I found that there's one in my hometown (Los Angeles)! Seriously, imagine it! Now multiply it by like, I don't know, eighteen or something. That's how I feel about THAT. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ALL SCREAM!!!!!
(5)Stephen M.
Seriously good. I had the carrot cake and Stumptown. Really loved it. Beyond that, it's a great vibe. The people are friendly. They let me try like 5 flavors before I landed on these. The line is long, but it goes semi-quickly and there was a great street musician entertaining us all on the banjo and kazoo. Really fun. Recommend this place for sure.
(4)Jennell K.
Great unique flavors! I personally LOVED the August vegetable specials, especially the carrot carrot cake and the cucumber lemon sorbet (sooo refreshing on a hot day)!! The cauliflower was :.. Interesting :) it tasted as it sounds. The sea salt caramel is a favorite go to, and the honey lavender is very comforting and dreamlike as it melts in your mouth. The servers were amazing as well! Can't beat the experience even though there's a long line out the door!
(4)Kevin K.
Location specific review: Located next to pok pok. My girlfriend and I naturally had to get a sweet treat after our savory meal at pok pok. This one was nice because it is not as crowded as the alphabet district location. I was able to try a ton of flavors hehehe without getting that anxiety attack of the next person in line hovering over my shoulder. Staff was super friendly and helpful in their description of their flavors. No complaints here! General overview: Best ice cream I've ever had. Top five desserts I've ever had and it's just ice cream. Well I shouldn't just say just ice cream because their ingenuity and creativity push the boundaries of what your taste buds can handle. They have their solid foundation flavors and then they have their special flavors. Their special flavors consist of favorite dishes from local restaurants which seriously make your head turn. For example, they had a poutine flavored ice cream, and kimchi and jasmine rice; they were super flavorful and delicious. My recommendations for a mind blowing ice cream experience is the sea salt with caramel ribbons and the almond brittle with salted ganache. Seriously both are unreal.
(5)N C.
Five stars all the way. Interesting but simple flavors. I love how they have a limited amount of options so I don't have to be so indecisive. Honey lavender and sea salt caramel are my favs. But the ladies at the counter are pretty nice about samples, but PLEASE don't sample every flavor when there's a long line behind you (geez). Attentive employees. Simple looking ice cream spot. Make sure to get your ice cream on a fresh waffle. Btw- parking can be a pain in the behind. But this place still deserves 5 delicious stars!
(5)Elizabeth G.
Our out of town guests wanted to know if Portland had serious good Gelato, and we insisted on bringing them to Salt & Straw, even though it is not Gelato, it is also not to be passed by by any ice cream aficionado. We arrived at a perfect time, about 2:30 in the afternoon. There was no line, and we got superb service from the waitress, who graciously let us try all the street food flavors of the month, and more. I personally chose the Kim Chi ice cream, while more cautious members of our group had the signature Sea Salt Carmel. I of course want their Sea Urchin ice cream to make a come back, as it was my all time favorite here.
(5)Celina P.
Tempted to stop at Salt & Straw on a hot Portland day...and am SO glad I did! Pleasantly surprised to find out they had 2 vegan options, both of which I tried. Food: I had the August sorbet special (cucumber + lemon), and the coconut strawberry rhubarb flavor. Both were unique and deliciously fantastic. The cucumber and lemon was light, but citrus-y sweet, and the coconut flavor had gluten free chucks of rhubarb cake or something amazing. Vegan ice cream is hit or miss, but Salt & Straw definitely knows how to make it right! Service: Very nice, cheerful servers, and willing to give multiple samples! Generous scoops too, which is unusual for some nicer ice cream shops. Ambiance: Small shop, long line on the weekend, but nice little outdoor seating area. This is a must stop for those with a sweet tooth. I can only imagine how amazing the non-vegan flavors are too!
(5)Barbara P.
Very interesting!! I've never seen people line up on multiple sides of an ice cream shop and WAIT for ice cream cones all hours of the day.. But it happens every day at salt & straw in all 3 Portland locations! In addition they offer the most unique flavors of ice cream I've ever seen.....like olive oil, Thai peanut butter sauce, and lemon cucumber. Very tasty!!!
(5)Rachel R.
The most hyped AND best ice cream in Portland?! Yaaaas, indeed. Get the coconut rhubarb pie and blackberry birthday cake. Together. Double fist them from two separate cones. But.... The flavors are less interesting than at the LA location. However, if you can't fly to Los Angeles for ice cream, this is your best bet.
(4)Adrienne L.
BEST ICE CREAM in PORTLAND. I first had Salt & Straw at their LA location. I was blown away. The quality and flavor is comparable to SF institutions. The Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache could rival Bi-rite's Salted Caramel. So after one very enjoyable meal at Roe (best meal I've had in Portland), I still made sure I had space for Salt & Straw nearby. Priorities. Apparently with the right amount of restraint and planning, you CAN eat it all. But not if the place is closed. So we hustled since it was just before 11 pm when we left Roe. Amazingly Salt & Straw was still welcoming the last of the line with their energetic service. I didn't think I could love them anymore! I probably sampled half the menu and settled on one scoop each of Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars. The lady scooping asked which flavor I preferred on the bottom. In all my ice cream indulging, I don't believe I've ever been asked that. A good question indeed. It does impact your whole cone experience - do you put your favorite on the bottom and finish with it last? Tough life decisions here. Between the awesome service, delicious flavors, and wonderful creamy texture, Salt & Straw is hands down a 5-Star Creamery for this ice cream snob :)
(5)Dashiell B.
Good flavors, hours, people, ambiance and price. What more could you ask? Had one of the August special flavors ( carrot cake). I don't even love sweets and this was perfectly flavored, creamy and in a waffle cone that was airy, crispy and delicate unlike any I've had.
(5)Victoria G.
Absolutely delicious. Unique flavors made with local and seasonal ingredients. Great texture and bold taste. The staff is friendly and the space is clean. Portion sizes are great for the price and they let you taste test as many flavors as you want! I had the Almond Brittle & Ganache as well as the Stumptown Coffee. My partner had Vanilla. But we taste tested many and enjoyed them. Ample seating. Street parking in a nice quiet part of town. I'd go back!
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(5)Carissa B.
The ice cream flavors are creative and delicious. The wait to get up to the counter to order is always crazy long but is the only downside to this fun ice cream spot
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(5)courtney f.
Amazing Ice Cream!!!! Hellish Suburban encroachment that causes huge ass lines. Worth it tho....
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(5)Mariam H.
My friend lives directly above this Salt and Straw location. Trust me, after a few days of smelling freshly made waffle cones no one could resist stopping in for a scoop. First off - I am extremely lactose intolerant so I only allowed myself samples of the dairy options. The flavor sample that stood out the most was olive oil (dairy). I was so shocked by how delicious it was!! It had a nice savory/sweet thing going on. I chose the strawberry rhubarb pie in the end, a non-dairy option. They literally make a rhubarb pie and mix it in the ice cream. Best non-dairy ice cream I have ever Tip: Go during a week day if you hate lines, people on dates and fighting for parking.
(5)Seana S.
Lots of options to choose from, but nothing to fuss over. No crazy toppings. No milk options. Just ice cream. I was feeling kinda wild n crazy and decided to try the pear and blue cheese. It was surprisingly delicious. I mean- duh! That's why I ordered it. I also love cheese. So this was the obvious choice. There's a couple Salt & Straws that opened up in the LA area too. So if I need my cheese and ice cream fix... I know where to go.
(4)Rena W.
ALWAYS down to go to Salt & Straw. And I don't even mind the wait because I need the time to pin down a selection from their extensive menu of THEE best flavors of ice cream EVARR. But in all seriousness, as soon as I step into the shop, the smell of the freshly made waffle cones cuts me to the core and I know I'm where I'm meant to be. I really, really like how they're doing monthly flavor themes, as it gives me an excuse to go, at the very least, once a month because those flavors are technically limited edition ~ I was a big fan of the August vegetable series, the fennel flavor stole my heart, PLEASE BRING IT BACK. The fennel paired with the lavender honey OOH GURL. When I tasted that combination, it was one of those beautiful moments where you want to congratulate yourself because you freaking killed it. Also, never feel guilty about sampling flavors. NEVER. Sample until you've found The One (or The Pair or The Trio or just get a gosh darn flight). Back again soon, xoxo
(5)Stephen M.
Seriously good. I had the carrot cake and Stumptown. Really loved it. Beyond that, it's a great vibe. The people are friendly. They let me try like 5 flavors before I landed on these. The line is long, but it goes semi-quickly and there was a great street musician entertaining us all on the banjo and kazoo. Really fun. Recommend this place for sure.
(4)Chris E.
One of the best ice cream shops I've probably EVER ever been to! Despite arriving at around 11:15pm, the line was still going strong out the door. Supposedly they close at 11pm, but it's good to know that they are willing to still serve new customers despite being way past their closing time. As stated, there was a bit of a line, but it was worth every second of waiting! The wait was no more than 15 minutes and thank goodness for that. They serve a creative variety of custom, unique flavors. The flavors were seasonal, but while I was there in June, they had mouth-watering concoctions, such as Sea Salt with Caramel, Honey Lavender, Chocolate Gooey Brownie, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper and Stumptown Coffee & Bourbon - just to name a few. Mouth watering yet?!? I ended up ordering the Honey Lavender single scoop on a waffle cone and they were extremely generous with the scoop. The cone was huge, but it still looked more like a double scoop had been planted into my cone! That's how big the scoop was! Anyhow, the ice cream was soft and perfect! It absolutely satisfied my craving that night. It's unfortunate I do not live near Portland, but if I did, it wouldn't be good news for the spare tire forming at my waistline as I'd want to try each and EVERY flavor!
(5)Cindy C.
I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM. All day everyday. I honestly don't think I could survive without a week of ice cream (not even kidding...). Reasons why I bolted for this place when it popped into my line of vision as we cruised down Division Street, looking for a dinner place. Ice cream for dinner? I'm down. Upon entering this store, I was greeted by a friendly lady who was soo nice - all the samples of ice cream I asked for had huge scoops on the small metal spoons! I was pretty blown away by how generous that was, considering the fact that the line was getting longer and longer by the moment, and I personally am a horribly indecisive person when it comes to choosing flavors. FLAVORS - Petunia's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie: Strong strawberry base, with chunks of rhubarb. One of the best strawberry flavors I've ever had. - Pear & Blue Cheese: Not a huge cheese fan (why did I even try this?), but it was an interesting combination. I could taste the sweetness of the pear, but the cheese was slightly overwhelming. - Cinnamon Snickerdoodle: If you love snickerdoodle cookies, you must get this. It tastes exactly like one, without the cinnamon being too overpowering. - Carrot Carrot Cake (seasonal): So disappointed that LA doesn't have this as their seasonal flavors, since it's literally the bomb. Chunks of carrot cake, swirled into the carrot base with utter perfection. Did they also add in a tinge of cream cheese frosting? Mind blowing. - Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake (seasonal): Absolutely surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this flavor. The potato chip wasn't outstandingly salty or out of place - in fact, it complimented the hints of caramel and the chunks of the coffee cupcake. PS: the chips are coated with chocolate ;) - Green Fennel & Maple (seasonal): Didn't enjoy this because it was so weird! Fennel in ice cream? Maybe not this time, sorry... but my dad liked it haha. I ended up getting a double split scoop of Petunia's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and Carrot Carrot Cake in a cup. Came out to be around $6 - pricey for ice cream (so minus 1 star), but their scoops are pretty huge. I recommend asking for as many samples as you like, until you feel comfortable with your flavor - DO NOT be shy! Basically everyone at the counter is asking for samples, and no one's judging! + Metered street parking + Non-dairy options (sorbets)
(4)George C.
Not sure if all the hype is justified or perhaps I just don't like ice cream as much as I thought. Waited about 40 minutes in line although most of their flavors are pretty good. 3 stars for the wait and the ice cream not being that impressive to me. I got a flight with stumpside coffee with Burnside Bourbon, birthday cake blackberries, olive oil, and pear with bleu cheese. The pear was by far the best since the Bleu cheese is pretty subtle although I did get a large chunk of Bleu cheese that was pretty strong. The olive oil ice cream has an overbearing amount of olive oil flavor although getting a sample of it is pretty good. The birthday cake blackberries was on the rich side and was quite sweet but the coffee with Bourbon was a perfect blend of sweetness and coffee flavor. I did enjoy that you could sample as much as you wanted!
(3)Dan M.
Definitely worth trying. The wait is not as long as the line appears and it moves quickly. The flavors are unique and they will allow tastes before you decide. I enjoyed the ice cream quite a bit.
(4)LanChi N.
Read a few local reviews and this place showed up as a must go when in Portland...So my brother and I ended up here on a whim... We were welcomed with sweet smells of waffle cones and sugary sweetness. We were pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu this were not your typical flavors they were very much gourmet and sounded amazing. I'm so glad I was able to get samples but I limited myself to 2. I didn't want to be that annoying customer that asked for to much. The samples I tried were the Albequina Olive Oil and the Goat Cheese MarionBerry Habenero. Both were amazing but I figured I would go with the smoother flavor of the olive oil partially because the slow burn of Habenero as Delish as it was one taste was enough. My brother decided he wanted something refreshing and went with the Mt.Hood Strawberry Sorbet which was exactly flavor wise what he had been looking for full of fruit flavor with no filler just fresh and naturally sweetened. Overall I shall agree with others in that this really a special treat local dairy just taste naturally buttery and delicious it's just such a clean flavor that spoils you where no ice cream could be the same. The is the definition of artisan flavored that are rotated by month and by local flavor and season. We just happened to stop by during berry season lol. I do wish my brother and I had realized hey had ice cream flights we both could easily gotten multiple flavor a but we were happy with our selections. But if you can decided get an ice cream flight for $9.
(4)Andy O.
Bit of a line, but worth every minute. This is the best ice cream ever. Anywhere. Period. If you read my other reviews, you'll find that long lines almost always equate to blah-blah-overrated-not-worth-the-wait-minus-Âstars. Not the case here. This is seriously, seriously, deliciously legit ice cream. The flavors are the perfect balance between "oh, that's just supermarket plain" and "okay, that's just a stupid gimmick". You can taste the actual ingredients, but they don't do nonsense hat-trick flavors. When I eat ice cream, I don't want to eat it for novelty's sake; I want to eat it because it's a flavor I know I'll like, it know it will taste delicious, and it will make me nice and lazy for the next couple hours. Imagine my surprise when I found that there's one in my hometown (Los Angeles)! Seriously, imagine it! Now multiply it by like, I don't know, eighteen or something. That's how I feel about THAT. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ALL SCREAM!!!!!
(5)Jennell K.
Great unique flavors! I personally LOVED the August vegetable specials, especially the carrot carrot cake and the cucumber lemon sorbet (sooo refreshing on a hot day)!! The cauliflower was :.. Interesting :) it tasted as it sounds. The sea salt caramel is a favorite go to, and the honey lavender is very comforting and dreamlike as it melts in your mouth. The servers were amazing as well! Can't beat the experience even though there's a long line out the door!
(4)Elsie W.
I love ice cream. I don't understand why there's such a long line at both locations at all times. But the line goes fast and you can look through the menu on the chalkboard while you wait. It's definitely a top tourist attraction to say the least. Yes, their ice cream is quite good. Not the best I've ever had or anything mind-blowing, but I do appreciate their unique flavors. Very creative and the open space to sit is great.
(4)Kevin K.
Location specific review: Located next to pok pok. My girlfriend and I naturally had to get a sweet treat after our savory meal at pok pok. This one was nice because it is not as crowded as the alphabet district location. I was able to try a ton of flavors hehehe without getting that anxiety attack of the next person in line hovering over my shoulder. Staff was super friendly and helpful in their description of their flavors. No complaints here! General overview: Best ice cream I've ever had. Top five desserts I've ever had and it's just ice cream. Well I shouldn't just say just ice cream because their ingenuity and creativity push the boundaries of what your taste buds can handle. They have their solid foundation flavors and then they have their special flavors. Their special flavors consist of favorite dishes from local restaurants which seriously make your head turn. For example, they had a poutine flavored ice cream, and kimchi and jasmine rice; they were super flavorful and delicious. My recommendations for a mind blowing ice cream experience is the sea salt with caramel ribbons and the almond brittle with salted ganache. Seriously both are unreal.
(5)N C.
Five stars all the way. Interesting but simple flavors. I love how they have a limited amount of options so I don't have to be so indecisive. Honey lavender and sea salt caramel are my favs. But the ladies at the counter are pretty nice about samples, but PLEASE don't sample every flavor when there's a long line behind you (geez). Attentive employees. Simple looking ice cream spot. Make sure to get your ice cream on a fresh waffle. Btw- parking can be a pain in the behind. But this place still deserves 5 delicious stars!
(5)Elizabeth G.
Our out of town guests wanted to know if Portland had serious good Gelato, and we insisted on bringing them to Salt & Straw, even though it is not Gelato, it is also not to be passed by by any ice cream aficionado. We arrived at a perfect time, about 2:30 in the afternoon. There was no line, and we got superb service from the waitress, who graciously let us try all the street food flavors of the month, and more. I personally chose the Kim Chi ice cream, while more cautious members of our group had the signature Sea Salt Carmel. I of course want their Sea Urchin ice cream to make a come back, as it was my all time favorite here.
(5)Celina P.
Tempted to stop at Salt & Straw on a hot Portland day...and am SO glad I did! Pleasantly surprised to find out they had 2 vegan options, both of which I tried. Food: I had the August sorbet special (cucumber + lemon), and the coconut strawberry rhubarb flavor. Both were unique and deliciously fantastic. The cucumber and lemon was light, but citrus-y sweet, and the coconut flavor had gluten free chucks of rhubarb cake or something amazing. Vegan ice cream is hit or miss, but Salt & Straw definitely knows how to make it right! Service: Very nice, cheerful servers, and willing to give multiple samples! Generous scoops too, which is unusual for some nicer ice cream shops. Ambiance: Small shop, long line on the weekend, but nice little outdoor seating area. This is a must stop for those with a sweet tooth. I can only imagine how amazing the non-vegan flavors are too!
(5)Barbara P.
Very interesting!! I've never seen people line up on multiple sides of an ice cream shop and WAIT for ice cream cones all hours of the day.. But it happens every day at salt & straw in all 3 Portland locations! In addition they offer the most unique flavors of ice cream I've ever seen.....like olive oil, Thai peanut butter sauce, and lemon cucumber. Very tasty!!!
(5)Rachel R.
The most hyped AND best ice cream in Portland?! Yaaaas, indeed. Get the coconut rhubarb pie and blackberry birthday cake. Together. Double fist them from two separate cones. But.... The flavors are less interesting than at the LA location. However, if you can't fly to Los Angeles for ice cream, this is your best bet.
(4)Adrienne L.
BEST ICE CREAM in PORTLAND. I first had Salt & Straw at their LA location. I was blown away. The quality and flavor is comparable to SF institutions. The Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache could rival Bi-rite's Salted Caramel. So after one very enjoyable meal at Roe (best meal I've had in Portland), I still made sure I had space for Salt & Straw nearby. Priorities. Apparently with the right amount of restraint and planning, you CAN eat it all. But not if the place is closed. So we hustled since it was just before 11 pm when we left Roe. Amazingly Salt & Straw was still welcoming the last of the line with their energetic service. I didn't think I could love them anymore! I probably sampled half the menu and settled on one scoop each of Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars. The lady scooping asked which flavor I preferred on the bottom. In all my ice cream indulging, I don't believe I've ever been asked that. A good question indeed. It does impact your whole cone experience - do you put your favorite on the bottom and finish with it last? Tough life decisions here. Between the awesome service, delicious flavors, and wonderful creamy texture, Salt & Straw is hands down a 5-Star Creamery for this ice cream snob :)
(5)Dashiell B.
Good flavors, hours, people, ambiance and price. What more could you ask? Had one of the August special flavors ( carrot cake). I don't even love sweets and this was perfectly flavored, creamy and in a waffle cone that was airy, crispy and delicate unlike any I've had.
(5)Victoria G.
Absolutely delicious. Unique flavors made with local and seasonal ingredients. Great texture and bold taste. The staff is friendly and the space is clean. Portion sizes are great for the price and they let you taste test as many flavors as you want! I had the Almond Brittle & Ganache as well as the Stumptown Coffee. My partner had Vanilla. But we taste tested many and enjoyed them. Ample seating. Street parking in a nice quiet part of town. I'd go back!
(4)Xiao Z.
Ugh, you ruined my diet and I loved you for it. Damn you, deliciously unique ice cream! I came here with my GF, after hearing so much about the unique flavors of Salt & Straw and how it's been featured on multiple television shows. I'm not a fan of fame, but after being allowed to taste every single ice cream by one of the kindest servers and ordering a tasting tray of four of our favorite icecreams with a homemade waffle cone on the side, I'd say that Salt and Straw deserves all of their notoriety. I'm sure the seasonable menus will change, but some of their basic (haha, I laugh at that word, since most of the flavors are anything but) flavors still remain some of my favorites. I really liked the olive oil ice cream, the strawberry and balsamic vinaigrette, pear and bleu cheese, Stumptown coffee and burnside bourbon. I think the 4-piece $9 tasting tray may have been a bit extreme, but looking at my selfies with those delicious frozen treats, I think I enjoyed them quite a bit =P Food: 5 stars Price: 3 stars Service: 5 stars
(5)Teala A.
Once again....... I don't wait in lines...... But for this I will. I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but I am always so curious about their pairings and love the fact that you can try everything and there is no judgement. In fact, the folks working there are always warm and helpful and seem to honestly enjoy their jobs. Obviously S&S is doing lots right because their employees seem happy and the line is constant. Well done.
(5)Isah K.
So good. Waffle cones made on site so the aroma is just divine. So many interesting combinations of flavors, thankfully the offer samples. Which flavor should you try? Try them all.
(5)Jenn W.
The line was lo-o-o-ong when we came by at around 7pm on a 95 degree weather day. Maybe 30-40 minutes? Tried a bunch of flavors (we had just been to the Alphabet district location a couple days prior heh) and ended up getting the honey lavender. It became my favorite flavor and I regret not getting that the first time! The texture of the ice cream was much better at this location, maybe because more customers means going through batches more quickly. I definitely recommend Salt & Straw to everyone visiting Portland. Heads up that scoops are huge! I am an ice cream fiend but one scoop was definitely enough for me.
(4)Arti N.
//PDX Sweetheart Foodie Trip: Aug 21-23, 2015- Stop 5 of 7// Hubs and I made our first out-of-town "entire weekend" getaway since the l'il miss arrived 5.5 years ago. Cue the music! But seriously, hubs was a good sport and I ratcheted my normal foodie weekend levels WAY down. With S&S, I had heard that you **must** try, and so we did. Especially since we had just had lunch across the street at Pok Pok (ok with about a 1.5 hour break in between to walk around... a LOT). The queue wasn't too bad when we arrived at the tail end ~4pm last Saturday afternoon, it ran it's normal U-shape inside + out the door and to the end of the storefront on the sidewalk (roughly a 1/2 hour wait). I really loved the idea that when you get to the front you can try as many flavors as you want without holding up folks behind you (who can order and move past you quite nicely to pay). Unfortunately we didn't do that... since while waiting in line and reading the flavors, hubs and I decided on a tasting flight of 4 flavors figuring we could get more sampling that way. From the August specials, we choose "Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake" (ummm, you know that was all me, hubs was basically making faces at every description of this flavor) and the "Lemon Cucumber Sorbet" (no... not lemon AND cucumber, but a type of cucumber called lemon). From the classic flavors menu, we choose "Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper" and "Freckled Woodblock Chocolate". -- Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake~ "A lightly malted, salted chocolate ice cream, light and unobtrusive, sets the table for professional-grade cupcake debauchery. The ice cream is loaded with gooey, bite-sized pieces of cupcake that are topped with chocolate ganache and doused in coffee syrup to keep them soft and moist. Those are good, but they need something else...like maybe little crunchy snaps of chocolate-coated potato chips? Oh, yes, and a generous ribbon of house-made caramel. This flavor is inspired by the infamous CCPC cupcake from Kit Jensen's former bakeshop, The Sugar Cube!" -- Lemon Cucumber Sorbet~ "Spa on a spoon. This is a lemon cucumber sorbet, not a lemon and cucumber sorbet. It's one thing, a lemon cucumber. It is, in fact, a sweet, lemony-looking cucumber, out of which we make this lovely, pale yellow, elegant, and delicately fresh sorbet. These lemon cucumbers were grown by amazing kids! This sorbet is a collaboration with Food Works, a program that teaches kids incredible life skills through farming. Food Works is completely run by students aged 14-21. More than just a "learning farm," Food Works is a sustainable agriculture and land-management commitment through which kids learn to farm, practice business and finance skills, and learn about healthy cooking and eating. Supporting projects like Food Works is one of the most important aspects of our company and we're humbled and happy to cook with them, anytime." -- Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper~ "It's triple Oregon Strawberry! Made with strawberries, jam, and syrup from Oregon Hill Farms. Honey Balsamic from a fifth-generation beekeeper at Honeyridge Farms, and locally imported, rare Cubeb Pepper (not to make it spicy... just a trick we learned from the Italians to pepper fruit to bring out the flavor." -- Freckled Woodblock Chocolate~ "Roasting cocoa beans in a 19th century-old fire roaster, Woodblock is the first bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Portland. We add in a bit of Jacobsen sea salt, the first to harvest salt from the Oregon coast in over 200 years, and then use an old-school ice cream making technique called "freckling" to suspend the chocolate in an untempered state." For hubs, his favs were the LC sorbet and the FW choco. For me, my favs were the LC sorbet and the CCPCC. Neither one of us dug the SHBw/BP (WAY too balsamic-y). And neither one of us felt the texture (we prefer creamy) or tastiness even came close to Mora Creamery in WA state. I guess we tend to be ice cream purists and not big fans of the crazy flavors. Hey, when you have an out of this world pistachio flavored ice cream (like Mora), why mess with it?
(3)Eric A.
WOW....truly is all I can say in between each bite of ice cream. I went in for vanilla and came out with 5 different flavors. The place is über modern and there is a line out the door (a good sign). A great place to take the kids, an after dinner aperitif or when you need a pick me up! Everyone us super friendly and helpful. Not to mention the samples are phenomenol! You will never want another ice cream after trying Salt and Straw. I will be in Portland every 5 weeks for business and I will be at this place each visit!!
(5)Flavia A.
What is there to say but Almond Brittle With Salted Ganache? (You're welcome to read my review of Salt & Straw on NW 23rd for the full scoop). Get it? Full scoop? Har har. Just enjoy. And yes it's worth the wait.
(5)Donna S.
ambiance//***** with the amount of foot traffic they get...there is plenty of space to wait along w/ a section of show & tell of their artisanal flavors...where the ingredients are sourced from also random knick knack keepsakes for those who wish to share with the world that they've been salt & straw service//***** the people here completely understand the seriousness of selecting the proper ice cream for your current mood ever patiently scooping tasters for you before selecting the flavor food//***** they cover everything from classic vanilla to earthy lavender to the wildly creative bleu cheese & pear i'm a sucker for unique flavors like bleu cheese & ear thank goodness they opened up near me!!^^ ~*~ delicious and interesting...i will never be bored eating their flavors~
(5)Samantha Z.
Currently eating two scoops of chocolatey something or another. What's better than the ice cream? The customer service. Felicia helped us tonight and she was so sweet! She let us taste a million flavors, and was so kind. Five stars for her!!
(5)Rhyann B.
Delicious! I really enjoy visiting Salt and Straw. The ice cream is consistently great, and the rotating flavors are always new and inventive. I'm a fan of the Almond Brittle and Ganache flavor. They also just had a Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Cupcake flavor for August that was probably my favorite of all the flavors I've had there. I have a couple reasons for not giving it a 5. 1. The line is always pretty ridiculous. You can expect to wait at least 30 minutes. If the weather is nice, it can be more like an hour. It is good ice cream, but waiting a long time for it is a bit of a bummer. 2. I've had better ice cream in Portland. I visited What's the Scoop in NE, and it was fantastic (and I really didn't have to wait).
(4)Nikki D.
This place is awesome if you're down to try new and interesting flavor combo of ice cream. I got the carrot carrot cake which was a seasonal flavor. Tasted exactly like a carrot cake, down to the cream cheese frosting. I also got to taste a few different flavors trying to make my decision, cucumber lime, and a rhubarb flavored one. The line for this place can be very long depending on the hour of the day that you go. Super busy after dinner time. Other than that, they have super friendly service and delicious ice cream.
(4)Michael S.
So come with me where dreams are born and dessert is never blah. Just think of yummy things, and ice creams for kings, forever, at Salt & Straw! Salt & Straw is like a fairy tale land of ice cream dreams. There's no need for Peter Pan and little kids singing to reach this Yummy Yummy Land where you never grow up. Simply find some street parking nearby and join the line out the front door filled with Lost Boys, Tinkerbells, Tiger Lilys, and the occasional Captain Hook. Actually, the original and dreamy flavors of Salt & Straw are so magical, you just may be singing like a little kid again. Here's a quick list of flavors for kids or adults to plan which free samples you'll try. * Double Fold Vanilla * Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars * Pear & Blue Cheese * Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper * Honey Lavender * Arbequina Olive Oil * Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon * Cinnamon Snickerdoodle * Chocolate Gooey Brownie * Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache * Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons * Freckled Woodblock Chocolate Each month has 5-6 unique flavors available, so, you should plan on visiting Salt & Straw at least 12 times a year because some of those flavors are just as magical as the daily flavors. The hype for the ice cream here is huge and, clearly, this fantasy land is no secret. Believe the hype because there really is a place where dreams are born, scooped, licked, and loved ... again and again. There really is a place called Salt & Straw.
(5)Dana G.
A philosophical PDX question (may apply to other cities too). Does a Disneyland-style line that zig-zags through the restaurant, out the door, and down the street mean that the populous agrees this eatery is clearly Five Stars? Or does that inconvenience and whatever caused it cause the loss of a star or two. Oh for goodness sake. Without the line I woulda said five stars. I'm not sure I ever tried Salt & Straw when I lived in PDX. I did not get on the bandwagon. I may have missed an opportunity (or maybe it was a near-miss!!). Salt & Straw was the final stop of my first ever Dana's Food Tour PDX (cue cheering), Hungry Friend and Hungry Me (no longer really hungry at all, but I was willing to put my back into it all in the name of science. Or something). I followed Hungry Friend's guidance and had a great time tasting flavors, and ended up with a cone I loved. First of all, the smell. The smell of the cones is intoxicating. Even without the ice cream, the cone smell and cone would be a fine storefront. Dear Salt & Straw: A proposal for your next venture. Second, the experience. Once we made it to the front of the line, I was impressed with the coordination and good-naturedness of our ice cream scooper woman. I was also impressed with the fact that all the scoopers looked like vibrant glowing yoga instructors. I guess I've lived in the country for too long. Third, the taste and texture. I sampled several flavors, and finally decided on a half-scoop (the classic) sea salt with caramel topped by (a May Flowers flavor of the month) wildflower honey with ricotta walnut lace cookies on top (man o man what a mouthful of a name to go with the mouthful of Yum!). The texture was perfect- both the cookies crumbled in the top scoop, and also the texture of the ice cream itself. It was thick, gelato-ish. And it didn't even cost like twenty bucks for this magic ice cream. It remember it being maybe $3.50. Suchadeal.
(4)Jay P.
It was a hot day and my sweet tooth was hankering for something sugary and my body for something cooling. We were close to salt and straw so that is where we headed. To our surprise there was a short line this time around and the wait was quite reasonable. Usually the wait is significant and out the door. While waiting I was reading the menu and I told my friend that they serve food now when I read "poutine" on the board. He corrected me and said that it was actually the flavor of the ice cream. I told him that it can't be, because that would be disgusting, but sure enough it was true. I didn't go this route and took his suggestion of trying the snickerdoodle flavor, which actually sounded much more appetizing than poutine. Glad I took his sugesstion, because it was delicious. The first spoon was simply devine and oh so wonderful. The first thing that hits the mouth is the cinnamon, it was as it I was sodomizing a warm and gooey cinnamon roll, but in this case enjoyed it very much. Then after the cinnamon there was the cookie itself. It was moist and buttery and complimented everything very well. Even they have many arrays flavors that you wouldn't think would go together and make you think that it wouldn't work, but today I did not feel like an adventure and wanted to go with a sure think and nothing beats the snickerdoodle. A must try.
(5)Spencer T.
Not just the best ice cream in Portland. This is easily some of the best (if not THE best) ice cream I've ever had in my life. Most recently, I went with a seasonal flavor (rhubarb crumble with toasted anise), split with a standard (honey lavender). Definitely good. The former managed to tame the anise nicely, while still keeping it as a fine background note, making it a good summer flavor. The latter was simple and sweet, and I can see it working well with many flavors as well as on its own. I'd also strongly recommend the sea salt/caramel and the Stumptown Coffee/Burnside Bourbon. Oh yeah, and the almond brittle/salted ganache. Those are my usual flavors. Salt & Straw is very good about allowing people to try samples. This time, I tried the wildflower honey/ricotta-walnut lace cookies, as well as the rhubarb one. The honey-ricotta was good, and I'd definitely recommend it, but I was craving something summery, so I went with the rhubarb. Here's a couple things they don't list on their board. For one, it costs a buck to do half-and-half scoops. Kind of harsh, if you ask me, though I always do it anyways. Also, the waffle cones are $1.50. Definitely worth springing for. You know that incredible smell that always permeates the block where Salt & Straw is located? That's the waffle cones, being baked fresh every day. The lines are a drag. Then again, they usually appear when it's a warm, clear, beautiful night in the City of Roses, and they lend themselves well to people-watching and conversing with friends. There's a reason this place is so popular. Definitely demands multiple visits this summer.
(5)Christina S.
Woohoo! Get to check this place off my Portland list. Came here after a meal at Pok Pok. Got the almond brittle with salted ganache on a sugar cone and it was delicious. The service was friendly and I was able to sample a few flavors before picking the one I wanted. This place is worth checking out if are craving ice cream in Portland!
(4)Tiffany H.
Step 1- find parking Step 2- prepare for waiting in line Step 3- realize the parking and line was worth it as you try several amazing flavors of ice cream from friendly staff Step 4- make the tough decision on settling on only one thing and enjoy it outside in the beautiful summer weather. Step 5- repeat The strawberry balsamic with black pepper is the absolute best, in my opinion. The chocolate gooey brownie is great for chocolate lovers. They always have something fun to try as well, like the food cart flavors now, so be adventurous! If yo want an easier tie with parking and a shorter line, come during off-peak times- weeknights are easier than weekends, and realize on any 90 degree summer day anyone in Portland who knows about ice cream will already be here.
(5)Alvin N.
WOW, The Quality of Salt & Straw is Amazing! This Company certainly takes pride of their product! They use Many Local Oregon Ingredients! I always order an Ice Cream Flight to try 4 flavors everytime I stop by! Their Staff is always Friendly! Portlandia, you are lucky to have this place! You must not miss their Salted Caramel, it is ooey gooey goodness! :D
(5)Zack S.
Salt & Straw has turbo hype. If you live in Portland and you're talking about dessert, Salt & Straw is one of the first things to come up in conversation. Does this place live up to the legend that is told of it? Yes. Yeeesss. Holy crap, yes. This is the best ice cream I have ever had in my entire life and it deserves the recognition it has gained. The salted caramel I'd delicious, cinnamon snicker doodle is to die for, and pear and blue cheese is... Well... It's pear and blue cheese... But you NEED to come here if you are looking for the best ice cream in Portland. TL;DR: It's like you're eating ice cream but it tastes way better.
(5)Kalusha C.
I don't see the hype about this place, the ice cream is too sweet and weird. I swear it screams diabetes!
(1)Dustin R.
Outstanding ice cream! But something about people waiting in line over an hour for ice cream just pisses me off. I'm not the sort of person who can waste my time in the ice cream line so I only come here when it is not crowded. Pro tip: you can ask for as many ice cream samples as you like!
(3)Michelle M.
BOMB DOT COM!! This place has become one of my favorite ice cream places. Customers are able to sample as many flavors they want. They had cute small silver spoons and a small shoot in the counter/wall to dispose used spoons. Here, you can also buy pints of their ice cream they have in their freezer section. Since I happen to enjoy the Stumptown flavor, I had to try the Stumptown coffee ice cream - amazing. Also, I got the strawberry honey balsamic with cracked black pepper. I typically am not a person the enjoys fruity ice cream, but this one was a hit with me. The flavor complexes complemented each other so well. There were in-house strawberry jam chunks with the subtle taste of the black pepper and the added sweetness from the balsamic. For those visiting, this place is a must!
(5)Yvette H.
(5)Denise M.
(3)Elliott D.
I get embarrassed when I feel like I've asked for too many testers, so sometimes I go to the end of the line to come back for more (getting another guy to help me the 2nd time around). On this occasion, the flavors I tried on Round 1 (Arbequina Olive Oil, Honey Lavender, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Cracked Pepper, & Spiked Egg Nog) just didn't speak to my taste buds. The Honey Lavender, for example, was way too lavender-infused, to the point of making me feel like I was eating a candle (I've had divine honey lavender in the past). On Round 2 I reluctantly settled upon: ***PEAR & BLUE CHEESE - The delicate, sweet flavor of Oregon Trail Northwest Bartlett Pears from Salem, OR with perfectly aged cumbles of Rogue Creamery's Crater Lake Blue Cheese (recently named the best in the world at a fancy competition in France) mixed throughout. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty interesting, with generous chunks of soft pear in the forefront, and little bits of blue cheese to finish it off in a non-overwhelming way. But it was just strange enough to make it so that I couldn't completely relax and go for it. Probably my own fault for not choosing something more "normal", but nothing else stood out to me. ***COCONUT WITH PETUNIA'S SALTED CARAMEL BARS - A coconut based, non-dairy ice cream made in collaboration with our good friends at Petunia's Pastries. Petunia's salted caramel bars are special because they are both vegan and gluten-free, but are so delicious that we would be none the wiser! For a bit of extra yumminess we swirl in hand-burned caramel and housemade chocolate ganache. This was my "normal" option to mix with my weird option, a selection that I didn't realize until just now was non-dairy (I'd call that a major success). This was pretty good I guess, with crunchy/gooey caramel and chocolate mix-ins, but not particularly interesting or life-changing. ALL IN ALL: My first main grievance is that they're trying to be really Bohemian with the flavors, but many a time it felt like they were trying way too hard, and the flavor combinations just ended up being "Oh that was novel, look what flavor I just tried..." instead of "Holy freaking crap I just crapped my pants due to all of this unrestrained deliciousness". My second grievance is that the overall consistency isn't as dreamy as, let's say even a Cold Stone. I don't know if it's an extra egg yolk, the lack thereof, or the serving temperature or whatnot, but it's just missing something. I was sure to get a freshly made waffle cone as they smelled ever so divine, but it ended up tasting surprisingly unremarkable. I guess I've probably had my fill of Salt & Straw for a while.
(3)John O.
Believe the hype. Damn good. Also, to skip the line, go to the front and buy a pint. Don't tell anyone this secret though.
(5)Emily E.
I love how unique this place is. I've been hear multiple times and I'm very satisfied! I sampled: Cinnamon snicker doodle ( It was amazing) & Honey Lavender I loved them both but I wanted something unique. So I decided to get the honey lavender. Now it's my new favorite ice cream! At first it's a little strange but as you keep tasting it, it is delicious!!! My uncle got the cinnamon snicker doodle in a milkshake which was a-mazing. My dad got the olive oil ice cream! I didn't try it but he absolutely loved it! I'm excited to try out more flavors. They usually have a huge line but the line this time wasn't out the door! I've seen salt and straw mentioned on almost every post/article mentioning ice cream! I would defiantly recommend this place to anyone!!!
(5)Angik S.
If you are looking for awesome ice cream, head to cool Moon or what's the scoop. But I am a fan of this place simply because of the flavors. Last year they had an orange rhubarb flavor which is the best ice cream flavor I have ever tasted. This year they have the special food cart flavors. The Viking soul food and koi fusion flavors are the bomb. But all of them are good. Definitely try them.
(4)Varun B.
Love this place. I used to live in San Francisco, and the bar set for ice cream there typically tended to be Bi-Rite Creamery and Humphrey-Slocombe, in my opinion -- both of which are highly reputable places and known to many. I have to say, Salt and Straw, was quite the delightful surprise because I felt that it honestly was better than both of those places that I love in SF. Their flavors are all very well balanced and unique. The ice cream itself isn't too heavy like some others. Go here. Take samples -- like all of them. And then pick your favorite double scoop (or a split single scoop, which we did). Oh, and DEFINITELY get the waffle cone. It not only smells delicious, but tastes so as well.
(5)Nicole E.
Looking for unique flavors of fresh ice cream? This is the place to go. I had a roasted strawberry and toasted white chocolate scoop. Other flavors included things like olive oil and lavender. Mine was delicious and my friends loves theirs too.
(4)Tiffany L.
I love me some fancy ice cream. To avoid the lines, we came early to sample a bunch of flavors. I loved them all but ended up getting the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle (loved the cookies pieces in the ice cream). Thumbs up!
(4)Patrick _.
When it comes to Ice Cream I am a very traditional person. I don't like to get too crazy, but when visiting Portland I knew I would have to stop and get some. The foodie side of me wanted try all the weird flavors, but I narrowed it down to three. I tried the Garam Masala and Cinnamon Cauliflower, it was kinda gross and just not for me. Ultimately I ended up getting Olive Oil and Pear and Blue Cheese. It was the best Ice Cream I have ever had. Overall the line was small and the service was fast and friendly landing this place a well deserved five stars.
(5)Portia D.
LOVE this place! Signature being the Sea Salt and Carmel but trust me the Strawberry Balsamic with Black Pepper is the real hidden gem on the menu. First off service! I was a first timer coming here and while in line trying to pick three flavors to try. I wanted to try them all but I thought no way would any place do this. Got up to the front and Riley was more than willing to let me try EVERYTHING! WHAT!?! Not only did Riley let me try everything but it was done with a smile and I was given a brief profile of each flavor. Second are the flavors! Olive oil flavor who would think this would be delicious? But it is and you will want more of it. Green Fennel Maple, Lemon Cucumber Sorbet, Snickerdoodle and more! Creativity is definitely not in short supply here. Love that the menu seasonal and new flavors are always rotating in and out. Even though there will usually be a line it will be worth the wait. Two thumbs way up for this place!
(5)Madie N.
GREAT ICE CREAM!!! Very helpful staff as well. My mom and I were very fortunate to come to Salt & Straw with no line. We sampled everything and we loved all of it. We ended up each getting a little more ice cream than we could handle, but the 900 calories was worth it.
(5)MyTien P.
Everyone in California knows that I am a huge ice cream fanatic so I was really excited to finally give Salt & Straw a try. I was not disappointed! I ordered a scoop of the Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream and it was pure perfection. The strips of sea salt caramel was amazing and wasn't overpowering at all. It might have been the best salted caramel ice cream I've tried yet (Bi-Rite in San Francisco is also delicious). The ice cream wasn't too creamy and had the right consistency. I also really enjoyed the warm sugar cone here and highly recommend getting it with your ice cream! This place definitely lived up to my expectations and it is now one of my favorite ice cream shops. I will definitely be coming back here when I visit Portland. Good thing they recently just opened a Salt & Straw in Los Angeles!!
(5)Klee L.
Delicious! The flavors are unique and worth expanding your horizons for. But the best part(ok not maybe the best,,,, but sure is important) was the service! When you wait in line for 20 minutes (which I hear is not bad for a hot day) and are greeted with a smile, cheer and great attitude it truly makes all the difference! I commend the owners and managers for having such a great staff. I hope it means they are happy to be there! Ok, it also doesn't hurt to be able to try EVERYTHING with a HUGE sample on such a tiny spoon. A true and favorable gem. BTW... Try the coconut ice cream!
(5)Lena L.
Possibly the best ice cream ever! Mostly because the offer lavender ice cream!!!!! So many tasty options!
(5)Tracy Joy K.
Came here twice during my weekend trip to Portland, long wait but quality ice cream that was well worth it! They have a ton of unique flavors like Honey Balsamic and Black Pepper, Honey Lavender, Coffee & Bourbon. The long line is usually because of the tons of samples people try but when it's your turn definitely take advantage and try them out. I had the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons - probably the best sea salt caramel ice cream I've had - loved how salty it was and one scoop was definitely a hefty helping. Delectable for sure. :)
(4)Amy L.
Love it one of my favorite ice cream places and it's a lot closer on the SE side. I've been here when they were just a little cart to a full store. I love the variety of rotating flavors they have. There was ones I really love are Sourdough olive oil with salted chocolate ganache and the cassis sorbet. My regular go to is the Almond brittle with salted ganache. Cons: Parking is a pain and there's always a long line.
(5)Fawn W.
Seriously good ice cream. The salted caramel (they have a fancier name for it here) is delicious! Worth the line.
(5)Loren John B.
As a Bay Area resident, I've had my share of popular ice cream. Bi-Rite, Mitchell's, Smitten, Humphry Slocombe, and Ici are all great. After stuffing my face at Pok Pok, my friend and I figured this would be a great dessert spot. We braved the line for a good 30 minutes (it's like this at almost every location I've come across in Portland). I only tasted the seasonal flavors available for the month of March. I sampled the salted caramel cupcake, and the lumberjack stack. I went with a waffle cone, because it seemed thats what everyone else was doing. It's pretty cool that you can see them make the waffle cones in-house right next to the flavor counter. I ended up getting a single scoop of the lumberjack stack, and I was just amazed with how good it was. Blueberries and bits of pancakes in ice cream are well executed. I felt my jaw tingle after every bite, you know the good kind of tingle when you eat something sweet and delicious. I'd have to say, Salt & Straw would have to be in the same class as Bi-Rite. Had I stayed in Portland a little longer, I would have gone again and tried at least one of its regular flavors. The wait is pretty ridiculous for some ice cream, but it's a good thing the flavors are bomb and the staff are super helpful.
(5)Jewel M.
I finally tried this place and it was sooo good. I had their vegan flavor: coconut with Petunia's salted caramel bars. It is also swirled with caramel and chocolate ganache. It did not disappoint. I went ahead and bought the pint for $9. Even though it was quite good, for the price this will only be a treat on occasion. I hope to see more vegan flavors in the future.
(4)Jessie M.
Holy crap, the line is insane. Seemingly at all hours of the day. I mean it's good not THAT good. We did the ice cream flight and tried the balsamic strawberry with black pepper, the vanilla, the chocolate brownie, and the olive oil. It was fun and I don't understand why everyone doesn't get the flight... it's $9 for so much ice cream.
(4)Yuan J.
Salt & Straw never disappoints. I've now been to all 3 locations and each visit was a delight. As a first time goer, I would recommend getting: Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons, Balsamic Strawberry, and Honey Lavender. If you can go more than once, also get the Pear with Blue Cheese (the cheese is so subtle and not overpowering AT ALL), Tahini Cardamom, and the Coconut with Salted Caramel Bars. Also, don't be too discouraged by the line, even if it goes out the door and wraps around the corner. The line goes pretty fast since serving each customer won't take that long.
(5)Cylix S.
Seriously, there is no down side to the quality of the ice cream here! Crazy flavors, I wish there were more shops like this here in Spokane. It gets busy, but ive never had to wait longer than 15-20 minutes. They dont rush you into trying the different flavors and making a decision. They are very patient and polite- I am planning on taking my wife here for my upcoming birthday.
(5)Robbin A.
Absolutely delicious ice cream. The whole place smells like freshly made waffle cones the moment you walk in. This is exceptionally close to Bi-Rite ice cream from San Francisco; the only reason why this isn't a 5 is because I didn't wish I had it back home. Their honey lavender was excellent, as was their sea salt caramel, which I'm assuming they are known for. The service was quick and friendly, and I love places that give you samples on actual spoons! Good to know that those are being washed and reused. They do this really cool thing where the specials change every so often. Since I'm allergic to uncooked egg yolks, I couldn't have any of the specials of the month, which were inspired by local elementary school kids. That's okay - I had the honey lavender and salted caramel as an ENORMOUS single scoop in my waffle cone. Drool. Anyway, it's always a plus when the people know what goes into their ice cream. I was lucky enough that about 80% of them weren't made with egg yolks, which meant I didn't have to worry about an allergic reaction. This was the only ice cream shop I went to in Portland, and I am okay with that. Considering not just one, but two Portland folks recommended it to me, it is absolutely worth the visit if you have never been to an ice cream shop like this before.
(4)Nitar L.
I'm an LA native and wanted my S&S cherry to be popped by the OG location so I booked a trip to Portland. Totally worth it! The line can get pretty long, like out-the-door-on-to-the-sidewalk long. I thought of it like an attraction and didn't mind the 30+ minute wait. There are plenty of things to keep you entertained, like S&S swag! There are tees, mugs, and other local products for sale. (You can find Andy Ricker's SOM drinking vinegars there, too!) I made it out with a scoop of something glorious (I forgot what it was, but you really can't go wrong with any of the flavors here) in a waffle cone, a t-shirt, and a mug! Yep, I'm a total tourist :)
(5)Twylla S.
We happened upon this place while walking the streets of downtown. We peered at the unconventional menu and the tremendously long line and we're both perplexed and curious. These are not your typical ice cream flavors, and honestly, the weirder they sound the more delicious they are.... The first time we stopped in I wasn't feeling experimental so I went with a sea salt caramel ribbon. It was good, ideal for your boring friends which will find it delicious but nothing out of their comfort realm. My adventurous husband sampled a few of the stranger flavors and settled on a strawberry with balsamic and black pepper. I was apprehensive...but once I tasted it I knew we were dealing with some true ice cream pioneering here and that I should have gone all out. Needless to say two days later I got a hankering for some experimental ice cream tasting. This time I went pear and blue cheese in a sugar cone. All I can tell you is yes. You have to try it. It's savory and sweet. The blue cheese is present but not like you would expect, it gives a savory creaminess to the whole experience. Without it the flavor would be so overly sweet on its own. I hope they bring one of these to Chicago.
(5)Christianne F.
Almond brittle salted ganache.... Enough said! Wait... Want more sweet than savory? What about... seasonal flavors like Oregon Peach with toasted walnut? Oh, they're local Organic and All natural And the best damn ice cream I've ever had. Waffle cone itself is pretty amazeballs. Trust me, you're going to have a hard time picking a flavor or two... You'll want them all! There's a reason why the line is long. Hooray that there is now one in Los Angeles!
(5)Dian K.
There are a lot of gourmet ice cream places nowadays. One weirder sounding flavor rivaling another. As a thorough researcher, I've tried most of them, but I kept coming back to Salt & Straw. They are the best of the bunch. The 3 different locations is one proof of it (and they recently open a location in LA). The hoards of people rain or shine waiting is another. I like this location the best because it seems like the line moves faster here. Beginning of the month, I always try the different flavors of the month. More than likely I would come back to my tried and true favorite, the salted caramel. Remember! If you want to skip the line, head straight to the freezer, get a pint and cut in front of the hoards of people - this is allowed!
(5)Andrea V.
Ummm YUM! Wow. Really good ice cream. Had the strawberry honey balsamic with cracked black pepper, and my mom had the honey lavender. Just amazing favors. Also tasted the coconut with strawberry rhubarb pie. Was also amazing! Soo glad we stopped here on our trip! Nice girl who helped us too.
(5)Angela D.
Just like all the other famous ice cream shops with creative flavors, this one delivers inventive flavor combinations and has a cult following. Now, let me just say that I'm not huge on ice cream. It's good, but I'd much rather have some sort of pastry for dessert. In addition, I only like eating ice cream when it's warm out. So, I thought the shop was cute and they had some cool sounding flavors. The workers were all really friendly and were happy to give multiple samples. The fragrant smell of waffle cone wafted through the shop priming me for some ice creamy goodness. I ended up tasting the honey lavender, which I wasn't a fan of. I also tried the freckled woodblock chocolate, which was quite good. Not overly chocolate, which is what I was afraid of. It had a hint of salt to it, which I think worked really well with the chocolate. I ordered the children's scoop in a sugar cone and thoroughly enjoyed it. Props to them for using local ingredients and their creative flavors, but they are nothing outstanding in the ice cream world.
(3)Kristal B.
Excellent unique ice cream flavors. The sundaes were especially wonderful. Great, speedy and friendly customer service. Would highly recommend this ice cream shop!
(5)John R.
This is a great spot to take someone visiting from out of town, or to go after dinner nearby. The flavor options are exotic and taste exquisite and homemade. I tasted a few samples (considered the norm here) before settling on the Lavender Honey. One can often smell the waffle cones baking from the street. These are the penultimate cones, should you crave that apex of experience. Other options abound however. The ice cream can be icy but is always cold and good. The crowds can be bad here, with lines reaching down the block at certain times and temperatures. Great options, friendly service. Prices are on the high side, though, so consider your options. What they offer can be had elsewhere, to some degree. Enjoy!
(4)Wennie H.
Believe the hype. There's a reason this place is on the best ice cream list. I guess this months theme is street food and I have never in my life experienced anything like it. A few people told me about this place and also told me it was super busy. I was on a coffee date and we decided to hit it up after lunch...but when we were walking past to the pie place, the smell of fresh waffle cones changed everything. The shop is bright, airy, minimalistic and just had a good overall feel. Also, no line at 11am! I tried a couple flavors: the strawberry balsamic with black pepper (super good), the potato champion poutine (f***ing crazy good), the nongs khao man gai peanut butter (weird but not terrible), the chocolate gooey brownie (super rich), and almond brittle with salted ganache (not bad). But I settled on the coconut with petunias salted caramel bar. HOLY GUACAMOLE GOOD. When I tried it, I swear my eyes rolled to the back of my head, my mouth became slack and my date said, "that good, huh?" Literally a mouthgasm. So, so rich and creamy and bad for you, it's amazing. The scoops are massive, the staff friendly and the space great. This is going to become my favorite ice cream place in PDX.
(4)Catherine N.
That smell! The moment you walk past the store (even from across the street), the smell of fresh cooking waffle cones permeates the air. I don't know how anyone can resist stopping into Salt & Straw. They had a really fun menu with a special chocolate menu. The staff is so welcoming and friendly and will give you tastes of anything you want. They use metal spoons and actually have a hole in the counter that acts as the 'spoon shoot' for used tasting spoons. We settled on the tasting flight for $9 because I like to eat a little of a lot of things. Added a $1 waffle cone because (explained above). This is definitely the way to go. You get for pretty big scoops, so it's such a bargain compared to a bunch of single scoop. strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper - this was my favorite. Refreshing, sweet, & smooth with an occasional awakening from the vinegar-not too much black pepper taste though Woodblocks hand roasted chocolate and toasted sesame- smooth and not too rich with nice hints of nuttiness from the sesame Xocolatt and David's brown butter chocolate bar -this was the most chocolatey of the ones we sampled. Pretty straight-forward and slightly salty (nice touch) Sea salt with Caramel (not sea salt caramel)-sea salt ice cream with caramel swirls- this was our least favorite but the bites that had a lot of caramel were good. Loved it even though I'm not a huge ice cream person. Reasonable prices for artisan ice cream in unique flavors. Well deserving of their reputation.
(5)Steph Y.
Came here while visiting my bff and ordered the stump town coffee & burnside bourbon ice cream and was instantly won over. The coffee flavor was strong and the ice cream was smooth and rich so needless to say I inhaled it. The server was also really friendly and chatted with us while she was scooping my order.
(5)Lexie V.
The ice cream here is rich. I mean RICH. It's excellent, don't get me wrong, but this is the kind of place where a single scoop will suffice. I went for a double scoop and could not continue past the top scoop! The top scoop was rhubarb crumble with anise and it was amazing! Creamy with the perfect balance of tart sweetness and freckled with bits of coffee cake crumble. Very good and refreshing! The waffle cones are house-made and are fresh and crispy. The bottom scoop was a salted caramel and it was overpowered by the intense salt. I couldn't hack it. I wasn't woman enough for this scoop. Next time, I go single and stick with my limits. Anyway, cool place with great, friendly staff and a fun vibe.
(4)Sarah B.
Back in Portland for a day after an entire summer away, and couldn't skip this stop! Never disappointing and always surprising me with new flavors. A must!
(5)Shendi X.
I'm still dreaming of this ice cream. My boo and I stayed at a nearby AirBnB; I initially scoffed at the lines our first few nights, but we stuck it out eventually, and were very pleased with the results. Definitely rivals Bi-Rite in SF. Flavor-wise, I loved the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and the Chocolate with Gooey Brownies. The Freckled Woodblock Chocolate and the Coconut with Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars were also quite good. You MUST go if visiting a city with a Salt & Straw! (In Portland, the Alberta location is less busy. :))
(5)Helen S.
Awesome ice cream with many creative flavors. Friendly staff! The line was out the door but totally worth the wait. It moved pretty quickly. The way to go is the flight sampler for $9. You get to try several flavors, but wish I could try them all! My favorite by far was the stumptown coffee and bourbon! Very rich and flavorful coffee flavor, one of the best coffee ice creams I've ever had. Also tried the cinnamon snicker doodle (real chunks of cookie), carrot cake (a seasonal flavor), and almond brittle (one of their most popular flavors)! Highly recommend this place! Hope they open up more locations!
(5)Melissa M.
The Honey Lavender ice cream is the best! I've tried other ones, and they always make it too gooey honey or too intense of a lavender, but, of course, Salt & Straw makes it perfectly! We also loved the Coconut Strawberry Rhubarb Pie one. If you can't decide, just get the sampler!
(5)Celine L.
My new favorite ice cream place.... This place is amazing. We went really early so there was almost no line, and got to try many flavors that they offered. One aspect that I found amazing of Salt and Straw was their ability to use the most unique ingredients and be able create delicious flavors of ice cream right. I've had ice cream places that had unique ingredients, but their execution.. wasn't so good. Everything I tried here was so sinfully delicious yet heavenly that it should be illegal. Their scoop sizes are also enormous, one scoop means two scoops in one. It was ridiculous. The one flavor that stuck out to me the most was their bone marrow and bourbon smoked cherries. Who even thinks of bone marrow as an ice cream flavor? This flavor was very smokey with a slight hint of cherries, which I enjoyed but definitely could not eat a scoop of that. I ended up getting four flavors- Salt and Straw allows half scoops which I was really excited about- so this was supposedly two scoops (but was actually four). Sea Salt w Caramel Ribbons- I actually didn't order this one, but it was still delicious. There was caramel and sea salt everywhere, and it was very smooth and creamy. Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache- The almond brittle was the best part of this ice cream- it seemed to be caramelized or something, and complemented the flavor so well. Strawberry Honey Balsamic w Black Pepper- I hate strawberry ice cream. But when I tried this, I fell in love. The strawberry ice cream had a bit of puree which added more flavor, and there was a slight hint of honey and balsamic that finished off the flavor. I didn't taste the black pepper though. Arbequina Olive Oil- so this is apparently Oprah's favorite olive oil brand.. and damn was it good. As olive oil is my favorite flavor, I had high expectations for this- and this flavor definitely met them. The olive oil had a slight kick instead of the standard olive oil flavor, and was very creamy. The best I've had. After trying this place, I aimed for going to Salt and Straw every day before I left, which was a hard feat as lines are ridiculously long. All of my friends recommended me to go here, and I could most definitely see why. With all the flavors so unique and flawlessly done, one really can't dislike this place. Until next time...
(5)Raja S.
Consistent with the flavors across all of their locations. Somehow liked the location in Alphabet district better
(4)Connie Y.
Creamy ice cream. Freshly made waffle cones. Tons of flavors. What's not to love? My boyfriend and I ended up trying almost all the flavors while we were here. The lady who was scooping our ice cream for us was super nice about it too. She encouraged us to try more flavors... Which we did! Because we don't know when we would be back in Portland again. Don't be intimidated by the line. The line was out the door when we arrived during a Saturday afternoon and it took about 20 minutes to get to the front. That's not a bad wait at all since popular ice cream places in San Francisco may take a little longer than that. Some flavors I liked? -- Sea salt with caramel ribbons -- Stumptown coffee & burnside bourbon -- Cinnamon snickerdoodle -- Chocolate gooey brownie -- Arbequina olive oil -- Sea salt caramel cupcake Side note: Pok Pok is located a block away so it's a good idea to get that first and come here for dessert! Enjoy!
(5)Monica C.
Lavender ice cream is MY FAVORITE!! This ice cream is so whacky and crazy and yummy in my tummy I would go much more often but unfortunately the lines are so outrageously long!! They make their cones fresh though so at least you get to smell the waffle cones while you wait hah. Good tip is if you just get a pint instead of a cone you can skip the line! awesome! GO THERE ESPECIALLY IF UR VISITING!
(5)Leela S.
After coming here, I now wonder why flavours like olive oil or pear and blue cheese aren't commonplace at ice cream parlours everywhere. I didn't end up getting a scoop of either (Stumptown bourbon, you stole my heart) but I sure enjoyed being able to taste them. I happened to visit on a super rainy day at an odd time, so I escaped the infamous line. I don't know if I'd be willing to endure a line out the door, but I would certainly be game to buy a pint and enjoy it in the queue-free comfort of my home. Buuuut I don't live in Portland. Ha, don't mind me.
(4)Ashly d.
Fun and tasty flavours + local and quality ingredients = win win. If you like fresh and delicious ice cream, go.
(5)Ashley P.
While my friend and I were visiting Portland, we had to visit the infamous Salt & Straw! I got the salt and caramel flavor which I like more than the traditional salted caramel that most ice cream and yogurt shops serve because it had a greater kick of the salt. They had plenty of unique flavors, and I tried a bunch. Definitely the place to go if you're up for a novelty flavor. This place was definitely a step up from the LA ice cream shops that have been trending with unique flavors because of the service! Normally there's some sort of 2 sample limit and people get annoyed when you want to try too many things, but it's the opposite here! They want you to try as many flavors, until you find the right one for you, definitely something I was not used to at other places! Side note that doesn't have much to do with the ice cream--If you end up going, check out the soap in the bathroom, pretty gnarly. It's a powdered soap that I believe is called Boraxo used in the old days. Left my hands super soft!
(5)Lehua S.
This place is seriously some of the best ice cream ive ever had. I'm definitely not a dessert person, so me wanting to come here every time I'm in Portland is a HUGE DEAL. I'm not too big into all the wacky flavours, although I did really like pear and blue cheese. I wish they had the staple flavours all year round, like mint chocolate chip. Great place ugh!! I want it as I type.
(5)Kelsie H.
Yes please!!! I'll take another!! Came here this evening with family that told us this place was amazing!!!! And they were so right! Long line, but moves fast! Sample any of the flavors. I tried the honey lavender and peach with blu cheese. I ended up with a half and half single scoop: honey lavender and sea salt caramel. They were fantastic!!!!!! When I visit Portland, this will be a must!!' Yummmmm!!!!
(5)Chris S.
Delicious gourmet ice cream. Gets busy but the line moves pretty quickly and it's worth the wait. Some of the flavors are a trip. The Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon was amazing.
(5)Shannon M.
The line never seems to disappear, even on a weeknight after 9pm, so I did it. Waited in line for ice cream. And I don't regret it. So many crazy, creative flavor combinations. I ordered the tasting flight (why wouldn't everyone order this??) and sampled the Balsamic Strawberry and cracked pepper, Vanilla, Chocolate with Brownie, and Olive Oil. My favorites were the Strawberry and Chocolate. I wish I could have tried more, but four scoops was already too much...
(4)Whitney G.
The line was crazy but it's part of the experience. Make sure you have plenty of time if your putting this on your agenda. When we went they had crazy flavors that infused savory food cart items with ice cream. Worth the wait at least once! Homemade fresh waffle cones are a must.
(5)Tiffanie R.
At the end of the day it's just ice cream and I'm not a big ice cream fanatic, BUT this ice cream is exceptional. For ice cream it's 5 star stuff. Ultra creamy, fresh home made, simple ingredients formed into one of a kind, creative flavors only found here at Salt & Straw. In the last 72 hours I've had the: Honey Lavender, Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, Almond Brittle w/ Salted Granache all with thier in house made waffle cone. Also tried Pear & Blue Cheese and Arbequina Olive Oil - both strangely good, light, refreshing. Love that they use Organic & local ingredients. Very inexpensive too. It's kind of addictive. The line typically has about 30 people ahead of you, leads out the door and wraps around the corner - still people happily wait and I've done it several times now in just a few days. Worth it.
(5)Christine S.
As Tom on Parks and Recs claims, you should TREAT. YO. SELF! (...to some Salt & Straw, of course!) Salt and Straw ice cream is handmade and uses all natural and organic ingredients. They also use local ingredients from family owned farms. Walking in, you'll see a long list of different ice cream flavors to try. It's hard to just pick a few! - Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons: I usually don't like salted caramel ice cream if it's too sweet or too salty, but this one was just right! - Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Black Pepper: unlike SF's Bi-Rite's Balsamic Strawberry ice cream (which was just okay), this one was heavenly! It stands out because they have bits (chunks?) of strawberry jam in the ice cream. I really liked the contrast of the jam and the creamy ice cream, and the waffle cone was bomb! - Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon: coffee ice cream is awesome on its own, but add bourbon, and you got a real winner! Although the total was $12 for three people (two sugar cones and one waffle cone), the portions are pretty big! I almost couldn't finish my whole waffle cone. Definitely worth it if you're craving ice cream.
(5)Michael L.
Forget it. Don't go. If you go, you'll never like ordinary ice cream again. There's a reason there's a line out the door most times. The server will let you try as many flavors as you want, no rush. This is rich, creamy ice cream. Not mousse like 50 Licks, and the preference is yours. I like both. No, I love both. Going to Salt and Straw brought me back to those times when going out for ice cream was something to be excited about. Yum!
(5)Jessica P.
I missed Salt & Straw on my first stop in Portland, so when we moved here it was a must visit...immediately! We knew we were in the right place because there was a line out the door. The line moved very quickly, they definitely have it together, especially on sunny days! We knew we wanted a flight, I'm convinced I would get a flight of just about anything if it was offered, the hard part was deciding on 4 flavors. We went with mainly seasonal flavors, knowing we would have plenty of time to try all of their regulars. The theme was May Flowers and we settled on Dandelion Sorbet with Spring Flowers, Strawberry Meadow Marmalade, Cherry Blossom, and one classic flavor the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle. We immediately dug in, I was battling my husband and a 2 year old with her own spoon, so I had to move fast! The ice cream was absolute perfection. It is creamy and flavorful, and so well balanced. The Dandelion Sorbet was surprisingly flavorful and so good, I wasn't a huge fan of the flowers, it was just weird chewing on them, but it was one of my favorites. The Cherry Blossom had a mild flavor, it wouldn't be my top choice. The strawberry Meadow Marmalade was so good. It had a strong strawberry flavor and a ribbon of sweet honey running through it. We ended up buying a pint, oh yes they sell pints! The Cinnamon Snickerdoodle is the thing dreams are made of, seriously. It is so creamy and cinnamon-y, and it has chunks of Snickerdoodles. OMG! I was also able to sample the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and it is dreamy delicious, probably our next pint. I'm so excited to continue to explore the menu and I'm equally excited that they have a monthly menu that changes. We also decided that we will be getting a pint to bring home when we go from now on. It's a little pricey at $9 a pint, but you can't beat the flavor and knowing that it's made fresh from people who care. If I could I would have a mini Salt & Straw in my house, this is what ice cream is supposed to taste like people!
(5)Benjamin K.
Stellar friendly local service from employees who obviously like working here. Ice cream is exotic and truly creative in nature. Be forewarned it is mega rich in flavor... A single cone for me would have been more than enough over my double cone. Chocolate with speckles was delicious and the salted caramel coconut was insanely gooey and rich! Wowza!
(5)Janet H.
The best ice cream I've ever had!!! Hailing from San Francisco Bay Area, I've been spoiled by other great creameries, but my mind was blown after a few sample bites of Salt & Straw! I've never had ice cream so flavorful and so tasty! Don't let the long lines scare you... it goes by fairly quick. If not, it's TOTALLY worth the wait. Once you reach the counter, the employees let you try samples. Our server was so kind, patient and helpful! She gave great recommendations for complementing different flavors together. We couldn't pick just one flavor so we got the four sampler... no regrets. I got the more "tame" flavors, like strawberry balsamic, honey lavender, sea salt caramel and the almond fritter. My favorites were the strawberry and honey lavender! You must get those! This is also a great dessert spot to cool off your mouths after eating Pok Pok wings! It does get quite crowded in here... in fact, a man almost knocked our ice cream off the table! Rude!
(5)Rosh E.
Location: Along the street with Pok Pok, Richmond Bar, etc. You can't miss it with it's wooden sign. They also have a parking lot right next to it, but it does get packed pretty quick. Customer Service: The ladies scooping your ice cream were very friendly and did not hesitate to make small conversation and also give out samples Decor: It's very simple, nothing fancy but simple is key sometimes! Presentation of Food: Like any other ice cream shop. Cup or cone. Waffle cones. And samplers came on this nicely presented wooden board with four glass cups. How did the food taste?: We got the sampler which came with four different kinds of ice cream. I ended up getting the stumptown coffee and the rose ice cream. The other two my friend picked out which I didn't try because I was just so into the rose ice cream! The coffee was just eh. But see when I was in SF I got lost on Valencia Street and ended up at an Indian Ice Cream shop. They had exotic flavors such as rose which I tried for the first time and loved. I never went back to that ice cream shop because I don't remember where it was. So when I saw they had it here I knew I had to get it to see if they did just as good as a job and they did! It's very light, and tasty! I would have gotten the milk and cereal flavor but I only picked two since I split the sampler. The milk and cereal isn't too bad. The way the girl described it is that they wanted to create an effect where the taste of the ice cream is like how the milk would taste like after you ate a bowl of lucky charms. YUM! Overall Experience: I would come back if in Portland again!
(4)Michele B.
Amazing ice cream! You can sample as many as you want before you make your choices, they periodically switch up some flavors, which makes it exciting! Love the flights, you taste 4 flavors for $9 it is great to share; it's one scoop of each flavor you choose in bowls on a wooden holder! The staff is always so friendly! Be ready to wait in line, but don't be discouraged if it's into the driveway, it moves fast and from the driveway entrance the wait in my experience has be 30 minutes or less and sooooo worth the wait. Easy for pets to come along too.
(5)Natalie M.
Honestly what's not to love about the place that made farm to cone ice cream in PDX cool?! Although it's small, and on any given summer night there's a line out the door, don't worry you won't wait too long. Plus a little wait makes the ice cream that much sweeter. When I moved to LA for a short period of time last year I was thrilled to see that Salt & Straw made the trip with me, yet slightly jealous that we had to share it with anyone outside of Portland. Every flavor is amazing, my favorite in PDX is the Gooey Chocolate Brownie and the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. This is my petition to bring Salted Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough from LA to PDX! It's to die for good and makes me sad that I can't get it now that I am back in PDX. Secrets for the first timers, you can sample as many flavors as you want before selecting your choice and if you can't decide go for the ice cream flight! It's about $9 for several different flavors (I think 5). Your stomach will be happy you did it, trust me. Overall it's my favorite ice cream place in a city full of frozen dairy treats. Also check back each month as they have monthly themes bringing in new flavors in addition to the classic flavors available year round
(5)Dorsey S.
This is ice cream you need in your life. New flavors every month! DO IT
(5)M G.
Friendly staff and deeeeeelicious ice cream!! Please open a store in California... Specifically in the Bay Area!
(5)Tracy D.
O M G! Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon ice cream? WOW! These guys do a bang up, very friendly and fast, business. They make their own cones in house and the smell wafting out draws you in. Just go try them, they are fantastic and some of the best ice cream I've ever had.
(5)Devon B.
We waited for a bit, but the ice cream was worth it. I ordered a seasonal flavor for August-- green fennel maple. It was just enough flavor without being overwhelming. I tried the strawberry balsamic black pepper. It is definitely an acquired taste. I also sample the olive oil, which was nice, but would have needed another flavor. The gal helping us was very accommodating and allowed us to sample multiple flavors.
(5)Ben H.
Flavor- and variety-wise, S&S is the best ice cream shop in Southeast Portland. It's location in the heart of the Division restaurant strip makes it an easily accessible option after dinner if you are in the area. Baristas are friendly and allow you to try any of the flavors before ordering which adds to the experience. The only downside is the long wait if you try to go anytime after 5.
(4)Steve S.
A must try for locals that haven't been yet and visitors of our beautiful city. Interesting flavors make it a lot of fun, yummy and something for everyone. Shop is always nice and clean, lots of style and the staff has always been super friendly. Thanks guys!
(5)John L.
I've tried many ice cream places all over the US and I must say Salt & Straw is definitely one of the best. Not only has been consistently awesome but also consistently daring and innovative with new flavors. This place used to have much shorter lines than Alberta and Alphabet, but the lines seem to be getting longer and longer the last few times I've been. Probably because there are so many new restaurants and condos along Division in that area. Just a side note, Alberta lines seem to have gotten slightly better and Alphabet lines have been the worst since it opened. Despite the lines, I keep going back. Awesome regular items ever changing monthly specials with themes. Never gets boring.
(5)Denea Y.
This is my favorite location of the three, as the line seems to be the shortest. While I always entertain the idea of deviating from my favorite and sampling the unusual monthly flavor specials, I usually come back to my beloved lavender honey. They're sorbets are always amazing and refreshing, including some with heirloom tomatoes and another with watermelon. This is a monthly venture, at the least, and always a treat for visitors!
(5)Denise K.
Flavor and sensory overload! What unique flavors! I give S&S 5 stars because service was extremely friendly and they don't rush you when you're deciding on what samples to try and what flavors to order. Apparently S&S's olive oil ice cream is Oprah's favorite ice cream flavor. It was so unique, rich yet subtle - this flavor definitely tickled my tastebuds! We got a strawberry ricotta and loved it... Some chocolate flavor and another lemon meringue cookie flavor...Everything was delectable! You can't go wrong at S&S! Can't decide on what flavors you want? Pay a little extra and do "split scoops". Hello, 4 flavors in a cup? Yes, please!
(5)Ellre V.
A trip to Salt & Straw is another must in Portland. Where else can you try a Pear and Blue Cheese Ice Cream or a Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper? I was completely satisfied with my first visit here. There was no long line, I was able to sample as many flavors that I so desired, and the workers knew all about the flavors and were able to help me pair my Pear and Blue Cheese scoop with the perfect complementary flavor of a Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon scoop. So glad they opened up a location closer to me in Los Angeles!
(5)Margie S.
Expect long lines! The ice cream and waffles cones are worth it though. The line moves quickly especially if you're surrounded by good company.
(5)Darlene B.
Ice Cream...I've had some really good ice cream before, but this one is not my favorite. With an overwhelming selection on their menu, I had a hard time picking. I tried two flavors in a cup. Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Coconut w/ Petunia's Salted Caramel Bars. These 2 flavors did not go well together...i poorly picked. I'm in a coconut ice cream phase, and this attempt killed my vibe. The Salted Caramel Bar pieces were extremely large and overpowered the coconut flavor. I feel like this was a place I had to try while in Portland...but I should of chose something else. They have cool shop tees and pints to go!
(3)Tara D.
- Fast, friendly, and patient service - kudos on hiring for friendliness and helpfulness - Excellent ice cream - fresh and creamy - Amazing selection of flavors - To go containers also available; easy to grab Although we have Salt & Straw in LA, I first d
(5)Andrew H.
I lived in Portland for 5 years*. I am lactose intolerant.** I never got to visit Salt and Straw...but it wasn't because I feared the impending malaise and cramping that follows a high dose of everyone's favorite milk sugar. It was simply that I never got around to it. On a return visit, I decided to finally do the deed. I'm no ice cream aficionado, but the ice cream here was stunning. I'm obsessed with all things unique and Salt and Straw does not disappoint! They had a THANKSGIVING DINNER flight! How crazy is that? I am a bit ashamed though. I sampled over a half-dozen flavors...and then...I went with their most popular one (salted caramel). Sigh...when did I become so #basic? The staff here were surprisingly friendly despite the long line and my gross indecisiveness. I was worried they were going to surly and mean to keep the line moving, not the case. *Man, when did Division become The Pearl? **(I lost the ability to process high amounts of lactose in college, where I rarely drank milk or ate ice cream...yes, that is possible.)
(4)Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: We were searching for things to do in Portland during the days while my husband was at work and we were ready to play...and along came high reviews for Salt & Straw. Our plan to hit up each of the three locations throughout Portland was thwarted, but we still managed to sample one scoop shop's fare! Type of cuisine: "We're Salt & Straw, Portland's farm-to-cone ice cream shop. Our ice cream is handmade in small-batches using only all-naturaldairy with the best local, sustainable and organic ingredients Oregon has to offer, as well as imported flavors from small,handpicked farms and producers around the world. We start with fresh, local, all-natural cream from family owned farms in the Willamette Valley. Our ice cream is made with 17% butterfat, very little air in the churn process, and a low sweetness level...so the flavors can really shine through!" Ambiance: A country home meets a circus tent with sleek and minimalist design. A hard space to capture in just a few simple words, yet the welcome is warm and inviting, and the focus certainly on the frozen treats! What I ordered: Too full for a full scoop (or two), I sampled my way through the establishment along with my friends, one of whom ordered a thick vanilla milkshake and the other selected two scoops: one of the Strawberry Honey Balsamic and the second a scoop of the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon. I sampled everything from the Salted Caramel Cupcake (too sweet and extremely salty), the Lumberjack Stack (very mapley and not enough pancake), and the Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper (pretty amazing), to the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon (may have been the favorite) and the Pear with Blue Cheese (definite favorite)! What I loved: I was stunned, surprised and intrigued by my absolute favorite: Pear with Blue Cheese! The Stumptown Coffee a very close second, and the Honey Balsamic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper a flavorful, sweet surprise coming in third. Why I loved it: Simple ingredients, healthy sample sizes and amazingly creative flavors worth an out-of-the-way drive. Cost: High ($3 - $8 per serving)
(5)Maggie L.
You can sample as many flavors as you want. The people here are so nice. They have some unique flavors and most taste great. I liked the pear and blue cheese, salted caramel, olive oil and coffee & bourbon. You can get half and half for $.50 extra. They also have some Student Invented flavors, which were invented by local elementary school students and part of the profit goes back to the schools. The A Lick of Happiness is delicious!
(5)Stacy C.
We've driven by dozens of times and always wondered why people would be so foolish to wait in such a long line with so many other icecream/gelato/yogurt options in the city.... But now we get it :) Definitely the best ice-cream we've had in years. I had the goat cheese and lingonberry in my first scoop- enough goat cheese to make it unmistakable without being too tangy or bitter. My second scoop was of the balsamic strawberry w/black pepper- also true to its word and very jammy, though very little pepper at the end. Both are a true delight. My husband had the stumptown coffee ice-cream (which honestly tastes just like his morning stumptown cup of coffee out of our keurig) and and pear & blue cheese- wow... very sweet and tangy, but oh so good...! If indulging with a partner, make sure one of you grabs a spot in line while the other finds parking. There were about 30 peeps in front of us and we waited 15 minutes or so... not so bad! Good service too. My husband had 3 samples before ordering and I had 2. We'll definitely return!
(5)Lady S.
If you are ever within 2 hours of this place you need to come try it out! My family visits at least monthly, and we never leave disappointed. The Rose City Riot is my new favorite flavor this month. You often have to park a block or three away if you come by car, but it's very worth it. Note: If you buy pints from the freezer, you don't have to wait in the (often) long line.
(5)Allan C.
Great ice cream to have while in Portland. Lucked out to have them during the intense heat during our brief stay!
(5)Andrea C.
Salt & Straw ice cream met my expectations. They had a unique set of flavors. I'm, however, very boring and not as adventurous when it comes to flavors and I usually stick with coffee haha. But! Their coffee ice cream did NOT disasspoint. It was Stumptown coffee and burboun flavored. Drooooool. Although the line was really long, it moved along pretty fast. What I really liked was that the workers there looked like they really enjoyed what they were doing and offered as many samples as we wanted. Like how they gave samples with actual metal spoons. The girl that was helping us also told us that there is a Salt & Straw in Hollywood so if I ever need to get my fix, I can just make the drive out there :) Will definitely make a stop here again next time I'm in town! :)
(4)Angel I.
BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD. Good thing I don't live in Portland or I would be in trouble. But when I am in Portland, I am at Salt & Straw EVERYDAY! :) Very unique flavors for their ice cream, and everything is truly local and artisan. Expect waits, but the wait is well worth it.
(5)Joanna L.
This is the best ice cream I have ever had. Anywhere. The line was about 20 minutes on a recent night but I would have waited longer. Once at the front the server let us try everything we wanted to before making a selection. The flavors are so unique and the ingredients are locally sourced. I decided on a waffle cone with cinnamon snickerdoodle and strawberry balsamic black pepper favors. I might join the pint of the month club soon!!
(5)Annette C.
It's not bad but not great either. Probably a 3 1/2 stars. We tried 4 of the classic flavors - salted caramel ribbon, woodblock chocolate, chocolate with gooey brownie & almond brittle. You can definitely taste the salt in the flavors. I'll try it again if the lines are not long.
(3)Shireen J.
Oh goodness! The sea salt and caramel was absolutely delicious!! The lavender honey also comes highly recommended. The chocolate brownie is good but not the best even though I usually pick chocolate everywhere I go. I also tried the delicious snicker doodle. The waffles cones are made fresh and make the entire store smell great. Worth it!
(5)Elizabeth R.
I visited this place on NYE 2014, so my memory may be enhanced by sparkling wine and cocktails... but I'm still going say that I loved it! I was very happy to be warmly greeted and given ample time to sample and choose my flavor even though they were VERY busy. This place clearly exists for interesting flavors, so don't waste your time getting something typical. Stretch your ice-cream taste buds and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ken W.
DELICIOUS ice cream. EXCELLENT customer service. I came with 2 buddies and waited in line for about fifteen minutes. The line moved pretty fast as the service is quick. The girl helping us was so sweet. Despite the line, she told us to try out as many flavors as we'd like to, was explaining each flavor, and just kept moving us down, letting us sample more and more ice cream. She didn't make us feel rushed at all, and at one point I completely forgot about the giant line behind us. Their cocktail flavors were excellent, in which I went with a double scoop. A heaping double scoop that is. You can't go wrong here, especially after sampling one after another until you find the flavor that dances on your taste buds. Salt & straw is always unique and delicious, and I understand the usual line. It's worth the wait. If all the people working are as sweet as this girl was, they deserve 6/5 stars. Thank you blonde girl, you made us all happy with ice cream.
(5)Adrienne I.
Whoooooaaa. Amazing,and I don't even love ice cream. I tasted strawberry balsamic pepper (yummy and strangely buttery, almost got this as my scoop), sea salt caramel (yummy yum yum), olive oil (not for me...it literally tastes like oil), almond brittle (yummy crispiness), lavender honey (not for me either... It tasted like a spa smells), and pear blue cheese (I got a whole scoop of this, not too blue cheesey and the pears were delightful. They were so super nice about letting me try it all. A culinary foodie treat for sure!
(5)Debbie L.
Always the best ice cream and town. Really spoiled now and only go to Salt & Straw for ice cream. I love their changing flavors for the holidays and then their regular flavors always there too! I had a sundae a while back and it was good but I think I'll just stick to the ice cream by itself. I recommend Salt & Straw not just for the "sight-seeing" or "touristy" folks, but for everyone or anyone that wants to taste what real ice cream is supposed to taste like!
(5)Fu W.
What do you do when there are so many interesting flavors available?! The only thing you could do... Get. Them. All. Yes, ALL. 17 flavors to be exact, with four tasting flights and one kid scoop. And yes, they were all delicious. Each one was flavorful without being overpowering, not too sweet, and not too rich, executed with interesting and complementary combinations of ingredients. This was definitely not just an ice cream shop with gimmicky crazy flavors. With the advantage of tasting so many different flavors side by side, it was easy to tell the top notch quality and uniqueness in every single one. Salt & Straw did not disappoint. We happily huddled around our samplers while others looked on with jealousy, and we finished everything, pushing the limits of our lactose intolerance. Worth it! =D Highlights: Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon Honey Lavender Arbequina Olive Oil Rose City Riot Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper Pear with Blue Cheese
(4)Liza S.
Wow. Just wow. The single most amazing ice cream ever. Ok, here's the details: I was completely set on the honey lavender, but wanted to try a few others. I tried the rhubarb saffron, found it a little too sweet. Moved on to the strawberry lemon verbena, and OMG I was in love. Light, lemony, a little tart and a little sweet. Perfect for a warm evening. I wanted both, the lavender and the strawberry lemon verbena-but that's a challenge, even in a fresh made waffle cone. So, what to do? The wonderfully helpful lady helping us offered to split the scoop so I could have both! I was completely happy. My companion had the woodblock chocolate. I tend to shy away from chocolate ice cream because it's generally too sweet for me. This chocolate was rich, dark, and almost smoky. An incredible chocolate that has a complexity rarely found in ice cream. Ok, here's the good, less good, and what to expect if you've never visited: Good: Flavors- amazing variety and quality Cones- the fresh waffle cones are incredible. Thin and crisp. Samples- love being able to taste and use a real (tiny) spoon, no plastic! Service- awesome. It was late in the evening, and everyone was happy and helpful. Less good: The line- it is a fairly quick moving line, but it looks daunting when driving/walking by. If I hadn't read the amazing reviews on Yelp, I might have gone somewhere else. Confusion when it's your turn- we weren't really sure what was going on, might be a better way of moving people through. So if it's your first time, expect to wait a bit and be a little overwhelmed by all the choices. This was my first time, and I looked at the menu before I visited, so I had a short list of what I wanted to try. I recommend that. Also take your time and try things. They are very nice about giving tastes. Don't let the line scare you away. There were probably 40 people ahead of us and it took us maybe 15 minutes. It was completely worth the wait and I would wait even longer. It was that good.
(5)Brooks M.
another portland staple. while it is indeed amazing i am not willing to wait in line for many things over an hour. rocked it this time when we walked by on easter sunday at 6 pm and the line was only 10 deep to the door! bam! a. thank you salt & straw for being open on a holiday, that's a-mazing b. thanks for always having amazing service, knowledgable staff and quality product that never disappoints. the win this week was a fudge brownie ice cream malt. win.
(4)Michelle G.
Solid ice cream shop with unique artisan flavors that are PNW inspired! Great for a hot day but be prepared for the long line!
(4)Alex P.
It's weird and fun, but that's it. It's definitely the best weird flavored ice cream you'll find, but holy Moses that is it. If you say this is actually the best ice cream you've ever had, you're kidding yourself. This is the perfect place for "foodies" that want to feel like they have a sophisticated pallet for eating "artesian" ice cream that normal people don't like. The favors aren't actually good, they just aren't terrible. All this said, I did smile when I took my first few licks, so maybe it's worth it. Overall, I give Salt & Straw an eye-roll/5
(2)Trudy S.
Always too busy at night so stopped off for breakfast. Stumptown coffee wirh bourbon, pear and blue cheese, hot fudge brownie sundae are all fantastic. Get them soon though...they might not be there next week!
(5)Jo R.
Not worth it- not worth the line, not worth the money. I can make better ice cream, and I think I can make it faster than I can get through the line here.
(2)Linh N.
They have vegan ice cream!! Yes, my friends. Dairy free and Egg-free ice cream. Vegans, lactose-intolerants, and egg- and dairy-allergy friends can unite and cheer! Their vegan ice cream when I went was a coconut milk ice cream with chunks of salted caramel bars. It was de-effing-licious. Now, let's get this clear though, I am neither vegan, lactose-intolerant, nor do I have food allergies, but my 1.5 year old daughter who has had to avoid most ice creams all her life, can finally enjoy a taste of creamy frozen deliciousness from an ice cream shop. And I of course, got to taste the various types of ice creams before trying them. My personal favorites were lavendar and salted caramel. If you want just a scoop of ice cream but can't decide on which flavor to commit to, you can split it into 2 flavors like what I did. This location barely had a line when I went on a Monday holiday afternoon (Labor day). There were probably about 8 seats or so. I am already missing this place!
(5)Shanna C.
Ice cream always hits the spot on a warm day! We got lucky and didn't have to deal with a long line. They have some interesting flavors (some that were a bit too weird sounding). To be honest, I probably would have loved it if I didn't live around the corner from Cloud City (which I prefer). So yeah..good ice cream, cool space, and unique flavors!
(4)Jared H.
Ok. I was hesitant about the long line because I can't stand waiting in line especially when I have 3 kids in tow. But the wait was totally worth it. My kids had one that tasted just like lucky charms. They were ecstatic about it and can't wait to go back to get more. My wife had a coffee one and it was awesome and I had one with real pistachios in it and it was phenomenal. Surprisingly the prices weren't that terrible. Usually when you go to a place that always has a line out the door you expect to get ripped off but prices really weren't that bad. Sadly you will probably pay about the same at a Baskin Robins. I am telling everyone that they have to go here, especially if they are visiting Portland.
(5)Barton R.
Everything you've heard is true. The line is long, the service is city-best, and the ice cream...Oh, that smooth, creamy, delectable ice cream. It's not often that I get to eat vegan ice cream out on the town, and Salt & Straw's vegan selections both blew me completely out of the water. Coconut + Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is absolutely to die for.
(5)Christina L.
OMG SO NOMSIES! after late lunch at pok pok, we only had room for 2 small scoops - and after tasting a few flavors, decided on the coconut and pumpkin - but with exotic bits included! mmmm!! such a chic little spot, and people working there are passionate and knowledgeable about their flavors and product..! nice work!
(5)Anna R.
I hate how much I actually love this place. When I first heard the hype I thought eh, ice cream can't be thattttt good. But it is! The ice cream is unbelievably creamy and delicious. I'm a huge fan of the honey lavender and salted carmel (like everyone else). Their seasonal flavors can be a little wild but they are great! But alas, with quality comes a hefty price tag. This is not your DQ swirl cone. You'll probably spend at least $5 for a sizable cone. But I can get over that because it really is just so.damn.good. I will be back again and again.
(5)Lena V.
I have never been a fan of much sweets so it wasn't to my surprise I wasn't all that crazy about this place. I tried the almond brittle with salted ganache. I really enjoyed it until I encountered the salted ganache and it was just too much. When I had a sample, the salted ganache wasn't there so i didn't know how it was going to be. The salted ganache was just way too huge. Half way through, I was picking them out. The almond brittle was yummy though.
(3)Vy T.
The flavors at this place are unique to say the least. The staff was very friendly and you can try samples before you order. All the ice cream is pretty heavy, with lots of toppings swirled in to make the ice cream flavors really stand out. There are seasonal flavors, changing depending on local products avalaible. I'm glad that they're opening a location in LA, and the flavors will be created from local ingredients!
(4)Amanda M.
Amazing and unique flavors of gelato! They let you try anything you want to and even offer a sampler where you can try small portions of 3 different flavors. They have sweet, savory, and everything in between. This is great to have after Pok Pok's chicken wings (from Pok Pok or the Whiskey Bar).
(5)Rachel H.
So since I've heard about the long lines I went around noon on a Tuesday. Was able to find parking and didn't have to wait in line at all. The aroma inside the store, holy shiz. I got s flight with 4/5 of the Thanksgiving flavors.
(4)Linh F.
i honestly don't need to say much about salt & straw since this is a portland staple. portland natives love it, tourists come here just to eat it, and it's one of oprah's favorite things! i will, however, confirm what everyone has said before me. this place is awesome! yes, there are long lines all throughout the day but we really didn't mind. this was the second place we went to after we got off the plane and ate it every day until we left. too much? we don't think so. salt & straw has three locations... we visited two of them. so they have a their list of permanent flavors and then a few rotating flavors. their featured flavors the week we were there were signature cocktails! our absolute favorites: - cinnamon snickerdoodle - chunks of cookies in the ice cream! - almond brittle ganache also, waffle cones are a must. you can literally smell them when you are waiting in line. with that said, you wouldn't be that big of a loser if you didn't get a waffle cone (or would you? jk). you have the choice of sugar cone or cup. you also have a ton of options with regard to your scoops. single, double, split, kids size or even a sample flight! ok, so a few tips. if you get a chance, i would go to the location on division (pictured above). it is new so the decor is stupid cute. fresher and lighter than the original location on 23rd (pictured below). lots of natural light and there's a hole in the counter wall for your spoon (mentioned and pictured above). it's the little things. we cannot stop raving about this place. add this to your list if you are in town!
(5)Mark G.
Was a little upsetting standing in the long line, but more than worth it one I tasted their ice cream. The sea salt with caramel and woodblock chocolate were delicious. Definitely will stand in that long line tomorrow
(5)Dennis M.
We came 15 min before they closed on last Tuesday and forgot my lef overs (from Pok Pok). We realized and went back after we left just only 5 minutes (around 11pm) but they closed already so I knocked the door and one of them saw us, at that moment I saw the other employee eating my leftovers. (manager, please check on video cams). I stood there for a minute and they still not open the door after i've been knocked on the door many times, surely, because they saw me and got caught eating my leftovers. gross. bad experience i've ever had.
(1)Jett B.
best. ice cream. ever. Honestly, I don't usually like the really crazy stuff, like Peking Duck Bun, but most of their creative concoctions usually score big with me. Last week I had chocolate covered potato chip salted caramel and it was a winner.
(5)Greg A.
Me and the wife came here during our vacation to Portland. Everyone kept telling us to go here. All their ice cream flavors sounded so good we just ended up getting the flight. All of them were above average. Great ice cream here.
(5)Pissed O.
Oh how I love you salt and straw. I hear the owner is not very professional but holy yum is it tasty!
(5)Alice L.
My advice: -Avoid the long lines by going before lunch (yep, that means have it at 10 or 11am, what better excuse??) and before dinner (around 3-4pm). Another yelper just took the time to personally inform me that apparently, "only assholes get ice cream at 10am to avoid the lines." So if you're part of the elite few that loves ice cream any time of the day, I proudly quote Dave Skylark, "hate us cuz you ain't us!" -Get a split cone, which is 2 kid sized scoops for $4.45, so you can not only try smaller amounts of 2 flavors but also mix it. My favorite mixes have been the Stumptown Coffee and Salted Caramel (soooo good). -Any weather is ice cream weather so don't think the cold or rain will make it less busy. -They have their usual flavors and they have monthly seasonal flavors, which are DIVINE and change according to what's available locally. -Lastly, they just opened up a store in L.A. for all the Cali folks but the flavors are a little different because they use locally sourced ingredients. Their ice cream is always just right: not too dense with just the right amount of ice crystals in it.
(5)Neil W.
This was recommended to us and after a disappointing lunch we happened to drive by and wanted a pick me up. They have a great selection of flavors; very unique and well thought out. I had two scoops; one of the coffee bourbon and one of the almond brittle with salted ganache. The coffee was good, not great. I had a hard time picking up any bourbon notes. The almond brittle was great. It was a good balance of flavors without going overboard. My wife had a ricotta, honey, lavender ice cream. The description was so long that we have trouble remembering all that was in it. She still talks about it. It was one of the best ice cream flavors she has had. They really did a good job mixing those flavors.
(5)Julian M.
The confectionary wizards at Salt and Straw combines flavors that should not go together but somehow magically do. Whether it's in a scoop of Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero, which finds the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, or the smoky Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon, every scoop is filled with Wonka-esque deliciousness. Even classic flavors are given a foodie overhaul with options like Double Fold Vanilla, which uses twice as many vanilla beans, or Strawberry Balsamic. The only downside to this creamery is how small the shop is; be prepared to stand for at least 10 minutes for a scoop, although once you've tasted a bite you'll forgot all about the wait.
(5)Daisy K.
Unique flavors, super friendly staff and... the option to taste test all the weird flavors before settling on something you want to actually consume a scoop or two of a flavor you can enjoy. The one I finally settled on was the Almond Brittle with salted ganache... and wow. Speechless at how amazing this flavor is. The right amount of crunch paried with the saltiness and richly bitterness of the dark ganache. If they made gallons of this ice cream, I would take it with me.
(5)Iris L.
I love salt and straw and all their new seasonal flours however some classic flours taste more watery than two years ago. It is kind of sad after the business grow rapidly the quality of the products go down. But it still really good ice cream thigh
(4)Jo L.
I've been to some other pretty well known and highly ranked ice cream places, and S&S was pretty good, but I don't think I'm falling on the floor crying in awe of the ice cream there. I do love that basically the entire block smells like waffle cones. I mean, if you didn't want ice cream before you were in the vicinity of S&S then you probably would by the time you managed to get around the line out the door. There was, as usual (from the other reviews here) a line out the door, but it moved relatively quickly. I had the strawberry balsamic ice cream with black pepper and it was pretty good. I also tried some of the other ones, like the strawberry and Pimm's flavor (which turned out to not have any Pimm's in it), the coffee/bourbon one, the birthday cake and blackberry (which was waaaaaay too sweet because of the frosting(!!) flavored cake), the cucumber and berry sorbet, and a few others. I liked the range of options, and the menu is helpfully posted inside AND out to minimize on indecision and flavor envy, and all of the flavors were tasty but again, not mind-blowingly-I'm-crying-because-this-is-so-good tasty. The staff there were super helpful and knowledgeable about the flavors, and I only felt minimally rushed while I made my purchase. We also got some really tasty shortbread cookies on an impulse buy, and those were great. More seating in the area would be nice too. It's worth going to if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek it out.
(4)Kathryn H.
Great assortment of flavors. Perfect balance of sweetness so that it's not overwhelming. Be prepared to wait in line.
(5)Gracie L.
Yep, Salt & Straw really is As Good As it Gets! This place tops ALL other ice cream shops you've ever tried! Now, their exotic flavors do come and go, but they'll always have something delicious and interesting to try. My personal favor (thus far) is the Strawberry Balsamic. It's SOOOOO good! Definitely do the sampler- you get a hefty scoop of four different flavors. Plus, you can even try a little bite at the front counter before you order (just so you know you like what you get). I love Salt & Straw- please come to San Diego!!!!!!
(5)Jessie M.
Amazing! Best ice cream I've had in the U.S. by far! The flavors are great and out-of-the-box. It's hard to pick a favorite flavor because they're all so good but I think the honey lavender stuck out a little more for me. Not only are the flavors amazing, but the texture is so rich and creamy! They need to open one in Utah! I totally rave about this place all the time! It's a MUST-TRY
(5)Robin N.
New. Favorite. Ice cream. I LOVE Salt and Straw! The ice cream is creamy and flavorful without being overly rich. I got the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and a Chocolate-flavored ice cream that was apparently inspired by a few local elementary school kids. Cute! Also they give you a ton of good-sized samples. ;) Thanks to the friendly blue-haired girl who served me!
(5)Lana N.
I'm in love with this place, yes the line is long, but it's definitely worth the wait. After lunch we walked over and probably stood in line for a good 20 minutes before it was our turn. We asked for a few tastings since we have never been here and they were really happy to offer us whatever we had asked. We ended up getting the following: - The stumptown coffee and bourban - this was absolutely amazing! The coffee taste was great and the subtle taste of the bourban absolutely balanced out the flavors. - Sea salt with caramel - my son had this and he said it was delicious. The ice cream was soft and the caramel added that extra wow factor to the ice cream flavor. I hope one day Salt and Straw will expand and especially to CA! Such a unique taste to the ice cream flavors that keeps you wanting to come back for more! I am a huge fan!!
(5)Ezra B.
Salt and Straw is definitely worth your time, especially for ice cream aficionados! I visited in January on a business trip, and boy, was I happy I did! I posted a photo of their flavors listed when I visited, and you can see the variety: Pear w/Blue Cheese; Honey Lavender; Cinnamon Snickerdoodle -- the list goes on! I had a scoop of Cinnamon Snickerdoodle and a scoop of "The Universe II," which is a whole variety of "fix-ins". Gosh, both flavors were so good! I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Crystal H.
SO worth the wait. Also, the wait at this location was far less than in the Alphabet district (and with a far less douchey clientele). We sampled several amazing flavors and I ended up getting a pear and blue cheese scoop, which I thought I'd just sample on a lark but it was soooo good!! Important note--if you want to skip the line (and the free samples) you can get a pint at the front.
(5)Jamie L.
back to California after 4 wonderful days in Portland. I will miss the trails, coffee, and food stands of course, but most of all I will miss the cinnamon snicker doodle and almond ganache flavored icecream in the waffle cone from Salt and Straw
(5)Amanda N.
Smell the delicious waffle cones before even entering the shop. Employees are helpful and friendly.Huge selections of flavors along with some seasonal ones. Great to be able to sample before buying. Have pint sizes available to purchase. They can also ship you ice cream to your home. Whether you stopped in with only a few customers or a long line out the door, they are quick so don't be discourage
(4)Joyce V.
I was almost denied my favorite ice cream again due to the line down the block! I begged & pleaded then I was finally able to convince my husband to go after dinner at Pok Pok if it was still open. Luckily Salt & Straw is open until 11:00pm. We walked over after dinner about 15 minutes to closing. There were still a lot of people eating their ice cream outside but no long line. We were able to try different ice creams without feeling rushed. I ended up getting my favorite Sea Salt Ice Cream w/ Caramel Ribbon & my husband got the Coffee & Bourbon both in a waffle cone. We were both in heaven. We will always enjoy this Portland ice cream when we visit but I'm so thrilled that we are getting our very own Salt & Straw in Los Angeles! I just hope that people are just as nice as the people of Portland.
(5)Grey G.
I've been here three times. Each time the flavors have been mind bogglingly incredible. This is a great place to bring very patient out of towners. On one occasion, I got some sort of brownie sundae. The brownie was heated in a microwave. Ick. On another occasion, I asked about a flavor called "The Universe". The employee & I joked about asking "what's in the universe?", Neil Degrasse Tyson was mentioned. I asked if The Universe had ginger in it, she said -without hesitation- it didn't. So I ordered it. After having a bad reaction to The Universe, I'm going to go out on a limb and say she was full of shit and that she just wanted to get the eternally long line moving rather than actually checking. Speaking of which, the line here is always mind-numbingly long. Plan on being as drunk as needed or bring a good playlist/book while you wait. You will be here at least 30 minutes before you even reach the front of the queue. And when you get your ice cream, there will be no where to sit inside S&S, so you better hope it's nice out.
(3)Sarah G.
I was beyond happy to visit S&S twice during out PDX trip. Also, note that there are times where this place does NOT have a line 100+ strong. We lucked out on our first visit, which was sometime in the late afternoon for a post-lunch snacking. I had to start with a sampler, of course... Honey Lavender, Pear w Blue Cheese, Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon and... my current food crush: Goat Cheese & Marionberry Habanero! Then a day later, with oh so find memories we tried again after dinner. The line was obscene at 10pm on a weeknight. Seeing as how we didn't have to wait in line the first time I wasn't about to start now. So we came back the following day, mid-afternoon again. And apparently we lucked out again because I was able to get my waffle cone on in record time. This visit, it was all about me and the Goaty, creamy, slightly spicy Berry-sweet wonderland that I still dream about over a month later. Yes, it's difficult being in a long distance relationship with an ice cream flavor all the way on the west coast, but when were reunited again... Oh how sweet it will be.
(5)Bethany K.
YUM. First time visiting the SE location, and while there was a ghastly long line, I wasn't really surprised since it was the weekend and hot out. Service was fabulous, the flavors were delicious, there was space to sit inside (and lots of people standing around outside with ice cream too) -- just an overall awesome stop. Everyone who comes to Portland needs to eat some S&S. Dooo itttttt
(5)Ani S.
Why is there always an obscene line down the block?? I have been here a couple times when it's an odd hour and there's no wait but no way would I wait an hour for a $7 scoop of iced olive oil. I have been unpleasantly surprised with most of their flavors and just can't stand the huge crowds. No thanks!
(2)Grace L.
Yum yum yum yum yum! The ice cream here is rich and flavorful and they have a gazillion of flavors so there's bound to be something that will satisfy your sweet (or salty) tooth! Super friendly. Super patient. Willing to let you sample a lot of flavors. Waffle cone is made fresh and delicious!
(5)Fran B.
I've been giving out 5 stars for everything, not because I have no standards.... but because everything is just so great lol. I feel like Portland is pretty creative when it comes to food. Salt & Straw has ice creams flavors that are so unique! I mean, there are some similarities to Bi-Rite in SF but I feel like this is just slightly better....... I got the honey lavender, but I didn't come to that choice easily. I was freaking out trying to decide which flavor to get, but in the end, that is what I chose lol. My bf got the snickerdoodle, which was packed with cinnamon sweetness flavor mm mmm. I got to try the olive oil ice cream as well, and BOYEE that is smooth. I never expected olive oil ice cream to taste so........... olive oily? But it did, and it worked. I wish I got to try the strawberry balsamic, but I didn't wanna be one of those pesky customers who samples every single flavor.......... but I should've. THE REGRETS! But that honey lavender was pretty great. My bf was not a fan of "flowery" flavors lol, so he didn't really like it. But I thought it had just the right amount of fragrance, honey, and subtle lavender tones. It was also SMOOOOTH. Not necessarily creamy or milky, just...... smooth. You know? Some ice creams are not that creamy in texture because it's not supposed to be a creamy flavor........ but this was creamy in texture without having too much of a creamy flavor. Am I making sense? Does anyone even care? lol Anyway, slightly overpriced but f* it. If I find myself in Portland again, you bet your ass I'm coming back!
(5)Leslie E.
Every time i walk by this location the heavenly wafting scent of waffle cones makes me seriously reevaluate my decision to reduce sugar in my diet... Their flavors are divine. Everything from the extremely adventurous to a few more tame choices so everyone can find something to their tastes. I ADORE the lavender honey ice cream, which tastes like faery food to me! The lines are usually long and a bit claustrophobic, but it does move fast and is worth the wait! Staff is very generous about giving samples of flavors to help you decide.
(5)Rebecca C.
Shared two scoops with Derek Collins. One honey and lavender and the other salted caramel. Yum!
(5)My L.
I've tried the Salt and Straw in Larchmont and didn't think I'd need to go to the Portland one but I'm so glad I did!! I had the potato chip and chocolate one which was SOO good!! I also had the coffee and bourbon which was a good mix to it. It was a nice dessert after going to Pok Pok down the street. There's seating outside so you can eat your ice cream outside.
(4)Anthony P.
One Easter Sunday I found myself alone in town, so I decided to treat myself to some ice cream. As I waited in line at the Alphabet District Location of Salt & Straw, a white man with dreads played a giant bell bowl across the street. Looking around at the hipsters and tourists waiting in line with me for hand-made artisan ice cream, I could only imagine that I'd found my way into an episode of Portlandia. Nonetheless, the Ice Cream was truly delicious. The flavors are creative- pear and blue cheese, thai iced tea, and more. However, even the basics are just better than other ice creams. If you don't mind a little bit of a circus (or even enjoy it), then wait in line and buy a scoop. While you're at it, take home a hand-packed quart since you waited in line anyway. Try something novel and something classic. You will not be disappointed by either.
(5)Michele R.
It was a gray afternoon with a threat of rain. (In Portland? What a surprise.) That didn't deter me, Portland native that I am, from dragging my hubby to see what all the buzz was about at Salt & Straw. He saw the line and said "You must be kidding". No, I wasn't. And after the friendly people behind the counter managed to be all smiles and keep the line moving even with offering up samples of anything one wanted to try, and after we made our selections and were sitting in the crowded but inviting space to savor every bite, my husband said "This was absolutely worth it. I'm glad we came." THE DRILL Line up, it moves quickly, and peruse the standard flavors menu, about a dozen options, or the seasonal flavors menu, maybe five more, from the boards above the service counter or take a paper menu to read the choices. You can order your ice cream in a cone or a cup, and in the latter in kids', single, double or split scoop sizes. THE ICE CREAM We chose the split ($4.25) which allows two flavors in a single scoop. We relished every bite of our choices, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and Stumptown Coffee with Bourbon. Both were incredibly delicious. Sweet Potato with Candied Pecans and Pumpkin Custard with Chevre were two others we asked to sample and they will be on our list to order if we get back to the area while the Thanksgiving Season options are still available. As for the Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey option on this list...well, I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food but the "...turkey fat caramel with fried turkey skin brittle..." on the description was deterrent. This time at least. THE VIBE Interesting up to date take on an ice cream shop; look up for ceiling designs. In spite of the crowds things were chill (bad pun I know) inside, quiet enough to have a conversation and everyone seemed just happy to be there. A very nice young guy with his infant daughter in snuggly on his chest even stood to offer me his seat, noting I had trouble standing on my own (MS at work) in the SRO crowd. A warm gesture in a frozen treats store. Seating is at a handful of fixed high counter stools near the door, behind the line where you queue up, and maybe a dozen more seats at standard height fixed stools or benches on the exit door side. THIS N THAT: 1) ACCESSIBILITY: The mom with a stroller who said "Thanks but it's not stroller friendly in there" as we offered to hold the door for her to get in is a pretty good tip off that this place may be a challenge for people using wheelchairs too. Level in and throughout but the queue space is tight and there doesn't seem to be a place where people using wheelchairs could easily sit to eat inside with others given the fixed stools. Just a heads up if you or someone you travel with keeps that in mind. I do as on a future visit in, this could be any of us. 2) PARKING: So it goes in Portland neighborhoods that it is a challenge everywhere. 3) PINT TO FOOD BANK DONATION: Pre packed pints are available for sale from a case near the exit door. For every pint you buy of the Thanksgiving flavors, Salt & Straw will donate a pint to the Oregon Food Bank. Sweet.
(4)Chi D.
Really nice workers and efficient too. Great ice cream flavors. Line was pretty long but it goes fairly quick!! YAY!! have fun. Good luck and good eats!!!
(5)Emily D.
Wow the flavors! There are so many varied, interesting and well balanced. How to turn a poutine into a dessert? I don't know but every flavor I had a chance to sample was excellent. Prepare for a wait with lines down the block but once to the counter it is quite an ice cream experience. They were happy to let me try many and even offered if I want I could try them all! I settled on a half scoop of brittle and salted ganache and half scoop of honey lavender. Honey lavender on top so as not to lose a subtle flavor. Both were excellent! Brittle and salted ganache was amazing to many areas of my tongue. The salty sweet flavor combination and generous ganache-ing were fabulous. I love lavender and while in Portland tried many items with the lavender essence in it many of which were subtle and easily lost amongst other flavors. Of the lavender ice creams I tried salt and straws honey Lavender ice cream impressed me with the most prominent lavender taste. By no means over powering but noticeable not only at the first taste but through the whole scoop. A must stop while in the area, try coming at an off time for a slightly shorter line.
(5)Melissa T.
I'm not an ice cream person, but I loved this ice cream shop...so much that I visited twice on my 4 day trip to Portland! Unlike a lot of ice cream shops, I felt comfortable sampling multiple flavors, and I didn't feel pressured to make a decision despite the increasingly long line outside the door. Even after I thought I was done sampling, the employee suggested one of the seasonal flavors, which turned out to be excellent. The cups or sugar cones are complimentary, but if you want a waffle cone, it's a dollar extra. During my first visit, I opted for the $9 ice cream flight. I sat in the window and got a lot of envious stares from passersby. I got the Arbequina olive oil, strawberry honey balsamic vinegar, sea salt with caramel, and almond brittle with salted ganache. My husband loved the olive oil, while my personal favorite was the almond brittle. While the ice cream flight is fun and pretty and all, I do feel $9 for 4 small scoops of ice cream is a lot. For that reason, I made sure to get a waffle cone the second time. I got the almond brittle and seasonal favorite rhubarb crumble with toasted anise. Unbeknownst to me, the employee gave me a "split scoop," which is one scoop split into 2 flavors. There is a 50 cent upcharge for this... I would have preferred two full scoops, but oh well... If you're getting more than one flavor, I would advise you to specify what you want to avoid this mix-up. Overall, the flavors are great and innovative, the ice cream shop is spacious, and the employees are friendly. It's a definite stop on a visit to Portland.
(4)Lina N.
Freshly made waffle. Really good ice cream! Many good ideas of seasonal flavors. You must taste them. Sehr gutes Eis. Einfach probieren. Normalerweise mag ich keine Eiswaffeln. Doch diese sind selbst gebacken und Lecker.
(5)Dalena T.
Portland must try, I remember reading an article about top 100 ice creameries you must try in the country, salt and straw was up there on that list ! The difference from salt and straw to most ice cream places is their unique flavors, each season they tend to have special flavors they switch up when I went this time they had unique flavors from like honey lavender and sea salt I've cream with Carmel to crazy flavors like green fennel and maple, carrot watermelon sorbet, to bone marrow and bourbon smoked cherries . they sound crazy but definitely worth trying, you'll be surprised how the craziest combinations can taste. Sugar cones are free if you want the option of a cone or a cup , but the waffle cones are made fresh and taste amazing definitely worth the extra dollar. They have different scoop sizes but they do mention on the menu that if you get a normal 1 scoop you have the option of getting two flavors so essentially getting half scoops of two flavors. something you should consider especially at a place like salt and straw !
(5)Carissa B.
The ice cream flavors are creative and delicious. The wait to get up to the counter to order is always crazy long but is the only downside to this fun ice cream spot
(4)Eric B.
Oh boy I love ice cream, and I really liked Salt and Straw. Strawberry balsamic with black pepper was very tasty. For me, the balsamic and particularly the pepper were a little subtle. Easily forgotten. It was a bit like very good strawberry ice cream with good ideas in it. Same goes for the sea urchin, although I think it worked better in this case. Do you really want that much sea urchin flavor? It was there, and tasty. One of my favorites. Honey lavender might have been my favorite, which surprised me. Simple, but very assertive lavender flavor coming through - in a good way. Refreshing and delightful. Rhubarb crumble with toasted anise was also terrific. I was left wanting slightly more of that licorice anise flavor to come through, but thoroughly enjoyable. The actual product is quite gourmet. Just terrific ice cream. Very consistent, no crystallization. True artisanal work. Flavor balances could use a bit more tweaking/balancing, but the bold inventiveness of the flavors makes up all the ground there. Great shop.
(4)Rachel G.
So much hype, but overall I think it lives up to it. There's always a line, but TBH it moves incredibly quickly. I've never stood there more than 15 minutes. People say its expensive, but really--you easily pay $3.50-4 for a waffle cone at Coldstone or similar these days. Wouldn't you rather pay that extra buck and get ingredients that are 1000x better, plus amazing flavors? You would. Flavors I've flaved that were awesome: Stumptown + Burnside Bourbon. Right in my wheelhouse and prob my overall favorite. Freckled woodblock chocolate. Love it. Apricot and hops (summer seasonal). Everything you'd hope it would and then some. Honey lavender. Great, but I can't eat a whole cone of something that lavender-y. Strawberry balsamic. Superb, very refreshing and complex.
(5)courtney f.
Amazing Ice Cream!!!! Hellish Suburban encroachment that causes huge ass lines. Worth it tho....
(5)Alexandra S.
At long last, we have checked the box on the missing experience in our tour of West Coast artisanal ice cream shops: the legendary Salt & Straw. And while it lives up to its rep as Portland's best ice cream, I can't put it at the very top of the ice cream heap, because it still doesn't come close the the standard set by San Francisco's Bi-Rite. If you are a normal person comparing ice cream options in one city, however, Salt & Straw is well worth a visit. It has the most friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff that we've encountered at any ice cream shop -- eager to help us choose the right flavor, and even to scooping in the exact order we preferred (yes, I *do* care which flavor is on the top, and which is on the bottom). The ice cream flavor options do a good job of spanning the esoteric (olive oil; green fennel & maple; bone marrow & bourbon cherries -- in one flavor!) and the relatively traditional (chocolate, almond brittle, vanilla). However even the more traditional flavors skew sophisticated -- the gooey brownie, for example, includes hunks of EXTREMELY bitter chocolate brownies. In other words, you are more likely to be thrilled than your kids are. Flavor intensity is very good, but the ice cream itself still isn't as rich or creamy as I'd like. And one of our scoops (the cinnamon snickerdoodle -- surprisingly, it may have been my favorite flavor) had a little chunk of ice in it, which while not a huge deal, isn't something that should show up in a super fancy ice cream. All in all, I'd say it's a very good ice cream, but I wouldn't brave an hour-long lineup for it. We'll be back, but not during rush hour!
(4)Eileen W.
FIVE STARS: for the excellent ice cream. Fine ice cream pleasure center. A great OT experience. ZERO STARS: for the ridiculous queue, out the door and down the street. It's hilarious. Why wait just to select an ice cream cone, when I can immediately buy a single-serving-size container and be on my way with a busy spoon. Is it really about Yuppies/Hipsters being seen by each other doing that really cool thing, waiting in line with all those beautiful people, those other Yuppies/Hipsters? And the selfies! Hahahaha!
(4)Nidhi K.
How I wish that Yelp had half stars. I would give Salt & Straw 3.5 stars if I could; I can't seem to understand what the huge 5-star hype is around this place. Maybe it's because I'm from the Bay Area where I've eaten at several top-notch local creameries. Or maybe it's because I went a little too crazy with my flavor choices here. The wait: I appreciated that there was no line! This is apparently an unfrequented location because I was there on a Friday afternoon; I had expected a super long line. The service: Very good! I must have sampled 6 different flavors, and the scooper behind the counter didn't even hesitate. The flavors: I finally settled on the Sea Salt w/ Caramel, which unfortunately was WAY. TOO. SALTY. As in, I felt like I was eating spoonfuls of salt. (I threw it away.) My other scoop was Honey Balsamic Strawberry w/ Cracked Pepper, which was decent. My dad got the Strawberry w/ Cilantro Lime Cheesecake, which was great! Then he got Vanilla, which he said was quite good. I think the moral of this review is to not go too crazy with the flavors. It might taste fine as a sample, but you might not be able to finish the whole scoop. P.S. If you're not a local, sample the Marionberry flavor -- apparently the berry was discovered at Oregon State and is only found in OR & WA!
(3)Tim C.
The ice cream here is pretty good quality, but some of the flavors are hit or miss. Since much of the Yelp community recommended it, I tried the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. I wouldn't recommend it. The Ganache was just huge chunks of dense chocolate and salt, which just didn't appeal to me. The Almond Brittle was very tasty, but also overwhelmed the ice cream. I honestly barely got any ice cream - it really felt like just a cup of Almond Brittle and Salted Ganache. I also had a scoop of their Mint Julep ice cream, which was much better. It tasted like actual mint (the herb), and not the artificial mint flavoring that most mint ice cream tastes like. Unfortunately, I think it's a seasonal flavor. Some of the other flavors I sampled were ok - nothing too impressive, but very interesting. If you read some of the descriptions of the flavors, they are very... Portland. Just read them, hopefully you'll know what I'm talking about. The service was very nice, and I liked the design and layout of the place. Solid place for ice cream, but make sure you sample before you get a whole scoop - or else you might end up with something that isn't your cup of tea, especially with such unique flavors.
(3)Sudipto G.
Yay, I'm a fan. but only of some of the flavors. Please try out all of them and you will know what I mean. Some of them are downright terrible to taste. But they have some gems, like the Almond Brittle with Ganache, and Sea Salt with Caramel, but off late I have found there seasonal flavors pretty bad, so will check it out again maybe after a couple of months, till then I'll go out to the other great ice cream places out here in PDX.
(4)Dora T.
We sampled quite a few flavors before deciding on the flight of four ice creams though the waffle cone looked good too. Pear bleu cheese. Honey lavender. Arbequina Olive oil. Strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper. My favorite was the pear bleu cheese. I'm looking forward to trying out the newly opened store in L.A
(5)Will C.
I had a chance to try out their ice cream the last time I was here. I tried the coconut with salted caramel bars. It was not bad. I'll probably try other flavors the next time I am here.
(4)Ron S.
Great ice cream, good flavors, good environment to be in. The staff is always friendly even when there's a huge line! The waffle cones were inconsistent (hole at the bottom etc.) . A little pricey for ice cream but it might be worth it if you want to taste all of the extraordinary flavors Salt & Straw offers. *C'mon, bigger scoops please. 5-6 bucks a cone...I expect more.
(3)Dana J.
Fantastic!! The best ice cream experience there is. From the attentive service to the exquisite and complex flavors, this is a portland MUST!
(5)Anthony N.
A Portland version of Molly Moons. Similar but slightly different. I came here after getting Sunday brunch (around 1ish) with come friends and there was only a few people there before us. Shortly after we got there, the place filled up. Salt and Straw had a lot of the same flavors as Molly Moons and they also make their own waffle cones, but IMHO the strawberry balsamic was better at Salt and Straw and the cone was just ok. Overall, great place for ice cream, but not better than Molly Moons.
(4)