Samantha Bakall

Samantha Bakall

Portland Contributor

Samantha is a queer, second-gen Chinese American journalist and strategic communications leader living in Portland, Oregon. From 2013 to 2018, she worked for The Oregonian and was the only staff food writer of color in the state, and has since worked as a freelance writer specializing in equity-based food issues, particularly about the AAPI diaspora in the Pacific Northwest, alongside nonprofit social justice work. When not sharing her opinions on food with all her friends, you can find her in the great outdoors where she’s still sharing her thoughts, just without cell service.

Fun Facts

  • Lives in
    Portland, OR
  • First Resy ever made
    The Gold Room in 2022.
  • Drink of choice
    Almost any old fashioned or Manhattan.
  • Favorite food city
    Chicago (my hometown, I’m biased).
  • Restaurant you’ve been to the most
    Cafe Olli.
  • Favorite food movie
    “Ratatouille.”
  • Last meal on earth
    A Frankensteinian menu of sashimi, salt-and-pepper head-on shrimp from Honeymoon Cafe in Chicago, butter chicken, a sausage and giardiniera tavern-style pizza from Vito & Nick’s, hot pot, and boxed yellow cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.

Recent Posts


The spread at the Waiting Room.

The Hit List   Portland

The January Hit List: Le Pigeon, Mama Dut, the Waiting Room, and More

Dining at the beginning of a new year always feels confusing: We crave comfort food and old standbys to fight…

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Courtesy of Kann

The Hit List   Portland

The December Hit List: Langbaan, Kann, Miss Delta, Mirisata, and More

As Oregon enters its second shutdown of 2020 and the wintry weather rolls in for good, takeout and delivery are…

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Trays at Oma's Takeaway.

The Hit List   Portland

The November Hit List: Oma’s Takeaway, Dame, Paley’s Place, Drink Mamey, and More

Somehow, it’s already November. As days shorten in Portland, temperatures drop and the rain settles in for winter, menus switch…

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New on Resy   Portland

New on Resy: Teardrop Lounge, Huber’s Cafe, Grain and Gristle, Olympia Provisions, and More

It’s been quite the year for Portland restaurants — but there’s still a bounty of spots to eat. And yes,…

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Yes, the Canard steam burgers are back.

The Hit List   Portland

The October Hit List: Canard, Chuckie Pie’s, Verdigris, the Bakery at Bar King, and More

With fall on the horizon, the last of summer produce is finding its way to Portland’s restaurants. And with it,…

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Bhuna's cornucopia of fast-casual dishes is perfect for outdoor dining or takeout.

The Hit List   Portland

The September Hit List: Han Oak, Bhuna, Olympia Provisions, Kee’s Loaded Kitchen, and More

As Portland continues through the height of produce season, restaurants across the city have been debuting new, late-summer dishes in…

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Chinatown USA   Portland

The Resy Guide to Portland’s Chinatowns, By Those Who Love Them Best

A first-time visitor to Portland might see the city’s Chinatown gate as a beacon, inviting travelers into a rich cultural…

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The Hit List   Portland

The August Hit List: Lazy Susan, Aviv, Taqueria Los Punales, Malka, and More

As Portland restaurants discover the best ways to serve their diners, many are experimenting with a combination of outdoor dining,…

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At Home Hit List   Portland

New on the Resy At Home Hit List: Le Pigeon, Pok Pok, Wajan

As Portland settles into the new normalcy of takeout, even more of our favorite restaurants have re-organized and joined the…

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At Home Hit List   Portland

Apizza Scholls, Gado Gado, Portland Mercado: Introducing the Resy At Home Hit List

While dining out in Oregon remains a mere glimmer in the distance, many of the city’s best restaurants have set…

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