Kirari West
Kirari West is a relative newcomer to the amazing gluten free bakery scene in Portland, but they have been refining their craft for many years in Southern California, and in Japan prior to that!
Nestled on the bustling stretch of NW 23rd in Portland’s Slabtown, Kirari West is a perfect stop for breakfast or lunch during a shopping outing or after a hike in Forest Park.
For my first visit I ordered the turkey panini, the Japanese custard bread, and of course the brioche cinnamon roll I’ve been hearing people rave about since they opened.
The panini was a solid sandwich, though nothing super special in terms of flavor. It just tastes like a clean, healthy turkey and avocado sandwich. This is definitely not the gluttonous, sodium loaded experience of a sandwich over salad or fries order like at another local fav, Lardo.
The pastries are where this place truly shines. I haven’t had Japanese custard bread in many, many years, so my memory of what it should taste like could be off, but this was outstanding and tasted so familiar, which is a good sign that this was done right! Kirari’s founder and chef refined his craft in Japan, so I wouldn’t expect anything less.
The custard bread had bounce and resiliency that I’ve never seen from any type of gluten free pastry before. I kind of wanted to squish that thing like a stress ball and watch the custard ooze out!
The cinnamon roll was delicious and not overly sweet at all. This is not trying to be a duplicate of those ooey gooey messes covered in cheap, super sweet donut style glaze. No, this is a simple brioche base swirled with cinnamon and topped with a healthy dollop of cream cheese frosting. I’ve never been big on thick frosting layers (no matter how delicious), so I did scrape off a little from my roll. This was perfect accompaniment for my coffee.
Kirari West does gluten free pastries, full bread loafs, panini sandwiches, hearty bowls and an array of fresh juices, smoothies and teas making this an ideal spot for breakfast, lunch, or just a quick snack. They are a dedicated gluten free bakery, so no need worry about cross-contamination. They also have many wonderful options for vegetarians and vegans, so it’s an ideal spot for a group with varying dietary restrictions.
Quick tip, you can order in advance for pickup on their website, which is super handy if you’re planning a trip out there and want to be sure you get your desired treat(s) before they sell out.
