Portland’s preferred pastry has long been the doughnut, with one pink-pigmented proprietor in particular becoming a city mascot of sorts. But if you look closely, you might be able to see a challenger on the horizon.
Malasadas are having a moment.
Malasadas are a deep-fried confection that differs from doughnuts in several ways, the most obvious being the lack of a hole. They originated in Portugal and are popular in Hawaii, so much so that they’re often referred to as “Hawaiian doughnuts.”
They’re available at many bakeries in the city, ranging from Bun Bandits to O and Ko. They’re also just as diverse as doughnuts, with a variety of fillings to be had, or just the basic, solid versions…