Cultured Caveman

This place is fantastic. Lovely theme. Spacious dining area, generous pile of cookbooks and magazines to peruse and a large relaxing couch. Great music, not too loud. Awesome inclusion of kids on the bookshelf, in the toy box and kids play area. The whole deal is just fanciful and rejuvenating. Most of the food is tasty, and the whole joint is clean. The bathrooms are also inclusive of kids, little dino stepping stool… though the first door that says «bathroom» threw me off. I thought it was a single stall, but that door leads to a hallway w men’s and women’s rooms. The women’s room is scented with vanilla, and was lovely. My only complaint was the lack of seat covers… Overall 5 Stars

This place is great! I love that they are all paleo and seem to try to source local foods. Everything we got was very good, the kids even liked their zoodles. I LOVED the bacon wrapped almond stuffed dates, they are now my new favorite thing.

I was high on happiness the moment I read the menu here and saw they had a designated label for low FODMaP foods, and talking to the owner/​chef made me gooey with giddiness as she had an intimate knowledge of a variety of diets (like FODMaPs, SCD, and acronyms I’d never even heard of) and was able to modify her menu to make me food I could eat. After 6+ months of struggling in every restaurant I go to and advocating for myself relentlessly, I was so relieved to find a place that really understood what I needed.*
And the food was as good as the service (for a once vegetarian turned kinda Paleo with more restrictions… I get that this food isn’t for everyone, but I thought it was amazing).
Oh, and try the ranch. :)
*I 100% don’t expect anywhere to understand — this is totally my health thing, but still… so nice!

Order the Shepherds Pie! Was soooo good we stopped here daily when on a recent trip out west.

After moving to Portland from NYC just a few months ago, Cultured Caveman has become probably my favorite go to spot. It’s a very low key place that offers a laid back atmosphere with a very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Oh, and I really love the food. Everything I’ve had from the sides to the entrees were always great; however, if you EVER see Corned Beef on the specials board, put down the menu and immediately order it without hesitation! Although I’m sure there’s a reason, I don’t know why it’s not a menu staple. This is not a «dining experience», but it is all about coming in, sitting down, and getting some great food! Simple! A+
Oh, went there last night and just got the Kale Salad. I just want to say, because this is the first place in Portland that I’ve been to that didn’t drown their salad in dressing: very nicely done, and a really good price for the size!

This place is SO GREAT! I look forward to go back. I had the Pork Carnitas Tacos. Plenty of food and so tasty.

Go back to the Stone Age!
I guess that the first week of a new year is as good of one as any to call some people out on bullshit, and I’m starting with you, Cultured Caveman.
What a joyless, soul-​draining, not-​fun, shit experience. Your food sucks. I paid nearly twenty dollars for a jaded man to begrudgingly serve me (when he could be bothered to get off his phone), a seasoned adult, some entirely unseasoned baby food. I can’t help but think that your «paleo» menu is just a cynical excercise in hoodwinking the public– after all, I can easily think of a dozen or more classic French or Italian dishes that are completely «paleo» and about a billion times better than the ugly, tasteless dog’s dinner you made for me. Just *look* at the pathetic mess I had– see photograph: the vomit on top was about 3:1 with the ok (relatively) grey lamb stew that lurked beneath a mess of baby food. It was full of flavorless, limpid fluid, and brought zero of the joy and anticipation a good shepherd’s pie can tease and delight with– thanks for at least using lamb. I guess.
My cabbage slaw was pretty good, but even that was presented in some sort of pyramid that seemed terrified by my entrée, and after trying it, I sure can’t blame it. At least it had some texture. I badly wished all the vegetables had been shown some more respect.
What on Earth makes you think it’s ok to charge for this watery garbage? For the record, I don’t care either way about «paleo» or your eco-​agenda: I’m cool with it, but I’m also paying you to make something tasty. Every single thing on your menu read like a bad apology. Do you guys just hate food, or enjoy serving people plates that are utterly devoid of any sort of pleasure at all? The empty void and «cafeteria» ambiance didn’t help a single bit. Where’s your heart?
My friend fared no better with her «chicken fingers», which were flavorless and not even crunchy. No attempt at all was made to render these bland, flabby, insipid once-​were-​chicken sticks attractive in any way: your staff just threw them haphazardly onto an over-​large plate, and I could see and taste that you didn’t really care in any way, at all: No, thanks.
Focus on making things that are good. Hell, grilled chicken or seared steak are paleo-​friendly, where were they? Your store stocks a number of «paleo» cookbooks, may I suggest you consider using them?

OK… quite honestly, I look forward to trying this one again. I think the food is going to be great, but I chose something that didn’t win me over. Everyone else was raving about their lunch choices.
By all means, give the place a try. I know I will.

Amazing food! The flavors were amazing and some I haven’t ever tasted before. Super unique. Love the atmosphere and music. The hostess/​cashier was really helpful and nice. It’s one of the few places my mom can eat gluten free that she actually would want to come back to.

Appreciated the recommendation from the tall fella to try the chicken wrap since I mentioned I really like the chix tenders :)

Wow, this didn’t disappoint. The absolute honesty in the ingredients, the amazing flavored combinations, and the great menu options made this a wonderful night out! I had the pork tacos, though weren’t as hot as I like, were delicious. My husband’s beef curry squash was amazing. I almost wish I had gotten that instead! And the bacon almond dates! Be still my heart!

I love this place. I’ve been wanting to visit ever since I was told of it. it was as I expected I had the ceased Salic and chicken tenders. Oh and the bullet proof coffee. It was awesome!!! I make it at home now

I am truly in love with this establishment. Everything is Paleo and delicious! I have tried the zoodles and marinara which is awesome, the tomato soup is the bomb, and the other day I had carnitas tacos (en pointe!) and they also had russet potato curly fries that day only, my god they were so good. They have a wonderful selection of paleo treats in the cooler by the register. They also have a play area so you can keep your little ones entertained while your food is being made, which is awesome. The staff is ultra friendly, and excited and happy to be there! Cultured Caveman has a nice energy to accompany their wonderful, healthy food. Because everything is paleo, all items are gluten and refined sugar free, which is awesome if you have food allergies! There is a lot of coconut used here so if you are allergic to that I’d stay far away (and be super sad about it). My husband hates the taste of coconut and can taste it in almost EVERYTHING that has it in it, but he really enjoys the chicken tenders, which happen to be breaded with coconut flour. They are that good. Oh, their (I assume house-made)ketchup is freakin awesome too. This place rocks and I wish it existed outside of Portland, too. Someday, maybe, I hope?

This place was great. Every single item I ordered was incredible. I started with almond stuffed bacon wrapped dates which were super tasty. For my dinner, i ordered the pork carnitas tacos with Zoodles and marinara. I was super happy with the meal as it was incredibly filling and great flavor.
The atmosphere was great. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. The prices were on par for the quality of the food. Kudos, cultured caveman.

When I cook at home, I tend to stick to veggies, fish, grass-​fed beef, and free-​range organic chicken, all cooked in olive oil and with no refined carbs. I violate this completely when I go out, partially by choice, but also by default since most places cook in canola and use the cheapest stuff possible. The whole premise of CC, though, is that it doesn’t!!! I went with my friend Tierney, and we had the beef tacos. they were great, and the tortilla tasted just like a «real» one. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in PDX.

3.5 stars Great main dishes but bland sides… I’ve been anxiously waiting for a trip to Portland to try out this place so I have to say I was disappointed to taste bland sides and horrible guacamole :(Quick Summary: fantastic main dishes, great knowledgeable staff, decent prices, bland sides and horrible guacamole. I ordered the famous chicken strips with the broccoli and bacon slaw while my husband ordered the sweet and sour chicken with the jicama and cabbage slaw. My chicken strips were AMAZING! You would never know they’re healthy, gluten and dairy free! My broccoli and bacon slaw had a weird after taste. Thought it was just my slaw, but when I tried my husband’s jicama and cabbage slaw, it was bland and had a funny taste to it (can’t pinpoint what the taste was but it was not good). My husband’s sweet and sour chicken was good. Sweet and sour sauce is homemade and sugar free so it’s not super sweet. We also ordered 2 appetizers which came with a tray of fresh veggies. The grounded lamb liver with bacon was good. I’ve never had liver before so it took me a few times to get used to the taste but it was actually good. Don’t know how anyone could mess up guacamole but Cultured Caveman figured it out!!! Their guacamole was the worst! Too much lime, barely any sea salt and it had a really bad taste. I could not finish it! I finished the lamb liver but could not finish the guacamole :(
Would I come back YES and I totally support what they’re doing for the community but I would not get any sides or the guacamole!

Oh the pork carnitas tacos, how do I love thee? I love thee until my tummy hurts and my smile is huge. Then after you, carnitas, I will shovel in the candy like almond stuffed, bacon wrapped dates. It is hard to deviate from this order because it is beyond tasty and possibly touch myself good, but I have managed to force myself to order other things from the menu. I have had the orange chicken bowl, the chicken fingers, a couple of salads, and did I mention the DATES? Sorry, I just love those dang dates like a long lost friend, that I can eat, and not be all cannibalistic. Seriously, Cultured Caveman is so jammin, and you don’t have to be on a paleo or gluten free diet to enjoy the flavors here.
I would like to thank the Caveman for having not just food carts but a restaurant for those of us on a GF and/​or paleo diet. Kudos.

Came here with a friend with some serious dietary needs and all were met at this place. We went on a Weds night and it was empty. It’s a pretty big space. Order at the counter and wait. The food came out almost immediately.
I got the salmon poke salad which was MASSIVE and very flavorful. While it’s a simple salad with some fish, it will fill you up given the quantity. I also got the jicama slaw which was mediocre at best. Those bacon almond dates though… you’ve got to try them. Only $ 2 for 3!
Overall good food and experience. Friendly to pretty much any diet. They also have an awesome selection of paleo friendly packaged treats that are worth checking out.

So now I know what paleo is! Looking for a lunch spot in Kenton, my roommate and I stumbled upon this place. I think I’d heard something about it moving in, and had since forgotten. But convenient it is, healthy & natural it espouses, and, as it turns out, quite tasty as well.
It’s big, quite big actually. There are lower and higher tables with plenty of room for navigation without crowding. We got a prime high table at the window. Sweet! We watched the folks of kenton as they went about their little kenton lives. You order at the counter and wait for your food with your big table number.
My friend had the bacon, brocolli slaw ($ 5), which I loved! The pork carnitas tacos ($ 13) were pretty good. I had chicken tenders ($ 10) and was really impressed with how yummy and tender they were, and the zoodles w/​marinara ($ 5), again pretty good.
This place is cool. I’m glad it exists, and glad it now exists near me. Would like to try the salmon dish and the lamb liver pâté. Makes me think about preparing my own food more thoughfully. That’s good, no?

Update: I’m choosing five instead of three stars. After three months, this place really grew as far as taste goes. I couldn’t decide on one thing, so I got a little sampler. The Pork Carnitas tacos have much more flavor and zest — such an upgrade. I could live off the chicken tenders… Paired with the cucumber tomato sauce, never better! The bacon wrapped almond dates work as a great dessert.
I’m sold. I’ll be back.
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I had a lot of hope for this place, as I’d been dying to find more paleo restaurants. The menu was promising, and the ingredients got me in the door.
Though I understand the business had just opened this location’s doors only three months ago, I was a little disappointed in their take of simple décor. A rather large space, the room was adorned with your run-​of-​the-​mill tabletops and chairs. Although the «dinosaur» terrarium center pieces were cute, they seemed cheap and somewhat kitschy. With so many tabletops, And so little customers, I was rather confused on having to order at the counter. The place seemed to be set up for dine-​ins, but ran like a fast food joint.
I ordered the pork carnitas with a side of tomato/​cucumber salad. I have to say, I was slightly disappointed. The carnitas wasn’t seasoned whatsoever, and the salad’s onions had way too much vinegar. I was so let down after reading the menu, knowing the ingredients were top notch, and seeing this on my plate.
I’ll hold out hope for this place — I hope they get into a swing that allows them to upgrade their décor and add some spice to their food.