Huber's Cafe, Portland

Huber’s Cafe traces its history to 1879, when it opened as the Bureau Saloon. Frank Huber later became the owner, and the business took his name in 1895. It moved into its present historic interior in 1910, where mahogany panelling, terrazzo floors, brass fixtures, and a stained-glass skylight remain from that period. During Prohibition, it operated as a full-time restaurant while discreetly serving alcoholic drinks, including Manhattans presented in coffee cups.

The restaurant’s history is closely connected to Jim Louie, a Chinese immigrant hired by Huber in 1891. Louie became known for preparing roast turkey, which remains the signature dish and appears in dinners, sandwiches, and other traditional recipes. His family later acquired the restaurant, and successive generations of the Louie family have continued to manage it.

Huber’s is also known for its tableside Spanish Coffee, developed into a theatrical ritual by James Kai Louie after he encountered the drink at another local establishment. Rum is ignited in a sugar-rimmed glass before coffee, Kahlúa, triple sec, whipped cream, and nutmeg are added. The drink’s popularity has made Huber’s one of the largest independent purchasers of Kahlúa in the United States.