SuperDeluxe Me!

“Another one” – from the mind of DJ Khaled to the heart of the meme community, the phrase is now solidified in the popular American vernacular.

It’s also what Micah Camden probably says every time he opens a wildly successful restaurant in Portland.  The makeup artist-turned felon-turned restauranter is the mastermind behind numerous establishments beloved in Portland, like Blue Star Donuts, Boxer Ramen and Little Big Burger, just to name a few.

His newest spot is nothing less than a smash hit – SuperDeluxe, Portland’s answer to Shake Shack and In-N-Out Burger.

Whereas Blue Star, Boxer, and Little Big Burger are all fun and imaginative takes on classic favorites (L.B.B. has a chicken burger on the menu, and offers chevre and bleu as options for a cheeseburger), SuperDeluxe is a return to the basics, which is apparent as soon as I walk in the door.

I push open the door of SuperDeluxe’s Powell St. location and funky, percussion-laden jazz washes over me.  In what used to be a Taco Time, the interior of the restaurant is now swathed in primary colors and simplistic slogans like this.

Classic, comforting fast-food booths are situated next to wide windows letting the little bit of sun present in the sky on a December afternoon trickle in and warm us up.  The menu itself is just as comforting and simple as the rest of the restaurant – there’s no bleu cheese here.  I order a Double Deluxe (SuperDeluxe’s response to In-N-Out’s Double-Double), a SuperSpicy™ Chicken Deluxe, an order of chicken nuggets, an order of fries, and something called a SuperTasty, of which I get the Orange Cream variety.  The person taking my order assures me that it tastes “just like an orange Creamsicle”.

My name is called in a matter of minutes, and I hustle over to retrieve my SuperTasty.  It’s ice-cold, and tastes like a cross between a milkshake and a slushie, with a subtle vanilla flavor and notes of orange citrus.  My Orange Cream SuperTasty is summer in a biodegradable cup.

A few minutes later, my name is called again, and this time it’s for the main course – a tray heaping with a plentiful fast-food bounty.  The enticing smell of burgers, nuggets, and french fries wafts up to my nose as I carefully carry the tray back to my eager dining companions.

I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this magnificent feast, and I sample a french fry first.  In contrast to Little Big Burger’s thin truffle fries, these fries are thick, crinkle-cut beauties that very well could be the magnum opus of a potato.

The chicken nuggets are next, and they are unlike any other chicken nuggets I had ever had.  Instead of the usual bland cubes of chicken paste that need ketchup in order to be stomached, these are more like boneless wings.  Rich and juicy pieces of chickens are breaded and fried, and bursting with flavor to the point where they didn’t need any condiment whatsoever.

Speaking of chicken, I also sample my companion’s SuperSpicy Chicken Deluxe.  It tastes like an elegant version of the notorious Popeyes chicken sandwich. Rather than a regular fried chicken breast slathered with a spicy sauce, the spice is imbedded in the batter of the fried chicken, giving it a well-rounded flavor profile.  A few dill pickles were key, adding a kick of acidity that cut through the heat.

Finally, at long last, it is time for the main attraction.  The Double Deluxe itself.

A classic, In-N-Out-esque cheeseburger with American cheese melted over two thin griddled patties, shredded lettuce, tomato, diced onion, and pickle to top it all off. 

Simply put, the Double Deluxe is a beautiful rendition of a classic cheeseburger.

Overall, I absolutely love SuperDeluxe.  The sheer quality of the food combined with a more-than-manageable price point ($6.50 for the Double Deluxe, and just $2.75 for a sizeable order of fries) makes for an immensely enjoyable experience.  

If you’re craving an old-school burger, head to SuperDeluxe in either Southeast Portland or the Pearl District instead of driving 45 minutes to the new In-N-Out in Keizer.  Micah Camden makes it well worth your time.