In search of the best chocolate chip cookie in town, I visited four different shops, including small-business bakeries and popular cookie chains. Each shop had its own way of making cookies, from simple and classic recipes to creative and unique flavors. I wanted to see which one had the best taste, texture and overall quality. Here’s what I found:
The stores:
Insomnia Cookies: 1974 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
The first cookie I tried was from Insomnia Cookies. It was super soft and gooey, with plenty of chocolate chips. I liked the chewy texture and the flavor was delicious. At $2.75, the price was a great deal. The store’s interior was pretty simple, nothing fancy, but it worked for a quick stop. Overall, it’s a good place for a late-night treat and great for an inexpensive cookie.
Lauretta Jean's: 3402 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
The second cookie I tried was from Lauretta Jean’s, a small bakery in Southeast Portland. At $2.50, it wasn’t too pricey, but it lacked flavor, was thin and didn’t have many chocolate chips. The texture was stiff and not gooey, which made it less enjoyable. The bakery itself was adorable, with a cozy interior and friendly staff. They also offer a wide selection of other treats, like coffee and pies that look amazing. I’d definitely recommend visiting Lauretta Jean’s, but skip the cookie and try one of their other delicious-looking options instead.
Cloudforest: 935 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Cloudforest, a chocolate cafe located in SE Portland, had the most expensive cookie I tried, but the $5 was absolutely worth it. This cookie stood out from the others with its rich flavor, along with the perfect amount of chocolate chips. The texture was spot-on: gooey on the inside but firm on the outside. A hint of vanilla extract gave it an extra depth of flavor that made it so delicious. The interior of the cafe was minimalistic and simple, with a well-organized display of chocolates for sale. While it’s not the cheapest option, the quality and taste make it a must-try.
Finally, I went to Crumbl Cookies to try the milk chocolate chip cookie. The cookie I tried was the largest of the four and cost $4.50, making it one of the more expensive cookies. It was a simple, classic chocolate chip cookie. It had the perfect balance of chewy and crunchy, with a generous amount of chocolate chips. To me, the combination of the milk chocolate chips and cookie dough was too sweet. The interior of Crumbl Cookies is bright and modern and has a nice display of all of the cookies available. Crumbl is one of the most famous cookie chains, and while it’s a bit pricey, it’s worth trying at least once.
