From food trucks to finer dining spots, you’d be hard-pressed to find places to eat in Portland where you’ll get the side-eye for wearing jeans. Eati... Read More
From food trucks to finer dining spots, you’d be hard-pressed to find places to eat in Portland where you’ll get the side-eye for wearing jeans. Eating well—especially eating farm-to-table—is a cultural obsession here, whether you’re having a $4 egg sandwich or a $30 entrée. Though many chefs around Portland have James Beard Awards and Top Chef wins, it’s still rare to wait more than an hour for brunch or dinner, even at the city’s hottest restaurants—the toughest spots to get a table are Screen Door, Pok Pok, and Ava Gene’s. And if an hour wait is too long, there’s always a great place nearby to have a drink—or you can just head to the food carts.
The best restaurants in Portland offer eclectic dining opportunities as well as modern twists on traditional dishes, sure to satisfy even the most discerning foodies. At Pok Pok, James Beard Award-winning chef Andy Ricker serves up a fusion menu inspired by classic Thai cuisine and served in a trendy, low-key environment. Locals’ favorites include Vietnamese chicken wings, boar collar, and Thai noodle soups. At Nostrana, award-winning chef Cathy Whims turns out authentic Italian cuisine with a rustic, lightly modern take. She makes her mozzarella in-house daily, imported her wood-burning oven from Tuscany, and works closely with her farmers to incorporate local produce into the menu, even if it’s not a traditional Italian ingredient.
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¿Por Qué No?
Vibrant walls, mismatched chairs, and unfinished floors give this hole-in-the-wall a lived-in feel. When the place is packed, grab a seat at a picnic... Read More
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Apizza Scholls
The fresh mozzarella and ricotta, herbs, and extra garlic make Apizza's classic New York White pie as good as any from the Big Apple. Pair with a glass... Read More
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Ava Gene's
Large groups can order from a family-style menu, which starts with fritti misti and features fusilli or cavatelli with sausage, misticanza, and burrata.... Read More
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Bamboo Sushi
Order signature rolls—we love the tempura shishito and pickled shiitake PDX roll— with sake (or a signature cocktail with Thai chili-infused sake) and... Read More
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Blossoming Lotus
Don't leave without ordering one of their famous pumpkin cinnamon rolls. They're so indulgent, even carnivores will consider baking these vegan treats. Read More
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Bunk Sandwiches Alberta
The co-chefs change their blackboard menu daily, but there are standbys like the Italian cured meat sandwich. They also showcase caramelized pork belly... Read More
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Clarklewis
The industrial space includes roll-up garage doors and exposed ductwork. Stacks of oak by the entrance hint at the Northwest-influenced, rustic Italian... Read More
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Clyde Common
In 2007, Nate Tilden and Matt Piacentini opened their so-called domestic and foreign restaurant on trendy Ace Hotel's ground floor, with high ceilings,... Read More
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Departure Restaurant and Lounge
Great views abound from this downtown rooftop restaurant, which has a swanky, retro vibe with its sleek white interiors and vibrant orange tables. The... Read More
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Fried Egg I'm in Love
The simple egg sandwich from Fried Egg I'm in Love—an unforgettable yellow food truck—is served on sourdough bread, elevated with a "magic egg dust"... Read More
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Higgins Restaurant & Bar
The long, lean, glass-fronted restaurant has twin dining rooms, divided by a semi-open kitchen touting raw materials like whole hams. A back room has... Read More
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Interurban
Inventive cocktails, happy hour specials, and creative sandwiches (like the smoked trout BLT where the bread is baked to order), are highlights at this... Read More
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Irving Street Kitchen
Irving Street Kitchen boasts cask wines crafted specifically for the restaurant, which is a large, warehouse space made cozier by halos of exposed... Read More
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Jam on Hawthorne
Open for breakfast and lunch only, Jam's name comes from the homemade jams on every table, and the jam bands you'll probably hear in the background—the... Read More
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Ken's Artisan Pizza
If you appreciate wood (nod to Larry David) be sure to check out the bar—it's built from wood salvaged from what was the Jantzen Beach Big Dipper roller... Read More
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Laurelhurst Market
What was once a former convenience store is now an airy brasserie and a popular butcher shop. Standout menu items at Laurelhurst include the pan-seared... Read More
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Lovely's Fifty-Fifty
Using organic and locally-sourced ingredients plus naturally-leavened dough, Lovely's Fifty-Fifty makes some of the best pizza pies with the softest... Read More
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Nong’s Khao Man Gai
This food truck offers seemingly-simple but incredibly delicious Thai chicken and rice dishes. You can't go wrong with their signature dish, Khao Man Gai. Read More
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Olympia Provisions
A dinner menu that changes seasonally may include pan-roasted octopus or choucroute (a dish of sauerkraut, pork, and potatoes). Pair with a wine from... Read More
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Pix Pâtisserie
With specialties ranging from pear-rosemary tarts to chocolate-covered cherries, Pix is perhaps best known for its French macarons (meringue-based... Read More
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Roman Candle Baking Co.
Custom tiles and marble are offset by communal tables hewn from Oregon walnut wood. You won't have any trouble feeling at home with a cup of Stumptown... Read More
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Screen Door
While they're open for dinner during the week, they're best known for brunch. Be prepared for long lines during the weekend rush. Large parties can wait... Read More
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Smallwares
Come for late night Happy Hour, between 10 and 11 p.m., for such playful snacks as candied peanuts with furikake and chicken lollipops with Sriracha... Read More
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Sunshine Tavern
Best described as elevated pub food, standouts here are definitely the burgers—brioche bun, house-made pancetta—and spicy fried chicken and Belgian... Read More
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Sweedeedee
Serving up everything from sandwiches, egg plates and a monster breakfast burrito to delicate pastries and breads, expect an hour-long wait on weekends... Read More
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Sweet Hereafter
A trendy cocktail bar serving up the best vegan bowls and sandwiches in town, Sweet Hereafter's jerk marinated tofu served with coconut kale, black... Read More
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Toro Bravo
This smart and unpretentious tapas restaurant brightens an otherwise quiet street with ruby-red walls and dark wood. Local ingredients are used to... Read More
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Whiskey Soda Lounge
Andy Ricker specializes in fiery northern Thai cuisine, and he created this whiskey-centric bar across the street from his ever-popular Pok Pok... Read More
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Wolf and Bears
This popular food truck serves vegetarian and vegan-friendly Middle Eastern offerings. Try the "Out To Lunch" pita wrap (gorgonzola, caramelized onions,... Read More
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Yakuza Lounge
This storied sushi restaurant is known as much for its rolls and sashimi, as well as its award-winning, late-night hamburger. The latter comes with... Read More