95 Best Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

Background Illustration for Restaurants

These days, rising-star chefs and the foodies who adore them are flocking to Portland. In this playground of sustainability and creativity, many of the city's hottest restaurants change menus weekly—sometimes even daily—depending upon the ingredients they have delivered to their door that morning from local farms. The combination of fertile soils, temperate weather, and nearby waters contributes to a year-round bountiful harvest (be it lettuces or hazelnuts, mushrooms or salmon) that is within any chef's reach.

And these chefs are not shy about putting new twists on old favorites. Restaurants like Le Pigeon, Beast, Ox, Ned Ludd, Natural Selection, and Aviary have all taken culinary risks by presenting imaginatively executed, often globally inspired fare while utilizing sustainable ingredients. There’s a strong willingness in and around Portland for chefs to explore their creative boundaries.

Menus frequently extend across nations and continents. First-time visitors to Portland always seem to be impressed by the culinary scene’s international diversity, especially when it comes to Asian and Mediterranean fare, but you’ll also find outstanding examples of Peruvian, Russian, regional Mexican, and dozens of other ethnic restaurants. Of course, seafood is prevalent, with chefs regularly taking advantage of the availability of fresh salmon, albacore, halibut, crab, oysters, and mussels from the rivers and the Pacific Ocean.

Most of the city's longtime favorites are concentrated in Nob Hill, the Pearl District, and downtown. But many of the city’s most exciting food scenes are on the East Side, along Alberta Street, Mississippi Avenue, Williams Avenue, Fremont Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Burnside Street, 28th Avenue, Belmont Street, Hawthorne Boulevard, and Division Street, and tucked away in many neighborhoods in between. Serious food enthusiasts will definitely want to make some trips to some of these vibrant, if out-of-the-way neighborhoods.

Bar and restaurant culture greatly overlap in Portland, and many eateries around the city stand out as much because of their carefully curated beverage programs as for their food. Expect to find wine, craft beer, and cocktail lists that rely heavily on Northwest products, and also note that many of the top cocktail lounges, brewpubs, and wine bars we included in our Nightlife and Performing Arts chapter also serve excellent tapas and bar snacks.

Afuri Ramen

$$ Fodor's choice

Acclaimed Japanese ramen chain Afuri decided to open an outpost in the United States in 2016, choosing this modern, high-ceilinged dining room in food-obsessed Portland in part because the exacting culinary team appreciated the city's pristine, glacially fed water supply, which plays a significant part in the steaming, savory portions of yuzu shio (with chicken broth, yuzu citrus, shimeji mushrooms, seasoned egg, chashu, endive, and nori), one of a half dozen deeply satisfying ramen bowls. The kitchen also turns out flavorful skewers of shishito peppers and chicken thighs, pork dumplings, sushi, and other izakaya-style fare, all of it consistently exceptional.

Akadi PDX

$$ | Southeast Fodor's choice

Verdant plants hang from the timber beams and high, pitched ceiling of this outstanding West African restaurant founded by chef-owner Fatou Ouattara, who grew up in Cote D'Ivoire and learned to cook using clay ovens and wood fires from her grandmother. Akadi's menu draws on traditional recipes like street-style grilled goat with a mustard sauce and plantains, and palm butter stew with shrimp, gambas, crab, fish, and spices. There's a full bar.

1001 S.E. Division St., Portland, OR, 97202, USA
971-271–7072
Known For
  • Nice selection of mostly South African wines
  • Boldly flavored West African stews and grills
  • Several vegan options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch

Broder

$ Fodor's choice

This adorable neighborhood café—one of the most outstanding brunch spots in town—serves fresh and delicious Scandinavian food with fun-to-pronounce names like friterade applen (apple fritter) and aebleskivers (Danish pancakes). All the food—the hashes, lefse potato crepes, the baked egg scrambles, the Swedish breakfast boards—is delicious, with the Swedish meatballs in sherry cream sauce and salmon fish cakes with caraway vinaigrette being especially tasty among the midday choices. There are additional locations in North Portland, Southwest Portland, and Hood River in the Columbia Gorge.

2508 S.E. Clinton St., OR, 97255, USA
503-736–3333
Known For
  • Light-filled dining room with rustic-modern furniture
  • Often long waits for a table, especially for breakfast
  • Impressive selection of aquavit
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No dinner

Recommended Fodor's Video

Coquine

$$$ Fodor's choice

Home to the sunny neighborhood-oriented Market Cafe, which serves brunch daily, Coquine blossoms into a romantic, sophisticated French–Pacific Northwest bistro in the evening. Early in the day, feast on sourdough pancakes with huckleberry compote, or black cod–based fisherman's stew with garlic toast, while in the evening, you might encounter pappardelle noodles with pork ragu or roasted whole chicken with hand-cut fries. The unfussy storefront space is just steps from Mt. Tabor Park, making it a lovely spot for a meal before or after a leafy stroll.

6839 S.E. Belmont St., OR, 97215, USA
503-384–2483
Known For
  • Four- and seven-course tasting menus (with optional wine pairings)
  • A dim sum–style candy tray offered during the dessert course
  • Cheerful setting near Mt. Tabor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Tues.

Ha & VL

$ Fodor's choice

This humble, no-frills banh mi shop amid the many cheap and authentic Asian restaurants on S.E. 82nd stands out not just for its filling sandwiches (these crispy-bread creations come with fillings like spicy Chinese sausage, pork meat loaf, or sardines) but also for the daily featured soup, such as peppery pork-ball noodle soup on Wednesday and Vietnamese turmeric soup, with shrimp cake and sliced pork, on Sunday. There's also a diverse selection of thick milk shakes—top flavors include avocado, mango, and durian. The owners also operate Rose VL Deli nearby, which offers a more extensive soup menu.

2738 S.E. 82nd Ave., OR, 97266, USA
503-772–0103
Known For
  • Barbecue pork loin banh mi sandwiches
  • Fun, welcoming atmosphere and fast service
  • Selling out of soups so be there early
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner

Hat Yai

$$ Fodor's choice

Operated by the acclaimed chef behind Langbaan and Eem, this cozy and casual counter-service eatery takes its name from a small Thai city near the Malaysian border and its concept from that region's spicy and delicious fried chicken with sticky rice and rich Malayu-style curries with panfried roti bread. Other treats here uncommon to Thai restaurant culture in the States include fiery turmeric curry with mussels and heady oxtail soup with lemongrass. There's a second location on Belmont Street in Southeast.

1605 N.E. Killingsworth St., OR, 97211, USA
503-764–9701
Known For
  • The roti dessert with condensed milk
  • Perfectly crunchy free-range fried chicken
  • Good selection of Asian beers

Interurban

$$ Fodor's choice

A laid-back North Mississippi gastropub with an L-shaped indoor bar and a bi-level back patio with lush landscaping and a shaded pergola, Interurban is both a convivial drinkery and a fine spot for affordable, well-crafted American fare served from late afternoon until 2 am. The kitchen creates consistently good and creative food, such as risotto with seasonal vegetables and smoked-trout BLT sandwiches, and there's an extensive selection of cocktails and microbrews.

4057 N. Mississippi Ave., OR, 97227, USA
503-284–6669
Known For
  • Terrific afternoon and late-night happy hour menu
  • Well-curated beer and cocktail list
  • Top-notch staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

Kachka

$$$ Fodor's choice

This Central East Side establishment decorated to resemble a dacha (a Russian country/vacation house) turns out wonderfully creative and often quite light Russian fare, including plenty of shareable small plates, like crispy beef tongue with sweet onion sauce, orange, and pomegranate; panfried sour-cherry vareniki (Ukrainian dumplings), and—of course—caviar with blini and all the usual accompaniments. Another crowd-pleaser on the menu is the classic chicken Kiev, prepared the old-fashioned way, oozing with butter. The owners also run Lavka, a market and deli above the restaurant.

960 S.E. 11th Ave., OR, 97214, USA
503-235–0059
Known For
  • Extensive craft vodka list
  • The cold "zakuski" assorted appetizer experience ($30 per person)
  • Hearty Ukrainian dumplings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.

Kann

$$$ | Southeast Fodor's choice

Top Chef celebrity Gregory Gourdet looked to his heritage (he was raised in New York City by parents who had immigrated from Haiti) in developing this beautifully designed restaurant that, thanks to a tidal wave of critical acclaim, is now one of the most sought-after reservations on the West Coast. Everything that comes out of Kann's kitchen bursts with flavor and color—think lightly seared butterfish with lemongrass, mint, and green-apple shaved ice, and cane syrup–glazed breast and leg of duck with pineapple and tamarind. Reservations are a must, and it's advisable to book at least a couple of months in advance. 

548 S.E. Ash St., Portland, OR, 97214, USA
503-702–0290
Known For
  • Outstanding, friendly service
  • Intimate Sousòl cocktail bar in the basement
  • The spicy chocolate–peanut butter–habanero tart
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch, Reservations essential

Ken's Artisan Pizza

$$ Fodor's choice

Douglas-fir beams, old wine barrels, and hungry crowds surround the glowing, beehive-shaped wood oven in the open kitchen of this thin-crust pizza joint. Ken Forkish, also of Ken's Artisan Bakery, uses fresh, organic ingredients for the dough, sauces, and toppings of his pies, which include a Margherita with arugula, a hand-pressed fennel sausage with onion, and a soppressata with basil.

304 S.E. 28th Ave., OR, 97214, USA
503-517–9951
Known For
  • Terrific salads and vegetable sides
  • Unique topping combos such as leek and potato
  • Solid wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch, Reservations not accepted

Langbaan

$$$$ Fodor's choice

Guests reach this tiny 24-seat spot with an open kitchen by walking through the Phuket Cafe, which is itself a wonderful option for flavorful Asian cuisine. The restaurant serves the most interesting and consistently delicious Southeast Asian food in Portland via a weekly changing 10-course tasting menu that features unusual dishes like pickled mackerel with melon, sumac, and Thai chilies, and oxtail with bone marrow, chanterelle mushrooms, lentils, and tendon chips.

1818 N.W. 23rd Pl., OR, 97214, USA
971-344–2564
Known For
  • Some of the most inventive Thai food in the country
  • A carefully curated wine list
  • Wonderfully creative and flavorful desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Thurs. No lunch, Reservations essential

Lauretta Jean's

$ Fodor's choice

This pie-focused operation began as a stall at Portland's Saturday Farmers Market at PSU and is now a charming, homey, brick-and-mortar café along Division Street in Southeast. Though it's the delicious pies—with feathery-light crusts and delicious fillings like tart cherry, salted pecan, and chocolate-banana cream—that have made Lauretta Jean's a foodie icon in Portland, this cheerful eatery also serves exceptional brunch fare, including the LJ Classic, a fluffy biscuit topped with an over-easy egg, Jack cheese, bacon, and strawberry jam. In the evening, it's a popular spot for desserts and coffee, or even cocktails.

Le Pigeon

$$$$ Fodor's choice

Specializing in adventurous Northwest-influenced French dishes of extraordinary quality, this cozy and unassuming restaurant consistently ranks among the city's most acclaimed dining venues. James Beard award–winning chef Gabriel Rucker presents a five-course tasting menu ($135), with a vegetarian option available as well, and although the lineup changes nightly, dishes like Iberico pork jowl and tenderloin and gnocchi with lobster and black truffle are typical.

738 E. Burnside St., OR, 97214, USA
503-546–8796
Known For
  • Open kitchen in which diners at the counter can interact with chefs
  • Lavish, leisurely five-course meals
  • Less expensive à la carte next door at Canard
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential

Little T Baker

$ | Division/Clinton Fodor's choice

Set in an airy, high-ceilinged space on the ground floor of the architecturally noteworthy Clinton Condominiums building, this sleek operation serves delectable breakfast and lunch sandwiches and sweets that are nearly impossible to pass up, like the lemon-curd-and-currant scones and sea-salt chocolate brownies.

Lovely's Fifty-Fifty

$$ Fodor's choice

This unpretentious and airy neighborhood spot with wooden booths and whimsical fire-engine-red chairs is really two delicious dining options in one: the dining room serves inventively topped, crisp, wood-fired pizzas, and a small takeout counter dispenses homemade hard and soft-serve organic ice cream with flavors like hazelnut toffee and candied kumquat. Pizza toppings change seasonally and might include homemade fennel sausage with lacinato kale, or rainbow chard with fermented tomatoes and chilis.

4039 N. Mississippi Ave., OR, 97217, USA
503-281–4060
Known For
  • Beautiful seasonal salads with local greens
  • Warm-and-friendly servers
  • Unique pizza toppings like peaches and pancetta
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

Mama Bird

$ | Nob Hill Fodor's choice

At this high-ceilinged, mod-industrial space in Slabtown, it's all about the free-range, pineapple-brined, wood-fired chicken, which you can order as a quarter, half, of whole bird paired with your choice of sauces—favorites include smoked-garlic miso and Thai fish sauce. Make it a true feast by ordering a couple of the enticing sides, maybe cornbread with whipped-honey chili butter, grilled Brussels sprouts with grilled lemon–Calabrian chili oil and confit or garlic puree.

2145 N.W. Raleigh St., Portland, OR, 97210, USA
503-384–2064
Known For
  • The whole meals are a great deal for a family or group of a few friends
  • Nice variety of local beers on tap
  • Brownie sundaes with miso caramel
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

Måurice

$$ Fodor's choice

Described by baker-owner Kristen Murray as a "modern pastry luncheonette," this dainty West End café has just a handful of wooden booth and counter seats and a minimalist-inspired white-on-white aesthetic. The menu features exquisite French–Scandinavian pastries, cakes, and sandwiches, as well as a full gamut of drinks, including wine (interesting flights are offered), beer, cocktails, teas, and coffee.

Mediterranean Exploration Company

$$ Fodor's choice

This vegetarian-friendly tribute to Mediterranean cuisine occupies a handsome former warehouse on historic 13th Avenue in the Pearl. MEC (for short) is an energy-filled, open space with a mix of communal and individual tables (the food is served family-style)—it's surprisingly affordable considering the extraordinary quality and generous portions.

Mother's Bistro & Bar

$$ Fodor's choice

Beloved chef and cookbook author Lisa Schroeder dedicates her home-style, made-with-love approach to food to the comforting foods prepared by mothers everywhere. Clearly the theme resonates, as evidenced by the long waits on weekends, and even some weekday mornings for breakfast, which is arguably the best time of the day to sample Schroeder's hearty cooking; try the wild salmon hash with leeks or the French toast with a crunchy cornflake crust. Reservations are recommended on weekends.

Mucca Osteria

$$$$ Fodor's choice

This narrow, bi-level space with exposed-brick walls, rustic chandeliers, and tall windows overlooking a busy Downtown space ranks among the more sophisticated and romantic dinner spots in the city. Charming chef-owner and Roman expat Simone Savaiano prepares complex modern Italian dishes using mostly local and organic produce and meats, in everything from the selection of cured meats to Dungeness crab salad with endive, arugula, apple, marcona almonds, and champagne vinaigrette. Handmade pastas, including an outstanding maltagliati with rabbit, olives, and pine nuts, are another strength.

1022 S.W. Morrison St., OR, 97205, USA
503-227–5521
Known For
  • Five- and eight-course tasting menus
  • Slow-roasted pork shoulder with wild mushrooms and crispy polenta
  • One of Oregon's most extensive wine lists
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch

Nuvrei

$ Fodor's choice

You'll find some of the tastiest sweets—including heavenly pistachio-rose croissants and blueberry-blackberry scones—in town at this cozy patisserie and café a few blocks south of Jamison Square. Be sure to check out the ever-changing selection of fluffy macarons.

Olympia Provisions

$$$ Fodor's choice

The flagship restaurant of one of the country's leading sources of artisanal charcuterie, such as smoked chorizo, pepper-coated capicola, and pork-pistachio pâté, Olympia Provisions serves gorgeous platters of meats and cheeses along with more eclectic seasonal Mediterranean-influenced fare like eggplant à la plancha with pine nuts and lemon vinaigrette, and pan-roasted black cod with stewed chickpeas. The setting is a smartly designed warehouse space and features a glowing "Meat" sign which quite simply says it all. There's also a pub and a Spanish-inspired tavern, Bar Casa Vale, which are both also in Southeast.

Oma's Hideaway

$$ | Southeast Fodor's choice

Colorful lights, floral-print tablecloths, and lush plants provide a bit of tropical flair to this festive culinary homage to the hawker foods of Singapore and Malaysia, such as corn fritters with sweet-chili peanut sauce, charred-pineapple salad with chili-shrimp sauce, and sour-tamarind baby-back ribs with fish sauce. Save room for a Fruity Pebble rice crispy treat.

3131 S.E. Division St., Portland, OR, 97202, USA
971-754–4923
Known For
  • Amusingly named but seriously tasty cocktails
  • Lunch on weekends
  • Whole charcoal-roasted game hen with coconut sambal
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays

Ox Restaurant

$$$$ Fodor's choice

Specializing in "Argentine-inspired Portland food," Ox is all about prime cuts of meat—along with flavorful garden-fresh side dishes—prepared to perfection. In a dimly lit dining room with hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, and a bar against the front window, the flannel-shirt-and-white-apron-clad waitstaff serves beef, lamb, pork, and fish dishes cooked over flames in a large, hand-cranked grill.

2225 N.E. Martin Luther King Blvd., OR, 97212, USA
503-284–3366
Known For
  • The asado Argentino platter (lots of amazing meaty grills)
  • Creative side dishes, a few of which could make a full meal
  • Vanilla tres leches cake dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

República

$$$$ | Pearl District Fodor's choice

The flagship restaurant of a fast-growing, nationally acclaimed group of sensational Latin American–inspired bars and eateries that include Lilia Comedor, Comala, and several others, this high-ceilinged, unpretentiously elegant spot serves prix-fixe tasting menus of gorgeously plated dishes that often utilize Pacific Northwest ingredients. The nightly offers change according to what's in season but might feature venison with Oaxacan chiles, king trumpet mushrooms, pears, and walnuts, or albacore with avocado and chile de agua.

Salt & Straw Ice Cream

$ Fodor's choice

This now nationally known artisanal ice-cream shop began here with this still always-packed café in the Alberta Arts District and continues to wow the public with its wildly inventive classics as well as seasonal flavors (freckled-chocolate zucchini bread and green fennel and maple are a couple of recent examples). Locally produced Woodblock chocolate bars and homemade salted-caramel sauce are among the toppings. Expect a long line, but take heart in knowing that the patient staff works fast and cheerfully encourages patrons to sample the different flavors.

Screen Door

$$ Fodor's choice

The line that forms outside this Southern-cooking restaurant during weekend brunch and dinner is as epic as the food itself, but you can more easily score a table if you come for weekday brunch, and it's easier to find seating at the newer Pearl District location. A large, packed dining room with canned pickles and peppers along the walls, this Portland hot spot does justice to authentic Southern cooking, especially when it comes to the crispy buttermilk-battered fried chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and collard greens cooked in bacon fat. Or choose the Screen Door plate with your choice of four sides (consider the mac and cheese, creamy grits, and most any of the salads on the rotating seasonal menu).

Smith Teamaker

$ Fodor's choice

At the center of Portland’s locally steeped tea scene is Smith Teamaker, founded by the late entrepreneur Steven Smith, who the New York Times said “helped transform the nation’s tea-drinking habits.” Duck inside to learn about the tea’s origin stories, sample different varieties at the tea bar, and leave with a few gift boxes.

Tamale Boy

$ Fodor's choice

Though the cooks at this lively counter-service restaurant are adept at preparing tamales—both the Oaxacan style wrapped in banana leaves and the more conventional style wrapped in corn husks (try the version filled with roasted pasilla peppers, onions, corn kernels, and queso fresco)—the kitchen also turns out fabulous seafood burritos and grilled-corn esquites. Be sure to check out the colorful murals that decorate the space and don't miss the chance to dine on the spacious side patio. There's an additional location on North Russell Street.

1764 N.E. Dekum St., OR, 97211, USA
503-206–8022
Known For
  • El Diablo margarita with roasted-habanero-infused tequila and mango puree
  • Rotating seasonal dishes, like pozole verde and tacos de camaron
  • Children's menu

Toki

$$ | Downtown Fodor's choice

Established by the team behind the vaunted weekend dinner house, Han Oak, this cozy, casually minimalist spot in the trendy West End doles out inventive modern Korean bites, from savory bay shrimp pancakes with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce to Manila clams with miso butter and ginger sake. A highly popular brunch is served Friday–Sunday and is especially known for its twisted donuts in tantalizing flavors like milk tea and toasted coconut.

580 S.W. 12th Ave., Portland, OR, 97205, USA
503-312–3037
Known For
  • Korean fried chicken wings with a variety of sauce options
  • Kimchi and pork belly buns at brunch
  • Butter mochi cake for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed. No lunch Thurs.