94 Best Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

Angular wood-cut wall mountings and soft overhead globe lamps impart a subtly chic vibe at this upbeat mod-Mediterranean restaurant that divides its menu into "from the grill" (fennel-crusted rib eye, Spanish octopus) and "roasted and fried" (chicken in a Calabrian-chili tomato sauce, Sicilian eggplant parmigiana). If you were hoping to avoid carbs, think again: the homemade pastas are divine, as is the focaccia, baked fresh daily by the in-house bakery.

A self-taught cook who grew up on the island of Crete, chef-owner Eleni Touhouliotis serves up flavorful Greek fare in this unassumingly romantic neighborhood bistro where lamb, rabbit, and shellfish figure prominently on the menu. Share a variety of the more than 40 tapas-size dishes, from traditional dips to refreshing salads to hearty pastas, and note the well-chosen selection of wines, including a number of Greek favorites.

At this Bay Area import, the rambling old Hawthorne house setting feels a touch country-chic, and the friendly servers deliver platters of almost gorgeous, colorful Thai food—mounds of florid jasmine blue rice, spicy Esan-style tuna larb, wagyu beef lettuce rolls, and crispy pork belly with garden veggies. Locally sourced and often organic produce and meats are favored, and quite a few of the dishes pack serious heat (but can be tamed a bit on request). There's a second location Downtown.

"Welcome to your friendly neighborhood beneficial bacteria emporium" is the playful greeting slogan of this locavore-minded, vegan, kombucha taproom specializing in all things fermented, from smoked-beet Reuben sandwiches with cashew-chive cheese and ruby kraut to grilled vegetables with mojo verde and fermented jalapeños. Homemade kombucha and pear-apple water kefirs are among the beverage offerings, and there's also a good variety of beers, ciders, and natural wines.

Occupying a stately, redbrick, former firehouse, this inviting neighborhood spot in Woodlawn is warmed by a wood-fire oven, rustic redbrick-and-wood decor, and sunlight streaming through a glass garage door that's open in nice weather. Although justly well-known for the delicious thin-crust pizzas (try the one with chanterelles, garlic, mozzarella, and thyme), the restaurant receives deserved kudos for its appetizers, salads, and grills, from lightly battered and perfectly fried cauliflower with crème fraîche to meatballs with tomato, rosemary, and kale.

Bold colors play a central role in the look and culinary approach of this trendy restaurant, from the tropical-print wallpaper to the ornately ornamented tableware, and above all else in the consistently delicious Indonesian fare. Roti with coconut-cream corn, braised-beef rendang with kumquats, and Coca-Cola clams steamed with chilis and lemongrass reflect the kitchen's creative and sometimes surprising interpretation of a cuisine that gets very little play in Portland.

This festive tribute to the food of the Southwest has wooden booths and a long tile bar, along with turquoise Zia symbols and cow-skull wall sconces that speak to the restaurant's mix of New Mexican, Texas, and interior Mexican recipes. Fire-roasted green chilies from Hatch, New Mexico, are used in several dishes like the spicy smoked-chicken flautas and the hearty beef brisket tacos, and there's an extensive list of margaritas and local drafts to help cool your taste buds.

No minors allowed. Only 21+ are allowed.

This casual but inviting counter-service Mexican eatery decorated with leafy plants and green-and-white Talavera tiles specializes in hefty tortas stuffed generously with chicken pibil, braised beef, carnitas, and plenty of flavorful accoutrements like habanero slaw and pickled onions. If you'd rather go breadless, you can customize a bowl using most of the torta ingredients.

One of Portland's original farm-to-table restaurants, this classic eatery, opened in 1994 by renowned namesake chef Greg Higgins, has built its menu—and its reputation—on its dedication to local, seasonal, organic ingredients. Higgins' dishes display the diverse bounty of the Pacific Northwest, incorporating ingredients like heirloom tomatoes, forest mushrooms, mountain huckleberries, Pacific oysters, Oregon Dungeness crab, and locally raised pork.

Diners have been enjoying fresh Pacific Northwest seafood in Jake's warren of wood-paneled dining rooms for more than a century. The back bar came around Cape Horn during the 1880s, and the chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings date from 1881. The restaurant, now operated by the McCormick & Schmick's chain, gained a national reputation in 1920, when crawfish was added to the menu. White-coated waiters take your order from an almost endless sheet of daily seafood specials—which can include cedar-plank-roasted salmon, pecan-crusted catfish, Dungeness crab, and Bay shrimp cakes. If you're dining during crawfish season (May–September), sample the tasty crustacean in pie, cooked creole style, or in a Cajun-style stew over rice. The daily happy hour in the bar is one of the best deals in town, with handcrafted drinks, $4 cheeseburgers, $5 fish tacos, and other toothsome bargains.

This New York-style kosher deli and bagel bakery evokes a 1950s diner. The thick sandwiches are made with fresh bread and lean, fresh-cooked meats, and the tender home-smoked salmon and pickled herring are simply mouthwatering.

Along quaintly hip Clinton Street, in a fanciful red-roof building, cozy La Moule serves a perfectly prepared rendition of the dish for which it's named, with a classic marinière sauce and crispy baguettes. But there are also steak frites, whole-roasted branzino with fennel ragout, and other French-Belgian specialties.

One of several spots around Portland that has become known for advancing the art of sandwich making, Lardo offers a steady roster of about a dozen wonderfully inventive variations, plus one or two weekly specials, along with no-less-impressive sides like chickory salad and apple hushpuppies. Sandwiches of particular note include the tender Korean-style braised pork shoulder with kimchi, chili mayo, cilantro, and lime, and grilled mortadella with provolone, marinated peppers, and mustard aioli. There's also a branch Downtown in the West End.

This tiny creperie just outside the hubbub of the Pearl District can serve as a romantic dinner-date spot or just a cozy place to enjoy a cocktail and a late-night snack. You can get sweet crepes with fruit, cheese, chocolate, and cream or savory ones with meats and cheeses; in addition, the dinner menu is rounded out with salads and steaks.