227 Best Restaurants in Oregon, USA

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.

Inventive contemporary Korean food with locally sourced ingredients are the star at this intimate and romantic neighborhood bistro. Highlights include braised short rib–pork dumplings with scallion-soy-chili oil, and bibimbap with tofu, spinach, egg, and steelhead roe.

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.

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.

After a day of skiing, windsurfing, or hiking, head to this inviting, family-run restaurant in downtown Hood River for a hearty, soul-warming bowl of ramen along with some shareable plates of izakaya-style appetizers, like fried oysters, tempura shrimp, and seasoned edamame. These richly complex ramens burst with flavor, from the duck chintan with scallions, corn, and stir-fried wood ear mushrooms to the miso clam with corn and cabbage (and optional Carlton Farms chashu pork as an add-in). The chicken katsu curry is delicious, too.

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.

Throughout the day, this eclectic art-filled café with a sunny brick patio is Manzanita's favorite spot for a caffeine pick-me-up, featuring coffee from Cannon Beach's famed Sleepy Monk roastery, as well as casual lunches of meatloaf sandwiches and oyster po'boys. In the evening, however, Offshore Grill turns into a legit dinner house, serving up artfully plated moules frites, pan-seared duck breast with bok choy and an orange-chili sauce, and hazelnut-crusted local rockfish topped with a ginger-cranberry coulis.

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.

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.

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.

Why yes, that is a line out the door of this diminutive takeout bakery overlooking Lint Slough in the village center of Waldport, about 10 miles up the coast from Yachats—but fear not, the line moves quickly. The payoff is a daily-changing selection of heavenly sweet and savory treats that on any given day might include blackberry tarts, hazelnut cheesecake, herb focaccia, double-onion cheddar scones, and honey-pear-cardamom cakes.

With an angular, contemporary taproom on the Columbia River, pFriem (pronounced "freem") is all about the marriage of Belgium's brewing traditions and Oregon's distinctive, often hoppy, styles. But the kitchen serves stellar pub fare, too, including mussels and fries, veggie burgers with apple-onion chutney, and homemade bratwurst—it's a legit dining option even if you're not a big fan of craft beer. The brewery has quickly vaulted to the top echelon of Northwest craft beer makers, earning accolades for its heady Belgian Strong Blonde and one of the best IPAs in the state.

Have a seat on the sidewalk or inside the colorfully painted dining room of this upbeat contemporary taqueria that turns out delicious, boldly flavored snacks—like house-pickled vegetables with mezcal salt and fried cheese with chili gastrique and honeycomb. Be sure to save room for the main event, though: delicious street tacos with creative fillings, from cochinita pibil (braised pork shoulder in bitter-orange sauce) to grilled achiote-marinated steelhead with avocado mousse.

Two walls of windows allow diners at this stylish downtown bistro spectacular ocean panoramas, but the views inside are pretty inviting, too, from the modern artwork provided by sister establishment Hawthorne Gallery to the artfully presented and globally influenced food. Start with the local clams sautéed in butter or the crispy artichoke with aioli, before graduating to slow-roasted pork porchetta with a rosemary apple sauce or grilled local rockfish with a tarragon beurre rouge. Weekend brunch favorites include smoked-steelhead hash with roasted tomatoes and hollandaise, and the lamb burger with jalapeño jam and brie.

"Serious food in a not-so-serious place" is the slogan of this casual roadhouse with a surprisingly sophisticated menu—it's been a locals' favorite since it opened back in the mid-'90s. For a joint many miles from the coast, the 'Vous sure does a nice job with seafood, turning out appetizing plates of sautéed shrimp, Willapa Bay oysters, Dungeness crab, and sake-glazed wild salmon. Steaks, burgers, and salads round out the menu. Grab a seat on the leafy patio in warm weather. In the adjacent taproom, ask about the seasonal, house-infused spirits, including vodkas and gins.

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.

Immensely gifted chef-owner Justin Wills presents a short but memorable menu of creatively prepared, modern, Pacific Northwest cuisine each night in this romantic, contemporary dining room at the Whale Cove Inn. The menu changes regularly, with chef Wills sourcing largely from local farms, ranches, and fisheries, but you might start with an elk crepinette with chanterelle mushrooms and Asian pears, followed by pheasant breast with kalamata olives, brown-butter crumbs, and beet-pickled leeks. Save room for dessert; it's impressive here, with the apple pie tart topped with hard-crack caramel and candied almonds a particular standout. 

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.

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).

Order at the food truck window and have a seat in the airy indoor greenhouse-style dining room at this fun and casual restaurant decorated with wind chimes, art glass, hanging plants, and funky folk art—there's seating outside in the courtyard, too. Located in a quiet neighborhood south of downtown and Youngs Bay, this laid-back seafood spot serves up sublime fish (halibut, cod, prawns, scallops, calamari, or oysters) and chips, plus po'boys, chowders, and burgers. Although they don't sell alcohol, you can bring your own.

This enchanting dining room, set in an old brick and tile factory with a high ceiling, exposed beams, a fireplace, and many windows, shares its space with Eden Hall performance venue. The menu changes often, but favorites that tend to appear regularly include Marcona almond–crusted seared salmon with harissa and seasonal grilled vegetables and Northwest bouillabaisse with a lemongrass-saffron-tomato broth.

In a region renowned for artisanal coffee, this small roaster brews some of the best espresso and coffee drinks in the state, and thus attracts java aficionados on caffeine pilgrimages from near and far eager to sample its certified-organic, fair-trade beans. Local, fresh pastries are stacked high and there's also a good selection of herbal and green teas.

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.

This snazzy, high-ceilinged space along the Hood River waterfront is wildly popular for its wood-fire-grilled pizzas with unusual toppings—such as the Cherry Girl, layered with local cherries, spicy chorizo, goat cheese, mozzarella, and marinara sauce. There are several tasty salads, apps, and non-pizza entrées, too, as well as tantalizing wood-fired s'mores for dessert.

This casually elegant, wood-paneled trattoria helmed by James Beard–nominated chef Justin Wills offers well-crafted takes on familiar Italian classics, including burrata with grilled bread, baked rigatoni in a creamy marinara sauce, and old-school spaghetti and meatballs. But it's the wood-fired pizzas that many regulars come back for, including a slightly spicy version topped with Italian sausage, Castelvetrano olives, Mama Lil's hot peppers, Calabrian chili oil, and San Marzano tomato sauce. The tiramisu is spot-on, and ther'es a great wine list.

Interpretations of street food staples inspired by the co-owner/chef's travels in Southeast Asia and Mexico take center stage at this local hot spot. Originally opened as a mobile kitchen housed in a 1962 Airstream, the restaurant keeps the good vibes alive with its spacious, plant-filled dining area and its creatively decorated bathrooms. 

As diners enjoy a romantic view of Haystack Rock, this luxe hotel's sophisticated, supremely romantic dining room prepares a new menu nightly, crafting exquisite dinners using fresh, local ingredients. Diners can expect dishes such as cedar plank–roasted salmon, rack of lamb with chanterelle risotto, and a lemon-curd tart with wild berry sauce. You can order à la carte or opt for the four-course prix-fixe, with or without wine pairings. There's an extensive regional and international wine list. The view, cuisine, and attentive service combine to make it one of the finest dining experiences in the Pacific Northwest.

This Main Street mainstay is best known for its amazing sweet treats in the bakery case, but there are plenty of savory delights on the menu, too, including several grilled egg sandwiches, avocado toast, and quinoa bowls for breakfast and five creative variations of grilled cheese sandwiches at lunch. Soups and salads are also popular. If you didn't save room for dessert, be sure and get some of the tasty scones, cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, and other treats to go.

A rotating menu at this fine bistro in Albany's historic downtown changes monthly and features flavorful cuisine at reasonable prices. The restaurant strives to ensure that most of the ingredients, including the lamb, eggs, and vegetables, are raised within 10 miles. The wine list includes worldwide classics, but is strong on local Oregon wines, too.

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.