Portland, Oregon may be weightier known for its supplies carts, breweries, coffee, and doughnut shops, but its restaurants are worth a trip on their own. I spent a weekend in Portland recently where all I did was eat my way through the weightier restaurants in the city. There was so much to love here.
Across the city, you’ll find no shortage of stellar sit-down options, whether you’re looking for a quick, unstudied trencher of ramen or a fine dining-tasting menu dinner. As the rookery of legendary doughboy James Beard, Portland is now home to several James Beard-nominated establishments and chefs. So many of these made this list of top Portland restaurants.
Pacific Northwest cuisine connotes locally sourced ingredients, particularly when it comes to seafood, like Portland specialty Dungeness crab. But don’t worry if that doesn’t appeal—the municipality has an zillions of vegetarian and vegan options, and the Portland restaurants on this list represent cuisines ranging from Russian to Korean to Norwegian.
From restaurants and supplies carts to Michelin to Michelin, you’ll learn increasingly well-nigh all of the weightier places to dine in Portland. So if you’re without repletion supplies or a formal Michelin starred restaurant, there is really something for everyone.
Convinced yet that it’s time to make the trip to Stumptown? Read on for my top 20 picks when it comes to dining in the city.
Planning a Trip To Portland? Here Are My Top Picks for the Weightier Hotels in Portland:
- The Hoxton, for the weightier inside location
- Jupiter NEXT, for the weightier new diamond hotel
- The Nines, for the weightier luxury hotel
The 30 Weightier Restaurants In Portland
*Please note: I have been to most of these restaurants. I’m including a few extras in specimen you cannot get a reservation or ones that I couldn’t get either and had on my list.
1. Kann
Photos via Eva Kosmas Flores
One of the most-anticipated restaurants not only in Portland but in the country until it opened in 2022, Kann, the first restaurant from James Beard nominee and two-time Top Doughboy finalist Gregory Gourdet, has been making headlines since its debut. Its menu, described as “Haitian meets Pacific Northwest,” has garnered rave reviews.
Address: 548 SE Ash St, Portland, OR 97214
2. Langbaan/Phuket Café
Photo via christinedong.com
Portland serves knockout Thai food, in large part thanks to doughboy Akkapong Earl Ninsom, who was nominated as an outstanding restauranteur at the 2022 James Beard Awards for his dining establishments wideness the city. Two to add to your list: tasting menu destination Langbaan, which sits inside ultra-hip Phuket Café.
Address: 1818 NW 23rd Pl, Portland, OR 97210
3. Jeju
The lively restaurant Jeju is serving up some of the weightier Korean American supplies in Portland. Wood-fired cooking is inside to many of the dishes on this robust and flavorful menu. It brings new meaning to Korean BBQ, and a place to show up with all of your friends. Come hungry, and ready to grub lanugo here.
Address: 626 SE Main St, Portland, OR 97214
4. Republica
One of several new restaurants to unshut in Portland’s Pearl District lately, Republica guides diners through what it calls a “Mexican-forward” tasting menu. It’s been lauded since its 2021 opening, grabbing a semifinalist nod for Weightier New Restaurant at the 2022 James Beard Awards.
Address: 721 NW 9th Ave Suite #175, Portland, OR 97209
5. Lovely’s Fifty-Fifty
Lovely’s is one of the weightier pizza restaurants Portland has to offer, and undoubtedly one of the most creative, featuring toppings including foraged flowers. Like many Portland restaurants, it prides itself on the locally sourced ingredients that go into its pizza and can’t-miss ice cream.
Address: 4039 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217
6. Eem
Another Thai concept from Ninsom, Eem deserves its entry for its heady take on Thai barbecue. Dishes like sweet and sour fried yellow and brisket fried rice set it untied from Ninsom’s other restaurants, and an variety of frozen cocktail offerings make this a fun spot for summertime al fresco dining.
Address: 3808 North Williams Avenue st, 127, Portland, OR 97227
7. Le Pigeon
For innovative fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere, Le Pigeon is the way to go. The restaurant features a 5-course tasting menu that shows off James Beard Award-winning doughboy Gabriel Rucker’s unique culinary style, and a unconfined wine list rounds out the experience. The menu at Le Pigeon changes commonly to reflect the freshest seasonal ingredients and the creative whims of the chef, ensuring a new wits with each visit. Le Pigeon offers both a la carte and chef’s tasting menu options, with wine and instillation pairings that complement the unvigilant flavors of the dishes.
Address: 738 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
8. Luce
Luce’s dining room is small and it doesn’t take reservations, but the Italian supplies at this low-key spot is well worth any wait you might run into. The restaurant moreover features a unconfined wine list and a mannerly shop of Italian foodstuffs like olive oil.
Address: 2140 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
9. Mediterranean Exploration Company
Photo via Austin Phelps | Sesame Collective
Those in search of global flavors will love Mediterranean Exploration Company, a stalwart in the Pearl District since 2014. The flagship of popular restaurant group Sesame Collective, MEC grants diners views of its unshut hearth kitchen and features several grilled meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes slantingly a wide variety of mezze. The restaurant is situated in Portland’s industrial Pearl District, offering a vibrant and energetic undercurrent with an unshut hearth kitchen. MEC moreover features a playful instillation program that complements the Mediterranean flavors of the dishes.
Address: 333 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
10. The Paper Bridge
For an pure taste of Vietnamese cuisine, don’t skip The Paper Bridge on your Portland trip. The focus of the cuisine is Northern Vietnamese, flavors that transport and dishes to remember. All of their supplies here is washed-up from scratch, washed-up traditionally, sourcing high-quality ingredients that help share just how unconfined this cuisine is. You’ll find small dishes like water buffalo jerky, to things like rolled pho noodles and plane whole grilled duck and fish with fish sauce.
Address: 828 SE Ash St, Portland, OR 97214
11. Toki
From the team overdue the fine dining establishment Han Oak, the increasingly relaxed Toki serves Korean food, including variations on Korean fried chicken, for daily dinner and weekend brunch. The menu at Toki is an expansion of the offerings from Han Oak, its sister restaurant, and includes a variety of Korean dishes such as bibimbap, bulgogi, dumplings, gimbap, Korean fried chicken, noodles, and a unique steamed bao burger.
Address: 580 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
12. Alpenrausch
One of the latest newcomers to the Portland dining scene brings a taste of the Alps and Pacific Northwest. The supplies here is undeniably “alpine” with classics like sausages, Bavarian pretzels, and fondues. And while the Alps imbricate several countries in Europe, you’ll certainly get a bit from each. All in all, it’s a spot that brings in the local ingredients to create a taste of what can be found in the Alpine supplies of Europe. The restaurant serves dinner nightly from 4-9pm, extending to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and offers lunch from 11:30-4pm on Fridays through Sundays.
Address: 3384 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
13. Kachka
Dining at Kachka, one of the country’s top spots for Russian food, is an wits unlike any other in Portland. Its menu features archetype Russian dishes, sometimes with a twist—think short rib borsch—as well as specialties from nearby countries like Georgia and Uzbekistan. Don’t miss the vareniki dumplings, particularly the sour cherry variety on offer for dessert.
Address: 960 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
14. Maurice
Maurice, a small, Instagram-friendly space that bills itself as a “modern pastry luncheonette,” serves Norwegian and French fare throughout the late morning and afternoon. It’s a lovely place to stop for lunch or fika while exploring downtown or the Pearl District. In wing to its culinary offerings, Maurice moreover boasts an impressive selection of wines, craft cocktails, and specialty beverages, curated to complement the flavors of the supplies and enhance the overall dining experience.
Address: 921 SW Oak St, Portland, OR 97205
15. Xiao Ye
Self-described as a cozy neighborhood restaurant, Xiao Ye is first-generation American supplies that comes from family recipes. On the menu, a range of dishes like tempura fried sardines, half-fried chicken, and the archetype — Jolyn’s favorite noodle dish. An alkaline spaghetti with sesame, Taiwanese woebegone vinegar, and lao gan ma. Don’t miss a cozy meal here during your trip.
Address: 3832 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
16. Coquine
Image via Joshua Chang
Thoughtful and seasonal dishes come to life at Coquine, located just two blocks from the extinct volcano Mt. Tabor. A 2022 semifinalist for the James Beard Awards in outstanding hospitality, the top-notch supplies at this neighborhood spot is supported by a fantastic wine list. Led by Doughboy Katy Millard and her husband, Ksandek Podbielski, Coquine offers a menu that highlights the region’s bounty of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, with a focus on simple yet refined preparations that indulge the natural flavors to shine. The menu changes regularly to showcase the weightier of each season, offering diners a diverse variety of dishes that are both comforting and inventive.
Address: 6839 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97215
17. Pasar
Pasar showcases a taste of Indonesian Market meals, each unique in flavors and dishes. It’s dishes from Indonesia that often don’t get as much highlights at our restaurants virtually the world. Their unique, and often found in the market stalls in Jakarta. The dinner service here has small dishes with snacks and treats that are unconfined for plane a quick bite. A classic? The Lemper ayam, a sticky rice soaked in coconut milk with lemongrass, layer with yellow and aromatics.
Address: 3023 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
18. Afuri Izakaya
Popular uniting Afuri chooses Oregon as the location for its first restaurant outside of Japan, citing a geography that yields platonic spring water for its ramen. While yuzu ramen is the specialty here, the izakaya moreover serves a variety of nigiri, sashimi, dumplings, and beyond. Led by Doughboy Shuichi Kotani, Afuri Izakaya’s menu features a tantalizing selection of small plates, shareable dishes, and grilled skewers inspired by the izakaya culture of Japan. From crispy gyoza and savory yakitori to inventive fusion creations like sushi burritos and poke bowls, every dish is meticulously crafted with high-quality ingredients and unvigilant flavors that pay homage to both Japanese tradition and Pacific Northwest culinary influences.
Address: 923 SE 7th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
19. Queen Mama’s Kitchen
As the only restaurant in Portland that is defended to Saudi Arabian cuisine, Queen Mama’s Kitchen is outstanding. Whether you dine in or takeout, the dishes are vibrant and full of flavor. Some of the classics like Yellow Shawarma and vegetarian Koshari, are must-haves while eating here.
Address: 406 SW Oak St, Portland, OR 97204
20. Magna Kusina
Modern Filipino supplies shines at this restaurant from Doughboy Carlo Lamagna, flipside semifinalist for Weightier Chef: Northwest and Pacific at the 2022 James Beard Awards. Magna Kusina’s menu is inspired by the cuisine of Lamagna’s diaper and infused with techniques he learned working at farm-to-table restaurants in Chicago.
Address: 2525 SE Clinton St, Portland, OR 97202
21. Friendship Kitchen
Dine in for Saigon to Singaporean cuisine at Friendship Kitchen. One scroll through their Instagram feed gives you a very good squint at the love and passion overdue this succulent food. Vegan and vegetarian-friendly, lots of the dishes full-length tofu like their zillions trencher that has chewy, crispy tofu skin — so good, you might think it’s meat.
Address: 2333 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97232
22. Canard
As the sister restaurant to the famous Le Pigion, Canard plays odes to French brasserie cuisine. You’ll find things like foie gras dumplings, endive salads, to increasingly forward dishes like smoked sablefish queso dip with caviar. It’s funky, it’s an ode to French cuisine, and all very delicious.
Address: 734 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
23. Câche Câche
As a raw bar, the supplies here extends vastitude fresh seafood and clever bites. New specials hit this seasonal menu frequently, unchangingly giving reason to return. Set right overdue the Fracture Brewing Taproom, this pairs well with those who want to start the night with a mash and end with serious eats. From flavorful sardine toasts to their famous lobster roll on brioche, there are plenty of succulent choices.
Address: 1015 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97214
24. Cafe Olli
As an all-day cafe, Sideboard Olli gives odes to locally and seasonally focused cuisine in the Pacific Northwest. Their popular daytime menu has everything from soups to fresh specie available, unchangingly perfect for the colder days that come to Portland. Stop in for a unstudied zest here when out exploring.
Address: 3925 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97212
25. Chem Gio at Mosaic Taphouse
As a pop-up restaurant at Mosaic Taphouse, Chem Gio is commonly named as one of the weightier eats by Eater in town. A rotating menu, all that pairs well with the house brews, packs some serious flavor. Recently, the salt and pepper panko-crusted shrimp were a hit.
26. SunRice
Inside the Moxy Hotel, SunRice is a favorite for great, homemade-style Filipino food. Classics like yellow adobo to picnic pork skewers, all dishes on here are a hit. And their silog bowls, well, top it with pork vitals bbq or plane seared fish filet, either way, it’s so delicious.
Address: 585 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
27. Street Disco
As a natural wine bar with some unconfined food, you can come in and drink and eat well. Street Disco opened their brick-and-mortar and haven’t looked back. It’s casual, yet elevated, the supplies has everything from croquettes to burgers. And if you’re passing through, don’t skip their snifter shop — the wine list here is wide-stretching and has something for everyone.
Address: 4144A SE 60th Ave, Portland, OR 97206
28. Kaede
This small sushi tearoom set over in Portland’s Sellwood, Kaede gives you a taste of Japan. It’s reservation-only, so with a bit of planning you can enjoy their sushi-forward menu. With well-selected fish, their nigiri and sashimi are some of the weightier in town.
Address: 8268 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
29. Lilia Comedor
Pacific Northwest is the name of the cuisine, all washed-up through the vision of Mexican-American Chef, Juan Gomez. The supplies here is some of the weightier right now in Portland, and one to watch as it continues. The supplies may be hyper-seasonal, but continues to wowin savor and ingredients.
Address: 3159 S Moody Ave, Portland, OR 97239
30. Bhuna
Modern Indian cuisine that is unstudied yet incredibly delicious. This is a staple restaurant in Portland and a favorite of locals. The flavorful Indian soul supplies has all the classics from pork vindaloo to several vegetarian dishes misogynist on the menu.
Address: 704 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Portland Travel Tips
Book restaurant reservations in whop
While Portland is increasingly relaxed than some other cities in terms of reservations—and some spots, including Luce, don’t take them—you’ll want to typesetting some of the buzzier tables in town well in advance. Reservations at Kann, for instance, are snatched up within minutes without they are posted on the Resy website increasingly than a month in advance.
The Weightier Time Of Year to Visit Portland
Spring, from March to May, brings summery temperatures, visculent flowers, and budding trees, making it platonic for exploring parks and gardens. Summer, from June to August, offers warm and dry weather, perfect for outdoor festivals, concerts, and activities like hiking and exploring the Columbia River Gorge.
Fall, from September to November, brings well-done weather and vibrant foliage, making it an spanking-new time for hiking, wine tasting, and enjoying seasonal produce. Winter, from December to February, is summery with occasional rain or snow but offers a festive undercurrent with holiday lights and markets, as well as opportunities to explore indoor attractions like museums and breweries.
The Weightier Zone of Portland to Stay In
Choosing the weightier zone to stay in Portland depends on your preferences and the type of wits you seek. Downtown Portland offers a inside location with easy wangle to attractions like Pioneer Courthouse Square and the Portland Art Museum, withal with a vibrant dining and entertainment scene.
The Pearl District exudes a trendy undercurrent with art galleries, boutiques, and upscale dining options. Northwest Portland, including Nob Hill and Northwest 23rd Avenue, blends historic recreate with modern amenities, featuring trendy shops and trappy Victorian homes. For a increasingly eclectic vibe, the Alberta Arts District boasts colorful murals, unique shops, and diverse dining choices.
Meanwhile, the Hawthorne District in Southeast Portland offers a raffish undercurrent with vintage stores and laid-back cafes. Ultimately, the weightier part of Portland to stay in depends on your desired atmosphere, whether it’s a popping urban scene, a trendy neighborhood, or a increasingly eclectic and volitional vibe.
