Portland is a major city in the state of Oregon, in the northwest of the United States. The city is known as one of the most environmentally friendly or ‘green’ cities in the world. The climate is ideal for growing roses, which is widely practiced in the city, hence the nickname ‘City of Roses’ will be familiar to many. But what many people may not know is that the city is also renowned for its delicious food and drinks. In short; for an intense culinary experience, Portland is the place to be.
In the city, there are no less than 700 dining establishments where you can enjoy the specialties of the house both indoors and outdoors on the terrace. According to reader surveys on the website portlandfoodanddrink.com, the Spanish restaurant Toro Brava comes out on top, closely followed by restaurant Andina with Peruvian cuisine and Castagna with the new American cuisine.
Straight up, Portland has something most other cities do not: the natural bounty of the Willamette Valley, somewhat unblemished by pollution. This gives Portland chefs a huge arsenal of ingredients to play with — whether the cuisine of choice is regional Thai or Andean. The city is known for its inventive and daring food cart culture, which span more than 25 distinct “pods;” standing in parking lots or seated at outdoor fire pits, people dine on Texas smoked brisket and duck-stuffed jianbing. That food cart scene is just as reliant on Oregon grown produce, whether it’s the neighborhood-grown vegetables on a Tuscan sandwich or the blue corn masa used for tetelas.
Essential Restaurants
Eater Portland’s map of essential restaurants and carts includes a number of exceptional restaurants, cafes, and carts in most of the city’s neighborhoods. Spend a day eating your way through the map’s greatest hits. For brunch, sit down at one of the sunny window tables at Cafe Olli, for something as simple as a Danish and a latte or a hearty plate of baked eggs with chickpeas and leeks; on the west side of the river, slide onto the banquettes at Maurice for pots of tea, rosemary scones, fluffy quiche, and black pepper cheesecake. For lunch, Rose VL Deli is a treasure trove of layered, fragrant Vietnamese noodles — Saturday provides the restaurant’s best selection of noodles and soups, including its breathtaking cao lau, combining thick, udon-esque noodles with herbs, a pristine and garlicky broth, and a handful of torn herbs and vegetables. For dinner, splurge on a tasting menu at the regional Thai spot Langbaan, the eclectic pseudo-wine bar Arden, or the kaleidoscopic French-ish stalwart Le Pigeon.
Hot Restaurants
This is a great time to be eating Vietnamese food in Portland. At the Paper Bridge, Northern Vietnamese fare comes with a thorough glossary in the form of a menu, with dishes like phở chiên phồng (puffed pho noodles), bánh mì que hải phòng (breadsticks with pate), and several different regional soups served with house-made rice noodles. Head to Chem Gio at Mosaic Taphouse for beer-friendly snacks like bo la lot (betel leaf-wrapped sausages) and bột chiên trúng (rice cakes with egg). Friendship Kitchen Northwest is a culinary cross-section of Vietnamese and Singaporean fare, which means the crispy crepe-like snack banh xeo can precede bowls of laksa or chile crab. Speaking of snacks, Alberta Street’s new Pasar is a fun celebration of Indonesian snacking culture, honing in on the flavors of Jakarta’s market halls.
Food Cart
A phenomenon in Portland. Some call them lunch wagons or taco trucks, others snack shacks. You will find a wide variety of different dishes at the food trucks. And the fun part is that you can score a delicious meal for just a few dollars. You’ll find quite a few food carts around Pioneer Courthouse Square, but also in other parts of the city.
As you wander through the city, you will undoubtedly come across the colorful caravans/stalls selling food. At these so-called Food Carts, you can buy delicious snacks and other dishes. This way, you can taste a lot of the city’s culture because there are no less than 450 different Food Carts in Portland. You can enjoy a good breakfast, a spicy taco, quesadillas, soup, falafel, ice cream, and much more.
Coffee
Portland’s identity as a specialty coffee haven has not dissipated in the last decade. Stumptown remains tried and true, even after the corporate switcheroos, but lovers of fine coffee need to make the effort to visit Push X Pull or Proud Mary. For those staying downtown or near Old Town, Deadstock is the place to be for bright roasts well-suited to iced drinks and espresso. Portland is also nationally significant for its immigrant and first-generation cafes and roasters, who are highlighting the beans and coffee traditions of their ancestral countries: Portland Cà Phê showcases the brooding flavor profile of Vietnamese-grown beans, places like Less and More or Kalesa lean on East Asian ingredients and flavors for inventive lattes, and cafes like Electrica and La Perlita explore the nuances of Mexican roasts.
Sandwiches
This city’s top sandwich shops excel at the artisan sandwich, and while the longtime ruling king is definitively Lardo, now there are a number of viable contenders: Sammich’s Italian beef, Pasture’s pastrami, Jojo’s fried chicken sandwiches, Demarco’s Italian hero, An Xuyen’s banh mi — the options are relatively endless.
Pizza
There’s no getting around it now — Portland is one of the country’s great pizza cities, whether you like it or not. The city’s access to fresh, whole-grain flours, its penchant for sourdough and baking, and its passion for Oregon-grown produce makes the city’s pies worth a second look. For a taste of what we could call “Portland pizza,” Lovely’s Fifty-Fifty should be stop one, thanks to its sturdy and flavorful crusts topped with truly of-the-moment toppings (Chef’s Table agrees). The city is also home to a cool range of cultural crossover pizzerias — pop by Hapa Pizza for toppings inspired by banh mi and pho, or Reeva for the “pizzaleada,” a pizza version of the Honduran baleada. For something square, Ranch Pizza tops towering Sicilian-esque squares with dense layers of pepperoni or dollops of ricotta. Other common pizza crawl stops include Ken’s Artisan, Scottie’s, Apizza Scholls, and Red Sauce.
Beer
With a wild number of breweries, Portland-based brewers come close to perfecting the art of craft beer. Brett and farmhouse fans adore Little Beast, Cascade Brewing, or Upright Brewing, while German-style beer aficionados may prefer Zoiglhaus or Occidental. But the brewpub beer snobs absolutely cannot miss, both for its food and its beer, is Breakside Brewery.
Brunch
Brunch here is a blood sport. While many restaurants offer the standard array of Benedicts and scrambles, some Portland restaurants and food carts have become true innovators in the art of the leisurely morning meal: Toki tucks japchae and hash browns into tortillas for a “brunchwrap supreme,” while Street Disco serves bacon, egg, and cheese croquettes alongside elote frittatas. Still, for a more classic breakfast, places like Tin Shed Garden Cafe — or even diners like Cameo Cafe or Fuller’s — may be a better fit. For more recommendations, check out our one-stop shop for breakfast maps, recommendations, and news.
Culinary Walking Route
Portland Walking Tours has recently launched a new walking tour: Flavour Street. During this two-hour walk, you will get to know the best dishes of Portland and take a look at six different kitchens, ranging from innovations in seasonal products to local breweries. Of course , you’ll also get to taste some samples along the way, and during the walk, you’ll learn more about the neighborhood’s history.
Hotspot Cup & Bar
Cup & Bar is one of those places where I’d like to come more often. There’s a nice atmosphere in the place and the food is delicious. On the morning I visited, it was raining and the bikes were simply hung on the wall inside. I opted for toast with ricotta and avocado, which I highly recommend. Moreover, this is also the place for good coffee.
Donuts at Voodoo Doughnut
Looking for the most bizarre donuts? Then Voodoo is the place to go. The pink building stands out as you walk down the street, and if you’re lucky, there won’t be a line. Voodoo is very popular among locals and tourists alike and therefore very popular. Once inside, you just don’t know which donut to choose. The most diverse creations are displayed in the windows. With so much choice, choosing is difficult. You won’t find healthy donuts here, because it’s clear that the colorful donuts are a sugar bomb.
Breakfast at Doug Fir
On the first morning, we were looking for breakfast, and next to our hotel was Doug Fir. After looking at the menu for a moment, we decided to eat here. It was still nice and quiet. Doug Fir is not only a restaurant but also a bar, so they are open all day. There were plenty of options on the menu for a good breakfast, and the American pancakes went down a treat.
Little Big Burger
What to do after a flight of more than 10 hours and adjusting to the time zone? That’s when you go for a simple meal, and in this case, it was burgers. Near Powells, we found Little Big Burger, where they indeed serve small burgers. It’s not the most cozy place to eat, but a great escape for an easy meal.
Portland and good food are two good combinations. In the city, you’ll find many restaurants, but there’s also a food cart culture. Food carts that are there all year round, rain or shine. And where you can get the tastiest dishes for a few dollars. In Portland, you’ll find trendy hotspots, crazy donut creations, good places for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and a great beer culture. Let yourself be surprised by these fun restaurants in Portland, Oregon.
