49 Best Places to Eat in Portland Oregon » Ultimate PDX Food Bucket List (2024)

Portland is a known destination for food, coffee, and beer. Thoughwe often complain about the lack of good Asian food and good, cheap eats, there’s still plenty of options to find a bite to eat.

We’ve put together a list of 49 to help you plan your foodcation in Portland, and we are also working through it ourselves. We’ll add notes as we eat at each spot, and replace them if we find better food too! If you’re looking to treat yo’self, check out our Portland fine dining guide.

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Date Updated: Jan 25, 2020

1. Ataula(Northwest, Spanish, $$)
2. Gravey (North Portland, Breakfast & Brunch, $$) – The Challah French toast is a favorite amongst locals
3. Paley’s Place(Northwest, French, $$$)
4. Salt & Straw Ice Cream(Northwest + Mult Locations, Ice Cream, $$) – Our favorites are the strawberry balsamic with cracked pepper, bleu cheese and pear, andchocolate brownie flavor and coffee and bourbon flavor. PRO-TIP: If you buy them by the pint, you don’t have to wait in the long line. We always keep a few in our freezer.
5. St. Jack(Northwest, French, $$$)
6. Sweedeedee(North Portland, Breakfast & Brunch, $$)

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7. Aviary (Asian Fusion, $$$) – Jacob loved the Japanese eggplant and I loved the silken tofu pictured above.
8. Beast (French, $$$$) – I’ve heard so many people rave about Beast, but we thought it was overhyped.
9. Davenport (Seafood, $$$)
10. Han Oak (Korean Inspired, $$$) – James Beard’s best new restaurant nominee in 2017. Go on dumpling night if you don’t want to do the full tasting menu. My fave was the bibim gooksoo that reminded me of jjolmyun.
11. Laurelhurst Market (Steakhouses, $$$)
12. Mae (Southern, $$$)
13. Ned Ludd (American, $$$)
14. Ox (Steakhouses, $$$) – won the James Beard Best Chef Award in the NW for 2017.
15. Pambiche (Cuban, $$) – overpriced Cuban food.
16. Pip’s Original Doughnuts (Coffee & Tea, $) – loved their chai tea flight (Emmylou Chai was my favorite). The mini doughnuts can be hit or miss. Sometimes they’re amazing and sometimes they’re dry and over-fried. Local Tip: They also give you a free dozen mini doughnuts within 7 days of your birthday.
17. Pix Patisserie (Desserts, $$) – On Eater’s list of Best Cake Shops
18. Pizza Jerk (Pizza, $$) – one of Bon Appetit’s best new restaurants in 2016
19. Podnah’s Pit BBQ (Barbeque, $$)
20. Sa Bai Thai Cuisine (Thai / Vegetarian, $$) – on the yelp 100 for 2017. Worth it if you’re in the area.
21. Screen Door (Southern, $$) – was on the Yelp 100 for 2016. This is usually one of our first spots we take visitors for brunch and there is always a line. Their chicken and waffles are solid. The best? Debatable. But their praline bacon keeps us coming back.
22. Toro Bravo (Spanish Tapas, $$) – This is better in a big group since you can try more plates. We came when our family was in town and our favorites were the salt cod fritters, Kurobuta pork cheeks, and squid ink pasta, which oddly reminded me of nacho cheese. We also ordered the house-smoked coppa steak, Moorish lamb chops a la plancha (least favorite), and paella, which was huge and came with sand from the sea.

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23. Nong’s Khao Man Gai(Central Eastside, Thai, $) – The chicken and rice here is so simple but so good. It was our regular spot, but now we just buy their sauce and make chicken and rice at home instead. We haven’t perfected it yet, but it saves us money. When our friends come in town, though, we always take them here.
24. HoldFast Dining(Central Eastside, American, $$$$)
25. Kachka(Central Eastside, Russian, $$) – on Eater’s 38 Essential Restaurants in the US.
26. Le Pigeon(Central Eastside, French, $$$)
27. Olympia Provisions(Central Eastside, American, $$) – the meat and cheese boards were delicious but portions were smaller and it was pricier than we expected.
28. Pine State Biscuits(Central Eastside, Breakfast & Brunch, $) –Being from the south, we love our biscuits and gravy and this place helps us get our artery clogging fix when we need it. Jacob got the reggie deluxeand I got the Biscuits and shiitake mushroom gravy, which were both good.
29. Taqueria Nueve(Central Eastside, Mexican, $$)

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30. Blue Star Donuts(Downtown + Mult Locations, $$) – Their donuts can be hit or miss, but the blueberry bourbon basil is our fave👌
31. Maurice(Downtown, French, $$) – It’s a cute spot. We didn’t like the sandwiches but would come back for tea, scones, and the black pepper cheesecake.
32. Carlita’s (Pearl District, Tacos, co*cktails, $$) – Visit them for lively tacos and a carefully crafted whiskey and agave co*cktail.

33. Farm Spirit(Southeast, Vegan, $$$$) – vegan pre fixed menu. We’re not vegetarian, but we loved the food. The chef was also very personable and fun, and we had a lovely experience overall.
34. Apizza Scholls(Southeast, Pizza, $$) – probably our favorite pizza place in Portland.Our favorite is the Apizza Amore and next up was the Tartufo2.
35. Ava Gene’s(Southeast, American, $$$)
36. Bollywood Theater(Southeast + Mult Locations, Indian, $$)
37. Castagna(Southeast, American, $$$) – this was a Michelin star quality restaurant and has been a James Beard semifinalist. We loved all the dishes and creative presentation.
38. Coquine(Southeast, American, $$$) – one of Bon Appetit’s best new US restaurant in 2016.
39. Langbaan(Southeast, Thai, $$$$)
40. Nodoguro(Southeast, Japanese, $$$$)
41. Nostrana(Southeast, Italian, $$) – really loved their house charcuterie and Salumi pizza, but everything else was just okay.
42. Off the Waffle(Southeast, Breakfast & Brunch, $) – If you want savory, get the goat in headlights.
43. Pinolo Gelato (Southeast, Gelato, $) – Scoops are small, but we love this place over Salt & Straw. We usually only go to Salt & Straw if we have guests in town.
44. PDX Sliders (Southeast, Burgers / Food Trucks, $) – on the yelp100 for 2017. Their Hawthorne burger was my favorite. Definitely taking all our future visitors here.
45. Rose VL Deli(Southeast, Vietnamese, $)
46. Urdaneta (Southeast, Spanish, Tapas, $$$)

47. Coco Donuts (Southwest, Donuts + Coffee, $) – seems like the newest Portland local fave for donuts. They’re sometimes too soft in texture for my liking. The space looks very pretty and photogenic. Their most popular donut is lavender and is usually sold out by the afternoon, but there are so many locations now.
48. Wiz Bang Bar (Southwest, Ice cream, $) – If you like soft serve, this Salt & Straw’s sister store. Everyone raves about their magic shell, but I thought it was okay. Still on the list, because I want to give it another shot. Last time it was melting faster than I could shovel into my mouth.

49. Banh Mi Nam Loc(Montavilla, Vietnamese, $) – If you want an authentic, no-frills grilled pork banh mi, this is a great spot.

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• Good Coffee(Southeast, $)
• Proud Mary Coffee (Northeast, $$)
• Stumptown Coffee(Central Eastside + Mult Locations, $)
• Smith Teamaker(Central Eastside + Mult Locations, Tea Rooms, $)

• Multnomah Whiskey Library(Southwest, Whiskey Bars, $$$)
• Distillery Row Tour
• Base Camp Brewery(Central Eastside, Breweries, $)
• Cascade Brewing (Central Eastside, Breweries, $$) – known for their sours. Also a regular spot for us.

• Bamboo Sushi(Southeast + Mult Locations, Japanese, $$) – it’s nice that it’s sustainable sushi, but I wish it tasted better. Also, the rice was falling apart.
• Lardo(Southwest, Sandwiches, $$) – Jacob had thepork belly, egg, and cheese sandwich, I ordered the pork meatball banh mi, and we got the loaded lardo fries for the table. They burnt my bread, but everyone else’s meal came out fine.
• Little Big Burger(Pearl District + Mult Locations, $) – tastes like a standard burger I can make at home.
• Pok Pok(Southeast, Thai, $$) – didn’t find the food worth the wait and hassle.
• Roe(Southeast, Seafood, $$$$) – plan to put it back on the list but temporarily closed for renovation.
• Voodoo Doughnut(Southwest + Mult Locations, $) – actually not a local fave or anyone’s fave after they try it, but it never stops hoards of tourists from going. For that reason, it’s included and continues to be on every Portland list. I will say that they do excel at marketing and creative looking donuts. Go for the photo oppsbut not so much for the doughnuts.
• Waffle Window(Southeast + Mult Locations, Waffles, $) – liked the farm fusion. It was yummy, but I wouldn’t go on my first few visits to Portland.