Portland, Oregon is known for its diverse and innovative dining scene. With restaurants serving everything from traditional American cuisine to international fare, Portland has something to offer everyone.
As a newcomer to Portland, you may be wondering where to start when it comes to finding great places to eat. Here are a few tips:
- Try the local cuisine: Portland is known for its fresh seafood, seasonal produce, and locally-sourced ingredients. Be sure to try some of the city’s signature dishes, such as Dungeness crab, Oregon hazelnuts, and marionberry pie.
- Don’t be afraid to explore: Portland has a wide variety of neighborhoods, each with its own unique dining scene. Be sure to venture off the beaten path and explore different neighborhoods to find new restaurants.
- Be prepared for crowds: Portland is a popular tourist destination, and its restaurants can be crowded, especially on weekends and during peak dining hours. If you’re dining at a popular restaurant, it’s a good idea to make reservations.
Here are a few of the most popular cuisines and restaurants in Portland:
- Seafood: The Pearl Oyster Bar, Jake’s Famous Crawfish, Roe’s Seafood, Le Pigeon, Ava Gene’s
- Pacific Northwest cuisine: Ox, Le Pigeon, Coquine, Ava Gene’s, Castagna
- Asian cuisine: Eem, Langbaan, Pok Pok, Nong’s Khao Man Gai, Han Oak
- Italian cuisine: Ava Gene’s, Nostrana, Ox, Le Pigeon, Grassa
- Mexican cuisine: Ox, Andina, Le Pigeon, Ataula, Eem
If you’re looking for a more casual dining experience, Portland has a number of great food carts and breweries. Food carts are a great way to try a variety of different cuisines at an affordable price. Portland is also known for its craft beer scene, with breweries serving everything from IPAs to sour beers.
Here are a few of the most popular food cart pods and breweries in Portland:
- Food cart pods: Portland Mercado, Cartlandia, Hawthorne Asylum, South Waterfront Food Cart Park, Mississippi Marketplace
- Breweries: Deschutes Brewery, Rogue Ales Public House, Breakside Brewery, Ex Novo Brewing Company, pFriem Family Brewers.
The following are some of the best Portland area dining guides. They offer restaurant reviews new restaurant profiles guides to specific culinary genres and anything food or foodie related in and around Portland.
Travel Portland Visitor’s Guide & Travel Portland Website
www.TravelPortland.com
Named the Nation’s Best Visitor’s Guide by U.S. Travel Association in 2014 this private non-profit destination marketing organization’s publication and its mother site are filled with loads of information on things to do and see in Portland – and most importantly what and where to eat. www.travelportland.com/travel-portland-magazine
Oregonlive
www.oregonlive.com/dining
The online arm of The Oregonian Oregon’s major newspaper Oregonlive goes where the newspaper no longer goes – food reviews round-ups Cheap Eats new restaurant openings (and closings) as well as beer and wine news.
Portland Food and Drink
www.portlandfoodanddrink.com
Started by Food Dude back in 2005 in response to his dining experiences not matching up with local reviews this local online guide now has a loyal following along with a stable of contributing food writers. The anonymous Food Dude himself regularly reviews and discusses Portland’s vibrant food scene.
Portland Mercury Food & Drink
www.portlandmercury.com
This local weekly will fill you up with a bevy of Portland’s tastiest delights – some even off the beaten path.
Portland Monthly
www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink
Portland’s local in-the-know magazine “celebrates one of America’s most innovative cities.” Even better they review all the latest and greatest restaurants food carts and food purveyors from all over the metro area.
No matter what your taste or budget, you’re sure to find a great place to eat in Portland. With its diverse culinary scene, Portland is a foodie’s paradise.
