Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0Restaurants
The best restaurants in Portland, Oregon, from Kann and Le Pigeon to Thai, barbecue, biscuits, food carts, doughnuts and ice cream worth the line.
Finding the best restaurants in Portland means exploring neighborhoods rather than one dining district.
The city's chefs cook with produce, seafood and meat from Oregon farms, the coast and the Willamette Valley, and some of the most celebrated kitchens started as food carts or small counters.
On the east side, long avenues such as Division, Hawthorne and Alberta are lined with restaurants, while downtown and the Pearl District hold hotel dining rooms and longtime favorites.
This guide covers acclaimed tables and casual institutions, Thai and Haitian cooking, barbecue and biscuits, so you can eat well across the city.
The top pick in each category, at a glance.
| Category | Our pick | |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Kann | Reserve |
| By Cuisine | Kann | Reserve |
| Fine Dining & Award-Winning Restaurants | Kann | Reserve |
| Most Romantic Restaurants | Le Pigeon | Reserve |
| Rooftop & View Restaurants | Portland City Grill | Reserve |
| Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants | Nostrana | Reserve |
| Iconic Portland Eats | Voodoo Doughnut | Reserve |
| New & Trendy Restaurants | Kann | Reserve |
📍 Central Eastside
Haitian$$$· Lively & warm
Gregory Gourdet's Kann celebrates Haitian cooking with a focus on live-fire dishes and bold flavors. It won the James Beard Foundation's Best New Restaurant award in 2023 and was named 27th on the list of North America's 50 Best Restaurants in 2025. It serves dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, and reservations are essential.
What to order: Live-fire Haitian dishes
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Lower Burnside
French-inspired$$$$· Intimate & chef-driven
Open since 2006, Le Pigeon is one of Portland's most celebrated restaurants, known for inventive French-inspired cooking in a small dining room with counter seats facing the kitchen. Reservations open in advance and go quickly.
What to order: Seasonal tasting menu
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Lower Burnside
French bistro$$· Casual & playful
Next door to Le Pigeon and from the same team, Canard is a casual all-day bistro with wine, cocktails and a playful menu. It is a good way to taste the team's cooking without a long wait for a table.
What to order: Duck stack
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Southeast
Thai tasting menu$$$$· Intimate & refined
Langbaan serves a set Thai tasting menu that changes with the regions and seasons of Thailand, in a small, intimate dining room. It is one of the hardest reservations in the city, so book as soon as seats are released.
What to order: Thai tasting menu
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Southeast
Thai$· Quick & casual
Nong's built its reputation on one dish, khao man gai, poached chicken with rice cooked in chicken broth and a punchy sauce. It started as a food cart and is now a Portland institution.
What to order: Khao man gai
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Northeast
Argentine-inspired grill$$$· Warm & bustling
Opened in 2012, Ox cooks over a wood-fired grill inspired by the Argentine parrilla, with steaks, vegetables and generous plates to share. It is a favorite for celebrations on the east side.
What to order: Wood-fired steaks
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Central Eastside
Russian$$$· Cozy & festive
Kachka serves Russian and former Soviet cooking, from dumplings to small plates called zakuski, with a long list of vodkas. It is a festive spot for groups.
What to order: Dumplings and zakuski
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Southeast
Italian$$$· Bright & lively
Open since 2005, Nostrana cooks Italian dishes with Oregon ingredients, from wood-oven pizzas to handmade pasta. It is a reliable choice for a relaxed dinner.
What to order: Wood-oven pizza and pasta
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Southeast
Pizza$$· Busy & casual
Opened in 2006 by the baker Ken Forkish, this pizzeria serves blistered, wood-fired pizzas in a busy dining room. Arrive early or expect a wait at peak times.
What to order: Wood-fired pizza
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 North Portland
Texas barbecue$$· Casual & outdoors
Matt's BBQ started as a food cart in 2015 and became one of the most praised barbecue spots in the Pacific Northwest, with Texas-style brisket, ribs and sausage. Go early, as popular cuts can sell out.
What to order: Brisket
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Pearl District
Peruvian$$$· Elegant & lively
Andina is a longtime Pearl District favorite for Peruvian cooking, from ceviches to grilled dishes and pisco cocktails. Its bar is a good place for small plates.
What to order: Ceviche
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Northeast
Korean$$$· Intimate & homey
Han Oak serves Korean cooking in a small, homey space in Northeast Portland, with dumplings, noodles and dishes to share. Check the current format and hours before you go.
What to order: Korean dishes
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 East Burnside
Southern$$· Busy & friendly
Screen Door is famous for its Southern cooking and its fried chicken and waffles at brunch. Expect a line on weekend mornings.
What to order: Chicken and waffles
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Northeast
Breakfast$· Casual & quick
Pine State Biscuits has served flaky biscuits with fried chicken, gravy and other fillings since 2006. It is a classic Portland breakfast.
What to order: Biscuit sandwiches
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Downtown
American$$$$· Elegant & scenic
On the 30th floor of the US Bancorp Tower, Portland City Grill serves steaks, seafood and cocktails with sweeping views over the city and the mountains. Its happy hour is popular.
What to order: Steaks and seafood
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Downtown
Pan-Asian$$$· Rooftop & stylish
On the rooftop of The Nines hotel, Departure combines pan-Asian plates with cocktails and views over downtown. It is a classic spot for a drink before dinner.
What to order: Asian small plates
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Old Town Chinatown
Doughnuts$· Quirky & loud
The original Voodoo Doughnut shop in Old Town is known for its colorful, quirky doughnuts and its pink boxes. Lines can be long, so go early or late.
What to order: Bacon maple bar
📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve📍 Northwest
Ice cream$· Bright & busy
Founded in Portland in 2011, Salt & Straw is known for inventive ice cream flavors made with local ingredients, with a rotating seasonal menu. Lines are common on summer evenings.
What to order: Seasonal ice cream flavors
📍 View on Google Maps →ReservePortland's restaurants cover a remarkable range for a city of its size, with excellent Thai, Haitian, Italian, Russian, Peruvian and Korean cooking, along with barbecue, pizza and breakfast institutions. Use this list to find the best restaurant for whatever you are craving.
Haitian $$$
An award-winning Haitian restaurant.
What to order: Live-fire dishes
Thai tasting menu $$$$
A refined Thai tasting menu.
What to order: Tasting menu
Thai $
One famous Thai chicken dish.
What to order: Khao man gai
Italian $$$
Italian cooking with Oregon ingredients.
What to order: Pasta
Russian $$$
Russian dishes and vodka.
What to order: Dumplings
Peruvian $$$
A Pearl District Peruvian favorite.
What to order: Ceviche
Korean $$$
Korean cooking in Northeast Portland.
What to order: Korean dishes
Argentine-inspired grill $$$
Wood-fired grilling.
What to order: Steak
Texas barbecue $$
Texas-style barbecue.
What to order: Brisket
Pizza $$
A city pizza classic.
What to order: Wood-fired pizza
Breakfast $
Biscuit sandwiches since 2006.
What to order: Biscuits
Portland's fine dining is creative and personal rather than formal, often in small rooms with counter seats facing the kitchen. These are the places for a special dinner, led by chefs with national recognition. Book well ahead.
Haitian $$$
James Beard Best New Restaurant in 2023.
What to order: Live-fire dishes
French-inspired $$$$
One of the city's most celebrated tables since 2006.
What to order: Tasting menu
Thai tasting menu $$$$
An intimate Thai tasting menu.
What to order: Tasting menu
Argentine-inspired grill $$$
A celebration dinner over wood fire.
What to order: Steak
Korean $$$
Personal Korean cooking.
What to order: Korean dishes
American $$$$
Fine dining with a view.
What to order: Steaks and seafood
Italian $$$
Polished Italian cooking.
What to order: Pasta
Portland's most romantic restaurants combine intimate rooms, candlelight and views over the city. Book ahead for weekend nights and ask for a counter seat or a window table.
French-inspired $$$$
An intimate dining room.
What to order: Tasting menu
Thai tasting menu $$$$
A small, refined room.
What to order: Tasting menu
American $$$$
City lights from the 30th floor.
What to order: Steaks
Pan-Asian $$$
Rooftop drinks and dinner.
What to order: Small plates
Peruvian $$$
An elegant Pearl District dinner.
What to order: Ceviche
Italian $$$
A warm Italian dining room.
What to order: Pasta
French bistro $$
A casual, playful date night.
What to order: Duck stack
Portland's views are about the river, the bridges and, on clear days, Mount Hood. These spots add views to your meal or drinks downtown.
American $$$$
On the 30th floor of the US Bancorp Tower.
What to order: Steaks and seafood
Pan-Asian $$$
The rooftop of The Nines.
What to order: Small plates
Bar and small plates $$
Several downtown hotels have rooftop bars with views.
What to order: Cocktails
Various $$
River views from patios along the Willamette.
What to order: Seasonal dishes
Portland is one of the easiest cities in the United States for vegetarian and vegan travelers, with vegetable-forward menus, plant-based food carts and bakeries. Ask about vegan options, as most kitchens are happy to adapt.
Italian $$$
Seasonal vegetable dishes.
What to order: Vegetable pasta
Thai tasting menu $$$$
Ask about vegetarian versions in advance.
What to order: Tasting menu
Various $
Plant-based carts across the city.
What to order: Vegan dishes
Ice cream $
Dairy-free flavors on the menu.
What to order: Vegan flavors
Russian $$$
Vegetable small plates.
What to order: Vegetable zakuski
Peruvian $$$
Vegetarian options on a Peruvian menu.
What to order: Vegetable dishes
Some places simply define Portland. Doughnuts, biscuits, chicken and rice, barbecue and ice cream are part of the city's identity. These are local institutions where you can eat as locals do.
Doughnuts $
Quirky doughnuts in pink boxes.
What to order: Bacon maple bar
Ice cream $
Inventive ice cream since 2011.
What to order: Seasonal flavors
Thai $
From food cart to institution.
What to order: Khao man gai
Breakfast $
A breakfast classic.
What to order: Biscuit sandwiches
Texas barbecue $$
Barbecue that started as a cart.
What to order: Brisket
Southern $$
A brunch line worth joining.
What to order: Chicken and waffles
Various $
The Portland way to eat.
What to order: Global street food
Portland's restaurants are spread across its neighborhoods, each with its own main street. Here is one standout for each area.
Haitian $$$
Central Eastside: an award-winning dining room.
What to order: Live-fire dishes
French-inspired $$$$
Lower Burnside: a city icon.
What to order: Tasting menu
Peruvian $$$
Pearl District: Peruvian favorites.
What to order: Ceviche
Pan-Asian $$$
Downtown: rooftop dining.
What to order: Small plates
Italian $$$
Southeast: Italian with Oregon ingredients.
What to order: Pasta
Argentine-inspired grill $$$
Northeast: wood-fired grilling.
What to order: Steak
Texas barbecue $$
North Portland: barbecue.
What to order: Brisket
Doughnuts $
Old Town: the original shop.
What to order: Bacon maple bar
Ice cream $
Northwest: an ice cream line on 23rd.
What to order: Seasonal flavors
Breakfast $
Northeast: breakfast biscuits.
What to order: Biscuits
Portland's restaurant scene changes quickly, with openings and closings every season. Some of the most talked-about places are recent arrivals, while others are longtime favorites with new energy. Check current hours and reservations before you go.
Haitian $$$
Still the city's most sought-after table.
What to order: Live-fire dishes
French bistro $$
A casual all-day bistro from the Le Pigeon team.
What to order: Duck stack
Thai tasting menu $$$$
Menus that change with the seasons.
What to order: Tasting menu
Korean $$$
Personal cooking in Northeast.
What to order: Korean dishes
Texas barbecue $$
Lines for brisket in North Portland.
What to order: Brisket
Various $
New carts open every season.
What to order: New carts
Pan-Asian $$$
Rooftop cocktails downtown.
What to order: Small plates
Portland is known for its food carts, its farm-driven restaurants, its Thai and other Asian cooking, its brunch culture, its craft beer and coffee, and its famous sweets, from quirky doughnuts to small-batch ice cream.
Kann, Gregory Gourdet's Haitian restaurant, won the James Beard Foundation's Best New Restaurant award in 2023 and was named 27th on the list of North America's 50 Best Restaurants in 2025. Le Pigeon, open since 2006, is another of the city's most celebrated dining rooms. Book both well ahead.
The east side is the heart of the food scene, especially Division Street, Hawthorne Boulevard, Alberta Street and the Central Eastside. On the west side, the Pearl District and downtown have many classic restaurants and hotel dining rooms.
For the most popular restaurants, such as Kann, Le Pigeon and Langbaan, yes, often weeks ahead. Many casual places and food carts do not take reservations, so expect a line at peak times.
Yes. Food carts are a Portland tradition, grouped in pods across the city, with cooking from around the world at casual prices. Several of the city's best known restaurants started as carts.
At sit-down restaurants, 18 to 20 percent of the bill is standard for good service. Oregon has no sales tax, so menu prices are what you pay before the tip, unless the restaurant adds a service charge.
