Want to know what to eat in Portland, Oregon? Here’s the only list you’ll need to be eating Portland like a pro! From the must-eat dishes to the best Portland restaurants, it’s all here!

The Beaver State boasts some pretty awesome foodie destinations, and the eats in Portland stand at the top of the list. There’s a good reason this Oregon city consistently ranks high as one of America’s best food cities, sometimes even beating out the big hitters like New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Boulder.

Unlike Philly Cheesesteaks, or Maryland Crab, there’s not just one historic food at the center of the local food scene. The famous food in Portland, Oregon, is more diverse. Talented chefs and food artisans have created unique specialties and elevated the traditional so much that if you’re visiting Portland, you should make an effort to try these one-of-a-kind wonders.

Now, where to find the best food in Portland.

You will find the best eats in Portland, Oregon, scattered throughout the downtown area, from the Pearl District to Mississippi Avenue and beyond. Some of these epic foods will be served at some of the best Portland restaurants and eateries, and some come from food trucks. After all, Portland reigns king of the food truck cities according to Food Truck Nation.

Check Out the Best Portland Food Tours Here

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Check Out the Best Portland Food Tours Here *

A cute Portland restaurant on Mississippi Avenue — A cute outdoor seating section at a Portland restaurant on Mississippi Avenue

Famous Food in Portland, Oregon

Voodoo Doughnut

Catapulted to almost instant fame in 2003, Voodoo Doughnut (not Voodoo Doughnuts or Voodoo Donuts) makes over 50 types of doughnuts daily. Their Bacon Maple Bar has an almost cult following—it’s definitely the most famous doughnut in Portland.

My personal favorite happens to be the School Daze PB&J. Or the Banana Cream Pie.

From the conventional glazed old fashioned to the most unconventional Voodoo Doll (complete with a pretzel “pin” sticking out of its stomach), there is bound to be a doughnut for you.

If you somehow run out of flavors, head to the rival donut shop, Blue Star Donuts. They also pride themselves on delicious inventive creations like Blueberry Bourbon Basil and Cointreau Crème Brûlée.

A contender for the most famous food in Portland, the Maple Bacon Bar at Voodoo Doughnut, resting atop a School Daze PB&J

Matt’s BBQ

Food trucks and street food are a huge part of the Portland food scene. So, if you want to be eating Portland like a local, it will require at least one stop at one of its popular food cart pods. The term “pod” simply refers to a permanent location for multiple food carts, or trucks as some call them.

Located at the Prost Marketplace pod on Mississippi Ave, Matt’s BBQ wins my vote for best Portland food cart. I’ve had some wonderful barbecue in such renowned BBQ destinations as North Carolina and Tennessee, but Matt Vicedomini’s legendary mix of lean and fatty brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and double smoked pork belly have made Texas barbecue a must-eat Portland, Oregon, experience.

The Prost food cart pod itself has lots of seating and one of the most inviting pod atmospheres in town. In this rainy city, you can’t go wrong with a covered courtyard. But the best part might just be that you can grab a beer at Prost Pub. After all, what goes better with barbecue than beer?

Matt’s BBQ at the Prost Marketplace food cart pod

Thai Food at Eem

What do you get when three of the hottest Portland food forces combine their superpowers into one restaurant? Eem, a Thai restaurant unlike any you’ve ever visited. Truly some of the best food in Portland!

Co-owner Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom of Langbaan and Hat Yai contributes his mastery of elevated Thai flavors. Co-owner Matt Vicedomini, (yup, the same BBQ guy as above) is the man behind the meat. And co-owner Eric Nelson creates the crazy cocktails and boozy slushies that make you feel like you’re on vacation.

Destined to be one of Portland’s most popular restaurants, Eem lives up to its hype. The signature dish, White Curry With Brisket Burnt Ends with hints of heat and coconut milk is definitely a must-eat in Portland. But the BBQ Fried Rice and the Smoked Pork Krapao compete to make the list as well.

White Curry With Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Krapao at Eem Restaurant in Portland

Foie Gras Profiteroles at Le Pigeon

If your taste buds perk up at the thought of Foie Gras like mine do, Le Pigeon’s Foie Gras Profiteroles should be on your list of things to eat in Portland. But for dessert? An unequivocal “YES!” Fluffy pastry filled with foie gras ice cream and drizzled with salted caramel sauce. Not your traditional French food, but ooh la la!

Admittedly, this dish isn’t for everyone, but whether or not you indulge in foie gras, this Portland restaurant is the perfect place for fine dining. Moreover, many restaurant critics consider it to be the Number 1 best restaurant in Portland. Le Pigeon offers two wonderful 5-course tasting menus (one is a vegetarian tasting menu) and an outstanding wine list.

Many credit Andy Ricker and his Pok Pok restaurant (now closed) with bringing Portland to the forefront of the national food scene, but Bon Appétit gives that honor to the two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Gabriel Rucker and Le Pigeon. For a more casual experience, try Le Pigeon’s sister restaurant, Canard, located right next door.

To learn more about the story behind Le Pigeon, check out their book.

Foie Gras Profiteroles for dessert at Le Pigeon

Pizza at Apizza Scholls

Does it seem weird that a pizzeria is one of the must-eat places in Portland? Not if it’s Apizza Scholls! Even Anthony Bourdain approved this choice!

America has Chicago deep-dish pizza, New York pizza, Colorado Mountain pizza, but no specific Oregonian pizza. Apizza Scholls pizzas resemble the Neopolitan pies of classic Italian cuisine. Think thin crust similar to New York-style with more char around the edges.

Apizza Scholls is one of the restaurants Portland locals flock to for a casual dinner. They don’t take reservations, so be prepared to put your name on the list when you arrive. That being said, it’s a great place for people watching while waiting.

A delicious famous food of Portland, pizza at Apizza Scholls

Fresh Clam Chowder with Smoked Marrow Bone at OX

I’ve lost count of how many different clam chowders I’ve eaten in Oregon, but Ox’s is in a class all by itself. The name pretty much says it all: “Fresh Clam Chowder With Smoked Bone Marrow.” The flavorful, creamy broth is loaded with fresh in-shell clams and enhanced with smoked bone marrow and jalapeños. And to think we almost didn’t order it!

Specializing in open-fire Argentine-style cooking, Ox has an amazing menu with so many incredible choices. But don’t skip the chowder. Luckily we dined with my best friend from cooking school who lives in Portland. She set us right.

In fact, everything we ate was excellent, from the first bite to the last—PNW Oysters, Lamb Loin Chops, Pork Chops, Skirt Steak, Grilled Artichoke, Roasted Asparagus, Spinach and Ricotta Gnudi, and Tres Leches Cake. Ox is, without a doubt, one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. It’s no surprise, since partner chefs Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton have received the James Beard Award for Best Chef Northwest for their work at Ox.

To learn more about the story of Ox, check out the Ox cookbook.

A Portland favorite food, Clam Chowder With Smoked Bone Marrow at Ox

Nong’s Khao Man Gai

Some of Portland’s best restaurants were once food carts. Nong’s is among them. Owner Nong Poonsukwattana arrived from Thailand in 2003 with $70 in her pocket and is one of the best examples of fulfilling the American dream in Portland’s food scene.

In 2009, she started the food cart Nong’s Khao Man Gai. It quickly became Portland’s favorite food cart and was named “Best Food Cart” in 2012. In 2018, she opened her first restaurant with the same name and was a James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalist.

All along, she focused on one dish, Khao Man Gai, which means chicken and rice.

Sounds simple, right? You can make chicken and rice at home—but it will not be like Nong’s served with her special sauce and soup. The sauce is what makes Nong’s signature dish one of the must-eats in Portland. It is so popular, Nong now sells the sauce by the bottle.

A feast for two at Portland’s Nong’s Khao Man Gai

Salt & Straw Ice Cream

This is another iconic Portland institution that started with a dream and a food cart. Salt & Straw’s commitment to scooping high-quality homemade ice creams is just as strong today as when they launched in 2011. And you’ll taste the difference!

I prefer ice cream to other sweet treats. But it has to be dreamy, creamy, rich ice cream or I won’t eat it. Fine, I admit it—I’m an ice cream snob. And I’ve had some of the best in the world. Salt and Straw ranks right up there with Paris’s famous Berthillon and Rome’s Gelateria dei Gracchi.

My favorite flavor has consistently remained Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons. But Arbequina Olive Oil, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper, and Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough also make me swoon.

Each ingredient has a story. It’s the fresh fruit from a local farmer, Grandma's famous almond brittle, or artisan food products like Jacobsen Salt and Durant Olive Mill’s EVOO incorporated into top-of-the-line cream that makes this ice cream the best in Portland.

A double scoop of deliciousness at Portland’s famous Salt & Straw

Charcuterie at Olympia Provisions

Pro Tip: Olympia Provisions is where to eat in Portland if you love charcuterie. Begun in 2009 as Oregon’s first USDA-approved salumeria, this family business has been going and growing strong ever since.

Olympia began as Elias Cairo’s dream project of making meat in America using Old World techniques and working with Pacific Northwest farmers dedicated to sustainable agriculture. That dream has been fulfilled, but it continues to be expanded upon.

Today, Olympia produces dozens of varieties of sausages, bacons, deli meats, patés, and pickled delicacies in their 38,000-square-foot facility in Southeast Portland. A restaurant in a beautifully restored industrial building on the property features not only all of the amazing charcuterie offerings, but also a delicious selection of snacks, small plates, and large plates for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

In addition, Olympia celebrates all things Alpine at their Public House location, while Bar Casa Vale is their ode to the culinary treasures of Spain. Olympia is where Portland eats meats, for sure, but it’s grown to be so much more.

For a deeper dive into the story of Olympia Provisions, read their story.

The charcuterie capital of Portland, Olympia Provisions

Reggie Deluxe at Pine State Biscuits

With lots of fried chicken and sausage gravy, Pine State Biscuits is how you eat Portland southern-style. Their most famous Portland food is The Reggie Deluxe. Start with the yummiest biscuit in town, add fried chicken, crispy bacon, Tillamook cheddar, a fried egg, and top it with house-made sausage gravy.

Disclaimer: My dog is named Reggie, and I am quite smitten with him. I know dog lovers will understand that any food called “The Reggie” is going to have my attention—especially if biscuits are involved. But not surprisingly, I’m not the only one raving about The Reggie!

How did southern biscuits become one of Portland’s favorite foods? Three North Carolina guys who had moved to Portland craved the fresh-baked buttery biscuits that they had left behind so much that they had to create Pine State Biscuits in order to feed their need.

Since the North Carolina biscuits are pretty darn similar to the South Carolina biscuits I’ve raved about, I totally get it!

Originally available only at the farmers market, Pine State Biscuits now has multiple locations in Portland and NW Portland. So, no southerner in the Rose City will have to venture too far for the taste of home again.

Pine State Biscuits’ “The Reggie” might be decadently delicious, but my Reggie is absolutely adorable.

Dungeness Crab at Jake’s Famous Crawfish

In contrast to the many new restaurants that pop up yearly in this food-focused city, Jake’s Famous Crawfish has been a downtown Portland staple since 1892. Regarded as one of the best seafood restaurants in Portland, don’t let the name fool you.

There’s much more here than crawfish—like one of my favorites, Dungeness crab! Take your pick from mouthwatering menu items like crab cocktail, crab legs, crab Louie, crab and artichoke dip, crab & shrimp cakes, and crab & shrimp stuffed salmon. They even have a crab dip on special during happy hour (3 to 6 pm daily).

My first time in Portland, I visited without making a food bucket list ahead of time. I pretty much ate Dungeness crab every day. Now, decades later as a chef and full-time foodie, anytime I visit the Pacific Northwest I still need to get my Dungeness fix. But I am also thrilled to know it’s far from the only Oregon food worth eating.

For well over 100 years, Jake’s Famous Crawfish has been a foodie institution in Portland.

More of the Best Eats in Portland, Oregon

Think your Portland food bucket list is complete? That’s up to you! Above is our list of must-try food in Portland, but there’s so many more tasty treats and places to eat if you have the time.

As you can see from our list, eating in Portland involves a melting pot of diverse flavors. From Mediterranean cuisine to Mexican cuisine and an array of Asian cuisines, you can find an enjoyable eatery for almost anything you have a hankering for in PDX.

And while these places may not be famous for one particular food that has gone viral, you can still have a memorable meal and a delightful culinary experience. Here’s our list of some of the top spots in Portland not discussed above.

Afuri Ramen + Dumpling

The first stateside spinoff of the original in Japan, Afuri crafts authentic ramens and dumplings in a no-nonsense atmosphere. If you love Japanese food, make a stop here!

Dumplings at Afuri Dumplings + Ramen, an excellent Japanese restaurant in Portland

Bing Mi Jianbing Food CarT

This is a Portland ode to Chinese street food. The Bing Mi Jianbing food cart serves nothing but Jianbing, but you’ll still have lots of choices as there are 16 different kinds.

Jacqueline

One of the premier seafood restaurants and oyster bars in Portland, Jacqueline focuses on the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Locally, it is well known for the $1 oysters served during happy hour.

Kachka

This Russian restaurant that stands with Ukraine serves the dumplings my husband grew up with, vareniki and pelmeni, along with other Eastern European specialties.

Lechon

This is a bustling spot for fiery South American cuisine near the Willamette River. And they serve my best friend’s wine: Try some L. Donovan Verdejo or Grenache; you will not be disappointed!

Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine

If you’ve read our article on famous New Mexican foods, you’ll know that Chile Rellenos evolved from Chiles en Nogada. This Portland food truck is the only place I know where you can find Chiles en Nogada outside of Mexico.

Mucca Osteria

House-made pastas and superior service combine to make Mucca one of the best Italian restaurants in Portland.

Scotch Lodge

Perhaps Portland’s finest whisky bar, Scotch Lodge also offers scrumptious menu items like Fried Brie Sticks and a soft shell crab sandwich with kimchi.

Serratto

This Portland restaurant is where fresh local ingredients go to be lovingly transformed into Italian and French specialties like four-cheese ravioli with kale and Brussels sprouts.

Local ingredients transformed into the Italian classic, Osso Buco

St. Jack

Reminiscent of the bouchons of Lyon, St. Jack serves rustic French classics with a PNW twist.

Tusk

This Food & Wine Magazine Restaurant of the Year serves up a winning combination of beautiful Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare in a warm, inviting setting.

Plan for eating Portland

Now that you know what and where to eat in Portland, you’re ready to plan your trip!

Portland Restaurant Tips

Make your restaurant reservations as soon as you can. Portland’s best tables fill up quickly! I usually start with the hardest places to get into, like Ox and Le Pigeon, and then work the other reservations around those.

Shoot for a mix of cuisine types and neighborhoods.

Reserve lunches too! Eateries like Eem that have the same menu for lunch and dinner make great lunch spots.

Fill in the holes of your schedule with food carts!

Portland Food Tours

If you need to maximize your time, consider taking a top-ranked Portland food tour!

Portland Food Cart Tour: Our #1 pick! A 2.5 hour tour of eating from and learning about the global food trucks that are essential to the Portland culinary scene.

Underground Donut Tour: This is a great way to skip the crazy donut lines that you are likely to encounter on weekends and during the summer.

Willamette Valley Wine Tour With Tastings: For those who have a free day, this 5-hour tour gives a great introduction to Oregon’s wine country. They will pick you up in Portland and drop you back off at the conclusion of your excursion.

Where to stay in Portland

On our last trip, my husband and I loved the Hyatt Centric Downtown Portland! The central location gave us easy access to many of the restaurants we wanted to go to, and it was close to the Pearl District and Pioneer Courthouse Square. Bonus: Their restaurant makes a killer avocado toast for breakfast!

Famous Food in Portland To Eat on Vacation