The best spots to eat & drink in PDX.
I had the pleasure of going to school in Portland and since the moment I left I’ve been emailing lists to friends of all of the best spots to visit in the city with seven bridges (soon to be eight). I have such a love of PDX: the people, beer, food, and beer. Did I mention the beer? Here is a list to get you started if you ever find yourself in the neck of the woods.
Where to Eat
These are some of my favorite spots to eat in Portland, above is a picture of poutine from the food truck Potato Champion, which is delicious any time of the day but is also a great late-night spot.
Breakfast & Brunch
- Bertie Lou’s The kind of diner that doesn’t have a website—great simple breakfast and Stumptown Coffee.
- Kenny & Zuke’s Diner/deli vibe. Delicious bagels and pastrami.
- Tasty n Sons Probably Portland’s biggest brunch spot right now, be prepared to wait but it is worth it.
- Screen Door Sometimes, when I am spacing out, I am thinking about the Screen Door’s fried chicken. Southern food done right (also great for dinner).
- Simpatica Delicious with a “New American” vibe.
- Pine State Biscuits If you like biscuits and all of the imagined ways to top them, try this spot.
- Cafe Broder Delicious Swedish brunch—pass the lingonberry y’all.
Lunch
- Meat Cheese Bread You can guess what this place specializes in…
- Laurelhurst Market You can go here for dinner, but I like popping in during the day during their “butcher shop” hours and grabbing a sando.
- Porque No? Okay, I might live in the land of amazing Mexican food, but this place is the real deal. Warning: their margaritas do not mess around!
- Bunk Messy delicious sandos.
- Grand Central Bakery This place is a PDX chain but I really enjoy their sandos, salads and soups.
Dinner
- Nostrana Delicious Italian meets New American.
- Autentica Amazing traditional Mexican cuisine, I think this is one of Portland’s best kept secrets.
- The Woodsman Tavern Tasty spot deep in SE Portand.
- Pambiche I LOVE this place, delicious Cuban food that makes me want to lick my plate clean.
- Pok Pok Everybody knows already, but the best Thai food in town. There are many spin-offs if you don’t feel like the wait. And you will definitely have to wait!
- Le Pigeon Very meat focused French cuisine.
- Ken’s Artisan Pizza Some of the best pizza to be found in Portland.
- Apizza Scholls This is a local’s favorite and is worth the wait.
- Nedd Ludd Most of the menu is cooked in a wood-fired oven.
Where to drink
Coffee
All of these spots pull a great cup of coffee, source responsibly, and fall into the light-roasted single origin club.
Beer
Here are a mix of breweries with tap rooms and brew pubs to get a good feel of the beer scene in PDX.
- Horse Brass Pub
- Apex Bar
- Saraveza
- Hair of the Dog
- Cascade Brewing
- Upright Brewing
- Gigantic Brewing
- The Commons Brewery
- Bailey’s Taproom
- Belmont Station