If you fancy dining out somewhere a bit different, Portland has plenty of genuinely excellent stand-out places to choose from.
I’ve spent many evenings scouting out some of the most unique and stand-out places so whether you are looking for trendy Middle Eastern fare, a hip Asian fusion, or a fun spot serving up American dishes with an upscale twist, here are my personal favorites…
1. Tusk – best for Middle Eastern
I love this seriously stylish and trendy spot. Tusk is a Middle Eastern restaurant located in the Buckman District and this place is popular for a reason.
Choose from various mezze dishes, including a mezze platter, mezze with chicken, and another option with falafel. There is even a mezze and salad option or I’d recommend the mezze family meal for larger groups.
For dessert, make sure you try an exotic Moroccan pancake which is just delicious. It includes kewra grapefruit confit, rose-apple preserves, candied kumquat, and ricotta.
On Valentine’s Day, they have dinner-for-two specials to select an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert at a discounted price.
2. Mucca Osteria – best for Italian
Downtown Portland’s Mucca Osteria offers organic Italian food in a Gothic-themed restaurant setting. Choose from a long list of half bottles, sparkling, white, red, and Piemonte Barolo.
For food, choose from antipasti, primi piatti, dolci (homemade desserts). Most are pasta dishes with vegetables and herbs, for example, Tortellini ai Funghi. It features homemade mushroom and ricotta-filled tortellini, almonds, Brussels sprouts, and glazed shallots submerged in a white wine cream sauce.
3. Departure Lounge – best for Pan Asian
I’m a big fan of modern interior design and the Departure Lounge is another excellent and unusual restaurant at the Nines luxury hotel in Downtown Portland. Here you can taste Asian fusion in a chic restaurant as you enjoy the local Downtown views.
Pan-Asian cuisine includes Northwest Oysters, sweet shrimp spring rolls, pork belly, steamed buns, chicken tenderloin and kushiyaki eggplant.
If you have a private event coming up, request Departure Lounge to provide you with indoor or outdoor space and catering. They can host a private event for as few as 12 people, with a maximum of 125 accommodated.
4. Melting Pot – best for fondue
Downtown Portland’s Melting Pot is an American restaurant specializing in fondue and I love this unique spot! There are always salads and meat-based entrees, and then hearty mains!
Choose from four-course dinner menus for two or an a la carte menu for dinner. You start your meal with an appetizer, a cheese fondue with food for dipping, such as fruits, vegetables, and artisan bread.
Fondues include classic alpine, Wisconsin cheddar, fiesta, spinach artichoke, Wisconsin trio, and Quattro Formaggio.
5. Lechon – best for South American Food
Lechon is a South American restaurant specializing in tapas and hosting excellent value, delicious happy hour specials.
Tapas options include pastel de choclo, pork belly burritos, pork anticucho, lomo saltado, and smoked bone marrow.
Happy hour meals start as low as $56and go as high as $13. Their $6 cornmeal fried olives are vegan, while their $6 small farmers’ green salad is vegan and gluten-free.
6. Han Oak Restaurant – best for Korean
Try the funky Han Oak Restaurant in the Kerns District for Korean food. The restaurant hosts dumplings and noodle nights for patrons who love such popular Korean dishes.
Two dining options are available. You can get shaved meats to dip in broth and enjoy with their hand-pulled noodles and homemade dumplings. This is $76 per person.
A 5-course Mexican-inspired menu is yours for $55 per person. This menu includes dry-aged fish tostadas, red rice croquettes, charcoal-grilled pork loin tacos, masa colada, bay leaf, and Canelo churro ice cream for dessert.
7. The Observatory – best for American classics
Swing by the Montavilla District to try The Observatory. You can count on American classics and unique cocktails when you visit this restaurant. You can have an entree salad such as apple, beet, and chicken salad with crispy bacon for a lighter meal.
Try the Capricorn, Lavender Gin Lemon Drop, Pink Cloud, Blood Orange Negroni, the spicy Tom Kah, and many other options to indulge in their signature cocktails.
If you are in a different alcoholic mood, try one of their white or red wines or draft beers.
8. Arden Restaurant – best for upscale
Pearl District’s upscale Arden Restaurant is located in the Gregory Lofts. This wine bar serves Pacific Northwest cuisine and offers upscale appetizers, and entrees with your favorite wines.
If you are a party of 4, consider the Chef’s Prix Fixe, which is $65 per person and also includes wine pairings for an extra fee.
Sample fancy dishes such as truffled potato leek pierogi with chive creme fraiche or the Dungeness crab tagliatelle with crab butter and preserved lemon.
9. Punch Bowl Social – best for fun
Punch Bowl Social is a fun gastropub situated in Downtown Portland inside Pioneer Place. It’s known as the most prominent Punch Bowl Social location.
Indulge in various punch bowls and modern American eats while playing fun games. Choose from karaoke, table games, and bowling.
During their Happy Hour, try sriracha, peanut fries, chips, guacamole, or a pulled pork sandwich in between your games. Sip on a margarita, whiskey sour, or beer to wash it all down.
10. G-Love New American Kitchen – best for very unique
Northwest District’s G-Love New American Kitchen is inside the Carson Apartments parking lot. This New American restaurant has a very unique concept and fabricates its dishes using locally grown produce, and it’s known as the nation’s first reverse steakhouse.
This means that fruits and vegetables are the central part of the dish as meat is a supplementary component rather than the other way around with usual American food. Try their Crunchmaster Crisp, Chirashi Bowl, charred hanger steak, or fried chicken with avocado rank.
11. Mediterranean Exploration Company – best for trendy decor
The Pearl District’s Mediterranean Exploration Company is a Middle Eastern restaurant and I’m a big fan of the fabulous trendy decor they have here.
They serve up house favorites such as radicchio salad, roasted eggplant dip, Turkish delight, Hummus Abu Hassan, and falafel, all during their Happy Hour for $12.
Enjoy these prices Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 5 pm. Alcoholic beverage selections include American whiskey, international whiskey, agave and vodka.
12. Clarklewis Restaurant – best for a date night
The Clarklewis Restaurant is stationed at the Eastbank Commerce Center in the Buckman District. Their Italian dishes are exclusively farm-to-table made with local ingredients.
What’s unique about Clarklewis is that their menu offerings change daily, contingent upon the chef’s discretion. It’s served up in a industrial-chic warehouse which has incredible trendy vibe, which I think it perfect for a date night!
Most dishes say where the ingredients were, such as Carlton Farms pork sausage, Montecucco Farms beets, and Topaz Farms carrots. The wood-burning in their establishment fashions delicious pizza options, including the Siri and Sons Honeynut Squash pizza.
13. Noble Rot – best for views
Noble Rot is an American restaurant and wine bar located on the 4th floor of a building to enjoy city views while eating.
Indulge in regular American favorites such as hamburgers or indulge in one of their upscale dishes. Try their soup of the day or pasta of the day for a surprise dish.
Unique dishes include Idaho Rainbow Trout, Stuffed Squash, Burrata, and the vegan Tuscan Kale Salad.
14. Palomar – best for Cuban food
Palomar is a Cuban restaurant located in the Hosford-Abernethy District. Taste their signature cocktails such as the Americano, Moscow Mule, 20th Century, French 75 or the fragrant Violet Fizz.
The Harina Con Camarones include Creole spiced shrimp, squash polenta, pepitas, and carrot sofrito.
The Frita Cubana consists of a beef and pork chorizo patty, garnished with onion and julienne potatoes and topped with cheese. Choose from four appetizers, two types of sandwiches, and five entrees for lunch and dinner.
15. Broder Soder – best for Scandinavian food
Broder Soder is a Scandinavian restaurant in the family of Broder Cafe and Broder Nord throughout the local area.
They serve the most extensive selection of West Coast aquavits, such as Krogstad Festlig from Portland, Krogstad Gamle from Portland, and Holen from Astoria.
Try Danish pancakes, smoked trout eggs benedict, Swedish hash, ortasteget a delicious taste of Scandinavian fare. Their Swedish meatballs come in a tasty sherry cream accompanied by a lingonberry jam, pickles, potato pancake, and levian toast.
16. Blossoming Lotus – Best For Vegan Dining
If you are a vegan, you will appreciate the vegan fusion at Blossoming Lotus I if you are a vegan in the Irvington District. They use only the best locally sourced plant-based ingredients and feature organic ingredients when possible from their suppliers.
While Blossoming Lotus on NE 15th Avenue is a full-service restaurant, their Portland/Slabtown location is a cafe and juice bar.
Try the full-service Chickpea and Kale Salad, Pesto Pasta, Yakisoba Noodles, Cheeseburger, Bibimbap, Tempeh Bacon Sandwich, and many other plant-based dishes.
17. Tope – Best For Hipsters
Housed in the very hip Hoxton Hotel this is a trendy spot! Tope offers delicious Mexican snacks and tacos along with mezcal-inspired beverages.
Located at Hoxton in the Old Town District, enjoy rooftop bar views as you sample Oregon Bay shrimp ceviche, pozole Rojo, carnitas tacos, pollo pibil tacos, and pollo con mole.
Their signature cocktails include the Top Margarita (Blanco tequila, lime, and agave), the Michelada, the Either/Or with Dickle Rye, and other house favorites. Wines, beers, mocktails, and soft drinks are also available to refresh you after your meal.
18. Pine Street Market – Best For Food Hall
I love this fabulous Food Hall! Old Town District’s Pine Street Market includes restaurants under one roof headed by nine famous Portland chefs. Try the Pine Street Taproom or the Pleasure Burger.
Only the Pine Street Taproom has a link to its website, while the other available restaurants do not have a link from the Pine Street Market website.
Get an idea of the overall nature of the other restaurants in Pine Street Market by visiting the Pine Street Taproom link on the home website.
19. Oma’s Hideaway – Best For Quirky Design
Oma’s Hideaway used to be known as Oma’s Takeaway. Located in the Richmond District, you can enjoy food and cocktails as a dine-in customer or order takeaway as their old name suggests.
If you order delivery, it will come from a bike courier affiliated with Cascade Courier Collective. I love that the decor here is deliciously quirky with vibrant wallpaper and retro-style furniture!
Select from coconut rice, the Oma-Zing Burger, Coulotte Tartare, sweet potato dumplings, and other unique dishes. There are lots of tasty vegan options available too.
