From inspired farm-to-table dishes to comforting Italian fare, there is no shortage of great restaurants in Downtown Portland. Here are a few of our favorites that are worth a visit this spring.
Q Restaurant & Bar
Cuisine Style: Globally inspired farm-to-table
Why Q Is Worth a Visit: Q Restaurant has been consistently named a favorite by PBJ voters. Led by Executive Chef Anne Cuggino, Q’s cuisine is made from scratch and creatively inspired by seasonal ingredients, while the restaurant space is warm and inviting, with panoramic window views and an airy dining room.
Address: 828 SW 2nd Ave
Phone Number: 503.850.8915 | Website
Hours: Tue-Fri 11:30am-4pm; Tue-Sat 4pm-9pm
Murata
Cuisine Style: Japanese
Why Murata Is Worth a Visit: Named one of the 5 Best Sushi Spots by Oregonian readers, Murata is known for its authentic Japanese fare that features fresh ingredients in a cozy atmosphere. Try teishoku or combination lunches, dinner entrées, weekly specials, and a variety of sake.
Address: 200 SW Market St
Phone Number: 503.227.0080 | Website
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm; Mon-Sat 5pm-9pm
Lechon
Cuisine Style: Wood-fired South American
Why Lechon Is Worth a Visit: Located in the historic Smith Block building along the Downtown waterfront, Lechon features family-style dishes in a lively dining space. Chef Jaco Smith creatively brings together foods from his South African childhood and inspiration from his restaurant experiences abroad.
Address: 113 SW Naito Pkwy
Phone Number: 503.219.9000 | Website
Hours: Mon-Thu 4pm-9pm; Fri-Sat 4pm-10pm
Tikka Shots
Cuisine Style: Indian
Why Tikka Shots Is Worth a Visit: Tikka Shots is one of Downtown’s newest restaurants and is quickly gaining popularity. In a bright, open space painted by warm colors, visitors can enjoy a variety of flavorful tikka as well as traditional main plates, biryani, and street-style sliders and “shots.”
Address: 505 SW Taylor St
Phone Number: (971) 294-6831 | Menu
Hours: Tue-Thu 11am-2:30pm, 4pm-10pm; F 11am-2:30pm, 4pm-11pm; Sat 12pm-11pm; Sun 12pm-10pm
Midtown Beer Garden
Cuisine Style: Various
Why Midtown Is Worth a Visit: Midtown Beer Garden opened in 2023 as a reinvention of Portland’s oldest food cart pod. The 1/2-block area features a wide variety of cuisines (from both new and legacy carts) as well as a beer cart by Fracture Brewing, live events, and plenty of seating for all seasons.
Address: 431 SW Harvey Milk St | Website
Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-9pm
Pastini
Cuisine Style: Italian
Why Pastini Is Worth a Visit: With several locations around Oregon, Pastini celebrates Italian cuisine with high-quality ingredients and pasta as its focal point. You’ll find delicious comfort classics as well as a curated wine list highlighting Northwest wineries and family-owned Italian vineyards.
Address: 911 SW Taylor St
Phone Number: 503.863.5188 | Website
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-8:30pm; Fri-Sat 11am-9:30pm; Sun 4pm-8:30pm
Southpark Seafood
Cuisine Style: Seafood, Pacific Northwest
Why Southpark Is Worth a Visit: Pacific Northwest-native Michael Molitor is a chef who blends local ingredients and global inspiration with a focus on sustainability. As the highest rated seafood restaurant in Downtown, Southpark features fresh fare in a bright, open space that’s as stylish as it is inviting.
Address: 901 SW Salmon St
Phone Number: 503.326.1300 | Website
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-8:30pm; Sat-Sun 3pm-8:30pm
Market Street Salad Bar & Deli
Cuisine Style: Fast-casual American
Why Market Street Is Worth a Visit: Market Street Salad Bar & Deli is a great option for those looking for fresh, health-conscious breakfast and lunch options. The friendly eatery offers a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, rice bowls, and breakfast fare in a casual setting just two blocks from the waterfront.
Address: 105 SW Market St
Phone Number: 503.223.5419 | Website
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-2pm
Nong’s Khao Man Gai
Cuisine Style: Thai
Why Nong’s Is Worth a Visit: Famous for her chicken and rice dishes, James Beard-nominated chef Narumol “Nong” Poonsukwattana came from Thailand to the U.S. with passion and a vision. She began in Portland’s famed Pok Pok restaurants and opened her own business in 2009, which has become a local favorite.
Address: 417 SW 13th Ave
Phone Number: 503.208.2402 | Website
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm
Higgins
Cuisine Style: Pacific Northwest farm-to-table
Why Higgins Is Worth a Visit: Higgins was one of the first farm-to-table restaurants to open in Portland and has since been a place that advocates for local farmers and growers. Chef-owner and James Beard Award-winner Greg Higgins focuses on fresh Pacific Northwest ingredients in his creative, seasonal menus.
Address: 1239 SW Broadway
Phone Number: 503.222.9070 | Website
Hours: Lunch: Wed-Fri 11:30am-2pm; Dinner: Tues-Sat 5pm, Sun 4pm; Bistro Menu: at the bar between lunch & dinner and all evening long
Have a favorite Downtown restaurant? Email Alyssa (adeitz@melvinmark.com) and let us know what it is!