Best Spots for Lunch in Portland
Portland, Oregon, a city renowned for its vibrant food scene, offers a plethora of options when it comes to choosing the perfect spot for lunch. From food trucks serving up global cuisines to upscale restaurants offering farm-to-table fare, the city's culinary landscape is as diverse as it is delicious. Whether you're a local looking to explore new tastes or a tourist seeking the best food experiences in town, this guide will help you navigate through the best spots for lunch in Portland. Get ready to embark on a gastronomic journey that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more.
Lardo
4.6
(2157)
Compact & casual sandwich specialist with a focus on pork, also offering draft beers.
Reviews:
Heard of this place from previous Portland trips. (We’re from Springfield) Read that I had to try the smash burger so I did!!! So glad, meat was so good and full of flavor. (My picture is after I mutilated it cutting it in half sorry) Liked the sauce, very complimentary to the meat think it gave it a little kick. We also got the Nashville chicken sando and it was delish! Garlic fries were 🔥. Very friendly staff. They greeted us with warm smiles and answered our questions. They even customized our sandwiches how we liked! Sat outside on the beautiful patio. Loved it! Thank you for an amazing lunch! Will be recommending to all my friends. Also… Lardo’s is dog friendly!! Had water bowls out for the dogs. So cool!
Shawn Feddersen
This location is amazing on a summer day. They have some seating inside however the seating area outside is lovely. If you have a friend that doesn't like sandwiches there is also a good cart pod next door! Easy peasy. There's also a lot of parking down the various side streets! My favorite was the Nashville Hot Fried Chicken. It was heavy however the flavors were on point and it was amazing left over. The lardo fries were superb, I mean how can you go wrong with cheese on fries. 😂 I look forward to trying more sandwiches in the future! Cheers 🍟
Savannah C
One the best carnivore sandwich shops in Portland. Everything is delicious so far. We tried the Korean pork shoulder and Nashville hot sandwiches. Street parking is catch as catch can. Check out my profile for more great eateries and cocktail bars. ✌🏼
Michael Key
Their new Hatch Smash Burger is absolutely fire. It was so damn good, I started to take smaller bites towards the end because I didn’t want it to be over. And their damn fries. So unique. So amazing. They’re covered in fried Parmesan cheese with fried herbs and it’s just perfect. Shout out to Lardo to staying true to their roots and continuing to create awesome sandwiches.
Alexander Pekar
First time getting a burger here and the grilled Hatch chili smash burger was absolutely delicious! A must try! Fries are ok, overcooked but you don’t even need fries with this beast! A+
charlie hascall
1212 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214, USA
Andina
4.6
(3095)
Upscale Peruvian tapas & entrees, plus regional cocktails, presented in a warm, bustling room.
Reviews:
This place had an impeccable atmosphere and vibes, complete with live entertainment music. It was spotlessly clean, and the staff were not only attentive but also incredibly sweet. The food here was truly amazing. Each dish was delicious, filled with enticing aromas, and beautifully presented. The prices were reasonable and not too overwhelming. While I didn't try any drinks from the bar, they looked quite tempting. This spot is perfect for a romantic date night or just a lovely evening out. I highly recommend giving their beef heart skewers a try, although I do recall them being a bit larger. This time they were smaller and slightly saltier than usual, however they were still quite enjoyable. Definitely recommend!
Angela Nguyen
We haven’t had Peruvian food since our last trip to Peru. This restaurant provides an authentic Peruvian food with modern sophisticated touches for great presentation. We loved the grilled Octopus, the Peruvian seafood rice, the pork belly is delicious, and wonderful and tender short ribs!!! The service was great; a little noisy but still good to carry conversation. A nice, pleasant experience for our dinner guests.
Robin Wang
Stunning. Remarkable. Delightful celebration. First time. Rex, our server made the evening special. He was engaging with delicious recommendations. We were celebrating the completion of a 13 month project and wanted something memorable. The food, the service, the space, delivered a delightful and memorable experience.
Mark P. Fisher
Fresh ingredients & flavors. The staff was very accommodating with my dietary needs & helpful with suggesting dishes to fit what we were in the mood for. There was music in the bar & each dining room was BEAUTIFUL. My cider was delicious & my husband's old fashioned was the best he said he's ever had.
Breanna C.
Truly exceptionally great tasting food. The flavors were well balanced and the food was fresh and delicious. I had dinner with a couple of friends on a Tuesday night and the place was packed. No valet parking so you have to try your luck at street parking or finding a nearby lot. While the prices weren’t cheap, at least you save on taxes since Oregon has no sales tax. For our party of 3. We ordered 3 appetizers, wine, entrees and dessert. Total with 18% tip was $273.
Alan
1314 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209, USA
Måurice
4.4
(257)
An array of pastries, Nordic-French fare, coffee & cocktails served in a tiny, all-white dining room
Reviews:
Maurice is a long-time favorite of mine in downtown Portland. It is an oasis of charm, warmth, light and attention to every detail, a reflection of the care taken by superstar chef-owner Kristen Murray in this very personal place. A “pastry luncheonette” means a tiny, daytime-only spot offering a small, seasonal menu of savory and sweet things—handwritten daily by Kristen to reflect what she finds at the market and feels like cooking and baking. All of the deliciousness on the plate is complemented by her thoughtful selection of wines by the glass, teas and other drinks. Run, don’t walk, to Maurice.
Juliette Pope
Absolutely wonderful gourmet-French-Scandi dining experience. The lemon soufflé was extraordinary - one of the best I've ever had. The lions head mushroom schnitzel had dynamite flavor but could have been a little crisper in my opinion. The halibut was like butter! Amazing! Hollandaise was perfect as promised. Great ambiance from the staff's clothing to the bathroom decoration. Staff was knowledgeable and helpful, asked about allergies, and even made recommendations for other restaurants. My only problem was that I like to pay cash and they are cashless.
Michael Breaux
I went for a late breakfast but I recommend this place for lunch. The menu looks amazing. The place is small and cozy a block away from Powell books. I had a toast with poached eggs and a house vermut. Very PNW pretty food
Gustavo Perez
A magical place on Earth! Chef Kristen and her team brought one of the best tasting menus (Fri - Sat dinner and Sunday brunch) to PDX area and the best tea pairing I've experienced!
My Bach
It’s the details that matter. Subtle details and intricacies abound, which are reflected in the way food is made here! Had a phenomenal light lunch and ordered a host of very peculiar pastries, a delicious orange wine from the area, and the claimed to fame Quiche. All were praiseworthy in their own right. Definitely worth a stop for lunch. Minimal wait. The service was great too! Hint: Order the honey teacake, the black pepper cheesecake, the pear tart, or the plum brioche. All spectacular.
Kenneth
921 SW Oak St, Portland, OR 97205, USA
Mother's bistro & bar
4.6
(4691)
Homey cafe & bar with country-chic decor & chandeliers specializes in hearty comfort-food classics.
Reviews:
The portions were good and the quality of the food was excellent. I highly recommend the location, the atmosphere and the customer service. Even the owner and Chef, Lisa, came out to check on our table personally. The servers were friendly and I was astounded with their capacity to memorize the specials. I was quite impressed with my experience.
Vivian Kwan
Awesome place for breakfast. We ordered Biscuits & Gravy, Stuffed Frittata, Wild Salmon Hash, Pumpkin Pancakes, Strawberry Belgian Waffle, and Coffee. Everything was super delicious!!
Sue L
This place is amazing. The place has wonderful selection of cocktails and food. Visited this place with a group of 5+ people for dinner and my experience was really good. They start you off with freshly baked biscuits that were really good. I also ordered hibiscus Margarita and I can recommend that. The staff were really polite and friendly. I didn’t like chicken and dumplings that I ordered from entrees. However I think that is because of my palette. I remember everyone else really enjoyed their order. Don’t miss out on crème brûlée, that was amazing!! I can recommend this place to anyone visiting Portland. Parking could be found in the street parking spots or parking lot nearby. Restrooms were clean and well maintained.
Dewansh Rastogi
This place has plenty of reviews, but here's one more. We had a great server, Kailea! I tried the raspberry waffle and blueberry pancakes, and they are both good without syrup. I also had eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes. The bacon is thick cut and cooked well. The crispy edged potatoes were properly seasoned. Next time I'll skip the sausage, but everything was delicious.
Farah Fam
I was treated to brunch for my birthday at this well-known restaurant in downtown Portland. It was quite a treat. The restaurant is situated in a beautiful and historic hotel built in the early 1900s. The photo is of a delicious breakfast of French toast presented to me with a candle.
Katie Hackley
121 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204, USA
Higgins
4.5
(1069)
Longtime classy spot for local & sustainable NW fare, with a lively bar, many beers & Oregon wines.
Reviews:
We enjoyed a Friday night dinner in the dining room. The staff was attentive and super friendly. The food was excellent. We ordered the mussels appetizer, the mussels were steamed perfectly, but the soup base was the star of the show. I ordered the lamb pasta dish, which was delicious, and I was surprised by the portion, my husband had to help me finish. My husband ordered the duck as an entree and he said it was fantastic, portion size was basically half a duck, which was amazing.
Paula Regan
Extremely helpful and friendly staff, very professional and knowledgeable service. The food is excellent. Everything we ordered was great, including the wine. The wine list is fairly large with several Oregon wines in addition to French, etc.
Ethan Anderson
The food was excellent. Service was great. Our entrees were taking particularly long but the waiter was attentive and informative about the situation. As a thank you for our patience, they unnecessarily "took care of" one of our rounds of drinks. Free drinks or not I'll be going back.
Nate Drews
Fantastic French meal. Farm to table ingredients, friendly staff, inviting atmosphere. Portions are plentiful and savory. You won't be disappointed.
Kim Owen
Stumbled upon this place while searching Google maps for a restaurant in downtown nearby to my hotel to meet up with a local friend in Portland. He’s familiar with many of the top restaurants, but had never been to this one though it’s been on his list for a while! Relaxed atmosphere with staff that really care about the food and your experience. Our waiter had been working there for 29 years and had helped found the restaurant! I was excited to try the dishes with locally sourced ingredients, and we shared the salmon (pictured) which was really nice and a very substantial pork dish with sausage and a meatball. In hindsight, would have ordered the ling cod as a lighter dish but enjoyed my dinner here.
Samantha Ching
1239 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205, USA
Cheryl's on 12th
4.5
(2783)
Gourmet cafe & market offering creative New American cuisine & housemade sweets in an upbeat space.
Reviews:
So good that we ate breakfast there twice! The Portuguese and Veggie Fried Rice were outstanding! Lovely, fresh beignets and a cozy atmosphere just added to the experience. Best breakfast in Portland IMHO!
Erik D
The beignets are amazing. We sat down and the waitress brought us some complimentary ones and they were the best pastry I have ever had. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside almost the softness of a pudding, melt in your mouth I had the biscuits and gravy and it was really good. I don't know if I could day it was the best I ever had, it would have to be a little hotter temperature wise to be really amazing but it still was good The waitress was friendly and very helpful The atmosphere is excellent, the chairs are very comfortable. Great place
Bradley Berthold
The foods are delicious and very yummy! We ordered fish tacos, the grilled fish was larger than the tacos. The Portuguese fried rice was tasty with eggs, sausage and green onions plus seasoning. Service was excellent and friendly.
Robin Wang
This GEM! Totally worth making the trip to downtown Portland. Open up with delicious coffee and teas, served with delicious beignets. Our party picked up the delicious Portuguese Fried Rice, savory Ed's Scramble, and uniquely and tasty Apple Frittwich. All of the food was phenomenal! Our hostess was polite and attentive. I really appreciated her not trying to sell anything she hadn't tried and giving honest feedback on things she had experienced. The dining area is a huge, fun, maze with turns around every corner. Recommend reservations, saved us some time in line on a busy Sunday. Most definitely will be back!
RJ Whitley
Finally an enjoyable and peaceful downtown Portland experience for breakfast. Such a great atmosphere and the food is quality with unique flavors that make it so memorable. The service was slightly lacking, but they were busy and had just expanded to the space behind them so I won’t knock them too hard for it. I got the Croque Monsieur with the side of Cheesy Hash Browns. The sandwich was great with quality cheese, and bread that was absolutely delicious. The hash browns are a must have here, they are creamy and make for a perfect side. Totally recommend.
Parker Powers
1135 SW Washington St, Portland, OR 97205, USA
Lechon
4.7
(1891)
Vibrant, rustic-chic haunt offering creative South American meals, happy hours & a tapas menu.
Reviews:
Wow, what an incredible meal over at Lechon. I usually don’t see that many things on a menu that I’d love eating, but genuinely had a hard time deciding what to go with. Ambiance is vibrant while still feeling cozy and our party was immediately seated upon arrival. The back room is interesting with a large spiral staircase which was cool. Food was overall very tasty and the drinks were delicious. Tons of fruity and tropical inspired drinks to select from. Would definitely recommend the chicken bites to start, and the flank steak was also quite tasty. Definitely will be paying another visit to Lechon. Great celebratory dinner spot or restaurant for team outings.
Josh Lyman
Loved the ambiance here starting with the cool Fish tanks especially the jellyfish behind the bar. We wanted the try several dishes so tapas was the way to go. Each dish was good but not as fabulous as I expected reading the reviews. The kids menu and portion size was surprisingly huge for the price. Service was excellent
Katherine Pacpaco
This is definitely high class food that is well crafted. I wouldn't recommend going when you are hungry unless you can afford it. I enjoyed all the food and it was a lovely experience. I don't know if I'd go again but it makes for a nice date night.
Abbie Lu
Amazing topas, drinks and ambiance, including a large salt water tank in the dining room and a tank behind the bar with jellyfish! There wasn't a dish we didn't like, and they left a nice note on our table for my birthday. They gave me my choice of dessert from the menu for free for my birthday as well. Would recommend! Be sure to get reservations though, it was busy.
Mandy Morgan
We’re from out of town and heard this is a great spot to check out while in Portland. We were not disappointed! The food and drinks were delicious. The atmosphere was very warm and welcoming (we loved the open-style kitchen). Our party of three split a bunch of tapas and the portions were good. Our server Christian was excellent - he was very knowledgeable and gave plenty of great recommendations. We would definitely come back the next time we visit!
Josh M
113 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204, USA