Guidebook for Portland
Food Scene
Build-your-own salad bar for when I'm feeling healthy. My favorite is the Cowboy Salad.
19 locals recommend
Crisp Restaurant & Catering
3901 N Williams AveBuild-your-own salad bar for when I'm feeling healthy. My favorite is the Cowboy Salad.
Great wood-fired pizzas with some creative toppings, in a laid-back environment.
173 locals recommend
Life of Pie Pizza
3632 N Williams AveGreat wood-fired pizzas with some creative toppings, in a laid-back environment.
The latest in Mississippi's dining scene, Quaintrelle is a great addition to the area. Featuring the farm-inspired cooking talents of a former chef from award-winning Ava Gene's on Division, Quaintrelle is a neighborhood bistro all about seasonal, vegetable-forward dishes, like sheep cheese dumplings, with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and basil.
20 locals recommend
Quaintrelle
2032 Southeast Clinton StreetThe latest in Mississippi's dining scene, Quaintrelle is a great addition to the area. Featuring the farm-inspired cooking talents of a former chef from award-winning Ava Gene's on Division, Quaintrelle is a neighborhood bistro all about seasonal, vegetable-forward dishes, like sheep cheese dumplings, with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and basil.
You've likely heard of Pok Pok. The original is down on SE Divison, and will have a wait for a table. Instead, head to their smaller, northern outpost not far from Mississippi. Most of their primary staples are on the menu here including the must-order fish sauce wings!
201 locals recommend
Pok Pok Wing
1469 NE Prescott StYou've likely heard of Pok Pok. The original is down on SE Divison, and will have a wait for a table. Instead, head to their smaller, northern outpost not far from Mississippi. Most of their primary staples are on the menu here including the must-order fish sauce wings!
Great brunch place with a Scandinavian flair. You'll find this place on most lists of Portland's best brunches, go early so you don't have to wait too long for a table.
94 locals recommend
Broder Nord
3765 North Mississippi AvenueGreat brunch place with a Scandinavian flair. You'll find this place on most lists of Portland's best brunches, go early so you don't have to wait too long for a table.
Yet another great coffee shop in the neighborhood, Albina Press is usually a little less crowded due to being a few blocks from the main Mississippi action.
197 locals recommend
Albina Press
4637 N Albina AveYet another great coffee shop in the neighborhood, Albina Press is usually a little less crowded due to being a few blocks from the main Mississippi action.
A small local chain of ice cream shops, Ruby Jewel's flavors change monthly, along with some regular standbys. My favorite is the salted caramel with chocolate ganache. You can actually smell the freshly made waffle cones from my back yard sometimes. It's dangerous.
125 locals recommend
Ruby Jewel Ice Cream
3713 N Mississippi AveA small local chain of ice cream shops, Ruby Jewel's flavors change monthly, along with some regular standbys. My favorite is the salted caramel with chocolate ganache. You can actually smell the freshly made waffle cones from my back yard sometimes. It's dangerous.
This Mississippi brunch spot is almost painfully Portland: It boasts shelves of Pinterest-ready mason jars, cassette tapes, and mismatched vintage table settings. It serves only breakfast and brunch. And of course, there's that name, which... yeah. But even the most cynical of hearts can't help but submit to its charms. In a land of bacon-heavy brunches, Sweedeedee's breakfast plates arrive loaded with baked eggs and trout, avocados and greens, and other simple delights.
240 locals recommend
Sweedeedee
5202 N Albina AveThis Mississippi brunch spot is almost painfully Portland: It boasts shelves of Pinterest-ready mason jars, cassette tapes, and mismatched vintage table settings. It serves only breakfast and brunch. And of course, there's that name, which... yeah. But even the most cynical of hearts can't help but submit to its charms. In a land of bacon-heavy brunches, Sweedeedee's breakfast plates arrive loaded with baked eggs and trout, avocados and greens, and other simple delights.
One of my top five favorite restaurants in Portland, Toro Bravo helped kick off Portland's foodie culture a decade ago and is still going strong. The menu is focused on tapas and small plates, so order a lot of everything. I love the oxtail croquettes, the grilled octopus, and the radicchio salad but you can't go wrong here. Expect to wait a bit depending on when you go, they don't take reservations (even Charlize Theron was famously made to wait to get a table here), but there are three different bars on this block to grab a drink while you wait.
180 locals recommend
Toro Bravo
120 NE Russell StOne of my top five favorite restaurants in Portland, Toro Bravo helped kick off Portland's foodie culture a decade ago and is still going strong. The menu is focused on tapas and small plates, so order a lot of everything. I love the oxtail croquettes, the grilled octopus, and the radicchio salad but you can't go wrong here. Expect to wait a bit depending on when you go, they don't take reservations (even Charlize Theron was famously made to wait to get a table here), but there are three different bars on this block to grab a drink while you wait.
One of Portland's hot dinner spots is Ox, with their Argentine-inspired cuisine. Though meat hitting the grill is the main focus (skirt steak and lamb chops are tops), both veggies and seafood represent as well. It's best to get in line early, though dinner wait times can be nursed at the neighboring Whey Bar.
192 locals recommend
OX Restaurant
2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr BlvdOne of Portland's hot dinner spots is Ox, with their Argentine-inspired cuisine. Though meat hitting the grill is the main focus (skirt steak and lamb chops are tops), both veggies and seafood represent as well. It's best to get in line early, though dinner wait times can be nursed at the neighboring Whey Bar.
Mississippi's newest coffee shop, the Locale is a small, well-designed coffee shop that starts serving drinks in the afternoon as well, which you can use to round off that caffeine buzz.
14 locals recommend
Locale
Mississippi's newest coffee shop, the Locale is a small, well-designed coffee shop that starts serving drinks in the afternoon as well, which you can use to round off that caffeine buzz.
This restaurant could also be classified as a higher-end bar. They have great food (definitely not for vegans here) and a good selection of specialty cocktails. There's a little patio out back that is nice and shaded.
138 locals recommend
Interurban
4057 N Mississippi AveThis restaurant could also be classified as a higher-end bar. They have great food (definitely not for vegans here) and a good selection of specialty cocktails. There's a little patio out back that is nice and shaded.
Local bakery chain, you'll find their breads in a lot of stores. They also have a few cafes around the city, such as this one that has great pastries and sandwiches. Good spot for a simple breakfast or lunch. They have coffee as well.
226 locals recommend
Grand Central Bakery
714 N Fremont StLocal bakery chain, you'll find their breads in a lot of stores. They also have a few cafes around the city, such as this one that has great pastries and sandwiches. Good spot for a simple breakfast or lunch. They have coffee as well.
Good coffee shop on Mississippi that has been around forever. They open early so they'll be there for you whenever you wake up.
93 locals recommend
The Fresh Pot
4001 N Mississippi AveGood coffee shop on Mississippi that has been around forever. They open early so they'll be there for you whenever you wake up.
Combine sushi and fried chicken and you get UCHU. Great menu and well-executed. You can't go wrong here.
52 locals recommend
UCHU Sushi
3940 N Mississippi AveCombine sushi and fried chicken and you get UCHU. Great menu and well-executed. You can't go wrong here.
Simple menu. Burgers (pick from four cheeses) and fries cooked in truffle oil. That's it. They stick with the basics and do it well. FYI, the burgers are fairly small, so I usually order two.
49 locals recommend
Little Big Burger - Mississippi Ave
3747 N Mississippi AveSimple menu. Burgers (pick from four cheeses) and fries cooked in truffle oil. That's it. They stick with the basics and do it well. FYI, the burgers are fairly small, so I usually order two.
A small local chain of donut shops with several amazing flavors. They've just opened their first location in Los Angeles and several in Tokyo!
403 locals recommend
Blue Star Donuts
3325 SE Division StA small local chain of donut shops with several amazing flavors. They've just opened their first location in Los Angeles and several in Tokyo!
Great Mexican place just a block from the house. You'll see the line coming out the door and down the block, but it moves fairly quickly and is worth the wait!
342 locals recommend
¿Por Qué No?
3524 N Mississippi AveGreat Mexican place just a block from the house. You'll see the line coming out the door and down the block, but it moves fairly quickly and is worth the wait!
Probably the most famous breakfast place in Portland. The wait here can get pretty crazy on weekends. Huge portions, come hungry or prepare to take home a doggie bag.
179 locals recommend
Gravy
3957 N Mississippi AveProbably the most famous breakfast place in Portland. The wait here can get pretty crazy on weekends. Huge portions, come hungry or prepare to take home a doggie bag.
Drinks & Nightlife
A local brewery that has seen massive growth across the country, Widmer is a staple of the Portland brewing scene. Definitely a lot bigger and more polished/corporate than the smaller breweries on Mississippi, but good nonetheless.
45 locals recommend
The Widmer Brothers Brewery
929 N Russell StA local brewery that has seen massive growth across the country, Widmer is a staple of the Portland brewing scene. Definitely a lot bigger and more polished/corporate than the smaller breweries on Mississippi, but good nonetheless.
A beautiful bar with great hand-crafted cocktails. The guys who started this bar have a few others around town. They're doing something right as all of them have been huge successes. Great patio here as well.
124 locals recommend
Victoria Bar
4835 N Albina AveA beautiful bar with great hand-crafted cocktails. The guys who started this bar have a few others around town. They're doing something right as all of them have been huge successes. Great patio here as well.
Literally right behind my house (we practically share a back yard), my favorite of their beers is the kolsch, which is perfect for sitting out on their patio in the sun.
98 locals recommend
StormBreaker Brewing
832 N Beech StLiterally right behind my house (we practically share a back yard), my favorite of their beers is the kolsch, which is perfect for sitting out on their patio in the sun.
Great brewery one block from the house with lots of rotating taps. They are always brewing up something new and delicious. Also has a great patio and pretty decent food.
139 locals recommend
Ecliptic Brewing
825 N Cook StGreat brewery one block from the house with lots of rotating taps. They are always brewing up something new and delicious. Also has a great patio and pretty decent food.
One of the great patios in Portland. The drinks are fine (and cheap), I've never loved their food, but really the patio steals the show here.
102 locals recommend
Vendetta
4306 N Williams AveOne of the great patios in Portland. The drinks are fine (and cheap), I've never loved their food, but really the patio steals the show here.
Great local dive bar with a huge patio and lots of screens to watch sports. The food isn't good, but the drinks are cheap and plentiful.
25 locals recommend
Maui's
3508 N Williams AveGreat local dive bar with a huge patio and lots of screens to watch sports. The food isn't good, but the drinks are cheap and plentiful.
BarBar is a cool bar with a great patio and fire pit, with a good mixed crowd. Mississippi Studios has live music nearly every night as well.
436 locals recommend
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi AveBarBar is a cool bar with a great patio and fire pit, with a good mixed crowd. Mississippi Studios has live music nearly every night as well.
Shopping
A mix of vintage clothes, Woolrich blankets, backpacks, and socks, this is a great store to find something you didn't know you wanted.
25 locals recommend
Animal Traffic
134 SE Taylor StA mix of vintage clothes, Woolrich blankets, backpacks, and socks, this is a great store to find something you didn't know you wanted.
The Meadow sells four things: salt, chocolate, flowers, and bitters. They have been thriving for years and recently expanded to open a store in NYC.
32 locals recommend
The Meadow - N Mississippi Ave.
3731 N Mississippi AveThe Meadow sells four things: salt, chocolate, flowers, and bitters. They have been thriving for years and recently expanded to open a store in NYC.
Essentials
Awesome local chain of grocery stores. Lots of local, organic produce and plenty of pre-made food as well. I highly recommend the wok bar where you pick what you want in your wok and they fry it up for you.
974 locals recommend
New Seasons Market
1954 SE Division StAwesome local chain of grocery stores. Lots of local, organic produce and plenty of pre-made food as well. I highly recommend the wok bar where you pick what you want in your wok and they fry it up for you.
Big box retailer that sells everything from groceries to home goods to clothing (similar to Wal-Mart).
204 locals recommend
Fred Meyer
6850 N Lombard StBig box retailer that sells everything from groceries to home goods to clothing (similar to Wal-Mart).
Parks & Nature
Beautiful park in North Portland that has a huge rose garden. Great place to go at sunset.
151 locals recommend
Peninsula Park
Peninsula ParkBeautiful park in North Portland that has a huge rose garden. Great place to go at sunset.