If you happen to fancy eating out someplace a bit completely different, Portland has loads of genuinely glorious stand-out locations to select from.
I’ve spent many evenings scouting out among the most unusual and stand-out locations so whether you’re on the lookout for fashionable Center Japanese fare, a hip Asian fusion, or a enjoyable spot serving up American dishes with an upscale twist, listed here are my private favorites…
1. Tusk – finest for Center Japanese
I like this significantly trendy and stylish spot. Tusk is a Center Japanese restaurant situated within the Buckman District and this place is fashionable for a purpose.
Select from varied mezze dishes, together with a mezze platter, mezze with hen, and another choice with falafel. There may be even a mezze and salad choice or I’d advocate the mezze household meal for bigger teams.
For dessert, be sure to strive an unique Moroccan pancake which is simply scrumptious. It contains kewra grapefruit confit, rose-apple preserves, candied kumquat, and ricotta.
On Valentine’s Day, they’ve dinner-for-two specials to pick an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert at a reduced value.
2. Mucca Osteria – finest for Italian
Downtown Portland’s Mucca Osteria gives natural Italian meals in a Gothic-themed restaurant setting. Select from an extended checklist of half bottles, glowing, white, pink, and Piemonte Barolo.
For meals, select from antipasti, primi piatti, dolci (home made desserts). Most are pasta dishes with greens and herbs, for instance, Tortellini ai Funghi. It options home made mushroom and ricotta-filled tortellini, almonds, Brussels sprouts, and glazed shallots submerged in a white wine cream sauce.
3. Departure Lounge – finest for Pan Asian
I’m an enormous fan of contemporary inside design and the Departure Lounge is one other glorious and weird restaurant on the Nines luxurious lodge in Downtown Portland. Right here you’ll be able to style Asian fusion in an elegant restaurant as you benefit from the native Downtown views.
Pan-Asian delicacies contains Northwest Oysters, candy shrimp spring rolls, pork stomach, steamed buns, hen tenderloin and kushiyaki eggplant.
In case you have a personal occasion developing, request Departure Lounge to give you indoor or out of doors area and catering. They will host a personal occasion for as few as 12 folks, with a most of 125 accommodated.
4. Melting Pot – finest for fondue
Downtown Portland’s Melting Pot is an American restaurant specializing in fondue and I like this distinctive spot! There are all the time salads and meat-based entrees, after which hearty mains!
Select from four-course dinner menus for 2 or an a la carte menu for dinner. You begin your meal with an appetizer, a cheese fondue with meals for dipping, akin to fruits, greens, and artisan bread.
Fondues embrace traditional alpine, Wisconsin cheddar, fiesta, spinach artichoke, Wisconsin trio, and Quattro Formaggio.
5. Lechon – finest for South American Meals
Lechon is a South American restaurant specializing in tapas and internet hosting glorious worth, scrumptious blissful hour specials.
Tapas choices embrace pastel de choclo, pork stomach burritos, pork anticucho, lomo saltado, and smoked bone marrow.
Glad hour meals begin as little as $56and go as excessive as $13. Their $6 cornmeal fried olives are vegan, whereas their $6 small farmers’ inexperienced salad is vegan and gluten-free.
6. Han Oak Restaurant – finest for Korean
Attempt the funky Han Oak Restaurant within the Kerns District for Korean meals. The restaurant hosts dumplings and noodle nights for patrons who love such fashionable Korean dishes.
Two eating choices can be found. You may get shaved meats to dip in broth and revel in with their hand-pulled noodles and home made dumplings. That is $76 per individual.
A 5-course Mexican-inspired menu is yours for $55 per individual. This menu contains dry-aged fish tostadas, pink rice croquettes, charcoal-grilled pork loin tacos, masa colada, bay leaf, and Canelo churro ice cream for dessert.
7. The Observatory – finest for American classics
Swing by the Montavilla District to strive The Observatory. You may rely on American classics and distinctive cocktails whenever you go to this restaurant. You may have an entree salad akin to apple, beet, and hen salad with crispy bacon for a lighter meal.
Attempt the Capricorn, Lavender Gin Lemon Drop, Pink Cloud, Blood Orange Negroni, the spicy Tom Kah, and plenty of different choices to indulge of their signature cocktails.
In case you are in a unique alcoholic temper, strive one among their white or pink wines or draft beers.
8. Arden Restaurant – finest for upscale
Pearl District’s upscale Arden Restaurant is situated within the Gregory Lofts. This wine bar serves Pacific Northwest delicacies and gives upscale appetizers, and entrees along with your favourite wines.
In case you are a celebration of 4, take into account the Chef’s Prix Fixe, which is $65 per individual and likewise contains wine pairings for an additional charge.
Pattern fancy dishes akin to truffled potato leek pierogi with chive creme fraiche or the Dungeness crab tagliatelle with crab butter and preserved lemon.
9. Punch Bowl Social – finest for enjoyable 
Punch Bowl Social is a enjoyable gastropub located in Downtown Portland inside Pioneer Place. It’s often called probably the most outstanding Punch Bowl Social location.
Take pleasure in varied punch bowls and fashionable American eats whereas taking part in enjoyable video games. Select from karaoke, desk video games, and bowling.
Throughout their Glad Hour, strive sriracha, peanut fries, chips, guacamole, or a pulled pork sandwich in between your video games. Sip on a margarita, whiskey bitter, or beer to clean all of it down.
10. G-Love New American Kitchen – finest for very distinctive
Northwest District’s G-Love New American Kitchen is contained in the Carson Residences parking zone. This New American restaurant has a really distinctive idea and fabricates its dishes utilizing regionally grown produce, and it’s often called the nation’s first reverse steakhouse.
Which means vegatables and fruits are the central a part of the dish as meat is a supplementary part reasonably than the opposite means round with standard American meals. Attempt their Crunchmaster Crisp, Chirashi Bowl, charred hanger steak, or fried hen with avocado rank.
11. Mediterranean Exploration Firm – finest for fashionable decor
The Pearl District’s Mediterranean Exploration Firm is a Center Japanese restaurant and I’m an enormous fan of the fabulous fashionable decor they’ve right here.
They serve up home favorites akin to radicchio salad, roasted eggplant dip, Turkish delight, Hummus Abu Hassan, and falafel, all throughout their Glad Hour for $12.
Take pleasure in these costs Monday by Friday from 4 pm to five pm. Alcoholic beverage picks embrace American whiskey, worldwide whiskey, agave and vodka.
12. Clarklewis Restaurant – finest for a date night time
The Clarklewis Restaurant is stationed on the Eastbank Commerce Middle within the Buckman District. Their Italian dishes are solely farm-to-table made with native elements.
What’s distinctive about Clarklewis is that their menu choices change day by day, contingent upon the chef’s discretion. It’s served up in a industrial-chic warehouse which has unbelievable fashionable vibe, which I believe it good for a date night time!
Most dishes say the place the elements had been, akin to Carlton Farms pork sausage, Montecucco Farms beets, and Topaz Farms carrots. The wood-burning of their institution fashions scrumptious pizza choices, together with the Siri and Sons Honeynut Squash pizza.
13. Noble Rot – finest for views
Noble Rot is an American restaurant and wine bar situated on the 4th ground of a constructing to take pleasure in metropolis views whereas consuming.
Take pleasure in common American favorites akin to hamburgers or take pleasure in one among their upscale dishes. Attempt their soup of the day or pasta of the day for a shock dish.
Distinctive dishes embrace Idaho Rainbow Trout, Stuffed Squash, Burrata, and the vegan Tuscan Kale Salad.
14. Palomar – finest for Cuban meals
Palomar is a Cuban restaurant situated within the Hosford-Abernethy District. Style their signature cocktails such because the Americano, Moscow Mule, twentieth Century, French 75 or the aromatic Violet Fizz.
The Harina Con Camarones embrace 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. Select from 4 appetizers, two varieties of sandwiches, and 5 entrees for lunch and dinner.
15. Broder Soder – finest for Scandinavian meals
Broder Soder is a Scandinavian restaurant within the household of Broder Cafe and Broder Nord all through the native space.
They serve probably the most in depth choice of West Coast aquavits, akin to Krogstad Festlig from Portland, Krogstad Gamle from Portland, and Holen from Astoria.
Attempt Danish pancakes, smoked trout eggs benedict, Swedish hash, ortasteget a scrumptious style of Scandinavian fare. Their Swedish meatballs are available in a tasty sherry cream accompanied by a lingonberry jam, pickles, potato pancake, and levian toast.
16. Blossoming Lotus – Greatest For Vegan Eating
In case you are a vegan, you’ll recognize the vegan fusion at Blossoming Lotus I in case you are a vegan within the Irvington District. They use solely the most effective regionally sourced plant-based elements and have natural elements when potential from their suppliers.
Whereas Blossoming Lotus on NE fifteenth Avenue is a full-service restaurant, their Portland/Slabtown location is a restaurant and juice bar.
Attempt the full-service Chickpea and Kale Salad, Pesto Pasta, Yakisoba Noodles, Cheeseburger, Bibimbap, Tempeh Bacon Sandwich, and plenty of different plant-based dishes.
17. Tope – Greatest For Hipsters
Housed within the very hip Hoxton Lodge it is a fashionable spot! Tope gives scrumptious Mexican snacks and tacos together with mezcal-inspired drinks.
Positioned at Hoxton within the Outdated City District, take pleasure in rooftop bar views as you pattern Oregon Bay shrimp ceviche, pozole Rojo, carnitas tacos, pollo pibil tacos, and pollo con mole.
Their signature cocktails embrace the Prime Margarita (Blanco tequila, lime, and agave), the Michelada, the Both/Or with Dickle Rye, and different home favorites. Wines, beers, mocktails, and delicate drinks are additionally out there to refresh you after your meal.
18. Pine Avenue Market – Greatest For Meals Corridor
I like this fabulous Meals Corridor! Outdated City District’s Pine Avenue Market contains eating places underneath one roof headed by 9 well-known Portland cooks. Attempt the Pine Avenue Taproom or the Pleasure Burger.
Solely the Pine Avenue Taproom has a hyperlink to its web site, whereas the opposite out there eating places should not have a hyperlink from the Pine Avenue Market web site.
Get an thought of the general nature of the opposite eating places in Pine Avenue Market by visiting the Pine Avenue Taproom hyperlink on the house web site.
19. Oma’s Hideaway – Greatest For Quirky Design
Oma’s Hideaway was once often called Oma’s Takeaway. Positioned within the Richmond District, you’ll be able to take pleasure in meals and cocktails as a dine-in buyer or order takeaway as their outdated identify suggests.
If you happen to order supply, it is going to come from a motorbike courier affiliated with Cascade Courier Collective. I like that the decor right here is deliciously quirky with vibrant wallpaper and retro-style furnishings!
Choose from coconut rice, the Oma-Zing Burger, Coulotte Tartare, candy potato dumplings, and different distinctive dishes. There are many tasty vegan choices out there too.