New American$east-baysideDaily 11:00-22:00
Duckfat Frites Shack on Washington Avenue is the takeout window with frites, fried snacks, milkshakes and beer under fifteen dollars, picnic-table seating.
Try: Belgian frites cone in duck fat
Tip: Seasonal April to October; cash and card both fine. Shared patio with Oxbow Blending next door, picnic-table seating only.
Mediterranean$arts-districtMon-Sat 08:00-17:00
Public Market House on Monument Square runs seven food vendors under one roof, with Vietnamese, Mediterranean, Latin and soup counters around twelve dollars.
Try: Soup, banh mi, pupusa, sandwich
Tip: Daily 11:00-20:00. Counter order at each vendor; shared central seating.
Jewish deli$woodfords-deeringDaily 07:00-14:00
Rose Foods on Forest Avenue runs hand-rolled bagels, lox bagels, pastrami sandwiches and matzo ball soup under fifteen dollars from Chad Conley's deli.
Try: Lox bagel, matzo ball soup
Tip: Daily 07:30-14:00; online ordering saves the queue at peak weekend brunch. Cash and card both fine.
Vegetarian$arts-districtTue-Sat 11:30-14:30
Green Elephant on Congress Street runs vegetarian Thai lunches under twenty dollars: vegan coconut soup, mango curry and pad thai across from State Theatre.
Try: Vegan mango curry, coconut soup
Tip: Lunch Tuesday to Saturday 11:30-14:30; dinner from 17:00 nightly except Monday.
Italian$india-streetMon-Fri 09:00-21:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-21:00
Amato's on India Street is the original 1902 Portland sandwich counter where Giovanni Amato invented the Maine Italian sandwich, served under ten dollars.
Try: Maine Italian sandwich, original recipe
Tip: The original 1902 location is the canonical one; the Maine Italian sandwich is the order.
Brunch$old-portMon-Thu 04:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 04:00-22:00, Sun 04:00-21:00
Becky's Diner on Commercial Street runs the cheapest waterfront breakfast in Portland, opening 05:00 daily for fishing crews and the line behind them.
Try: Eggs and hash, short stack with bacon
Tip: Daily 05:00-21:00. Cash and card both fine; queues longest 09:00-11:00 weekends.