Portland, Maine: Local Brewery Tour
Dive deep into the local brewing scene on this tasting tour to three local breweries in and around Portland, Maine. Choose from a variety of unique tour options to sui...
CuisineVietnamese
Price$$
Neighborhoodeast-bayside
HoursWed-Thu 17:00-21:00; Fri 17:00-22:00; Sat 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00; Mon 17:00-21:00
Phone+1-207-805-1121
Last verified
Why locals love it: A 30-seat Vietnamese room on a Washington Avenue corner. No reservations, no instagram queues, but James Beard finalist 2022 (Best Chef Northeast).
Tip: Arrive at open (17:00 Wednesday to Saturday); the queue starts before the door unlocks.
Hidden gems: tours, tastings and classes in Portland
Portland: Old Port Seafood Lovers Tour
Savor a Maine seafood luncheon and learn about Portland’s iconic working waterfront with a knowledgeable local guide.
Portland, Maine: Coastal Windjammer Sailing Cruise
Glide through the pristine waters of Casco Bay on Bagheera, Wendameen, or Timberwind sailing ships, and experience Maine's historic craftsmanship on this sailing boat ...
Location
Address: 57 Washington Avenue, Portland, ME 04101
Also in east-bayside
Izakaya Minato ★ 4.5
Izakaya Minato on Washington Avenue in Portland runs binchotan-charcoal yakitori and a sake list from a 2026 James Beard finalist for Best Chef Northeast.
Why locals love it: A small Japanese izakaya off the Old Port tourist track, with binchotan-charcoal yakitori from a 2026 James Beard finalist (Best Chef Northeast).
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00. Resy reservations open 30 days ahead.
Tu Casa Restaurant ★ 4.0
Tu Casa on Washington Avenue in Portland is a Salvadoran kitchen serving pupusas, baleadas and pollo encebollado, the East Bayside Latin lunch favourite.
Why locals love it: A Salvadoran kitchen on Washington Avenue serving pupusas, baleadas and pollo encebollado outside the Old Port radar. The East Bayside Latin lunch favourite.
Tip: Closed Mondays. The pupusa revuelta with curtido is the easy first order.
Maine & Loire ★ 4.3
Maine & Loire on Washington Avenue in Portland is a wine-shop counter with the city's deepest natural-wine selection from the Loire and beyond, no tipping.
Why locals love it: A wine-shop counter on Washington Avenue with last call 17:00. Walk-in, no tipping, the city's deepest natural-wine selection from the Loire and beyond.
Tip: Wednesday to Sunday 12:00-18:00. Counter service only; no bookings.
More hidden gems in Portland
The Purple House ★ 4.6
The Purple House in North Yarmouth runs wood-fired bagels and sourdough pizza Friday to Sunday, 20 minutes from Portland and selling out by early afternoon.
Why locals love it: A wood-fired bagel and sourdough pizza house in North Yarmouth, 20 minutes from downtown. The bagels routinely sell out by early afternoon.
Tip: Friday to Sunday only. The everything bagel with gravlax is the canonical order.
Izakaya Minato ★ 4.5
Izakaya Minato on Washington Avenue in Portland runs binchotan-charcoal yakitori and a sake list from a 2026 James Beard finalist for Best Chef Northeast.
Why locals love it: A small Japanese izakaya off the Old Port tourist track, with binchotan-charcoal yakitori from a 2026 James Beard finalist (Best Chef Northeast).
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00. Resy reservations open 30 days ahead.
The Bearded Lady's Jewel Box ★ 4.1
The Bearded Lady's Jewel Box at 644 Congress Street in Portland has no sign on the door, creative cocktails and a welcome to marginalised communities.
Why locals love it: No sign on the door at 644 Congress, no bookings, no instagram-bait cocktails. A jewel-box room with creative drinks and an explicit welcome to marginalised communities.
Tip: Look for the street number 644 (no sign on the door). Tuesday to Sunday evenings only, walk up; closed Monday.
Tu Casa Restaurant ★ 4.0
Tu Casa on Washington Avenue in Portland is a Salvadoran kitchen serving pupusas, baleadas and pollo encebollado, the East Bayside Latin lunch favourite.
Why locals love it: A Salvadoran kitchen on Washington Avenue serving pupusas, baleadas and pollo encebollado outside the Old Port radar. The East Bayside Latin lunch favourite.
Tip: Closed Mondays. The pupusa revuelta with curtido is the easy first order.
Maine & Loire ★ 4.3
Maine & Loire on Washington Avenue in Portland is a wine-shop counter with the city's deepest natural-wine selection from the Loire and beyond, no tipping.
Why locals love it: A wine-shop counter on Washington Avenue with last call 17:00. Walk-in, no tipping, the city's deepest natural-wine selection from the Loire and beyond.
Tip: Wednesday to Sunday 12:00-18:00. Counter service only; no bookings.
Speckled Ax ★ 4.2
Speckled Ax on Congress Street in Portland is the city's wood-fired coffee roaster, roasting over open hardwood flame and vanishingly rare in the country.
Why locals love it: Portland's wood-fired coffee roaster on Congress Street, hidden in plain sight. Coffee roasted over open hardwood flame, vanishingly rare in the country at scale.
Tip: Daily 07:00-17:00. Ask the barista for the latest wood-roasted single origin.