Italian$$$downtown
An intimate Tuscan and Central Italian room in downtown Portland with handmade pastas, a focused wine list and dinner reservations that book a week ahead.
Signature: Handmade pasta, Branzino
Order: The pici cacio e pepe
Tip: Dinner only, closed Sunday and Monday. The wine list runs deep on Italian regions you can't find elsewhere in Portland.
French bistro$$$east-burnside-kerns
James Beard winner Gabriel Rucker's communal-table bistro on East Burnside, Portland's most decorated French room since 2006 with chef's counter walk-ins.
Signature: Pigeon, Foie gras profiteroles
Order: Foie gras profiteroles with caramel ice cream
Tip: Three communal tables take reservations. The chef's counter is walk-in only and turns over from 17:00.
Northern Thai$$division-clinton
Earl Ninsom, Sam Smith and Eric Nelson's Northern Thai room in Portland reopened the OG Pok Pok building in January 2026 with khao soi and grilled chicken.
Signature: Khao soi, Gai yang
Order: Khao soi with extra crispy egg noodles on top
Tip: Walk-ins always welcome. The late-night karaoke lounge runs Friday and Saturday after the kitchen closes.
Thai-Chinese$$division-clinton
Earl Ninsom's Bangkok-Chinatown room in Portland's Montavilla neighbourhood, Portland Monthly's 2023 Restaurant of the Year for Thai-Chinese hawker cooking.
Signature: Crispy fried oyster, Five-spice braised pork
Order: Crispy fried oysters with chili jam
Tip: Walk-ins only. Arrive by 17:30 on weekends or expect a 60-minute wait at the door.
Thai BBQ$$mississippi-williams
The Earl Ninsom, Eric Nelson and Matt Vicedomini collaboration on N Williams in Portland, where Thai marinade meets Texas-style smoked beef brisket.
Signature: White curry with burnt brisket ends, Crispy chicken
Order: White curry with burnt brisket ends over jasmine rice
Tip: The cocktail list is the Eric Nelson programme that earned the room a James Beard semifinalist nod. Order the tamarind whisky sour.
Korean$$$east-burnside-kerns
Peter Cho and Sun Young Park's family-table Korean room in the Kerns neighbourhood of Portland, The Oregonian's 2017 Restaurant of the Year.
Signature: Hand-pulled noodles, Galbi
Order: The dumpling and noodle prix fixe
Tip: Open Thursday to Sunday for the family-style prix fixe. Saturday brunch is a la carte and easier to book.