Indian street food$$alberta-arts
Troy MacLarty's spice-loud Indian street-food canteen on NE Alberta in Portland, modelled on the chaat stalls of Mumbai and Hyderabad since 2012.
Signature: Vada pav, Kati roll
Order: The vada pav with green chutney
Tip: Counter order, table service. The Division Street outpost has closed; Alberta is the original room.
Mediterranean$$$pearl-district
John Gorham's Mediterranean room in the Pearl District of Portland, from Morocco to Turkey to Greece in one big family-style menu since 2014.
Signature: Lamb tagine, Octopus mechouia
Order: The lamb shoulder mechoui for the table
Tip: Family-style is the move. Two people order three dishes; six people order eight.
French bistro$$$east-burnside-kerns
Gabriel Rucker's relaxed all-day bistro next door to Le Pigeon on East Burnside in Portland, with foie gras dumplings and a steam burger worth the line.
Signature: Duck stack pancakes, Steam burger
Order: The duck-egg-topped pancakes
Tip: All-day service from 09:00 means Canard absorbs Le Pigeon's overflow. Walk-ins for the bar.
Italian$$$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.