Full disclosure: I just bought a house, and that house happens to be situated on Portland's best restaurant row! Some of my favorite eateries lie along this sweet eat street, and the neighbors ain't bad, either...
Clay’s Smokehouse has been serving up un-messed-with smoked meats, beef ribs, hot links, and blackened fish for over a decade. Everything here is smoked in-house, and happy hour is amazing: $5 BBQ baskets, including sauce-slathered beef ribs or chicken with homefries and slaw.
The perfect Portland breakfast/lunch cafe with pleasant, dog-friendly outdoor patio. Somehow Detour manages to avoid the crazy-making lines typical of other brunch spots in Portland.
PDX's first cinderella story. Former shack turns into a full-on national empire. The wings are an obvious must-order, and be sure to sample from the list of exotic drinking vinegars. Try the muu paa kham waan!
The Seven Corners location has a fantastic, newly-remodeled cafe area that transforms the full-service deli into a sit-down restaurant. The salad bar and wok stations are go-tos for refueling on busy workdays.
This sexy neighborhood restaurant-meets-wine-bar offers up European class & unassuming high-style. Head in for a late-night weekend burger & vieux carre.
My favorite vegan restaurant in Portland, Portobello serves home style Italian fare that even a Tuscan grandmother could love. Great cocktails (and mocktails) too! Try brunch.
My go-to taco truck! Perfect for "mixed groups" because vegetarians and omnivores will be equally satisfied. Try the soyrizo burrito or lengua tacos (plus a Mexi-coke).
This GQ favorite deserves every bit of the national press it's received. Say hi to Evan behind the bar and let him make you the best cocktail in PDX. Great for date night.
A 21st century ramen house with hot design details and menu surprises from one of Portland’s seafoodiest chefs. The menu is grouped into hot plates, cold plates, and ramen—and everything is meant to be shared.
Nick Zukin’s Mexico City-inspired eatery boasting homemade tortillas and a rotating selection of traditional stews and stir-fries, is refreshingly casual and bright—with prices that are bound to impress.
With a focus on oven-fired pizzas, stromboli, and cecina along with a select few family-style entrees, Cibo is a great place for casual fare and friendly service decked out in cozy-chic decor.
The goods: locally-made soft-serve ice cream, shuffleboard, free old-school video games (yes, unlimited Ms. Pac Man and Donkey Kong), frozen margaritas, and kid-friendly bar food that feels like a mash-up of gourmet regional cuisine and the deep-fried-everything booth at the state fair.