The Oregonian
Update: See our 2017 guide to downtown Portland's best restaurants.
Not that long ago, downtown Portland's restaurant scene seemed stagnant, with Broadway's dining palaces in decline and all the excitement centered on the east side. Five years ago, starting with Little Bird Bistro and continuing with Imperial, that reputation started to shift.
Now, chef Vitaly Paley (Paley's Place, Imperial) is fanning the west side flames even further with his upcoming Headwaters, which looks to bring superior seafood to the old Heathman Restaurant space. Read on to find out favorite downtown Portland restaurants -- plus a few top picks from the neighboring Pearl District -- ranked as they appear in this year's Restaurant Guide.
-- Michael Russell
Stephanie Yao Long | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 17: Veritable Quandary
When this 45-year-old restaurant closes in the fall to make way for a new courthouse, many of the VQ's employees will find their way to a new venture, Q Restaurant.
1220 S.W. First Ave.
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 16: Masu
This decade-old sushi parlor remains one of Portland’s better Japanese restaurants, with on-point nigiri and surprisingly good ramen.
406 S.W. 13th Ave.
Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 15: Mucca Osteria
Italian chef Simone Savaiano serves a leaning-tower caprese salad, credit-card-thin discs of lamb carpaccio and other inspired dishes at this downtown restaurant.
1022 S.W. Morrison St.
Jamie Francis
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 14: Departure
Departure is known for its Miami vibe, Asian-influenced small plates and as home to Gregory Gourdet, runner up on Season 12 of “Top Chef.”
525 S.W. Morrison St.
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 13: Bamboo Sushi
With four Portland locations, Bamboo serves fish that’s a cut above the rest. Order a chirashi bowl at the bar, or bring a date and order a nigiri flight at one of the downtown location's breezy tables.
404 S.W. 12th Ave.
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 12: Kenny & Zuke's
The quintessential Jewish deli of the Northwest, with outstanding bagels, pastrami, latkes, cheese blintzes and challah French toast.
1038 S.W. Stark St.
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 11: Pine Street Market
This upscale food court boasts new kiosks from some of Portland's top chefs, including New York-style pizza from baker Ken Forkish, cold brew from Barista and soft serve from Salt & Straw.
126 S.W. 2nd Ave.
Sam Caravana
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 10: Yama Sushi
Don’t let the flaming, foil-wrapped rolls fool you: This is a serious sushi spot. For raw fish aficionados, Yama’s omakase (chef’s choice tasting) is not to be missed.
926 N.W. 10th Ave.
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 9: Irving Street Kitchen
This swank Pearl District restaurant features good cocktails and wines on tap, plus a Southern-focused menu courtesy of chef Sarah Schafer.
701 N.W. 13th Ave.
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 8: Maurice
This tirelessly charming cafe is devoted to fika, the Swedish version of the coffee break, while offering some of Portland’s most successful desserts.
921 S.W. Oak St.
Stephanie Yao Long, The Oregonian
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 7: Mediterranean Exploration Company
This underrated Pearl District restaurant focuses on the diverse cuisine of Israel and the greater eastern Mediterranean. Don't miss the phyllo pie, seared mackerel or lamb chops.
333 N.W. 13th Ave.
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 6: Raven & Rose
This spare-no-expenses restaurant in the historic Ladd Carriage House has a British-inspired menu and some of the city's best cocktails.
1331 S.W. Broadway
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 5: Higgins
Higgins, where local power-brokers meet and greet, follows a super-seasonal approach and serves one of Portland’s best charcuterie boards in the beer-savvy bar.
1239 S.W. Broadway
Stephanie Yao Long | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 4: Park Kitchen
Park Kitchen serves creative, Northwest-inspired fare from a compact dining room in the North Park Blocks.
422 N.W. Eighth Ave.
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 3: Imperial
Vitaly Paley's second venture proves a hotel restaurant can have passion, pop and personality without being attached to an Ace. Try chef Doug Adams' fried chicken before he takes off for a project of his own.
410 S.W. Broadway
Stephanie Yao Long
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 2: Clyde Common
Clyde Common offers a deliciously esoteric menu filled with uncommon ingredients and a few intriguing Filipino touches from chef Carlo Lamagna.
1014 S.W. Stark St.
The Oregonian/file
Downtown Portland's best restaurants
No. 1: Little Bird Bistro
This charming all-day bistro looks like a Parisian train station restaurant transported to downtown Portland, only with better food. Don't miss the fried chicken coq au vin the hanger steak au poivre or excellent early-late happy hours.
219 S.W. Sixth Ave.
Stephanie Yao Long | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Read more
Check out our guides to the city's best patios, ramen shops, after-hours eats and our ranked roundup of Portland's 101 best restaurants.
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