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A white plate comes covered in tuna and salmon nigiri, scallop and yellowtail sashimi, and a yuzu scallop roll.
Sushi takeout from Zilla Sake
Brooke Jackson-Glidden / EPDX

Where to Eat and Drink on Portland’s Alberta Street

Find the restaurants, bars, and cafes that make this neighborhood tick

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Sushi takeout from Zilla Sake
| Brooke Jackson-Glidden / EPDX

Northeast Alberta, historically, was one of Portland’s more diverse neighborhoods. Today, it looks drastically different from how it did just a few decades ago. As the “Alberta Arts District” developed, housing prices soared, changing the foundation of the neighborhood. Now, only a fraction of the Portland residents on Northeast Alberta are people of color, shrinking exponentially as the area develops. However, the neighborhood’s retail sector has fought to remain diverse, holding on to longstanding institutions like Alberta Market and creating diverse redevelopments on the corridor, like Alberta Commons as the home of Cason’s Fine Meats.

The neighborhood dining scene, then, is a multifaceted arena with an array of countries represented. The map below dives into the some of finest dining and drinking on Alberta as it stands today, from the corner store serving fried chicken and jojos to the subterranean wine bar serving dealer’s choice pours.

Note: Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Alberta Market

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Alberta Market, a longstanding corner store with the expected bags of chips and sodas in the back coolers, is a fried chicken hotspot for those in the know. At the cash register, a hot case shows off juicy, crispy-fried wings available by the scoopful, particularly tasty with a side of not-too-dry jojos.

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant

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Bole is one of Portland’s most underrated Ethiopian restaurants, thanks to its surprisingly delicate injera and gently spiced wots. Vegetarians will find a number of exceptional options here, from the nuanced spice of the miser wot to the house-made ayib cheese. Like many Ethiopian restaurants, Bole offers combinations of stews and braises over injera, likely the best way to experience the restaurant.

Bye and Bye

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Though certainly an inviting watering hole in the rainy months, spring and summer is when Bye and Bye becomes the magnetic center of the Alberta neighborhood, a good-vibes beacon to all who yearn for a cool cocktail and vegan bowl. With dueling patios — a sprawling, sunny patios and a more cozy, shady back porch — Bye and Bye ups the ante on the most beautiful days by opening its large, garage style windows to bring the patio experience indoors. Despite the popularity, the cocktails remain affordable and generously poured, and the tap list remains strong. In a town packed with vegan options, the nutritional yeast-heavy food menu offers few surprises but is a reliable, filling lunch or dinner.

Pasture PDX

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Pasture’s arrival on Alberta harkens back to the golden age of Portland’s hyper-local food movement in a way that feels wholly original and new. Chef Kei Ohdera and butcher HJ Schaible source meats and produce from ranchers and farmers based in Oregon, specifically those with a focus on regenerative agriculture. The dishes made from those ingredients, however, stand on their own as some of the city’s best: Lunches consist of sandwiches with rotating house meats, like tender pink pastrami or sumac-marinated duck with a wisp of smoke. Visitors can also take home some of the butcher shop’s meats, as well as assorted local jams and spreads.

Swiss Hibiscus

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Well into its second decade in the neighborhood, Swiss Hibiscus is easy to miss — even for longtime Alberta residents. Discreetly tucked away down 14th Avenue behind a ZoomCare is a tiny outpost of the Alps in Portland. Transplanted from the unlikely origin of Honolulu, the Hibiscus team lovingly prepare Swiss classics like emince Zurichoise, or pork in a mushroom cream sauce, and spaghettis Ticinese, Switzerland’s answer to Italy’s famous pasta dish. Other central European staples like wienerschnitzel and goulash also make appearances on the menu. Entrees come with rösti, vegan rösti, or spätzli. And of course, where better to indulge in cheesy fondue and a glass of wine on a cold Portland evening?

Tin Shed

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In the old days, Tin Shed was one of Portland’s longest lines for brunch; today, the all-week brunch spot remains a neighborhood haunt, whether it’s for bowls of macaroni and cheese or piles of scrambled eggs. Those willing to brave the morning wait should try one of the restaurant’s stacks: egg scrambles over grits or potato cakes, often smothered in mushroom gravy.

Wild Thing PDX

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Getting excited about a build-your-own bowl place can be difficult to do, but the menu at Wild Thing isn’t your average Sweetgreen situation: Instead, bowls of tri-colored quinoa arrive topped with miso-roasted turnips and cumin carrots, mixed green salads pair urfa chili sweet potato and sumac cabbage, and Never Coffee chia pudding gets a swirl of vanilla cashew ‘cream.’ Plus, the shop’s wine list is surprisingly great, thanks to owner Kelsey Glasser, who also owns Pearl District wine bar Arden.

Tacos Pa Ella

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There are several noteworthy carts in the Bantu Island Food Cart Pod, including the deeply underrated Tacos Pa Ella. Soft and lightly griddled tortillas become vehicles for piles of bright and lively salsas, veggies, and slaws, from the pineapple salsa on a fish taco to a saucy mess of onions on a marinated pastor-style pork. The stacked tortas are a good choice for someone seeking something more filling.

Les Caves & Le Clos

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Wine nerds adore this subterranean bar from the team behind two of Portland’s buzziest labels (Ovum and Golden Cluster). Don’t expect an Oregon-heavy wine list, however: Sitting on a couch perched in a literal cave carved into the wall, visitors choose glass pours of Grüner Veltliner from Austria, hard-to-find varietals from Hungary or Croatia, as well as plenty of syrah and Beaujolais. Those looking for a surprise should opt for the Winesman’s Pick, an off-menu selection from Golden Cluster’s Jeff Vejr. Those intimidated by an indoor tasting moment can go to Les Clos, the outdoor alternative to Les Caves. Reservations are recommended.

In its Alberta Street restaurant, Gumba serves expertly crafted bowls of pasta — topped with things like braised short rib or house burrata — alongside fry bread and slices of olive oil cake. Even after leaving their original cart behind, owners Robin Brassaw and Jesse Martinez have shown themselves to be two of the city’s finest chefs while retaining their sense of culinary whimsy. Gumba is open for takeout, with indoor reservations, as well.

Zilla Sake

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Chef Kate Koo still stands behind the sushi counter at this sake bar and restaurant, slicing Hokkaido scallops or lightly searing pieces of bigeye tuna, and the sushi is just as mind-boggling as it was in the Great Before. The yuzu scallop roll is creamy with the most delicate oceanic note; the wild Chinook nigiri retains that mystifying flavor of whitewater; and the yellowtail sashimi offers a bracing citrusy element that plays off the shiso it lies against. The best experience of the restaurant, however, is in its omakase, which shows off beautiful cuts of seasonal fish with fun yuzu koshos.

Proud Mary Cafe

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This Australian outpost is known for its exceptional coffee roasts and its outstanding brunch fare, often utilizing interesting fermented elements and umami-bombs. Now, Proud Mary has altered its menu to be more takeout friendly: The bagna-cauda-laden hash is available as something like a breakfast burrito, and the granola comes in bags to take home. Still, Proud Mary still supplies Portlanders with the standbys for onsite dining: ricotta hotcakes drizzled in orange syrup, French toast with sumac-poached figs, and, of course, the delicate house-roasted coffees.

GrindWitTryz

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When it opened, this Hawaiian food-cart-turned-restaurant accrued lines that rivaled 2012-era Salt & Straw, which it neighbors. There’s a good reason why: GrindWitTryz’s takeout containers, which strain to close, come filled with juicy tangles of kalua pig, craggy morsels of sweet ono chicken, and fat curls of shrimp doused in garlic butter. The specials board usually sports some cool one-offs worth an order, be it Filipino spaghetti or crispy ahi patties. Keep an eye on the restaurant’s Instagram for more info.

Bollywood Theater

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What was not long ago a fresh (to Portland) take on Indian street food is now a familiar favorite on Alberta at Bollywood Theater. Bollywood keeps the south Asian menu short and sweet, with a handful of entrees available a la carte or, even better, accompanied by an assortment of sides via thali meals. The tangy Goan pork vindaloo is a highlight for Portlander carnivores; vegetarians will delight in the rich paneer makhani and vibrant roasted beet salad. Order at the counter before nabbing a seat, or grab your spicy bounty to-go.

Maillard

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Nostrana alum Andrew Gillis opened this food cart that specializes in distinctive Portland sandwiches: candied bacon and jalapeño chevre with apple slaw, vegan cauliflower with arugula chimichurri, pork loin with provolone and roasted onions. The cart’s pastries are a must, as well, with options like panna cotta with passionfruit curd or cara cara shortbread with caramel and chocolate.

Paladin Pie

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Portland is home to countless phenomenal pizzerias, but this little cart on Alberta is no joke: A naturally leavened crust serves as the foundation for pies topped with curly Ezzo pepperonis or the genius combination of kimchi and bacon. Any pie should get a drizzle of the cart’s Calabrian chile crisp.

Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine

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This food cart pod is stacked with a number of strong carts, but when craving enchiladas blanketed in mole poblano or lengua tacos on hand-made tortillas, it’s best to head straight for Mole Mole. Mole is generally the move here, whether it’s a chicken quarter doused in pistachio-green mole verde or even a little mole-filled taco. It’s best to take your moles to the back patio at the adjacent Baerlic pod, which is encouraged by both businesses.

Bar Cala

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This millennial-pink, Palm Springs-meets-Miami cocktail bar is a fun spot to sip mezcal-spiked tepache and pisco sours, be it in the plant-filled dining room or, if the weather allows, on the scene-y patio. The food menu is full of hits as well, whether you’re craving shrimp ceviche or a burger topped with caramelized pineapple relish.

La Bonita

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The argument over which makes the better Alberta burrito, La Bonita or La Sirenita, is real. But La Bonita makes this list for its cheerful digs and well-priced burritos, especially the breakfast and chile relleno varieties. Plus, any burrito can arrive smothered in mole, which generally goes over exceptionally well.

Dar Salam

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Set in an old carriage house, the colorful Dar Salam is the place to taste Iraqi food like stuffed onion dolmas, all freshly prepared from scratch and mostly built from family recipes. The restaurant’s smoky baba ganoush is an essential order, as well as the tangy pickled mango salad and crispy falafel, molded into tiny doughnuts for maximum crunchy surface area. The restaurant is open for takeout, but the real move is to grab one of the restaurant’s charming a-frames for a dinner.

Urdaneta

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A true taste of the Basque region, Urdaneta delivers quintessential pintxo bar classics like ham croquetas and tortilla Española. However, the restaurant really shines with fun, creative versions of those dishes, like the American cheese and jamon bikini. Any meal should finish with a slice of the restaurant’s exceptional Basque cheesecake.

A small translucent bowl of orange gazpacho sitting on a wooden table next to a spoon.
Gazpacho at Urdaneta.
Nathan Williams/Eater Portland

Thơm Portland

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The menu at this Alberta Vietnamese restaurant may be tiny, but each dish on the menu is a hit: gorgeous bowls of pho, either beefy or vegan; a glazed pork vermicelli bowl with a generous serving of nước chấm; and cơm gà, hunks of tender glazed chicken over rice and vegetables. The restaurant’s market includes snacks like shrimp chips and Pocky, and the cooler is stocked with basil seed drinks. Visit for dine-in, indoors or out.

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Alberta Market

Alberta Market, a longstanding corner store with the expected bags of chips and sodas in the back coolers, is a fried chicken hotspot for those in the know. At the cash register, a hot case shows off juicy, crispy-fried wings available by the scoopful, particularly tasty with a side of not-too-dry jojos.

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant

Bole is one of Portland’s most underrated Ethiopian restaurants, thanks to its surprisingly delicate injera and gently spiced wots. Vegetarians will find a number of exceptional options here, from the nuanced spice of the miser wot to the house-made ayib cheese. Like many Ethiopian restaurants, Bole offers combinations of stews and braises over injera, likely the best way to experience the restaurant.

Bye and Bye

Though certainly an inviting watering hole in the rainy months, spring and summer is when Bye and Bye becomes the magnetic center of the Alberta neighborhood, a good-vibes beacon to all who yearn for a cool cocktail and vegan bowl. With dueling patios — a sprawling, sunny patios and a more cozy, shady back porch — Bye and Bye ups the ante on the most beautiful days by opening its large, garage style windows to bring the patio experience indoors. Despite the popularity, the cocktails remain affordable and generously poured, and the tap list remains strong. In a town packed with vegan options, the nutritional yeast-heavy food menu offers few surprises but is a reliable, filling lunch or dinner.

Pasture PDX

Pasture’s arrival on Alberta harkens back to the golden age of Portland’s hyper-local food movement in a way that feels wholly original and new. Chef Kei Ohdera and butcher HJ Schaible source meats and produce from ranchers and farmers based in Oregon, specifically those with a focus on regenerative agriculture. The dishes made from those ingredients, however, stand on their own as some of the city’s best: Lunches consist of sandwiches with rotating house meats, like tender pink pastrami or sumac-marinated duck with a wisp of smoke. Visitors can also take home some of the butcher shop’s meats, as well as assorted local jams and spreads.

Swiss Hibiscus

Well into its second decade in the neighborhood, Swiss Hibiscus is easy to miss — even for longtime Alberta residents. Discreetly tucked away down 14th Avenue behind a ZoomCare is a tiny outpost of the Alps in Portland. Transplanted from the unlikely origin of Honolulu, the Hibiscus team lovingly prepare Swiss classics like emince Zurichoise, or pork in a mushroom cream sauce, and spaghettis Ticinese, Switzerland’s answer to Italy’s famous pasta dish. Other central European staples like wienerschnitzel and goulash also make appearances on the menu. Entrees come with rösti, vegan rösti, or spätzli. And of course, where better to indulge in cheesy fondue and a glass of wine on a cold Portland evening?

Tin Shed

In the old days, Tin Shed was one of Portland’s longest lines for brunch; today, the all-week brunch spot remains a neighborhood haunt, whether it’s for bowls of macaroni and cheese or piles of scrambled eggs. Those willing to brave the morning wait should try one of the restaurant’s stacks: egg scrambles over grits or potato cakes, often smothered in mushroom gravy.

Wild Thing PDX

Getting excited about a build-your-own bowl place can be difficult to do, but the menu at Wild Thing isn’t your average Sweetgreen situation: Instead, bowls of tri-colored quinoa arrive topped with miso-roasted turnips and cumin carrots, mixed green salads pair urfa chili sweet potato and sumac cabbage, and Never Coffee chia pudding gets a swirl of vanilla cashew ‘cream.’ Plus, the shop’s wine list is surprisingly great, thanks to owner Kelsey Glasser, who also owns Pearl District wine bar Arden.

Tacos Pa Ella

There are several noteworthy carts in the Bantu Island Food Cart Pod, including the deeply underrated Tacos Pa Ella. Soft and lightly griddled tortillas become vehicles for piles of bright and lively salsas, veggies, and slaws, from the pineapple salsa on a fish taco to a saucy mess of onions on a marinated pastor-style pork. The stacked tortas are a good choice for someone seeking something more filling.

Les Caves & Le Clos

Wine nerds adore this subterranean bar from the team behind two of Portland’s buzziest labels (Ovum and Golden Cluster). Don’t expect an Oregon-heavy wine list, however: Sitting on a couch perched in a literal cave carved into the wall, visitors choose glass pours of Grüner Veltliner from Austria, hard-to-find varietals from Hungary or Croatia, as well as plenty of syrah and Beaujolais. Those looking for a surprise should opt for the Winesman’s Pick, an off-menu selection from Golden Cluster’s Jeff Vejr. Those intimidated by an indoor tasting moment can go to Les Clos, the outdoor alternative to Les Caves. Reservations are recommended.

Gumba

In its Alberta Street restaurant, Gumba serves expertly crafted bowls of pasta — topped with things like braised short rib or house burrata — alongside fry bread and slices of olive oil cake. Even after leaving their original cart behind, owners Robin Brassaw and Jesse Martinez have shown themselves to be two of the city’s finest chefs while retaining their sense of culinary whimsy. Gumba is open for takeout, with indoor reservations, as well.

Zilla Sake

Chef Kate Koo still stands behind the sushi counter at this sake bar and restaurant, slicing Hokkaido scallops or lightly searing pieces of bigeye tuna, and the sushi is just as mind-boggling as it was in the Great Before. The yuzu scallop roll is creamy with the most delicate oceanic note; the wild Chinook nigiri retains that mystifying flavor of whitewater; and the yellowtail sashimi offers a bracing citrusy element that plays off the shiso it lies against. The best experience of the restaurant, however, is in its omakase, which shows off beautiful cuts of seasonal fish with fun yuzu koshos.

Proud Mary Cafe

This Australian outpost is known for its exceptional coffee roasts and its outstanding brunch fare, often utilizing interesting fermented elements and umami-bombs. Now, Proud Mary has altered its menu to be more takeout friendly: The bagna-cauda-laden hash is available as something like a breakfast burrito, and the granola comes in bags to take home. Still, Proud Mary still supplies Portlanders with the standbys for onsite dining: ricotta hotcakes drizzled in orange syrup, French toast with sumac-poached figs, and, of course, the delicate house-roasted coffees.

GrindWitTryz

When it opened, this Hawaiian food-cart-turned-restaurant accrued lines that rivaled 2012-era Salt & Straw, which it neighbors. There’s a good reason why: GrindWitTryz’s takeout containers, which strain to close, come filled with juicy tangles of kalua pig, craggy morsels of sweet ono chicken, and fat curls of shrimp doused in garlic butter. The specials board usually sports some cool one-offs worth an order, be it Filipino spaghetti or crispy ahi patties. Keep an eye on the restaurant’s Instagram for more info.

Bollywood Theater

What was not long ago a fresh (to Portland) take on Indian street food is now a familiar favorite on Alberta at Bollywood Theater. Bollywood keeps the south Asian menu short and sweet, with a handful of entrees available a la carte or, even better, accompanied by an assortment of sides via thali meals. The tangy Goan pork vindaloo is a highlight for Portlander carnivores; vegetarians will delight in the rich paneer makhani and vibrant roasted beet salad. Order at the counter before nabbing a seat, or grab your spicy bounty to-go.

Maillard

Nostrana alum Andrew Gillis opened this food cart that specializes in distinctive Portland sandwiches: candied bacon and jalapeño chevre with apple slaw, vegan cauliflower with arugula chimichurri, pork loin with provolone and roasted onions. The cart’s pastries are a must, as well, with options like panna cotta with passionfruit curd or cara cara shortbread with caramel and chocolate.

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Paladin Pie

Portland is home to countless phenomenal pizzerias, but this little cart on Alberta is no joke: A naturally leavened crust serves as the foundation for pies topped with curly Ezzo pepperonis or the genius combination of kimchi and bacon. Any pie should get a drizzle of the cart’s Calabrian chile crisp.

Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine

This food cart pod is stacked with a number of strong carts, but when craving enchiladas blanketed in mole poblano or lengua tacos on hand-made tortillas, it’s best to head straight for Mole Mole. Mole is generally the move here, whether it’s a chicken quarter doused in pistachio-green mole verde or even a little mole-filled taco. It’s best to take your moles to the back patio at the adjacent Baerlic pod, which is encouraged by both businesses.

Bar Cala

This millennial-pink, Palm Springs-meets-Miami cocktail bar is a fun spot to sip mezcal-spiked tepache and pisco sours, be it in the plant-filled dining room or, if the weather allows, on the scene-y patio. The food menu is full of hits as well, whether you’re craving shrimp ceviche or a burger topped with caramelized pineapple relish.

La Bonita

The argument over which makes the better Alberta burrito, La Bonita or La Sirenita, is real. But La Bonita makes this list for its cheerful digs and well-priced burritos, especially the breakfast and chile relleno varieties. Plus, any burrito can arrive smothered in mole, which generally goes over exceptionally well.

Dar Salam

Set in an old carriage house, the colorful Dar Salam is the place to taste Iraqi food like stuffed onion dolmas, all freshly prepared from scratch and mostly built from family recipes. The restaurant’s smoky baba ganoush is an essential order, as well as the tangy pickled mango salad and crispy falafel, molded into tiny doughnuts for maximum crunchy surface area. The restaurant is open for takeout, but the real move is to grab one of the restaurant’s charming a-frames for a dinner.

Urdaneta

A true taste of the Basque region, Urdaneta delivers quintessential pintxo bar classics like ham croquetas and tortilla Española. However, the restaurant really shines with fun, creative versions of those dishes, like the American cheese and jamon bikini. Any meal should finish with a slice of the restaurant’s exceptional Basque cheesecake.

A small translucent bowl of orange gazpacho sitting on a wooden table next to a spoon.
Gazpacho at Urdaneta.
Nathan Williams/Eater Portland

Thơm Portland

The menu at this Alberta Vietnamese restaurant may be tiny, but each dish on the menu is a hit: gorgeous bowls of pho, either beefy or vegan; a glazed pork vermicelli bowl with a generous serving of nước chấm; and cơm gà, hunks of tender glazed chicken over rice and vegetables. The restaurant’s market includes snacks like shrimp chips and Pocky, and the cooler is stocked with basil seed drinks. Visit for dine-in, indoors or out.

Related Maps