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A clamshell of som tum, Chinese-takeout-style container of fried rice, and small circular takeout container of curry all sit on a marble counter, with a bottle of hand sanitizer tipped on its side.
Eem takeout
Eem [Official Photo]

Where to Have a Solo Picnic in Portland

From post-hike burritos to parkside charcuterie, here’s where to eat alone in the great outdoors

by Brooke Jackson-Glidden
View as Map
Eem takeout
| Eem [Official Photo]
by Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Portland is known for two things: food and natural spaces. Massive Forest Park stretches along the city’s west side, blocks away from some of its best restaurants. Locals punctuate hikes with trips to food carts, tackling a few tacos after summiting one of the city’s many buttes. Some slide sandwiches stacked with house charcuterie into backpacks to take to a well-placed bench in one of the city’s many parks. Now, as many Portlanders feel uneasy dining indoors, restaurants have become masters in the art of picnic construction, packaging bo ssam or green papaya salad in well-sealed takeout containers for trips to river beaches or flower gardens. These to-go options are especially great for solo diners, who can forget the potential stigma of dining out and enjoy the tranquility of the great outdoors with a meal for one. Below, find an array of Portland restaurants, cafes, and bars worth visiting, and where to head with their takeout for a last-of-the-season picnic.

A number of Portland restaurants have resumed dine-in service. The level of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns. For updated information on coronavirus cases in this area, please visit the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID update page. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.


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Gracie’s Apizza

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This St. Johns pizzeria tops a tangy, chewy, wild-fermented crust with house-made mozzarella and ricotta, Pacific Northwestern vegetables, and spicy chorizo. But for prime picnicking, the move is to get the restaurant’s killer calzone, filled with four cheeses, green olives, Mama Lil’s pickled peppers, and a heavy dose of herbs. Eat it with your hands at the waterside Cathedral Park, a 10-minute walk from the restaurant. Gracie’s is open for takeout, but customers can also eat pies in the outdoor dining area in front of the restaurant.

8737 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(971) 512-0007
(971) 512-0007

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Fish & Rice

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Fish & Rice is a Northwest Portland gem, with inexpensive rolls of top-notch sushi right at the edge of Portland’s sprawling Forest Park. Fish & Rice’s not-quite-poke bowls, raw fish tossed with things like basil oil or mango, are best enjoyed in Portland’s International Rose Test Garden, a five-minute drive from the restaurant. Hot tip: Cooler backpacks full of ice help even sushi survive a quick hike on Forest Park’s Wildwood Trail. Fish & Rice is open for takeout and delivery.

2332 NW Westover Rd, Portland, OR 97210
(503) 954-1270
(503) 954-1270
View this post on Instagram

A great to-go sushi situation

A post shared by seiji (@seijisama) on

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St. Barbra Pinoy Bakery

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This Filipino bakery is tiny enough to miss without a second look, but inside is an array of airy ensaymadas, pan de ube, and savory Filipino-style empanadas. The bakery is a quick two-minute drive from the entrance to Marquam Nature Park for those who want to pack in a post-hike picnic, or just a six-minute walk from the Duniway Park Lilac Garden. St. Barbara is open for takeout.

2311 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
(503) 444-7170
(503) 444-7170

Also featured in:

Cooperativa

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This new Italian market is a great choice for those looking for a traditional meat-and-cheese picnic with a few upgrades. Stock a tote bag with Tails & Trotters cured meats, imported tinned fish, Italian cheeses, and pizza bianca to swipe through house-made pesto. Those who want something more constructed can carry out a panini loaded with mortadella or prosciutto. Cooperativa sits just a few blocks from Fields Park, with bridge and river views. Cooperativa is open for takeout, with online ordering available.

1250 NW 9th Ave Suite 100, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 342-7416
(503) 342-7416

Also featured in:

Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine

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One of Portland’s best Jamaican restaurants, Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine is a neighborhood favorite for its tender, sweet-spiced oxtails and jerk chicken. Both would be great for a picnic with a view of the rose gardens at Peninsula Park. For a less-messy alternative, a bag of festivals, or fried dumplings — hazelnut brown on the outside and fluffy on the inside — never disappoints. Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine is open for takeout and delivery.

441 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 289-1423
(503) 289-1423
View this post on Instagram

I’d like to introduce you to Kacean of @jamaicanhomestyle. She’s a single mother extraordinaire and she doesn’t take her restaurant name lightly. It truly is, Jamaican Homestyle. I watched them hand prep each item, nothing frozen but fresh and fragrant. I got time warped back to my Grandmas kitchen, where everyone was “all hands on deck.” Her eldest son was helping, her youngest son was providing entertainment from the bar seat. The banter between her chef made them seem as close as family. . . Every dish here is made with love, as if she invited you over to her house. A house of crazy deep flavors, juicy meats, and spice filled dishes. . . If you haven’t tried Jamaican food, it is a must. If you haven’t tried Jamaican Homestyle, it is a must! She is open for takeout and believe me, I cannot wait to go when the grill is fired up for some of her jerk chicken. . . If you’re a business or hosting an event, please consider her for your catering needs! This food only gets better with time, as it sits there the flavors continue to develop into tastebud fireworks. Though let’s be honest, this food never sits around for long. . . If you’ve had it, share the love and us know how much you enjoyed it in the comments, on her page @jamaicanhomestyle and/or in a review! . . We all have our own ways to give back and to support our communities. This is one of mine. I’d like to pass this idea along to any other photographers who have the capacity to help Black owned businesses around their area. Provide images or video that can be used as a tool for their success, free of charge. . . Thank you, Kacean, for the gracious amount of food you sent me home with for my family. We loved every single dish and cannot wait to try your charcoal grilled jerk chicken and ox tail!

A post shared by Michelle Pearl Gee (@michellepearl) on

Also featured in:

Eem - Thai BBQ & Cocktails

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Portland’s hot spot for Thai barbecue, Eem, has a quick-and-easy window for to-go orders of white curry with brisket burnt ends. But for a takeout picnic, the restaurant’s tangy-spicy papaya salad, deeply smoky barbecue fried rice, and sweet-and-sour fried chicken will easily survive the trip to nearby Unthank Park. Those willing to walk a bit can find a picturesque spot a mile away at Irving Park. Eem is open for takeout, delivery, and covered, heated outdoor dining.

3808 N Williams Ave st 127, Portland, OR 97227
(971) 295-1645
(971) 295-1645

Also featured in:

Campana

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A neighborhood standby tucked into Portland’s Woodlawn neighborhood, Campana became a breakout hit for its casual, affordable handmade pastas. While the restaurant is still serving customers outdoors, its takeout menu includes all of its winners, including the otherworldly risotto, bright green with ramp butter. Plus, Campana is perched right on the edge of Woodlawn Park, an easy spot for a pasta picnic. Campana is open for takeout and delivery.

901 NE Oneonta St, Portland, OR 97211
(503) 841-6195
(503) 841-6195

Also featured in:

Wei Wei - A Taste Of Taiwan

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A cheery Taiwanese cafe in the heart of the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood, Wei Wei has attracted loyal devotees for years with bowls of steamy beef noodle soup. But for picnicking purposes, a few orders of bao, folded over slabs of saucy braised beef or pork belly, will do the trick. Cold noodle salad, colorful with julienned veggies, also travels well. Wei Wei is a mere three blocks from the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, with plenty of park benches and spots for a well-placed blanket. Wei Wei is open for dine-in and takeout.

7835 SE 13th Ave #102, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 946-1732
(503) 946-1732

Also featured in:

Reel M Inn

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One of Portland’s quintessential dive bars, Reel M Inn has developed national fame for its simple and juicy fried chicken with crackly skin. The bar still serves its chicken and jojos — potato wedges — to-go, hot from the single fryer, as well as other fried delicacies like pickle chips and jalapeno poppers. Reel M Inn chicken is best eaten hot while strolling down Portland’s famous Division Street; there are benches for people-watching, too. Reel M Inn is open for takeout and onsite dining, in the bar and on the sidewalk picnic tables.

2430 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 231-3880
(503) 231-3880

Also featured in:

Laurelhurst Market

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One of Portland’s most celebrated steakhouses and butchers also happens to be steps away from dazzling Laurelhurst Park. Lunchtime sandwiches come stacked with house-smoked bacon or zucchini pickles, with meats sourced from Oregon ranchers. Those with serious appetites should add a charcuterie board to go. Laurelhurst Market is open for takeout and dining both indoors and on its patio.

3155 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 206-3097
(503) 206-3097

Also featured in:

Panaderia Mexicana Cinco de Mayo

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This unassuming mercado houses a knockout panaderia and taco counter toward the back, with deeply savory cabeza and tangy-spicy pastor tacos in soft, thick tortillas. Cinco de Mayo’s tres leches cake is a worthy dessert, especially when eaten in a secluded spot within the rugged and picturesque Tideman Johnson City Park. Panaderia Cinco de Mayo is open for takeout.

8416 SE 32nd Ave, Portland, OR 97222

Also featured in:

Birrieria PDX

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This new Centennial food cart specializes in various forms of long-simmered birria de res, from tacos to cheesy quesabirria to steamy bowls of birria en caldo. There are plenty of picnic tables on-site, or pack up one of the cart’s birria burritos, wrapped in a crispy layer of fried cheese, and take it to the sunny fields on top of Powell Butte. It’s hard to beat a burrito with a view. Birrieria PDX is open for takeout; however, there are a few picnic tables onsite for those who can’t wait.

16544 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97236
(971) 336-6804
(971) 336-6804

Also featured in:

Sugarpine Drive-In

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Vacationers and outdoor enthusiasts driving into the Columbia River Gorge often stop at this small snack stand, which serves dauntingly tall soft serve cones and gorgeous salads dotted with pickled or roasted seasonal vegetables. The stand is steps away from the beaches of the Sandy River, though hikers may prefer to pack a few smoked chicken sandwiches for a trip to Angel’s Rest. Sugarpine is open for takeout, with some picnic tables nearby.

1208 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 665-6558
(503) 665-6558

Also featured in:

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Gracie’s Apizza

8737 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203

This St. Johns pizzeria tops a tangy, chewy, wild-fermented crust with house-made mozzarella and ricotta, Pacific Northwestern vegetables, and spicy chorizo. But for prime picnicking, the move is to get the restaurant’s killer calzone, filled with four cheeses, green olives, Mama Lil’s pickled peppers, and a heavy dose of herbs. Eat it with your hands at the waterside Cathedral Park, a 10-minute walk from the restaurant. Gracie’s is open for takeout, but customers can also eat pies in the outdoor dining area in front of the restaurant.

8737 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(971) 512-0007
(971) 512-0007

Fish & Rice

2332 NW Westover Rd, Portland, OR 97210

Fish & Rice is a Northwest Portland gem, with inexpensive rolls of top-notch sushi right at the edge of Portland’s sprawling Forest Park. Fish & Rice’s not-quite-poke bowls, raw fish tossed with things like basil oil or mango, are best enjoyed in Portland’s International Rose Test Garden, a five-minute drive from the restaurant. Hot tip: Cooler backpacks full of ice help even sushi survive a quick hike on Forest Park’s Wildwood Trail. Fish & Rice is open for takeout and delivery.

2332 NW Westover Rd, Portland, OR 97210
(503) 954-1270
(503) 954-1270
View this post on Instagram

A great to-go sushi situation

A post shared by seiji (@seijisama) on

St. Barbra Pinoy Bakery

2311 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97201

This Filipino bakery is tiny enough to miss without a second look, but inside is an array of airy ensaymadas, pan de ube, and savory Filipino-style empanadas. The bakery is a quick two-minute drive from the entrance to Marquam Nature Park for those who want to pack in a post-hike picnic, or just a six-minute walk from the Duniway Park Lilac Garden. St. Barbara is open for takeout.

2311 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
(503) 444-7170
(503) 444-7170

Cooperativa

1250 NW 9th Ave Suite 100, Portland, OR 97209

This new Italian market is a great choice for those looking for a traditional meat-and-cheese picnic with a few upgrades. Stock a tote bag with Tails & Trotters cured meats, imported tinned fish, Italian cheeses, and pizza bianca to swipe through house-made pesto. Those who want something more constructed can carry out a panini loaded with mortadella or prosciutto. Cooperativa sits just a few blocks from Fields Park, with bridge and river views. Cooperativa is open for takeout, with online ordering available.

1250 NW 9th Ave Suite 100, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 342-7416
(503) 342-7416

Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine

441 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217

One of Portland’s best Jamaican restaurants, Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine is a neighborhood favorite for its tender, sweet-spiced oxtails and jerk chicken. Both would be great for a picnic with a view of the rose gardens at Peninsula Park. For a less-messy alternative, a bag of festivals, or fried dumplings — hazelnut brown on the outside and fluffy on the inside — never disappoints. Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine is open for takeout and delivery.

441 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 289-1423
(503) 289-1423
View this post on Instagram

I’d like to introduce you to Kacean of @jamaicanhomestyle. She’s a single mother extraordinaire and she doesn’t take her restaurant name lightly. It truly is, Jamaican Homestyle. I watched them hand prep each item, nothing frozen but fresh and fragrant. I got time warped back to my Grandmas kitchen, where everyone was “all hands on deck.” Her eldest son was helping, her youngest son was providing entertainment from the bar seat. The banter between her chef made them seem as close as family. . . Every dish here is made with love, as if she invited you over to her house. A house of crazy deep flavors, juicy meats, and spice filled dishes. . . If you haven’t tried Jamaican food, it is a must. If you haven’t tried Jamaican Homestyle, it is a must! She is open for takeout and believe me, I cannot wait to go when the grill is fired up for some of her jerk chicken. . . If you’re a business or hosting an event, please consider her for your catering needs! This food only gets better with time, as it sits there the flavors continue to develop into tastebud fireworks. Though let’s be honest, this food never sits around for long. . . If you’ve had it, share the love and us know how much you enjoyed it in the comments, on her page @jamaicanhomestyle and/or in a review! . . We all have our own ways to give back and to support our communities. This is one of mine. I’d like to pass this idea along to any other photographers who have the capacity to help Black owned businesses around their area. Provide images or video that can be used as a tool for their success, free of charge. . . Thank you, Kacean, for the gracious amount of food you sent me home with for my family. We loved every single dish and cannot wait to try your charcoal grilled jerk chicken and ox tail!

A post shared by Michelle Pearl Gee (@michellepearl) on

Eem - Thai BBQ & Cocktails

3808 N Williams Ave st 127, Portland, OR 97227

Portland’s hot spot for Thai barbecue, Eem, has a quick-and-easy window for to-go orders of white curry with brisket burnt ends. But for a takeout picnic, the restaurant’s tangy-spicy papaya salad, deeply smoky barbecue fried rice, and sweet-and-sour fried chicken will easily survive the trip to nearby Unthank Park. Those willing to walk a bit can find a picturesque spot a mile away at Irving Park. Eem is open for takeout, delivery, and covered, heated outdoor dining.

3808 N Williams Ave st 127, Portland, OR 97227
(971) 295-1645
(971) 295-1645

Campana

901 NE Oneonta St, Portland, OR 97211

A neighborhood standby tucked into Portland’s Woodlawn neighborhood, Campana became a breakout hit for its casual, affordable handmade pastas. While the restaurant is still serving customers outdoors, its takeout menu includes all of its winners, including the otherworldly risotto, bright green with ramp butter. Plus, Campana is perched right on the edge of Woodlawn Park, an easy spot for a pasta picnic. Campana is open for takeout and delivery.

901 NE Oneonta St, Portland, OR 97211
(503) 841-6195
(503) 841-6195

Wei Wei - A Taste Of Taiwan

7835 SE 13th Ave #102, Portland, OR 97202

A cheery Taiwanese cafe in the heart of the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood, Wei Wei has attracted loyal devotees for years with bowls of steamy beef noodle soup. But for picnicking purposes, a few orders of bao, folded over slabs of saucy braised beef or pork belly, will do the trick. Cold noodle salad, colorful with julienned veggies, also travels well. Wei Wei is a mere three blocks from the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, with plenty of park benches and spots for a well-placed blanket. Wei Wei is open for dine-in and takeout.

7835 SE 13th Ave #102, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 946-1732
(503) 946-1732

Reel M Inn

2430 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

One of Portland’s quintessential dive bars, Reel M Inn has developed national fame for its simple and juicy fried chicken with crackly skin. The bar still serves its chicken and jojos — potato wedges — to-go, hot from the single fryer, as well as other fried delicacies like pickle chips and jalapeno poppers. Reel M Inn chicken is best eaten hot while strolling down Portland’s famous Division Street; there are benches for people-watching, too. Reel M Inn is open for takeout and onsite dining, in the bar and on the sidewalk picnic tables.

2430 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 231-3880
(503) 231-3880

Laurelhurst Market

3155 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214

One of Portland’s most celebrated steakhouses and butchers also happens to be steps away from dazzling Laurelhurst Park. Lunchtime sandwiches come stacked with house-smoked bacon or zucchini pickles, with meats sourced from Oregon ranchers. Those with serious appetites should add a charcuterie board to go. Laurelhurst Market is open for takeout and dining both indoors and on its patio.

3155 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 206-3097
(503) 206-3097

Panaderia Mexicana Cinco de Mayo

8416 SE 32nd Ave, Portland, OR 97222

This unassuming mercado houses a knockout panaderia and taco counter toward the back, with deeply savory cabeza and tangy-spicy pastor tacos in soft, thick tortillas. Cinco de Mayo’s tres leches cake is a worthy dessert, especially when eaten in a secluded spot within the rugged and picturesque Tideman Johnson City Park. Panaderia Cinco de Mayo is open for takeout.

8416 SE 32nd Ave, Portland, OR 97222

Birrieria PDX

16544 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97236

This new Centennial food cart specializes in various forms of long-simmered birria de res, from tacos to cheesy quesabirria to steamy bowls of birria en caldo. There are plenty of picnic tables on-site, or pack up one of the cart’s birria burritos, wrapped in a crispy layer of fried cheese, and take it to the sunny fields on top of Powell Butte. It’s hard to beat a burrito with a view. Birrieria PDX is open for takeout; however, there are a few picnic tables onsite for those who can’t wait.

16544 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97236
(971) 336-6804
(971) 336-6804

Sugarpine Drive-In

1208 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060

Vacationers and outdoor enthusiasts driving into the Columbia River Gorge often stop at this small snack stand, which serves dauntingly tall soft serve cones and gorgeous salads dotted with pickled or roasted seasonal vegetables. The stand is steps away from the beaches of the Sandy River, though hikers may prefer to pack a few smoked chicken sandwiches for a trip to Angel’s Rest. Sugarpine is open for takeout, with some picnic tables nearby.

1208 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 665-6558
(503) 665-6558

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