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A close-up of a pizza covered in mashed potatoes and thinly sliced potato, with a nettle pesto.
A potato pie from Lovely’s Fifty Fifty.
Brooke Jackson-Glidden/Eater Portland

A Handy Dining Guide to North Mississippi Avenue

See where to eat and drink in the popular Portland neighborhood

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A potato pie from Lovely’s Fifty Fifty.
| Brooke Jackson-Glidden/Eater Portland

In a neighborhood that's changed rapidly in the last few years and has become home to many of Portland's young and restless, the stretch of Mississippi Avenue between North Skidmore and North Fremont offers a wealth of bars, restaurants, and food carts. Crowded in among hip vintage stores, upscale boutiques, and fancy garden shops, you're equally likely to find a killer meal in a converted Craftsman house, a garage-fronted unit, or on the ground floor of a shiny new condo building.

In the last year, Mississippi has lost some of its greatest hits and haunts: Liberty Glass was one of the first bars to announce a permanent closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, vegans mourned the loss of No Bones Beach Club, and the eclectic Quaintrelle moved to Southeast. However, you can still pass a whole day pleasantly perusing Mississippi’s shops; when you're trying to decide what to eat, these recommendations will have you covered at any time of day. Something to note: This map doesn’t include nearby Albina Avenue, home to noteworthy spots like Sweedeedee and Kabba’s Kitchen. Stick to the main drag or venture further out into the neighborhood.

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. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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Prost Marketplace

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Prost’s food cart pod is arguably one of the best in the city. It’s home to some of the city’s finest barbecue (Matt’s BBQ), burgers (Burger Stevens), and Indian food (Desi PDX), as well as beloved Portland chains like Korean-Mexican spot Koi Fusion and breakfast sandwich brand Fried Egg I’m in Love. When it comes to beverages, the cocktail cart Bloodbuzz supplies the pod with cocktails, while nearby taproom Prost handles the beer.

The Rambler

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The Rambler, a ’20s-bungalow-turned-bar known for its patio seating, has the feel of a great neighborhood watering hole: The bartenders are warm and casual, the happy hour is a deal, and on a warm night, the various outdoor tables are filled with 20-and-30somethings in denim, drinking pints and housing swirly seasoned “tornado potatoes.” Outdoor seating is easy year-round here, with plenty of fire pits.

Interurban

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Even before patios began popping up across the city as a survival mechanism, Interurban’s covered back patio was particularly nice spot for whiskey on a cool evening; inside, the bar has a rustic, wood-paneled charm to it, reminiscent of an Eastern Oregon saloon. Visitors sip bourbon cocktails and dark spirits before knocking back oysters, snacking on seven-layer dip, and inhaling a masa-dredged Olympia Provisions corn dog. For a fun fall dessert, try the pumpkin bread pudding with Laphroaig caramel.

Lovely's Fifty Fifty

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This well-loved dinner spot focuses on wood-fired pizzas and creamy homemade ice creams with flavors like lemon agrumato and malted milk ball. Sarah Minnick’s pizzas, using Oregon whole-grain dough and seasonal produce, are trailblazing when it comes to the development of a Portland-style pizza; since Minnick’s appearance on Chef’s Table, lines at Lovely’s can get long, so it’s best to show up a few minutes before 5 p.m. on weekends. Do not miss the restaurant’s appetizers, soups, and salads, which often show off some of the best produce available in the state.

Tartuca

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This intimate-yet-casual, mid-week-date-night spot feels as if it’s been in the neighborhood forever, despite its relatively brief tenure on Mississippi. Couples toast barrel-aged Negronis and Sazeracs before nibbling at plates of house-baked focaccia and beef tartare with capers and Calabrian chile, maybe even some burrata with seeded crackers. With the choice between pizza or pasta, pasta reigns supreme here, whether it’s bucatini with lobster mushrooms or classic spaghetti and meatballs.

Bar Bar

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A pre-show burger and beer at Bar Bar is a longstanding tradition when visiting the adjacent venue Mississippi Studios. It is, after all, a fantastic patio: Movies play, projected on the wall, while musicians and fans sit at picnic tables, dip fries in ketchup, and nurse IPAs. The bar’s burger is a classic, but it’s well matched by its fried pickles and toasted ravioli.

Mee-Sen Thai Eatery

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For what looks like a simple neighborhood Thai restaurant, Mee-Sen is truly punching above its weight. Its selection of Thai noodle soups is one of the widest in the city, from the tangy and porky mhoo tom yum to the lightly sweet and seafood-packed yen ta fo; every soup comes with a choice of noodle. Cocktails here are also fun, with drinks like lychee gimlets and tamarind bourbon sours.

Stem Wine Bar PDX

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Wei-En Tan opened her Mississippi wine bar Stem at an incredibly challenging time: the beginning of 2020. Nonetheless, Stem has become a destination for Willamette Valley wines, wines made by women, and take-home tasting flights. On the patio, customers swirl glasses of rosé while live musicians play on the stones outside; the shop also offers private tastings, for those interested, as well as same-day delivery of wine.

Broder Nord

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A Portland institution, Broder somewhat recently moved its North Portland location to Mississippi Avenue, which means weekend brunchers can pop in for eggs and creamed spinach under a gravel of pecorino and breadcrumbs or fluffy ebelskiver, also known as Danish pancakes. Lunches consist of open-faced sandwiches with gravlax, Swedish meatballs, and lamb burgers, well complemented by a cup of tea or toddy.

Kate's Ice Cream

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Easily the city’s finest dairy-free and gluten-free ice cream, Kate’s coconut-based flavors include things like rosewater cardamom almond, salted peanut butter brittle, and marionberry cobbler, scooped into oat flour waffle cones or over warm brownies at this pastel scoop shop. Seasonal flavors are often worth a perusal, whether it’s a summery Oregon strawberry or a fall-appropriate caramel apple crisp.

Stormbreaker Brewing

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For those seeking a spot to sip beer on a patio, there are countless options along Mississippi that deliver the goods. However, Stormbreaker is actually brewing its beer onsite, with an array of IPAs ranging from the lightly citrusy to the 10-hop heavyweights. It’s not only an IPA shop, of course: Stormbreaker plays around with things like saisons, barley wines, and stouts, as well.

¿Por qué no?

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A sustainably-oriented tiny taqueria, Por Que No is filled to the brim with festive decorations, Day of the Dead wall hangings, and our Lady of Guadalupe iconography. The tacos here, served on house-made corn tortillas, arrive with things like beef brisket braised in banana leaves, cornmeal-encrusted cod, and chipotle-rubbed chicken, served alongside guacamole and ceviche. The bar serves a variety of aguas frescas, as well as margaritas and beer.

Southern Kitchen PDX

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Tucked away in the food cart pod on the south end of Mississippi, Maurice Fain and Jermaine Atherton grill racks of ribs, top rolls with crispy and light fried basa and coleslaw, and pack takeout containers full of fluffy, hazelnut-brown hush puppies. The cart’s flaky catfish is a fan favorite, but it’s really hard to miss out on the collard greens, laden with slow-cooked turkey.

Sudra Mississippi

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Portland’s vegan scene remains absolutely phenomenal, but before recent stars like Thuy Pham and Jewan Manuel hit the scene, Sanjay Chandrasekaran was making thali plates with lentil kofta and delicate kale dosas, drenching soy curls in tikka masala, and stir-frying cauliflower in an Indo-Chinese sweet-and-spicy sauce. The Fremont location is spacious and polished, with house-made breads and a nice selection of desserts.

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Prost Marketplace

Prost’s food cart pod is arguably one of the best in the city. It’s home to some of the city’s finest barbecue (Matt’s BBQ), burgers (Burger Stevens), and Indian food (Desi PDX), as well as beloved Portland chains like Korean-Mexican spot Koi Fusion and breakfast sandwich brand Fried Egg I’m in Love. When it comes to beverages, the cocktail cart Bloodbuzz supplies the pod with cocktails, while nearby taproom Prost handles the beer.

The Rambler

The Rambler, a ’20s-bungalow-turned-bar known for its patio seating, has the feel of a great neighborhood watering hole: The bartenders are warm and casual, the happy hour is a deal, and on a warm night, the various outdoor tables are filled with 20-and-30somethings in denim, drinking pints and housing swirly seasoned “tornado potatoes.” Outdoor seating is easy year-round here, with plenty of fire pits.

Interurban

Even before patios began popping up across the city as a survival mechanism, Interurban’s covered back patio was particularly nice spot for whiskey on a cool evening; inside, the bar has a rustic, wood-paneled charm to it, reminiscent of an Eastern Oregon saloon. Visitors sip bourbon cocktails and dark spirits before knocking back oysters, snacking on seven-layer dip, and inhaling a masa-dredged Olympia Provisions corn dog. For a fun fall dessert, try the pumpkin bread pudding with Laphroaig caramel.

Lovely's Fifty Fifty

This well-loved dinner spot focuses on wood-fired pizzas and creamy homemade ice creams with flavors like lemon agrumato and malted milk ball. Sarah Minnick’s pizzas, using Oregon whole-grain dough and seasonal produce, are trailblazing when it comes to the development of a Portland-style pizza; since Minnick’s appearance on Chef’s Table, lines at Lovely’s can get long, so it’s best to show up a few minutes before 5 p.m. on weekends. Do not miss the restaurant’s appetizers, soups, and salads, which often show off some of the best produce available in the state.

Tartuca

This intimate-yet-casual, mid-week-date-night spot feels as if it’s been in the neighborhood forever, despite its relatively brief tenure on Mississippi. Couples toast barrel-aged Negronis and Sazeracs before nibbling at plates of house-baked focaccia and beef tartare with capers and Calabrian chile, maybe even some burrata with seeded crackers. With the choice between pizza or pasta, pasta reigns supreme here, whether it’s bucatini with lobster mushrooms or classic spaghetti and meatballs.

Bar Bar

A pre-show burger and beer at Bar Bar is a longstanding tradition when visiting the adjacent venue Mississippi Studios. It is, after all, a fantastic patio: Movies play, projected on the wall, while musicians and fans sit at picnic tables, dip fries in ketchup, and nurse IPAs. The bar’s burger is a classic, but it’s well matched by its fried pickles and toasted ravioli.

Mee-Sen Thai Eatery

For what looks like a simple neighborhood Thai restaurant, Mee-Sen is truly punching above its weight. Its selection of Thai noodle soups is one of the widest in the city, from the tangy and porky mhoo tom yum to the lightly sweet and seafood-packed yen ta fo; every soup comes with a choice of noodle. Cocktails here are also fun, with drinks like lychee gimlets and tamarind bourbon sours.

Stem Wine Bar PDX

Wei-En Tan opened her Mississippi wine bar Stem at an incredibly challenging time: the beginning of 2020. Nonetheless, Stem has become a destination for Willamette Valley wines, wines made by women, and take-home tasting flights. On the patio, customers swirl glasses of rosé while live musicians play on the stones outside; the shop also offers private tastings, for those interested, as well as same-day delivery of wine.

Broder Nord

A Portland institution, Broder somewhat recently moved its North Portland location to Mississippi Avenue, which means weekend brunchers can pop in for eggs and creamed spinach under a gravel of pecorino and breadcrumbs or fluffy ebelskiver, also known as Danish pancakes. Lunches consist of open-faced sandwiches with gravlax, Swedish meatballs, and lamb burgers, well complemented by a cup of tea or toddy.

Kate's Ice Cream

Easily the city’s finest dairy-free and gluten-free ice cream, Kate’s coconut-based flavors include things like rosewater cardamom almond, salted peanut butter brittle, and marionberry cobbler, scooped into oat flour waffle cones or over warm brownies at this pastel scoop shop. Seasonal flavors are often worth a perusal, whether it’s a summery Oregon strawberry or a fall-appropriate caramel apple crisp.

Stormbreaker Brewing

For those seeking a spot to sip beer on a patio, there are countless options along Mississippi that deliver the goods. However, Stormbreaker is actually brewing its beer onsite, with an array of IPAs ranging from the lightly citrusy to the 10-hop heavyweights. It’s not only an IPA shop, of course: Stormbreaker plays around with things like saisons, barley wines, and stouts, as well.

¿Por qué no?

A sustainably-oriented tiny taqueria, Por Que No is filled to the brim with festive decorations, Day of the Dead wall hangings, and our Lady of Guadalupe iconography. The tacos here, served on house-made corn tortillas, arrive with things like beef brisket braised in banana leaves, cornmeal-encrusted cod, and chipotle-rubbed chicken, served alongside guacamole and ceviche. The bar serves a variety of aguas frescas, as well as margaritas and beer.

Southern Kitchen PDX

Tucked away in the food cart pod on the south end of Mississippi, Maurice Fain and Jermaine Atherton grill racks of ribs, top rolls with crispy and light fried basa and coleslaw, and pack takeout containers full of fluffy, hazelnut-brown hush puppies. The cart’s flaky catfish is a fan favorite, but it’s really hard to miss out on the collard greens, laden with slow-cooked turkey.

Sudra Mississippi

Portland’s vegan scene remains absolutely phenomenal, but before recent stars like Thuy Pham and Jewan Manuel hit the scene, Sanjay Chandrasekaran was making thali plates with lentil kofta and delicate kale dosas, drenching soy curls in tikka masala, and stir-frying cauliflower in an Indo-Chinese sweet-and-spicy sauce. The Fremont location is spacious and polished, with house-made breads and a nice selection of desserts.

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