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18 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Portland

Find Portland's best under-the-radar restaurants

by Eater Staff Updated
3 comments / new
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by Eater Staff Updated
3 comments / new
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As Portland’s new, flashy restaurants often have Portland diners and food writers batting eyelashes, the city’s restaurant underdogs remain the favorites of their regulars and longtime Portlanders. These restaurant underdogs aren’t the names you’ll spot trawling Twitter or your Feedly: These mom-and-pops, receive little recognition, have zero PR presence, and be worthy of your cash.

It's extremely likely that one of your favorite under-recognized restaurants isn't on this map. Now's the time to show the love in the comments below and on social media. Portland has creative and quality-driven chefs and restaurant owners bursting from its seams, from St. Johns to Oregon City, and from Beaverton to Troutdale. If there were ever a place to give them a shoutout, this is it.

To see which restaurants used to be on the map, visit the Restaurant Underdog archive. (Note: The points on this map are not ranked; rather, they're organized geographically.)

—Carrie Uffindell and Chad Walsh

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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. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The Fish and Chip Shoppe

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You no doubt remember that the fries at McDonald’s were once a thing of beauty, thanks to being deep-fried in tallow. Well, thanks to British expat Mick Shillingford, you can now get fries—and battered fish—fried in tallow. The only thing you have to figure out is what kind of fish you want: halibut, haddock, red snapper, or cod. And don’t forget to peek inside Shillingford’s neighboring Tardis Room bar, which hosts musical performances and Dr. Who screenings.

1218 N Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217
(503) 232-3344
(503) 232-3344

Saraveza

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[Photo: Yelp/Lisa D.]

1004 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 206-4252
(503) 206-4252

Also featured in:

EaT: An Oyster Bar

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[Photo: Facebook/EaT: An Oyster Bar]

3808 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
(503) 281-1222
(503) 281-1222

Also featured in:

Swiss Hibiscus

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[Photo: Swiss Hibiscus]

4950 NE 14th Ave, Portland, OR 97211
(503) 477-9224
(503) 477-9224

Also featured in:

Old Salt Marketplace

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[Photo: Old Salt]

5027 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218
(971) 255-0167
(971) 255-0167

Also featured in:

Chameleon Restaurant and Bar

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[Photo: Facebook/Chameleon Restaurant & Bar]

2000 NE 40th Ave, Portland, OR 97212
(503) 460-2682
(503) 460-2682

Also featured in:

Bipartisan Cafe

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[Photo: Bipartisan Cafe]

7901 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
(503) 253-1051
(503) 253-1051

El Pato Feliz

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[Photo: Yelp/Cora P.]

5824 SE 92nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266
(503) 772-1037
(503) 772-1037

La Panza Cafe

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[Photo: Facebook/La Panza]

2425 SE 26th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-5005
(503) 236-5005

Also featured in:

3 Doors Down Cafe

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[Photo: Facebook/3 Doors Down Cafe]

1429 SE 37th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-6886
(503) 236-6886

Fonda Rosa

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[Photo: Yelp/Jayme R.]

108 NE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97232
(503) 235-3828
(503) 235-3828

Behind The Museum Café

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[Photo: Facebook/Behind the Museum Cafe]

1229 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
(503) 477-6625
(503) 477-6625

John's Coffee Shop

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[Photo: Yelp/Robert G.]

301 NW Broadway, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-4611
(503) 227-4611

Le Happy

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[Photo: Yelp]

1011 NW 16th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 226-1258
(503) 226-1258

Also featured in:

Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant

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[Photo: Facebook/Marrakesh]

1201 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 248-9442
(503) 248-9442

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Industrial Cafe & Saloon

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[Photo: Industrial Cafe]

2572 NW Vaughn St, Portland, OR 97210
(503) 227-7002
(503) 227-7002

Seasons & Regions Seafood Grill

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[Photo: Yelp]

6660 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
(503) 244-6400
(503) 244-6400

Otto & Anita's Schnitzel's Haus

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[Photo: Yelp/Carol H.]

3025 SW Canby St, Portland, OR 97219
(503) 452-1411
(503) 452-1411

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The Fish and Chip Shoppe

1218 N Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217

You no doubt remember that the fries at McDonald’s were once a thing of beauty, thanks to being deep-fried in tallow. Well, thanks to British expat Mick Shillingford, you can now get fries—and battered fish—fried in tallow. The only thing you have to figure out is what kind of fish you want: halibut, haddock, red snapper, or cod. And don’t forget to peek inside Shillingford’s neighboring Tardis Room bar, which hosts musical performances and Dr. Who screenings.

1218 N Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217
(503) 232-3344
(503) 232-3344

Saraveza

1004 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217

[Photo: Yelp/Lisa D.]

1004 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 206-4252
(503) 206-4252

EaT: An Oyster Bar

3808 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227

[Photo: Facebook/EaT: An Oyster Bar]

3808 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
(503) 281-1222
(503) 281-1222

Swiss Hibiscus

4950 NE 14th Ave, Portland, OR 97211

[Photo: Swiss Hibiscus]

4950 NE 14th Ave, Portland, OR 97211
(503) 477-9224
(503) 477-9224

Old Salt Marketplace

5027 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218

[Photo: Old Salt]

5027 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218
(971) 255-0167
(971) 255-0167

Chameleon Restaurant and Bar

2000 NE 40th Ave, Portland, OR 97212

[Photo: Facebook/Chameleon Restaurant & Bar]

2000 NE 40th Ave, Portland, OR 97212
(503) 460-2682
(503) 460-2682

Bipartisan Cafe

7901 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215

[Photo: Bipartisan Cafe]

7901 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
(503) 253-1051
(503) 253-1051

El Pato Feliz

5824 SE 92nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266

[Photo: Yelp/Cora P.]

5824 SE 92nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266
(503) 772-1037
(503) 772-1037

La Panza Cafe

2425 SE 26th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

[Photo: Facebook/La Panza]

2425 SE 26th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-5005
(503) 236-5005

3 Doors Down Cafe

1429 SE 37th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

[Photo: Facebook/3 Doors Down Cafe]

1429 SE 37th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-6886
(503) 236-6886

Fonda Rosa

108 NE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97232

[Photo: Yelp/Jayme R.]

108 NE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97232
(503) 235-3828
(503) 235-3828

Behind The Museum Café

1229 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

[Photo: Facebook/Behind the Museum Cafe]

1229 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
(503) 477-6625
(503) 477-6625

John's Coffee Shop

301 NW Broadway, Portland, OR 97209

[Photo: Yelp/Robert G.]

301 NW Broadway, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-4611
(503) 227-4611

Le Happy

1011 NW 16th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

[Photo: Yelp]

1011 NW 16th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 226-1258
(503) 226-1258

Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant

1201 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209

[Photo: Facebook/Marrakesh]

1201 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 248-9442
(503) 248-9442

Related Maps

Industrial Cafe & Saloon

2572 NW Vaughn St, Portland, OR 97210

[Photo: Industrial Cafe]

2572 NW Vaughn St, Portland, OR 97210
(503) 227-7002
(503) 227-7002

Seasons & Regions Seafood Grill

6660 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219

[Photo: Yelp]

6660 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
(503) 244-6400
(503) 244-6400

Otto & Anita's Schnitzel's Haus

3025 SW Canby St, Portland, OR 97219

[Photo: Yelp/Carol H.]

3025 SW Canby St, Portland, OR 97219
(503) 452-1411
(503) 452-1411

Related Maps