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18 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Portland

Find Portland's best under-the-radar restaurants

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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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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.

Saraveza

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[Photo: Yelp/Lisa D.]

EaT: An Oyster Bar

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[Photo: Facebook/EaT: An Oyster Bar]

Swiss Hibiscus

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[Photo: Swiss Hibiscus]

Old Salt Marketplace

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[Photo: Old Salt]

Chameleon Restaurant and Bar

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[Photo: Facebook/Chameleon Restaurant & Bar]

Bipartisan Cafe

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[Photo: Bipartisan Cafe]

El Pato Feliz

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[Photo: Yelp/Cora P.]

La Panza Cafe

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[Photo: Facebook/La Panza]

3 Doors Down Cafe

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[Photo: Facebook/3 Doors Down Cafe]

Fonda Rosa

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[Photo: Yelp/Jayme R.]

Behind The Museum Café

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[Photo: Facebook/Behind the Museum Cafe]

John's Coffee Shop

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[Photo: Yelp/Robert G.]

Le Happy

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[Photo: Yelp]

Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant

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[Photo: Facebook/Marrakesh]

Industrial Cafe & Saloon

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[Photo: Industrial Cafe]

Seasons & Regions Seafood Grill

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[Photo: Yelp]

Otto & Anita's Schnitzel's Haus

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[Photo: Yelp/Carol H.]

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The Fish and Chip Shoppe

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.

Saraveza

[Photo: Yelp/Lisa D.]

EaT: An Oyster Bar

[Photo: Facebook/EaT: An Oyster Bar]

Swiss Hibiscus

[Photo: Swiss Hibiscus]

Old Salt Marketplace

[Photo: Old Salt]

Chameleon Restaurant and Bar

[Photo: Facebook/Chameleon Restaurant & Bar]

Bipartisan Cafe

[Photo: Bipartisan Cafe]

El Pato Feliz

[Photo: Yelp/Cora P.]

La Panza Cafe

[Photo: Facebook/La Panza]

3 Doors Down Cafe

[Photo: Facebook/3 Doors Down Cafe]

Fonda Rosa

[Photo: Yelp/Jayme R.]

Behind The Museum Café

[Photo: Facebook/Behind the Museum Cafe]

John's Coffee Shop

[Photo: Yelp/Robert G.]

Le Happy

[Photo: Yelp]

Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant

[Photo: Facebook/Marrakesh]

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Industrial Cafe & Saloon

[Photo: Industrial Cafe]

Seasons & Regions Seafood Grill

[Photo: Yelp]

Otto & Anita's Schnitzel's Haus

[Photo: Yelp/Carol H.]

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