clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
An areal photo of a train with trees nearby, likely near Pioneer Place
A Portland Trimet station
Alexander Oganezov/Shutterstock

Worthy Portland Restaurants and Bars Super Close to Trimet Stations

The restaurants, bars, and cafes near major Trimet hubs, for MAX fans and bus boys

View as Map
A Portland Trimet station
| Alexander Oganezov/Shutterstock

Compared to places like New York or Shanghai, Portland isn’t necessarily known for its public transportation; still, for the carless, environmentally conscious, and new urbanists out there, it’s... serviceable. Still, countless buzzy restaurants in Portland are hard to access for those reliant on Trimet, forcing diners to make dreaded bus transfers just to get a bite.

However, there are a good number of serious restaurants that sit decently close to Trimet transit centers, spots where multiple bus lines, streetcars, and/or MAX trains stop after chugging away from different corners of the city. This map specifically focuses on restaurants and bars near transit centers and major stops, favoring areas with more transit lines — the west side, specifically. That being said, this map also includes restaurants (and a food cart pod) near commuter stations, like Beaverton’s transit center and Lombard transit center. Below, find a spot for a bite post-commute, or maybe just a place to meet a gang of fellow non-drivers.

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

BGs Food Cartel

Copy Link

Beaverton’s sprawling food cart pod is a classic family-friendly hangout for Beaverton residents, an obvious pick after a long commute. Right next to the Beaverton Central stop and less than 10 minutes walking from the Beaverton Transit Center, the food cart pod is home to a wide swath of food carts, an indoor bar, and lots of seating on its indoor and outdoor patio.

Ichiza Kitchen

Copy Link

This Goose Hollow vegan restaurant is super close to the Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson station, a MAX and bus stop. Not only is Ichiza’s tiny vegan cafe one of Portland’s essential restaurants for its meat-free mapo tofu and juicy dumplings, it’s a fantastic spot for elegant Gaiwan tea service.

Duck House Chinese Restaurant

Copy Link

Duck House, with its tender and juicy xiao long bao, chili-oil-slick wontons, and sesame-laden dan dan noodles, is a favorite among Portland State University students; it also sits steps away from the SW College and SW Jackson MAX stops. The restaurant, still retaining the tap house vibes from its predecessor, can accrue hearty lines; those serious about grabbing a spot can hop on the wait list via Yelp.

Arden Restaurant Portland

Copy Link

Since executive chef Erik Van Kley, a Le Pigeon alum, joined the team at this gorgeous wine bar in the Pearl District, the food has only gotten better. The food menu includes everything from lightly smoked olives with orange to tagliatelle with coconut curry, clams, and fermented shiitake; the wine list often has some cool older bottles and Oregon up-and-comers to drink. Arden sits no more than six minutes away from MAX stops, bus stops, and streetcar stops — plus, Union Station is about five minutes away on foot.

For those morning commuters out there, Nuvrei sits across the street from Arden, which means it’s also close to the green and yellow MAX lines and the Portland Streetcar A loop. This pristine, charming bakery is the place to be for artful, crispy croissants of countless flavors, pretty little macarons, and one hell of a chewy walnut cookie.

Park Avenue Fine Wines

Copy Link

This dark and industrial wine bar and bottle shop is home to one of Portland’s hottest chefs, Karl Holl; its kitchen churns out killer salads using Oregon produce and a knockout 100-layer lasagna. The wine bar and restaurant also just a few steps from the Galleria MAX station, home to the blue and red lines.

Burger Stevens

Copy Link

For a quick burger near the Pioneer Square stops, classic food cart Burger Stevens is a standby for simple, juicy, char-touched burgers. For something more breakfast-y, Fried Egg I’m in Love serves pesto-topped egg sandwiches out of the same square.

Casa Zoraya

Copy Link

This charming Peruvian restaurant in a renovated North Portland home is nearby the Lombard and Mississippi bus stop, and is a cool seven-minute walk from the Lombard Transit Center. The move at Casa Zoraya is to get the restaurant’s ceviche of the day, always served in a piquant and tangy leche de tigre, with a glass of the restaurant’s deep purple chicha morada.

Pullman Wine Bar & Merchant

Copy Link

Steps away from the Convention Center stop and a quick stroll from the Rose Quarter Transit Center, Pullman Wine Bar & Merchant is the ideal spot for a post-work glass of wine — or even a tasting flight. The sleek, airy bar allows visitors to pull sips from expensive bottles, and has a bottle shop onsite for those looking to take something home with them.

Palomar

Copy Link

For cocktails and croquetas, it’s hard to beat this colorful Cuban bar with a view of the train tracks. A seven-minute walk from the OMSI/SE Water MAX station, Palomar is a cocktail destination in its own right, known for its exceptional daiquiris and next-level sour. Those who can get there by happy hour will be rewarded with $1 croquetas, $2 Modelos, and $7 daiquiris.

Chin's Kitchen

Copy Link

With its old-school, no frills interior, Chin’s Kitchen is a longstanding Chinese institution in the Portland area, and it happens to be a short walk from the Hollywood Transit Center. In the summers, the restaurant’s la pi, a glassy noodle salad with a rainbow of julienned vegetables, is a chilly and refreshing bite; the restaurant’s Chinese sauerkraut and pork is ideal on Portland’s countless rainy days.

Happy Bibimbap House 2

Copy Link

A Salem transplant, Happy Bibimbap House is even closer to the Hollywood MAX station than Chin’s, basically right below the steps off the station. Happy Bibimbap House is a super reasonably priced, warm and cheerful Korean restaurant with classics like kimchi jjigae, jajang myeon, and bulgogi, plus the restaurant’s namesake, a customizable rice bowl served in or out of a hot stone bowl.

BGs Food Cartel

Beaverton’s sprawling food cart pod is a classic family-friendly hangout for Beaverton residents, an obvious pick after a long commute. Right next to the Beaverton Central stop and less than 10 minutes walking from the Beaverton Transit Center, the food cart pod is home to a wide swath of food carts, an indoor bar, and lots of seating on its indoor and outdoor patio.

Ichiza Kitchen

This Goose Hollow vegan restaurant is super close to the Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson station, a MAX and bus stop. Not only is Ichiza’s tiny vegan cafe one of Portland’s essential restaurants for its meat-free mapo tofu and juicy dumplings, it’s a fantastic spot for elegant Gaiwan tea service.

Duck House Chinese Restaurant

Duck House, with its tender and juicy xiao long bao, chili-oil-slick wontons, and sesame-laden dan dan noodles, is a favorite among Portland State University students; it also sits steps away from the SW College and SW Jackson MAX stops. The restaurant, still retaining the tap house vibes from its predecessor, can accrue hearty lines; those serious about grabbing a spot can hop on the wait list via Yelp.

Arden Restaurant Portland

Since executive chef Erik Van Kley, a Le Pigeon alum, joined the team at this gorgeous wine bar in the Pearl District, the food has only gotten better. The food menu includes everything from lightly smoked olives with orange to tagliatelle with coconut curry, clams, and fermented shiitake; the wine list often has some cool older bottles and Oregon up-and-comers to drink. Arden sits no more than six minutes away from MAX stops, bus stops, and streetcar stops — plus, Union Station is about five minutes away on foot.

Nuvrei

For those morning commuters out there, Nuvrei sits across the street from Arden, which means it’s also close to the green and yellow MAX lines and the Portland Streetcar A loop. This pristine, charming bakery is the place to be for artful, crispy croissants of countless flavors, pretty little macarons, and one hell of a chewy walnut cookie.

Park Avenue Fine Wines

This dark and industrial wine bar and bottle shop is home to one of Portland’s hottest chefs, Karl Holl; its kitchen churns out killer salads using Oregon produce and a knockout 100-layer lasagna. The wine bar and restaurant also just a few steps from the Galleria MAX station, home to the blue and red lines.

Burger Stevens

For a quick burger near the Pioneer Square stops, classic food cart Burger Stevens is a standby for simple, juicy, char-touched burgers. For something more breakfast-y, Fried Egg I’m in Love serves pesto-topped egg sandwiches out of the same square.

Casa Zoraya

This charming Peruvian restaurant in a renovated North Portland home is nearby the Lombard and Mississippi bus stop, and is a cool seven-minute walk from the Lombard Transit Center. The move at Casa Zoraya is to get the restaurant’s ceviche of the day, always served in a piquant and tangy leche de tigre, with a glass of the restaurant’s deep purple chicha morada.

Pullman Wine Bar & Merchant

Steps away from the Convention Center stop and a quick stroll from the Rose Quarter Transit Center, Pullman Wine Bar & Merchant is the ideal spot for a post-work glass of wine — or even a tasting flight. The sleek, airy bar allows visitors to pull sips from expensive bottles, and has a bottle shop onsite for those looking to take something home with them.

Palomar

For cocktails and croquetas, it’s hard to beat this colorful Cuban bar with a view of the train tracks. A seven-minute walk from the OMSI/SE Water MAX station, Palomar is a cocktail destination in its own right, known for its exceptional daiquiris and next-level sour. Those who can get there by happy hour will be rewarded with $1 croquetas, $2 Modelos, and $7 daiquiris.

Chin's Kitchen

With its old-school, no frills interior, Chin’s Kitchen is a longstanding Chinese institution in the Portland area, and it happens to be a short walk from the Hollywood Transit Center. In the summers, the restaurant’s la pi, a glassy noodle salad with a rainbow of julienned vegetables, is a chilly and refreshing bite; the restaurant’s Chinese sauerkraut and pork is ideal on Portland’s countless rainy days.

Happy Bibimbap House 2

A Salem transplant, Happy Bibimbap House is even closer to the Hollywood MAX station than Chin’s, basically right below the steps off the station. Happy Bibimbap House is a super reasonably priced, warm and cheerful Korean restaurant with classics like kimchi jjigae, jajang myeon, and bulgogi, plus the restaurant’s namesake, a customizable rice bowl served in or out of a hot stone bowl.

Related Maps