Whether it’s for sake festivals, craft exhibitions, or drag pageants, the Oregon Convention Center attracts crowds from around the world to geek out over niche passions and new ideas. For many, the Oregon Convention Center is their introduction to Portland, the entry-point to the city; for others, it’s a regular stop throughout the year, an opportunity to build a brand or fawn over an idol. Either way, eating well around the convention center isn’t too much of a challenge, with one of Portland’s favorite dining hotspots a few steps away.
The convention center is home to its own catering company and a food court’s worth of quick options; even so, the wealth of destination restaurants, fun pseudo-dives, and casual haunts give visitors a reason to venture out before, after, or during the day’s events. All of the spots below are within a 15-minute walk of the convention center, though those looking for a longer stroll may make it to restaurants like Japanese cafe Giraffe, Latin American steakhouse Ox, or even the beloved Russian institution Kachka. As always, the map points are not ranked, but rather organized geographically.
Read More