clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A man sprinkles spices into a pot
Bollywood Theater chef-owner Troy MacLarty
Dina Avila / EPDX

15 Restaurants Worth Visiting on SE Division

Where to eat in the quintessential Southeast Portland neighborhood

View as Map
Bollywood Theater chef-owner Troy MacLarty
| Dina Avila / EPDX

The Southeast Division Street neighborhood is one of Portland’s most formative food neighborhoods — a culinary hotspot boasting longstanding city favorites like Bollywood Theater and Kim Jong Grillin, as well as new kids on the block like Malka and Demarco’s. The pandemic has changed the shape of the neighborhood quite a bit, closing places like Pok Pok for good. Others, like Southeast Wine Collective, have turned to selling packaged goods and wine by the bottle, shutting down its restaurant.

Still, you could easily spend days perusing the array of restaurants and bars — not to mention the food carts — that line the popular neighborhood. This map, featuring everything from breakfast and brunch to bars serving creative to-go drinks, will get you started. Just remember to save some room for ice cream.

To tighten things up, we limited this map to just what you can find on SE Division, but don’t miss some of the breathtaking bites on neighboring SE Clinton: You’ll find everything the from mussel menagerie La Moule to the Scandinavian breakfast cafe Broder.

(Note: The points on this map guide are not ranked; rather, they’re organized geographically.)

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

Palomar

Copy Link

This ‘50s-Havana themed bar, with its strawberry-sherbet-leather chairs and its dangerous blended daiquiris, was a pre-pandemic haunt for many eastside Portlanders. Currently, Palomar is open for take-out only, so drinkers can sip beautifully balanced sours and house pineapple gin, pop a salty ham croquette, or eat dreamy media noche sandwiches with house-roasted pork in their own homes. Orders can be placed online or over the phone.

Ranch PDX Southeast

Copy Link

The newest outpost of a burgeoning square pizza empire, Ranch PDX Southeast shares a space with Baerlic Brewing’s new taproom. With plenty of outdoor seating, the combination of the two establishments makes for an ideal, low-key pandemic date night. Ranch PDX serves its pizzas by the pie or the quarter pie, which works out to two triangular slices of saucy, crusty joy. Orders can be placed in-person, online, or ordered for delivery through Caviar.

Pine State Biscuits

Copy Link

Come for biscuits smothered in sausage gravy or the egg sandwich to rule them all: The Reggie, two biscuits filled with fried chicken, bacon, and cheese, and then topped with gravy. Prepare for a significant wait during peak hours. The Division location is open for outdoor dining, pick up, and delivery. Orders can be placed in person or online.

The Reggie
Facebook/Pine State

Scottie's Pizza Parlor

Copy Link

This classic East-Coast-style pizza counter is dedicated to paying its employees a living wage and using locally available produce on its thin crusted, generously sauced pies. Although the standard margherita and “the #1” are excellent choices, the real move is the “defino,” a 16-inch “granny style” square Sicilian pizza that the Scottie’s tops with two kinds of mozzarella and garlic oil. They sell a limited quantity each day, so early orders are encouraged. Orders can be placed online and pre-ordered in advance. Scottie’s also has a pay-it-forward program, so customers can buy an extra slice of pizza or a whole pie for a hungry Portlander.

Nuestra Cocina

Copy Link

A staple Mexican eatery, the red-accented Nuestra Cocina serves quintessential dishes like a standout queso fundido and tacos de puerco, a serving of handmade tortillas with spiced pork, onion, and chilis. The bar boasts a variety of tequilas, as well as mezcals made in remote Mexican villages. Currently, the restaurant serves five different margaritas to-go, ranging from the standard to the very spicy mango-habanero margarita. Orders should be over the phone and picked up in person.

Reel M Inn

Copy Link

Order has been restored: Reel M Inn, arguably Portland’s most beloved dive bar, has finally reopened with its nationally recognized fried chicken and jojos. Instead of waiting three hours in the cozy dive bar with its interior coating of memorabilia, you can now pre-order Reel M Inn fried chicken by texting (503) 701-3812. The chicken and jojos are The Order, but add-ons like mac-and-cheese bites, fried pickle chips, and champagne jellies are also available.

A pile of fried wings sit in a paper-lined basket next to a pile of potato wedges, with cups of mayo and Frank’s Red Hot at Reel M Inn.
Fried chicken and jojos from Reel M Inn
Molly J. Smith / EPDX

Kati Portland

Copy Link

This dedicated meat-free Thai restaurant is a favorite of Portland vegetarians, featuring main dishes loaded with fried tofu, soft tofu, tempeh, or veggies. Specialties include the crispy tempeh, served in a sweet-and-tangy tamarind sauce with yellow noodles, and the standard-but-delightful Kati Pad Thai. Orders can be placed online or delivered through Caviar.

Bollywood Theater

Copy Link

Bollywood Theater has developed a reputation for dishes like its kati roll, a Kolkatan paratha wrap filled with paneer or yogurt-marinated chicken. Vegetarians will find the house-made paneer very satisfying, whether served in a tikka bowl or in a tomato and cashew curry. No matter what you order, prepare for nuanced combinations of flavors laced with freshly imported spices from several regions of India. Orders for pick up and delivery can be placed online.

Olympia Provisions Public House

Copy Link

Although the public house on Division has been around for years, it has become a standby during the pandemic, in no small part due to its massive deck: Diners sprawl out on the socially distanced patio to drink strong German beers and knock back from-scratch sausages. The public house also serves Olympia Provisions’ renowned boards, huge plates of house charcuterie and artisan cheeses studded with pickles and mustard. Orders can be placed online or delivered through Caviar.

Lauretta Jean's

Copy Link

What started as a farmer’s market booth has now expanded into a bright and cheery bakery on Division. A buttery crust gives just the right amount of flaky goodness to the signature pies and quiches. Lauretta Jean’s currently operates as a walk-up window, serving slices and whole pies alongside other pastries for quick and easy pick-up. Larger orders can also be placed through their weekly bake sale.

Pinolo Gelato

Copy Link

Portland’s famous Salt & Straw ice cream shop serves its outside-the-box flavors like pear-blue cheese on SE Division, but the lines can be brutal. Skip the wait — or at least dramatically decrease it — by heading to this artful gelateria, with flavors like Sicilian pistachio and fior de latte, the creamy “flower of milk.” Dairy-free sorbets on offer, too. Pints and half pints can be ordered online ahead of time, but scoops are walk up only.

Find the city’s best chips and guacamole — those chips are made from house-milled corn and fried daily — and thoughtfully crafted moles, sopes, specials, and more. This modern and creative Mexican restaurant is all about quality, from margaritas to service. There’s also a nice selection of mezcal, including flights, which are great for sipping outside on the verdant patio on a warm day.

When talking about Malka, the go-to word people use is “maximalist”: Dishes come with an intricate assortment of herbs, condiments, crispy bits, relishes, spice blends, vinaigrettes, salads, and slaws. Take, for example, the fried chicken sandwich; it comes with praline bacon, caramelized onions, herby whipped feta, tomato achaar, sweet Italian peppers, mushrooms perked up with sherry and miso, plus a pile of vegetables, fruit, and pesto, all on a ciabatta bun. Order things like matzo ball soup with caramelized vegetable sofrito or rice bowls with pork shoulder in apricot-curry barbecue sauce. The restaurant is open for takeout.

Two brown and shallot-covered rib racks sit on a plate next to one metal container of yellow-orange sauce and another silver container of avocado and grapefruit salad. A small Hawaiian roll sits to the side.
A rib dish at Malka
Dina Avila / EPDX

Demarco’s Sandwiches

Copy Link

Sister cart to Kim Jong Grillin, Demarco’s reps some serious East Coast deli ethos, packing rolls with Italian meats and chicken cutlets drenched in house marinara. The two go-tos at Demarco’s are its spot-on Italian cold cuts — layered with ham, pepperoni, salami, coppa, and the expected briny accoutrement — and its killer eggplant parm, with delicately sliced layers of fried eggplant cradling red sauce and melty mozz. It’s available for takeout or delivery.

A cut hoagie sits in a takeout container from Demarco’s with sliced tomatoes and onions perched on top.
A sub from Demarco’s
Brooke Jackson-Glidden / EPDX

Kim Jong Grillin

Copy Link

A local Korean favorite, Kim Jong Grillin is Han Ly Hwang’s go-to spot for bibim boxes, his take on a bibimbap with no-joke Korean barbecue hits like garlicky galbi ribs or sweet bulgogi beef. It is a crime to walk off the cart’s covered deck without a massive pile of kimchi or japchae — make sure you get extra. Orders can be placed at the cart or over Postmates for pick up and delivery.

Loading comments...

Palomar

This ‘50s-Havana themed bar, with its strawberry-sherbet-leather chairs and its dangerous blended daiquiris, was a pre-pandemic haunt for many eastside Portlanders. Currently, Palomar is open for take-out only, so drinkers can sip beautifully balanced sours and house pineapple gin, pop a salty ham croquette, or eat dreamy media noche sandwiches with house-roasted pork in their own homes. Orders can be placed online or over the phone.

Ranch PDX Southeast

The newest outpost of a burgeoning square pizza empire, Ranch PDX Southeast shares a space with Baerlic Brewing’s new taproom. With plenty of outdoor seating, the combination of the two establishments makes for an ideal, low-key pandemic date night. Ranch PDX serves its pizzas by the pie or the quarter pie, which works out to two triangular slices of saucy, crusty joy. Orders can be placed in-person, online, or ordered for delivery through Caviar.

Pine State Biscuits

Come for biscuits smothered in sausage gravy or the egg sandwich to rule them all: The Reggie, two biscuits filled with fried chicken, bacon, and cheese, and then topped with gravy. Prepare for a significant wait during peak hours. The Division location is open for outdoor dining, pick up, and delivery. Orders can be placed in person or online.

The Reggie
Facebook/Pine State

Scottie's Pizza Parlor

This classic East-Coast-style pizza counter is dedicated to paying its employees a living wage and using locally available produce on its thin crusted, generously sauced pies. Although the standard margherita and “the #1” are excellent choices, the real move is the “defino,” a 16-inch “granny style” square Sicilian pizza that the Scottie’s tops with two kinds of mozzarella and garlic oil. They sell a limited quantity each day, so early orders are encouraged. Orders can be placed online and pre-ordered in advance. Scottie’s also has a pay-it-forward program, so customers can buy an extra slice of pizza or a whole pie for a hungry Portlander.

Nuestra Cocina

A staple Mexican eatery, the red-accented Nuestra Cocina serves quintessential dishes like a standout queso fundido and tacos de puerco, a serving of handmade tortillas with spiced pork, onion, and chilis. The bar boasts a variety of tequilas, as well as mezcals made in remote Mexican villages. Currently, the restaurant serves five different margaritas to-go, ranging from the standard to the very spicy mango-habanero margarita. Orders should be over the phone and picked up in person.

Reel M Inn

Order has been restored: Reel M Inn, arguably Portland’s most beloved dive bar, has finally reopened with its nationally recognized fried chicken and jojos. Instead of waiting three hours in the cozy dive bar with its interior coating of memorabilia, you can now pre-order Reel M Inn fried chicken by texting (503) 701-3812. The chicken and jojos are The Order, but add-ons like mac-and-cheese bites, fried pickle chips, and champagne jellies are also available.

A pile of fried wings sit in a paper-lined basket next to a pile of potato wedges, with cups of mayo and Frank’s Red Hot at Reel M Inn.
Fried chicken and jojos from Reel M Inn
Molly J. Smith / EPDX

Kati Portland

This dedicated meat-free Thai restaurant is a favorite of Portland vegetarians, featuring main dishes loaded with fried tofu, soft tofu, tempeh, or veggies. Specialties include the crispy tempeh, served in a sweet-and-tangy tamarind sauce with yellow noodles, and the standard-but-delightful Kati Pad Thai. Orders can be placed online or delivered through Caviar.

Bollywood Theater

Bollywood Theater has developed a reputation for dishes like its kati roll, a Kolkatan paratha wrap filled with paneer or yogurt-marinated chicken. Vegetarians will find the house-made paneer very satisfying, whether served in a tikka bowl or in a tomato and cashew curry. No matter what you order, prepare for nuanced combinations of flavors laced with freshly imported spices from several regions of India. Orders for pick up and delivery can be placed online.

Olympia Provisions Public House

Although the public house on Division has been around for years, it has become a standby during the pandemic, in no small part due to its massive deck: Diners sprawl out on the socially distanced patio to drink strong German beers and knock back from-scratch sausages. The public house also serves Olympia Provisions’ renowned boards, huge plates of house charcuterie and artisan cheeses studded with pickles and mustard. Orders can be placed online or delivered through Caviar.

Lauretta Jean's

What started as a farmer’s market booth has now expanded into a bright and cheery bakery on Division. A buttery crust gives just the right amount of flaky goodness to the signature pies and quiches. Lauretta Jean’s currently operates as a walk-up window, serving slices and whole pies alongside other pastries for quick and easy pick-up. Larger orders can also be placed through their weekly bake sale.

Pinolo Gelato

Portland’s famous Salt & Straw ice cream shop serves its outside-the-box flavors like pear-blue cheese on SE Division, but the lines can be brutal. Skip the wait — or at least dramatically decrease it — by heading to this artful gelateria, with flavors like Sicilian pistachio and fior de latte, the creamy “flower of milk.” Dairy-free sorbets on offer, too. Pints and half pints can be ordered online ahead of time, but scoops are walk up only.

Xico

Find the city’s best chips and guacamole — those chips are made from house-milled corn and fried daily — and thoughtfully crafted moles, sopes, specials, and more. This modern and creative Mexican restaurant is all about quality, from margaritas to service. There’s also a nice selection of mezcal, including flights, which are great for sipping outside on the verdant patio on a warm day.

Malka

When talking about Malka, the go-to word people use is “maximalist”: Dishes come with an intricate assortment of herbs, condiments, crispy bits, relishes, spice blends, vinaigrettes, salads, and slaws. Take, for example, the fried chicken sandwich; it comes with praline bacon, caramelized onions, herby whipped feta, tomato achaar, sweet Italian peppers, mushrooms perked up with sherry and miso, plus a pile of vegetables, fruit, and pesto, all on a ciabatta bun. Order things like matzo ball soup with caramelized vegetable sofrito or rice bowls with pork shoulder in apricot-curry barbecue sauce. The restaurant is open for takeout.

Two brown and shallot-covered rib racks sit on a plate next to one metal container of yellow-orange sauce and another silver container of avocado and grapefruit salad. A small Hawaiian roll sits to the side.
A rib dish at Malka
Dina Avila / EPDX

Demarco’s Sandwiches

Sister cart to Kim Jong Grillin, Demarco’s reps some serious East Coast deli ethos, packing rolls with Italian meats and chicken cutlets drenched in house marinara. The two go-tos at Demarco’s are its spot-on Italian cold cuts — layered with ham, pepperoni, salami, coppa, and the expected briny accoutrement — and its killer eggplant parm, with delicately sliced layers of fried eggplant cradling red sauce and melty mozz. It’s available for takeout or delivery.

A cut hoagie sits in a takeout container from Demarco’s with sliced tomatoes and onions perched on top.
A sub from Demarco’s
Brooke Jackson-Glidden / EPDX

Kim Jong Grillin

A local Korean favorite, Kim Jong Grillin is Han Ly Hwang’s go-to spot for bibim boxes, his take on a bibimbap with no-joke Korean barbecue hits like garlicky galbi ribs or sweet bulgogi beef. It is a crime to walk off the cart’s covered deck without a massive pile of kimchi or japchae — make sure you get extra. Orders can be placed at the cart or over Postmates for pick up and delivery.

Related Maps