Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Portland / Oregon

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Portland / Oregon? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Le Pigeon

4.9

4.9 (1719)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Le Pigeon serves adventurous French-inspired food, along with a varied selection of wines in an intimate dining room on Portland’s East Burnside Street.

Top review

AshleyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Best dinner in Portland hands down! The menu is always inventive fresh and seasonal. I’m always trying something new that I’ve never had before in the most unique delicious way. The staff is fabulous. The value that you get for the price is wonderful the wine suggested by the sommelier was perfect! Everything was wonderful and I can’t wait to go back and try another menu!

Xiao Ye

4.9

4.9 (73)

$50 and over

American

Northeast Portland

About the restaurant

Xiao Ye is a unique dining destination in Portland, Oregon, celebrated for its innovative approach to first-generation American cuisine. With a menu inspired by the rich flavors that define American dining today, Xiao Ye offers nostalgic comfort food with contemporary culinary techniques.

At Xiao Ye, diners can enjoy a variety of dishes that reflect the diverse backgrounds and cultural influences from Chef Louis and his team. From hearty classics to creative twists, the menu is designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Their ever-changing menu allows for creativity and showcases seasonal produce of the PNW. Be sure to try their masa & mochiko Mini Madeleines!

The candlelit, cozy interiors with mismatched chairs, makes it an ideal spot for gatherings, from a casual dinner with friends, a family dinner, or special celebration. Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning as a regular, you can expect a warm welcome and attentive service from the team lead by Jolyn Chen.

Top review

ConnorVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful staff, and the tomato toast is incredible.

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Experience

Weekend Brunch

Experience

Friends In Town with Wildair and Bar Contra NYC

Gado Gado

4.8

4.8 (226)

$31 to $50

Indonesian / Malaysian

Northeast Portland

About the restaurant

Nominated for Best New Restaurant and Best Chef in the James Beard Awards, Gado Gado is an Indonesian-focused restaurant in Portland’s Hollywood neighborhood serving an eclectic menu that derives flavors from owners Thomas and Mariah Pisha-Duffly’s cultural heritage, travels, and culinary backgrounds.

In addition to an extensive à la carte food and drink menu, groups are invited to indulge in a bountiful family-style, chef’s choice Rice Table dinner — Gado Gado’s interpretation of the Dutch-Indonesian “Rijsttafel” feast.

Top review

CountryVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Food was v good overall. The satay, shu mai, soft shell crab papaya salad, scallop crudo were excellent, highly recommended! Less enthused about the Kuaui Shrimp, only 3 per $28 order & tasted bit mealy. Nice experience otherwise.

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Experience

Omnivore Rice Table

Experience

Pescatarian Rice Table

Experience

Singaporean Chili Crab

Oma's Hideaway

4.8

4.8 (222)

$31 to $50

Indonesian / Malaysian

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Oma's Hideaway is a vibrant, maximalist restaurant inspired by the life and spirit of Chef Thomas Pisha Duffly's grandmother, Kiong Tien “Tina” Vandenberg. Her ability to adapt, to make the most out of limited resources, and to stay creative while projecting warmth and brightness is the guiding force behind Oma’s Hideaway.

Born during the pandemic as a pop-up in the Gado Gado parking lot, Oma’s became a permanent beacon of iridescent light in Portland’s Richmond neighborhood in 2021. The menu draws from Tina’s life story, taking influence from the craveable, soul-satisfying hawker food of Singapore and Malaysia and “turning up the volume” with exaggerated yet balanced flavors in Chef Tom’s signature style. Oma’s serves dinner accompanied by a seasonal list of hand-crafted cocktails and zero-proof drinks.

Top review

Charles

Dined 3 days ago

Great covered outdoor patio with great service and very tasty food. The kitchen was quick and plates were brought as they were made. Very good experience.

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Experience

Oma's Table

Lilia Comedor

4.8

4.8 (444)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Southwest Portland

About the restaurant

Award-winning Chef Juan Gomez, who helped República garner best new restaurant nods from Bon Appétit and James Beard, is taking a more personal approach to PNW cuisine. Recently nominated one of the Top 50 Restaurants in the Country by the New York Times, Lilia offers dishes like Pork Collar Confit and fresh Aguachile, leaning on Chef Juan's Mexican-American roots while showcasing hyper-seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.

Please note, our prices vary each week according to market price of local ingredients.

We offer a Chef's Selection menu that is a perfect meal for two. We also offer an a la carte menu.

Top review

Sherri

Dined 2 days ago

Lilia was a new experience for us and it did not disappoint us at all! The food was amazing and the service was great. I liked that they told us about the dishes they served and where they originated from. We will definitely go back!

Hayward

4.8

4.8 (136)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

McMinnville

About the restaurant

Specializing in “new northwest” cuisine, Hayward offers a delightful fusion of flavors rooted in local farming and purveying, incorporating fermentation, whole animal butchery, and artisanal sourdough techniques. Best enjoyed when shared with friends and family over a table full of plates and beverages. Our menu is ever-evolving, reflecting the changing seasons and our spirit of exploration. We are a curious and playful team, dedicated to taking our guests on a delicious journey where new flavors become familiar favorites. Experience the best of “new northwest” cuisine at Hayward, where each dish tells a story and every meal is an adventure. Visit us at Mac Market and embark on a culinary journey that celebrates local ingredients, innovative techniques, and the joy of sharing food with loved ones. Please note that we unable to control the temperature of the restaurant due to being located inside of Mac Market which is a warehouse type building.

Top review

Janet

Dined 4 days ago

We truly enjoyed dining in Hayward’s gorgeous new space in Carlton. Small plates featured lovely complex flavors - some were unexpected, like the chitarra pasta with clams, harissa, and lamb stock - delicious! Two other favorites were the seafood cake and the roasted mushrooms with ricotta and beets. Don’t overlook the focaccia and koji butter.

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Experience

Large Party Kickback

Experience

Garden Large Party Kickback

Experience

Friends in Town with Chef Stuart Brioza

Javelina

4.8

4.8 (50)

$30 and under

Indigenous

Northeast Portland

About the restaurant

By Chef Alexa Numkena-Anderson - Enrolled Hopi and Yakama Descendant

As the FIRST solely Indigenous restaurant in Portland, Oregon, Alexa and her team have earned respect nationwide from other Indigenous chefs. They have been featured in Eater, Portland Monthly, The Oregonian, Willamette Weekly, OPB, Tasting Table, and many others. Alexa is ready to serve her community and the city of Portland with her take on Indigenous Cuisine with her Yakama & Hopi Tribal influence.

Lunch Service from 11am-3pm Full Service - with Javelina focusing on "powwow comfort food" - with Fry Bread, Bison Burgers, Elk Fry Bread, Wild Rice Bowls, Soups & Stews (walk-in only)

Happy Hour 3PM-5PM

Dinner Service from 5pm-9PM with full service - will with have some of our classic powwow comfort food as well as some more traditional indigenous, non-colonial options and more dinner focused options such as bison steak with wojapi, rabbit relleno & tribal salmon.

Top review

steve

Dined 6 days ago

Don't pass by the Uncles Old Fashioned, a masterful creation by Nick!

República

4.7

4.7 (958)

$50 and over

Mexican

Pearl District

About the restaurant

James Beard-nominated Mexico-forward restaurant recontextualizing Mexican cuisine and culture through Storytelling.

We offer a tasting menu experience, as well as an a la carte menu. Both experiences are meant to honor the complex history that created each dish, as well as leave a lasting impact on all those who taste this beautiful food and listen to our stories.

We kindly require all guests to disclose all dietary restrictions and allergies prior to their reservation. We are unable to accommodate allergies to nightshades, chile, corn, or allium. Additionally we are not a gluten free kitchen and are unable to provide nut and seed free diners.

Top review

J. MikeVIP

Dined 3 days ago

What a nice experience. Food was incredible, staff was welcoming, and setting was terrific. I felt like I was having a great meal at the home of a friend. Will come back.

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Experience

Tasting Menu

De Noche

4.6

4.6 (206)

$50 and over

Mexican

Pearl District

About the restaurant

DE NOCHE HAS MOVED!

Chef Dani is heading up our program at Republica, where you can find your De Noche favorites on our new a la carte menu, or enjoy a tasting menu. Please book at Republica for your reservation.

Top review

hilaryVIP

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

This was our second time at De Noche. The food was fantastic like I remembered. We sat at the kitchen counter the last time and I liked that better than the alcove we were put in this time. It’s a small place and it felt a bit cramped. I’d recommend the counter for a more rich experience. Food was great. Service was mostly great…Miguel in particular.

okta farm and kitchen

4.5

4.5 (12)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

McMinnville

About the restaurant

Our culinary team looks forward to showcasing a four-course tasting menu that draws inspiration from the bounty of the Willamette Valley and the cadence of its micro-seasons. Dishes are reflective of the daily harvest from our farm and larder, as well as ingredients from purveyors and producers in which the team shares similar ethos and excitement. Through these ingredients and dishes, and alongside the team's selections of world-class wines, we tell a story of terroir, inviting guests to join us while exploring all the region has to offer.

Top review

Diana

Dined on Jul 4, 2025

The Appetizers were beautiful, and the fish course was wonderful. The Lamb is exceptional as well. The Porchetta was beyond exceptional as well. The only thing that was kind of off was the pasta, which was very thick and chewy. Filling was good though.

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