Best Restaurants for Foodies in South Waterfront

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodMexicanPizzeria

Regions

ClackamasPortlandWestside

Neighborhoods

BeavertonClackamasDowntownNortheast PortlandNorthwest PortlandPearl District

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

James Beard Award

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

20 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

1. Le Pigeon

4.9

Exceptional(1694)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary American • Southeast Portland

Booked 14 times today

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.

2. LeChon

4.9

Exceptional(3718)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• South American • Southwest Portland

Booked 65 times today

Lechon is a South American dining experience that seamlessly combines the fiery cooking of Argentina, Chile and Patagonia, along with creative inspiration of the chef. Enjoy perfectly charred 28-day dry-aged ribeye, grilled octopus with chorizo, housemade piquillo pepper and pork empanadas, slow roasted lechon, refreshing ceviches and smoked bone marrow.Executive Chef Jaco Smith consistently pushes the boundaries on traditional Latin fare by incorporating wood-fired flavors into his cuisine while boasting a view of the Willamette River that few Portland restaurants can offer. Smith comes from a large family of cattle, sheep and grain farmers. He started cooking at a young age in his mother’s kitchen. His favorite childhood memories include the tastes of dulce de leche, flan and grilled breads, reminiscent of South American flavors and commonly found on South African kitchen tables.

3. Arden

4.9

Exceptional(1111)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Northwest Portland

Booked 27 times today

Arden, nestled in Portland's Pearl District, is a foodie's haven. It offers a unique dining experience with a four-course chef's prix fixe menu featuring seasonal cuisine. Reviewers rave about the 'impeccable service', 'creative and delicious' food, and the 'beautifully presented' dishes. The award-winning wine program, featuring over 250 bottles, adds to the restaurant's charm.

4. L'Orange

4.7

Exceptional(221)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Mediterranean • Southeast Portland

Booked 20 times today

Named one of the New York Times America's Best Restaurants 2024! Tucked away upstairs in a charming old storefront and voted one of Portland's 'Best New Restaurants' in 2023, L'Orange features an intimate dining space that beckons you to immerse yourself in a different era. Chef Joel Stocks and his talented team will guide your palate through adventurous dishes that blend European culinary traditions with the finest local ingredients. Experience the taste of "Old Portland" with every bite. Enhance your dining experience with a thoughtfully curated selection of wines, personally chosen by Owner/Winemaker Jeff Vejr and his team. While our wine list boasts a European focus, we also showcase a variety of local wines, including the exceptional offerings from Jeff's own Golden Cluster label. Join us at L'Orange for a taste of history, innovation, and the vibrant flavors of the Pacific Northwest!

5. República

4.9

Exceptional(944)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Mexican • Pearl District

Booked 15 times today

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.

6. Nostrana

4.7

Exceptional(5814)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Southeast Portland

Booked 83 times today

Nostrana—literally ours—invokes local. Simple food from honest ingredients. Pure, regional, Italian. Opened in 2005, Nostrana is Chef/Owner Cathy Whims’ love letter to Italy. This is a restaurant built on relationships: with our amazing farmers and purveyors, our dedicated staff, and of course with you, our guest.We hope to offer something timeless and authentic in a beautiful space, the regional specialties of Italy deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest. We strive to be better every day. We're currently reserving indoor tables and bar seating. When available, outdoor patio reservations may be subject to weather disruptions.A Service Charge of 22% is applied to all checks at Nostrana, providing a professional and equitable wage for all team members.

A photo of Departure Restaurant and Lounge restaurant

7. Departure Restaurant and Lounge

4.6

Exceptional(4438)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary Asian • Downtown

Booked 48 times today

From street food-styled starters and meal-sized classics, to rice and noodle specialties to ethically-sourced sushi, Departure Portland embraces the bounty of the Pacific Northwest to deliver the fiery flavors of the Far East. Whether steamed or stir-fried, smoked or sautéed, each dish leads guests to another stage along Departure's culinary adventure.

A photo of Mediterranean Exploration Company restaurant

8. Mediterranean Exploration Company

4.9

Exceptional(262)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • Northwest Portland

Booked 51 times today

Mediterranean Exploration is a restaurant located in Portland, Oregon that specializes in serving upscale Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. The restaurant features casual dining in an industrial setting with a chic décor. Mediterranean Exploration serves dinner nightly and offers a variety of raw, oven, mezza, piato and grilled options on the menu for diners to choose from. The restaurant features a seasonal, market driven menu that changes daily based on seasonal varieties and the local farmers' produce available.

9. Mayrose

4.3

Awesome(129)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Unspecified • Downtown

Booked 6 times today

A popular downtown gathering spot for hotel guests and Portland locals alike, Mayrose celebrates the earthy, provocative progressive nature of this city within a hotel labelled for the strength and individualism of its namesake. Immerse yourself in its stunning décor and discover cuisine that expands your culinary horizons. Stop by the cozy Mayrose Coffee Bar every morning for a perfectly prepared cup of local coffee and a scrumptious pastry. When the sun sets, come to our Mayrose Bar to enjoy modern interpretations of classic cocktails, finely curated wines, or sink into a local brew. A lounge menu is available with selections from our Mayrose Restaurant. Live music on select nights. The restaurant is also equipped with a private dining room for meetings and social events.

10. Magna Kusina

4.7

Exceptional(184)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Filipino • Southeast Portland

Booked 26 times today

Chef Carlo Lamagna, one of Food and Wines Best New Chefs and a James Beard Awards finalist, brings a twist to the food he grew up on. A modern take on Filipino cuisine steeped in traditional dishes. Old school flavor with a new school style. Connecting with diners through flavor and story. Enjoy signature takes on popular Filipino dishes at this award winning restaurant.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

T
TracyVIP
Washington, D.C. Area •51 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Wow! So good. Innovative food that isn’t so “weird” that you are scared to try it! Really tasteful and smart cooking!
More info
ArdenPrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Northwest Portland
•
4.9
R
Rupert
Portland / Oregon •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Just changed format includes both tasting menu and a la carte options. Food and pairings were wonderful. Great to have an upscale yet original Mexican regional cuisine option in Portland!
More info
RepúblicaPrice: Very Expensive• Mexican• Pearl District
•
4.9
A
Ariana
1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Amazing service, food was delicious! So many flavors and textures. Would definitely come back!
More info
LeChonPrice: Moderate• South American• Southwest Portland
•
4.9
K
Kara
California Central Coast •1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
As always L’Orange was amazing! Best service, best food, best wine! Thanks for hosting me and my friends.
More info
L'OrangePrice: Very Expensive• Mediterranean• Southeast Portland
•
4.7
J
Jeri
New York City •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
Le Pigeon is a cozy little restaurant serving up crazy good imaginative food, using many locally sourced elements. The staff is knowledgeable and pleasant, as are the busy chefs in the open kitchen. When they had the time they were happy to answer all the questions that we, and other guests, peppered them with. A great experience for a special occasion!
More info
Le PigeonPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary American• Southeast Portland
•
4.9

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