Portland's Next Course: Five Culinary Trends Shaping the City of Roses
Portland's food scene is always evolving, with the city's independently-owned restaurants reinventing culinary traditions and dining experiences. From vinyl-forward bars, to a new wave of East Coast-inspired delis, pizzerias and bagel shops, and a fresh take on steakhouses, the city's restaurants are finding inventive ways to connect food, culture and community. Established and acclaimed favorites are entering new chapers with three AAPI-owned concepts moving to new locations, and neighborhood corners are emerging as culinary destinations with a new wave of openings.
Together, these trends embody a city that honors its scrappy culinary roots while continuing to redefine what dining in Portland can look—and taste—like. Here are five trends that are shaping the next course of Portland's dining scene.
Portland's New Analog Dining Culture
Portland’s dining scene is pairing sound with food and drink through a growing collection of vinyl-forward bars and hi-fi listening rooms.
At After Ours, a Vietnamese-American cocktail bar doubles as a vinyl bar, pairing food and inventive drinks with a music-first atmosphere. Sonder Listening Bar takes the concept further with a dedicated hi-fi system, curated vinyl and DJ programming alongside cocktails, small plates and espresso. Sonder’s “Music Fans First” invites up-and-coming DJ’s to play their own music on Wednesdays. Far Cry, a new hi-fi listening bar in North Portland, serves an inventive cocktail menu. Decibel pairs craft cocktails with a hi-fi sound system, inviting patrons to enjoy the highest quality audio and music experience.
Meanwhile, The Record Pub merges record shopping with a neighborhood pub, while Replicant Bar and Bottle Shop connects drinking and browsing with its adjacent record-store culture. This collection of spots, both new and old, represents a deeper connection to analog culture in Portland’s dining scene.
Delis, Pizza & Bagels: East Coast Culinary Mainstays Go West
Pizza, bagels, and deli sandwiches have long been synonymous with the east coast. Don’t count out Portland for your slice of ‘za, everything with shmear or a truly decadent Rueben on rye. The reason why Portland is a sleeper hit for deli delights? In part, the culinary talent drawn to the city. Some even say that Portland’s top tier water quality lends itself toward perfectly rising dough for bagels and pizza crusts alike.
Dream Deli is one year into its Jewish-Italian-PNW inspired menu that includes a whitefish salad melt and chocolate chip schmaltz cookie. Dimo’s Apizza has become a local favorite for New Haven style pizza, and their new sister restaurant Dimo’s Specialties is not messing around when it comes to a Caesar wrap, parmigiana with a perfect chicken cutlet, or hot Italian sandwich.
Walking into Ben & Esther’s Vegan Deli, it’d be hard to infer that the menu is entirely plant-based. The Jewish deli is complete with vegan takes on corned beef, brisket, egg salad, and even cured lox (think ribbon carrots!). What’s more, knishes, latkes and giant Kosher pickles are waiting in the deli case.
Portland’s a brunch town? New to the bagel scene? Try Red Hen Bakery, Sincerely, Bagel, and Pipsqueak Bagels.
AAPI-Owned Hot Spots Finding New Life this Fall
Portland’s fall restaurant calendar is bringing three AAPI-owned concepts into new spaces, with established names beginning their next chapters.
The James Beard award-winning JinJu Patisserie is returning to North Williams this fall, bringing its celebrated French-inspired pastries, cakes and chocolates back to the neighborhood. In October, another James Beard award-winning spot, Langbaan, will move to its new home just in time to celebrate the restaurant’s 12th anniversary with a dinner series featuring visiting chefs from around the world. Meanwhile, Filipino-American restaurant Pamana will open its second location in Northeast Portland in October, expanding beyond its Hoxton residency for their dinner service. Together, the openings highlight the continued momentum of Portland’s AAPI culinary community while bringing fresh energy to Eastside neighborhoods.
Portland is Having a Steakhouse Moment
Portland is having a steakhouse moment, with new energy bringing fresh concepts to a dining format with deep roots in the city.
The Malarkey, the newest addition, puts its own spin on the steakhouse with wood-fired steaks, seafood, Pacific Northwest ingredients and an energetic and theatrical, sometimes playful, atmosphere. G-Love has taken a different approach with its “reverse steakhouse,” putting vegetables at the center while treating steak as a supporting player. G-Love's partnership with Olde Moon Farm just one hour outside of Portland is key to the restaurant’s success.
These new spots join a roster of beloved institutions—including RingSide Steakhouse, Laurelhurst Market, OX Restaurant, Clyde’s Prime Rib and Sayler’s Old Country Kitchen—that have kept Portland’s steakhouse tradition alive for decades.
NE Killingsworth Corner Celebrates New Openings
As Portland is a city of neighborhoods, sometimes a small cozy residential neighborhood can delightfully be a culinary hotspot. The corner of 29th and Killingsworth in the cozy neighborhood of Concordia is one such example, with a new guard of exciting restaurants joining the community where Naomi Pomeroy’s Beast and Expatriate bar once called home.
Marée is an intimate bistro inspired by the flavors of coastal France, Spain and Basque Country—and a great wine list to match.
Filipino restaurant Pamana is opening its second location (October 2026) in the former Expatriate space. They plan to service familiar classics of lumpia, sisig, and kinilaw, as well as some seasonally-driven dishes.
The always buzzing Gabbiano’s--known for mozzarella “shooters” and classic red sauce plates has opened Gabby’s Next Door with lunch, supper club events, and an irresistible focaccia counter. Need even more Italian fare? Head across the street to the new Estes for handmade pasta.
Thirsty? Head to Wilder for cocktails, Bardo for artisinal tea and the upcoming Foxchase Tavern.
Photo credit for the above photo: The Malarkey
