The Official Guide to Portland

It’s a well-established fact: Portland is one of the world’s great food cities. Hearing this, someone might plan a trip to Portland, visit a few restaurants and head for home. But a Portland trip that only involves restaurants is missing out on so much of the excellent food Portland has to offer.

Because here are a few other important facts: Portland has incredible food carts. And farmers’ markets. And dessert spots and brewery food and burger chains (and more). So should a trip to the City of Roses involve a meal (or three) in a restaurant? Absolutely. But dig a little deeper into the Portland food scene and you’ll find all the many forms delicious Portland food can take.

Food Carts

The food truck craze has swept the national food scene, and there are great options all across the country. But it’s hard to deny that Portland is America’s honorary food truck capitol (and the best of the food truck cities), for all kinds of reasons:

(1.) We’ve got our own cool name for them (because Portland always has to be a little bit different): food carts!

(2.) It’s the most food-truck friendly city — that means up-and-coming chefs can thrive, and there’s always an abundance of options.

(3.) Most Portland food carts are organized into food cart pods, so you can sample all kinds of cuisines in a single stop.

(4.) The simplest, most important reason of all: Portland food carts are delicious.

Markets

Let’s say you can’t make up your mind about what to do for lunch — do you want to eat out or make something at home? Why not head to a market, where both options are at your fingertips?

Peruse preposterously fresh produce and delectable meats (plus gifts, snacks, beverages and more), so you can get everything you need to whip up a feast. Or, if the delicious smells prove too tempting, swing by a market food cart and let someone else do the cooking after all. What’s more, there are markets all over the city in all different styles: farmers’ markets, food halls, neighborhood markets and more.

Sweet Treats

Sometimes you’ve just got to have something sweet, whether it’s the cherry on top of an excellent meal or a stand-alone “just because” treat. Fortunately, Portland is flush with top-notch bakeries, ice cream spots and doughnut shops (plus less common indulgences like s’mores and pies). And no matter where you find yourself in the city, a great dessert is sure to be nearby — treat yourself to the sweeter side of the Portland food scene today.

Special Diets

Anyone with a dietary restriction or a dietary preference has experienced the frustration of investigating a package, label or menu and failing to find the info they need. This is one area where Portland really shines: chefs and servers tend to be highly informed on the food they serve, meaning they’re well-equipped to help you navigate your options. Portland is also home to an abundance of restaurateurs who specialize in specific diets, and there are a variety of spots that are perfect fits for diners who are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto, alcohol-free and more.

Abundant Options

And the options don’t stop there. “Food” in Portland can mean so many things, and there’s always more delicious exploring to be done — from the Alberta Arts District to the Pearl District, from Northwest Portland to Southeast Portland, from ramen restaurants to taquerias to sushi spots.