Discover the Best New Restaurants in Portland

by The OpenTable Team

Updated 23 October 2019

One of the hippest cities in the world, the Oregon hub of Portland likes to "keep things weird". That they do with its arts scene, creative eateries, and quirky culture - unique enough to earn its own sketch comedy show, Portlandia! The best new restaurants in Portland drive the city's cool vibe, delivering a wide array of creative dishes with influences from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. But where are the smartest, savviest diners in Portland heading out to when they're looking for a new place to eat? Welcome to the Tastemaker 20. Here, we've gathered information from in-the-know Portland diners to put together this list of the coolest new spaces in Portland. From local beer and burger joints to cool pizza places and upscale restaurants, the best new restaurants in Portland have something for everyone. Grab a table in Portland tonight and enjoy!

NORMANDIE

4.8

4.8 (101)

$50 and over

Contemporary French / American

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Twice is nice at this Buckland hot spot, one of the best new restaurants in Portland. Normandie boasts not one but two happy hour periods. There are plenty of treats found at Normandie during these fun times. Try the oysters with house toppings or the Bayonne ham and pickles with Little T's baguette. For dinner, menu highlights include family-style Tamarind braised short ribs with Asian pear and cucumbers. There are also steamed mussels with bouillabaisse broth and fennel and herb salad. Go for a selection from the Normandie wine list or try one of the specialty cocktails, like the "City Vieux" with rye and bitters.

Top review

Leslie

Dined 2 days ago

The food was mostly super delicious-particularly the broiled oysters and the potatoes and raclette.

The Star Portland

4.7

4.7 (299)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Pearl District

About the restaurant

This celebrated pizza spot is one of the best new restaurants in Portland. It's the spot to go in town for both deep-dish and thin-crust pizza, served in a relaxing and welcoming Portland environment. Start with the roasted broccolini with fresh garlic and chili flakes or the meatballs with house marinara. For spicier tastes, try the spicy sausage pizza with Calabrese sausage and cherry peppers. The hearty deep-dish pizza menu boasts the "All-Star" with bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, and mozzarella. Pair the pizzas with a local Portland beer, like the Mystery Cloud Hazy from Gigantic Brewing or the Ashland Amber Ale from Caldera Brewing Company.

Top review

Susan

Dined on 7 Dec 2024

What a great experience. I came with my family and we had the best time. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was amazing. The service was superb.

DEDIKo

4.9

4.9 (376)

$31 to $50

Georgian

Vancouver

About the restaurant

The nearby city of Vancouver (the one in Washington) is one of the best new restaurants in Portland. It features one of the more intriguing styles of cuisine in the Pacific Northwest - Georgian. Not the style of the American state; instead, this fun space features recipes from the Eastern European country of Georgia. Try Georgian dishes like traditional dumplings, marinated grilled meat, and cheese bread. Another favorite? The "kababi," with a ground chicken patty and traditional spices on a lavash flatbread. It's a fascinating place in the Northwest for an out-of-the-box meal.

Top review

Suzanne

Dined on 8 Dec 2024

Love this cozy restaurant! Service is always great and the food is delicious. Love the dumplings!

OK Omens

4.8

4.8 (457)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

The newest creation from celebrated chef Justin Woodward, OK Omens is one of the best wine destinations in Portland. A welcoming and green spot off of Southeast Hawthorne Street, OK Omens boasts one of the best wine menus in Portland. Start with the "wine bumps," shots of rose, white, or chilled red. The wine selections also feature descriptive and fun headlines like "Oregon Red That Smells Sooo Much Like Moroccan Cured Black Olives." Stop in during the daily happy hour in the afternoons or at night for specials on the restaurant's "beans on beans," French fries, burger, tacos, and more.

Top review

Victor

Dined 7 days ago

We went for the Machetes popup, everything we ordered was so delicious. The service is always great the ambiance is perfect, great date night/dinner spot. 10/10 recommend checking out the Machetes popup. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

Discover more

Experience

Machete Winter Residency at OK Omens

Experience

1$ Oyster & Riesling Happy Hour

Experience

Fried Chicken Wednesdays!