The Ten Best Restaurants I Found For Lunch In Portland

Ten Portland Lunch Spots Worth Every Minute

Portland punches well above its weight at lunch. From taco counters to French bistros, the midday scene here is genuinely world-class. These ten spots are the ones that keep earning a return visit.

The List

• Por Que No — Everything here is homemade, tortilla chips included. Sit at the communal table, order the vegetable bowl, and let the bold flavors and bright interior do the rest.
• Boxer Ramen — Four entrées. That's it. The tonkotsu — rich pork broth, soft-poached egg, scallions — is reason enough to visit. The focused menu is a statement, not a limitation.
• Khao San — A Thai small-plates spot that rewards curiosity. Order widely, share everything, and try to snag the Tuk Tuk booth if it's free.
• Deschutes Brewery — Eighteen taps, locally sourced food, and a kitchen that takes pub fare seriously. Pair the Black Butte Porter with deviled eggs and an apple–red onion tart.
• Lardo — Born as a food cart, now a downtown institution. The Grilled Mortadella sandwich is a showstopper; the Pork Belly, Egg and Cheese is the crowd favorite. The patio is a bonus.
• Coquine — A neighborhood gem on SE Belmont. The open-faced sandwich is elegant and satisfying, and the all-women kitchen team brings real intention to every plate.
• Townshend's Tea House — Little pot pies that are quietly devastating, and an iced chai that earns the tea-house credentials. Free Wi-Fi seals the deal.
• Picnic House — An underrated find with standout beef terrine and a room worth lingering in.
• Le Bistro Montage — Order the prosciutto and goat cheese omelet. Ask for it to go — the kitchen wraps leftovers in tinfoil sculptures, which is either art or theater, possibly both.
• Grassa — Serious pasta downtown. The Chicken Radiatore (listed as Chicken Cacciatore on the menu) is rich enough that dinner becomes optional.