Portland, Oregon for Foodies: Restaurants Even Kids Will Love

Seattle is a global food city with no shortage of incredible restaurants, so why bother driving down to Portland to dine with kids in tow? As someone who’s lived in both Washington and Oregon, I’ve put a lot of thought (and miles) into this question, so let’s dive in.

After relocating to Oregon nearly two decades ago to raise our family, one of the things we missed most about big city life was access to a rich, diverse restaurant scene. Portland, recently dubbed the “dining capital of the Pacific Northwest” by The New York Times, became our go-to for satisfying adult foodie cravings and keeping the kids happy. Since we rarely eat out, I’ve made it my personal mission to find spots that feel like a treat to everyone at the table, whether we’re enjoying dim sum for Lunar New Year or making a quick stop on the road to or from Seattle.

What makes Portland’s food scene so special?

Portland offers a fresh sense of creativity and a laid-back vibe hard to beat, welcoming families wanting to explore bold global flavors without pretense. Plus, Portland is more economical since there’s no sales tax, allowing families to get the most bang for their buck. From vibrant food cart pods where kids (and dogs) are welcome to inventive spots serving up everything from West African jollof to Vietnamese pho, Portland offers an inviting food adventure that feels just different enough from Seattle to make it worth the trip.

But first — a quick note on how this guide is organized. Portland has many neighborhoods and quadrants, which can be confusing, whether you’re visiting for the first time or are a seasoned local. To simplify, I’ve grouped the restaurants we visit on repeat into just three areas: Downtown and Pearl District; North and Northeast; and South and Southeast. These are much broader areas than the six quadrants Portlanders navigate by, and restaurants with multiple locations (some outside city limits) are noted.

Downtown and Pearl District

Mother’s Bistro & Bar

Kicking off with a classic, Mother’s Bistro & Bar is a Portland institution in the heart of downtown that has been rolling out the red carpet for families since 2000, while also pleasing sophisticated adult palates. At Mother’s, “every meal feels like a warm hug from home,” with a globally inspired menu spanning from meatloaf to Mediterranean bowls. The menu includes breakfast, brunch/lunch, dinner, desserts and cocktails. Kids won’t want to miss the legendary macaroni and cheese.

Located in the Embassy Suites hotel, you’ll love the luxe bar (with velvet seats and chandeliers), and the family room with kids play areas, allowing adults to enjoy a meal out while little ones are entertained. 

Insider tip: Reservations are available, but they also hold some tables for walk-ins. Enjoy a cocktail in the bar (near the play area!) while you wait.

Location: 121 S.W. Third Ave., Portland

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market – Pearl District has been our go-to for casual fare over the years, thanks to its convenient location next to Powell’s Books. Whole Foods emphasizes natural and organic foods and a commitment to sustainable agriculture, and their grab-and-go meals, snacks and relaxed shopping environment are perfect for families looking for a quick fuel-up while exploring the Pearl District. This location offers an extensive hot and cold food bar, and we love assembling our own salad bowls while the kids choose favorites like macaroni and cheese or sushi.

Insider tip: This location has a secure underground parking garage (discounted with purchase) and is near both the bookstore and area clothing shops.

Location: 1210 N.W. Couch St., Portland

North and Northeast Portland

Firehouse Restaurant

When I learned that Firehouse Restaurant was dishing up fabulous wood-fired pizza, house-made pasta, cocktails and more in a former firehouse in the historic Woodlawn neighborhood, I knew we needed to visit. Firehouse occupies a 1913 station that originally housed firefighters on the top floor and horse-drawn engines below. They offer small plates, wood-fired pizza, large plates, drinks and desserts. 

Insider tip: Kids will likely enjoy the classic margherita pizza, while adults can dive into adventurous seasonal flavors such as delicata squash or pear and blue cheese.

Location: 711 N.E. Dekum St., Portland

Friendship Kitchen

Our family loves Vietnamese, and so when we accidentally stumbled across Friendship Kitchen with its casual, covered dog-friendly patio, it was promptly added to our short list. Specializing in Vietnamese and Asian fusion dishes, they also offer signature cocktails, and there are several other restaurants sharing the communal space if someone in your family prefers to go in a different direction (I bet they won’t).

Insider tip: You’ll love the Impossible egg rolls and variety of pho options (beef, chicken and vegan).

Location: 2333 N.E. Glisan St., Portland; or try the new restaurant Friendship Kitchen NW: Saigon 2 Singapore at 2764 N.W. Thurman St. in Portland.

Gado Gado

At the peak of the pandemic, we packed up the kids and headed to Portland for a restaurant experience we desperately missed: vibrant international cuisine, family style. Gado Gado, showcasing inventive Indonesian and Southeast Asian fare in a colorful, casual setting in the Hollywood District, was getting a lot of press. The cozy outdoor booths and heat lamps made the experience even more family-friendly. We devoured the rich, spicy dishes while the kids enjoyed flaky roti and sweets. We returned for another memorable meal after the pandemic ended, and it holds firm on our “best of Portland” list as a great spot for adventurous diners looking to explore global flavors together.

Insider tip: Make sure to check on spiciness levels when choosing dishes for the kids.

Location: 1801 N.E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., Portland

Kayo’s Ramen

Kayo’s Ramen, with locations in Portland and Beaverton, is one of our favorite ramen shops in the city with a broad menu that includes traditional ramen, vegan choices, Kayo’s tacos, potstickers and more. At Kayo’s, they specialize in clear broth Japanese ramen (freshly made in-house daily), which presents a lighter, more refined alternative. They also offer special kids fare, including the traditional shoyu or shio ramen in a smaller portion with a side of shelled edamame. 

Insider tip: Signature tacos are just $3 on Taco Tuesdays.

Portland location: 3808 N. Williams Ave. #124, Portland
Beaverton location: 3205 S.W. Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton

Pine State Biscuits

Pine State Biscuits, Southern comfort food with a Portland twist, originally got its start at the Portland Farmers Market and now has multiple locations within Portland and beyond. Its famous flaky, buttery biscuits can be enjoyed alone with spreads or made into hearty sandwiches — both “build your own” (eggs, meat, veggie) — or featured biscuit sandwiches.

Insider tip: If the biscuits aren’t enough, kids may enjoy the fried macaroni and cheese or corndog option, and there are plenty of sweets too (try the seasonal figgy pop tart). There are also a few veggie options, such as collards, side salad or slaw, to choose from. 

Location: Pine State operates multiple Portland locations, along with a food truck (and a location in Reno, Nevada).

South and Southeast Portland

Akadi

One rainy spring day, we headed to Portland to try a restaurant that had been getting incredible press: West African Akadi. I knew we adults would love the authentic, bold, flavorful dishes, but I was unsure how our less adventurous teen would fare. He loved it! He chose beef samosas, suya wings and a side of traditional French fries, and enjoyed eating with his hands. The restaurant is casual and welcoming in a lofty, beautifully adorned space. Get ready to discover African cuisine without leaving the Pacific Northwest.

Insider tip: The menu is clearly labeled for special dietary restrictions, and I loved having plenty of vegan and vegetarian choices, and beautiful mocktails too.

Location: 1001 S.E. Division, Portland

Broder Café

My husband is of Scandinavian descent, so a trip to Broder Café was a must, and we chose the more casual counter service for a meetup with our children and a friend from out of town. Broder has been serving Nordic brunch since 2007, with sweets and savories to please everyone in a group (try the lefse and Swedish meatballs), and the largest selection of aquavit on the West Coast. There are five Broder locations: three in Portland (Broder Cafe, Broder Nord, and Broder Söder), one in Hood River, and one in Astoria.

Insider tip: At Broder Söder, you can combine Broder fare with a family excursion by visiting Oregon’s only Thomas Danbo troll — Ole Bolle — located in a lovely garden on the Nordic Northwest campus in Southwest Portland.

Broder Café location: 2508 S.E. Clinton St., Portland

Cartopia Food Cart Pod

Cartopia, one of Portland’s original food cart pods plus a beer garden, has been a landmark of the city’s food cart scene since around 2008. Food cart pods — a grouping of food trucks with shared seating — took off in the mid-2000s and are a family-friendly option because they’re casual and everyone can pick their own fare.

To give you an idea of current offerings: We adults loved Tahrir Square (Mediterranean/Egyptian cuisine including falafel, shawarmas and vegan options), and the teen boys in our group found their perfect meal at Pyro Pizza (wood-fired pizzas and locally made craft sodas).

Insider tip: Many food cart pods, like this one, are also dog-friendly.

Location: 1207 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland

Excellent Cuisine

Excellent Cuisine, located in the spacious former Wong King’s Seafood building (which closed during the pandemic), is a destination dim sum experience that we love. Here you’ll find a large dining hall with casual family-style seating and roving dim sum carts loaded with classic and modern dim sum tidbits to delight the entire family.

They also offer a broader Chinese menu beyond dim sum, including steamed and baked dishes, rice and noodles, signature dishes and more. We’ve enjoyed delving into more traditional dishes that our Chinese friends recommended while loading the table with our kids’ favorite dumplings and sesame balls.

Insider tip: They don’t take reservations, and weekends are very popular, so come early and be prepared for a bit of a wait. 

Location: 8733 S.E. Division St. #101, Portland

Mirisata

Mirisata, the first Sri Lankan restaurant in Oregon and the self-described first vegan Sri Lankan restaurant in the world, represents everything I love about Portland eateries: The food is inventive and delicious, and the business prioritizes a progressive worker-owned cooperative model with an overall laid-back vibe. What’s more, it was just voted the Best South Asian Restaurant in Willamette Week’s “Best of Portland” lineup (which included non-vegan restaurants). They offer rice and curry plates, signature dishes, brunch, cocktails, sweets and so much more.

Insider tip: The menu is clearly labeled with mild options, and picky kids may enjoy the roti (vegan cheese or vegan meatball and cheese), veggie fried rice or sweets.

Location: 2420 S.E. Belmont St., Portland

Sweets and treats

I hope you saved room for dessert! Creo Chocolate, farm-direct craft chocolate, is your destination for everything chocolate from handmade bonbons to chocolate drinks, and they also have “build-a-bar” tasting experiences for ages 8 and older. Farina Bakery offers a rainbow of handcrafted French macarons and fresh pastries. At Kulfi, every batch of ice cream and kulfi is handcrafted by first-generation South Asians, with classic as well as unique rotating flavors. They also have falooda (and if you don’t know what that is, you’re definitely going to want to check it out). Drop by the Pix Patisserie Pix-O-Matic vending machine anytime, open 24 hours, where you can choose among desserts, macarons and “random stuff to make you smile.” Soro Soro Coffee & Dessert, a Korean bakery and café, features adorable animal-shaped cheesecakes, beverages and more.

I hope you feel inspired to plan a family culinary adventure in Portland and broaden your family’s palate without venturing too far from home.