6 Unique Places to Eat in Portland, Oregon: 2022 Edition

If you couldn’t tell already, Jared and I are big foodies and love checking out new-to-us places around town wherever we travel, but hands down one of our favorite places to go is Portland (PDX). We rung in the New Year in PDX and wanted to share with you 6 gems of unique places to eat in Portland, Oregon that we absolutely adored.

Unique Places to Eat in Portland, Oregon

*Excuse the fact that all of these photos were taken either outdoors or in our car - it was prime Omicron season so we took all the possible precautions to stay safe! :) All spots were super accommodating.

1. 1927 S’mores Company

This place has been on my list for quite some time! They call it the “cabin in the city” - an escape away from the hustle & bustle that’ll transport you to a calm, National Park-feeling vibe. They build the s’more and blowtorch the marshmallow in front of you as you make your way to pay. The unique experience is worth it on its own, but the taste - OH MY WORD! We both tried the peanut butter banana Elvis-inspired s’more that I see is no longer on their menu, but we can’t wait to go back for a million more flavor combos. They even go the extra mile and include a mini wet wipe to cleanse your hands after enjoying the tasty, but sticky creation. A++ branding/marketing and overall customer experience.

2. Buddy’s Steaks

If I told you this Philly steak was vegan, would you believe me? No, seriously. A friend of mine recommended checking out some of the vegan spots around town and we came across Buddy’s when visiting the Rose City Food Park - one of Portland’s famous food cart collections. I swear it almost instantly became a new favorite, especially for Jared who is a meat lover and said this meatless meat was as close to the real thing that he could imagine! *It is messy, however, so be sure you grab plentiful napkins.

3. The Mocking Bird

The mocking bird, get it!? Mocks of favorite meatful comfort foods are enjoyed at this second vegan spot recommended to me by my vegan friend Alaycia. Jared got the Original Sando, while I enjoyed the Buffalo Sando complete with buffalo dipping sauce and bleu cheese dressing. Jared tried mine and agreed that he probably should’ve gone with mine - the Original definitely lacks what the Buffalo makes up for in sauce. Their macaroni salad was so delish… definitely trying their mac & cheese when we come back!

4. Nacheaux

Okay, we went a little overboard with this one! To be fair, we had no idea the portions were this large. We were searching for a yummy brunch spot and had messaged a few restaurants seeing if they’d be open over the New Year’s weekend. By far the most communicative, friendly response came from Nacheaux’s amazing owner + chef! His innovative, fun dishes resemble elevated Taco Bell favorites, like burritos and crunch wraps filled with yummy goodness. My favorite is all the Cheetos dustings! The chef’s wife is from New Orleans so you know we also had to try some beignets; she even threw in some extras on the house so we could taste more flavor combos. I couldn’t recommend this place enough! We will be back.

5. Via Delizia

One of our new go-to brunch spots is this gem, known for their delicious benedicts. Jared tried their Sunrise in the Pearl benedict with bacon goodness, and I opted for their most popular vegetarian option: the Black Pearl complete with sautéed vegetables, apple balsamic creme sauce, toasted almonds. My mouth is watering just typing this! Seriously, we couldn’t talk until we practically inhaled this meal.

6. Lil’ Shalom

An unexpected but pleasant surprise find for us was this adorable bar + restaurant right next door to 1927 S’mores Co. Lil’ Shalom specializes in serving up fresh, seasonal takes on classic and modern dishes of the levant. We both enjoyed their handheld pitas with a side of cauliflower hummus. Some of the best Mediterranean food I’ve had for sure. The ambiance and staff were so lovely - we’d definitely go back sometime to take our leisure time and dine indoors!

Which of these places is next on your list? Did you discover a rec you want to share? Leave it in the comments!