The 6 Hottest New Portland Restaurants for Summer 2023 Dining

Jan 10, 2024

ByKatherine Chew HamiltonJune 8, 2023

A spread of nigiri from Janken

Image: Thomas Teal

The sun's out in Portland, and like the famished, post-winter diners that we are, we’re venturing out of our neighborhoods, ready to consider sustenance beyond home-cooked stews and takeout. Luckily, the past few months have brought a wealth of new restaurants, each bringing something new to Portland's table. Here are the newcomers we recommend, who are dishing out playful, refreshing vibes and eats.

Pearl District

Portland restaurants weren't known for their glitz and glam—until Janken appeared on the scene in November in the former Bluehour space, complete with a giant faux cherry blossom tree. Helmed by chef Rodrigo Ochoa from Miami, the restaurant offers a fusion of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean dishes—hence the name, which is the Japanese equivalent of "rock, paper, scissors." Start with a cocktail presented under a small, smoke-filled glass dome, then move on to cold dishes like hamachi with crispy rice, followed by hot shareable plates like wagyu gyoza. Showy dishes like caviar and a whole Peking duck are sure to draw envious stares. 250 NW 13th Ave

Husband-and-wife team Shinji (left) and Izumi Uehara are the owners and chefs of Kaede.

Image: Courtesy Kaede

Sellwood-Moreland

Since opening in Sellwood in January, Kaede has quickly jumped to the higher echelons of sushi in Portland. The specials menu features fish from the famous Tokyo market, including varieties you rarely see like half beak, sardine, and golden-eye snapper, all typed on a hand-cut tiny square of colored construction paper. Little garnishes, like a dot of jalapeño or a curl of yuzu zest, bring the fish to new dimensions. Battera, a square-shaped sushi topped with pickled mackerel and a translucent sheet of kombu, is the house special and a must-order. But a lot more than sushi is for the taking, too—duck soba, chawanmushi with the likes of seasonal mushrooms, and a super-delicate agedashi tofu grace the menu and are just as much of a draw. 8268 SE 13th Ave

Madison South

The newest entry into Portland's lively Yucatecan food scene comes from a familiar face: Manny Lopez, the former chef at another Yucatecan restaurant, Angel Food & Fun. Now he's the owner of his own spot, serving crisp panuchos, puffy salbutes, custardy tamales in banana leaves with tangy-sweet tomato sauce, and hearty plates like frijol con puerco, which is a black bean stew with tender pork. Look out for specials like relleno negro, a charred chile stew with turkey and eggs. You could also order a burrito or a quesadilla, or even chicken tenders—but why bother when you’ve got this regional goodness at your fingertips? 3244 NE 82nd Ave, 971-429-1452

A glimpse into the process of making Tasty Corner's knife-cut noodles

Image: Courtesy Carter Hiyama

Downtown Portland

While it used to be true that the spiciest Sichuan food lay outside of Portland city limits, Tasty Corner is helping change that narrative with dishes from Sichuan and beyond. At dinner, dry spicy pots overflow with lamb, potatoes, Chinese celery and cauliflower on almost every table. Round out your dinner with crispy Chongqing chicken, vinegary pork kidneys, or crawfish doused in brick-red spicy sauce. Tasty Corner knows its Portland State audience well: during its weekday lunchtime special, there's nothing more satisfying than tucking into a giant plate of ma po tofu, complete with an egg roll and soup—all for under $11. 624 SW Hall St

Part restaurant and part bar, Toyshop Ramen is outfitted with pinball machines.

Image: courtesy Gilbert Terrazas

Concordia

Equal parts bar and restaurant, Toyshop Ramen is the brainchild of business partners David Sigal and Blake Foster of red sauce joint Gabbiano's, who are expanding their domain on the southern half of NE Killingsworth and 30th with chef and co-owner Isaac Ocejo at Toyshop Ramen. Belly up to the counter for bowls of ramen, drinking snacks, and beer and cocktails, punctuated by rounds of pinball. The katsu corn dog is a must, crispy and beefy and wiggling with bonito flakes, as is the aptly named "Addictive Cabbage" salad with chile threads and toasty sesame. The namesake ramen can lean a bit salty, but well-crafted drinks—like the blue Squirtle, red Charmander, and green Bulbasaur cocktails on tap, each served with a Pokémon card—are highlights. 3000 NE Killingsworth St

Workshop's asparagus and green garlic with savory tuile

Image: Courtesy Workshop/Thomas Teal

Buckman

At neighboring restaurant Fermenter, chef Aaron Adams built an all-vegan destination for kombucha, tempeh, buttery vegan biscuits, and shio koji millet onion burgers that buzzes at brunch, lunch, and dinner. Now he's continuing the plant-based journey at Workshop, a charming restaurant offering a lush, veggie-forward tasting menu and up-close chef's counter experience. You might be greeted with a rainbow of julienned, ridiculously crisp vegetables, from Nantes carrots to nopales, all dressed with cashew yogurt. Or you might get a veggie take on meat-and-potatoes, featuring glazed succulent king trumpet mushrooms with herb demi-glace. Cocktails are wildly creative, and equally good whether alcoholic or zero-proof. Cap off the night with one of many house-made nonalcoholic spirits, including a spot-on analog of Fernet. 1407 SE Belmont St