Portland · United States
The Portland food cheat sheet
One page from Chef Amazing · November 2026
The dish to eat
Picked Maine lobster, lightly dressed, in a buttered split-top hot dog bun.
Best at Eventide Oyster Co., Old Port. Get: The brown-butter lobster roll
Five places, and what to order
- Luncheonettecafe · Munjoy HillGet: The bibimbap with za'atar tofu, or a sandwich
- Izakaya Minatorestaurant · East BaysideGet: Small plates and sake at the counter
- Bread & Friendsbakery · Fore StreetGet: A loaf or pastry by day, the wood-grilled pork chop at dinner
- Dourofor maine oysters · East EndGet: Raw bar plates
- Amato'sfor maine Italian sandwich · India StreetGet: The classic Italian
The market
Open-air farmers market. Oregon produce, mushrooms, artisan food
The line worth it
Eventide Oyster Co.Old Port
Get: brown-butter lobster roll
How it works here
Tip: Tip 18-22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two a drink at the bar.
Book: Book the hot places on Resy or OpenTable, often the day tables drop (2-4 weeks out); counters and slices are walk-in.
When locals eat: Lunch noon-2pm, dinner 6-9pm; it gets late only in the big cities.