Portland Oregon has always been one of the top destinations in the United States for good food and excellent drinks but once the Pandemic hit, the great bars and restaurants in the PDX are becoming a memory.
Thankfully, now that the Covid-19 vaccine is rolling out across Oregon, and millions of people are vaccinated, we’re starting to see more bars and restaurants reopen across the Portland area, including the following.
Portland Oregon Restaurants That Are Reopening In 2021
Collective Oregon Eateries, or the CORE Food Cart Pod
What it is: While many of the food carts at CORE have started opening, the physical building with indoor seating has yet to fully open its doors. Already, this pod has shown remarkable promise: the Drip’n Crab, Papi Sal’s, and Jas Kitchen are all serious additions to the Portland cart scene, and the pod itself plans to host live music on its balcony and farmers markets onsite. Once the pod fully opens, it’ll have indoor picnic tables, room for indoor vendors, and a Breakside Brewing cart for beer. Down the line, it’ll also open a cocktail bar on site.
When it’s opening: Ongoing; should have a grand opening indoors by mid-April
Where it is: 3612 SE 82nd Avenue
What it is: Everybody Eats, a catering company and East Portland restaurant, opened in 2020 with a menu of seafood-loaded mac and cheese, Philly cheesesteaks, and crispy-crunchy po’boys. Very soon, however, Everybody Eats will move into a Pearl District spot where it will up its offerings: From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., owners Johnny Huff Jr. and Marcelle Goss will serve jaw-dropping brunch fare, like strawberry shortcake chicken and waffles, banana pudding french toast, and shrimp and grits with lump crab meat. Then, in the evening, the two will specialize in the restaurant’s major hits, like lobster mac and cheese and Cajun pasta, as well as new additions like smothered turkey wings. Theoretically, the more central location will make this already
When it’s opening: March 23
Where it is: 138 NW 10th Avenue
What it is: A Vietnamese restaurant in Northeast Portland serving things like beef and cheese banh mi and bún bò huế, with a quirky and cheerful cocktail menu leaning on Southeast Asian fruits and spices. Owner Trang Nguyen is a gregarious and enthusiastic owner who is looking to open something lively and fun; there’s a good chance this restaurant will reflect that same energy.
When it’s opening: End of March
Where it is: 2333 NE Glisan Street
Scout Beer Food Cart Pod at NE Glisan
What it is: Scout Beer is opening another pod with a promising slate of carts: Poppyseed, the new cart from a Le Pigeon alum serving everything from duck pate to sticky toffee pudding sundaes, will move into the pod, as well as beloved vegan taco cart Taquiza Vegana. The cart will also host two new carts: Maillard, a cart from former Nostrana cook Andrew Gillis, as well as a New England steak bomb cart called Wicked Good Subs. Scout Beer will handle the booze, and a cart called Piece of Planet will make Indian staples and bread in a clay oven.
When it’s opening: Within the month
Where it is: 2810 NE Glisan Street
What it is: Another highly anticipated Vietnamese opening, Lúa is set to open on North Williams in April. Owners Alvin Wang, Phumitas Kaewklang, and Raymond Chau will make rice noodles in-house for various dishes, offer an array of sizzling plates including breakfast staple banh mi chao, and cold-press juices for breakfasts and cocktails. North Portland’s Vietnamese offerings are limited compared to the city’s other neighborhoods, but the opening of Lúa will not only add some new heat to the game on Williams; its house-made touches, like restaurant-made tapioca pearls for boba, should make it a destination citywide.
When it’s opening: Late April
Where it is: 3971 N Williams Avenue, Suite 103
Bar Midnight
What it is: Portland has seen fewer bar openings in recent months, compared to restaurants or carts, but the opening of Bar Midnight should be big. Estanislado Orona, who worked at bars like Raven and Rose and Botanist House, is focusing on aromatic cocktails leaning heavily on fortified and sparkling wines. The cocktail that caught our attention, for instance, blends rosé, vermouth, and white port with rose petals, rhubarb, and cardamom. The bar will take over the former Liquor Store space, with outdoor seating and takeout cocktails.
When it’s opening: May
What it is: From the team behind Gado Gado, Oma’s Hideaway is a revamp of the briefly open Oma’s Takeaway, pulling inspiration from Southeast Asian night markets with hand-pulled noodles, a case of char siu-style meats and sausages, and Malaysian-Chinese snacks. Chef Thomas Pisha-Duffly teased dishes like Malaysian beer can chicken, Sichuan bolognese, and frozen drinks leaning on tropical fruits. Oma’s Takeaway was a quick addition to the heatmap after it opened last year, and Gado Gado is a recent addition to the Eater 38; based on their track record, the Pisha-Dufflys’ latest is sure to be a hit.
When it’s opening: May
Where it is: 3131 SE Division Street
Source –PDX Eater