Portland’s dining set was caught in a lull by December of last year, with a post-pandemic landscape revealing a stagnant restaurant scene. While a few eateries like Bauman’s on Oak with its popular pizza nights, and the creative Indo-Chinese fusion at Pasar were bright spots, the year 2024 was marked as one of the least exciting periods for new restaurant openings in decades.
However, the tides began to turn as winter transitioned into spring. The emergence of notable establishments like Katy Jane’s Oyster Bar, a sister concept from Coquine, Kau Kau serving delicious plate lunches, Balong offering unique Filipino breakfast sandwiches, and L’Echelle, an inviting neighborhood bistro, showcased that interesting culinary creations were re-emerging. This doesn’t even include the exciting pop-ups and underground residencies gaining traction.
As summer approached, the pace of new arrivals only accelerated, introducing a slew of captivating eateries such as a delightful Mexican-style seafood spot with river views and a permanent Vietnamese bakery launched by a James Beard Award-winning chef. In addition, multiple supper clubs helmed by various chefs are gaining popularity. Here’s a glimpse into ten of the most intriguing new openings this summer in Portland.
**New Restaurants**
**Alma**:
A charming Balkan and Turkish tapas restaurant, Alma draws inspiration from chef Vedran Jordan’s family recipes, celebrating his roots in Sarajevo. This establishment evolved from a pop-up called Balkan Nights to a full-scale restaurant offering a broader menu featuring dishes like lamb heart kebabs with pomegranate glaze. Guests can accompany their meals with selections of Balkan wines and Rakia, the regional brandy. Located at 5237 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Alma offers a slice of Balkan heritage.
**Bitterroot Supper Club**:
If the trend of supper clubs led by chefs named Doug continues, Bitterroot Supper Club capitalizes on this with a unique model behind chef Doug Adams and brewmaster Whitney Burnside’s Grand Fir Brewing. Early offerings feature creative comfort foods, including mini bologna sandwiches and charcoal-grilled ribeye steaks. Situated at 1403 S.E. Stark St. Suite E, the atmosphere complements the hearty menu with bottomless mugs of Grand Fir’s amber lager.
**Dimo’s Italian Specialties**:
This new Italian eatery, Dimo’s Italian Specialties, serves Roman-style pizza and sandwiches inspired by its neighboring establishment Dimo’s Apizza. With plans to introduce a “white tablecloth supper club” in the back room, diners can look forward to an extravagant dining experience with whole branzino and Brandt steaks prepared in a Spanish coal oven. The charming establishment is located at 701 E. Burnside St.
**Maglia Rosa**:
Taking over the former Bollywood Theater on Southeast Division Street, Maglia Rosa is a counter-service Italian restaurant and market. Named after the pink jersey of the Giro d’Italia, it serves an enticing menu focusing on starters and pastas, including spaghetti alla norma and lamb lasagna. Guests can enjoy wines by the glass as they dine in this vibrant environment at 3010 S.E. Division St.
**Pal’s**:
Positioned on Hayden Island, Pal’s aims to bring the charm of Suttle Lodge with a waterfront atmosphere. This kid-friendly establishment serves salads and fried fish sandwiches, featuring expansive outdoor seating overseeing the Columbia River. With its ambition to create a lively environment complete with fire pits and a stage, Pal’s invites families and friends alike for an enjoyable outing at 515 N.E. Tomahawk Island Drive.
**New Bars**
**After Ours**:
This Vietnamese vinyl bar, helmed by chef Richard Le, Kim Dam, and Mikey Nguyen, provides an inviting atmosphere enriched with records and relaxing vibes. Formerly known as Scholar, it now features a menu reminiscent of Le’s past food cart, including favorites like garlic noodles and fried chicken sandwiches. Patrons can find this cozy spot at 2226 N.E. Broadway.
**Bone Sine**:
Adjacent to Rangoon Bistro, Bone Sine serves dynamic cocktails and street-inspired dishes, offering smaller bites like pickled eggs with Thai chilies alongside heartier pork dumplings. This new spot not only allows guests to enjoy the full Rangoon Bistro menu but also sets the scene with DJs spinning records on weekends. You can find Bone Sine at 3747 N. Mississippi Ave.
**Kachka Fabrika**:
Distinguished by its vodka distillery and dumpling workshop, Kachka Fabrika offers an impressive range of martinis and seafood-focused snacks. With the bar providing views into its copper-clad distillery, guests can relish in house-infused vodkas, tinned fish, and more. The inviting atmosphere is located at 2117 N.E. Oregon St.
**Lagos Lounge**:
With a focus on Afrobeat, the Lagos Lounge occupies the former Berbati’s Pan space, featuring a menu highlighting Nigerian traditional dishes like jollof rice and fufu. This vibrant nightclub enriches Portland’s culinary diversity, joining a select few West African restaurants in the area. Located at 19 S.W. Second Ave.
**Last Rodeo**:
Matt’s BBQ Tacos collaborates with the bar group Three on a Match to bring Last Rodeo to life, offering a range of cocktails and a barbecue-inspired menu. The bar, which welcomes families, promises a lively ambiance with its extensive outdoor patio, and operates late into the night at 6637 S.E. Milwaukie Ave.
**Pop-Ups**
Portland is witnessing a refreshingly active scene in the pop-up restaurant category. Recent highlights include various new Mexican seafood residencies like Mariscos con Onda and Metlapil. Enthusiastic diners have also enjoyed the mezcal and sake bar Farag’s, and chef Tamara Hattar’s reappearance with her Middle Eastern pop-up Euzumeh in a garden behind L’Echelle.
The evolving culinary landscape is evident in the twin takeovers of the old Jacqueline/Fair Weather space with a seafood-centric offering from Merrow and Southwestern flavors from Rhinestone in the prior Night Light Lounge. This showcases Portland’s robust summer pop-up scene.
**New Bakeries**
In a delightful turn of events, bakeries in Portland appear to be flourishing as well. In addition to newcomers like Balong and Ollini, North Portland’s Jinju recently celebrated recognition as America’s Most Outstanding Bakery at the 2025 James Beard Awards. Celebrating this momentous growth, we’ve seen openings from Woodblock Bakery, founded by Jesse Schumann, along with Good Dough and the anticipated return of chef Vince Nguyen’s Berlu as a standalone bakery. This newest incarnation features a range of pastries such as the famed bánh bò nướng and is situated at 661 S.E. Belmont St.
**Upcoming Openings**
Looking ahead, Portland’s dining landscape continues to evolve with exciting announcements. Bar Nouveau, a project by former Oui! Wine Bar chef Althea Grey Potter, is set to launch at 7425 N. Leavitt Ave. Meanwhile, Earl Ninsom, known for his acclaimed Langbaan, is working on a new venture, a “midnight chicken and late-night karaoke” restaurant in the former Pok Pok space at 3226 S.E. Division St., expected to open late this year.
Lastly, the renowned 2021 food cart of the year, Baon Kainan, is set to launch a restaurant residency at the Hoxton Hotel, anticipated to open in September at 15 N.W. 4th Ave. Each new venture reflects the resilient and evolving culinary spirit of Portland, promising an exciting dining experience ahead.
As the local restaurant scene bounces back, Portlanders can expect a continued influx of innovative culinary expressions, making the city an ever-evolving gastronomic landscape.
image source from：oregonlive
