The gateway to Portland’s Mississippi Avenue business district is welcoming two new restaurants next week.
Cafe Rosetta and Matsunoki Ramen may have different menus, but the two eateries share an owner and adjoining storefronts on the corner of North Fremont Street and Mississippi Avenue.
Starting next week, both businesses will flip their signs to open and begin serving side-by-side coffee and noodles.
Grant Macdonald, who previously managed culinary operations at Afuri Ramen & Izakaya, is the co-owner of both Cafe Rosetta and Matsunoki Ramen.
Opening restaurants next to each other was a serendipitous decision.
“We were looking for a second location for the ramen shop, and the space that we were able to find had a cafe attached to it,” Macdonald explained.
“So, we said ‘You know, we would love to take that over too… and see if we can make something really interesting and fun.’”
Cafe Rosetta and Matsunoki Ramen will join several other establishments that have recently opened along Mississippi Avenue.
Von Ebert Brewery debuted its new taproom across the street in March, and Rangoon Bistro and Portland Pickles Public House opened last year farther up the road.
Macdonald’s businesses will open two days apart: Cafe Rosetta will open on Tuesday, April 22, and Matsunoki Ramen will follow on Thursday, April 24.
For those eager for a taste, both stores will offer free coffee and ramen, respectively, to their first 50 customers.
Cafe Rosetta, located at 912 N. Fremont St., is a fresh addition to Portland, inspired by Macdonald’s appreciation for the city’s coffee culture and Italian espresso traditions.
The shop will source coffee from local Heart Coffee Roasters, and its food menu will feature focaccia sandwiches, salads, soups, and baked goods, all made in-house.
Affordability is a key focus at Cafe Rosetta, with everything on the menu priced under $10.
“Our big philosophy is that in a time where everyone’s been having a hard time with inflation and with life feeling really difficult, we want to be a space that’s welcoming and price inclusive,” Macdonald stated.
Next door, Matsunoki Ramen will be the restaurant’s second location, and its first standalone establishment outside of the downtown food hall Pine Street Market.
The new spot at 906 N. Fremont St. will maintain the restaurant’s signature tonkotsu broth and crispy fried chicken while introducing some new features.
Equipped with an outdoor patio and bar, the North Fremont Street location will unveil a cocktail menu, alongside beer and sake on tap.
Macdonald noted that he is uncertain about what’s next for Matsunoki Ramen, but he sees this expansion as an opportunity to experiment with new ideas in a larger space.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity for us to see what’s possible,” he added.
image source from：https://www.oregonlive.com/retail/2025/04/twin-coffee-and-ramen-spots-open-next-week-in-north-portland.html
