8 Restaurants In Oregon That Are Hard To Get In… But Totally Worth It
Tessa Metcalf
Author
We’ve all seen those restaurants with long lines that extend all the way down the sidewalk and around the corner. Oregon is no exception, and we have several must-visit restaurants for any foodie’s bucket list! From Apizza Scholls to Bowpicker Fish & Chips, these eight unique restaurants in Oregon have cult followings that rival “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but once you’ve tasted what they have to offer, you’ll completely understand what the hype is all about. Queue up at these unique restaurants in Oregon, and get ready to have your taste buds explode with goodness.
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Have you been to these unique restaurants in Oregon? Which one is your favorite? We’d love to hear about your top picks! If there’s a favorite eatery you’d like to see featured on Only In Oregon, nominate them here!
One restaurant not included on this list that deserves mention is Soter Vineyards. In 2021, Oregon was launched into the national culinary scene in a big way with “Top Chef Portland” — and the show featured two Oregon chefs: Gabriel Pascuzzi, chef and owner of the Portland restaurants Mama Bird and Stacked Sandwich Shop, and Sara Hauman, who leads the culinary program at Soter Vineyards, creating some of the most innovative and delicious fare in the Willamette Valley. While neither of these Oregon-based cheftestants took the coveted title, simply competing in this competition was a huge honor; and since the show’s airing, Soter Vineyards has had record reservations, as folks clamber to try Chef Sara’s inventive, produce-forward, authentically PNW cuisine.
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unique restaurants in Oregon
What are some must-visit restaurants in Oregon?
Here in Oregon, we are lucky to have access to an abundance of fresh, flavorful seafood. Wild salmon, Albacore tuna, Dungeness crab, shrimp, oysters, and rockfish -- you’ll find a bounty of amazing catches along the Oregon Coast. While there are numerous exemplary places to go for seafood, and these seven Oregon Coast seafood restaurants are absolutely worth visit. In terms of seafood restaurants with views, Pelican Brewing Company wins: this spot boasts a front-row seat to the dramatic and imposing Haystack Rock, and has been serving amazing brews and fare (with equally amazing views) since 1996.
What are some weird or unique restaurants in Oregon?
Oregon embraces the weird; for proof of this, simply head over to Crescent, Oregon, where you can revel in the lore and legends of the PNW's infamous giant Sasquatch at Bigfoot Tavern. A quirky little locale off a lonely stretch of highway, Bigfoot Tavern might just be the most bizarre bar ever, and of course it’s here in Oregon. The inside of Bigfoot Tavern is a total mood, and really everything you could ever wish for in a classic dive bar!
What kind of cuisine is Oregon known for?
As a proud part of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon's cuisine is very seafood-forward. Dungeness crab, salmon, oysters... we have an entire ocean at our fingertips, and there's nothing better than enjoying the bounty of the sea! Additionally, Oregon has some of the best conditions for growing produce like green beans, sugar beets, corn, and snap beans, along with fruits such as berries, cherries, apples, plums -- and grapes for wine! Oregon's Willamette Valley is wine country, with some of the best vineyards in the Pacific Northwest. (We highly recommend checking out Soter Vineyards for amazing views, unrivaled wines, and Top Chef-level fare!)