Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Portland

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Portland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Magna Kusina

4.9

4.9 (136)

$30 and under

Filipino

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Chef Carlo Lamagna, one of Food and Wines Best New Chefs and a James Beard Awards finalist, brings a twist to the food he grew up on. A modern take on Filipino cuisine steeped in traditional dishes. Old school flavor with a new school style. Connecting with diners through flavor and story. Enjoy signature takes on popular Filipino dishes at this award winning restaurant.

Top review

Angel

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

The food, the people, the drinks, you can’t go wrong. Your dining experience can be adventurous or safe with lots of well known options and maybe something you’ve never tried before, but it’s all made with love and care. You feel welcome as soon as you walk in the door and are taken care of right up until you leave. One of my favorite restaurants in Portland.

Libre

4.9

4.9 (11)

$50 and over

Dessert

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Where Freedom Meets Flavor

Libre is a dessert bar and cocktail lounge in Portland, Oregon, where freedom bleeds from mezcal cocktails to mole desserts. Walk in and leave your troubles at the door, and experience a world of dreams coming true.

Our pastry chef, Gabriella Martinez, creates fantastical desserts with components ranging from corn husk meringue to bone marrow caramel. Meanwhile, our bar director, "Nan" Chaison, crafts innovative cocktails, including a mezcal-based mole milk punch.

The moodily lit, flower-adorned space with purple velvet banquettes provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening.

Come to Libre and experience a taste of freedom.

Top review

Diana

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

The drinks, desserts, food, ambiance, and service were absolutely amazing. This was my third time in Libre, and every time it’s been just this great. I will be back!

LeChon

4.8

4.8 (3552)

$30 and under

South American

Southwest Portland

About the restaurant

Lechon is a South American dining experience that seamlessly combines the fiery cooking of Argentina, Chile and Patagonia, along with creative inspiration of the chef. Enjoy perfectly charred 28-day dry-aged ribeye, grilled octopus with chorizo, housemade piquillo pepper and pork empanadas, slow roasted lechon, refreshing ceviches and smoked bone marrow.

Executive Chef Jaco Smith consistently pushes the boundaries on traditional Latin fare by incorporating wood-fired flavors into his cuisine while boasting a view of the Willamette River that few Portland restaurants can offer. Smith comes from a large family of cattle, sheep and grain farmers. He started cooking at a young age in his mother’s kitchen. His favorite childhood memories include the tastes of dulce de leche, flan and grilled breads, reminiscent of South American flavors and commonly found on South African kitchen tables.

Top review

ArthurVIP

Dined 1 day ago

An absolutely fabulous dining experience. The chef Jaco Smith is wonderful and has a wonderful menu and service that is more than excellent. Highly recommended when in Portland!

Discover more

4.8

4.8 (62)

$50 and over

Korean

Northeast Portland

About the restaurant

Han Oak has brought back hot pot! With 1-week dry aged short rib, hand cut noodles, and a beautiful array of mushroms and greens, all cooked table side in our bone broth supreme.

Han Oak is a communal, prix-fixe Korean restaurant emphasizing traditional flavors, seasonal ingredients, and fine technique. From their addictive hot pot to their mouthwatering dumplings, every bite at Han Oak is a taste of pure happiness.

Join the fun at Han Oak with their themed set menu, currently all about a Korean Hot Pot and interactive dining, available for reservation from Wednesday to Saturday nights. Get ready to dive into a feast of Korean flavors that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

Book a later reservation and ask about our full-on karaoke setup! Karaoke may or may not happen but if you see the disco lights and the fog machine on, get in the queue!

Top review

Fanny

Dined 4 days ago

Food was delish and service was excellent. They were kind to my kids as well, major bonus.

Canard - Burnside

4.8

4.8 (123)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Northeast Portland

About the restaurant

Wine bar meets casual eatery in the heart of Portland's Central East Side. From the team that brought you Le Pigeon.

Top review

Michelle

Dined 1 day ago

We absolutely love the service and food. Seasonal menu with innovative use of ingredients.

Jeju

4.8

4.8 (37)

$50 and over

Korean

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Korean-American cuisine with a focus on wood-fired cooking techniques and whole-animal butchery, Jeju Restaurant is the newest addition to the Han Oak family of restaurants by Chef Peter Cho and Sun Young Park.

Please note: We kindly ask that large parties of 6 or more participate in our Chef's Tasting Menu.

Top review

Tiffany

Dined 3 days ago

Always have a lovely time here and it was a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary. Great food, loved the additions from Toki and the a la carte options. Bao burger and the truffle mashed potatoes were faves.

Discover more

Experience

Chef's Counter Reservation

Experience

Private Dining Room Reservation

Wilfs Restaurant & Jazz Bar

4.7

4.7 (1231)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Pearl District

About the restaurant

Voted one of the top dining destinations for 20234by OpenTable!

Welcome to Wilfs...
Located at Union Station, at the foot of the Broadway Bridge. Cozy red wing back chairs provide guests with an intimate escape from the world, 'Mad Men' atmosphere best describes the lounge and it's modern menu of classic house made cocktails, while listening to the best jazz, performed up-close and personal.
Our expert staff and Chef A.G. prepare local and regional dishes with a modern twist. Tableside preparation of our award winning Caesar salad, Steak Diane or fresh local seafood, pasta and local micro brews and house shaken libations.
Catering and event planning for graduations, rehearsal dinners, weddings, holiday and more.
We accept Visa. Mastercard, American Express, cash. 24 hour security on premises. Easy street parking.

Top review

Heidi

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

Stellar! 100% hands down best experience this year. Maybe ever. John was fabulous, food outstanding, signature cocktails on point, and wine top shelf. Oh and then there was the the dessert. really no words for how outstanding this experience was. Thank you for making our Christmas Eve so memorable.

Discover more

Experience

Our midweek hustle! 3-course dinner for $40

Janken

4.7

4.7 (1033)

$50 and over

Creative Japanese

Pearl District

About the restaurant

Experience a culinary journey through Japanese-Korean Fusion cuisine. Our mission is to spark joy and imagination with every dining experience through fusion cuisine demonstrating that everything is better together. Focused on small plates, hand-crafted cocktails and sharing, Janken provides a nod to the variety of experiences you can have when you dine with us. We embrace a traditional-contemporary blend to create a comfortable upscale dining experience.

Top review

Richard

Dined 3 days ago

This is definitely a destination restaurant for that special occasion. Its scores high with its ambiance and unique dishes with lots of good flavors. Also to note, the cocktail menu has some very creative drinks you will want to try.

Discover more

Departure Restaurant and Lounge

4.4

4.4 (4435)

$30 and under

Contemporary Asian

Downtown

About the restaurant

From street food-styled starters and meal-sized classics, to rice and noodle specialties to ethically-sourced sushi, Departure Portland embraces the bounty of the Pacific Northwest to deliver the fiery flavors of the Far East. Whether steamed or stir-fried, smoked or sautéed, each dish leads guests to another stage along Departure's culinary adventure.

Top review

Sharon

Dined on Dec 30, 2024

Amazing food and excellent service! I will definitely be back.

Discover more

Backwoods Brewing Company

4.2

4.2 (188)

$30 and under

American

Pearl District

About the restaurant

Backwoods Brewing Company is a family owned brewery that provides great beer, great food, and a taste of the outdoors. Pair any of our fantastic beers with some fun and friendly service while watching the big game. We have a full bar with wine and some local cider options if beer is not your thing. Private dining options are also available. Come hang out and enjoy our little slice of beervana in the Pearl! Cheers!

Top review

Melissa

Dined on Nov 3, 2024

Our server Daniel was great! Food was really fantastic!

Explore Diners' Choice best of Portland

Explore more Diners' Choice lists