Portland Restaurants and Bars Worth Looking Forward To

Here are some ideas for where to find some of the most tasty and interesting food and drink around town:

New Restaurants With Rave Reviews

A couple of newish spots have attracted the attention of Oregonian food critic Michael Russell:

🌮☕ The Notable Popup: Ancestro

I can confirm the popup at Ancestro makes some extraordinary food. The brunch spot, inspired by the couple Leticia and Marco Escamilla’s Mexican heritage, is a popup that’s been around since last fall. You can try their rotating four-item menu at downtown’s Cadejo Coffee. [Oregonian 🔒]

• Ancestro (804 NW Couch St.): Thursday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

🦪🍷 The New Oyster Bar: Katy Jane's

Katy Jane’s serves fresh oysters alongside a seafood-focused menu at the storefront adjacent to sister restaurant Coquine. By day the spot is a market that has long served a more casual dinner at night. But now it’s found its focus. Michael Russell gives it a rave. [Oregonian]

• Katy Jane’s (6833 SE Belmont St.): Tuesday-Saturday, 5 - 8 p.m.

Drinks To Look Forward To

There are a couple of openings to keep an eye on:

🍸 Kachka’s New Cocktail Bar

Kachka, which serves delicious Soviet-style cuisine, has been expanding. First, it added a market to its existing restaurant. Then it started distilling its own horseradish-flavored vodka. Now it’s announced plans to open a cocktail bar next to its distillery on Northeast Oregon Street. Look for it in early summer. [Portland Business Journal 🔒]

🍨🥃 Alcohol-Spiked Ice Cream

May 2 is the official opening day for a booze-spiked ice cream shop. Tipsy Scoop’s opening on North Mississippi has been in the works since 2023. [Oregonian]

Quick Bites

Plus, these are some fun recommendations:

🍎 Breakfast Sandwich: Sunny Hatch, the chef behind award-winning food cart Frybaby, loves Popeyes and recommends Cheryl’s breakfast sandwich as the “craziest option” in the city. [Eater Portland]

👶 Kid-Friendly Restaurants: Here’s a rundown of the places to enjoy a meal cooked for you while your kiddos can run around or at least be thoroughly satisfied. The recommendations include Slappy Cakes, Sushi Ichiban, and Buranko Cafe. [Portland Monthly]