The chicken and pork combo. | Ben Coleman/Eater Portland Despite the city’s modest size, Portland’s restaurant and food cart scene is impressively multifaceted — from traditional to offbeat, covering hundreds of cuisines from regions around the world. There’s a strong sense of pride here in doing something no one else is doing, but also a vibrant culture of collaboration, as chefs work with local farms, producers, and peers to innovate and have fun. Some chefs go nerdy on sourdough bread and fresh pasta, while others craft multi-course, James Beard Award-winning Thai tasting menus with natural wine pairings. Others are proudly showcasing the underrepresented cuisines they grew up with, from Balkan to Indonesian to Hopi, Cree, Skokomish, and Yakima. Each quarter, Eater Portland updates the Eater 38, the ultimate guide to exceptional restaurants and food carts. These spots define what it means to eat here, adding something distinct and invaluable to the dining scene at large. The list sticks to businesses that have been open in Portland for at least six months and have not undergone any major changes during that time. New to the map for the April 2026 update: South Asian favorite, Gado Gado, SE Division Filipino food cart, Makulít; Kalua pork purveyor, Iolani’s Plate Lunch; Tigard tortilla champions, Sanchez Taqueria Y Panaderia; pork and duck pho hotspot, the Paper Bridge; and Vietnamese grill den Kita Steak Ribs in Beaverton. This list includes a rough range of pricing for each restaurant on our list. One $ means entrees are mostly under $10; $$ signifies entrees under $20; $$$ means the average entree is under $30; and $$$$ indicates pricier entrees or tasting menus. For some of the most exciting new restaurants and carts in Portland, check out the Eater Portland Heatmap. ...read more read less