This was a year to dig in—and dig deep. While other food cities flaunt big money and stars, Portland’s most notable food projects have gotten even more micro. (The only things expanding are the lines.) In 2015, ham and cheese got the star treatment, and ambition found new definition in a Vietnamese noodle bowl. We found not one but two Rising Star restaurants. And our Restaurant of the Year rocketed Japanese food into orbit with heart, charm, and ever-changing themes. Join us for a tour of the city’s newest food destinations. 

In This Feature:

Portland Monthly's Restaurant of the Year: Nodoguro

A posse of playfully intense foodies reimagine Japanese food, one feast at a time.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

Portland Monthly's Rising Star Restaurant of the Year: Coquine

How a California couple moved in and put the Michelin in Mount Tabor.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

Portland Monthly's Rising Star Restaurant of the Year: Nomad.PDX

Two upstarts transform a shabby urban space into a modernist showcase—tweezers, Wonder Bread, and beauty in tow.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

The 4 Most Memorable Portland Restaurant Moments of the Year

A handful of standing ovations are in order for the year's best menu, dish, spread, and cuisine.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

The Ultimate Portland Cheese Plate at Chizu

Steve Jones just wants to make cheese fun. Mission accomplished.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

Portland's Best Soup Shop: Rose VL

Portland’s soup masters are back with broths that airlift the soul to Saigon.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

Portland's Best New Barbecue: The People's Pig

Cliff Allen embraces only one school of barbecue: his own.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

Portland's Best Spot for Pig & Booze: Hamlet

A slinky, single-minded Pearl District bar gives you three reasons to go whole hog.

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks

Portland's Most (Overly?) Ambitious New Restaurant: Renata

Our love letter (sort of) to the year’s most-hyped restaurant

10/09/2015 By Karen Brooks