SW Restaurant Guide

After a showing in the southwest neighborhood of Crestwood, a neighbor waved me down. We started chatting about the home and I found out they had been living in the neighborhood for over 20 years. I asked why they had stayed so long and the list was looooooong. Large lots, great walking/hiking trails through the whole southwest side, tight knit neighbors, good school districts, vast amounts of tall trees and then they paused. They gave me a knowing look and said, “The only thing we really wished was different… there are no good restaurants in the southwest quadrant.” 

I was gobsmacked.

They couldn’t be talking about the same quadrant that hosted wood-fired pizza at Taste Bud, quaint coffee houses like Maplewood Coffee & Tea or happy hour views from the Chart House? The flavor, quality and restaurant community are unchanged, no matter the side of the river!

If you believe SW doesn’t have good restaurants, consider this your education.

Breakfast

Gigi’s Cafe – Right in the middle of the main drag in Hillsdale, you have NEVER had a waffle until you’ve had Gigi’s Waffles. Crunchy on the outside, chewy and sweet on the inside, these liege/Belgian style waffles come in sweet and savory flavors. They even have flights if you can’t pick between the flavors. The restaurant doesn’t accept tips, rather they opt for a 20% surcharge to help with equitable wages and benefits for staff. 

Cheryl’s on 12th – If you don’t get excited about free beignets, then you might not fundamentally understand the good things in life. One of the most highly rated breakfast spots in Portland isn’t even the most exciting part of this restaurant, they serve breakfast all day! The incredible flavors make it an undeniable staple to the southwest side of Portland. 

Six Corners Cafe – Squeezed between the Hayhurst, Raleigh Hills and Bridlemile neighborhoods you’ll find the most hated intersection in SW Portland and this small diner, perfectly situated to enjoy some hash browns and watch the red lights stall everyone out. I lovingly refer to this as my “greasy spoon” diner. Here you will find all the staples of a breakfast menu, nothing more or less.

Coffee & Tea

Maplewood Coffee & Tea – From the website, “Maplewood Coffee & Tea began life in 1911 as the Maplewood Store and Post Office – locals called it the Green Store. Along with standard postal supplies and basic grocery items, they carried penny candy in big glass jars, and ice cream from a cooler at the front of the store. Lots of locals tell stories of stealing candy when they were kids – the bane of the postmaster’s existence.” Rich in history and tasty food, Maplewood Coffee & Tea offers a full breakfast menu along with pastries baked in-house. 

The Coffee Shop – Cute as it sounds, the owners purpose in opening The Coffee Shop was truly to bring good coffee to the westside of Portland. Mission accomplished! Locals to the area, the owners wanted a shop that served good coffee but also be a place where people could pause and take some time for their coffee, exactly as a coffee shop should be! 

Cravings PDX – Find yourself in a hurry but still need your coffee fix? Cravings is your spot. One of the many local drive through options outside of the Ashcreek and Multnomah Village neighborhoods, you’ll find a multitude of special coffee drinks, smoothies and homemade pastries. While they serve great local roasters (Stumptown) many keep coming back because the owner, Sarah, is one-of-a-kind!

Lunch

John’s Marketplace – I will fight anyone on the claim: John’s Marketplace has one of the BEST smash burgers in town. I always order a double. I am always too full after eating it but I never regret it. I hear that their other sandwiches are also great, but I’ll never know because I can’t stop eating this burger. John’s Marketplace is best known for its vast assortment of beer and wine but the smashburger is why I keep coming back. Bonus: its location in Multnomah Village is across the street from the Living Room office and I’m always available for a lunch date. 

JoLa Cafe – Technically speaking, this is in the “south” Portland area but we’re going to count it anyways! Whether you’re looking for delicious pastries, a breakfast burrito or some of my favorite sweet potato fries, you’ll find it at JoLa. One of the best parts of this place is the fact that there is always a seat. The expansive restaurant is open late into the afternoon and serves alcoholic drinks throughout the day. They are also ALWAYS happy to see your dog sitting with you at the outdoor tables.

Happy Hour

Chart House – The name carries a knowledge that you’ll likely get seafood and a killer view, both of which are present at the Portland location. Perched on the side of the SW hills, the Chart House has an impressive view of the Willamette, Mt. Hood and even St. Helens. For $10 or less the happy hour menu includes fish tacos, kimchi calamari, and seared ahi nachos. 

Steeplejack Brewery – Squeezed onto BHH just outside of Hillsdale, the local brewery space provides all the same goodies as its NE counterpart and more. The location allows minors all hours of operation, an outdoor patio, pizza menu that goes on for days (in a good way), and enough space for your large groups. 

Salvador Molly’s – The “world of flavor” menu pulls together delicious fusion menu items unique to the restaurant. By far the most famous is the “Wall of Flame”, if you eat all five fritters AND all the sauce, you get a picture up on the wall. 

Dinner

Bluebird Thai – One of the tastiest food carts in town is tucked into the French Quarter in Multnomah Village. Serving unique dishes from Northern Thailand like Khaoi Soi in the fall and Gai Zap, their “larb” fried chicken served over rice. Be sure to call in an order early or else you’ll miss out on the Thai Donuts, they sell out quickly! Check their Instagram for updates, @bluebirdthaipdx.

Vista Springs Cafe – Nestled into the Portland Heights neighborhood, this precious cafe finds itself squarely on the corner of Vista and Springs, hence the name! Serving homestyle Italian food, you can dine in at the cozy booths or pick up pizza for dinner and a view up at Council Crest. 

Tastebud – Right at the top of Multnomah Village you’ll find the best wood-fired take out pizza. Specializing in unique combinations and seasonally fresh ingredients, Tastebud will keep you coming back for more. Exclusively a take out restaurant for now, you don’t sleep on the weekend fresh baked bagels and sandwiches.

Seasons & Regions – In between Hillsdale and Multnomah Village you’ll find Season & Regions, a true farm to table restaurant. Their menu features seasonal produce from their farm in Estacada and specializes in seafood from the PNW. 

Honorable Mentions

Sarah Bellum’s Bakery – While not technically a restaurant, this bakery is a non-profit, “supporting adults with acquired brain injury”. Don’t you love it when you can make a positive impact on another person while also enjoying a delicious cupcake?!

Skyline Restaurant in Northwest Portland – Some may know this spot as Skyline Burgers, it has been around since 1935. A true burger joint, you can order milkshakes and slide across vinyl bench seats into booth tables. On the westside of Portland, it’s truly nestled into the forested heights just north of W Burnside that splits north and south. 

Babica Hen in Lake Oswego – Technically outside of the city limits, Babica Hen offers health breakfast options with some pretty decadent unhealthy options as well. You’ll want to try all the different mimosa options and if you’re feeling fancy, get the cinnamon roll as a breakfast appetizer. 

El Jefe in Tigard – I was so pleased to find a place that makes pollo al carbon. The flavor is so distinct. In addition, the salsas are some of my favorites in Portland. 

All of Old Town Beaverton

Ok, ok, this is fairly broad but if you remember the truly bleak Old Town Beaverton from the 90’s and early 00’s, you’d understand why I’m highlighting it. You’d never believe that between all the car dealerships there could be as many fun restaurants, coffee shops and even a speakeasy (you didn’t hear it from me). Places like Lionheart Coffee (features rotating local coffee roasters), Sizzle Pie, Top Burmese, Syndicate Wine Bar and more. Pip’s Original recently announced they will be opening up in the area. All about 10-15 minutes driving from most of southwest Portland.

Veronica Ocejo Johnson

Broker | OR

She/Her

I create a sense of home before you even get there. Whether selling a home for top dollar or finding a dream home, I am invested in understanding my clients at an individual level to make sure all their needs are met. I help my clients realize their real estate dreams through concierge level service, expert knowledge and genuine care. My success has come from targeted marketing, competitive sales pricing and being someone others enjoy doing business with. Truly, being a Realtor is more than just a job for me. I've been in the industry since 2014, have done my "10,000 hours" and am in love with this industry. I believe this process can be fun, informative and enjoy helping my clients feel empowered in their real estate transaction.

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