Where to Eat and Drink at Portland International Airport (2024)

For years, the Portland International Airport — PDX — has been voted one of, if not the, best domestic airports in the United States by Travel and Leisure readers, as well as earning top honors and accolades from other leading travel outlets including Conde Nast Traveler. While amenities like the movie theater, live music from local musicians, and boozy tasting rooms all contribute to its reputation as a cushy layover, part of PDX’s charm is that it strives to be a true reflection of the quirky, craft-driven city it represents, especially when it comes to dining.

Currently, PDX’s plethora of dining options include outposts of many big-deal names from the local dining scene, including Lardo and Screen Door, along with cafes, bars, and grab-and-go markets. In true Portland fashion, menus feature inclusive options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free travelers.

PDX is also in a state of flux at the moment, undergoing a major renovation of the main terminal that will initially open in August 2024. Not only does that mean a beautiful new terminal for travelers to shop, dine, and unwind in, but there will be 15 new food and drink businesses, opening between August 2024 and the end of 2025, . Until then, travelers have more than enough options for a bite to eat or a relaxed meal during a long layover. Something to note: the concourse connector hallway, which usually makes it easy for visitors to explore the whole airport without going through security again, is currently under construction, so it’s best to look within your side of the airport when considering a meal.

10 Standout Restaurants

Cha Cha Cha has long been a Portland standby for colorful Mexican food made with locally sourced produce and meats; its first airport location in Concourse D is no exception. In the mornings, Cha Cha Cha offers burritos stuffed with birria and scrambled eggs, making it one of the top breakfast options in the airport. Later in the day, you’ll find mole poblano bowls, roasted vegetable tacos, and margaritas to fuel up pre-flight.

Lardo is a Portland legend, a sandwich cart-turned-local chain that is known for its hardcore sandwiches and dirty fries. Situated in the corner of the South Lobby with access to Concourses B and C, Corner Store by Lardo keeps travelers satiated with bacon-egg-and-cheeses, thick Italian subs, and salads available to-go or to-stay at the sit-down countertop bar area.

Flying Elephant’s Delicatessen: The pre-security outpost of this longstanding Portland deli offer many of the other locations’ knockouts, from chile con queso breakfast burritos to its legendary Mama Leone’s soup. It’s hard to beat the cozy vibes of its chicken pot pie, however.

Café Yumm! is a smart option in Concourse C, specifically because its namesake dish is only available in the Pacific Northwest: The Yumm Bowl looks like just-your-average rice bowl with salsa, veggies, and cheese, but its eponymous Yumm sauce — tangy and a little salty — makes it a distinctive Made in Oregon staple. Plus, it’s also one of travelers’ best options for plant-based PDX meals, from gluten-free to vegan.

Tillamook Market: One of Oregon’s most famous brands, this dairy company’s cafe serves cheesy comfort foods like fried cheese curds, Tillamook cheddar cheeseburgers, and sourdough-pretzel-topped mac and cheese out of the new expansion in Concourse E. Plus, the shop scoops pre-flight ice cream for those in need of a sugar hit.

Deschutes Brewery, also in Concourse D, offers on-tap pours of Oregon craft brews with hearty pub grub including elk burgers, cheesy flatbreads, and fast-and-easy garlic fries with orange rosemary aioli.

Blue Star Donuts, available in Concourse E, is Portland’s other big-name doughnut shop, with flavors like blueberry bourbon basil and passionfruit cacao nib. These brioche-dough wonders will make any early morning flight bearable.

Screen Door, a fresh-faced vision in pink and white in the new, light-filled Concourse B, brings its beloved Southern fare like chicken and waffles to weary travelers. Both brunch and dinner classics from the East Portland staple make appearances on the menu here, as well as brunch co*cktails.

Juliett, the women-in-aviation-themed bar from Lightning Bar Collective and Chefstable, sits at the far end of Concourse E. The space harkens back to the golden-age glamour of air travel, with its elegant Art Deco-esque design and a slew of craft co*cktails from Adam Ohlsson; alternatively, the bar also serves Oregon-made wine and beer from Coopers Hall and Fracture Brewing, respectively. On days when she’s out, the views of Mount Hood further enhance the atmosphere.

Pre-Security Food and Drink

• Flying Elephant’s Delicatessen, a Portland deli and cafe chain, offers classic and grilled sandwiches, soups, deli salads, and frittata by the pound. Elephant’s is located upstairs on the south side of ticketing.
• Down the escalators at the baggage claim level, travelers in search of a post-flight pick-me-up while waiting for baggage can grab a coffee from national chain Peet’s Coffee.

Portland International Airport (PDX)

Post-Security Restaurants

South Lobby (between Concourse B and C)

• The popular family-owned Capers Cafe offers a huge menu and multiple daily changing specials, including breakfast omelets, sandwiches, and salads. The restaurant’s bar is a nice spot to try Oregon and Washington wines during a long layover.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters is likely the airport’s best option for a pre-flight cold brew, as well as artfully made coffee drinks.
• Lardo slings its sandwiches in the South Lobby, with a selection of breakfast sandwiches and Italian subs for dine-in or grab-and-go, as well as a beer or glass of wine.

Concourse B

• Screen Door serves its famous chicken and waffles and all-day brunch and dinner favorites at its outpost in the new Concourse B. Travelers can cozy up to the bar for an accompanying co*cktail, or dine in the balcony area overlooking the concourse below.
• Good Coffee keeps travelers caffeinated with drip coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, and seasonal drinks made with house-roasted beans, as well as a selection of teas. The neutral-toned, plant-bedecked coffee bar area, separated from the rest of the concourse by a slat wall, is a quiet respite from airport hustle and bustle.

Concourse C

• Henry’s Tavern is known for its 32 taps, the house-seasoned waffle fries with Gorgonzola sauce, and its juicy burgers.
• Starbucks is... technically a Pacific Northwestern-founded chain of coffee shops. There’s a location near the entrance to the concourse.

In a food court with seats and tables in a shared center, travelers will find:

• Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen, a local chainlet that offers banh mi sandwiches, vermicelli bowls, and pho. The restaurant’s beef pho comes stocked with slices of rib-eye, best paired with one of the restaurant’s juices.

• Café Yumm!, an Oregon-based chain offering rice bowls or wraps with Yumm! sauce — creamy and tangy chickpea-based spreads the texture of hollandaise.

• Mo’s Seafood & Chowder, a family-owned Oregon institution since 1946, beloved for its famous clam chowder, fried seafood baskets, and seafood sandwiches.

• Westward Whiskey, offering a number of single-malt whiskeys with locally malted barley, available for both retail and tasting.

• National pizza chain MOD Pizza, known for its build-your-own pizzas.

• Potbelly Sandwich Shop, a national sandwich chain.

Toward the end of the concourse, you’ll find:

• Vino Volo, an airport wine bar pouring a selection of local Oregon wines as well as national and international offerings.

• Portland Coffee Roasters, a great spot to pick up a latte or cup of drip.

• McDonald’s — you know McDonald’s, right?

North Lobby (after Security between Concourse D and E)

• The Capers Market offers a handful of breakfast and lunch entrees, and serves as a market thoughtfully stocked with local products; you can easily assemble your own Pacific Northwest cheese and charcuterie plate here.
• Portland Coffee Roasters also operates a location here, for those seeking a quick coffee before a flight.

Concourse D

• Deschutes Brewery brewpub has an impressive bar overlooking the airplane action while pouring a number of its craft beers. When it comes to food, lunch or dinner options include stout mac and cheese, burgers, salads, and flatbreads. When stopping by for breakfast, visitors inhale porter French toast with blueberry compote or hearty breakfast burritos.

In an area that has seats and tables in the center, travelers will find:

• Cha Cha Cha Taqueria, a local chain that offers casual Mexican cuisine made with local and sustainably sourced ingredients. The taqueria serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with co*cktails like mezcal margaritas.

• Hissho Sushi, a national sushi chain that also offers bento boxes, ramen, steamed buns, and makirrito. Grab-and-go boxes of pre-made rolls are available, as well.

• Burgerville, an Oregon fast food chain that regularly sources from Pacific Northwestern farmers. Expect a slate of burgers, breakfast sandwiches, and fries, but the real move at Burgerville is to get one of the milkshakes — especially ones made with Oregon strawberries.

Molly J. Smith/EPDX

Concourse E

• Tillamook’s cheese-centric cafe slings cheeseburgers, breakfast sandwiches, and grilled cheeses alongside the obligatory mac and cheese. The real move here is to get the fried cheese curds with your choice of sharp cheddar ranch, spicy cheddar ranch, or Northwest apple barbecue dipping sauce. Creamy scoops of Tillamook ice cream are also a sure-fire hit, especially with kids on the verge of a travel tantrum.
• Bambuza, mentioned above, also operates a location in Concourse E — more of a restaurant with a chef’s counter as opposed to food court stall. This is the spot to get a hearty vermicelli bowl or banh mi before heading to the gate.
• Women-in-aviation-themed bar Juliett is likely the strongest airport bar choice for those seeking a fancy co*cktail with a view of the planes. The bar is a collaboration between two big-deal Portland restaurant groups: Chefstable and Lightning Bar Collective.
• Local eco-brewpub Hopworks Urban Brewery has on-tap pours of some of its certified organic beers. Its reclaimed wood bar, adorned with bicycle wheels, is a good place to linger over a Northwest hop IPA.
• A Pacific Northwestern salad bar chain, Evergreens offers build-your-own salads, as well as tweaked standards like a Cobb called the Cobb Your Enthusiasm and a jalapeño-kale caesar.
• This Stumptown location revives travelers with coffee drinks made from its signature roasts, with light grab-and-go breakfast options and plenty of merch.
• Grab a pre-flight doughnut from the Blue Star Donuts food cart stall en-route to your gate.
• Westward Whiskey also has a kiosk in this concourse, selling full bottles and merch for souvenirs.

And when it comes to non-local chains:

• Jamba Juice is a national smoothie bar chain, also located in Concourse E.
• Starbucks also operates a location in Concourse E.