At Portland International Airport, eateries and bars are given a calender once a month that shows how many passengers are anticipated to arrive each day. A crystal ball that shows, with amazing accuracy, how many pizza dough balls and kegs of beer to order, as well as how many cooks and servers to employ, is the kind of knowledge that any business owner would like.
Because of this and other factors, such as the requirement for speed, the stringent vendor application procedure, etc., airports usually resemble NFL stadiums and Las Vegas casinos more than the upscale dining halls their advertising may suggest.
However, as is frequently the case, PDX has gone above and above by pursuing regional food and beverage companies to bridge the gaps between gates with high-quality coffee, gourmet doughnuts, and freshly prepared pasta. Additionally, everything is covered by the Port of Portland’s famous street pricing scheme, which means that the prices you pay at the airport and in the city should be the same.
You’ll probably need a place to eat whether you’re traveling for business, returning home for the holidays, or simply stopping by to see the new main terminal and its nine-acre timber roof. Here is a guide to Portland International Airport’s dining options, broken down by concourse, once you’ve finished admiring the dynamic digital artwork and straining your neck to see the expansive wood ceiling.
Main Terminal
The most ambitious part of the $2.15 billion airport renovation, a complete redesign of the main terminal, is finished, but it is still proceeding. Pre-security food and drink options include a Portland Coffee Roasters with house espresso drinks and Steven Smith tea, a former Portland restaurant called The Country Cat, which has evolved into an over-achieving airport cafe with yogurt parfaits, grab-and-go sandwiches, a full bar, and Puff coffee; and a Loyal Legion outpost with Bavarian pretzels, Olympia Provisions sausages, and almost 100 taps of Oregon beer, wine, and cider, located up an escalator overlooking the airfield. Aurora, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar and children’s play area on the mezzanine next to Loyal Legion, will open soon.
South Concession Hall
This post-security mix zone and its opposite area to the north will undergo the most changes at the airport over the next two years. In early 2026, the South Hall will welcome a Kure Superfoods juice bar and an outpost of Lake Oswego’s Lola’s Cafe Barby. It is already home to the $6 mimosas at Capers Bistro, canned cocktail makers Straightaway, a Starbucks Coffee Roasters with pastries from St. Honor Boulangerie, and the first airport location of Pearl District pizzeria Oven & Shaker (made here with a gas-assisted wood-fired oven). Powell’s Books can also be found in the South Hall. Note: A concourse connector has restored connectivity to the airport’s South and North wings, which were formerly divided during the renovation.
Concourse B
Following a 2021 renovation that saw the removal of Concourse A, this tiny wing now packs a punch thanks to an airport location of the fried chicken and waffle joint Screen Door (at Gate B5) and a cafe from Troutdale’s appropriately titled Good Coffee.
Concourse C
With its bustling food court (near Gate C7) that is home to many of the same Pacific Northwest chains that were present before to the epidemic, this area of the airport may seem the most familiar to you if it has been a while since your previous trip. Among them are the popular Vietnamese noodle restaurant Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen, a famous landmark on the Oregon coast.Mo’s Seafood & Chowder, experts in full bowlsMod quick-service pizza cafe Yummand. Along with other major businesses like McDonald’s (near C15) and Potbelly Sandwiches (in the food court), here is the spot to go for your Starbucks fix (near C6). There are 32 taps of beer at Henry’s Tavern (near C11), the airport’s surviving replica of a once-popular Pearl District tavern, wine at Vino Volo (near C16), and spirits and small cocktails at Westward Whiskey (in the food court).Unfortunately, there is no popcorn in the Hollywood Theatre’s small movie theater next to Henry’s.
North Concourse Hall
Similar to the South Hall, there are a few new options in this post-security area, and more will be added by early 2026. At that point, Steven Smith Teamaker and Freeland Spiritskiosks advance to full-scale storefronts, and Pilot House Distilling comes. Meanwhile, the North Hall is already home to Grassa, the fresh pasta restaurant owned by Lardo chef Rick Gencarelli, which may be the greatest dining option in the entire airport. Aside from the hog belly mac and cheese and black truffle pappardelle, the pasta store with windows has tasty salads, meatballs, and a traditional fritto misto that is better than airport fare should be. Another Portland Coffee Roasters and a reopened Blue Star Donuts, which offers freshly cooked brioche doughnuts in a range of traditional and seasonal flavors, are both close by. The latter is a significant upgrade over the Concourse E original. Is the ubiquitous pink boxes associated with Voodoo a threatened species at PDX?
Concourse D
I’ve hoofed it to international flights departing from this concourse more than I’ve ever done before, twice, since my best friend moved to Amsterdam two years ago. This is probably the one PDX concourse where I would most likely increase the eating offerings if I could wave a magic wand. Along Concourse D, travelers can find grab-and-go sushi at Hissho Sushi (near D4), a huge chain with hundreds of locations in grocery stores and airports across the United States, a brewpub serving Deschutes Brewing beers (near D5), a second Stumptown Coffee Roasters (near D6), and burgers and burritos at local chains Burgerville and Cha! Cha! Cha! (both near Gate D4).
Concourse E
Following an elegant 2021 renovation, Concourse E now has a Starbucks (near E5), a salad bar from Seattle-based Evergreens (near E7), a second Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen (near E8), and a brewpub with beers from Portland’s Hopworks Brewery (near Gate E3). Outside of the one at the well-known Tillamook Creamery itself, you may also find the original Tillamook Eatery (next to E7). Here, Tillamook offers dairy-based dishes like fried cheese curds, grilled cheese sandwiches, and ice cream that are comparable to the 115-year-old cooperative’s flagship location on the coast. Travelers on Southwest Airlines will discover a third stop, Stumptown Coffee Roasters (near E9) and Juliett (near E12), which is a true craft cocktail bar with some breathtaking views of Mount Hood, provided there are no clouds.
Michael Russell;
Subscribe to The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter
Every week, Oregonian/OregonLive subscribers follow restaurant reviewer Michael Russell on his culinary adventures. Not a member? The Best Thing I Ate This Week email is available for free for a few weeks.Register here.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!