Out-of-town visitors hoping to grab a last-minute table at the nationally celebrated Kann are probably out of luck, but this basement bar from chef Gregory Gourdet and the Kann team offers a small but mighty sampling of the sister restaurant’s more expansive Haitian cuisine, alongside some of the city’s best creative cocktails and mocktails in a transporting subterranean tropical setting. Lines on busier nights aren’t uncommon, but trendy bar hoppers tend to churn through fairly regularly.

Sharing an entryway with the better-known Nong’s Khao Man Gai, Kinboshi has a cult following of ramen devotees, who flock to the restaurant for its brick-red, spicy velvety tonkotsu, chilly hazelnut milk hiyashi, and and hearty miso, depending on the season. The red ramen is not too spicy and decadently silken, even better with the addition of bamboo shoots.

Nong’s Khao Man Gai remains a bucket-list Portland restaurant, known as the home of Portland’s nationally celebrated Thai chicken and rice. Though the original cart is gone, the casual Ankeny restaurant still delivers the goods, as well as underrated alternatives like chicken with peanut sauce. Tourists should buy a bottle of the restaurant’s famous ginger sauce to take home. Dine elbow-to-elbow with lunch-breaking locals or stretch out on Nong’s expanded sidewalk patio.

Gabriel Rucker’s Canard is the kind of spot where meals begin with yuzu-salted oysters, followed by foie gras dumplings, a pile of duck fat pancakes, and coconut cream Paris-brest. The airy bar space, with plenty of natural light, is even a fun stop for a soft-serve parfait on hot days, with things like pine cone fudge or ginger snap streusel. Big spenders can upgrade and hit Le Pigeon — Rucker’s legendary special occasion spot — next door.

Old school Portland legend Hiro Ikegaya opened Mirakutei in 2011, a favorite for Sapporo-style ramen and exceptional cuts of sushi; it’s now owned by longtime employees Nicolas and Job Martinez. It’s a dependable mainstay for raw fish, but the restaurant coaxes in locals for its scrambled-egg-laden genki ramen, as well. Grab takeout, dine in Mirakutei’s spacious dining room, or try to snag limited sidewalk seating.

Portland’s ramen renaissance continues with the 2023 opening of Yokohama Skyline Eatery on the street level of the gleaming Yard Apartment building overlooking the east end of the Burnside Bridge. Rich, complex pork, chicken, and vegan broths are the engines of Yokohama’s ramen offerings, including timeless shoyu (with optional truffle oil), spicy tantan, and a bountiful vegan ramen. Beverage options are limited to canned sodas and house made hot and cold green tea drinks.

This East Burnside pizzeria comes closer than most in achieving New Haven-style apizza on the West Coast — despite its lack of a coal oven. East Coast expats will take refuge in white clam pies topped with wood-roasted clams, tomato pies heavy on the oregano and chile flake, and rigatoni alla vodka; however, a few pizzas specific to the restaurant, particularly its cacio e pepe, are worth an order.

A croissant’s throw away from the convention center, the intimate C’est Si Bon — with its tapestry of wine bottles on the walls and tightly packed wooden tables — offers a wholehearted embrace of Parisian bistro cuisine. Here, diners can enjoy a nine-course prix fixe offering for special occasions as well as an a la carte menu packed with Gallic staples like escargots, duck confit, and dessert crepes. The wine list is heavy on Bordeaux and Burgundy but also features exciting pours from other parts of Europe.

Running to a Blazers game hungry, but don’t want to spend half a day’s pay on in-arena concessions? No Q’ No has the answers. This cart could probably get away with “good enough” tacos and other Mexican classics, but its supple tortillas are made fresh daily and the meats that fill them, like carne asada, pastor, and carnitas, are ample — don’t sleep on the mushroom filling, either. The cheese-filled gringa is the hungry fan-on-the-go’s best option. Note that N Q’ No is not open late, so this isn’t a bar crawl pit stop.

Even though Kuu has ceded somewhat to Portland’s seemingly depthless hunger for sushi, the heart of this Japanese restaurant lies firmly in its udon and soba noodle dishes. These chewy house-made noodles have an earthy flavor — not just serving as a delivery vehicle for other sauces — and are topped with a range of umami-rich vegetables, proteins, and sauces. Pair with a saké flight or hot green tea in the serene dining room filled, during the day, with natural light.

Pouring two dozen wines, beers, and ciders by the glass alongside a savory array of tapas and conservas, Bar Botellón has a little something for everyone. The space is wide and inviting, with decor that combines modern and rustic elements with little disharmony. Despite the proximity to the convention center and Moda, this is first and foremost a neighborhood hang, so anyone rooting against the Blazers on the projector screen should expect some friendly jousting.

Spirit of 77 is one of Portland’s most popular sports bars for both its food and games. Visitors play foosball and Skee-Ball while they wait for platters of stadium nachos piled with cabbage, guacamole, queso, and jalapeños or tacos filled with beer-battered cod; on certain nights, it’s the spot to watch games around its projector screen or televisions. The beer list has a tight list of Oregon beers, including options from Heater Allen and Fort George.