Discover Portland's hottest new restaurants May 2026, from SE Division's Nordic tasting menu to Pearl District rooftop dining. Get the latest Portland food news.
The Stay Portland Team
275+ vacation rentals across Portland
May marks the true beginning of Portland's outdoor dining season, and the city's chefs are responding with ambitious new ventures and spring-inspired menus. From a Nordic-influenced tasting menu on SE Division to a rooftop izakaya in the Pearl District, here's your insider guide to Portland's freshest culinary offerings this month.
Chef Emma Larsson brings Copenhagen training to Southeast Portland with Fjord, opening May 8th at SE 34th and Division. The 28-seat restaurant features a seven-course tasting menu ($145) highlighting Pacific Northwest ingredients through a Scandinavian lens.
Expect dishes like Dungeness crab with sea buckthorn and fermented turnip, or Columbia River sturgeon with spruce tip oil. The beverage program focuses on natural wines from the Willamette Valley alongside aquavit-based cocktails.
The long-awaited rooftop restaurant atop the Canopy Hotel (NW 9th and Glisan) finally opens May 15th. Nube brings Mexico City-style dining to Portland with a focus on wood-fired cooking and mezcal.
Executive Chef Carlos Mendez, formerly of Pujol, designed a menu featuring whole grilled fish, lamb barbacoa, and vegetable-forward small plates. The 360-degree views of downtown and Mount Hood make sunset reservations particularly coveted.
After a three-year hiatus, the beloved French bistro returns with a new location on NE Fremont and 42nd. Opening May 22nd, the reimagined Little Bird keeps classic dishes like steak frites and cassoulet while adding a raw bar and expanded natural wine selection.
The 2,400-square-foot space includes a 20-seat patio perfect for lingering over afternoon rosé and oysters.
Gabriel Rucker's East Burnside flagship launches its spring menu May 1st, featuring morel mushrooms, spring onions, and the first local strawberries. The five-course menu ($125) includes standouts like beef tongue with ramp chimichurri and halibut with English pea agnolotti.
The lines at Canard (SE 11th and Burnside) might get even longer with their new spring brunch menu. Chef-owner Gabriel Rucker introduces asparagus toast with duck egg, a rhubarb-cardamom Danish, and brings back the cult-favorite steam burger with spring garlic aioli.
Andy Ricker celebrates ramp season with a special som tam featuring the spring alliums, available through May at both the original SE Division location and the NW 21st outpost. The $16 salad combines ramps with green papaya, dried shrimp, and Ricker's signature fish sauce dressing.
The beloved NE Sandy specialty market opens a second location in the Pearl District on May 10th. The 4,000-square-foot space at NW 13th and Lovejoy will feature an expanded cheese counter, wine bar, and prepared foods section.
Starting May 4th, the Portland Saturday Market at PSU extends hours until 6 PM, adding a new section dedicated to prepared foods. Look for Nong's Khao Man Gai, Matt's BBQ, and Pine State Biscuits among the dinner options.
A new 12-cart pod opens May 18th at NE 15th and Alberta, featuring covered seating and fire pits. Opening vendors include Jojo PDX (Nashville hot chicken), Dus Donuts (cardamom-spiced donuts), and Terra Vita (plant-based Mediterranean).
The intimate Killingsworth restaurant launches a new chef's counter experience Thursdays through Saturdays. The $165 menu changes weekly based on foraged ingredients and includes wine pairings from sommelier Sarah Thompson.
The natural wine destination on NW 21st introduces Industry Night every Monday, featuring $6 glasses, half-price charcuterie, and guest bartender takeovers. May features collaborators from Nostrana, Beast, and Expatriate.
Peter Cho and Sun Young Park debut their new outdoor dining space complete with a kitchen garden supplying herbs and vegetables for their Korean-American tasting menu. Weekend seatings now include garden tours with the chef team.
Mark your calendar for Feast Portland's spring preview series (May 16-19), featuring pop-ups from visiting chefs at various locations. The Rose Festival also kicks off late May with food vendors along the waterfront.
Whether you're drawn to Fjord's refined Nordic cuisine, Nube's rooftop views, or the expanded farmers market offerings, Portland's dining scene this May offers something for every palate. Book your stay in one of our carefully curated Portland homes to put yourself within walking distance of these culinary hotspots – many of our properties in Southeast and Pearl District are perfectly positioned for food-focused explorations.
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