The warm days are here — and these Portland restaurants, carts and breweries make al fresco dining with kids enjoyable.
By Denise Castañon and Tiffany Hill
After months of gray skies and rain, what’s better than sitting outside on a warm, sunny day eating a delicious meal that you didn’t have to cook? Not much. And sitting outside instantly makes dining out feel more accessible, casual and kid-friendly. Of course some patios and outdoor dining areas are better suited to families than others. So we’ve compiled a list of restaurants, breweries and carts that are great for families, whether it’s because of delicious kids’ menu options, a space kids can bop around and not be underfoot, or it’s a place you can go without breaking the bank.
Flying Fish
When you want to eat outside, but don’t really want to eat outside, the covered, enclosed patio at Flying Fish is just the ticket. The cozy space next to the fish market serves up top-notch fish and chips, oysters on the half shell, fish tacos and more. My 11-year-old dug into his 2-piece kids’ fish ’n’ chips meal ($14) with sweet potato fries subbed for jojos ($2) saying, “I’ve always wanted to come here.” I knew he loved fish and chips, but didn’t know he had even registered this place. He should have spoken up sooner, because we all really enjoyed our fish, which was deliciously fried and flaky rockfish. He ranked it as good as the battered, fried fish at Luna Seafood, our favorite place on the coast, and Andria’s Seafood, our favorite spot when we visit my California hometown. (I agreed.) Grown-ups can order three pieces ($17) or four pieces ($20), which also come with potato wedges and a tangy, citrus-cilantro kale slaw that’s got a spicy kick. Unfortunately, they had just run out of beef smash burgers, so my non-fish-eating teen had to make do with a plate of potato wedges for lunch. The patio has a very welcoming vibe, with super friendly servers. But while the atmosphere is relaxed, it’s not exactly a place that kids can run around, so just keep that in mind. And leave your bulky stroller at home, it will be too hard to maneuver in the space. 3004 E Burnside St. Thursday to Monday: 11:30am-8:30pm.
Laurelhurst Market
I love a good sandwich. Like eat one for every meal kind of love. Which is why it’s so easy to love Laurelhurst Market. During dinner hours, the neighborhood steakhouse exudes, well, steakhouse vibes, which aren’t quite as kid-friendly. But visit during lunch time and you get the best of the restaurant’s in-house butcher case (it’s also a butcher shop), in a casual outdoor setting in their covered, heated patio. Even better, the lunch menu is just as thoughtful, but it’s much easier on the wallet. You can’t go wrong with anything you order at Laurelhurst Market during lunch. For kids, all but one of their sandwiches can be ordered in a half-size, perfect for smaller appetites. Obviously order the fries ($6.50) and the chocolate chip hazelnut cookie ($4). Kids will also love the smash burger (single for $13, double for $17), but hold the pickled zucchini, although mild, my husband and I thought it worked better without it. Their version of the fried chicken sandwich, The Cluckster ($16), is an interesting take. It’s a fried chicken terrine, and while it was delicious, the terrine patty was tall and bulky, making it awkward to eat. My favorite ended up being a bonus half sandwich we got after an order mix up: The Root Down. Tucked into a french roll, smothered in smoked apple butter and melty white cheddar, is pulled pork and topped with a lemony, kale slaw. 3155 E Burnside. Lunch hours: 11 am-3 pm.
Valley Public House (Happy Valley)
This sprawling Happy Valley food hall and taproom is a seriously underrated family destination. My family popped in for an impromptu Sunday lunch and were delighted to find this place has food offerings not only from Ranch Pizza, but also from Tamale Boy. Plus, there’s over 70 taps of beer and cider, plus wine and cocktails. While there is plenty of seating inside — from cozy nooks, bar seating to large booths and tables — the wraparound patio is the place to be, complete with fire pits and overhead heaters. And dogs are welcome! My husband, who never says no to pizza, ordered a square slice of the Detroit-style pie, the Hawaiian ($9.50) with bacon lardons, fresh pineapple, roasted jalapeno, red onion, aged mozzarella, parmesan and basil. (While he said he’d “definitely try it again,” the amount of lardons overpowered the slice). I opted for Tamale Boy for my toddler and I, and ordered the burrito bowl with carne asada ($16.99), a side of beans ($3.99), and for my toddler, a cheese quesadilla ($6.29). My hefty burrito bowl had a liberal amount of beef and was topped with greens and fresh-made guacamole. And my toddler gobbled up his quesadilla with no protest. But our overall winner were the frijole pureco beans, almost pureed refried beans with a smoky flavor from the bacon, chorizo, onion and chipotle. “These are the best beans I’ve had in my life,” said my husband and I agreed. I even felt compelled to walk back up to the Tamale Boy counter and compliment them, they were that good. Pro tip: Valley Public House also has more upscale dining inside at the Whiskey Barrel Lounge, and downstairs is the Public House Pinball arcade. 12960 SE 162nd Ave., Happy Valley.
Lardo
Rick Gencarelli’s stellar, meaty sandwiches have been a Portland staple since 2010, but the 70-top patio at the Hawthorne location got an upgrade this spring with a new roof. (The outdoor seating area should reopen May 1.) So during the sunny months you can sit in the shade while tucking into a hefty Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich ($16) slathered in hot honey and bacon, or an innovative Pho’French Dip ($17, pictured above) that combines the best of Vietnamese beef noodle soup and dipped beef sandwiches. If those sandwiches sound too out there for your kids, there’s also tomato soup and grilled cheese on the menu ($10). And don’t skip the Lardo fries ($6) with a generous coating of rosemary and Parmesan cheese. 1212 SE Hawthorne Ave.
Otto’s Sausage Kitchen
On summer days when my husband and I don’t feel like making lunch for the kids, we head to the family-run Otto’s Sausage Kitchen & Meat Market for housemade hot dogs and sausages grilled right outside the shop. Inside, you can pick up more than 40 varieties of sausages, prepared salads, deli sandwiches, cookies, wine and more. But on sunny days, the line for the grill snakes down the sidewalk with kids hopping up and down for a perfectly grilled Old-fashioned Weiner ($6) and grown-ups with their sights set on a Smoked Pork Link ($7) or Chicken Sausage ($7). During the sunny season, you can grab sodas or seltzers from a sweating tub of ice, and bags of chips as well. Pro tip: There’s a grill etiquette. When you get to the table, let the griller know what you’d like and then you grab foil-wrapped buns and open them up so a steaming, hot sausage can be dropped right in. Self-serve condiments include a selection of Beaver mustards, Portland Organic mustard and ketchup, onions, sauerkraut and relish. Sidewalk seating is primarily along 42nd Avenue next to the landmark mural featuring an Alpine range and a flying pig. And on Saturdays around lunchtime, the tables will be packed with neighborhood families enjoying the sunshine and handiwork of four generations of the Eichentopf family. 4138 SE Woodstock Blvd. Grill open year-round; summer hours: 11 am-5 pm.
Champs
Portland burger aficionados still mourning the closing of Burger Stevens can put on a happy face and head down to the Champs food cart behind Away Days Brewing Co. The outdoor area includes a covered, heated patio and picnic tables with umbrellas. A fun, bright mural enlivens the space. There’s plenty of room for kids to move around and the tucked-back area is far from busy traffic along Milwaukie Boulevard. But back to the burgers. Champs specializes in smash burgers with a crunchy crust. The thin, dry-aged beef patty is amped up by a creamy, mustardy burger sauce, punchy pickles, mild onions and New School American cheese. The soft and delicious house-made bun is the perfect vehicle for the burger, so much so that my teenager even commented on how good it was. When my family visited, the Champs menu only listed a single ($10) or double Champs ($14) burger, but check their Instagram for pop-up special burgers. And do not miss the beef tallow fries ($5), which were salty, shoe-string-cut perfection. 1234 SE Cora St. Thursday: 4-7pm; Friday-Saturday: noon to 7 pm.
Dimo’s Apizza
When you need an easy mealtime win, head to Dimo’s Apizza on East Burnside and grab a spot at one of the covered outdoor picnic tables. Chef Doug Miriello’s acclaimed New Haven-style pies are double-baked — first in a deck oven, then finished in a wood-fired oven — producing an irresistibly crispy, charred crust that kids and their grown-ups scarf up. The casual counter-service setup is a natural fit for families. And as a toddler parent, the easygoing outdoor vibe means I don’t have to worry about my son making a mess. There are pies for every palate, from plain cheese, margarita or pepperoni to those topped with clam aioli and wood-roasted clams, or the Wild Mushroom with roasted mushrooms, mascarpone cream, crispy potato, garlic confit, gruyere, taleggio, oregano and thyme. And for those who want something other than pizza, their pastas (spicy rigatoni alla vodka or the spaghetti al limone) and sandwiches are equally as good. Pizzas range from $15 to $26 for a 12-inch pie and $22 to $36 for 18-inch pies. 701 E Burnside St.
Gabbiano’s
First of all, this place is adorable; my husband and I are already planning on coming back here for a date night. The outdoor seating is cozy, with checkered table cloths, a pink lattice patio, and green and red-grape string lights (which were a big hit with my toddler). And while Gabbiano’s accommodates littles — they have high chairs — I think it’s best suited for families with older kiddos who are too old (too cool?) to eat from the kids’ menu, which Gabbiano’s does not have. Dishes here are served family-style, which is perfect for hungry tweens and teens. We started with the Instagram-worthy fried mozzarella ($13). This gooey, tomatoey dish provides the ultimate cheese pull and all three of us loved every bite. We also ordered the chicken parm ($26) which was huge. I’m talking covering the entire large dinner plate huge, with juicy, tenderized chicken, perfectly fried with a golden crust, blanketed in mozzarella cheese and doused in house-made marinara and served with very garlicky (in a good way) bread. Pro tip: I didn’t read the menu close enough, because this dish does not come with spaghetti, so if you need noodles, be sure to order the spaghetti with red sauce ($17). For a hungry family of four, the chicken parm — with or without spaghetti — is plenty to eat, and even then you might still have some leftovers. 5411 NE 30th Ave., daily from 4-10 pm.
Food Cart Pods with Great Outdoor Seating
When the sun is shining, your neighborhood cart pod beckons with a variety of cuisines, kid-friendly amenities and laid-back vibes. Or venture outside your neighborhood to try one of these options.
You’ll find birria tacos, gumbo, fish ‘n’ chips and more at the Foster Food Carts. Plus covered seating, a play area, and, occasionally, live music on Saturday nights. 5205 SE Foster Rd.
While the Brooklyn Carreta (pictured above) is right next to the busy 99E, the walled off dining area that includes covered outdoor and indoor seating doesn’t feel like it’s right next to the 99E. There’s also an outdoor play area and indoor pinball room. You’ll find carts slinging Cubano sandwiches, sushi, bibimbap and more. 4534 SE McLoughlin Blvd.
ArborLook Carts in North Portland proudly bills itself as family friendly and includes five carts with covered and outdoor seating. Choices include sushi, and Mexican, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and Cuban food. 5916 N Greeley Ave.
Hillsboro Downtown Station has more than 30 carts featuring Hawaiian, Thai, and Mediterranean flavors and more; indoor and outdoor seating; and an indoor play space for kids. They also have regular events like family bingo, live music and more. 320 SE Baseline St., Hillsboro.
Brewpubs with Great Outdoor Seating
Portland loves a good craft beer. But just because you have kids in tow, doesn’t mean you have to forgo your favorite, locally made IPA. Here are five breweries that have outdoor seating and welcome children.
The Northeast Alberta taproom of independently owned Baerlic Beer Co. is a convenient place to grab a refreshing pint while the kids enjoy the fresh air on the back patio. While they don’t serve food, you can grab something from the affordable Mole Mole Mexican Cuisine or International Cheesesteak food carts. 2223 NE Alberta St.
Level Beer is another brewery that doesn’t serve food, but makes sure its patrons have options. The Level 1 location in the Argay neighborhood is great for families. Order a flight or draft, and post up at one of the picnic tables. Pro tip: There are pinball machines inside! Choose from one of the four nearby food carts, including the very kid-friendly Katy’s Fry House which serves up french fries, nuggs and more. 5211 NE 148th Ave.
We love the large — and enclosed! — front patio at the Boise location of Stormbreaker Brewing. It’s great for families with toddlers who like to roam. This brewpub also has its own menu with standard, yet solid brewery food options, like sandwiches, burgers, plus a dedicated kids’ menu with choices like hot dogs, grilled cheese and quesadillas. 832 N Beech St.
Little Beast Brewing almost feels like you’re going to a good friend’s house to hang out. The Division brewery is in a cute yellow Craftsman house with a cozy wraparound patio and front porch and serves seasonal sours, lagers and more. The picnic tables provide a casual and decently spacious place to enjoy pizza from Little Beast’s current food partner, Prettyboy Pizza, which whips up grandmother-style pies — the cheese goes on before the tomato sauce — baked in a sheet pan and cut into squares. 3412 SE Division St.
Want a playdate lunch or dinner outing somewhere that’s as good as it is convenient? Head to Wayfinder Beer in Southeast (pictured above). There you’ll find an elevated, covered patio with picnic tables (the inside beer hall also has lots of seating). We love the brewpub’s banh mi fries with ginger caramelized cauliflower (you can also add tender pork belly) and there’s a dedicated kids’ menu with classics like mac ‘n’ cheese, a cheeseburger, and chicken tenders and fries. 304 SE 2nd Ave.
When you’re looking for even more kid-friendly dining spots, go here!