Central Oregon is known for many things, and exceptional eateries are one of them. The benefit to being here is that you can practically find good food anywhere, but it can be hard to know where to start. As a region full of foodies, we know these tried and true restaurants have the best burgers, sushi, Mexican food, Thai food, barbeque and more in Central Oregon.
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The Best Burgers
Whether you prefer pub burgers piled high with creative toppings or simpler, more straightforward entrees, you’ll find appetizing burgers in Central Oregon. Get started with these veteran eateries—both offering vastly different takes on the beloved burger.
Bend Burger Company
1939 NE 3rd St.Bend, Oregon 97701 and
249 NW 6th St.Redmond, Oregon 97756
Bend Burger Company started as a small, family-owned business and has become a household name in Central Oregon with locations in Bend and Redmond. The signature burger, the Bend Burger, is a classic cheeseburger with Bend Burger Sauce—the homemade, hallmark sauce can be found on nearly every burger made here. Each burger is named after a beloved landmark in Central Oregon; try the Broken Top: bleu cheese, smoky bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and, of course, Bend Burger Sauce.
Sno Cap Drive In
1053 NW 6th StRedmond, OR 97756
Enjoy an old-school experience with the retro Sno Cap Drive In, which has been slinging classic burgers since 1954 in downtown Sisters. Burger patties are fresh, never frozen, and served with fresh veggies and buns that come from a bakery based in Bend. Save room for Sno Cap’s hard ice cream, which is made in house, as well as soft serve, milkshakes, and other cool treats.
Authentic Sushi
If you have a hankering for fresh sushi rolls in Central Oregon, you’ll have plenty of restaurants to choose from—usually led by chefs with extensive experience who are trained in authentic techniques.
Oishi Japanese Restaurant
511 SW 6th St.Redmond, Oregon 97756
Oishi Japanese Restaurant, which translates to English as “delicious” or “tasty”, lives up to its name with dozens of sashimi and sushi roll selections that burst with flavor in Redmond. If you’re not feeling sushi, Oishi serves teriyaki and noodle dishes, as well.
NorthFresh Sushi
19860 7th St. Bend, Oregon 97703
Located at The Bite—a food-truck pod in downtown Tumalo—NorthFresh is a sushi-lover’s paradise. Chef Jeff Berneski has fresh fish delivered daily—which he uses in a variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, and poké bowls. You’ll find other NorthFresh outposts in Bend and Redmond.
The Best Steak
Whether you’re hungry for a cut of beef from just up the road or halfway around the world, you’ll find a stellar selection of steaks in Central Oregon. Here are a few of Bend’s top steakhouses to help plan your special night out.
Bos Taurus
163 NW Minnesota Ave. Bend, Oregon 97701
The refined Bos Taurus resides in downtown Bend and has made a name for itself with authentic Wagyu cuts, as well as choice selections from Oregon, Arizona, Texas, and even Australia. Seasonal sides and appetizers round out the rotating menu. Pair your meal with a globetrotting lineup of wines, classic cocktails, and a wide-ranging spirits menu that features dozens of whiskeys from around the world.
Brickhouse
5 NW Minnesota Ave.Bend, Oregon 97703
or
412 SW 6th St. Redmond, Oregon 97756
With locations in downtown Bend and Redmond, Brickhouse serves some of the best steak in Central Oregon. At both locations, build a true surf and turf dish by adding wild-caught prawns, scallops, or Dungeness crab oscar to any of the restaurant’s steaks—all of which are USDA prime and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Whatever you order, pair it with the perfect wine from Brickhouse’s curated wine cellar.
Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge
225 SW Century Dr #1052Bend, OR 97702
In 2024, celebrity chef and Central Oregon native Brian Malarkey opened the Western-inspired Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge on Bend’s bustling westside. The menu includes choice cuts of local beef, wood-fired pizza topped with seasonal ingredients, a variety of Oregon-sourced seafood entrees, and sides that demand to be shared. Wash it all down with a curated wine selection, local craft brews, or a creative lineup of house-made cocktails.
Authentic Mexican Food
Nosh on tacos, enchiladas, and more at the many restaurants that reflect the diverse lineup of Mexican food throughout Central Oregon. From Baja-inspired tacos to street-food favorites and quality baked goods, here are a few beloved Mexican restaurants in Bend, Oregon, and beyond.
For more ideas, check out our guide to the top Mexican restaurants in Redmond and Madras.
Coco Loco
223 E Hood Ave.Sisters, Oregon 97759
You might be in the Old West-inspired community of Sisters, but it’ll feel like a day at the beach with Coco Loco, a food truck dishing coastal-inspired fare at the popular Eurosports Food Garden. Build the perfect burrito and taco with grilled mahi, garlic adobo shrimp, carne asada, adobada, or chicken; other highlights include nachos piled high with fresh toppings and filling quesadillas.
M’s Bakery
330 SW Powerhouse Dr Ste 140Bend, OR 97702
The Hispanic-owned M’s Bakery opened in early 2025 in Bend’s Old Mill District—and is already a premier purveyor of Mexican breads, pastries, coffees, and more. The airy eatery serves baked goods with locally sourced ingredients, as well as light bites (including huevos rancheros) and Mexican chocolates, coffee, and wine.
Best Thai Food
You’ll find a variety of Thai restaurants in Bend and Central Oregon—from friendly eateries serving your favorite fare to eateries specializing in regional cuisines. Here are a few top spots.
Wild Rose
150 NW Oregon Ave. Bend, Oregon 97701
In the heart of downtown Bend, Wild Rose has earned acclaim for its thoughtful selection of Northern Thai dishes. That means you won’t see paid thai—but rather khao soi curry (a yellow coconut curry crafted with vegetables, spices, and topped with your choice of protein) and other rural specialties. For local flair, meats and eggs are sourced from a farm just north of Bend.
Noi
550 NW Franklin Ave. Ste. 148Bend, Oregon 97703
Noi, settled in downtown Bend, is popular spot for signature cocktails and the house specialty: crispy garlic chicken—which is stir-fried in a garlic-infused sauce. Noi’s dessert menu, meanwhile, includes black sticky rice pudding and other traditional snacks.
Notable Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants
All over Central Oregon, fast-casual cafés and relaxed eateries bring together wholesome, healthful, and delicious ingredients to craft a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Here are a few favorite stops for veggie-friendly meals.
Active Culture
285 NW Riverside Blvd. Bend, Oregon 97701
With breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and snacks!—Active Culture serves some of the best plant-based goodness in Bend. Try a filling breakfast burrito, a burger that features a homemade lentil patty and a barbecue beet sauce, or a creative açaí bowl—and wash it all down with a kombucha mojito.
Terra Kitchen
509 SW 6th St. Redmond, Oregon 97756
Terra Kitchen is the soul of plant-forward food menus in downtown Redmond. Located in the SCP Redmond Hotel, Terra Kitchen’s menu blends Mediterranean influences with Pacific Northwest ingredients—many of which come from local farms and some of which are grown on the hotel’s rooftop garden. The menu changes seasonally to reflect what’s fresh, but highlights might include elegant salads, handmade pasta with locally foraged mushrooms, and pizzas with creative flavor profiles.
For more ideas nearby, learn about the best breakfast and brunch in Redmond, Oregon.
Best Barbeque
Good barbecue takes time. It takes a pitmaster committed to slow smoking meats, crafting flavorful sauces, and developing sides that stick to your ribs—like coleslaw, baked beans, and more. Keep reading for a few favorite barbecue restaurants in Bend and Central Oregon.
Baldy’s Barbeque
Three locations throughout Bend and Redmond
With three locations spanning Bend and Redmond, the family-owned Baldy’s Barbeque serves some of the best-loved slow-smoked meats in Central Oregon.
Baby back pork ribs are a house specialty and fan favorite, but other highlights include pulled pork adorned with a proprietary spice rub, flavorful brisket, and fried chicken. Get the meats on their own, or in a filling sandwich, and pair your proteins with a slightly spicy honey jalapeño cornbread or loaded baked potato.
Pop’s Southern BBQ
171 East Main St. Sisters, Oregon 97759
Pop’s Southern BBQ slings Texas-style ‘cue at the Ponch’s Place food-truck pavilion in Bend. Given the cart’s focus on Lone Star State-inspired barbecue, Pop’s dials back the sauciness and lets the succulent, melt-in-your-mouth meats do the work. That translates to an appetizing menu teeming with tender brisket, flavorful pulled pork, and ribs that fall off the bone. Pair your meats with one of Pop’s signature sides; the lineup includes a hearty brisket chili, smoky baked beans, house-made potato chips, and a well-spiced roasted poblano slaw.
For more inspiration, learn about new restaurants in Bend, Oregon.
