Top Food Dishes in Central Oregon and Where to Order Them

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.

The Best Burgers

A classic sandwich—the burger—can be found at most pubs and grills. Rest assured, these restaurants in Bend and Redmond are a good place to start when searching for a top-notch burger around the region.

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.

Worthy Brewing

495 NE Bellevue Drive
Bend, Oregon 97701
and
806 NW Brooks St.
Bend, Oregon 97703

Worthy Brewing made its mark on Bend after being established in 2012 and opening as a solar-powered brewery on the eastside in 2013. Both locations operate with sustainable practices, sourcing locally and even using ingredients from the onsite garden at the eastside brewery. At either location, find the Magic Bus Burger: a natural beef patty with blackberry-chipotle barbeque sauce, fried onions and Tillamook cheddar cheese.

Worthy Brewing

Authentic Sushi

Options for incredible sushi are abundant in Central Oregon. If you have a hankering for fresh, authentic rolls, there are plenty of choices around the region; although, downtown Redmond and Tumalo have some of the best sushi around.

Oishi Japanese Restaurant

Oishi Japanese Restaurant

511 SW 6th St.
Redmond, Oregon 97756

In Redmond, find Oishi Japanese Restaurant where the mission of healthy, delicious food is at the forefront of the menu. The menu is filled to the brim with options of noodles and teriyaki, and you can trust that the sushi here is outstanding. From classic unagi rolls to signature rolls such as the Oishi Love—spicy tuna, avocado, scallops, salmon roe and octopus—it will be hard not to try a little bit of everything.

NorthFresh Sushi

19860 7th St.
Bend, Oregon 97703

Located at The Bite—a food truck gathering near Tumalo State Park—NorthFresh is a sushi-lover’s paradise. The history of the restaurant began in Salem where the chef opened his first NorthFresh food truck. Now, visitors and locals alike can find poké bowls, avocado tempura and delicious sushi rolls after a day exploring the north side of Bend.

The Best Steak

There are many factors that go into preparing the perfect steak; for example, time, location and patience. In Central Oregon, these restaurants pride themselves on meticulous preparation of the classic dish.

Bos Taurus

163 NW Minnesota Ave.
Bend, Oregon 97701

Bos Taurus has a thoughtful range of steak-cuts on the menu. One can find meat sourced anywhere from the desert plains of Arizona to the diverse landscape of Queensland, Australia. Complete the meal by adding on brown butter bearnaise or Bos steak sauce.

Bos Taurus

Brickhouse

5 NW Minnesota Ave.
Bend, Oregon 97703
or
412 SW 6th St.
Redmond, Oregon 97756

With locations in downtown Bend and downtown Redmond, Brickhouse is an excellent restaurant for finding the best steak in Central Oregon. At both locations, find a true surf and turf by ordering the Filet and Lobster: bacon wrapped filet and a lobster tail. Then, pair the meal with an option from Brickhouse’s extensive Wine Cellar list.

Authentic Mexican Food

When searching for the best margarita, tacos or enchiladas this side of the Cascades, you’ll find a plethora of delicious options in every town. However, these incredible restaurants in Central Oregon are top of the list for genuine Mexican cuisine.

Coco Loco

Coco Loco

223 E Hood Ave.
Sisters, Oregon 97759

In Sisters, Coco Loco is located amongst the food trucks at the popular Eurosports Food Garden. Stop by for fantastic street tacos, quesadillas, burritos or nachos with tons of vegan options as well. Coco Loco offers customers the option to turn any burrito into a bowl served on a bed of rice.

Diego’s Spirited Kitchen

447 SW 6th St.
Redmond, Oregon

Diego’s Spirited Kitchen prides itself on serving traditional and non-traditional Mexican, Italian and American dishes. When looking for traditional Mexican cuisine in Central Oregon, head over to Diego’s and find platters of cheesy, flavorful enchiladas, or the sizzling signature Southwest Fajitas with options of veggie, chicken or steak filling.

Hola!

Six locations throughout Bend, Redmond, Sunriver and Camp Sherman

Hola! is another Central Oregon household name. Their Mexican-meets-Peruvian cuisine is hard to beat when you have that specific craving for nachos or a colorful margarita. The guacamole is made at your table as Hola! is committed to serving the freshest ingredients. At any of the six locations, find signature dishes such as Ahi Chile Rellenos while enjoying views of Redmond, Bend, Sunriver or the Metolius River area.

an overview of a plate of tacos

Best Thai Food

When searching for Thai food in Central Oregon, you’ll find an abundance of options. Rest assured that Central Oregon has incredible Thai food around every corner. If you can’t make up your mind, here are a few places to try out.

Wild Rose

150 NW Oregon Ave.
Bend, Oregon 97701

This unique restaurant has a menu focused on bringing food from Northern Thailand to the forefront of Bend’s palate. With specialties such as Khao Soi Curry—yellow coconut curry with veggies and spices, topped with your choice of protein—Wild Rose is an authentic culinary experience in the heart of downtown Bend.

Noi

550 NW Franklin Ave. Ste. 148
Bend, Oregon 97703

Noi, settled in downtown Bend, was the first of many locations including two in Seattle and one in Honolulu. This is a popular spot for signature cocktails and the house specialty: Crispy Garlic Chicken. The goodness doesn’t stop there; Noi has an extensive dessert menu with traditional after–dinner treats such as Black Sticky Rice Pudding.

Notable Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants

Wholesome, healthy and delicious ingredients? There’s not much more to ask for when looking for the best vegetarian and vegan options. Luckily, Central Oregon is on top of it when it comes to tasty, veggie-packed meals.

Active Culture

Active Culture

285 NW Riverside Blvd.
Bend, Oregon 97701

With breakfast, lunch and dinner (and snacks), Active Culture in Bend serves some of the best plant-based goodness out there. Try a vegan BBQ burger made with a lentil patty, and pair it with a kombucha mojito.

Terra Kitchen

509 SW 6th St.
Redmond, Oregon 97756

Terra Kitchen is the soul of plant-forward dinner menus in Redmond. Located in the SCP Hotel, Terra Kitchen’s menu is inspired by Mediterranean-style and Pacific Northwest food. Stop by for the Farm Vegetable Paella, or Papas Bravas—fingerling potatoes with lemon cashew aioli.

Terra Kitchen

Best Barbeque

Pulled pork, chicken wings, and a smorgasbord of coleslaw and baked beans sound like the perfect summer picnic. Luckily, Central Oregon has impeccable options for barbeque all year long.

Baldy’s Barbeque

Baldy’s Barbeque

Three locations throughout Bend and Redmond

With three locations spanning Bend and Redmond, Baldy’s Barbeque is a must-visit spot in Central Oregon. The juicy signature plate, The Extravaganza, is a full rack of baby back ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and smoked chicken. It’s the perfect shareable meal for a group of people feeling indecisive, or those wanting a sampling of everything.

Pop’s Southern BBQ

171 East Main St.
Sisters, Oregon 97759

This barbeque food truck is located in The Barn—a gathering of local food trucks. Here, find made-from-scratch, quality meat. Try Pop’s Loaded Chili or the Roasted Poblano Slaw if you’re looking for a signature or unique dish. Take a scenic drive over to Sisters and stop by Pop’s Southern BBQ for a bite before heading out for a hike or exploring town.

Other stories

More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.

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  • Bend Area Breweries: Where to Go and What to Get
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