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Thai eatery Eem on North Williams Avenue was named 2019 Restaurant of the Year by “The Oregonian.”
Credit: Aaron Lee

Williams

This vibrant North Portland street offers stellar shopping, dining and activities.

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Thai eatery Eem on North Williams Avenue was named 2019 Restaurant of the Year by “The Oregonian.”
Credit: Aaron Lee

Pack in stylish shopping, delicious international cuisine and quirky bar-hopping in North Portland’s Williams neighborhood.

Dining on Williams

When the craving for dumplings and noodles strikes, check out XLB on North Williams for classic Chinese comfort food and their namesake xiao long bao.

Named “Restaurant of the Year” in 2019 by The Oregonian, Eem‘s Thai dishes, such as sweet and sour fried chicken and fried egg-topped soy curl stir fry, are all jammed with flavor. Cocktails arrive in over-the-top, photo-worthy Tiki glasses, but the cuisine crafted at Eem remains its star component.

A colorful Tiki cocktail at Eem on North Williams Avenue.
A colorful cocktail served at Eem on North Williams Avenue.

More notable meals on Williams include the flavorful Fijian food at Big Elephant Kitchen; handmade pastries and bacon-flecked baguettes by Dos Hermanos Bakery; beautiful, intricately decorated desserts at Jinju Patisserie; and vegan-friendly, authentic Japanese ramen at Kayo’s Ramen.

Shopping on Williams

Lark Press produces its wares on-site, using a century-old letter press to print note cards and ephemera. They also carry hand-silk-screened goods, many adorned with delightfully Portland-themed designs.

Spielwerk sells new children’s toys, but it transports shoppers to a simpler time. Filled with classic playthings crafted from natural materials, the shop’s simple, kid-powered toys like jump ropes, tea sets, dress-up kits and musical instruments promise timeless fun.

5 To Try

Drinking Spots

North Williams Avenue is home to several eclectic drinking holes, including these favorites.

  • The Waypost

    The Waypost serves Southwestern street food and hosts frequent live music. Their patio space doubles as a community garden. Try the tinga chicken tacos or one of their signature margaritas.

  • Vendetta

    This North Williams Avenue spot offers bar snacks and sandwiches, plus a great patio and shuffleboard.

  • DIY Bar

    This creative maker space lets you craft a variety of projects like leather luggage tags, beer koozies and cat scratchers, all under the watchful eye of DIY Bar's "craft-tenders," who offer helpful guidance and troubleshooting.

  • Either/Or

    This Southeast Portland café offers locally roasted coffee, pastries and house-made bagels. Espresso and beverage flights are available (along with a rotating “mocktail”) — their drinks use house-made syrups, sodas and chai.

  • Game Knight Lounge

    Play board games while enjoying cocktails, draft beers and house-made eats at this board game lounge. A small cover charge grants you access to their library of over 500 games.

Activities on Williams

Start a stroll down Williams with a visit to The Wishing Tree. Planted in a neighborhood local’s front yard, the humble tree is strung with thousands of handwritten notes, each fastened to strings threaded through the tree’s branches. (Leave your own note by using the pens and paper stashed in mason jars at the base of the tree.)

Leave your own handwritten note on the North Williams Avenue Wishing Tree.
Credit: Catalina Gaitan

Many a pedaling commuter has been sidetracked by Hopworks North Williams Pub and Beergarden, thanks to its cycle-themed décor and local organic brews from Hopworks Urban Brewery.

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