Hawthorne and Belmont, Portland: where to eat on the southeast side

Hawthorne Boulevard and Belmont Street are two parallel main streets on Portland's southeast side, a few blocks apart, and together they make one of the easiest places in the city to spend an afternoon walking, browsing and eating. Hawthorne is a long stretch of vintage shops, boutiques, bars and cafes, and Belmont is a neighboring street with its own mix of shops, coffee spots and eateries. Eat across both, and plan around the weather and the crowds.

Where are Hawthorne and Belmont?

Both run east to west through the southeast side. Belmont sits a few blocks north of Hawthorne. They are a couple of miles east of downtown via the Morrison Bridge. The busiest stretch of Hawthorne for eating is in the middle of its length, and the two streets are close enough that you can walk from one to the other in a few minutes. Hawthorne is the busier and more eclectic, and Belmont is the quieter, more neighborhood-like.

What are the Hawthorne cart pods?

Hawthorne Boulevard has food cart pods, lots of carts with shared seating, and they are among Portland's best known. Some carts have been there for years, and newer pods sit a few blocks away. For a visitor, these are the fastest way to taste several cuisines at once. Carts and pods change often, so look at what is open on the day. The weekday lunch and the late night are both busy times.

Where do you go for breakfast and brunch?

Both streets have bakeries, coffee shops and restaurants with weekend brunch. Some restaurants in the area let children cook their own pancakes at the table, which makes them family favorites. Brunch here follows the usual Portland pattern: a wait on weekend mornings, a shorter line before 9 a.m. or on weekdays, and a common practice of putting your name down and walking. If you are in a group of more than four, expect a longer wait.

What is it like in the evening?

Hawthorne is a place for bars and casual dinners. The mix includes pizza, Mexican, Thai, Mediterranean and burgers, along with taverns and a brewery or two. Walking east to west, you will pass theaters and music venues, and the street has a lively feel on weekend nights. Belmont is calmer in the evening, with smaller restaurants and cafes. If you want a quiet, unhurried dinner, look at Belmont and the side streets. If you want energy, Hawthorne.

Is Hawthorne good for cheap eats?

Yes. The cart pods and counter-service places make it one of the easier streets for a cheap meal. The pods are the best bet on Hawthorne.

What about dietary needs?

Portland is generally good for vegetarian and vegan diners, and Hawthorne has a long history of natural food shops and plant-based cafes. Gluten-free options are common. For a strict allergy, ask the cart or restaurant about shared fryers and cross-contact, because small kitchens often use one fryer for everything. Tell them it is an allergy.

How does the check work?

Oregon has no sales tax. A restaurant check shows the menu prices plus any listed fees, and you add a tip, usually 18 to 20 percent for table service. At a cart, a tip jar or a card-reader tip screen is common and the amount is up to you. Many carts accept cards but a few prefer cash, and a weak signal can slow a reader, so carry a little cash.

How do you spend a whole afternoon here?

Hawthorne rewards a slow plan. Begin at the western end with coffee and a pastry, walk east past the vintage shops and record stores, and reach a cart pod around midday for a quick lunch from two or three carts. Then wander the side streets toward Belmont for a second coffee, a book or a look at the old theaters. If you are traveling with a group that disagrees on food, the pods are the answer: each person orders from a different cart and you meet at one table.

For an evening, check what is playing at the theaters and music venues on the street. A show with dinner before it is easy to arrange, since there are many restaurants within a few blocks, but pre-show tables fill early. Eat first and plan to arrive at the venue early.

How do you get here and what should you plan for?

Hawthorne and Belmont are served by frequent buses, and the bridge brings cyclists in from downtown. Parking is easiest on side streets, with attention to signs. Allow extra time on weekend evenings. The area is rainy from fall to spring, so pick covered cart pods or indoor restaurants, and bring a jacket. In summer, patios and pods are at their best, and the evening light is long.

How do you keep track of an afternoon of carts and cafes?

A Hawthorne afternoon is a coffee, a cart lunch, a second coffee and an early dinner. In the Mosey app, rate each by the dish, add a tag such as Food Truck or Kid-Friendly, and keep the stops in a list for the southeast side. Share it with the group that could not agree on lunch, and everyone can add their own order. Follow friends who live nearby and see what they rate when the pods change.

Rate your next cart lunch in the Mosey app and start a Hawthorne list.

More guides to read next:

• Portland food carts and pods: how they work and how to eat at them
• N Mississippi and Williams Avenue, Portland: food and history guide
• Cheap eats in Portland, Oregon under $15 (2026)

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