Salem, Oregon food guide: markets, valley farms and downtown

Salem is the state capital and the gateway to the north Willamette Valley, a major farming region. It is also a city that visitors often drive through on the way to wine country or the coast. That is a mistake for anyone who cares about food. The capital has two long-running markets, a walkable downtown and, within a half hour, orchards, berry farms and tasting rooms. Here is how to build a day of eating in Salem and the valley around it.

When is the Salem Saturday Market?

The Salem Saturday Market is at 865 Marion Street NE, in the downtown area near the river. It is a Saturday market that runs in the warm months, with a large number of vendors and a food court with seating. Vendors sell fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese and baked goods, as well as flowers, plants, crafts and prepared food. Check the market's own site for the season dates. Go in the morning for the best choice and the smallest crowd.

What is the Salem Public Market?

The Salem Public Market is on Rural Avenue SE and is a long-running market. It runs year round, with Saturday hours in the morning and early afternoon. Vendors have sold produce, berries, meat, honey, coffee and baked goods along with crafts. It is a good choice in winter, when the downtown market is closed, and its parking is easier. Confirm hours before you drive.

What are the best things to eat in the valley?

The Willamette Valley grows a large share of the country's hazelnuts, as well as berries, pears, apples, wine grapes, grass seed and vegetables. In summer, look for strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and marionberries at stands and markets. In fall, look for hazelnuts, apples, pears and squash. Cheese, honey and wine round out a picnic. Many farms sell at the gate, and some invite you to pick your own, so a day trip can double as a grocery run.

How should you plan a day trip from Portland?

Salem is about 45 minutes south of Portland by car on Interstate 5, depending on traffic. Start with the Saturday Market, then walk downtown for lunch and a stroll along the river. In the afternoon, drive to a farm stand or a tasting room west of the city. Return by early evening to avoid the worst of the Sunday traffic. If you take the train, Amtrak runs between Portland and Salem, and the station is close to downtown.

What should you know about the State Fair and events?

The Oregon State Fair is held in Salem in late summer and draws large crowds, with traffic and parking to match. Check the official fair site for dates and entry. Downtown also holds seasonal events, concerts and festivals. On big weekends, restaurants fill early, so book where you can and consider eating at an off-peak time.

Where do locals eat out?

Downtown Salem, around Liberty and Commercial Streets, has a mix of casual restaurants, cafes, breweries and bakeries. The Willamette University and Capitol areas bring weekday lunch crowds, and the neighborhoods around them have small ethnic restaurants and bakeries. Salem's large Latino community runs panaderias, taquerias and tortillerias that serve good-value meals. Look for them along the main avenues outside downtown, and check hours, as many close early in the evening.

What about tipping and prices?

Oregon has no sales tax, so the price on a menu is what you pay before tip. Restaurants must pay staff the full Oregon minimum wage, with no lower tipped wage, so tips are on top of full pay. Customary tipping at table-service restaurants is about 18 to 20 percent. Markets and food counters usually have a tip jar, and leaving something is appreciated but optional.

What should you pack for a market morning?

Bring reusable bags, a small cooler with ice packs for meat and cheese, and cash in small bills for vendors who do not take cards. Wear comfortable shoes, since a full market covers several blocks. Arrive early for the best choice, or late in the morning for smaller crowds. If you are buying berries, ask the farmer how long they will keep and eat them within a day or two.

What are some low-cost ways to eat in Salem?

Panaderias and taquerias are good value in the city, and a market breakfast of pastry and coffee is modest. Lunch specials at downtown restaurants are cheaper than dinner. Picnics from the Public Market, eaten in a park beside the river, cost even less. Salem is also an easy city to park in, which saves on garage fees compared with Portland.

How do you remember what you tasted?

A market morning and a farm afternoon produce a long list of berries, cheeses and pastries. Mosey is a food-first app where diners find places by dish, mood and neighborhood and rate what they actually ate. Rate each pastry and each pint of berries, and Mosey shows where to start next Saturday. Keep one list for the markets and one for downtown, and follow friends who drive down from Portland to see their finds.

For the rest of the state, start at the Food in Oregon page.

More guides to read next:

• Bridgeport, Connecticut food guide: Black Rock, Little Italy, waterfront
• Stamford food guide: downtown, the South End and Harbor Point
• Athens, Georgia: farmers market and a Saturday food plan

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