Where to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in Salem? Try these local favorites

A park right along the river, wineries all around the city’s edge and a plethora of art and history museums, outdoor excursions and live events to check out.

No, this isn’t Portland,

it’s Salem

. With its small-town vibe in a city setting, it has (almost) everything conveniently in or outside of it, for work and play. Salem may not be known as a food destination, but those who live in Salem know you don’t have to drive to Portland for a memorable excursion and a great meal.

For art and history museum fans, Salem offers the Hallie Ford Museum of Art and Willamette Heritage Center; nature buffs can admire Minto-Brown Island Park and Bush Pasture Park; and music lovers can enjoy live events at the Elsinore Theatre, Historic Grand Theatre and bars across the city.

READ MORE:

The 20 best things to do around Salem

I’ve lived, worked and eaten all over Salem for over three years in restaurants that range from casual dining to high-end destinations. It’s an underrated city to eat through, and some of the best are locally owned places tucked within small neighborhoods, off main roads and even in the industrial district. For the city’s residents, it’s just another day enjoying their regular spot.

Whether you’re in town for a quick bite on a long road trip, a day at the Capitol, an evening show or a long weekend, Salem has restaurants, cafes and bakeries both locals and visitors are sure to enjoy.

These local favorites for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert reliably serve up great food with pleasant service.

Breakfast

A mini plate of Don’s Big Mess, the famous dish of White’s Restaurant in Salem.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

White’s Restaurant is one of Salem’s oldest restaurants, offering classic diner-style breakfast and lunch since 1936. It’s not uncommon for regulars to bump into each other at this spot just outside downtown Salem. To see how White’s Restaurant has stood the test of time, try the famous “Don’s Big Mess,” corned beef hash or biscuits and gravy, as all three are some of the oldest original menu items.

Open 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday., 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday; 1138 Commercial St. S.E.; 503-363-0297;


whitesrestaurant1936.com


.

A Sybil’s Signature Omelette, with side of fruit, pancakes and toast at Sybil’s Omelettes in Salem.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

Sybil’s Omelettes

If you love eggs, Sybil’s Omelettes is the place to go. Over its more than 40 years, the menu has boasted more than 60 omelette options, plus other egg dishes such as build-a-Benedict and scrambles. The restaurant is decorated in playful, tongue-in-cheek chicken memorabilia, including restaurant mascot Sybil, the chicken on the restaurant’s sign and merchandise. The Sybil’s Signature Omelette is a classic cheesy dish with hefty sides like pancakes and hashbrowns, for just $15.50.

Open 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday; 2373 State St.; 503-581-7724;


sybilsomelettes.com


.

Lunch

Bearwolf PNW Kitchen and Catering

Bearwolf PNW Kitchen and Catering offers a distinctive selection of deli sandwiches, as owner Joshua St. James makes all the cold cut meats himself. The sandwich combinations are a mix of classics and his creations. Swing by on Pastrami Fridays for a half pound of warm, housemade pastrami with mustard on rye bread. Not sure what to try? Also exclusively on Fridays, order the “do you trust me?” a weekly sandwich invention St. James doesn’t repeat ever, to experience his sandwich-making’s genius (and casual cruelty). One Friday, it was a pork belly Cubano; another week’s sandwich had gochujang chicken, cheese, kimchi and fish sauce “aioli.”

Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday; 1310 State St.; 971-443-7031;


bearwolfcatering.com


.

The P.N.W. Combination sandwich from Bearwolf PNW Kitchen and Catering in Salem includes housemade red curry chicken cotto, calabrian pepperoni, pepperjack cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, pepper paste, garlic spread and “secret deli sauce.”

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

Black Sheep Cafe and Catering’s blackened catfish rice bowl in Salem.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

Black Sheep Cafe and Catering

Black Sheep Cafe and Catering offers breakfast and lunch in South Salem’s industrial district, but this cute spot is not to be missed. Its lunch options outshine the breakfast fare, with soup, salad, sandwiches, burgers plus a small selection of “favorites.” The blackened catfish rice bowl and Odyssey gyro are standouts.

Open 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; 1932 McGilchrist St. S.E.; 503-385-1909;


blacksheeporegon.com

Manila Fiesta

Salem’s only traditional Filipino brick-and-mortar restaurant is run by mother and son duo Marissa Luciano and Dennis Musni. The restaurant offers staples of the cuisine, like pork adobo, lechon kawali (crispy pork belly) and pork or veggie lumpia with pancit; but try the deeper cuts like the Bicol Express (a pork stew with coconut milk and chili peppers), and fried marinated milkfish. Check the restaurant’s

Facebook page

for specials.

Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 4618 Portland Road N.E.; 971-332-5578;

facebook.com/THEMANILAFIESTA

Manila Fiesta’s weekend platter with chicken, pancit and lumpia plus turon, deep fried bananas wrapped in spring roll wrappers.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

Plate of lengua (cow tongue) and asada tacos at El Jacolito Taqueria in Salem.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

Dinner

Taqueria El Jacolito

Tauqueria El Jacolito is one of many great Mexican restaurants in Salem. The family-run spot offers pitchers of freshly made aguas frescas, housemade tortillas and dishes from breakfast to dinner. If you have a group, share a hot molcajete mixteco, which has beef, quail, napoles (cactus), queso fresco plus a side of salsa, rice and beans.

Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Friday; 990 12th St. S.E.; 503-991-5350;


taqueriaeljacalitosalem.com

Santiam Brewing

Salem’s only British and American restaurant and brewery has a robust menu, and though it looks like a bar, is open to all ages. The menu’s specialties are British classics: bangers and mash, savory pies with a side of mushy peas and (of course) fish and chips. If you enjoy your food with a side of entertainment, check out The Bad Space behind the brewery restaurant for weekly performances, trivia and more.

Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; 2544 19th St. S.E.; 503-689-1260;

santiambrewing.com

A half plate of bangers and mash at Santiam Brewing in south Salem.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

Epilogue Kitchen’s crab cakes and strawberry kiwi fizz cocktail in Salem.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

Epilogue Kitchen

Epilogue Kitchen is one of Salem’s only James Beard Foundation Award-nominated restaurants. The restaurant offers a unique tasting menu experience, with items inspired by seasonal produce and owner Jonathan James’ background on the East Coast and Appalachia. Reservations are required for the tasting menu, but you can swing by for a cocktail and something from the a la carte menu that includes crab cakes, spicy beet pickled egg and carrot tartare, a play on beef tartare but fully vegetarian.

Open 5-9 p.m. Thursday-Monday, 3996 Cousteau Drive S.E.; 503-581-1880;


epilogue-kitchen.square.site

Dessert

Sewell Sweets

Sewell Sweets, a downtown bakery, offers luxurious and cute cakes and desserts, plus wedding and custom cakes. Instead of traditional cake slices, you can purchase a baby cake, a stacked 2-inch round cake with distinctive flavor combinations such as lavender Earl Grey with lemon and blackberry or traditional ones like triple chocolate, lemon and chocolate chip cookie.

Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; 155 Liberty St. N.E. #160; 971-287-7171;


sewellsweets.com

A trio of desserts from Sewell Sweets, including pistachio and raspberry dessert cup, lavender Earl Grey lemon and blackberry babycake and a tropical cheesecake bomb.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

One of three dessert cases at Little Cannoli Bakery, which offers cannolis, Napoleans and other desserts in Salem.

Em Chan/For The Oregonian

The Little Cannoli Bakery

The Little Cannoli Bakery is a bakery and cafe offering cannolis and other desserts, including eclairs, macarons, Napoleans, cookies and turnovers. You’ll also find personal pan pizza, soups and biscuits and gravy served all day. The business is tucked away in Pringle Park Plaza, on the edge of downtown Salem.

Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 315 High St. S.E.; 503-585-9288;

facebook.com/LittleCannoliBakery

Here is Oregon: Willamette Valley

• Sacred Shore Wines conjures Galician magic in Oregon wine country: Winery spotlight

• Querida hamburguesería del PNW ofrece una hamburguesa especial con queso galardonado de Oregón

• OHSU researchers develop tiny particle aimed at supercharging cancer treatment

• Beloved PNW burger joint offers special cheeseburger with award-winning Oregon cheese

• Sokol Blosser Winery debuts its mobile wine bar at the Portland Rose Festival

— Em Chan, for The Oregonian/OregonLive

About The Author