Recs (especially food) for Portland , OR

[Shreddingbetty]

DH has a meeting in Portland, OR in 10 days and we will be tagging along. We will be there about 5 days. Any recommendations for good restaurants? DD is 4 so we are not looking for super fancy restaurants but she does do well in restaurants so not worried about it having to be super family friendly. 
We are in the downtown area across the river from the convention center. 
Also, what is public transport like there? We will not be renting a car so hopefully there will be enough stuff to do in the downtown area. Any recs on that are also appreciated. 
Thanks!

[jaime183]

You can take the Max (light rail) to the zoo and children's museum if you want to take her out during the day. Or you could go for a walk around the waterfront (there is an Esplanade loop that goes up both sides and over two bridges). Omsi (science museum) is also across the river.

there's a ton of great food in Portland. What kind do you like? During the work week the food carts are open for lunch. There are a lot of pods around downtown.

Most of the amazing food is in NW, the Pearl and SE. You can get to NW and the Pearl on the streetcar from downtown.

Which hotel? There are a bunch right there

here's my favorite list of restaurants (you can sort by location) www.wweek.com/portland/restaurantguide

[lolo]

We were just there with our 11mo DD last month.

One of our favorites, which was recommended by our airbnb host who has a two and four year old, was La Cocina.

m.yelp.com/biz/la-cocina-restaurant-portland

The food was excellent as was the service. They recommended black beans for DD and offered them puréed or whole and asked if we wanted them earlier or with our meal. The restaurant also had a good amount of background noise from everyone talking, so we didn't have to try as hard to help keep DD quiet.

I got the pork gorditas and would absolutely recommend that. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

ETA picture! YWIA.

[Shreddingbetty]

Thanks everyone. We will be staying at the Hilton. Zoo and museums sounds good. DH will be in meeting most of the day so we will go explore. We love most foods but love seafood/Indian/Thai/sushi/Italian etc. I love Mexican food too but we live in the land of Mexican food so I typically try to find stuff that may not be so easy to find here. 
I will check out the links. And lolo that does look yummy!
sounds like public transport is great there (where we live not so much) so we will do that, probably even from the airport so I don't have to lug the car seat just for the cab ride. 

[juliabug]

If the weather is warm enough, the tidal fountain at Jamison Square is one of my favorite outdoor places to bring my kids. You can get there from the Portland Streetcar.

[dutchgirl678]

You can take the MAX from the airport and it is super cheap and easy. It should not be too far from the MAX station to your hotel. Just check on the TriMet website. We have young kids too and they love to go out to eat. We usually take them wherever we go. I have to second the brewery recommendations. They all serve good food, good beer, and a children's menu. There are some nice places near the Waterfront Hilton too. I love McCormicks and Schmicks. The floating seafood restaurant is decent, though not spectacular. I forgot what it's called these days. There is a Stanfords right there too.

I like Bridgeport and Deschutes breweries. I love Andina though I've never been there with kids.

[moreace01]

Portland has crazy good food. I swear, every place we walked into, I loved. I had a whole list of fabulous places, and ended up not hitting barely any on my list. I think maybe cause the culinary institute is there - that's why the food is so good? I don't know.

Where I did go and love (and I have no idea if any of these are anywhere near where you will be):
Salt and Straw for ice cream (the beet aquavit was my favorite)
Por que no for tacos
Nuestra Cocina
Interurban (be aware the food comes out when it is done - so not necessarily together and could be a wait...but it was delicious)
Apizza Scholls


What was on my list, but didn't make it:
Toro Bravo
Le Pigeon/Little Bird
Pok Pok

Also, this is just me, but I think Voodoo donuts is kinda nasty. Wouldn't bother with it.
Gotta hit up the food truck pods too.

[mrsstreet]

We loved Andina as well but I don't remember seeing kids there (not saying there weren't... I just can't remember). We also loved the breweries...Deschutes and I think the other one we tried was Rogue. Voodoo Donuts was fun but touristy. Your daughter might like it. We also did Waffle Window, which I liked, for breakfast. Honestly everywhere we ate was great!

[kelley182]

You should take your DD to VooDoo Doughnuts. My friend always raves about that place!