We in Central Oregon like to say that the day’s adventure—whether shopping our boutiques, hitting the trails, or sampling our legendary craft brew scene—can’t really begin without a great breakfast or end until our next epic lunch or meal.
And in Central Oregon, it’s easy to find curious chefs cooking up all kinds of cuisine—from home-cooked diner fare to inventive fusion dishes to internationally inspired creations. You’ll even find those chefs plying their trade in brand-new food carts, brick-and-mortar establishments, and some of the best restaurants in Central Oregon—truly cooking up something for everyone. So celebrated is Central Oregon’s food scene, the High Desert Food Trail has been established to connect you with restaurants, markets, and more all over the region.
So whether you’re grabbing pastries and breakfast burritos for the road, sharing plates at a food cart pod, or sitting down to dinner in a dimly lit restaurant, here’s our food guide to Central Oregon.
And, yes: Wherever you go, you’ll almost surely find vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options on the menu. Because our chefs want to make sure everyone goes home happy.
Top Places for Breakfast and Brunch
Everyone starts the day in their own way: Some of us sleep in and enjoy a relaxing morning, while others wake with the sun and hit the ground running. However you do it, we can all agree: A good breakfast is essential.
Fortunately, the wide range of breakfast and brunch in Bend and Central Oregon means you’re never far from another great meal. You’ll find classic diner dishes, fresh-baked pastries, and even internationally inspired dishes from the likes of Portugal. Here’s a guide to the best breakfast and brunch in Central Oregon.
Bend: Since 2007, Chow has prided itself on sourcing local and organic ingredients whenever possible—and has earned acclaim for its creative interpretations of classic brunch fare. If you’re looking for around-the-world inspired brunch, the chef’s at The Lemon Tree, are serving up unique dishes everyday from crab cake benedicts, to amaretto french toast, and Turkish eggs. Don’t forget to wash it down with a signature cocktail or warm latte.
Sunriver: Whether you’re feeling lazy after a long night or need some on-the-go sustenance for a busy day ahead, stop by Hot Lava Bakery for pastries (doughnuts, turnovers, scones, and a hearty cinnamon roll are all highlights) or a filling breakfast sandwich in the heart of Sunriver.
Redmond: The name says it all: Mo’s Egg House serves a variety of classic diner dishes, all with eggs cooked to your preference at the southern edge of downtown Redmond; protein ranges from chicken fried steak to Cajun catfish—while the rest of the expansive menu includes omelets, eggs Benedict dishes, and hearty scrambles. And just north of the downtown core, One Street Down Cafe serves creative breakfast and lunch dishes out of a converted house; some of the many highlights include stuffed French toast (crafted with a gooey honey mascarpone and tangy blueberry ginger jam) and eggs benedict (featuring a new special every day).
Sisters: Start your day right with a filling breakfast from Cottonwood Café; the cozy restaurant is based in a converted house in the middle of Sisters and dishes a variety of thoughtfully crafted breakfast favorites—like a chicken fried steak that comes with caramelized onions, roasted cremini mushrooms, and blue cheese crumbles. Do you crave that house-made, homespun flavor of savory baked goods—but need it for the road? Stop into Sisters Bakery for fresh-baked breads (including the eatery’s signature sourdough), scones, croissants, muffins, doughnuts, and other pastries. Learn more about the outstanding restaurants in Sisters, Oregon.
La Pine: When you’re craving down-home diner cuisine, head to Harvest Depot in La Pine. The stick-to-your-ribs menu accounts for all the comfort food classics: egg dishes, French toast, biscuits and gravy, and even a “redneck” eggs Benedict that comes smothered in country gravy.
Prineville: Debbie Sue’s classic diner vibes in Prineville is serving up all your breakfast favorites like omelets, chicken fried steak, and pancakes. Or, go for something fun like a shrimp basket or breakfast sandwich, the retro checkered floors make it the perfect place to start the day in Prineville.
Madras: Whether you’re on your way to The Cove Palisades State Park or are heading into the heart of Central Oregon, start the day right with a breakfast burrito, panini, or bagel from Great Earth Café and Market; the eatery also hosts a grocery store if you’d like grab-and-go fare for the road.
Maupin: If you need an on-the-go breakfast before hitting the water in Maupin, stop by Maupin Market for its famous breakfast burritos, stuffed with fresh ingredients.
Explore Central Oregon Restaurants
Check out Savor, our guide to Central Oregon’s best food trucks, craft breweries, family-friendly dining, the tastiest brunch and happy hour spots and more!
Best Lunch, Dinner and Takeout Options
Looking for lunch on the way to your next epic adventure? Hungry for dinner after a full day on the water, trail, or slopes? You’ll find no shortage of high-quality food carts, bistros, delis, and eateries dishing tasty fare. (Best of all: They all offer takeout when you’re looking to pack a picnic or eat back at your campsite.)
Bend: As the culinary hub of Central Oregon, you’ll find a ton of great places to eat in Bend, Oregon. Fill up on Mexican street fare at El Sancho, known around town for mouthwatering tacos filled with nearly a dozen creative proteins (ranging from carne asada and chipotle chicken to Oaxacan cheese and seared cow tongue). And if you’re feeling indecisive, taste your way through On Tap; the stylish food cart pod hosts six carts and more than 30 taps of local beer, wine, kombucha, and cider. (Still thirsty? Check out our bar guide to Central Oregon for more places to grab a post-hike beer or nightcap.)
Sunriver: Enjoy pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and more at The Fold Craft Pizza + Kitchen—where the signature dish is a folded (get it?) meatball sandwich, stuffed with house-made meatballs and mozzarella cheese. And for hearty pub fare—burgers, fish-and-chips, steaks, and more—stop into The Wallow Bar & Grill, which prides itself on using house-made ingredients sourced from Pacific Northwest producers.
Redmond: Sharing a courtyard with Kobold Brewing and The Vault Taphouse, the Westside Taco Co. food cart has earned acclaim for its creative tacos; the highlight on a menu full of them is a brisket taco, prepared in a house-made blueberry chipotle sauce for a smoky, yet sweet flavor.
Sisters: Whether you’re grabbing meat to grill back at the campsite or want a filling sandwich, stop by Sisters Meat and Smokehouse for the best of both worlds; fresh meats (think kielbasa, brats, bacon, and more) are prepared on-site, and the eatery’s sandwiches come piled high with meats smoked in-house. If fresh Mexican fare sounds appetizing—and when doesn’t it?—stop by Coco Loco Taco Bar, a food truck dishing tacos, burritos, and bowls in the heart of town; you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but grilled or blackened mahi mahi tacos are the truck’s specialty. The Barn has more mouthwatering options where you can grab a drink and a bite to eat; the taphouse and food cart pod offers BBQ, pizza, burritos, vegan eats and more.
La Pine: Looking for fresh, family-style Mexican fare? La Pine’s Cinco de Mayo Mexican Restaurant specializes in all your favorites—authentic chile relleno, stuffed chimichangas, satisfying enchiladas, and—of course—flavorful (and fruity!) margaritas.
Terrebonne: If you’re hungry for filling pub grub, stop by Pump House Bar & Grill for burgers, specialty sandwiches, chicken dishes, and more.
Prineville: If you’re looking to get your barbecue fix, Dillon’s Grill prides itself on preparing authentic dishes, crafting burgers with fresh ingredients, and pouring 13 craft beer taps from Central Oregon breweries. And one of the newest hotspots in town is The Corral Tap Room & Food Carts, which hosts a few food trucks on-site, as well as a tap room pouring locally made craft beers.
Madras: The community of Madras is home to restaurants serving a variety of cuisines from all over the world. Rio Distinctive Mexican Cuisine sits along the main drag in town and channels the flavors of Mexico into a variety of popular dishes. And if you’re hungry for Chinese, Hunan Chinese Restaurant is a local institution that serves egg rolls, soups, fried rice, and other classic Chinese dishes.
Warm Springs: Located on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Warm Springs hosts a handful of eateries specializing in Native American fare and filling comfort food. The Twisted Teepee nonprofit food cart, for instance, boasts a menu that changes weekly—but which might include Indian fry bread with huckleberry butter (a local delicacy), huckleberry pancakes, burgers, and other items.
Discover Fine Dining in Central Oregon
Central Oregon isn’t all dusty boots, well-loved puffy jackets, and ski goggles—we can class it up with the best of them. Fortunately, several fine-dining restaurants throughout Central Oregon offer the opportunity to do just that. Here’s where to grab a savory steak dinner, dine on the region’s best seafood, and enjoy the locally sourced fare we’re known for.
Bend: Trattoria Sbandati dishes some of the most authentic Italian cuisine in Bend—complete with cured meats, house-made and hand-cut pasta, and traditional sauces. Still hungry? Check out other restaurants in Bend for more ideas
Sunriver: You’ll find plenty of outstanding restaurants in Sunriver. Based in Sunriver Resort, Lodge Kitchen artfully blends traditional fine dining with a modern influence for a night out that showcases the best of the Pacific Northwest. Lodge Kitchen’s menu changes seasonally—but what remains the same, time and again, are its scratch-made dishes and locally sourced ingredients.
Redmond: Redmond’s sleek Brickhouse isn’t just about fine dining: It’s about fine dining done the right way, with a keen eye on keeping it local. Brickhouse serves Northwest-raised steaks, creative pasta dishes, and fresh, wild-caught seafood—all hormone-free and prepared with organic ingredients whenever possible. For other fine-dining around town, check our guide to restaurants in Redmond.
Sisters: The Lodge Restaurant & Aspen Lounge at Black Butte Ranch distills the best of Central Oregon into a classic fine-dining experience: Ingredients for the restaurant’s Pacific Northwest-inspired fare (think pan-seared king salmon and mushroom adobo) are sourced locally, for instance, while wide-open views of nearby Cascade peaks abound from the dining room. Closer to town, Chops Bistro boasts an electric menu that sports a wide range of culinary influences—from New Orleans classics (as seen in the bistro’s gumbo) to Pacific Northwest cuisine (like the local halibut).
Prineville: Prineville is a meat-and-potatoes kind of town, and nobody does them better than Barney Prine’s Steakhouse & Saloon. For more than a decade, the Wild West-themed restaurant has served tender steaks, slow-roasted prime rib (every Friday and Saturday night), pasta, and a variety of Pacific Northwest seafood dishes.
