6 Best Restaurants in Eastern Oregon, Oregon

Sweet Wife Baking

$ Fodor's choice

This Main Street mainstay is best known for its amazing sweet treats in the bakery case, but there are plenty of savory delights on the menu, too, including several grilled egg sandwiches, avocado toast, and quinoa bowls for breakfast and five creative variations of grilled cheese sandwiches at lunch. Soups and salads are also popular. If you didn't save room for dessert, be sure and get some of the tasty scones, cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, and other treats to go.

The Dog Spot

$ Fodor's choice

Easily the most unique of eateries in Joseph, when you dine at the Dog Spot you'll either be inside by the open kitchen and adjacent dog supply shop, or outside where dogs are welcome to sit below the table while you enjoy delectable food prepared by internationally experienced chef/owner, Arion Canniff. Arion's wife and hostess/waitress of the establishment, Amy, is known to bring water bowls out for visiting dogs, and her deep knowledge of the current short but enticing menu is helpful when choosing what to order. Entrées have an international flair and some of the regular options, like shrimp street tacos, are tweaked with different sauces each week, such as lemon-garlic, mango, and even "German-inspired" during the Oktoberfest season. Regular items on the menu include an Argentinian steak salad with chimichurri, house mac and cheese with seven kinds of cheese, and Vietnamese bahn mi sandwich (available with pulled chicken, pork shoulder, or jackfruit or tofu for vegetarians).

19 S. Main St., Joseph, Oregon, 97846, USA
208-610–4932
Known For
  • weekly changing menu
  • engaged, innovative, and talented chef
  • amazing homemade desserts, including hummingbird cake
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed. Sept.–May; Tues. and Wed. Jun.–Aug.; and mid-Oct.–mid-Nov.

Charley's Deli & Ice Cream

$

No historic Main Street would be complete without its soda fountain, and Charley's Ice Cream Parlor fits the bill, serving all manner of treats, frozen and otherwise. You can also get hearty soups, sandwiches, and salads, and cheese and meats cut to order.

2101 Main St., Baker City, Oregon, 97814, USA
541-524–9307
Known For
  • pie shakes
  • homemade soups and sandwiches
  • delicious ice cream in a variety of flavors
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Great Pacific Wine & Coffee Co.

$

Set in a stately 1880s former Masonic lodge in downtown Pendleton, what began as a coffeehouse and wine bar has expanded over the years into a full restaurant serving reasonably priced salads, sandwiches, soups, pizzas, and appetizers. The food tends toward traditional American café fare, with focaccia topped with kalamata olives and chèvre, smoked-salmon Caesar salads, and barbecued-pork pizzas among the favorites. There's a great selection of both international and local wines, and bottled and draft beers. 

403 S. Main St., Pendleton, Oregon, 97801, USA
541-276–1350
Known For
  • flavored espresso drinks
  • Naples-style pizza
  • live music on most weekends
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Liberty Theatre Cafe

$

This cute spot opened in 2021 next to the historic Liberty Theatre, which is actively being restored, and quickly earned a loyal following for its great coffee and short but innovative menu of breakfast and lunch offerings. Tourists find it a welcome stop, too, whether to grab the revered breakfast sandwich "The Betty" (egg souffle, ham, creamed local spinach, Havarti, and dijon on a potato bun) for takeout or to stay for a more leisurely lunch, like curried chicken salad on sourdough or the messy-but-delicious grilled peanut butter and homemade jam on challah.

1012 Adams Ave., La Grande, Oregon, USA
541-963–5413
Known For
  • friendly and attentive service
  • offers sack lunches perfect for fueling adventures
  • homemade chai with freshly ground spices
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.

The Blythe Cricket Bakery & Bistro

$

Like many of the best establishments in Joseph, the Blythe Cricket was launched by talented locals—longtime friends Rachel Nutter and Margaret Lamm, who share a love for baking and for providing the community with tasty food and a comfortable, attractive place to gather over breakfast or lunch, both inside and outside. Start the day with an espresso drink featuring direct trade coffee roasted by Nosse Familia Coffee in Portland, or an artisan hot tea made with Metolius Tea from Bend. The breakfast menu includes such filling choices as a daily frittata, two breakfast burritos, baked oatmeal, and savory corn cakes that are gluten-free and filled with black beans and peppers. At lunch, choose from salads, soup, and tasty sandwiches like the Italian muffuletta, turkey pear panino, falafels on flatbread, and grilled cheese. The bakery case is filled with yummy treats that are known to sell out before closing time (2 pm). In summer, enjoy eating outside on picnic tables.

700 N. Main St., Joseph, Oregon, 97846, USA
541-432–1522
Known For
  • local arts and crafts on display and for sale
  • creative sandwiches and delicious baked goods
  • locally sourced ingredients
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. Oct.–May, closed Mon. Jun.–Sept.