10 foodie destinations near Salem, Oregon

1. Adam’s Rib Smoke House

Known for authentic American barbeque, Adam’s Rib Smoke House has two locations in Salem. The meat is slow-smoked over real hardwoods – cherry, red oak, hickory, and mesquite.

Smother your pork ribs, tri-tip, or chicken in one of the restaurant’s signature sauces. And then pair your barbeque with sweet poquito beans, creamy red potato salad, or a handful of other house-made sides.

2. Amadeus

After living all over the world, Chef Diana Ramallo opened Amadeus in downtown Salem in 1996. Since then, the restaurant has spanned three generations and become a true family affair.

The family refers to Amadeus as the first “Fork to Mouth” restaurant, a place where you can enjoy your dining experience and know you’re being served the finest, local ingredients. With entrees like brisket, stroganoff, and burgers, the menu has something for everyone and even has a special section dedicated to paleo offerings.

3. DaVinci Ristorante and Wine Bar

DaVinci Ristorante and Wine Bar offers some of the best fine dining in downtown Salem. The Italian eatery uses high-quality ingredients in its recipes and serves extraordinary wines from the valley.

The seasonal menu highlights pasta favorites, such as ravioli, fettucine and gnocchi, along with seafood, steak and duck.

4. Giovanni’s Mountain Pizza

Giovanni’s Mountain Pizza is one of Mill City, Oregon’s, hidden gems. Located on Highway 22, the pizzeria doesn’t look like much on the outside, but it has some of the best pizza in the area.

The hand-rolled pizza pies are packed full of flavor and the breadsticks are a must. Sporting tables decorated with napkin doodles, the restaurant is a fun, family-friendly stop on the drive to Detroit Lake.

5. Pink House Café

If ambiance is what you’re looking for, head to the Pink House Café in Independence, Oregon. Located inside a home from the 1870s, diners are seated throughout the two-story residence, which has appropriately been painted pink.

The restaurant serves three meals a day with a wide range of offerings – sandwiches, salads, breakfast scrambles and specialty entrees.

6. The Yard Food Park

Established in 2018, The Yard Food Park features as many as 18 different food carts, which surrounds an industrial-style building on three sides. The building features a full bar on one end, a stage on the other, and plenty of indoor seating. Popular food truck mainstays include the Jasmine Flower Thai Kitchen and Jo Jo’s Soul Food & Memphis BBQ, but others rotate in and out, so the options are always fresh and innovative.

The Yard has become a popular choice for groups of all sizes since it allows for everyone to pick different cuisines. The food hall also hosts events on a regular basis, including local comedians as well as musical guests, so diners are often treated to some great entertainment to go with the food.

7. Azul’s Taco House & La Familia Cider Company

Azul’s Taco House is a must-visit food destination in the Salem region. Its extensive taco menu includes traditional favorites along with unique combinations – like the Bulgogi taco, which features Korean-style beef and a sriracha crème aoli. Azul’s is located adjacent to La Familia Cider Co, so patrons have the added bonus of pairing locally-made hard cider with their food. La Familia’s hard ciders are inspired by traditional Mexican aguas frescas, incorporating flavors like tamarind, mango, and guava.

8. Trexler Farm

Located on the grounds of an old fish hatchery in Stayton, Oregon, Trexler Farm is a true local treasure. It’s the kind of place where you’ll be greeted with a smile and treated like a member of the family.

The country farm store café and bakery has a simple menu, with fresh salads, wraps and sandwiches. The café has limited, lunchtime hours, but it’s worth clearing your schedule for.

9. Venti’s Cafe

If you have dietary restrictions, you’ll love the menu at Venti’s. The menu showcases many gluten-free and vegan dishes. It also labels house-made dishes, hormone free and humanely raised meats and wild caught fish.

Venti’s, which has two locations in Salem, is known for customizable rice bowls. But tacos, wings and sandwiches are also popular.

Bonus: There’s always a rotating selection of craft beer, cider, mead and kombucha on tap!

10. Wild Pear

When talking about Salem restaurants, the Wild Pear seems to appear on everyone’s list of favorites. Owned by two local sisters, the restaurant has become a staple in the Salem community.

The sisters serve up classic dishes like burgers and pizza, but also pull upon their Vietnamese heritage to create BBQ pork bánh mì and their mother’s beef noodle soup.