The Best Restaurant Chains in Beaverton, Oregon
It is becoming abundantly clear that Beaverton—and Portland’s western suburbs, more generally—has caught the eye of developers and restaurateurs from around the globe. Just outside Beaverton city limits, Washington Square is host to a glut of chains, from LA-founded Gen Korean BBQ House to Taipei-based Din Tai Fung. Beaverton has enticed franchises from across the country and as far as China, Jordan, and South Korea, including the state’s first Shake Shack and Happy Lamb—both far-flung brands with cult followings. Meanwhile, Portland’s homegrown bakeries and restaurants are opening satellites steps from the Nike campus. Cookie-cutter franchises naturally draw a stigma, especially in such a food-proud place. But, at least theoretically, a restaurant or café ought to be pretty great if it’s worth replicating—especially across international borders. We wanted to see how these locally founded chains stack up against the out-of-towners. So we ate our way through the suburb to find out.
Fried Dough
Mikiko Mochi Donuts
The original: A streamlined and pink-accented NE 28th café serving chewy-gooey rice flour doughnuts and gluten-free chicken and waffles on weekends. What to get: All doughnuts build on the same butter mochi base, but our faves bring a Japanese twist to Americana classics, like the black sesame and marionberry (not unlike a PB&J) and the strawberry yuzu Funfetti. Pro tip: Grab a few unfrosted doughnut holes to sample the mochi’s delicate aroma and soft and stretchy texture.
Dot Sugar
The original: A sweet dessert café in Amman, Jordan. What to get: Lokma, a Turkish fried dough ball soaked in syrup or honey. Here, topping options outpace most froyo bars, but we’re partial to the subtler pistachio or date. Instagram bait: The Redisckit—an interactive ice cream, pistachio, and cookie parfait neatly served in a tube to be lifted off the plate, triggering a lava flow–like sundae.
Burgers
Farmer and the Beast
The original: An Oregon farm–obsessed food cart in Northwest Portland swapping specials with the seasons. What to get: Salads, if you can believe it, but the smashburger wears a greasy-spoon char, too. In the neighborhood: The Beaverton cart is parked at Breakside Brewing, for optimal ale pairings and a sprawling patio.
Shake Shack
The original: In 2001, famed restaurateur Danny Meyer opened the first Shake Shack in NYC in a former Madison Square Park hot dog stand. What to get: The Shack Stack, a cheeseburger topped with a crispy fried portobello. Follow it up with a concrete-thick frozen custard. After lunch: Pack your paddles for a game of pickleball at Cedar Hills Park’s courts, a 10-minute walk away.
Good For Groups
Ranch Pizza
The original: An unblinkingly sacrilegious Woodlawn pizzeria serving Detroit-meets-Sicilian square pies with frico-cheesy edges. What to get: The pepperoni is a fail-safe, but the Hawaiian, with its roasted jalapeños and lardons instead of Canadian bacon, is most subversive. Plus, plenty of ranch (don’t @ us). Family favorite: The Hometown Hero pie, a hamburger pizza riff with its own variety of ranch.
Happy Lamb Hot Pot
The original: In 1999, Zhang Gang opened Happy Lamb’s hot pot predecessor, Little Sheep, in Baotou, in China’s Inner Mongolia region. What to get: Astoundingly flavorful bone marrow broths are the signature—we like the seven star pepper, golden cabbage, and tomato flavors. While you wait: Stock up on truffle butter chips and lychee gummies at Asian Family Market a few doors down.
Ramen
Kayo’s Ramen
The original: An airy, vegan-friendly (but not vegan-exclusive) North Williams ramen shop. What to get: Either of the Sichuan-leaning soups will turn heads, abundant with tingly peppercorns and dried chiles; go for the sesame paste–laden tantanmen or the lighter miso mala. In the neighborhood: Kayo’s Cedar Hills Crossing locale is a noodle’s length away from the Beaverton Powell’s outpost.
Kizuki Ramen
The original: Known as Kizuki here but Kookaï in Japan, the first shop opened in Tokyo in 2003. What to get: This is rich and creamy tonkotsu territory, specifically the satiny garlic tonkotsu shoyu. Beverage pairing: The Cedar Mill restaurant is right around the corner from the Beaverton Great Notion, if you want to brave a post-ramen Blueberry Muffin ale.
Coffee or Tea?
Phin Caphe & Boba
The original: The first Phin Caphe, in a SE Division strip mall, was one of the few spots to serve ube and black sesame lattes east of I-205. What to get: The egg coffee, iced, bracing but balanced with sweetened condensed milk, and topped with whipped egg yolk fluff. In the neighborhood: Phin shares a shopping complex with Happy Lamb, for a pre–hot pot buzz.
ChiCha San Chen
The original: ChiCha San Chen began in 1998 with a café in Taichung City, Taiwan, exclusively brewing Taiwanese teas. What to get: The Cedar Hills Crossing shop’s teas can arrive with everything from taro balls to cheesy mousse to konjac, but it’s best to go with a recommended combo, like the classic fruit tea with pineapple and passion fruit. Top scoring tea: The International Taste Institute gave ChiCha San Chen a 2025 Superior Taste Award, judged by a global group of sommeliers and chefs.
Budget-friendly Bites
MidCity SmashedBurger
The original: MidCity became a quick sensation when owner Mike Aldridge opened his SE Stark Street cart in 2021, but he first hawked these burgers from his front porch in New Orleans. What to get: Sure, the $7 cheeseburgers get most of the attention, but consider the $8 Clucky Boi, paprika-and-cayenne-perky fried chicken slathered in a ketchup-mayo sauce with pops of dill pickle acidity. Hidden within: Beaverton’s Binary Brewing. Burgers and beer, anyone?
Kura Sushi
The original: Since its 1977 opening in Sakai, Japan, Kura has grown into one of that country’s largest conveyor belt sushi chains. What to get: Every plate of nigiri that zooms past costs $3.95, so fill up on yuzu jalapeño sweet shrimp and creamy scallops. In the neighborhood: Kura’s neon glowing sushi bar is tucked into Beaverton Town Center, an easy lunch ahead of grocery shopping.
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