The Best Restaurants in Oregon’s Willamette Valley

Oregon’s most famous wine region — known for its exceptional pinot noir — hasn’t always had a robust dining scene. In recent years, however, big changes have been paving the way for a fresh crop of restaurants, offering both formal dinners during a long weekend in wine country and casual lunches to hit up before a visit to one of the area’s many tasting rooms. McMinnville is emerging as the dining heart of Oregon’s most northern Willamette Valley, but a growing number of outstanding restaurants in nearby Newberg, Dundee, Dayton, and Carlton can provide a worthy brunch, lunch, or dinner between tasting flights and glasses of bubbles.

In May 2025, the most recent time we updated this map, we added Merenda Italian Deli, Casa de Caldos, Tacos El Gordo, and Alchemist Jam. We also took off Hayward — which is closed while it moves to Carlton — and Okta, which is reopening after suddenly closing last year.

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