When Portland weather turns predictably damp and gray, fortifying stews and soups can be just the thing to make the cooler months feel cozy. And classic French onion soup, with its slow-simmered beef stock, umami-rich caramelized onions, and warm blanket of toasty cheese is like a comforting meal in a bowl.
Where to Find Fantastic French Onion Soup in Portland
The finest comforting, cheese-topped bowls around the city
Many places around town serve it year-round, of course, and it’s not strictly the province of French restaurants (though Eater has a map for that too). While the ingredients aren’t necessarily luxurious, tucking into an individual crock of French onion soup just feels fancier than a cup of chicken noodle or clam chowder.
This is a list of restaurants where French onion soup is available as a prelude to a full meal or can be the main event itself.
Note: Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.
Where to Find Fantastic French Onion Soup in Portland
The finest comforting, cheese-topped bowls around the city
When Portland weather turns predictably damp and gray, fortifying stews and soups can be just the thing to make the cooler months feel cozy. And classic French onion soup, with its slow-simmered beef stock, umami-rich caramelized onions, and warm blanket of toasty cheese is like a comforting meal in a bowl.
Many places around town serve it year-round, of course, and it’s not strictly the province of French restaurants (though Eater has a map for that too). While the ingredients aren’t necessarily luxurious, tucking into an individual crock of French onion soup just feels fancier than a cup of chicken noodle or clam chowder.
This is a list of restaurants where French onion soup is available as a prelude to a full meal or can be the main event itself.
Note: Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.
Papa Haydn
The dazzling selection of layer cakes on display might be Papa Haydn’s calling card, though this Portland mainstay with locations on both sides of the river also has a robust savory menu with a standout French onion soup. Papa Haydn’s version is quintessential, house-made beef stock teeming with caramelized onions, layered with a crostini smothered in melty Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses. It’s best followed by a slice of cake, or course.
Ringside Steakhouse
Along with purveyors of rustic French cuisine, steakhouses are also a reliable source of decadent starters to tee up the main course. If diners can resist the siren song of Ringside’s famed onion rings, the baked onion soup is a welcome alternative. Served in individual copper pots, the deep amber stock is topped with a crouton and shredded Gruyere, spending a short time in the broiler to ensure a bubbly crust with photogenic char. Grab a seat by the fireplace for extra cozy vibes.
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Serratto Restaurant and Bar
Nob Hill’s Serratto is a cozy-yet-sophisticated stalwart in Northwest Portland, known for its house-made pastas. Serratto’s French onion soup arrives in a crock bubbling with beautifully browned Gruyere, balanced on seasoned croutons. It’s available during dinner service, though visitors can also snag it at happy hour for $8.
Jake's Famous Crawfish
Despite ostensibly being a seafood restaurant, Jake’s is similar to Ringside and Clyde’s in that it has an old-school vibe that screams French onion soup. Rule of thumb: If shrimp cocktail is on the menu, it’s also a good bet there will be a cheese-topped soup. It might be hard to resist the chowder served in a bread bowl, but diners will be rewarded with a rich version served in a white crock crowned with golden Parmesan and Swiss. It’s available for lunch and dinner.
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Bar Alder
Located within the hotel Dossier in downtown Portland, Bar Alder’s dazzling space hosts a variety of tourists and locals, who sip on hot cider toddies and lavender espresso martinis while snacking on cheese plates and feta deviled eggs. The French onion soup here is a highlight on the menu: An astoundingly rich broth, reliant on grass-fed beef bones, sets up a savory soup, which arrives topped with Gruyere cheese. It comes in a glazed white crock, cheese bubbling over the edges.
Cafe Du Berry
Cafe du Berry has been serving fans of French-inspired fare with Pacific Northwest touches at its unassuming South Portland location since 1984. Despite using local ingredients, there’s nothing particularly nouvelle about Cafe du Berry’s menu, which means Portlanders will classics like escargot drenched in butter, and of course, the deeply savory French onion soup, which arrives in an earthenware crock, with picture-perfect rivulets of melted cheese dripping down the sides. It’s available for lunch and dinner as a cup or a bowl.
Swiss Hibiscus
This Alberta district restaurant is one of the only places in Portland to get a full-on Swiss meal. Along with traditional entrees like emince Zurichoise, many of the starters are a veritable cheese-fest: fondue, spätzli, and rösti can all come with a heavy dose of Emmentaler. The Alpine restaurant also borrows from its western neighbor and proudly serves a so-called Swiss onion soup as one of its rotating soups of the day. It’s best to call ahead to make sure it’s available.
Petisco
Portlanders have long loved the version of French onion soup at this Northeast Broadway European restaurant, beautifully balancing the rich and savory stock with a foundation of meticulously caramelized onions. The soup hides under a thick layer of browned cheese, paired with a few slices of bread for dunking. It’s available as a cup or a bowl.
Petite Provence Boulangerie & Patisserie
Local French bakery chainlet, Petite Provence, is more than just flaky croissants and crusty baguettes — it’s also a convincing boulangerie, complete with wicker chairs and rustic country charm. The restaurant serves a breakfast and lunch menu of soups, sandwiches, and Benedicts, with dinner service at select spots. All locations serve the French onion soup, though, prepared classically with beef consomme and sweet, browned onions, topped with a toasted round of Provence bread and Parmesan and Swiss cheeses. It’s available by the cup or bowl.
Clyde's Prime Rib Restaurant and Bar
Rose City Park’s retro steakhouse serves all the iconic mid-century fare, including French onion soup, which became popular during the ’60s in the US. Clyde’s version relies on a foundation of veal stock, enlivened with a hit of brandy and topped with traditional accoutrements: toasty croutons and a thick layer of melted Gruyere. Order it ahead of a slab of prime rib, or call it lunch.
