Bend, Oregon is one of the coolest little towns with big energy that I’ve ever visited. While there is plenty to do (floating the Deschutes River, hiking, brewery tours, and shopping) I realized we spent the majority of our time eating out-of-this-world food.
With Bend being such an outdoor-recreation centered town it’s no wonder their food game is so strong, because what comes after a day of adventures? Food. If you thought that Portland had the food-truck culture coined you haven’t seen anything yet. Bend had the best food trucks, and plenty of them. Add any of these food spots featured below and it’s guaranteed to be a delicious trip!
A huge shoutout to one of my best friends (and Bend local) Carolyn for all of these food recommendations.
Serving up high quality Mexican street eats and margaritas (non-alcoholic drinks available, including a freshly pressed watermelon juice).
For my fellow veggies they have bomb-dot-com wild mushroom blend tacos with onions,
cabbage, tomatillos, and chili paste.
Midtown Yacht Club
No, there is no dock or boats, but there are tasty treats and friendly people. Midtown Yacht Club is part indoor part outdoor dining, serving cold beer, and is the hub for six different food carts.
Think hotdog/bratwurst but amplified. Any hotdog/bratwurst can be replaced by a Beyond Meat plant-based Brat.
What you are seeing below, Nasty Nates Kimchi Dog with green onions, cilantro, sriracha and mayo (with Beyond Meat plant-based Brat).
Serving some of the yummiest tots that will give any restaurant a run for its money.
What you are seeing below is the loaded avocado tots with cantaloupe and chipotle drizzle.
Some of the others on the menu that I am dying to try:
- “Truffle Tots! ShuffleTOTS!” Truffle seasoning, fresh grated Parmesan, parsley, white truffle oil served with truffle aioli for dipping
- “Raspberry ChipotleTOTS!” sprinkled all up with raspberry chipotle seasoning and served with horseradish crema to dip
Wild Rose is a family-run Northern Thai Eats served in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, it is a tradition for my husband and I to end all of our trips with Thai food (this tradition just kinda arose naturally). With that said, Wild Rose is in my top two-favorite Thai restaurants (with the orange food truck in Hawai’i still holding 1st place), and with all the Thai food we have consumed from all around the world, that really says a lot.
Reservation highly encouraged.
Spoken Moto is a chic-meets-rustic coffee shop with an attached motorcycle repair store. In addition to coffee they also serve brews and sell a small selection of apparel and locally crafted jewelry. Spoken Moto is also the hub for, you guessed it, food carts! And my favorite….
A Broken Angel | New American Vegan
Serving Mexican-inspired vegan bites A Broken Angel is a MUST eat during your trip to Bend (for vegans and non-vegans alike). I was blown away by not only their food but their vegan Virgin Mary mocktail finished with lime Topo Chico, which I now crave on almost a daily basis.
I also wanted to include this excerpt from A Broken Angel website:
Why vegan, organic, local?
“We believe that choosing delicious food free of animal products and as organic and locally sourced as possible is the most sustainable and compassionate act we can take for people, animals, and the environment. This philosophy of kindness toward all animals and the earth infuses everything we do: from food cart art, catering, and cooking classes, to the use of reclaimed and/or compostable materials.” – A Broken Angel
Here’s what we ordered as pictured above:
- Artichoke Tostadas: Artichokes, cremini mushrooms, squash, and 5-olive tapenade on grilled white corn tortillas.
- Black Truffle Potato Tacos with braised greens and roasted chilis
- Virgin Mary Mocktail
The Office | Silver Moon Brewing
Silver Moon Brewing is exactly what its name would suggest, a brewpub with food carts in The Office serving burgers, sandwiches, and other tasty treats including buffalo cauliflower & fried pickles (which I completely demolished).
Humm created the world’s first kombucha taproom in 2013 and continues to serve up a variety of both seasonal and staple flavor kombucha’s.
If you’re not a drinker, this is a great opportunity to have that taproom tasting experience that so many people enjoy at the breweries in Bend.
A Little Extra | Summer Activities
The Bend Farmers Market is open every Wednesday from 2pm to 6pm in Downtown Bend.
“The mission of the Bend Farmers Market is to create and sustain a centralized market that provides fresh local produce and farm products to the Central Oregon community, providing a viable market for local farmers, and enhancing the business, nutritional, and community health of Central Oregon.” – Bend Farmers Market
Compassion Kombucha is a locally owned, Bend-brewed kombucha that partners with non-profit organization to help support families in need. Compassion Kombucha is brewed with whole, sweet fruit, herbs, flowers, and no artificial flavors.
At their stand you can taste different infused honey and purchase not only Bend wildflower honey, but also honey soaps and lip balm. We picked up some jalapeño infused honey. Broadus Bees also offers whole hive setups, educational seminars, swarm removal, and hive health inspection, mentoring, and maintenance.
“Our mission is to create a sustainable business through honeybee products, hive installation and maintenance, and educating the public about the critical role bees play in producing the food we eat.” – Broadus Bees
While you’re in Bend, don’t forget to visit the last Blockbuster.
And yes, this is a fully functioning Blockbuster movie rental location.
If you are visiting during the summer season make sure to catch a free concert in the park for Munch & Music and a grab yourself a bag of kettle corn (the line is worth it).
