McMinnville’s Global Cuisine Scene: Dine Around The World Right Here

The Yamhill Valley may be known for the wine, but for the worldly foodie, McMinnville has no shortage of options to choose from. Here’s a world tour of McMinnville’s global dining options–no passport required.

SPAIN

A spread of Spanish tapas, including shrimp, pork, potatoes, oysters, and peppers. A person pours a glass of white wine. — *Tapas from La Rambla. Photo by Kari Michelle Young.*

La Rambla (358 NE Third St.) offers Spanish cuisine from the Iberian Peninsula. In classic tapas style, this award-winning restaurant brings fresh and local ingredients to a variety of small, sharable plates of cheeses, vegetables, meats, and seafood. You’ll find plenty of local wines, as well as a large selection of Spanish reds and ports.

FRANCE

A spoon serves up a melty cheesy bite of french onion soup. — *French onion soup from Bistro Maison is comfort food at its finest. Photo by Kari Michelle Young.*

For a classic French bistro experience, Bistro Maison (729 NE Third St.) is your go-to spot. The hors d’oeuvres menu features escargots, a black truffle tapenade, and house cured wild Chinook gravlax. Bistro Maison offers a large selection of sharable salads as well as classic French entrees. And the dessert menu is not to be missed.

JAPAN

Two rectangular plates full of sushi and two bowls of miso soup. — *The lunch special at Momiji can’t be beat.*

Momiji (913 NE Hwy 99 W #A) and Sushi Ninja (828 NE Adams St.) are McMinnville’s best options for Japanese fare. Both offer sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri as well as bento boxes and entrees such as stir fry and noodle dishes.

MEXICO & LATIN AMERICA

A plate with 3 tacos and rice with black beans on the side. Purple pickled onions are the garnish. There is also a glass of something magenta to drink. — *Is it just us, or is that plate of Pura Vida tacos full of love?*

Pura Vida’s (313 NE Third St.) menu brings the finest selection of dishes from Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Perú, Argentina, and Ecuador. Prepared with fresh, local ingredients, Pura Vida is a can’t-miss choice.

Voted 2023’s Best Mexican Restaurant by Restaurant Guru, Mezcal Sabores de Mexico offers classic Mexican dishes such as mole enchiladas, fajitas, flautas, and tacos. This family-run restaurant has an upscale boho decor which makes for a comfortable and classy dining experience.

THAILAND

Kate’s Thai Cuisine Food Truck is an underground favorite. All meals are lovingly prepared by owner/operator Kate, using traditional and family recipes. The food truck offers fried rice, pad thai, grilled chicken and shrimp, as well as dumplings and skewers, all served with a smile by Kate herself.

INDIA

A spread of food including tandoori chicken, naan bread, rice, and an array of sauces. — *A tasty spread from A Taste of India. Photo by Kate Knapp.*

Third street’s newest restaurant is Taste of India 1 (315 NE Third St), where authentic Indian dishes are prepared for the hungry masses. Bring a group to enjoy the family style meals, complete with appetizers like samosa and pakora, and make sure to get enough naan bread for the table. Be prepared for delicious and complex flavors and sauces, as spicy or mild as you like it.

ITALY

Two pizzas are on a cutting board. Three people each grab a slice. — *Pizza Capo’s pies will satisfy whether you’re in the restaurant or at your Airbnb. Photo by Kelsey Chance.*

For all the delicious wine in McMinnville, we need good pizza options to go with it. Two standouts make the cut: Pizza Capo (318 NE Third St.) offers a full wine, beer, and cocktail menu to pair with their artisanal pizzas, salads, calzones, and happy hour menu.

House of Brassi’s (500 SE Adams St) may be a food truck, but it offers wood-fired pizza that earns rave reviews. Brassi’s also offers salads, soups, pasta and baked goods.

MEDITERRANEAN

For a taste of the Mediterranean, head to Cypress at the Atticus Hotel. Cypress serves hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners full of local ingredients made Mediterranean. Highlights include the shawarma pita wrap, kofta kabobs, charred carrots, and the mezze plate. For breakfast, don’t miss the shakshuka. Paired with their full bar and robust wine list, you won’t leave Cypress unsatisfied.

Erin Hall (she/her) is a reader, writer, bookseller, and vegan nacho enthusiast. She’s the author of the Detective Molly Malone series, which begins with her debut novel, Dear Sylvia, Love Jane. Erin has a Master of Arts in writing and publishing through Portland State University’s Ooligan Press (2008). She serves on the board of Gather Repertory Theatre and the Oregon Humanities Programs Advisory Committee, and is an active member of The Oregon Historical Society and Willamette Writers. Erin has taught fiction and memoir writing classes in the Yamhill Valley and always wants to know what books you’re reading. She lives and writes on ancestral Kalapuya land.