The Best Restaurants on the Oregon Coast: Where to Eat from Lincoln City to Depoe Bay
Last Updated on October 28, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
I’ve been eating my way up and down the Oregon Coast since before I could read a menu. My family’s beach house is in Gleneden Beach, so the stretch from Lincoln City to Depoe Bay is less a vacation itinerary than a set of standing reservations and must-eat spots between wine and fire pit evenings on the deck: the places we go for birthdays, the places we order from on a rainy Tuesday, and the ones worth driving out of the way for.
This guide covers the central Oregon Coast, the stretch I know best. It’s not every restaurant along the 101, just the ones I’d send you to without hesitating, plus one I’ve flagged for next time, since my family visits more often than I do these days.
My Oregon Coast Restaurant Picks
My Favorite
Side Door Cafe
Gleneden Beach
Best View
Tidal Raves
Depoe Bay
Family Classic
Kyllo’s
Lincoln City
Best Fish & Chips
Squatchsami
Siletz Bay
The best restaurants on the central Oregon Coast are Side Door Cafe in Gleneden Beach for seafood and the marionberry cobbler, Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay for cliffside sunset views, Kyllo’s Seafood & Grill in Lincoln City for reliable oceanfront family dinners, Squatchsami in Siletz Bay for halibut fish and chips, Beachcrest Brewing for wood-fired pizza, and Otis Cafe in Taft for an old-school breakfast and its famous German potatoes.
A quick note: you’ll find more Thai food on this coast than you’d expect from small Oregon towns, and it’s not a coincidence. In the early 2000s, Thailand ran a “culinary diplomacy” program helping chefs and families open restaurants abroad, and the Pacific Northwest ended up with a good share of them. My two favorites on the central coast are Thai Bay in Lincoln City and Bayview Thai in Depoe Bay.
Kyllo’s Seafood & Grill – Lincoln City
Best for: Reliable family dinners, oceanfront views, and a wait worth having a drink over.
Kyllo’s Seafood & Grill has been a family favorite for years. Right on the beach, it’s known for spectacular ocean views and seafood done right: locally caught crab, oysters, and salmon with fresh vegetables and tasty sides.
Kyllo’s doesn’t take reservations, so plan on a wait for dinner in peak season or on weekends. The outdoor bar window makes it pleasant on summer evenings (less so in a February downpour). The garlic toast basket takes me straight back to a childhood of Kyllo’s meals, and keep an eye on the specials, too.
What to Order
- Clam chowder: A cup of the good stuff to start.
- Grilled garlic toast basket: I’ve already said it, but yes.
- Fresh-cooked potato chips: I love potato chips, and fresh ones are a different thing entirely.
- Dungeness crab linguine: For the pasta mood.
- Fresh catch fish and chips: Lauren recommending fish and chips? Shocker.
- Parmesan-crusted halibut: My order when I want something other than fish and chips.
Otis Cafe – Taft
Best for: A classic breakfast, the dish they’re famous for, and weekday mornings over weekend crowds.
Otis Cafe is nothing flashy, just an old-school breakfast spot that takes you back in time. It started in the tiny community of Otis, burned down, and moved to Taft (part of greater Lincoln City), where it has its own distinct feel. It’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and gets busy, so earlier is better, and weekdays are noticeably calmer. I’ve only been for breakfast, but they serve lunch if you’re popping in midday.
What to Order
- White cheddar omelet: Or build your own.
- Two big buttermilk or sourdough pancakes: Buttermilk is my favorite; add eggs or bacon.
- “The Original” German potatoes: Crispy, delicious, and what Otis is known for.
- Two eggs any style: With hash browns and toast, if you’d rather keep it simple.
Pelican Brewing – Siletz Bay
Best for: Views over Siletz Bay, group meals, and a big, easy menu.
I’ll be honest: I haven’t made it to Pelican Brewing yet. Max and I lived at the beach house while the Siletz Bay location was still under construction, and our visits since haven’t left enough time to stop in. It’s firmly on my list, and every member of my family who’s been recommends it.
Pelican has a handful of brewpubs along the coast, the original opening in Pacific City in 1996 (the year I was born), but Siletz Bay is the closest to our home away from home in Gleneden. It sits right on the water with views my family calls some of the best around. It’s great for groups of any size, though they don’t take reservations, and they suggest beer and cider pairings across the menu so you’re not left guessing.
What to Order (by Family Report)
- Fried Tillamook cheese curds: With a house-made aioli I’m told is wonderful.
- Pelican’s famous tower of rings: Who doesn’t love onion rings?
- Pear prosciutto flatbread: My family says it’s a combination I’d love (hold the balsamic for me).
- Clam chowder bread bowl: Chowder is a coastal must, and a bread bowl makes it even better.
- Pelican fish and chips: Beer-battered, usually wild-caught Pacific cod (I lean toward halibut on the coast, but I’ve had plenty of wonderful cod, too).
- Dungeness crab mac and cheese: Local crab and Tillamook cheese? Yes, please.
- Brewpub cheeseburger: A pub classic for a reason.
Squatchsami Fish and Chips Outpost – Siletz Bay
Best for: The best fish and chips around, and a food-truck-to-restaurant story worth knowing.
Squatchsami started as a food truck outside The Marketplace at Salishan, at least that’s how I first found it. It became an “outpost” at the Marketplace, where you’d order at the truck and carry your food inside out of the rain. Since then, they’ve retired the truck and opened a full restaurant just down the way from Pelican Brewing. I haven’t been to the new location yet, but after all those orders from the truck, I have zero doubt it’s still some of the best fish and chips on this coast. Order at the counter and find a table, the relaxed way the coast does best.
What to Order
- Halibut fish and chips: With rosemary shoestring fries; one of my all-time favorite things on this coast.
- Clam chowder: A great add-on if you’re hungry or sharing.
- Chicken strips: The fish and chips are the star, but the chicken strips are great for non-seafood people.
Beachcrest Brewing Company – Gleneden Beach
Best for: Wood-fired pizza, craft beer, and easy takeout if you’re staying nearby.
Beachcrest opened at The Marketplace at Salishan while Max and I were living at the beach house, in that strange in-between COVID stretch. They started with pub food and have since shifted entirely to wood-fired pizza, which, if you ask me, is exactly what this part of the coast was craving.
I tried the new pizza menu for the first time on our August 2026 trip, and it delivered. There’s indoor and outdoor seating (order at the counter and find your spot), and the summer patio is lovely, though it fills up. If you’re staying at Salishan Coastal Lodge or nearby, takeout is always an option. I do miss the giant pretzel from the pub-food days, but I’ll get over it.
What to Order
- Simple arugula salad: Shaved Parmesan and Oregon hazelnuts.
- Margherita: My favorite, always.
- Spicy meat: A little kick and some ricotta.
- Sausage and mushroom: A crowd-pleaser, even when the crowd is one picky eater (hi, Dad).
- Greek: Feta and Kalamata olives.
- Salishan Supreme: The classic loaded house special.
- Siletz Bay Hazy IPA: My go-to; ask what cider is on rotation, too.
Side Door Cafe – Gleneden Beach
Best for: My favorite restaurant on this entire coast, celebrations, and the best dessert around.
Side Door Cafe has been my favorite restaurant on the Oregon Coast since I was a kid. In small, sleepy Gleneden Beach just south of Lincoln City, it’s a cozy spot with some of the best seafood and desserts on the coast, and Brooke, the owner, is still at the helm. After living in Gleneden Beach for a year and ordering from Side Door at least once a week, I know exactly what I’m getting.
Call ahead for a birthday or special occasion, and they’ll still write a celebratory message in chalk on the walkway to the door. I adored it as a kid, and I got to see it again on August 1, 2026, when both our families gathered here to celebrate my sister’s engagement.
Side Door is just a few minutes from Salishan, which makes it the easy dinner answer if Gleneden Beach is your home base. The buttons below book a hotel stay at Salishan Coastal Lodge, not a table at Side Door; call the restaurant directly for that.
What to Order
- Dungeness crab cakes: My little sister’s favorite (we made sure there were plenty at her engagement celebration).
- Steamer clams: So, so good.
- Capellini pasta: Add prawns; one of my go-tos.
- Parmesan panko-crusted halibut: Probably my most-ordered meal here.
- Roasted vegetable risotto: D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s.
- Warm chocolate chip cookie: A safe dessert bet (Brooke makes only the best).
- Marionberry cobbler: The dessert I’d fly back for.
Tidal Raves – Depoe Bay
Best for: Cliffside views, sunset dinners, and a reliably excellent seafood menu.
Perched on the cliffs above Depoe Bay, Tidal Raves pairs breathtaking views with fresh, sustainable seafood. Get a window seat and you’ll watch the waves crash against the rocks, one of the best sunset seats on the entire coast. The bar has a fun, looser energy if you’re flexible about where you land.
Tidal Raves now takes reservations, which is such a relief, but I’d still book ahead rather than walk in, especially in summer. Make a day of it: Depoe Bay is the whale-watching capital of the coast, and a morning whale-watching tour before dinner is hard to beat.
What to Order
- Green curry with fresh rockfish: Max and I always order this. A perfect meal.
- Herb-crusted rockfish: A delicious change from all the cod and halibut on the coast.
- Pasta Rave: A house favorite.
- Sautéed wild shrimp: Yum, yum, yum.
- Fresh seared sea scallops: Another favorite.
Eating Well on the Oregon Coast
Expect waits: Kyllo’s and Pelican don’t take reservations; go early or have a drink while you wait.
Book Tidal Raves ahead, especially at sunset in summer.
Call Side Door ahead for a celebration, and they’ll chalk a message on the walkway.
Go early for breakfast: Otis Cafe is calmer on weekdays.
Road-tripping from Portland (or anywhere else)? My Road Trip Essentials collection has my car must-haves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Side Door Cafe in Gleneden Beach. The marionberry cobbler alone is worth it, and they’ll write a celebratory message in chalk on the walkway if you call ahead.
Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay sits right above the Pacific with front-row seats to the waves and the sunset.
Squatchsami in Siletz Bay, especially the halibut with rosemary shoestring fries.
A Small-Town Dining Scene Worth the Drive
Whether you’re craving fresh seafood, wood-fired pizza, or an old-school breakfast plate, this stretch of the Oregon Coast has one of the best small-town dining scenes in the Pacific Northwest. If you haven’t picked a home base yet, here’s where to stay on the Oregon Coast, and for everything else to do on this stretch, my guide to the central Oregon Coast.
Save room for the cobbler.