This Forgotten Oregon Building Is Now A Food Lover’s Paradise Worth Driving For
Horses once lived on the second floor of this building. Rooftop water tanks helped wash the carriages they pulled around town back in the 1880s.
Now the same brick landmark smells like ramen, dumplings, and fresh mini donuts. I love that a carriage garage ended up feeding people instead of parking wagons.
The story gets better. This Oregon building later housed a famous spaghetti restaurant, then nightclubs, then sat waiting for a second act. A careful renovation even uncovered a hidden skylight that had been covered up for years.
Today, seven chefs and purveyors share one big room under giant old timber beams. I’d probably start with dumplings and finish with donuts, but who could pick just one stall?
Horses Had The Upstairs Long Before Lunch Crowds Did
Pine Street Market lives inside the Carriage and Baggage Building, which went up in 1886. Back then, it was a livery and storage spot for horse-drawn carriages.
Here’s the wild part. Horse stalls sat on the second floor, so the horses literally lived upstairs. Rooftop water tanks supplied water for washing the carriages, which sounds like an early car wash with extra hooves.
That job lasted until the early 1900s. Once cars took over, the building needed a new purpose, and it went through plenty of them.
For decades, Mallory Logging and Contractors Supplies used the space for storage and retail. That fits Oregon perfectly, honestly. Few things feel more Pacific Northwest than a timber-supply shop inside a brick carriage house.
Knowing this history makes a visit more fun. You’re not just grabbing lunch in a trendy hall downtown. You’re eating where horses once waited for their next ride through Portland.
Take a moment to look up before you order. The bones of that old working building are still right above your table, holding everything together.
A Spaghetti Legend And Late-Night Dance Floors Came Next
Plot twist time. From 1969 to 1981, this building was home to Portland’s original Old Spaghetti Factory.
That’s a fun detail to share with anyone at your table. A restaurant chain known around the country got its Portland start under this very roof.
After the noodles moved on, the ground floor took a turn toward nightlife. Starting in the early 1980s, various nightclubs filled the space with music and late hours.
So the building has already lived several lives. Carriage garage, supply store, spaghetti spot, dance club. Few buildings in Oregon can claim a resume that colorful.
I appreciate how each era left the place standing instead of tearing it down. That stubborn survival is a big reason the food hall feels special today.
When you sit down with a bowl of ramen, it’s kind of funny to think about. People have been eating pasta and dancing in roughly the same spot for decades.
Food came back home here, just with way more choices than one big plate of spaghetti. That full-circle story is hard not to love.
A Rescue Renovation Uncovered A Skylight Nobody Expected
Some makeovers erase the past. The $5 million renovation behind this food hall did the opposite and kept the good stuff.
Crews preserved the exterior, the archway windows, and the massive Douglas fir timber frame. Those huge wooden beams are a big part of the room’s character.
Then came a happy surprise. The work uncovered an original skylight, which now lets natural light reach the ground floor again.
That’s a nice touch on a gray Portland day. Daylight pouring onto lunch beats fluorescent food-court lighting every single time.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has also earned several awards for its preservation and renovation work.
One of them was the 2016 Preservation in Design by the DeMuro Award. Not bad for a former horse garage.
When you grab a seat, notice the mix of old and new. Modern counters and open kitchens sit beneath timber that has carried this building since the 1880s.
It feels like history got a fresh coat of energy, without losing its soul.
Portland Got Its First Food Hall Right Here
Spring 2016 marked a big moment for local eaters. That’s when Pine Street Market opened as Portland’s very first food hall.
Being first in a food city like Portland is no small thing. This town takes eating seriously, so the bar was high from day one.
The lineup was curated by Mike Thelin, a co-founder of Feast Portland. That festival celebrates the city’s food scene, so his involvement gave the hall serious credibility.
The idea is simple and smart. Several chefs and purveyors share one space, and you pick what sounds good.
That setup solves a classic problem. One friend wants noodles, another wants Thai food, and someone else only cares about dessert.
Everyone orders from their favorite counter and meets back at the tables. Nobody has to lose the dinner debate.
The hall has kept that recognition going, too. Tasting Table included it in its 2025 list of must-visit food halls in the U.S.
That’s a nice nod for a place that helped start the food hall trend in Oregon.
Slurp-Worthy Ramen And Fried Chicken Deserve A Spot On Your Tray
Ramen and fried chicken from one counter. That combo alone might justify the drive.
Matsunoki Ramen handles both at Pine Street Market. It’s a comforting pairing, especially when Portland’s rain sets in and you want something warm.
A steaming bowl of noodles makes a great anchor for a meal. Add fried chicken on the side, and you’ve covered both cozy and crunchy in one stop.
Since the hall is built for sharing, ramen works well as a home base. Grab a bowl, then send friends off to scout other counters.
I can’t imagine leaving that chicken off my order. Splitting it with the table is a smart move if you plan to sample around.
Open kitchens around the hall let you watch some dishes come together. That adds a little show to the wait.
Here’s a tip for groups. Order your ramen first, since soup is best fresh and hot.
Then let everyone else wander. By the time they’re back, you’ll be halfway happy and ready to steal bites of their picks.
Dumplings, Bao, And Thai Comfort Food Make Choosing Tough
Handmade dumplings sit on one side of the room. Thai comfort food waits on another, and your stomach can’t be in two places at once.
Shanghai’s Best focuses on hand-made dumplings and bao. Those little pillowy bites are perfect for sharing around a table.
Bao and dumplings also make great “first round” food. Order a few, pass them around, and figure out your next move from there.
Little Thai Peacock brings Thai comfort food to the mix. It adds a whole different set of flavors without leaving the building.
That variety is the real magic here. You can build a meal that hops across Asia in about twenty steps.
My plan would be simple. Start with dumplings, then pick a Thai dish to share, and save room for something sweet.
Groups have an easy advantage here. Split up, order from both counters, and meet back with a feast.
Solo diners can still win, too. Grab a small order from each and call it research. Nobody needs to know it was just lunch.
Save Room, Because Mini Donuts And Smoothies Are Waiting
Mini donuts have a sneaky trick. They’re small, so you convince yourself one more is totally reasonable.
Lil’ Funky Donuts specializes in hand-crafted mini donuts. They make an easy dessert to share, or not share, depending on your mood.
On the lighter side, Blends Juice Bar serves fresh juices, smoothies, and acai bowls. That’s handy if you want something bright and fruity.
Having both options is a smart balance. One friend grabs a smoothie, another grabs donuts, and everyone feels good about their choices.
An acai bowl can work as a light meal. A juice also makes a nice partner for a heavier plate of noodles.
Kids will likely zero in on the donuts fast. Honestly, plenty of grown-ups will, too.
I’d grab a few donuts for the walk afterward. Downtown Portland is a great place to stroll with something sweet in hand.
Whatever you choose, end on a happy note. After all that history and all those savory bites, a little sugar feels earned.
Families And Big Groups Can Actually Relax Here
Feeding a big crew can feel like herding cats. The open layout here makes it way less stressful.
Seating is casual and communal, so groups can spread out together. Everyone orders where they like and meets back at the tables.
Parents get some thoughtful extras. There’s a changing station, high chairs, and stroller parking, which makes outings with little ones much smoother.
Accessibility gets attention, too. The dining area has smooth flooring and accessible-height tables, so more people can sit comfortably.
The energy is lively, which helps families with kids. A little extra noise from your table blends right in.
Watching food come out of open kitchens can keep young eyes busy. It’s a mini cooking show while you wait.
Carry-out is available if you’d rather eat elsewhere. That’s great for a picnic or a quick meal back at your hotel.
Planning an event? Catering is handled directly through individual vendors inside the market. So your office lunch could feature dumplings, ramen, and donuts, and suddenly you’re everyone’s favorite coworker.
Plan Your Trip Downtown Before The Hunger Hits
Good news for flexible schedules. The hall runs daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., so lunch and dinner are both fair game.
You’ll find Pine Street Market at 126 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204. It sits downtown, close to Old Town, which makes it easy to fold into a city day.
The hall closes only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. That’s a short list, so most days of the year are wide open.
A road trip from elsewhere in Oregon pairs nicely with a stop here. Everyone can pick their own meal, which keeps car-ride arguments short.
Give yourself time to look around before ordering. The arched windows and big timber frame deserve a slow glance.
Then walk the counters and make a game plan. Maybe dumplings first, ramen second, donuts for the road.
Honestly, that’s the joy of this place. A carriage house from 1886 now serves some of the most fun meals downtown. Few lunch breaks come with that much story attached, and that’s worth the drive.