As the weather cools, the rains return, and the verdant hues change into crimson and gold, the restaurant industry shows no signs of slowing down itself. This month, two buzzy residencies are packing up, a new food cart pod opens in Hollywood, and a beloved bakery makes its highly anticipated return. Here are some of the top openings of the last few weeks, as well as a couple things to look forward to as we ease into fall.
Say Hello To:
Sushi Fukami
Portland already punches above its weight for sushi thanks to restaurants like Kaede, Nimblefish, and Nodoguro. It’s about to get even more impressive with the addition of Sushi Fukami from Nimblefish’s renowned chef Cody Auger. Opening September 18 with just eight seats and located in the old Lil’ Shalom spot downtown, Fukami will operate as an omakase experience, offering hot dishes alongside pristine nigiri and sashimi. Reservations are already open and disappearing quickly.
The Callback
It looks like 2026 is becoming the year of the food cart pod. Modhaus opened earlier in the year on SE 38th and Division—with its indoor dining area finally slated to open on Friday, September 18—followed by Fremont Garage in the Beaumont neighborhood.
Now, the Callback has joined the city’s already impressive roster of pods, opening across the street from the Hollywood Trader Joe’s. The Callback includes a full indoor bar and seven carts outside. At opening, find fried fish and chowder, pizza, sushi, pelmeni, and a halal cuisine cart. There’s also the hard-to-define European Job, formerly known as the Bulgarian Job, which serves “European classics with modern twists.” Think Balkan burgers on flatbread buns, doner kebabs, and Bulgarian bonbons: deep-fried, panko-breaded cheese with pistachio cream and a hot honey glaze.
Straightaway PDX
Portland’s Straightaway was an early pioneer in the canned and bottled cocktail scene, and Alaska Airlines has been carrying its single-serving cans since 2023. Now fliers can snag a drink at Straightaway’s swanky, mid-century–inspired cocktail lounge at the airport, just past security at Concourse B. Straightaway PDX serves full-sized cocktails, including signature drinks like the French 77, margarita, and the hazelnut old-fashioned. For food, it’s all about the “Dapper Dogs,” made with Zenner’s hot dogs and sausages (or Field Roast as a vegan alternative), and served with a variety of toppings and a side of pasta or potato salad. Diners will need a boarding pass to visit the bar, but then can enjoy them with a view of the tarmac or at the stylish, blue-tiled bar.
Say Goodbye To:
Bryan Furman BBQ
There’s only one weekend left for the Bryan Furman BBQ residency at Kann. Celebrated pitmaster Furman took over the Haitian restaurant’s basement bar Sousol last February, quickly attracting long lines for his signature smoked meats. Though first intended to run through spring, the visiting pop-up stuck around through summer and is wrapping up with its final service this weekend from September 18-20, opening at noon on Friday and 1 pm Saturday and Sunday until sold out. It’s unclear whether Furman will continue his tenure in Portland; as for the Sousol space, a representative from Kann said it would “continue to evolve.”
Scorfana
Bryan Furman BBQ isn’t the only residency wrapping up this September. New York–style pizzeria Scorfana took over the kitchen at Mississippi jazz bar The 1905 in 2024. Helmed by chef Jon Wiley, it serves classic pies like pepperoni and supreme, as well as red sauce staples like spaghetti and meatballs and rigatoni alla vodka. There’s still a little more time to grab a sausage pizza and some wine along with a live jazz show: Scorfana wraps up its residency on Sunday, September 27. And fans of the pizza can find Wiley at his new brick and mortar in Sellwood, Dick’s Pizza.
Gol and Likely Ivy (for now)
Previously 4-4-2, Gol has been one of the premier soccer—excuse me, football—bars in Portland for many years, even opening for business as early as 4 and 5 a.m. for live screenings of European matches. Sadly, sometime after midnight on Tuesday, September 15, firefighters rushed to the bar to put out a major conflagration. They were able to keep the fire from spreading or burning down the building, but it’s unclear when Gol will return—a worker commented that it was “burned pretty bad” and that reopening wouldn’t be anytime soon. Vegan cupcake shop Likely Ivy, which suffered extensive damage, is closed for the time being as well and has launched a fundraiser to re-open. No injuries were reported and, at the time of reporting, the cause is still being investigated.
Look Forward To:
L’Échelle Brunch
L’Échelle, the French-ish bistro from the late chef Naomi Pomeroy, having been open for more than a year now, is ready to roll out brunch. The weekend-only service starts Saturday, September 26 and is an ode to the days of Beast—rather than the à la carte service at L’Échelle’s dinner, brunch features a three-course prix fixe served at the communal table in the adjacent Community Hall, where the bistro began in its pop-up days. Each meal starts with a sweet treat before moving on to a vegetable or side, followed by a larger savory course—a duck confit hash is an early example—and a small fruit dish to finish. Tickets are $55 per person, with additional side and drinks available, including a $45 Champagne pairing.
Jinju’s Return
Last December, just six months after winning the James Beard award for Outstanding Bakery, JinJu Patisserie owners Kyurim “Q” Lee and Jin Caldwell announced they would close their doors at the end of the year. Luckily, it was always a temporary thing as they searched for a new space. They found their new location in June at 3494 N Williams, just blocks away from their previous spot —but it took a while to get the space in order. Sometime in September, with the date still TBA, the bakery will return with its beloved laminated pastries, bonbons, tarts, and other sweet and savory baked goods.