Along the Oregon Coast, a string of small-town eateries serves up memorable bites , from classic fish and chips at a floating seafood market to banana pudding sherbet at a family-owned ice cream shop.
The Oregon Coast is a year-round destination for visitors willing to brave wind and rain with the proper clothing.
Even as summer fades, coastal communities offer a cool escape and the chance to grab roadside hot dogs, sample wild-caught black cod from a seaside kitchen, taste wildflower ice cream, or pick up honey, jam and other goods from a modest roadside stand.
Below are several stops worth considering between North Bend and Port Orford on your next southern coast excursion.
Scoops Handmade Ice Cream
3395 Broadway Ave., North Bend
Scoops ranks among the few handmade ice cream shops along the Oregon Coast. The shop features a rotating cast of distinctive flavors, ranging from the floral, rose-colored fireweed ice cream to a chocolate, cinnamon and cayenne sorbet. (Scoops’ sorbet selection is impressive, by the way, with roughly a dozen choices available on any given day.)
Because the flavors shift frequently, allow yourself to be surprised (or check their daily lineup ahead of time). Order your scoop in a cup, cone or crepe, or have it blended into a malt or shake.
Fishermen’s Seafood Market
200 S. Bayshore Drive, Coos Bay
With waterfront views and wild-caught fish, Fishermen’s Seafood Market in Coos Bay delivers a quintessential coastal dining experience. The floating seafood market and restaurant sits tucked beneath the Coos Bay Boardwalk, where cooks prepare halibut, rockfish, prawns and oysters for the market’s well-loved seafood baskets.
Once you’ve ordered inside, stroll along the dock to the breezy dining area in the back, where you can crack open a beer, drizzle malt vinegar on your fish and chips and eat while watching boats drift past.
Langlois Market
48444 U.S. Highway 101, Langlois
Langlois Market’s playful tagline of “Over 100 Hotdogs Sold (1,519,845) & Counting” cheekily nods to the 1990s, when McDonald’s touted its “99 billion served” slogan across the country. Yet this roadside market, an easy stop along U.S. 101 between Bandon and Port Orford, is anything but a fast-food chain.
After ordering a hot dog (or sandwich, burger or burrito) from the friendly deli counter staff, you can browse Oregon-made beer, wine and cider; high-quality pasta; local cheeses; grass-fed steak and jerky; snacks; ice cream; and fresh produce for the road. Langlois Market’s hot dog has a history spanning more than 40 years and was a standard lunch for local sawmill workers in the 1980s.
The Galley at Port Orford Sustainable Seafood
444 Jackson St., Port Orford
Perched just above Port Orford’s coastline, The Galley is a compact seafood kitchen cooking up whatever local fishermen bring in. The small, seasonal menu features just a handful of items at any time, each highlighting sustainably caught seafood. Dishes range from halibut katsu bowls to rockfish tacos.
The garage-style kitchen stays open year-round. That might mean fish tacos in summer or a hearty seafood pot pie to get through the coldest months.
When conditions allow, diners can eat at one of The Galley’s picnic tables while musician Adam Laabs plays soulful electric guitar. Next door is Oregon State University’s Port Orford Field Station, so you might pick up insights about gray whales and bull kelp if an OSU intern stops in for a miso black cod bowl.
Before leaving, you can also purchase fresh fish to prepare at home: The Galley operates under Port Orford Sustainable Seafood, a community-supported fishery.
Reader recommendations
In a recent edition of Bites & Sights, Lookout’s weekend newsletter, readers shared their favorite bites along the Oregon Coast, including stops further north. Their recommendations appear below:
“Zurita at Nye Beach. Spanish-themed with delicious tapas dishes, homemade sangria, and a wonderful outdoor area. Great service too!” , Bob
“We had the most amazing fish and chips and also a lingcod sandwich at the food truck called Oregon Fishmongers, located in the Treasure Bay Resort, a new facility in Waldport. We’ve had a lot of fish and chips on the coast, and this rivals any that we’ve had anywhere else.” , Shelley
“Fish tacos at 7 Devils Brewery at Coos Bay; Fish and Chips at Crazy Norwegian in Port Orford.” , Karen
“Best place is The Drift-Inn in Yachats. Really good seafood, and great service.” , Marti
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