A Year of Central Oregon Chow

In Central Oregon, the old adage holds: If there’s one thing constant about the local food scene, it’s change. From celebrity openings to the closing of places locals will sorely miss, a lot came and went in 2024. Here’s a highlight reel of what the Source Weekly covered in Bend and beyond.

January

In January, Bendites said hello to a new Indian buffet, with the opening of Real Taste of India along O.B. Riley Road. Later, in November, Real Taste of India upped its game by adding a small grocery to its offerings. Fat Tony’s Pizzeria also opened on Hill Street in January, offering Neapolitan-style pizzas. Folks did say goodbye to two longtime staples as well, with the announcement of the closing of Cascade Lakes Brewing Company‘s pub on Century Drive and Rockin’ Dave’s Bistro & Backstage Lounge selling its building and shutting up shop.

February

In February, a Bend favorite, Jackson’s Corner, came under new ownership, with local restaurateurs Chris and Anna Hall purchasing the business. That purchase would also lead to another addition for Jackson’s the following month.

March

March brought the departure of Sunny’s Italian Joint in The Grove in Northwest Crossing, which was replaced by another Jackson’s Corner location in its spot. Also added to the scene in March was Pinky G’s, a New York-style pizzeria in the former Sargent’s Cafe on Third Street. Closing in March was The Brown Owl bar and cart in the Box Factory — a space that quickly reopened as WildWood Bar & Grill. The Point, the downtown bar along Bond Street, also closed in March.

As for March openings: Cuppa Ramen replaced Taste of Thailand/Thai on the Fly on Greenwood Avenue, and Ponch’s Place, the new food cart lot off Brinson Boulevard at the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon, opened.

April

April brought Burger Week, a new Source Weekly tradition that delivered $10 burgers to locals’ bellies — look for it again this April! Also appearing in April: the Source Weekly’s Restaurant Guide, giving the Restaurant of the Year designation to Rancher Butcher Chef, Rookie of the Year to Dear Irene and Food Cart of the Year to Americana. Mmm… Rancher Butcher Chef.

May

In a move we hope happens again, May saw the arrival of the Central Oregon Taco Fest, brought to you by the folks at Hola!, complete with luchadores, tequila and, of course, tacos. In Redmond, a new gaming space and cafe, Pangaea Guild Hall, opened on Sixth Street. Also reopening in May: beloved Hawaiian food truck, Aina, winner of Best Food Truck in our Best of Central Oregon several years running, which closed for a year and reopened at On Tap. In May, Bonta Gelato also opened its new location along Galveston Avenue in Bend, and announced a pending space shared with Backporch Coffee that would soon open in Redmond. And at the end of the month, Neighbor Rotisserie, the latest venture for the former owners of Jackson’s, opened in the old Kebaba space.

June

June saw the opening of Good Egg, brought to you by the owners of Dear Mom Cafe, in The Grove, as well as Kobe Sushi & Hibachi Grill along Greenwood Avenue. Westside Taco Co., formerly of Redmond, moved to The Bite in Tumalo. And celebrity chef Brian Malarkey debuted his Bend steakhouse, Hawkeye & Huckleberry, on Century Drive, while RBC opened its new bar, Bar RBC, in the former Dogwood Cocktail Cabin downtown. Meanwhile, another Bend favorite, El Sancho, experienced a fire that shut down its east side location. Axel’s Taco Shop opened in the Reed South Plaza, where a new market, Reed Crossing Market, also opened.

July

July brought what might be considered by some as a seismic change to the Bend food scene, with the opening of an Asian market, Tomi Mart. Another big announcement in July: the pending arrival of Ken’s Artisan Pizza, the Portland star of pizza that will soon open in the former Seven Nightclub. The owners of San Simón also opened a new spot for libations, Hasta Que Olvidemos, on Galveston.

August

In August, Baldy’s Barbeque expanded to La Pine. Also opening that month: SDiegos So Cal Burritos in the Old Ironworks district, and Haven Bagel in Reed South Plaza.

September

Bend is on a bit of a booze-free bender, and that played out with the opening of The Dez Lounge in the Palate coffee location at night. That month, Backporch Coffee and Bonta Gelato finally opened their space in Redmond.

October

In October, Cuppa Yo opened a location in Prineville. That month, Chomp Chomp, the downtown Bend bar that opened at the dawn of the pandemic, closed its doors. Cassity’s, the new bar in the former Cabin 22 locale, also opened in October.

November

The Hideaway, the classic Bend sports bar, opened a new space near Empire Boulevard on Bend’s north side in early November. In the Box Factory, Freeland Spirits of Portland opened a new tasting room Nov. 17. Also opening in November: Yokocho Izakaya, a Japanese bar along Division Street.

December

December brought the opening of Wonderland Chicken Co., which moved its operations to Worthy Brewing‘s downtown space.

If you haven’t checked out some of those spaces, maybe this list will help. But just to add one more to your list: The new Dogwood at the Pine Shed, located on Second Street in the Bend Central District, plans to open its doors with six (or seven) food trucks on New Year’s Eve.

This article appears in Source Weekly December 26, 2024.