50 Best American Restaurants in Salem

“Food was alright just a tad over cooked. Waitress was not very nice. The place is old and needs updated and the floors were disgusting! The menu did not have the correct price so if your on a budget, you get to guess how much more the price is.“

“I'm a regular at The Sassy Onion and I highly recommend. the food is awesome and a shout out to ALL staff...you guys are the best.“

“Best breakfast I've had. I'll be making the drive from Oregon City down here for the biscuits and chicken fried chicken. You can taste the love put into the food🩷“

“Just came by for the 1st time & got a few items for our family to share. Delicious strawberries, decadent fudge and beauituful setting! Kids already asked when we could go back....I vote next week �“

“I love the vampire repellent. I would gladly kill or be killed in their name.“

“It is hard to find good breakfast in this area and Cafe 22 hits the spot. I love their peaches, the pancake thickness isnt overly cakey and hard to swallow. The bacon is thick and cooked just right. The raspberry jam is real raspberry jam. The water mentioned in the another review is because they are on a well so it does taste little bit more tinnish, a lemon wedge in my water cured that. Stopped by the fruit stand for fresh strawberries, on the spendy side, but oh the flavor, absolutely nothing beats an Oregon strawberry. Had I known they did strawberry short cake, I woulda skipped the breakfast and went straight to the fruit stand.“

“I'm a regular at The Sassy Onion and I highly recommend. the food is awesome and a shout out to ALL staff...you guys are the best.“

“Today they catered our lunch (for 15) at DSL Builders LLC in Salem. Excellent Food, Excellent Service, Excellent Variety. I would use them again and highly recommend.“

“They do not post negative reviews“

“Fabulous restaurant! We went for my husband’s birthday tonight. Waitress was a gem! We were treated to a complimentary bacon wrapped dates appetizer. Highly recommend the Brussel Sprouts appetizer as well. Crab cakes were delicious. Our teenage son said the chicken fettuccine Alfredo was delicious. Cajun steak and shrimp fettuccine special was top notch. We were so stuffed we couldn’t try dessert, next time. I had called to make a reservation and we had a perfect spot and view of outside. Nice touch with the fireplaces. Atmosphere is very nice and classy. Lady who took my reservation over the phone and the host were super friendly. Manager of the restaurant also so friendly made us feel welcome. Everyone made sure we had everything we needed and more. Hats off to the chef too. We will come check out your brunch. Thank you so much for the lovely dinner! ~ Take care and see you all next time.“

“Great little bar looking out over the Salem Airport runway.“

“Jose at 19th at Battle Creek Clubhouse was absolutely amazing! From the moment we sat down, he was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. The drinks were excellent, the service was top-notch, and the food was incredible. You can tell he genuinely cares about making sure guests have a great time. Highly recommend stopping in — great atmosphere, amazing food, and outstanding bartending from Jose!“

“This fusion place is the absolute best! It's all very healthy food. I got a bowl with rice olives avocado chicken fish lots of veggies and the sauce was phenomenal....I bought some to take back to Chico and may stop and get a second bottle!!!!
Just another reason to come back to Oregon! 😀“

“Our waitress was amazing!! So attentive and always asking if we needed anything! Our drinks and food was amazing and soooo good!!“

“We went for dinner tonight at Applebee's, and Our server was Riley, she took real good care of Us, checked if we needed more to drink and stuff. Also, I had electronic gift cards, and the Manager Josie was great and took care of processing them for me!! Both were real friendly.“

“Walking into Bentley’s felt like stepping into a Christmas postcard—the entryway decked out in festive décor set the perfect cozy vibe.

- Apricot-cured pork belly tacos with pickled shallots + cilantro for the perfect balance of flavor.
- Blackened salmon over pea lentils and leeks—perfectly balanced.
- Mac n’ cheese leveled up with smoked gouda, bacon, and a juicy chicken breast.
- Daily special: pea risotto with chanterelle mushrooms (don’t judge the pic, it was divine!).

IIf you’re craving that warm holiday ambiance and unforgettable bites, Bentley’s is the Salem icon you need to visit this season.“

“Best of all Salem for breakfast brunch“

“breakfast and burgers has been here for over 10 years now. We have tried the CORNED BEEF Hash for breakfast yesterday. It was so fresh since it was HOMEMADE. I literally just finished my second order in two days. I highly recommend for a St. Patrick's Day meal. There's something for everyone here. This was the best corned beef hash I've ever had. They are kind people with great food to enjoy with you. if you decide to try it, tell them I said hi!“

“Great food and the drinks are really good too.“

“Its got a pretty good list of pinball machines and classics. They've recently swapped to a card style, which while conventional, I came for the quarter nostalgia. Prices have gone up a little over the years. I would recommend coming with a budget in mind. I'd say head north if you want a wider pinball / arcade option.“

“Vivian at the bar is such great company! Always a pleasure to dine in, and the rest of the staff is super friendly and they always want to make sure we have everything we need. It always makes their day when we use the devices to order our brownie bites. The managers make a point to come through and quality check with the guests, and they're so friendly too! Hi Matt. A great place to spend time in Salem.“

“We had the greatest meal here. If you are looking for a vegan/vegetarian friendly place that also has local beer on tap, Venti's is a must. Their vegan grilled cheese sandwich was delicious.“

“Stayed and ate breakfast the next morning. Had a fabulous experience! Waiter was amazing (Hector), always eager to help and the refills on coffee were always there. Food was also great! 100% better than any breakfast house around. Would definitely stop by just to eat.“

“After seeing them on TikTok my husband and I finally got the chance to stop and try them out today. It was everything we hoped it would be! He got the “wake yo butt up” burrito with sausage and I got an iced caramel horchata chai. The burrito was so good and I immediately wished I had ordered a bigger size of the horchata chai!!! Definitely a stop we will make again“

“Food is amazing , generous amount and staff friendly 💕“

“Delicious food and wonderful people.
Tried the appetizer sampler that has a bit of everything, super good!
Thai tea delicious
Pad Thai super tasty and heavy portion
Bangkok noodles was a huge portion and also delicious.
Can’t wait to try more next time“

“I would like to THANK the Owners, and Staff, of the Half Penny! You made accommodations for a dual family Birthday party for us today. The food was delicious, the staff took care of our needs, and the customer service was PHENOMENAL! You can tell that they really support not only their customers, but each other, as well. THANK YOU, again, for the great experience! I plan on enjoying their nightlife very soon. 😁“

“First time at Bo & Vine yesterday & still thinking about how great it was today. The burgers were scrumptious so I'm trying the chicken next time! The fries, tots, & sauces were outstanding. And try the hard cider shake! You won't be sorry 😋“

“Food is amazing and so are the vibes you get froms this unique setting. Love it !!“

“Today, I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch at Santiam Wine and Bistro. The ambiance and aesthetics here are truly special for Salem, offering a unique flavor that's hard to find elsewhere. The French Onion soup was simply exquisite, and the mushroom lasagna was equally delightful. Pairing my meal with a glass of red wine felt like the perfect finishing touch!I must mention that Courtney's warm and welcoming service added to the overall experience. I'm already looking forward to my next visit, and I highly recommend this place to others“

“Wait staff is friendly. Food is great“

“Best place to get a little buzzy with your homies. I definitely get the vibe that this place is lgbtqia+friendly. The Jell-O shots are boozy! Tacos are crunchy, or soft, depending on your preference. Lots of eligible hott single dudes on Tuesday nights for trivia. But not Thursdays. Just Tuesdays for hot guys. And tacos. And Sarah the most attentive and friendly and caring bartender a real badass with great taste in music. Witty! A true gem. Love this place! My Tuesday family. I should probably start coming on other nights too.“

“Staff was prompt and responsive. I ordered the Prime Rib Special. It came out remarkably fast. Medium rare as requested. Unfortunately the baked potato was over done and yet cool. The prime rib was lukewarm. The horseradish sauce was off- I can’t tell why but it had a peculiar flavor that should not have been there. Seasoning of the prime rib was on point and so was the zip sauce. I wasn’t feeling up to potential confrontation so when they asked how the food was I just said good. With prime rib it’s hard because if they warmed it then it might not have come back medium rare…also there was no steak knife but again I didn’t ask“

“great service and so friendly! their charcuterie board is delicious!!“

“Good food and fun atmosphere to learn how to line dance!“

“Great place. Just go and experience it yourself!“

“Great service as soon as I walked in the door. Fast service.“

“Was welcomed and guided to my seat with comfort and love by Tyesha. My waitress, she was so mighty helpful when I was trying to decide what to order. It was delivered in a meaningful time. And she was very accommodating and caring.
10 out of 10“

“It's Pub food. Good and plenty. Plain and simple. Service is excellent and not intrusive. I tend to pre-tip by guessing what I'll order and pre-tip the wait person at order time. I get good results-they know they already have a tip and have a feeling how good the tip will be. Suddenly the service is great . Think about it.“

“Just moved to the area and have been picking random spots to try out in hopes to find something good. After running some errands I stumbled upon South Liberty. Walking in it was quiet and full of what are seemingly locals. My first impression was how clean everything is. Upon sitting at the bar I ordered a drink and checked out the food menu. I ordered the meatball sub and hamburger soup. I had a drink and by the time I was done my food was out. The soup was a 10/10 which was a pleasant surprise and the meatball sub was huge and I was surprised I finished it but it was too good. Service was great and friendly. Feels like a good welcoming neighborhood bar. I will definitely be back.“

“Great food, great drinks and amazing staff. Our favorite sit down family restaurant.“

“Great place to grab a drink play some pool and sing some karaoke!!!“

“My company hosted an event this afternoon at Sparky’s. Service was 10/10, atmosphere was great, food/drink was fantastic as well. Felt very welcomed! Thank you Sparky’s for everything!“

“Bartender Phill is awesome!!!“

“Jeff and I always have felt welcome and like we've been going there for years. We're pretty new and only a few visits, but will always go when we're up that way. Great bartenders and customers! Fun place for sure! 👍🏾👍🏾“

“Bopped in to get a stamp and a quick drink for our passports, and this was hands down one of our favorite Mcmennies so far!!! Loved the vibes and the staff, Dalton (our bartender) was amazing and had all the fun facts about the property!! One of my favorite experiences so far!🤗❤️“

“Sami is awesome and so is lacey. Great service! The cooks are amazing as well! They have a variety of liquor. Their food specials are great 👍“