21 Best American Restaurants in Salem

“Little Lois Cafe offers a delightful dining experience with its homemade food, extensive menu, and convenient options for takeout, delivery, or dine-in. The cafe serves a wide variety of freshly made items, including sandwiches, salads, and desserts, catering to various dietary preferences. Customers praise the cafe's fast and friendly service, clean atmosphere, and retro cafe vibes. Little Lois Cafe is a popular choice for work lunches and events, known for its great food and reasonable prices.“

“Quesadilla Wizards is a unique and delicious food truck that offers a wide range of quesadillas to suit every taste. With options like the classic Ranch Hand, featuring chicken, bacon, and ranch, and the creative Vampire Repellent, which includes mac and cheese, there's something for everyone. The menu is not only delicious but also hilarious to read. The staff is friendly and welcoming, making every visit a pleasure. With rotating specials and fun options like the Emperor's New Zhoug, Quesadilla Wizards is a must-visit destination, even for a 30-minute drive.“

“ACME Cafe is a great restaurant with excellent food and service. The outdoor eating area is equipped with picnic tables and umbrellas, providing a pleasant dining experience. The menu offers a variety of options, including Eggs Benedict, hamburger patties over rice, and a robust breakfast selection. While there might be a wait during busy periods, the staff is known for being engaging, friendly, and helpful in finding suitable alternatives for customers with specific requests. The food is reasonably priced, and the quality is consistently high, with dishes like the Everything Skillet receiving high praise for its flavor and presentation. Overall, ACME Cafe is a spotlessly clean and well-maintained restaurant with a modern vibe, making it an excellent choice for a meal.“

“Aspinwall's is a family-friendly restaurant known for its fresh produce and delicious ice cream. Their strawberries are a highlight, always perfectly ripe and available in flats for eating or making jam. The outdoor picnic area features a play area with toys for kids. They also sell rising sun milk, making it a convenient spot for locals. Expect a crowd, but the wait is worth it.“

“White's Restaurant is a cozy neighborhood diner that serves excellent breakfast and lunch. The wait staff is friendly and knows regular customers by name. The portions are generous, with the short stack of pancakes being a highlight. The menu features a range of options, including the popular "mini big mess" and biscuits and gravy. With great food and service, it's no wonder that tables fill up quickly, making it a good idea to arrive early to secure parking.“

“Sassy Onion State Street serves great food and provides excellent service. Their omelets are loaded with extras and a hit with customers. The restaurant also excels in baked goods, such as pancakes. While some dishes, like burritos, may need improvement, the overall dining experience is pleasant and professional.“

“The Flight Deck Restaurant & Lounge offers easy access, plenty of parking, and stunning views of the runway. Friendly staff provide quick service and full bar options. The restaurant serves generous food portions, including top-notch sandwiches. Decorated with model aircraft, it's a great spot for aviation enthusiasts. Enjoy a meal while plane-watching, with a scenic atmosphere and wonderful service.“

“Amadeus Restaurant offers a consistently excellent dining experience with scrumptious food and kind service. The staff is wonderful, and the owner ensures a relaxing atmosphere. The menu features standouts like the cauliflower appetizer, clam pasta, and brisket entree, although some dishes may vary in quality. Overall, Amadeus is a top dining spot in downtown Salem.“

“Sassy Onion Market Street offers fantastic food, great customer service, and a clean atmosphere. The Biscuits and Gravy meal comes highly recommended. Visitors praise the delicious food and generous portions. A top choice for dining in Salem, Oregon.“

“Cafe Yumm! Candalaria Crossing is a popular dining spot known for its focus on healthy and organic food, with a variety of vegetarian and vegan options. The bowls, which are vegetarian by default, can be customized with tofu, tempeh, or chicken. The restaurant has a reputation for attentively addressing any issues to ensure a satisfying dining experience. While prices have increased over the years, it remains a regular spot for those seeking a quick and relatively healthy meal.“

“Josey's Restaurant is a local favorite in Salem, Oregon, known for its delicious breakfast options and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is relatively small, with limited seating and parking, but it offers a charming and friendly environment. The menu includes classic American comfort food, with standout dishes such as the Denver omelette and the biscuits and gravy. The omelette is described as amazing, and the biscuits are soft and moist, served with savory gravy. However, some dishes, like the bacon and hash browns, could be improved. Service is friendly and attentive, making customers feel welcome and well taken care of. Prices are reasonably priced, making it a great spot for a satisfying and affordable meal.“

“Cafe 22 West is a highly recommended restaurant known for its exceptional food, kind service, and commitment to locally sourced ingredients. The menu features a wide range of delectable options, including a top-quality omelet, homemade ice cream, and a hearty breakfast of French toast, eggs, and bacon. The restaurant also offers different options for those with dietary restrictions, such as low-carb choices. Customers appreciate the clean environment, the owners' good-hearted nature, and the opportunity to visit the adjacent farmers market for fresh produce, canned goods, and other local specialties. With plenty of parking available and a kid-friendly atmosphere, Cafe 22 West is a true highlight of the week for many, earning a well-deserved 10/10 recommendation.“

“Magnolia on the Green offers an exceptional dining experience. The restaurant serves excellent food in a great atmosphere, with friendly and attentive service. The menu features a variety of dishes, including the escargot special, Korean wings, and chowder, all of which are flavorful and delicious. Main courses, such as the smoked briscuit and Alfredo with shrimp, are also tender and satisfying. The restaurant's beautiful space, with its big windows overlooking the golf course, provides a classy and quiet ambiance, making it a great spot to dine.“

“Breakfast & Burgers is a cozy spot serving classic comfort foods. Expect big portions and reasonable prices. Their biscuits and gravy are a highlight, with light, soft, and fluffy biscuits. Eggs, sausage, and bacon are cooked to perfection. Friendly service and affordable prices make it a popular destination.“

“Sybil's Omelettes is a restaurant that offers a massive selection of omelettes, all of which are delicious. The parking lot can be a bit tight, but there is plenty of street parking available in the surrounding area. The restaurant is known for its excellent service, with friendly and attentive servers who are happy to make recommendations from the menu. The breakfast dishes are generous in portion size and come with a variety of ingredients, such as chicken fried steak, hash browns, eggs, and biscuit and gravy. The atmosphere is lively, with fun wall decorations to read. Overall, Sybil's Omelettes is a highly recommended spot for a delicious breakfast or brunch.“

“The 19th At Battle Creek Clubhouse is a casual neighborhood bar that offers a simple menu and generally friendly service. Reviewers praise the attentive staff, particularly Priscilla and Silvia, but note that the bar itself could use some renovations and maintenance. While the atmosphere is welcoming, the owner is described as reluctant to invest in necessary improvements.“

“The Coin Jam is a popular retro arcade-style restaurant that offers a great selection of classic and modern games, as well as excellent food and drinks. The atmosphere is friendly and easygoing, with accommodating staff who are always happy to assist. Customers particularly enjoy the retro arcade games, the mac and cheese with bacon bits, and the delicious black bean tacos.“

“Annette's Westgate offers a comfortable dining experience with friendly and attentive staff. The portions are generous, and the food is generally tasty, with some standouts like the thick, crisp, and flavorful bacon. However, some dishes may lack flavor, and the cooking time can be slow. The restaurant serves traditional breakfast options, including omelettes and meat and potato dishes. Despite some inconsistencies, Annette's Westgate is a recommended spot, especially for those who appreciate a cozy atmosphere.“

“Venti's Cafe + Taphouse offers a great date night atmosphere with diverse options to accommodate various dietary preferences. The menu features fantastic vegetarian and vegan choices, including jackfruit, tempeh, lentils, tofu, and vegan cheeses, as well as non-vegetarian options. The staff is attentive and accommodating to any dietary restrictions.“

“Bentley's is a charming restaurant with a surprisingly dark atmosphere, offering a unique dining experience. The tables are well-spaced, and the bar is beautifully designed. While the drinks may be overpriced and mediocre, the food is a highlight. The menu features dishes such as fettuccine and braised shortrib, both of which are expertly prepared and receive high praise. The restaurant is accommodating to dietary restrictions, taking care to consider the use of spices and marinades. The service is standard, with attentive and polite servers like Alexis. The atmosphere can vary depending on the time of day, but the music is occasionally a mismatch. Overall, Bentley's offers exceptional food, a charming atmosphere, and a great dining experience, making it a worthwhile choice for special occasions or anniversary dates.“