Old Pal Is Now Old Pal Kitchen + Market in Portland

Back in 2022 we reported on the opening of Old Pal, a little bistro in the Sunnyside neighborhood that offered “vegetables, little fishes, fine wines, craft brews & spirits.” Well, time has passed and changes have come to Old Pal—today, say hello to Old Pal Kitchen + Market. It’s still a bistro that also offers food and drink, but with expanded hours and an added neighborhood specialty market for double the fun.

The People Behind Old Pal Kitchen + Market

Although the format has expanded, the owners are the same. Jeremy Larter and Emily Bixler are still running things at Old Pal Kitchen + Market (OPKM) and are happy to have you in to enjoy their expanded offerings.

Emily also owns BOET, an integrated sculpture and accessory line, and you’ll see her design/aesthetic influence at OPKM. Jeremy runs his catering business, Field Day, out of the kitchen.

What’s New About Old Pal Kitchen + Market

I had caught wind of changes happening at Old Pal kind of randomly, so I reached out to them to see what was up. Emily responded and eventually sent me a press release she released earlier this month with helpful information, which I am passing on to you here.

So Why the Changes?

I asked Emily why they decided to make these changes at Old Pal. She clarified that they are still technically a bistro but wanted to add the retail market and lunch service for a number of reasons. One of those had to do with taking advantage of what was already there: Utilize the space better. The current market area was mostly underutilized (and now it’s not).

Other reasons include:

• They knew they could skillfully fill a gap in Sunnyside’s lunchtime offerings.
• They wanted to offer the neighborhood a small-scale market for fresh bread, pantry staples, and access to local goods (this makes me think of Fresh Love in Roseway).
• They are on the way to Laurelhurst Park, so why not offer picnic options for people heading to that beautiful park?

Emily added, “We love all of Portland’s little neighborhood markets and thought we could create a great addition to Sunnyside!” And the sprit of the former Old Pal bistro remains, so there is some continuity.

The Bistro (the Kitchen Part)

You can stop in for a sip and a bite from 11am to 9pm, Wednesdays through Sundays. Their day is divided into three segments: Lunch, “Little Hours,” and Dinner.

To Eat: Lunch

You can get lunch there from 11am to 3pm. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, and sides, all made to order—here are a handful of examples:

• Fried eggplant sandwich with fontina, fennel peperonata, and arugula on a soft Fressen Bakery roll (this can also be made vegan)
• House-smoked albacore cheddar melt with crispy shallots.
• A Caesar salad made with Little Gem lettuces, grated Grana, with pistachios, and a tangy Caesar dressing.
• A salted caramel panna cotta.

To Eat: Little Hours and Dinner

From 3pm to 5pm is the designated “Little Hours,” where they offer various snacks and a full bar. This time of day can feel a bit “slumpy,” so drinks and a snack there might be just the pick-me-up you need.

Then at 5pm, their evening menu kicks in and offers things like:

• A selection of cheeses from Cowbell.
• House burger on Fressen bun.
• Mile-high bistro salad made with red butter lettuce, Pecorino, pistachios, “olive everything” spice, fines herbs, and a sherry vinaigrette.
• Albacore Tataki made with seared/chilled albacore tuna, sumo mandarins, pickled serrano, lemon basil, olive oil noir, and sea salt.
• Rotating weekly specials like the Friday Fish Fry: a buttermilk-marinated Oregon rockfish filet with brown-butter/caper remoulade

Oysters are available all day but they do offer a daily oyster happy hour from 5pm to 6pm.

To Drink

Evening cocktails include their bottle freezer martinis, an Oaxacan Negroni, and clarified milk punch. They also have wine available by the glass or bottle, and beer available by glass or pint.

They offer some NA options, like their mocktail made with Pathfinder Hemp and Root Amaro, elderflower tonic, and cherry; also coffee, tea, mineral water and a Best Days NA Lager.

Retail (the Market Part)

The market looks like it offers many tasty things, made both locally and abroad. Think bread, cheese, sweets, snacks, pantry items, and things to drink. Some of what you might find include:

• Fresh daily bread from Ken’s Artisan Bakery.
• Small-format cheeses and pantry staples from Cowbell Cheese.
• Salsas, chili oil, hot sauces, and chips from Hot Mama Salsa.
• Housemade vegan sourdough rosemary crackers.
• Housemade vegan/GF “cheese dust.”
• Sweets made locally and from around the world.
• Handmade goods, gifts, and art pieces.

But no matter what you find at the Market, know that they are favorites of Jeremy and Emily, along with being delicious.

I’m happy to see that Old Pal Kitchen + Market offers tasty, high-quality food and drink, whether it’s made-to-order or already produced. How nice to have this in one’s neighborhood. Wishing Emily and Jeremy only the best in their work at Old Pal Kitchen + Market.

Old Pal Kitchen + Market
3350 SE Morrison Street, Portland
Old Pal Kitchen + Market website | Instagram | Facebook

Updated April 23, 2025.