Best Restaurants in Port Orchard, WA: Waterfront Dining & Local Favorites

From Amy's waterfront brunch to Bay Street's local bistros, Port Orchard offers authentic small-town dining with big waterfront views.

by Kitsap Biz

Feb 23, 2026

Downtown Port Orchard Waterfront

Amy's on the Bay

Location: 100 Harrison Avenue
Cuisine: American, breakfast/brunch
Vibe: Waterfront café with local ingredients

Amy's serves Port Orchard's best breakfast and brunch with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Sinclair Inlet. The menu emphasizes local, seasonal ingredients and changes with what's fresh.

Must-Try: Crab cake Benedict, lemon ricotta pancakes, smoked salmon scramble, and their famous homemade corned beef hash.

Pro Tip: Weekend brunch gets busy—arrive by 9 AM or make a reservation. The water views from window tables are worth the wait.

The Lighthouse Restaurant

Location: 130 Harrison Avenue
Cuisine: American diner
Vibe: Classic small-town diner

A Port Orchard institution since 1982, The Lighthouse serves hearty American breakfasts, burgers, and comfort food in a nostalgic diner setting. It's where locals gather for coffee and conversation.

Must-Try: Biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak, burgers, and their rotating pie selection (made fresh daily).

Local Secret: The regulars' booth in the corner has hosted the same group of retired Navy guys every morning for 20+ years.

Kelly's Café

Location: 1200 Bay Street
Cuisine: Café, American
Vibe: Cozy neighborhood café

Kelly's brings New York deli style to Port Orchard with generous sandwiches, fresh salads, and daily soup specials. It's a downtown lunch favorite with a loyal following.

Must-Try: Reuben sandwich, Turkey Rachel, soup of the day, and their rotating cheesecake flavors.

Bay Street Dining

Bangkok Cuisine

Location: 912 Bay Street
Cuisine: Thai
Vibe: Authentic family-owned Thai restaurant

Bangkok Cuisine serves authentic Thai food in downtown Port Orchard with traditional recipes passed through three generations. The spice levels are authentic—ask for mild if you're heat-sensitive.

Must-Try: Pad Thai, green curry, tom yum soup, and mango sticky rice.

Insider Tip: The lunch specials (Monday-Friday) are the best deal in town—$12 for entree, rice, and spring roll.

Bella Luna Café

Location: 806 Bay Street
Cuisine: Italian, café
Vibe: Cozy Italian bistro

Bella Luna brings European café charm to downtown Port Orchard with handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and Italian wines. The intimate setting makes it Port Orchard's most romantic dinner spot.

Must-Try: Linguine with clams, margherita pizza, tiramisu, and Italian wine pairings.

Pro Tip: Reservations recommended on weekends—this small spot fills quickly.

El Puerto de Angeles

Location: 1000 Bay Street
Cuisine: Mexican
Vibe: Festive family-owned Mexican restaurant

El Puerto serves traditional Mexican cuisine with family recipes, generous portions, and a warm atmosphere. It's been a Bay Street fixture for over 15 years.

Must-Try: Chile rellenos, carnitas, enchiladas suizas, and their house-made salsa trio.

Port Orchard Pizza & Casual

Whiskey Gulch Pizza

Location: 1174 Bay Street
Cuisine: Pizza, pub
Vibe: Local pizza joint with craft beer

Whiskey Gulch (named after Port Orchard's historic red-light district nickname) serves New York-style pizza by the slice or pie with a rotating craft beer selection. The casual vibe and late hours make it popular with the after-work crowd.

Must-Try: Pepperoni and jalapeño pizza, garlic knots, and local IPA pairings.

Local Favorite: Friday night pizza and pitcher specials draw the downtown crowd.

Coffee & Bakeries

Perk Up Espresso

Location: 716 Bay Street
Cuisine: Coffee, bakery
Vibe: Local coffee shop

Port Orchard's indie coffeehouse serves locally roasted coffee, house-made pastries, and breakfast sandwiches. It's the downtown morning gathering spot for locals who prefer supporting small business over chains.

Must-Try: Caramel macchiato, breakfast burrito, rotating pastry selection.

Baked on Bay

Location: 1020 Bay Street
Cuisine: Bakery, café
Vibe: Artisan bakery

Baked on Bay serves fresh-baked bread, pastries, cakes, and custom orders for special occasions. The smell of fresh bread draws people in from the sidewalk.

Must-Try: Cinnamon rolls, sourdough loaves, custom cakes.

Neighborhood Spots (Off Bay Street)

Ragazzi's Flying Pizza

Location: 4680 Sidney Road SW
Cuisine: Pizza, Italian
Vibe: Family-friendly pizzeria

A South Kitsap favorite for over 30 years, Ragazzi's serves New York-style pizza, calzones, and pasta in a family-friendly atmosphere. The pizza-by-the-slice at lunch draws the high school crowd.

Must-Try: Ragazzi's Special pizza (everything), garlic bread, and their lunch slice deals.

Taqueria La Fondita

Location: 1985 Sedgwick Road
Cuisine: Mexican
Vibe: Authentic taqueria

La Fondita brings authentic Mexican street food to Port Orchard with house-made tortillas, traditional recipes, and a small but focused menu. Locals consider it Port Orchard's most authentic Mexican spot.

Must-Try: Carne asada tacos, al pastor burrito, horchata.

Waterfront Picnic Spots

Port Orchard's waterfront parks offer perfect picnic settings:

Port Orchard Marina — Grab takeout and eat by the boats with Seattle skyline views
Bay Street Pedestrian Pier — Benches overlooking Sinclair Inlet
Waterfront Park — Grass, benches, and playground make it family-friendly

Planning Your Port Orchard Dining Experience

Best Time to Visit: Summer weekends bring the most tourists. Weekday mornings and lunches are quieter and popular with locals.

Parking: Free street parking on Bay Street (2-hour limits) and municipal lots. The foot ferry from Bremerton drops you right at the waterfront.

Combine Your Visit: Pair lunch with antique shopping on Bay Street, a visit to the Kitsap County Historical Society Museum, or a walk along the waterfront boardwalk.

Foot Ferry Tip: Park in Bremerton ($2-3/day) and take the foot ferry to Port Orchard ($2 each way). It's cheaper than Port Orchard weekend parking and adds a scenic boat ride to your day.

Why Port Orchard's Restaurant Scene Feels Authentic

Port Orchard has resisted the chain restaurant sprawl that dominates nearby Silverdale, preserving its small-town dining character. Most Bay Street restaurants are locally owned, many by families who've served the community for decades.

The result is a dining scene that prioritizes relationships over transactions—where servers remember your order, business owners chat with customers, and meals feel like gathering with neighbors rather than anonymous consumption.

This authenticity, combined with waterfront views and proximity to Seattle via foot ferry, makes Port Orchard one of Kitsap County's most charming dining destinations.