Celebrity chef and two-time Top Chef finalist Brian Malarkey has officially revealed when food lovers will finally get to experience his highly anticipated Portland restaurant. If all final city inspections go as planned, The Malarkey will welcome its first guests on July 31, marking the chef’s long-awaited return to Oregon’s dining scene.

Located in the former Oba Restaurant space in downtown Portland, The Malarkey is far more than a traditional steakhouse. Described as a bold, theatrical celebration of Oregon, the restaurant embraces a maximalist design packed with local references. Guests will find a motorcycle mounted on the wall as a tribute to My Own Private Idaho, a replica of Portland’s iconic Jantzen Beach Diving Girl sign, sand-inspired terrazzo floors reminiscent of the Oregon coast, and even stripper poles inside the restrooms, reflecting Malarkey’s playful, over-the-top personality.

For longtime Top Chef fans, the opening represents another major milestone in Malarkey’s career. Raised in Central Oregon, he attended Portland’s Western Culinary Institute before building a restaurant empire in Southern California. The Malarkey becomes his 24th restaurant overall and his second in Oregon, following the opening of Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge in Bend with his brother James.

The kitchen will be led by executive chef and partner Jose “Lalo” Camarena, formerly of Portland’s acclaimed República, with a menu designed to celebrate the Pacific Northwest. Diners can expect premium ingredients sourced from Oregon ranchers and fishermen, featuring standout dishes such as Kentucky-fried rabbit, steelhead aguachile with strawberries and smashed cucumbers, towering seafood platters, and signature wood-fired steak boards served with horseradish cream and salsa verde. Massive tomahawk steaks and locally sourced seafood are expected to become the restaurant’s signature attractions.

Malarkey has repeatedly emphasized that the restaurant isn’t simply about serving steak—it’s intended to be an immersive dining destination celebrating Portland’s culture, history, and creativity. Promotional materials describe it as “a playful ode to the city, a maximalist universe worthy of crossing bridges and tunnels for,” setting expectations for an experience that is as visually memorable as it is culinary.

With its ambitious concept, celebrity pedigree, and one of Portland’s most talked-about restaurant openings of 2026, The Malarkey is poised to become one of the city’s hottest new dining destinations when it officially opens on July 31.