Portland's office demand has split between downtown and the suburbs. Metro vacancy was 26.5% in the third quarter of 2026, but mid-year numbers put Beaverton at 9.1%, the Sunset Corridor at 18.5% and Lake Oswego/Kruse Way at 19.8%, while the CBD sat at 32.5% and the Lloyd District at 27.1%. The quarter's biggest new lease, 33,000 square feet for Black & Veatch, was on Kruse Way. Nike just finished a 1.4 million square foot expansion of its Beaverton headquarters, and OHSU employs more than 20,000 people around Marquam Hill. On this list, Portland Catering Company works out of Tigard, near Kruse Way. Phat Cart sits next to PSU, Jake's Catering and India House are downtown, and Elephants, Crave and Pearl Catering cook on the east side.
Only one caterer here posts real prices. Jake's Catering lists breakfast buffets at $26 to $44 per person, lunch buffets at $38 to $58 and an Executive Meeting Package at $58 per guest, with a 20 guest buffet minimum. Everyone else quotes per event. Published lead times are rare too. Elephants wants two days' notice by 2pm, Sterling Catering asks for 48 hours, and Jake's needs final counts three business days out. If you'd rather order without a phone call, Elephants Delicatessen and Tamale Boy take online orders, and Portland Catering Company sells its boxed lunches and hot buffets through ezCater. Artemis Foods, Crave, Pearl Catering, Vibrant Table, Bamboo Sushi and Phat Cart use inquiry forms, and KOi Fusion, Delilah's, India House and Sterling take requests by phone or email.
A few Portland specifics. Oregon has no sales tax, so your invoice won't carry one, but service fees still add up. Jake's adds a 22% service fee to all charges and Tamale Boy adds a 20% gratuity to every catering order. Elephants delivers across the metro seven days a week in a one-hour window and gives nonprofits and B Corps 5% off. Artemis covers Portland and the surrounding area, and Phat Cart says Portland metro and beyond. Jake's, Artemis, Vibrant Table and Delilah's lean toward staffed events, so plan on a conversation. For something other than boxed lunch, Crave's Farm-to-Office program delivers once or on a schedule. And when a big show is in at the Oregon Convention Center in the Lloyd District, book early.