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Plus, this Saturday, May 9, is your last chance to buy plant starts from the Youth Farm. And Mandy’s Diner opened recently, promising a Ducks-themed atmosphere and fun, classic diner fare around the clock.
Valley River Center has a new fish and chips joint.
A shopping mall might not be the first place that comes to mind for battered and fried fish, but Oh My Cod delivers.
The nautical-themed joint opened last month in the food court, offering a variety of fried seafood baskets ranging from $15 to $20.
The menu shows Oh My Cod could also be called Oh My Shrimp, Oh My Coconut Shrimp, Oh My Halibut and Oh My Catfish. The baskets are served with regular fries, but you can upgrade your shape to waffle. They also serve fried pickles, coleslaw and chowder. Choose from the eatery’s house-made tartar or fry sauce (or both), as well as cocktail, hot sauce and sweet chili.
Oh My Cod is located at 293 Valley River Center in Eugene and is open every day. The eatery doesn’t yet have a website or social media accounts.
Two new Eugene eateries
Mandy’s Diner
688 East Broadway
Open 24 hours
The long-awaited Ducks-themed diner is here, and it’s running 24/7. Mandy’s Diner opened at the former Manola’s Thai Cuisine in late April and was designed with students in mind: The diner is located right near University of Oregon’s campus, offering breakfast and lunch items any time of day or night, as well as fun appetizers and 25 milkshake flavors, from classic strawberry to cupcake. Owner Amanda “Mandy” Watts, who also operates Mandy’s Family Restaurant on Willamette Street, said she wants the diner to be a “place for students to go and eat pancakes at midnight.”
Eugene Hot Pot Express
51 West Broadway
Open from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Eugene’s newest restaurant promises a hot pot experience with one major difference: Instead of a communal, DIY meal — that is, patrons dunking meats, starches and veggies in a simmering pot of broth right at the table — the staff cooks it all for you. You’ll select your desired goods at the raw ingredient station before heading to the counter and choosing from eight soup bases, all of which are made in house. Bowls are charged by weight. While an employee adds the soup base to cook your bowl, you can concoct your perfect dipping sauce.
Eugene Hot Pot Express also offers appetizers such as potstickers and pork buns. Quench your thirst with bubble tea, Vietnamese iced coffee and Thai tea. The space is airy, with plenty of seating, natural light and high ceilings. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
Get your garden starts
Saturday, May 9, is your last chance to buy plant starts from The Youth Farm. Choose from more than 300 varieties of veggie, herb and fruit starts (60 of which are just tomatoes) for a promising garden bounty this summer. The Food for Lane County program, which has been running since 1995, recently moved to a 25-acre farm near Mount Pisgah. The Youth Farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and is located at 34596 Seavey Loop Road, Eugene. Enjoy live music while you shop.
Tuesday Market reopens
Lane County Farmers Market brought its Tuesday Market back for the season.
The weekly market returned May 5 and will run every Tuesday through October. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Farmers Market Pavilion at Eighth Avenue and Oak Street in Eugene. Shoppers can expect locally grown and produced goods as well as lighter crowds compared to the Saturday market. EBT/SNAP is accepted, and recipients can receive a Double Up Food Bucks match of up to $20, which they can use to buy fresh produce. Another fun thing: Every other Tuesday, beginning May 12, patrons can skate and shop at the market with Eugene Roller Village. Grab your gear at home, or rent a pair of roller skates for $10.
Two longstanding Eugene restaurants close
In case you missed it, The Davis and Izakaya Meiji closed permanently last month.
After two decades in business, The Davis closed in mid-April, stating on its website, “It’s meant so much to us and we’re sad to say goodbye, but all things come to end. C’est la vie. We have nothing but gratitude for our loyal patrons, we appreciate and wish you all the best.”
In the Whiteaker, Izakaya Meiji posted a sign on its front door Thursday that read: “Meiji will be closed permanently as of April 30th, 2026. Thank you for the 16 years (almost). Hopefully there will be something exciting happening here in the near future.”
Lookout Eugene-Springfield will have more on the two restaurant closures and what’s next for each space when information is available.
