Javier Canteras, the chef and co-owner of Urdaneta, is lining up a second Portland restaurant, billed as a sequel to his popular Alberta Street tapas spot, and he wants the new kitchen to dig into the flavors of southern Spain. The move signals a deliberate shift away from Urdaneta’s Basque-forward menu toward dishes rooted farther south on the Iberian Peninsula.
According to the Portland Business Journal, Canteras and his wife Jael plan to open the Slabtown outpost with a menu built around southern Spanish cooking. The Business Journal has described the project as a sequel to Urdaneta rather than a straightforward copy-and-paste of the original restaurant.
What the Sequel Will Serve
Canteras’ cooking has long pulled from both Basque and broader Spanish traditions, and his restaurant materials highlight trips to Andalusia that have shaped his approach. Urdaneta lists an Andalusia tour and underscores the family and regional influences that guide Canteras’ menus, suggesting the Slabtown concept will lean into southern Spanish techniques and flavors.
Why Slabtown
Slabtown has turned into a magnet for restaurant projects and fresh concepts in recent years, drawing both homegrown operators and national names. Neighborhood coverage of the area’s growth, including reporting from Bridgetown Bites, shows the district offers a built-in audience that could be ready-made for Canteras’ Andalusian sequel.
Timing and Next Steps
The Portland Business Journal reports that many specifics are still under wraps, including the project’s exact Slabtown address and a firm opening date. Canteras and his team have not released an official timeline, and the Business Journal notes that more details should surface as leases and permits are finalized.
What It Means for Diners
For Portland diners, the new restaurant promises another Spanish-focused option that is intentionally distinct from Urdaneta’s Basque-leaning small plates. Canteras already has a national profile, including a feature in Food & Wine highlighting his Urdaburger, and local outlets have covered Urdaneta for years. That kind of attention suggests the Slabtown sequel is likely to draw neighborhood regulars alongside food-curious visitors keeping tabs on Portland’s next big opening.
