TAPTAP Cuisine Will Open a Restaurant on Sandy Blvd in Portland

Looking at TAPTAP Cuisine's restaurant space on NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, Oregon.

Haitian food lovers, you have something to celebrate—TAPTAP Cuisine is opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant on NE Sandy Blvd. They operated on N WIlliams as a food truck with a nice (covered) outdoor seating area for many months, but now they have leveled up into a building where they can create, prepare, and offer their beautiful Haitian and Caribbean cuisine in NE Portland.

The curved edge of the building that will be home to TAPTAP Cuisine's restaurant on NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, Oregon.

A reader actually tipped me off to their move to the old Piccone’s Corner space with this note: “I just wanted walked by the old Piccone’s Corner location and saw signs up for a new Caribbean place, if you haven’t noticed already! Tap Tap Cuisine.” I drove by and saw what they were talking about and my first thought was “This is so great!” This space has been empty for most of 2024 (Piccone’s Corner announced their closing in fall 2023) and as I say, empty storefronts are no bueno.

TAPTAP Cuisine and Haitian Food in Portland

TAPTAP Cuisine opened September 22, 2023, offering Haitian (street) food to Portlanders. At that point, it was probably the third Hatian eatery in Portland, the others being:

Mathilde’s Kitchen, which operated originally in the Portland Mercado, and has transitioned to a hibiscus beverage company.
Kann and its sousòl, its “subterranean, pan-Caribbean bar.” Kann has garned numerous “bests” from media outlets like The Oregonian and the NY Times.
And then there’s TAPTAP Cuisine.
Also: Creole Me Up was founded in Portland and offers a line of Pickleez (aka pikilz, a spicy pickled vegetable condiment).

Kann, which has really been the place people think of when it comes to Haitian food in Portland, is notoriously challenging to get into (but once you’re in, it’s worth it—I love their food). And it can be quite expensive. TAPTAP Cuisine is far more accessible from a price point and my hope is that it will be easier to get into than Kann—but we’ll see!

The Menu

Haitian-style fish at TAPTAP Cuisine in Portland, Oregon. — Haitian-style fish at TAPTAP Cuisine. Photo credit: TAPTAP Cuisine

You can see their menu over on the TAPTAP Cuisine website. Some of their items are vegan, like the Akra Peyanm: taro root, fresh scotch bonnet, remoulade, and lime juice. Some have the option of being made vegan, like the Diri Kole ak Legim /sauce: Jasmine rice, red beans, eggplant, cabbage, carrot, cabbage; for meat eaters add beef/goat meat, bouillon, Haitian epis, and vegetable oil.

And some are straight up meaty, like Mama’s Creole Bouyon, a beef or goat soup: beef shanks, beef chuck, or bottom round/goat; lime juice, parsley, scallions, garlic, black pepper, olive oil, boiled white yam, plantains, and potatoes.

They also have a cocktail menu.

The Opening: TAPTAP Cuisine’s Philosophy

Their grand opening will be Friday, October 18. Along with authentic Haitian food and drink, they will share with you their philosophy and devotion to providing a positive experience. “TAPTAP Cuisine is more than just a restaurant,” they wrote on Instagram. “It is a tribute to the rich cultural heritage and indomitable spirit of Haitian migrants who have faced and overcome numerous challenges. From the moment you step inside, you’ll be transported to the heart of Haiti with our authentic dishes, warm hospitality, and lively atmosphere.”

As they say, “Together, we can celebrate the beauty of diversity and the power of unity.” Sounds good to me.

The Grand Opening Event

Their grand opening will be an event where you’ll be able to enjoy traditional Haitian music; have a chance to learn about Haitian culture and history; hear stories about resilience from members of the local Haitian community; and experience a special menu for the opening.

If there is one thing I’ve learned from living in immigrant communities over the years, it is that immigrants bring something special and wonderful to this country. Over time, their traditions become woven into the fabric that is America (case in point: tacos really are American food at this point). When I was writing “Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens” and eating meals in Colombian, Indian, Malaysian, Sicilian, Thai, and Greek communities (among others), it became clear to me that folks really love sharing their food with pretty much everyone.

It’s a beautiful thing to get to know cultures other than our own—and through food, it’s not only exciting and enlightening, it’s also delicious!

So head over to TAPTAP Cuisine’s new location tomorrow (and beyond). You can make a reservation, if you like. The party starts at 4pm.

A final message from the good folks at TAPTAP Cuisine: “We can’t wait to welcome you to TAPTAP Cuisine, where every meal is a celebration of life, love, and resilience.” Best of luck to them as they work to open tomorrow.

TAPTAP Cuisine [opened October 18, 2024]
3434 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
TAPTAP Cuisine website | Instagram | Facebook