Hua Hin Will Bring Thai Fine Dining To Southeast Portland

The entrance to Hua Hin on SE Hawthorne.

In early March, a Bridgetown Bites tipster told me that there was going to be a new restaurant in the space that was recently home to Phaya Thai Express—and that it was going to be a “Thai fine dining” concept. Then late last month I learned the new restaurant’s name: Hua Hin. I reached out to the owner, Ize Piyanut (Sampaotong), to learn more, and we spent a little time chatting about what’s to come there.

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Head To the Portland Sourdough Showcase This Week in Portland

Sourdough bread, some of which you might find at the Portland Sourdough Showcase.
Some of the sourdough breads I recently saw from Little T Baker at the recent plant sale at the Side Yard Farm.

April 1 is usually reserved for April Fools’ Day, but I have a better idea: Celebrate National Sourdough Bread Day on April 1 instead. Here in Portland you can immerse yourself in all things sourdough at the second annual Portland Sourdough Showcase, taking place at Steelport Knife Co. that afternoon. And it’s free to attend!

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Easter 2026 in Portland: Chocolates, Brunch, and More

Easter 2026 is all about the chicks.

Easter 2026 is Sunday, April 5—a couple of weeks earlier this year compared to last year. And this year, western and Orthodox Easter do not fall on the same day (they are a week apart, with Orthodox Easter arriving on the 12th of April). There are plenty of tasty ways to enjoy Easter Sunday in Portland: from chocolate bunnies to hot cross buns, brunch buffets to a takeaway French Toast kit, and more.

Here’s where you can find delicious things for Easter 2026 in Portland.

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Pan Kobo Is Dedicated to Making Shokupan in Portland

A loaf of shokupan bread, which is made at Pan Kobo in Portland.
Shokupan bread. Photo credit: Gregor Halenda Photography.

Oyatsupan owner and baker Hiroyuki “Hiro” Horie has been quietly developing a new Portland production space called Pan Kobo, dedicated entirely to shokupan, AKA “milk bread,” a beloved bread from Japan. The facility is located in the Central Eastside Industrial District. I had a chance to speak with Hiro the other day about Pan Kobo, among other things, and here is what we talked about.

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King Cakes in Portland: Where to Find Them in 2026

The Three Kings.
The Three Wise Kings, Atlas Catalàn, 1375, Fol. V.

It’s time to start thinking about getting your king cakes in Portland! Today is the fifth day of Christmas, but on January 6 Christmas is over and Three Kings Day—aka Epiphany—arrives, setting off the Epiphanytide. This day recognizes the story of the Magi (aka Three Wise Men) who we are told visited Jesus and gave him gifts. It was a way to say, “we’re glad you’re here,” among other things.

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