Portland food news and views
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.
Continue reading “Hua Hin Will Bring Thai Fine Dining To Southeast Portland”
OK Chicken & Khao Soi has been the source of a lot of chatter and speculation over the months since it was first reported in The Oregonian. I, too have been curious and wanted to learn more, so I reached out to them. I had a chance to chat with Sam Smith, one of the owners. Here is what I learned.
Continue reading “OK Chicken & Khao Soi Will Open in the Old Pok Pok Space in Portland”
A new Thai restaurant is opening on SE Belmont Street called Bangkok Belly. They’re setting up shop in what was most recently the home to Daily Fuel (they closed this past summer), but I remember it more as the location of Suzette, whose crepes I still miss.
I spoke with Kat Thirakomen, who owns Bangkok Belly with her husband David Fiske, about their plans for the restaurant. Here is what I learned.
Continue reading “Bangkok Belly: Bringing Thai Skewers, Salads, and Spirits to Portland”
The other day I received a press release about ZabPinto, and while reading it, a detail caught my eye: There is a new location at Cascade Station, where big box stores reign. I reached out to their PR person and arranged a time to stop by and find out more about this new ZabPinto, called ZabPinto Thai PDX. Here is what I learned.
Continue reading “ZabPinto Thai PDX Has Opened at Cascade Station in Portland”
This year I ate at a variety of places—some fancy, some more modest. But they all served me excellent, tasty, wonderful food. Here are my favorite bites in Portland in 2024.
Located in Cully on Cully Blvd, this is one of two Native-owned cafes in Portland (the other being All Your Heart Coffee in South Portland). I was there for a meeting with a neighbor and ordered a latte. One of the things I was offered by the barista was a choice of espresso roasts, and I chose a medium roast—this meant the Shoshone Blend, a coffee bean from Honduras medium-roasted by Native Coffee Traders. It was lovely, with notes of chocolate and nuts; plus expertly streamed milk. This is one of the best lattes I’ve had all year. 3941 NE Cully Blvd, Portland. Bison Coffeehouse website
Continue reading “Favorite Bites in Portland in 2024”