Eem did NOT disappoint!! Such a fun, vibrant spot with a super chill vibe. Service was prompt,…read morefriendly, and welcoming throughout. We tried the Chopped BBQ Fried Rice, and the smokiness from the BBQ seriously AMPED up all the flavors. Such a great twist on fried rice and so satisfying. The White Curry w/ Brisket Burnt-ends: WOWIE. So much flavor! The sweetness and smokiness from the brisket worked beautifully with the curry, and the meat was wonderfully tender. I also loved the cauliflower in the curry, it added a nice bite and texture that balanced everything out. The Massaman Curry w/ Smoked Lamb Shoulder was delicious, hearty, and PACKED with flavor!!! The lamb was incredibly tender, and the potato soaked up the curry so well. Such a comforting and flavorful dish. Overall, the food did not disappoint at all. Eem has such a unique concept, bringing together bold Thai flavors with Texas-style BBQ, and somehow it works SO well. Definitely a memorable meal and a spot I'd happily come back to!

After days of working my way through Portland's wildly overhyped Thai food, I had begun to wonder…read moreif the problem was me. Maybe Thai food was simply better in Los Angeles. Then I walked into Eem, sat down, took a few bites, and realized the problem was, in fact, everyone else. Eem is a Thai and Texas-style barbecue mash-up that sounds slightly unhinged on paper and makes absolute, beautiful sense once it hits your mouth. This is the kind of fusion that doesn't feel like a gimmick. It feels inevitable. I started with the Sweet & Sour Fried Chicken, one of their most popular dishes, and for good reason. Savory, beautifully fried, shatteringly crisp on the outside, juicy and tender within. Exactly what fried chicken should aspire to be. Then came the Wok-Fried Yu Choy. And dare I say it? The best vegetable dish I've ever had? Yes. I think I dare. Spectacular. Deep, smoky, savory, with enough personality to make you briefly question why you ever needed meat in the first place. But the Smoked Pork Krapow is where they really got me. Krapow is traditionally a dish built around seasoned ground beef, but Eem takes the idea somewhere else entirely, folding in pork belly burnt ends. It sounds like excess. It tastes like genius. Smoky, fatty, spicy, deeply aromatic. Completely blew me away. And then there's the room itself. Warm, colorful, playful, beautifully decorated without trying too hard. The service was just as good. Welcoming, attentive, confident, and Portland hospitable. They know exactly what they're doing. Eem didn't just redeem Portland Thai food for me. It reminded me why you venture out to eat in the first place: to discover something you didn't know you needed. So do yourself a favor. Go to Eem first. Before you start categorizing Portland restaurants as Thai or barbecue, before you begin comparing them to other Thai restaurants, before you get trapped in your own expectations. Just go. Because if "Keep Portland Weird" means anything anymore, surely it means putting Thai food and Texas barbecue together, making it work brilliantly, and serving it with a smirk. Thank you, Eem. You just gave me another very good reason to come back to this weird, wonderful town.

Tried my first banh mi ever here!…read more Great vibe and the food is awesome. The portions are huge and very filling. Staff is helpful and inviting.

I decided to give Luc Lac a try after seeing all of the excellent Yelp reviews, and it definitely…read morelived up to the hype. When I arrived, there was a line out the door, which is always a good sign. Fortunately, it moved quickly. The process is simple: order at the counter, grab your own utensils and water, and then they'll seat you. I ordered the papaya salad and the beef pho. The portions were very generous, and both dishes were delicious. The beef in the pho was sliced a little thicker than I expected, but there was plenty of it, and the broth was flavorful. The papaya salad was the standout--fresh, crisp, and packed with flavor. I highly recommend ordering it. The restaurant also has a cool, funky vibe that adds to the experience. If you're looking for great Vietnamese food in Portland, Luc Lac is absolutely worth the wait.

Great for families. My toddler loves the play area. Had a good variety of toys. The food was really…read moregood too. Best mango sticky rice I've had in Portland. Definitely worth the trip!

This used to be one of my favorite restaurants a few years back, and it had been a while since my…read morelast visit. The inside still looks really cute, but my mom and I didn't get to sit in the woven chairs even though it was pretty empty when we went. I probably should have asked to move tables, but I didn't want to make it a hassle for the staff. We ordered the cheesy crab wontons, shrimp pad thai, and crispy chicken. The crab wontons were really good , crunchy and filling are well seasoned it wasn't just stright up cream cheese, I enjoyed them a lot with the sweet chili sauce. The crispy chicken was also really yummy, can't say the same for the the pad thai tho it was so, so salty. I'll continue to come back in the future!

To be fair we were hangry. But the tofu fresh spring rolls and chicken pad Thai were outstanding…read more The sauce for the rolls has a funk, spicy, sweetness I couldn't get enough of. And the Pad Thai- not too sweet, temp nice and hot with crunchy sprouts. What wasn't to like? What a great start to a move here!

First time here... and staff was great. Very good service…read more I ordered the Tom Kha Ramen soup (takeout) as I wanted to try it. I then went next and did some quick shopping... and picked up the soup when I was done. It was waiting for me even though I was not gone long. Got home, put everything in a bowl... and tried to make it pretty! Chashu pork portion was small, but it tasted fine. The three shrimp included were yummy and large. The soft eggs were ok, as were the bean sprouts and herbs. The broth was sort of like a cross between Tom Kha and Tom Yum.... tasty though. The ramen noodles were basically one solidified block by the time I got home, so I just cut them up a bit before eating. I will have to try some of their other dishes too....

Been wanting to try this place since they opened. Finally stopped in for lunch on a Tuesday. Not…read morebusy at all. We were the only two people in the restaurant during our entire visit. They have two ordering kiosks when you walk in, but since it wasn't busy, the girl behind the counter took our order. She wasn't super friendly, but helpful while ordering. We decided on the Chicken Bop and Beef Noodle Bop. We ended up ordering the large size since the regular one looked pretty small. You definitely get a lot of food for the $16 price tag, but I'm not sure about the quality, preparation, and freshness. I ordered the teriyaki chicken and it was lukewarm. The chicken was kinda mushy, which was a big texture issue for me. The teriyaki sauce was yummy. The fried rice was just okay. Liked the cabbage in the bowl. The mac salad was good. The edamame was served cold, which I didn't like. I love edamame, but have never been served it cold. My husband's beef was good. He ordered the kimchi and calamari salad. He said his was good, but not good enough for a return visit. The have everything set up well inside so you can fend for yourself. You order at the counter, go pick up your food at the counter, and clean off your table and place everything at the garbage station, where they also have lids available for your bowls if you're taking some home. After we grabbed our food, there wasn't one person in the dining room asking if everything was good or if we needed anything. After writing all this, it makes me wonder why they asked for a tip at the counter when ordering. A tip for what?! I did everything myself. Hmmmm, makes me more apprehensive on leaving tips until after my meal going forward. Tipping is so outrageous nowadays... Overall a decent experience. The food was just okay. For a mediocre meal, not sure we'll be returning. There are so many other options in the area.

WOW! That is the only word I could start with, and I will explain why…read more I recently learned that Top Bop originally started in Alaska, where it is already quite popular. It finally opened its first Washington state location a few months ago. This new location is in Vancouver, Washington. It is a bit of a drive from the Seattle area but much closer if you are coming from Portland. Still, no matter where you're coming from, it's absolutely worth the trip! Top Bop is located in the Hazel Dell area of Vancouver, in a modern and well-kept building with plenty of free parking. The interior is very clean and welcoming, with interesting artwork on the walls. There are two self-service kiosks where you can browse the full menu with pictures and place your order without needing to talk to a staff member. It might feel unfamiliar at first, but once you try it, you will see how simple and convenient it is. I personally enjoy using the kiosk because it clearly shows all the customization options and makes the ordering process smooth and easy. Okay, let's talk about the food. As you can see from the photos I took, Top Bop uses a build-your-own-bowl format. It is similar to how Chipotle works. You start by picking your protein. Then you choose two free toppings. Next, you select your desired spice level for the sauce. Finally, you can add optional extras to your bowl. As a poke lover, I chose poke for my protein. They offer both salmon and tuna. I could not decide which one to go with, so the friendly staff allowed me to do half salmon and half tuna. Perfect! My friend almost chose the Beef Bop (because, let's be honest, you can't go wrong with Korean bulgogi), but ended up getting the Shrimp Katsu Bop instead. Let's save the Beef Bop for next time. Once we placed our orders, it took about 7 minutes for the food to be ready. Everything is made fresh to order and fully customizable. The portion size was very generous. One bowl could easily be enough for both lunch and dinner. Now back to the WOW. The taste was outstanding. I got the poke bowl with two free toppings for only fourteen dollars. That is incredibly rare in today's market. The bowl was packed with fresh salmon and tuna. I could really taste the quality and quantity of the fish. I chose calamari salad and seaweed salad for my toppings, and they paired perfectly with the poke. The signature sauce at Top Bop is another highlight. I selected Level 3, as recommended, and it elevated the entire bowl to the next level. I also tried a couple of bites of the Shrimp Katsu. It was crispy and flavorful. From the menu variety, to the prices, to the taste, Top Bop truly delivers on every level. It is my number one pick for a restaurant this year so far. I genuinely hope they open a location in Seattle or Bellevue soon so I can visit more often. I will definitely come back soon to try the Beef Bop, Spicy Pork Bop, and of course, another bowl of Poke!

What a gem of a spot! I stopped in recently and ordered the chicken larb and mushroom fritters…read more Both were delicious! The fritters had great flavor and texture, and the larb was well-seasoned and satisfying. My only small note is that I wish the larb had packed a bit more heat. I ordered medium and was hoping for a little more of a kick. The menu has plenty to explore with lots of tempting options to try on my next visit. The space itself has a really nice vibe with both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff are absolutely wonderful! Friendly, attentive and welcoming from the moment you walk in. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area. Highly recommend giving this place a try!

Its been over a year since my last review. I was passing…read morethrough the Vancouver area on Sunday and decided to stop in for a late lunch (about 2 pm). Kelly greeted and seated me. I promptly gave her my order as I decided what to get on my drive over to the restaurant - papaya salad and drunken noodles with chicken and a Thai iced teas with coconut milk. They passed the test of time! The food was as great as I remembered! And Kelly helped me with my choice of spice level, 4 was perfect to my taste! Thanks Kelly! Hopefully, I will get the chance to come back soon!

Great chocolate Haupia cake!! Awesome totally recommend this delicious treat! It was moist, the…read morefrosting yummy! Everyone loved it! Thank you for the easy online service and attention to the presentation of the cake. Just beautiful!

Kiawe Island Bistro scratched that Hawaiian food itch perfectly. I went for the spicy ahi poke and…read morewas genuinely impressed, the fish was tender and incredibly fresh. My only minor gripe was that it leaned a touch salty but it didn't detract much from an otherwise really tasty bowl. It's on the spendier side but the portion size is generous enough that you'll leave satisfied. For the quality of the fish alone, I'd say it's worth it. I'd absolutely come back when the craving for solid Hawaiian food strikes.

We've tried several Vietnamese places around Portland and this is definitely in our top 3. I had…read morethe Bánh mì and it was one of the best, most complex flavored ones I've ever had, also a large serving! Service was also very nice and fast, will definitely be coming back.

yummy food, relaxed, casual Portland vibe, great coffee and service. fair prices as well…read more #WINNING

Have been traveling to Portland for work and have been there five times now in the past few months…read more Every time, we go to Bistro Elysium either once or twice a week for lunch, so that shows you how much we like it. I normally get the Black​ Oil Tonkotsu Ramen, which is awesome, really good. I also tried the Pad Thai once, which was good, not great. A bit too much sauce for me. And then one other time, I got the fried rice with a soy sauce egg in it and that was really good. But, if you're looking for a good ramen, the black oil tonkotsu is a good one to get. Really good service, too. They get the food out quick and are friendly and helpful.

Very good Thai food - I had the Pad See Ew with chicken ($16) - it came out hot and fresh and…read moredelicious. The only drawback is the ambience, which is really not their fault. They keep the door locked and you have to knock for access. We worked out rapidly this was because of the overwhelming number of homeless who want to come in and use their restrooms. Portland unfortunately has a real problem with these folks. I don't think I'd be around after dark but I'm staying in the hotel next door. Fortunately it's summer so it's light out in the evening.

We were looking for a new place and decided to give them a try. Very busy at 7:30pm on a Friday…read morenight. We only had to wait 5 minutes and got seated. Very attentive staff and lots of people working. Casual ambiance and lots of families eating together. Food was served hot and fresh. Everything was delicious. Hot sake and ice cold beer can't go wrong. Lots of free parking in the parking lot. We will be back!

(Review based off one sushi roll) It's decent. It would be good for cheap sushi. It was about $16…read morefor 8 pieces. I like really fishy sushi. The salmon pieces on top were super thin. It's just decent. Not outstanding. It's better than a conveyer belt place for sure. But it seemed a little overpriced to me.