Outstanding Authentic Sichuan Cuisine Ding & Spice delivers much more than great food--it creates a memorable dining experience. The restaurant has a warm, modern atmosphere with thoughtful touches, and one of my favorite parts was the tea experience. Being able to choose from several premium loose-leaf teas, served in beautiful traditional teaware, made the meal feel unique and elevated. It's worth ordering even if you're not normally a tea drinker. We started with the Xiao Long Bao, and they were fantastic. The wrappers were delicate, the filling was juicy, and each dumpling was packed with rich, flavorful broth. A great way to begin the meal. Next came the Spicy Crispy Fish with String Beans, which was my favorite dish of the day. The fish was perfectly crispy while remaining tender inside, and the combination of Sichuan peppercorns, dried chilies, garlic, and crisp green beans created incredible flavor. It had just the right amount of heat and that signature numbing sensation that authentic Sichuan cuisine is known for. The Little Hot Pot was the centerpiece of the meal. Served over its own tabletop burner, it arrived loaded with thinly sliced beef, shrimp, mussels, tofu puffs, mushrooms, and vegetables in a deeply flavorful broth. It was generous enough to share and stayed hot throughout the meal, making it a fun and interactive experience from start to finish. I also ordered one of the cocktails, which was refreshing, well-balanced, and paired nicely with the spicy dishes. The service was friendly, attentive, and paced perfectly. My only small suggestion would be to replace the printed menus, as they're beginning to show noticeable wear. It's a minor detail, but fresh menus would better match the quality of the food and overall presentation. Overall, Ding & Spice is one of Portland's standout destinations for authentic Sichuan cuisine. Between the exceptional food, memorable tea service, welcoming atmosphere, and attentive staff, it's an easy 5-star experience. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. read more

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I have eaten here many times and each time before this one was absolutely phenomenal! Service is (normally) great, food is wonderful, many delicious gluten free choices, so it gets 5 stars on Food. This recent visit was just awful. My partner and I came in for lunch and got Kay as our server. This person is very condescending and passive aggressive for seemingly no reason. It completely ruined the meal: We started with asking why a previously GF dish was now marked out as not GF anymore and she explained it was never GF. I had ordered it before and wondered why I got symptoms, so that made sense. Now a bit sketched out, we go ahead and try ordering and I ask if the pepper shrimp has GF breading to which she confidently states that none of the shrimp dishes do. I let her know the avocado one (I've gotten it before) does and she "rectifies" that all but that one is GF breaded. Okay.... I proceed with my order and ask for stir fried veg instead of rice since I try not to eat too many carbs. Kay says it'll be an upcharge and we are fine with this. Our food comes both with sides of rice and we remind them mine should be veggies to which the foodrunner apologizes and takes my rice back. Kay comes back and lectures us on how the rice is free and they'll "do the veggies for me this time" like it's some big favor, not something we're paying extra for with no issue. In a Chinese restaurant. With a menu chock full of stir-fry veggie dishes... Chinese used to not be a very celiac-friendly cuisine I could eat, and I was excited to make this place a favorite of mine but now I'm reconsidering my patronage. read more

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This is a nicely appointed restaurant. It is in a great location on SE Hawthorne. Street parking can be challening to find but you can find it. This location has been a home to many different restaurants or coffee places over the years. I hope this place stays. We were there on Memorial Day. I think they got hit harder than they were expecting since it was a holiday. Things went pretty slowly with service. The staff were friendly and nice. They were very apologetic. They went out of their way to support diners with things within their control. We waited about 25-30 mins to be seated. There seemed to be a lack of orgnization or no one taking charge since they were so busy. The could use server training. I have had server nightmares about what was happening in there. It did not seem that there was enough front of the house staff to handle the amount of folks that came. Then we waited 20 mins more to get our order taken. The food came out in a decent amount of time after ordering. It was excellent and hade great spice to it. We loved all the things we ordered. We definitely will be back and hope they get better and better. read more

Delicious! Great menu with a nice selection. Order up and share! Best green beans ever, btw. Good cocktails and iced tea. Friendly service. Large open dining room and big windows. Parking can be hard depending on time of day. read more

Another beautiful restaurant out of Taiwan. I love the decor. The food is amazing. We had soup dumplings done both ways. One was pan fried and the other steamed. We also had Mapo Tofu, Tom Yum Soup, Kung Poa chicken noodles, and fish. I love how the tea was served. I love it so much I had to buy myself a set. Service was good. Definitely check it out if you're in Portland. read more

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New spot on Hawthorne! It's been under construction for a while so I've been watching and waiting for it to open. Finally I noticed it was, so we stopped by. This is a unique concept by the same owner as Rolls & Rice in Happy Valley. They are busy already! Reservations recommended. We walked in and had a 10-15 minute wait (no problem, we love walking around the neighborhood). The system, or maybe the staff, needs a little work - I got a text that our table was ready, but then also got a text the following day that we took too long to get there and they gave away our table! Ha. They were out of full-size menus (seems like they're busier than expected) so what we received were a little tricky to read because the text was so small. We got three entrees to share between two of us (kung pao shrimp, mapo tofu, and orange chicken) and a drink for me (espresso martini equivalent). Dishes came with rice. I liked each dish and portions seemed right. The drink wasn't my favorite, but it was strong. I like the decor - dark paint, hanging items, mural outside. I do worry for the fish in the pot at the front. It is also on the louder side for anyone more sensitive to noise. Staff was great under the pressure of a new, busy business. They had a good attitude, were conversational, knowledgeable about the menu, and kept things moving. Overall I think this place is a good option, especially for a new business that's still working through their procedures. Our experience was fine, but I'm not sure anything stood out to make it a must-return. Wishing them success as they settle in and grow! read more

Ding & Spice - Exterior - Asian Fusion Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Cute new spot on Hawthorne we saw while walking. The space is nice and clean, the settings were well done. Didn't check out the bar in the far corner but it looked fancy. Our service was quick and attentive. Crispy fish and green beans: The fish was fried perfectly and not fishy, the level of mala and garlic pairs great with rice. The green beans are a nice balance with the flavorful fish. We asked them to lower the spice level and it was perfect. Pork and chive dumpling: 5 pcs Simple savory dumplings that have a nice Mala taste to them. Not spicy at all. You can tell these were fresh as the meat was bouncy upon biting. Fried pork ribs: I probably won't order this again, we expected small short ribs like with sweet and sour ribs. The ribs were fried nicely and have good five spice flavor but were not tender and annoying to eat. There also isn't a lot of meat on them for $22 for 5. Overall we will return when we want some solid Chinese fusion food. I will say I wish they gave us another bowl of rice since we ordered two entrees. read more

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For starters, the dining room at Ding and Spice is beautiful, very elegant and modern. My friend and I had lunch here at 11:30, and there was only one other table. But by the time we left, the place was busy. Service was friendly and efficient. I decided to try one of the house cocktails, the Ol' Sesame, which is their version of an Old Fashioned. It was light and interesting, with some Asian flavors. For lunch, we split the Orange Chicken and the Shrimp in Hot Garlic Sauce. The Orange Chicken was terrific, what I loved about it was that the sauce wasn't that gooey, corn syrup-y, neon red stuff. This was lighter and I could tell they used actual orange juice in it. The Hot Garlic shrimp was neither spicy or garlicky. However, it came in a red sauce that was delicious, with lots of green snap peas mixed in. All of the lunch specials come with rice and salad. My friend looked at me and said, "This is going into the rotation!" read more

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We finally got a chance to try this place out. The inside is nicely decorated and gives you a modern feel. We came for lunch and ordered a few items to share - Chongqing hot chicken, Black Garlic beef, Dan Dan noodles, black pepper beef dumplings, and pan seared soup dumplings. My favorite dish or of what we ordered was the black garlic pepper beef. I liked the flavor of the beef and it was prepared well. read more

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Holy crud this place is GOOOOOD. Like, so so good. We happened to walk past one day while we were thrifting and decided to stop in for lunch. Their lunch menu is top tier. I got their spicy crispy fish with string beans meal set, with a side of egg fried rice (yum). Their crispy fish was soooo crispy and the fish was bouncy/flaky I was drooling for the next bite. If you love Sichuan flavors, this will be up your alley!! The green beans were flavored to perfection. Lunch time there were a few folks inside having lunch but it's not loud or overly crowded inside. The staff came by to check in on us frequently, and even recommended some of their favs. My partner and I talk about coming back here for their lunch set again soon, that's just how good it was! read more

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Can't say enough good things about this place. Food was amazing, service was quick. The manager even came out and greeted us. Be sure to try their drinks. read more

Ding & Spice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Absolutely delicious. Dumplings and hot pot are a must. Bao buns were yummy and fun to make. And great cocktails as well! More items on the menu that we wanted to taste so we'll be back. read more

Was in the mood for Chinese food and decided to try this place. It was so good. We had Kung pow chicken and beef with string beans. The dishes were excellent. We also had some pork dumplings for an appetizer. Delicious! Our raider was very attentive and friendly. The decor of the restaurant is great. read more

Ding & Spice - Beef & string beans - Asian Fusion Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Came in Saturday for a party of 2 around 5:30. They do not allow reservations for any party less than 4 people so we had to add our name to the waitlist and were quoted a 15-20 min wait. Well, that 15-20 min wait turned into 30 min and when we asked they said more reservations had been booked while we were waiting so we were pushed down the order. At that point we ended up just ordering takeout because "reservations have priority" so we would essentially never get seated. The food ended up being mediocre and not worth the wait. They also forgot to give us a side of rice that we specifically asked for. My advice, skip it if you don't have a reservation (i.e. if there's only 2 of you). Master Kong down the street is great with less the hassle. read more

Ding & Spice - Interior - Asian Fusion Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Just dined there with a friend and I was really impressed. When it comes to Chinese cuisine I am skeptical, especially anything that serves Sichuan food, I am super picky. I lived in Chengdu for 8 years and studied at the cooking school. I really enjoyed the food we ordered! The Chongqing chicken was fabulous as were the green beans, very fresh and stir fried to perfection. The wontons in chili sauce could have been spicier for my taste, so next time I will mention that. The space is very beautiful with loads of Chinese furniture, but very stylish not too gold or tacky. The service was excellent, but I was shocked that there were no Chinese staff in the front of the house. read more

Because the restaurant is new, they're still figuring a few things out, and there are few rough edges that need to be smoothed. But the staff members were very friendly and the service was excellent. We really enjoyed the food, too. It's nice to have more Chinese options in the neighborhood. Both kinds of dumplings we ordered were tasty. The chicken katsu curry had just the right amount of spice, although the breading did get pretty soggy in the curry. The cocktails were good too, and serving sizes were fairly generous. We also liked the number of choices on the menu. read more

They will sit you at a table that looks too big, but BELIEVE THEM! The extra room is because the portions are HUGE: we ordered 3 dishes for 2 people, and the plates took up a whole 4-seater table, and we had 2 servings left over after dinner. Everything was super flavorful, and it can be made as spicy or mild as you want, plus several dishes that are not spicy to begin with. Our server was very nice and gave us excellent recommendations. They also have a great drinks menu, including a very flavorful cucumber soda. It's a little pricey, but this place is definitely one I want to come back to. read more

First time trying Ding and Spice. The waitress was super friendly and gave us plenty of time to get through the extensive menu. We ordered shrimp and corn dumplings to start and for main course Avocado Shrimp, Mongolian Beef Chow Main, Orange Chicken and Garlic Fried Rice with Chicken. It was all fantastic. The orange sauce with the chicken was sticky and the flavor was really natural tasting. The sauce with the shrimp was creamy and luscious. The beef and the rice were both savory. We ordered too much but than means lovely leftovers. No pictures because we were too busy eating. read more

Had a music event to attend in the area and wanted a bite to eat beforehand. My friend and I drove down Hawthorne and Ding & Spice was right on the corner. It was a first visit for both of us and we were so happy with the service, food and ambiance. The dumplings were umami bombs in your mouth, green beans were flavorful with a little bit of heat and the orange chicken was some of the best we've ever had. Generously sized pieces of chicken, light breading that had a nice crust and the orange sauce was sweet and citrusy. Delicious meal and we'll definitely be back! read more

Ding & Spice - Xiao Long Bao, Orange Chicken, String Beans - Asian Fusion Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great food. And service. Will come back soon. I think the string bean, the tofu, and the fish are on par, if not better than other establishments like tasty corner or duck house. I did not order dumplings and should try it out next time. read more

A wonderful addition to Hawthorne! The food is fresh and flavorful! Service was great, our server had a mixed up and the business ended up offering us the food anyway. Both hotspots were rich in broths with good portions. The bok choy stir fry has good wok hei! The interior is modern! We definitely will return to sample more dishes! read more

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The best rating I'd give for this restaurant is a 4/5. We ordered the avocado shrimp, beef string beans, spicy fish and the seared Xiao Long Bao. Although the Xiao Long Bao tasted pretty good, I found the taste to be very similar with the frozen ones at Costco.? The rest of the food was pretty good and accurate though, but let's talk about the decor. The decor was very pretty and it felt relaxing and soothing to enjoy a nice dinner or lunch. Now the service. The service was okay-ish, they took a bit of time to get us water and menus, but seated us immediately. I asked the waiter for the WiFi passcode and he never gave it to me so yeah...but if you're here for the food and peaceful ambiance, you'll love it! read more

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Service was great and friendly but we were pretty disappointed in our meal here. Beware of deceiving descriptions. Thin Beef in Golden Broth had zero Pumpkin and the broth was overwhelmingly chicken and not bone with jalapeños instead of pickled chili. The Shrimp & Corn Dumplings seemed like Trader Joes Gyozas. And the Curry Hot Pot didn't have Mussels. The curry just tasted like Golden Curry sauce mix you can get at the grocery store. This just doesn't feel like a real restaurant. And while I understand that we live in a city, we saw a baby roach running around on the floor near the entrance. read more

Came here after seeing new reviews and was impressed with the food -- great flavor and still tasty even as leftovers. Parking is convenient. Prices are a bit high for some items, and the dining area could use better upkeep. read more

Such a cool restaurant with great food, kind staff and delicious tea! We're not from Oregon but just happened upon this place and we're glad we found it! read more

The best sichuan food we've tried so far in Portland. The hot pots were great, as were the chongqing noodles.

Some of the best Chinese food I have had! The dishes we had tasted like nostalgia. The triple mushroom dish exceeded my expectations, such a good option for vegetarians. The staff were very friendly and the restaurant is beautiful. You won't regret dining here! read more

Service was very friendly and the food was quite good (like most places these days, it wasn't inexpensive, but as it was high-quality, it's to be expected). The bok choy was surprisingly flavorful with lots of garlic; we also enjoyed the tea service. Sichuan fried fish with leeks was delicious. read more

Amazing Sichuan Chinese food: crispy fish to die for, creative cocktails, crafted with a deft touch and intriguing flavors, professional friendly service capped with a lively vibe. Welcoming for adults and kids too. Will be back to try more from the varied menu, I have my eye on the hot pots. read more

Very typical American Chinese food. Dan Dan noodles seemed like they were missing sauce and meat, was mostly mushrooms. The crazy positive reviews felt disappointingly misleading. Maybe the hot pot is better but we ordered 4 items and it ranged from fine to the Dan Dan noodles which we all found to be nearly inedible due to it being bland noodles with some mushrooms read more

Loved it - sat at the large round lazy susan table with a party of 10 - so much food. Great traditional tea and a huge selection of entrees and cocktails. So glad it opened up on Hawthorne. read more

Ate here a couple days ago. Two of the people we dined with had lived in China for a few years. They said it was authentic and we thought it was terrific. We had dumplings, green beans and two entrees. Every item was excellent. The service was great and we look forward to going back. read more

Randomly walked in to Ding & Spice and had the most amazing meal! The pork belly Dan Dan was so good. Hot Pot is delicious! Don't miss this new place! Loved it! read more

If you want American Chinese food with no flavor and to be surrounded by people whose standards are Panda Express, come here. If you're coming here because you've seen your local food influencers post a video on insta - surprise! You're bouta be catfished. The food looks good on video, but the flavor falls flatter than a pancake. Everything was very one noted, had no depth, and lacked seasoning. The Beijing-Style Soybean Paste Noodles lacked sauce, flavor and it literally tasted like dry boiled noodles in a bowl with the essence of soybeans - it almost had me choking. We had also ordered the Sichuan Tofu Beef. After 45 minutes of waiting, we had finally said something and it arrived after an hour of waiting. If I were a server who forgot to ring food in and it came an hour late, I would just take it off the bill. If you want Sichuan tofu and beef sitting in cornstarch thickener that's lacking flavor, this is the dish for you. Speed? Not good. Quality? Questionable. Depth of Flavor? Non existent. The crab puffs and dumplings were just okay. Will not be back unfortunately. read more