Had the pleasure of meeting Asha and Evyn (who's got jokes). Both bartenders were amazing and describing the drinks and processes. Enjoyed myself the GS and cross currents. GS was nice and refreshing with the aroma of the cucumber with each sip. The cross currents is a fun drink to sip on with the sugared rim. Will be back to try other drinks soon :) read more

See all

Hidden small bar that has a nice and dark ambiance inside! I can see this being a great spot for a date. There are Vietnamese foods on the menu and some Vietnamese inspired drinks on the menu. Got to try it two times and it was good. There is a bathroom within the establishment, so for my girlies that tend to need to pee after drinking they got you! I got to try the fried tofu and it was nice and crispy. I got to try a surprise specialty drink that the server recommended and it was a nice and sweet cocktail. read more

Grandma's Secret - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Can I rate this business based on rude customer service, extremely LIMITED/small capacity for patrons (gives off Mean Girls "you can't sit with us" vibes...), and unwillingness to call me back for my place in line even though the girl took my number down? To say this place place is not welcoming is an understatement. I've tried once more but couldn't even walk all the way inside the door. read more

Grandma's Secret - So the hostess got my number down accurately, and I was the next in line but wasn't called? - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I visited Portland a week ago with a couple of close friends. We stopped by Grandma's Secret one of the nights and really enjoyed ourselves! The space gave off very intimate, cool, dark vibes which I loved. The service and drinks were great and everyone was extremely attentive. I would definitely visit them again if I ever go back to Portland! read more

Enter in the side door and you walk into a dimly lit basement with a bar and a few two/four top tables. The vibe was not one I'd seek about again. There were four of us around a table with drinks, waters and small plates that were brought out to us for the food we'd ordered. In a bizarre delivery of food, a staff member who brought out our food set the first dish down on the table and rather than wait to let us help make space, she plopped the other dish right on top of my small plate and then said, "here it's yours". Passive aggressive and rude, in my opinion and also not the most sanitary approach. We were also provided incorrect information about there being three salad rolls when the dish came with two by another. Food was good. The salad rolls and tofu fries I'd recommend. The drinks were so-so and I tried samples of my friends one so in all five different cocktails. read more

I love this place so much! We made sure to get there right at open because seating is limited. We were seated at the bar and had a lovely conversation with the mixologists in between drinks. They were knowledgeable and answered all of our questions with a smile :) At one point I couldn't makeup my mind, so she asked me what flavor profiles I like and she whipped up the perfect cocktail. Love the dark, cozy, intimate feel - perfect for a date night. read more

See all

This was our second visit and our opinion of this sweet little speak easy remains the same. Outstanding service. Wonderful atmosphere. Delicious drinks and food. It's a tiny place, so be prepared to wait. We highly recommend a visit. read more

Grandma's Secret - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Such a great ambiance and amazing service. I always feel welcomed here, and it's always a great Vietnamese experience. Grandma even makes an occasional appearance! read more

Grandma is keeping a hell of a secret here because this place is not to be missed. We came in for a weekend night and were seated after a slight wait. The space is small so it can only accommodate smaller groups and only so many people at a time , which can be an issue if you are with a bigger party. We started with a round of Saigon Old fashioned`s for our group and I chose The diplomat. The drinks were excellent and we also ordered the chicken Banhmi to go with it . The Banhmi was one of the best I have had in the city and my husband seemed to agree. The place is done up eclectically and was just right for Halloween weekend. The staff were very sweet and fun to interact with and went over and beyond to ensure we had a good time. read more

See all

I have been twice now, and both times were lovely! The vibe inside was speakeasy, and low-key. I like the low lights, and it was warm. Everyone who assisted us was great, and I want to do a shoutout to Piske y Ryn. Both of them were attentive, helpful, and Piske made delicious drinks. I highly recommend coming here, and will be coming back. read more

Grandma's Secret - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Cool place to visit and grab a couple drinks. The place definitely looks like a hole in the wall bar but definitely has a feel for cocktail drinks that remind me of a speakeasy. It is in the basement of the restaurant and if you read on the reason for why they called grandma's secret...it all makes sense. We got a table pretty easy for a weekend but went there after dinner. The drinks were pretty good and was surprised. The service is good with friend staff that can help you get something you like. The bar is a nice little place in a nice neighbor hood filled with shops and restaurants. So if you are in the area definitely check it out. read more

Favorite speakeasy in the Pacific Northwest! A converted home as the restaurant, Grandma's Secret was tucked away in the basement. Cocktails were amazing, the decor was nice & the smell was like that of a fancy hotel. I especially enjoyed having banh mi as a bite to soak up our dranks! read more

Great vibe in this intimate, moody lit bar. Cocktails were terrific. Had some tasty bites at the bar. Will definitely go again.

Cozy basement bar with great atmosphere and a list of creative drinks with a Vietnamese twist on old favorites. Also a great list of Vietnamese-inspired snacks. The Saigon Old Fashioned was solid. Service was great! read more

Grandma's Secret - Saigon Old Fashioned - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Speakeasy vibes. Small and dark. Good place for a quiet date but not for a group. Good cocktails. Mocktails were not good.

Whenever my sister and I travel together to new cities, we love finding speakeasies to go to! One of the ones we've found and loved was Grandmas Secret. It was also special to us as this is a Vietnamese speakeasy w/ Vietnamese seasoning and dishes that we've grown up eating and loving. Upon entering to the speakeasy, it's located on the side of the pho shop w/ the blue light. Some might be curious to enter through but on the top right corner, it states bar lol. I would take a pic but then it defeats the purpose of a speakeasy heh lol. It's a pretty small space but very intimate. From the amount of people that the space is allowed to have, it's hard to gauge approximately when a seat will open up but we like it here, we wait until a table is open for us. The waitresses there are quick, attentive and make great drinks. They do have a small menu which I like because then they can continue to perfect each drink instead of having a big menu. I ordered my usual which was the 23rd Parallel. It was a great margarita topped w/ muoi ot on the rim which translates to chili salt. Growing up, we had chili salt on all of our fruit. It was salty and spicy which is the perfect salt to put on the rim for margaritas IN MY OPINION. My sister ordered the El Geronimo, it was a bit strong for me but was not TOO STRONG where I only tasted alcohol. This was smooth and refreshing. My bf had ordered the Le Colonial & that too was refreshing. You can taste the alcohol but it did not become TOO STRONG. This time, we had a chance to chat w/ the owner, Dat. He was so nice to talk to, very friendly and funny. He explained the story behind Grandma's Secret. Above I mentioned how others are willing to wait to sit down, drink and chat w/ their friends & that's exactly what the owner Dat was going for. He stated that he wanted this to be a space where people can sit together, have some good drinks and chill. When you go to bars, people are crowded and standing around others, it doesn't make that the best place to be at times. I for one, don't like being in crowded areas. But in Grandmas secret, it's very chill and relaxed. Overall, expect a great vibe and great drinks from Grandma's Secret. This will always be on our go to places whenever we visit Portland :) read more

Grandma's Secret - Menu - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

My husband and I traveled to Portland a few weeks ago and on our first night we stumbled across grandmas secret by accident I was looking for a hole in the wall type of bar and it appeared on yelp so we went. When you arrive you see this cute little yellow house and then you see these black steps leading you down when you go down and enter you're greeted by very nice, romantic dimmed lights and right away you know it's a chill vibe. We didn't have to wait for a table they were not as busy on a Wednesday night so we sat right away the servers momo and Kaitlyn were absolutely fantastic and welcoming. My husband has the old fashion which he said it was one of best he's ever had. I had a few drinks I don't remember the names but they were delicious. We had such an amazing time there. read more

See all

I love the vibe of this place. The drinks and egg rolls were delicious, will definitely be going back.

My experience at Grandma's Secret was very sad and unfortunate. I watched as the bartenders created a "cool club" by allowing returning customers to have free reign, while others who did not make the cut, were treated as less than. My initial experience was very positive, but when I returned to the bar with a friend visiting from out of town, who was excited to see the place I had been raving about, we had a VERY bad time. I watched the bartender ignore the fears and concerns of a women- who vocalized her issues with a man sitting next to her, mostly because the man was a regular and the woman was not. I had been recently diagnosed with some tumors and could not even get a water, when I truly just needed to sit down and drink some h20. 10 out of 10 would not recommend if you are looking for a place that is kind and inclusive. the drinks are yummy, but there are so many bars in portland with sweeter vibes and more empathy. I encourage you to check it out and see how it makes you feel because everyone is a bit different and perhaps Mean Girls is your thing ;) read more

Small, friendly bar. They kindly got our party of 4 in without reservations. Great service and drinks.

I am updating my previous review of this secret spot, which was written as a 5 star review, but given 3 stars at the time for how crowded it was at that time. Now, it's returned to the perfect ambiance again. Perfect space for a quiet, classy drink. If you need a place to bring your date, this is the perfect place to go. Opens Wed-Sat from 5-midnight. Also, their bar food are all prepared from upstairs at Lela's, which is probably one of the best Vietnamese place in town. read more

Great drinks and great mixologists. Probably my favourite bar in Portland. Speakeasy vibes. The mixologists creatively come up with new drinks and will always let you try what they're working on sometimes. It's just a fun bar. Wish it was open more evenings. read more

Pre-dinner drinks on a Saturday night. There were only 4 other people the same time I was there. The place is pretty small...basically just bar seating. It can be hard to find since it's downstairs. But once you are in there, it's definitely a vibe. Drinks are great and unique, definitely will come back again! read more

I have been meaning to check this place out and was very glad that I did. We were in the area down the street hanging out and came here shortly after they opened. The interior is pretty cozy and small, with a chill vibe. We sat at the bar area and ordered the drinks. The cocktail menu is small, but all were very tasty (the ones that we had at least). The bartender was super friendly and attentive to our needs. I really enjoyed the Saigon Fashioned as it was pretty creative on how they were able to infuse some of pho spices into the drink. I also enjoyed The Diplomat, a rum infused drink that was refreshing. We also had the 23rd Parallel and Le Colonial, and both were unique and tasty. Overall, it was a great experience and would go back. read more

See all

What a cool spot. So many places want to be a speakeasy but have none of the elements to feel like an actual hidden gem. Next to Leela's you're transported into this cool Ho Chi Minh inspired speakeasy playing a mix of neo-soul and Vietnamese "Golden music" jams. I ordered the High Tea which came in a cute teacup and is served with 3 small cookies. My husband got the Saigon fashion. They might be in smaller glasses than you see at other restaurants but they are STRONG and well made! they also have light bites like potstickers, banh mi rolls and egg rolls. Highly recommend for a fun date night or unique drink spot read more

Grandma's Secret - Menu - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Cute, intimate and feels like a little getaway. We went in after an early dinner so sun was still shining but it felt like a timeless night when we stepped inside. The cocktails are really special. The prices reflect it! The tastes are unique and hard to describe. Botanical comes to mind but i don't know if that's the right word... They also have a variety of Asian beers for $7 and select french wines. Great spot for 1-2 people, max. 4. Sit at the bar if you want to hear/join conversation or get a table where no one can hear you over the music. Music is also not quiet but not too loud. My geezer side really appreciates bars where you can have quality conversation and this is one of those places. read more

Grandma's Secret - Le colonial - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

This place is really a secret and easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for. Come early to get a good spot but even when it was crowded we were able to get a nice table in the corner for our group of 4. The drinks here are not your usual and have some asian spice kicks which was nice to try. I got the "le colonial" and enjoyed it. Their menu is small but has great twists to your classics. I also really loved how they had a snack mix that they refilled throughout the night so you have something to munch on with your drinks. Our waitress was also super attentive and came by often to refill water and snacks! read more

Be prepared to wait 20-25 minutes on a weekend night (we were the first people waiting and told 5-10, but it took 20). Drinks were good and strong. I got the Saigon Fashioned and it was one of the better old fashioneds I've had. read more

Wow! What an amazing spot. The ambience is so cozy. The bartender Asha was charming, charismatic and told us about French colonial Vietnam and Grandma. a true hidden gem in Portland. good luck finding it with the small sign that just says " bar ". lol. read more

I am breaking my Yelp hiatus (forced on me by my actual day job) to finally review this absolute jewel of a bar. If you haven't heard of Grandma's Secret yet, it's time to listen up. The sister bar to Lela's Vietnamese bistro hides herself well, but I'm here to guide you there, because you deserve it. The highlights: Grandma's Secret is aptly named because you probably wouldn't know that this place exists unless you really looked hard, or you were informed by a friend or food page. I don't know about you, but I love a bit of a chase. So, when I heard there was a ~secret bar~ located along bustling NW 23rd avenue, it was almost like a weird turn-on. Yes, I was ambling confusedly outside of Lela's Bistro for a moment, but eventually realized the entrance was below the dark awning graced by a teeny sign that said, "bar". Once you're in, you find a dimly lit, intimate, swanky little establishment that gives all the energy of a 1930s speakeasy, complete with vintage photos dotting the walls. Anyone here remember Pepe le Moko? My heart was obliterated when they closed during the pandemic, but Grandma has filled that void again. The cocktails, drawing on Vietnamese and South Asian flavors, are all beautifully mixed by the most wonderful bar tenders I have ever met. I am particularly attached now to a drink called Le Diplomat, a melange of coconut, ginger liquer, rum, and mint. Unfortunately for me, I ate dinner beforehand (stupid) and can't speak on the snacks, but their bahn mi sliders and potstickers look delightful. The improveables: I'm only going to speak on the accessibility of this place since it seems to be the cause of other reviewer's frustration. No, it is not the easiest bar to find. But I think that's part of the fun. It only took me a couple of minutes to figure out where the entrance was, and I don't claim to be the brightest mind in Portland, so I'm fairly certain others out there can do it, too. Have more faith in yourself. The prices of cocktails are $14-15, and you could argue that this is pricey, but it also aligns with many other bar prices in town, even at places that are arguably worse. Lastly, GS is not a large space, so don't plan on bringing a massive party unless you want to annoy everyone else. I can't even really call this an improveable...it's not like they're going to expand the space somehow. If you're looking for a new bar that delivers in both ambience, cocktails, and service, I promise you that GS is the place to be. Rarely do I get extremely excited about a bar, but here we are. I'll probably be here at least once a week, feel free to join me for a drink (if you can find it). read more

See all

We walked in last night randomly and the bartender said "there's a wait. Everyone's mad at you" and so we left what even was that lmao

Wow, what a fantastic find! We went the night that an Eater article came out so they were very busy. We stood in a corner until a table opened up since we didn't want to eat and drink our lovely cocktails standing up. We loved the mid century underground Vietnamese vibe. Everything was dark and broody but the bartender and the gentleman that I'm guessing was the owner, was fantastic and kind. We ordered pork and shrimp salad rolls that came from upstairs from Lela's Bistro, very good with peanut sauce. The 2 cocktails we ordered were fantastic, the Diplomat with rum, ginger liquor and coconut milk and the Saigon Old Fashioned with Pho spices were delicious and had unique flavors. We will definately be back again! read more

Great place to have some incredible drinks and spend some time with some friends. We really loved the vibe as well. Bartenders here are great ! And did I mention the food ? Nice selection of some small bites that pairs really well with their cocktails. read more

Grandma's Secret - Awesome drinks and really cool place. Had an awesome time here catching up with some friends. We really loved the vibe too ! - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This secret is easy to miss! It's a great place to take someone and look like an insider. Small, chill, mellow, adult-- with a SE Asian vibe in the bar menu, drinks and ambiance. Not a good place for big groups, but great for couples or even solo. read more

A friend tipped us off to look for the blue light. The moment you step into this basement bar, it feels special. The decor, cool lighting and beautiful glassware, all reminiscent of a Saigon of the the past sets the vibe. It's small, intimate and inviting. Bartenders friendly and helpful. Had a delicious Old Fashioned with pho spices-so unique. My husband had The Diplomat, so refreshing! read more

Staff was amazing and they have really good drinks kind of weird but really good. The ambience is really nice and overall felt like a very welcoming please read more

Yes. Go here. We did a lot of day drinking and spent a few hours here at this underground bar. Dimly lit beneath Lela's Bistro. Interesting history shared by the amazing bartender. Good drinks ($14-17). A fun way to spend an afternoon. read more