Yet another local spot my wife and I have considered an absolute favorite that we have visited for our last time. By the time you read this review they are likely already closed. Their last day of service is 8/31/25 announced recently on their social media accounts. My wife and I knew we needed to make one more trip here and glad to say we got one more visit in! The vibes have been similar over the past couple years during our visits. They have a tropical/island vibe with Asian inspired menu items along with some late night bites. They also do a phenomenal job with cocktails, and I would add mocktails as well which my wife and I each tried one tonight. Looks wise you would not even be able to tell it was non-alcoholic and the flavors were great too. I got their Platonic Best Friend which had a good spice to it, while my wife got the Lack of Meow that she loved. Food wise we each got a Double Patty Burger and split an order of the house fries. Both were just as good as all our other visits and the fries were even more seasoned than normal. We will miss both burgers and fries and especially the dipping sauce that comes with the fries. Lastly we had never tried their dessert and the Maine Blueberry Cake they had sounded so tempting, my wife's favorite fruit is blueberries. Every bite was amazing and my wife even said it was the fastest she has ever eaten a dessert. Was the perfect end cap to our final visit to Paper Tiger! We will miss this being a late night spot for us to grab a burger while people watching the madness of Fore Street bars closing. Service was fantastic with no complaints. The only negative I could mention is that talking to our server about being sad about them closing and they let us know the staff only found out about it one day before the social media post went out. Leaving them with minimal time to find another job. Hope they all can find a new job right away. If you have the chance before they close get over here for one last drink or bite! read more

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Fun, innovative little joint in downtown Portland. It's been on our radar for so long, we were hankering for a burger, and I've heard that Paper Tiger makes a good one, so we wandered in on a quiet Wednesday afternoon to check the place out. They lean heavy into the Tiger theme here. The place is totally decked out in knick knacks, artwork, and more. It's cozy but chic, with huge booths on the other side of the bar, good for big drunken outings I imagine, considering how they are known for their late night scene. We chose the small but comfy wicker chairs at the bar and got glasses of wine - $2 off on happy hour! Our bartender was super sweet and helped us with our order. We got the double smash burger and Szechuan wings with Thai chili sauce on the side. Food came out hella quick. The wings were little but they were so *crispy* and the Szechuan seasoning was tasty and not too overpowering. It was rated as 3 chili peppers on the menu but I didn't really detect any spice. Thai chili was sweet, tangy, solid. Our burger was good. I imagine it's modeled after a Big Mac - had all similar ingredients - just better beef, pickles, etc. It went down easy. I think I was just missing more flavor, maybe a little greasier, something cravable. But hey, if you've been out drinking and you need a late night snack, I guarantee that puppy will hit the spot. Their cocktail menu is an attraction in and of itself. The more you read through it, the more hilarious and charming it is. We will definitely be back to try some of them, especially one of their "party" bowls meant for multiple guests. Love the innovation and playfulness here! Can't wait to return! read more

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We stopped by here again for cocktails. Decor and music still on point. Service was friendly and prompt. Cocktails were fun and delicious. Definitely recommend if you're in the area! read more

Paper Tiger - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Such a fun establishment! Music and vibe is top notch, and if you're looking for a place to feel good and enjoy your time but not feel crowded or like you need to dance, this is the spot for you. Your menu will be tucked into a children's book, which was a delightful touch! We got a couple drinks here, and each one is so perfectly crafted. The bartenders are friendly and welcoming as well, such a fantastic spot. read more

Paper Tiger - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Paper Tiger is an intimate bar and restaurant with craft cocktails, light bites and full-on meals, mainly of Asian cuisine. Although I can't speak to the food personally, my friends liked the Szechuan Cold Noodles and the Japanese Eggplant. I see they also have Spam Fried Rice (a favorite of mine) and a ton of noodles. They have a ton of fun drink options--I ordered the Trisha Paytas, which was a lot like a tropical apple juice loaded with rum. Staff was friendly and dressed to the nines, and there was a variety of seating for larger or smaller groups. We ended up at the longest booth I've ever seen, which could easily have sat up to 10 people. Vibes were great; lighting was moody, like a jazz club. Decor was fun. Will be back! read more

Paper Tiger - trisha paytas cocktail () + men () - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

BEST ESPRESSO MARTINI IN PORTLAND. We stopped by early on a Saturday afternoon and saw they had brunch cocktails available 10a to 5p that aren't usually on offer. I had the Saline Dion (dark rum, Allen's, coffee, house coconut cream, saline, and bitters) and literally, I can't stop thinking about it/raving about it/craving it. Could I start my day every day with one of these? YOU BET. I would come here specifically just to get this drink! (On the opposite hand, my partner had an old fashioned -- it was underwhelming.) When we asked if there were any vegan options, the only thing they were "for sure" (their words) about was the Szechuan Cold Noodles which come with tahini, sesame seeds, and scallions for currently $11; it's a pretty tasty treat in a decent portion if you're looking for a shareable snack! Best seats are either at the bar (pretty comfortable chairs) or along the enormous windows so you can people watch those on Fore St; as everyone else has mentioned, the menu inside the children's book is cute and different; the bartenders are friendly. Also, there are complimentary period products in the bathroom. I totally get how people fell in love with this spot so quickly! read more

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Paper Tiger was good! We sat outside on their patio which was really nice in the sun, albeit windy. The servers were super nice and spent so much time chasing around napkins and flying hats. The food was over all good! The fries were great! The burger was solid- nothing crazy but it was overall really nice. I really liked the chicken sandwich read more

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Girls night out and next Paper tiger! Located on Fore St in front of the Fore St parking garage, made it easy to locate and parking close. Busy evening in town with cruise ships in port, we were able to easily get a seat at the bar. Not many people tonight which was welcome. Atmosphere is pleasant and nicely decorated. A little on the dark side but both horrible for reading the interesting menu. The bartender welcomed us immediately and gave us menus. Each menu is presented inside of a children's book! I love Dr Seuss, so I loved mine. The restaurant put their menu in front of the book with their extensive wine list. Limited menu so not over whelming and easy to perfect what you serve. We shared their version of a Scorpion bowl and enjoyed it especially the presentation with sparkler and gummy lobster. Mussels were a full bushel, savory, delicious, and half way through unable to finish, they were so delicious! Leftovers for me. Excellent! GF enjoyed her meal as well. We will be back! read more

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Great first time visit. I was planning to go to another restaurant, but got there and they were closed. Stopped into Paper Tiger and got the cold Udon Noodle dish. It had nice flavors and the serving size was actually pretty large. I didn't stay long, but got great service, good food at a reasonable price($12) and it made my night. One tip I will give is getting a To-Go box along with silverware to share your leftovers with any homeless person you see. They are always grateful and appreciative. read more

Excellent food, drinks, service, decor! A+ would recommend! Can't wait to go back!! read more

We stopped by this place for a late night bite after arriving in Portland. I loved the tiger themed decor and the menu covers were made out of children's books, which was such a cute idea. I got the kimchi hotdog and fried brussel sprouts and both did not disappoint. I would love to to back and try their ramen, which was not available on the late night menu. read more

Paper Tiger - Kimchi hot dog - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Next to our Hyatt Hotel. Open for a 10pm seating. Cool vibes and music. Excellent service. The menus are in old children books. Ours was Clowning Around published in 1998. read more

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New Asian fusion restaurant as of late 2022, kind of a hipster Asian along the lines of Honey Paw and Crispy Gai, but with more of an attempt at an adorable atmosphere. My quick take: not bad, but not on the level of the aforementioned joints, both of which straddle authenticity and creativity a little better while always maintaining flavor. Paper Tiger was more hit of miss. Atmosphere: Instaworthy, as the kids say. Cool vibe from the decor and music. Comfy seating indoors and out. Service: Excellent. Tiger Salad: A papaya salad, with a mound of shredded papaya, and only about one-fourth as much condiment and additions as would normally come in a true Thai version. Really lacking in flavor. Coconut Wings: Crisp, moist, small. Lightly sauced with a mild vaguely Asian sauce, and shredded coconut on top much like a powder. Decent enough. Brussels Sprouts: Crisp. Not much flavor on its own, but interesting creamy orange dipping sauce made from tofu. Not spicy, more subtle, but pleasant enough. Double Burger: Not bad. Basically a McDonald's double cheeseburger, but on a buttered and griddled Martin's potato roll, with admittedly better beef, but not cooked with much improvement. The house-made pickles were excellent, but the beef itself was gray and dry. Yeah, I get that it's thin patties but so are the burgers at Butcher Burger, High Roller, and Bissell Brothers, and those are excellent. House Fries: Crisp and fresh and plentiful, with the interesting addition of lime zest on top. Probably the strongest flavor of anything tried, and the dipping sauce (your basic spicy aioli or similar) was nice too. Overall, another hipster Asian fusion joint with some hits and misses. Not bad but not in the same league as some of Portland's other hipster Asian fusion joints that are already well entrenched in my rotation. read more

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I went for a work trip and we ordered close to everything on the menu. Weeks later I'm still daydreaming about their sea bass with curry sauce and fresh oysters. Great staff, cocktails and food are top notch, and the kitchen sends it out quickly. read more

Paper Tiger - Oysters, fresh from Casco Bay. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Underwhelmed by our experience here. The drinks took over 20 minutes to arrive, and came well after our food. We were hoping to get a few rounds of cocktails but the delay in service made that impossible. The specials on the board are apparently not available after a certain time in the evening despite being showcased on the big board when you enter (maybe consider removing specials from the menu once the kitchen is no longer making them?) The poutine was OK - great concept but the execution was simply off. The mapo gravy seemed over-reduced (extraordinarily salty) and the Schezuan peppercorns had the quite unpleasant texture of sand in one's teeth. The fries were great. read more

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Paper Tiger is quickly becoming one of my Portland favorites. I ended up here by accident the first time, and have now dragged my husband back and can't stop talking about it! Their menu is awesome (and incredibly vegetarian-friendly). They have a ton of really unique dishes that you can't find anywhere else. Don't sleep on their cocktails - especially the big batch ones for you and your whole group. They are CRAZY good! Favorites of mine are the cold noodles, green beans, and eggplant, but you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Make sure to make a reservation in advance if you can - it fills up quickly in there! I can't wait to come back again on our next trip! read more

Paper Tiger - Zombie for two (in a pig!) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Damn good. These owners are the same folks that used to run Bramhall- so they know the customers, and they have made every aspect of the experience stellar. The drinks are really fun, and so craftily made. But not pretentious- they make you feel very welcome here. The blue Hawaiian is delish, and the food is great too- those Szechuan beans!- and the music and lighting is always on point. LOVE the bathrooms- love me an in-room ceiling speaker. Hell yea. Beautiful space, amazing staff, great food, great drink. Thanks you guys for making such a great and welcome space. read more

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Great late night atmosphere. Fantastic food recommendations from the server. We sat outside and watched the city while we enjoyed our food and cocktails. read more

I don't do a five star rating lightly. Paper Tiger is absolutely five stars. Six if I could. The staff was friendly, the atmosphere pleasant, the food delicious. I ordered a trinidad sour cocktail, which turned out to not be too my taste. I could tell it was very well made, a great drink, though not ultimately my thing. Very grapefruity. The menu does say it's bitters-heavy and I should've paid attention. I will say that it did go well with my meal - it didn't clash or detract in any way. I got two raw oysters and two roasted oysters. They color coded the raws with marbles which was a cute affect and nice attention to detail - utterly lost on me as I was more interested in their destination - my tummy - than where they came from. They were incredible. Sexiest thing I've ever eaten. In fact everything was so good looking - the food, the drink... the staff. Anyway not to be *that* customer, but. The roast oysters were very tasty but somewhat less impressive. They were very busy with being saucy and panko-y and I think after the raw oysters I knew they didn't need to be. My noodles were amazing. Sesame-centric, not peanut noodles. I'm more of a peanut noodle girl, but these were so good. Great complex balance of flavors. Not too spicy, but not lacking in spice either. Perfect. The menus were tucked into children's books which was clever and adorable. The music was good, but loud for my ears. And as mentioned the service was attentive and friendly. I got my food very quickly, though there was an oddly long interval between finishing my food and getting my check. Truthfully, I was tempted to order something more, but held back - for another time anyway. Never have I been so full or satisfied off just the small plates on a menu, and at a very fair price. Tiger indeed, rawr. read more

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Decent food, good drinks, cool vibes, AMAZING service. We ordered a few things to -go and then changed our minds and decided to eat in. They let us, even though we had food from other restaurants in tow. No hesitation, just came out with plates and cups and water. The food was delicious - borderline too fushion-y for this Asian family but both tasty and just authentic enough. Clean bathrooms and very cool wallpaper. read more

Another small plate restaurant in Portland but with their own twist. They have very cool cocktails and they are quite tasty. It has a quirky vibe with menus in old children's books. I have only tired a couple food things off the menu but they were good. Their happy hour is decent! I will come back and try more of their food at some point. read more

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My husband and I came here for a late night bite after arriving to Portland at 10pm traveling from Florida. It was pretty lively for a Thursday night. They didn't have their full menu available by the time we got there so we ordered from their late night menu. We didn't have a big appetite so it was perfect for us. The brussel sprouts were on another level of deliciousness. We also ordered the Nigori sake and we were very content. The vibe here was super cool and we thoroughly enjoyed the music they were playing, lots of great millennial hits from the 90s and 00s. Service was efficient, would recommend coming here. read more

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Went there on Sunday early night. You can sit wherever you want. Menu is the right size amount. Ordered : Tiger papaya salad ( I'm surprise it's spicier than the normal Thai salad in portland, I really like it...), Szechuan cold noodle : was hoping it's gonna be sesame forward but turned out it's more tahini forward. Still great though but the sauce it's a bit too liquidy for me Monkfish for 2 is the super star. Got punch of flavour. Totally recommended Ordered 4 cocktails, all is nicely done. Mai tai a bit too sweet but maybe it's the style. The blue drink ( can't remember the name ) instead of rum I think they used whiskey ( correctly me if im wrong ) read more

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Update 4/2/22: I returned on a Saturday at the 5 pm opening and the place was completely full by 5:07. Service was incredibly good at our booth, especially considering the crowd. We were able to try several more items: -Coconut fried chicken sandwich. This was a complete miss and is a bad dish. Unfortunately, two of us got this. For me, it was a texture issue with the thigh meat. My companion found it flavorless. There also was no coconut flavor at all. -Ramen (weekly special): A great rendition, with an asian twist. This won raves. -Scallop Crudo: A fair portion for the price and fine. -Drinks: We tried many cocktails and all were fantastic. Bonus points for the oddly appealing baby buddha mug that the slushy comes in. Overall, service, drinks and atmosphere were clear winners. Verdict is still out on the food. Original review: Consider this a sneak peak more than a full review, as I only had two cocktails and an app, but I was very impressed with Paper Tiger. The ambiance inside is cozy (i.e., small) with an upscale island vibe. The food is mostly seafood based...think oysters, crudo, monkfish, etc, but the non-seafood items looked stunning! When the burger, coconut fried chicken sandwich, fries and wings were brought from the kitchen, I instantly regretted having alternate dinner plans. These are huge portions, at fair prices, that I will definitely return for. On this visit, the Bok Choy ($9) was the ideal light appetizer for two. Most will come for the cocktails, and they are some of the best in the city. I honestly can't think of better. It's so refreshing to not have $15 cocktails in a thimble (most cocktails here are $11-$12). The cocktail menu consists of about a dozen options, split between creative exotic libations and traditional island favorites. They're big and boozy! I'd recommend an Uber or a DD, especially if trying the daily slushy. That slushy is dangerous. Service was perfect during my visit. The clientele leaned towards the hipster scene, which isn't really my thing, but that can change by the day. Paper Tiger easily won me over, and I can't wait to return for a full dinner. read more

Walking into this place it seemed like it was going to be so good. The wallpaper, the ambiance, the hostess-- they all hit the spot. We sat outside after being told there were a lot of reservations. The kind hostess wiped down the table for us since it had just rained. She was good at her job and made us think it was about to be a hit. Our server came over to take our order. She lacked being helpful as we asked her for recommendations-- her response "everything here is really good." We make some decisions and within what feels like 5 minutes, all of our food arrives. That was pretty clutch. We ordered cold corn chowder special, Brussel sprouts, green beans, coconut wings, and smashed cucumbers. The only hit was the corn chowder. We actually sent back the green beans because they tasted like dish soap. For the record, we are not the sending-dish-back kind of people. When I told the server about the taste, she said "I hear that a lot from people. It's the Szechuan peppercorn that has an acquired taste." This was a peculiar response about one of the dishes we ordered. She did take it off the bill, thank you. We really wanted this place to work out for us after deciding it was time to try something new after always sticking to our usuals. Lesson learned. Warning: if you are spice sensitive at all, please note that we found all the dishes here spicy even though the menu doesn't say it. read more

Paper Tiger - Special board - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

What a treat!! Stopped by for late lunch and sat outside. Our server was friendly and helpful in making selections and added to the overall experience. We had Cold noodles and the burger and loved both. The noodles were flavorful but not too spicy for my 12 year old, and we both were floored by the deliciousness of the burger. Cocktail was absolutely fantastic - it was the fort gorgeous. Overall amazing stop in Portland! read more

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Firstly let's talk about the quality staff this place has. They are so knowledgeable, friendly, kind and genuinely good people. On top of that they make some amazing cocktails, it's true art. Mossimo made some killer off menu drink for me with mezcal and a float. Their food is top quality and they have a late night menu with a stellar burger. A breakfast sandwich and a bunch of other items. I highly recommend making a stop in! read more

Great spot, eclectic atmosphere, amazing and personal service, impeccable bites. Really cool vibe. My retired mother got a huge kick out of the children books with the menu inside. If you're a local or visiting, definitely check this spot out. read more

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We chose Paper Tiger for a girls' night out, and it was the perfect choice! We went early on a Thursday night, so it wasn't very busy. The ambience is very eclectic with its Tiger decor and very comfortable. Seven of us sat in a big booth so it was cozy. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. We each ordered a different delicious fancy cocktail, and we shared a lot of the small plate options as appetizers. We then each ordered our own bowl of Ramen, which was also excellent. All and all, a wonderful choice for a girls' night out or even a date night. We will be back....soon! read more

Consistently wonderful. Delicious, flavor-bomb food, creative cocktails, warm and helpful staff, and even great soundtracks - this place checks all the boxes, and we try to stop in every time we visit the area. Standouts include the tuna crudo, the eggplant and mushroom dishes, and the Tom Kha rice bowl (which as of this review looks like they retired?). read more

The decorations and service are great! Drinks and food are good, some drinks a bit too sweet though.

We went here on a Thursday night to celebrate a friends birthday, and we were extremely pleased overall with the experience. The server was extremely friendly, and the vibes were amazing right off the bat. We each ordered a different drink off the menu, which were all good extremely reasonably priced for craft cocktails in Portland. Our only complaint was that they took super long to come. We placed our drink order and then placed our food order about 10 minutes later, and several of the small plates came out before the drinks did. They took about 20-25 minutes. It was extremely busy, but they should probably get a second bartender in there for these busy nights. Once the drinks did come, we were extremely happy with them. The Horchata drink was amazing. We ordered several small plates, all of which were amazing. At the $10-14 price range, the portions were very generous. Every single dish we tried was delicious, so we will absolutely be back to try some of the entrees. Overall, this experience was amazing, and we are really excited to come by again. read more

LOVED this place. The food was EXCELLENT, service was amazing. The menus were brought to us inside books, they had really unique cocktails, and the bar had a fun vibe overall. The Tres Leches cake was our favorite thing we ate the entire time we were in Maine. Would 10000% recommend and will definitely come back on our next trip to Maine! read more

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Great dinner! Everything was delicious, service was great and it was lovely to eat outside right next to the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland. read more

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Resounding meh... we have been inside a few times. One time we left because the hostess was kind of rude. There were two window seats available but not next to each other and she was visibly and audibly aghast when we asked if we could as a couple to move down a seat. The food is such a bland New England take on Asian fusion. No flavor, no spice, all spectacle no substance. The Sichuan peppercorn dish had absolutely no flavor of Sichuan peppercorn, in fact it had really no flavor at all. The portions are scant, the prices are high, and the Asian restaurant next door is much better. Now we go for drinks while we wait for a table next door. read more

The secret it's out. Coconut wings are something you will never expect in this sushi venue. The tiger has master the art of fried chicken. It's a must, it's a need, it's a Placer. Next time you hit Portland Maine don't forget about the Tiger read more

Gorgeous "small plate" selection, where the plates weren't that small! We had been wanting to check this place out for quite some time and boy were we pleasantly surprised. We sat outside and ate at a table on a cool autumn evening. Our drink were delicious, and reasonably priced for portland! The service was on point and it made for a memorable evening date night! Will definitely be back! read more

Paper Tiger - Specials menu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Late Saturday dinner: the hostess was helpful and accommodating (the place was packed). Our server Miles was delightful and attentive. We ordered cheeseburgers (kids approved!), lobster roll, house fries and Tokyo ramen (best ramen I've had so far!). read more

Paper Tiger - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

We got to Portland on a Tuesday night in August, and all the restaurants were busyyy unless you had a reservation. We were able to just wait 10 minutes at Paper Tiger and got seats at the bar that are usually first come, first serve. Great aesthetic, hostess was really friendly. We planned to get a few drinks and small apps before our wait for another restaurant opened up. Unfortunately, the entire menu is essentially not nut allergy friendly. Even though some menu items called out peanuts, they use peanut oil on pretty much everything, so I just ordered a roast oyster to hold me over. It took a while to get our servers attention, and also for the 1 oyster to arrive. Understandably they were slammed, but most people had left, and an update or check in would have been nice. I only ended up getting one cocktail, and my partner got 2 beers, the 2nd one was tapped so they gave that to him on the house which was nice. Since we clearly weren't getting much food, I feel like we were a pretty easy pair to check in on, but I was never asked how my drink was, if I wanted anything else. The bartender gave us his name, but some more attention to see how we were doing would be appreciated! read more

Very limited menu, a couple of nice special cocktails, and service was pretty good. The cold spicy noodles were a big hit, as were the burgers. The smashed cucumber salad was very spicy, but tasty. Lots of seating outside and inside. read more

Paper Tiger - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

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