This was the best meal I've had in a very long time. Everything was super flavourful (but not overpowering) and just the right amount of spice! Our two standouts were the Albacore Chae Nam Pla (the fish really sang in the unbelievable green sauce) and the Kuay Teow Kua Gai (which we topped with a little extra white pepper and their spicy sauce). The Chrispy Bean Curd Dumplings and Mapo Tofu were great too. Based on the energy in the room and the plates we saw get delivered to everyone's table, there didn't seem to be a bad option. This spot just became my number one restaurant recommendation in town. read more

Yaowarat - Bean Curd Dumpling and Albacore Chae Nam Pla - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Wow, wow, wow. We came here for a friends birthday and this place absolutely blew me away. This Thai-inspired fusion spot has it all -[[HIGHLIGHT]] amazing food, incredible drinks, and an atmosphere that's spot on. The space is intimate, dimly lit, and effortlessly cool, which creates such a m[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]emorable vibe. This is a perfect spot for a date night or a late-night dinner with friends. Some items we ordered - Chive Cakes 3/5 Bean Curd Dumplings 4/5 Albacore Chae Nam 5/5 Kuay Teow Kua Gai - 5/5 (be sure to get this one, no regrets!) Khao Phat Puu 4/5 Char Siu Pork 5/5 (second favorite) Toasted Buns 5/5 (a must try!) Our hostess was so sweet and recommended a lot of what we ordered. Be sure to put in a reservation before going as this place gets busy! From the food to the ambiance, every detail feels thoughtfully curated. You'll see me back here sooner than later! read more

Outstanding dining experience. I arrived in town earlier than expected and showed up about an hour before my reservation. Luckily, the neighborhood around this restaurant is fantastic--plenty to see, plenty to do, and peak Portland people‑watching in all the best (weird) ways. After wandering a bit, I stopped in to see if I could be seated early. Success. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I had reserved a counter seat, which puts you right in the action with the cooks. It was fun to watch them work, though the engagement level was basically zero. Even a simple "hello" felt like I'd stepped into a sacred bubble.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's Portland--I rolled with it. I ordered the Pochana cocktail (mezcal, Thai orgeat, lemon, hibiscus, orange bitters, Mikan orange). Tasty, though I personally would've liked a touch more mezcal to cut the sweetness. For an appetizer, I went with the server's recommendation: chive cakes made with tapioca starch and garlic chives. Deep‑fried, piping hot, unique flavor, and the soy dipping sauce tied it all together. A solid start. As I watched plates fly out of the kitchen, the crispy bean curd dumpling kept catching my eye--definitely ordering that next time. For dinner, I originally planned on the sliced pork ($32), which the menu highlights as a favorite and which I saw leaving the kitchen nonstop. But when I asked the server for his recommendation, he surprised me by suggesting the Kuay Teow Kua Gai--a wide rice noodle dish with chicken, a poached egg, and assorted goodies--for only $19. Major props for steering me toward a cheaper dish that turned out to be absolutely fantastic. The flavors were unique, the textures were great, and the little "mix with lots of white pepper" spiel made it fun. It didn't look like a big portion at first, but it filled me up perfectly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant stayed lively, busy, and full of energy all night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]And then... the bathroom. A whole adventure of its own: dim lighting, wild Thai photos, and a disco ball over the toilet. How have I lived this long without a disco‑ball bathroom moment? Naturally, I queued up some Thai disco on Spotify, had a tiny dance party, handled business, washed up, returned to my seat. Nothing to see here folks...I'm in Portland, it's OK to be weird...actually, it's encouraged![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I didn't have room for dessert, but I said "screw it" and ordered the Toasted Buns with pandan and Thai tea custard. Ho. Lee. Chit. These things were ridiculously good. Order them. You will not regret it. 5/5. I'll absolutely be back next time I'm in town. read more

All very delicious! For drinks ordered guava crush & emerald snap, both were delicious but i liked emerald snap better. For apps ordered cucumber salad, spicy pickled cabbage salad, crispy bean curd dumpling, albacore, pla Nua (a fan favorite of our table) and chive cakes. Chive cakes were my personal favorite. I didn't love the cabbage salad, it had way too much celery for my taste. For mains, ordered the Kuay Teow Kua Gai (by far my favorite thing I ordered, soo good!), black pepper tofu was also surprisingly really good, pork yellow curry was tasty and seafood Lad Na, which was my 2nd favorite main. Dessert ordered both the milk pudding and toasted buns, both average. Toasted buns were like Hawaiian rolls with some sweet sauce and I liked better than the milk pudding. Overall, will definitely be back. read more

See all

Yaowarat is a unique Thai-Chinese fusion eatery inspired by Bangkok Chinatown's food culture. To get here, street parking will be your best option and there is a good amount of it around the area. Reservations are highly recommended so plan accordingly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Inside, they have a beautiful setup with tons of lanterns and some nice lighting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For their menu, they have a nice selection of unique dishes to choose from. Wifey and I came with our friends for dinner and we got a family style spread consisting of the Cucumber Salad, Crispy Bean Curd Dumpling, Albacore Chae Nam Pla, Mee Krob Na Gai, Khao Phat Tha Le, Black Pepper Tofu, and the Char Siu Pork. Overall, everything that we had tasted amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. All of the staff here are very friendly and accommodating. Definitely book your next date night or social outing here and you will not be disappointed! read more

See all

Wow wow wow! Had the absolute best time here on Sunday evening. I had been once before with my partner but this time we had a larger group and got to order a bunch of dishes to share. Everything was delicious. We had the chive cakes, bean curd dumplings (with shrimp and pork) and the crudo (albacore, I think? So tender!) for appetizers, and crab fried rice, char siu pork, mapo tofu and kuay teow kua gai. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This space is just so cool. It's such a vibe and our server was the greatest![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Thanks again for a wonderful night! read more

Came here on a weekend right before they opened without a reservation and was able to sit at the high chair seating in front of the chefs. So glad I was able to give this place a try! I've had it on my list for a while, but wasn't able to make a reservation before. The chive cakes and Kuay Teow Kua Gai were my favorite dishes. The toasted buns were also good, the Thai tea cream made it! The char siu pork was also very delicious and not dry. Highly recommend coming here at least once if you are ever in the area! read more

See all

Came here for Portland Dining Month and truly no regrets were had about this decision. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience was moody and dark, allowing the food to shine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was friendly and attentive. The scallion and chive pancakes were absolutely delectable. The food was perfectly spiced and extremely flavorful. read more

See all

The most memorable meal I had on my visit Went here on a whim after being unable to get a table at their sister restaurant Eem but this was meant to be [[HIGHLIGHT]]Vibes, food, drinks, service were all 10s[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their spicy beef salad was the star out of everything we ordered but all the dishes were well balanced in flavor and texture Can't wait to come back again!! read more

See all

Surprise birthday dinner reservation by my husband and I had to admit it was a great choice he chosen out this year :) We ordered: Kuay Teow Kua Gai Fish ball green curry You had me at guava cocktail Pochana cocktail Everything was really really really good. The tastes were on an interesting unique side so it is not a normal noodle or curry dish . You have to come try and you'll know what am talking about. I loved the crispy noodle pieces in Kuay Teow Kua Gai dish. I was afraid of the thai eggplant would give a weird taste to the curry dish since am not a fan of it. But surprisingly the dish came out so perfectly blend. Cocktails were so so good :) .. if we didn't have to go home watching the kids we would have ordered a second drink lol Service was amazing. Staff were friendly and food came out quick. We had to leave early due to childcare so we didn't get to try the dessert yet but I would love to come back and trying other items and desserts on their menu. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Indoor decorations are pretty Asian -chinese red inspired and I haven't seen anywhere with this decor yet around PDX area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It made me miss Vietnam so much and my traveling to the Asian countries. Also thank you so much for the surprise birthday rice "cake". It was so thoughtful and the greatest meaningful birthday cake I've had I love unique flavors of Asian food and it's rare to find places like Yaowarat. I think they didn't have much advertising on social media so a lot of people don't know about this place yet including me. Highly recommend and I would definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

See all

Do yourself the biggest favor and order the toasted buns, they sound simple but are the perfect end to the night! Don't have a picture of them below but they were super good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We enjoyed this place so much, it's got a sexy vibe which is great for a date night. Very immersive and cool.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got sat at the bar that looks into the kitchen so we had a cool view.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For food we ordered the Mapo Tofu and the Kauy Teow Kua Gai. Super tasty. Service was friendly and fast. read more

Yaowarat - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

This was probably my favorite meal I had in Portland. My cousin suggested this spot and I was blown away. The restaurant is dimly lit with lanterns and beautiful decor, like you've transported to another country. I was immediately impressed by how well decorated and detailed the space was. Service was prompt and friendly and my cousin ordered so many dishes, I can't even remember what we had but every dish was so unique, different than anything I've ever had, and so delicious. I remember the mapo tofu, and the wontons. The dishes kept coming, and we all couldn't stop eating. I definitely can't wait to come back here. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Yaowarat - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Food was good and interesting but nothing blew us away. We tried so many things on the menu. Service was great and attentive. Fresh flavors so points for that. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The biggest gripe is that it was so hot in the restaurant, it was hard to enjoy the meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] All in all a good experience but not a return visit in the making. read more

What an incredible experience! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat at the kitchen bar, which is a show in of itself.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started off with their Chai tea old-fashioned. Absolutely amazing. We then shared the cucumber salad, stirfry green beans, a tofu dish and a noodle with chicken and egg entrée. The spice levels on the food are so enjoyable with little zings to your taste buds. Our server was a delight. He helped us pick a few items and was always anticipating anything that we might need. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant space is cozy and inviting, but sitting at the Chef counter is a special experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We finished off with the buns for dessert that are tough to be described. I will always want to come back here when in town. read more

See all

We were a walk in Sunday night- we were in the area so we popped in to see the wait times for a table for 2. The server was so incredibly kind and gave us a time estimate and even offered a menu and this cool little flashlight gadget for us to see the menu better as we waited in their general waiting area. After we were finished with the menu, they kindly asked if we wanted to place any drink orders while we were waiting for a table- I thought that was super thoughtful of them. We ended up being seated in about 15 minutes, considering how busy the restaurant was when we walked in, this was a nice surprise! We ordered a few appetizers and 1 entree. Additionally, I ordered one of their cocktails. I thought the flavor of the food was overall good, but enjoyed my drink more than what I had ordered. Would definitely want to stop in again and try other dishes! read more

See all

This was a great setting to eat some delicious Thai food in a slightly upscale vibe. The interior was stunning and had a beautiful red glow. We reserved a table beforehand for three - glad we did because it was completely packed on a Monday evening. My favorite dish was definitely the Kuay Teow Kua Gai - the server told us to open up the soft boiled egg and mix the whole dish well and it was scrumptious! I've never had noodles so crispy before either. The rest of the dishes (mapo tofu, char siu pork, cucumber salad) were delicious too! For dessert we got the milk pudding which was okay since I was imagining something different lol. The drinks were great too - my friend had the "Tom Yum and Tariffs" cocktail which was mind blowing! read more

See all

Came back after much too long of a break. I had such a great time here tonight! This place is not just about eating. It's an adventure! I love everything about this place! The atmosphere is outstanding! It sets this place apart. I love the lighting, the colors, the candles, the details. This place comes alive at night. It shines at night! And the food is so different from what I normally eat. Different in all the best ways! I started with the Chive Cakes. They were absolutely scrumptious. For dinner, I had the Kuay Teow Kua Gai. Again, a scrumptious combination of textures and flavors. Another adventure! And I topped it off with a delightful desert: Milk Pudding. Again, like nothing I've ever eaten. Leave all your preconceptions behind and just dive in. Absolutely delightful! All the dishes that I had were so different than what I normally eat that it's truly difficult to describe them. The best I can say is that it's all scrumptious. And all a terrific adventure! Service is always great. The bartender was especially helpful in helping me select my dinner tonight. I love going out to eat. I do it far too much. But in all my adventures I've definitely learned what I like and what I don't like, what's worth it and what's not worth it. And I know that I love this place and that it's definitely worth the trek out here from Hillsboro! :) read more

See all

Yaowarat is Thai-Chinese fusion... interesting! I've heard rave reviews since they opened and was excited to check it out. Stepping in, the decor is super fun! Bright red everywhere. Reservations recommended. My party of four ordered: -Chive cakes -Crispy bean curd dumpling -Stir fried chrysanthemum greens -Khao pad pu -Black pepper tofu -Mapo tofu -You Had Me At Guava cocktail 3 apps/sides, 3 mains - the waitress let us know this might be a little light. They were smaller portions, but we didn't end up ordering anything extra. The other main dishes were pork-heavy which we are less interested in... pork or pork fat is in sooooo many of these dishes in general, which is my main complaint. Everything was tasty! It was spicy but at a reasonable level. I would re-order everything, except maybe the black pepper tofu which was just normal. Service was great - friendly, attentive, explained dishes as they came out. The table next to us had a gentleman suffering from spice and they brought him a little glass of milk. Located in Montavilla, so plenty of options for pre-dinner or post-dinner drinks or activities or wandering. Free street parking. read more

See all

Amazing food with tons of flavor! I came with 4 other people on a Sunday night. Highly recommend making a reservation in advanced. The restaurant was packed. The inside is decorated nicely with flowers and lanterns. We ordered 3 appetizers and 3 dishes. It was enough to share without being overly stuffed. My favorites were the chive cakes, cucumber salad, noodle dish and the char siu. It was a very very well made char siu so HIGHLY recommend that dish. Thai tea. Was fantastic too. Overall, service and food was quick and excellent. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Yaowarat gets 5 stars from me due to the fact it has unique offerings and great ambiance and decor. I've been looking for good Kuay Teow ever since having it in Bangkok and it's great that Portland has an offering. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: Intimate, cozy I recommend the Kuay Teow although it's more comfort food than wow food and the toasted buns given the Thai and pandan dip is fantastic. It's simple but very tasty. Service was attentive and didn't lack anything. I'll definitely be back when I get the cravings. read more

See all

THE BIG: Located in the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland. This vibey Chinese/Thai spot smell punches you as you walk in. It's a good kind of punch. Street parking available. THE BLACK AND WHITE: We came here on a Sunday night with a couple of friends. Fortunately we had a reservation because the place was packed. For food, we got the chive cakes, cucumber salad, pla nua (spicy beef salad, char siu pork, mapo tofu, and the Kuay teow kua gai. My favorite bite was the kuay teow kua gai. Something about thai noods that always gets me. For drinks, we got the pochana and the longon but not forgotten. The longon but not forgotten is such a great play on and the drink was also very nice and not too sweet. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall, we spent collectively around $142 for alot of food and a couple of drinks. Flavors were great and I'd definitely come back to try more stuff. read more

See all

Such a fun and unique spot for lunch/dinner/drinks! Fun decor while still feeling like a special occasion destination--service was fast and I appreciated the staff giving extra tidbits and tips about each dish (what paired with what, be careful with the mapo tofu sauce because it spills easily and you have a white shirt on, etc). I tried the following: Kuay Teow Kua Gai: soo good!! I loved the mix of chewy and soft noodle textures. It did get quite spicy once the egg and seasonings were mixed in. Char Siu Pork: I love a dish with a pickled something as a garnish, and I love even more a dish with 2 different sauces and a pickled thing so you can curate your perfect bite and every possible bite combination (other people do that too, right?)! This was like... BBQ brisket, but with asian flavors and the meat was cooked to perfection throughout . Watch out for that spicy mustard... it's delicious! And strong! Mapo Tofu: tasty, came with rice. For my partner and I, this dish's spices unfortunately gave us a slight numbness feeling in our mouths which stopped us from wanting to eat more. Chive cakes: the perfect starter!!! Who would have thunk a chive could become this! Amazing! read more

See all

Montavilla marvelous. Though a part of a restaurant group, it is certainly unique with its own vibe, personality & menu flavors. Immediately entering in the decor is eye-catching. Every seat is a fun view of the vibe, however a fav is the bartop for a cool bar glow or the kitchen bar for the preparation action. Why we love this spot ~ the employees are awesome. Why we love this spot ~ the food is awesome. Eat here. read more

See all

Cannot disagree with giving away a reserved table when guests arrive late -- BUT when arriving literally 1 minute past the TEN-minute grace period and being GLEEFULLY refused -- with a LECTURE? Nope. We will not be back. Went back to our old faithful, The Observatory, and had a lovely meal with lovely service as usual. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Love the ambience and the food here.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is a little cramped, but the food makes up for it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The chive cakes are my favorite! read more

Wow, this place has awesome food and drinks. We had a reservation but I think they were able to seat some folks without reservations. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space was red and dim with lovely colorful decorative touches.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I had a hard time reading the menu in the lighting and the plastic cover on menu made it hard to photograph.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I usually take a photo in these situations so I can enlarge the menu on my phone. Anyway, bring your readers if you are of a certain age. I enjoyed all the dishes but Pla Nua and Kuay Teow Kua Gai were my favorites. read more

See all

My partner took me here to celebrate my birthday. It was our first time, and we were excited to try it out. The restaurant has a nice, cozy atmosphere with intimate vibes, though the music was a bit too loud--I could barely hear what my partner was saying half the time. I started with the Dew Point, a pandan-based tequila cocktail. Unfortunately, I couldn't really taste the pandan, so it didn't live up to expectations and I wouldn't recommend it. For appetizers, we had the crispy bean curd dumplings and the albacore sashimi. The dumplings had a nice crunch, but they were overwhelmingly peppery, which masked the other flavors. The albacore sashimi was fresh, but the sauce was a bit too salty for my taste. For our entrées, we got the mapo tofu and the pan-fried wide noodles. The mapo tofu had good flavor and we really enjoyed the crispy garlic topping--but while tasty, it wasn't exactly mind-blowing, especially at that price point. The star of the night was definitely the pan-fried wide noodles. They had incredible flavor and the noodles had a great bouncy texture that really stood out. read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance and crowd is fun, server was adorable![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was delicious and reasonably priced. I especially loved the cucumber salad and crab fried rice. I wish I lived closer to visit here more often! read more

We made a reservation to ensure we had a table after work. The staff was friendly and helpful. When we ordered our food, our questions were answered in a helpful way for us to choose our dishes for dinner. Our dishes were chive cakes, stir fried chrysanthemum greens, mapo tofu, black olive pork. all the food came out quickly after ordering. the inside of the restaurant is bright and red. it was nice that the windows let in some sunshine. The chive cakes were delicious, basic and crispy chewy. the sauce gave a bit of sweet taste, so i didn't really add much. mapo tofu was yummy! definitely could taste the dried chilies after taste. at times, i felt the taste of peppers were a bit much. the egg tofu helped balance it out. sometimes i like tasting the ingredients, ie meat. stir fried chrysanthemum green was a nice addition as we needed greens. it was saucy, so i made sure to dabble extra sauce off. overall the taste was fresh and light. black olive pork was spicy and delicious!! heads up, we listened to instructions on how to mix and eat this dish. as our server mentioned to us, if you'd like less spicy take chili peppers out at your own discretion. again, the ginger and chilis have a powerful taste so there will be a lot of different tastes in every bite. our dishes came with rice, honestly you'll want the rice to offset the tastes from the dishes. we were full and well fed! read more

See all

We tried this place out with our supper club group. Six of us go to a new restaurant every other month and order a ton of food to share. I LOVE the ambiance in here, it's so cute with the lanterns! We were lucky to arrive on a sunny day and get a booth right by the window. We started with the chive cakes, which are one of their most popular dishes. It was easy to see why! They were so good, but you really need to like chives because they are packed full. We also ordered the crispy bean curd dumplings which we liked so much we ordered a second round. They were crispy and juicy and just really well done. We got an order of their fried rice, which was good, but nothing special. My favorite dish was their stir fried rice noodles (Kuay Teow Kua Gai), the noodles were huge and everything just worked so well together. I do wish the portion was a little bigger on this one. For our mains we tried the Black Pepper Tofu and the Mapo Tofu. I enjoyed both of these! The Black Pepper Tofu had big chunks of tofu and mushrooms in a really delicious sauce. The Mapo Tofu was so soft and delicate, it had a good spice level and was also a tiny bit sweet. We also grabbed a side of the Chrysanthemum Greens which I had never had before. I generally love greens but hate floral things, but somehow these really worked for me. I really enjoyed the light floral flavor. We ended the meal with their toasted buns which we all enjoyed. I think we preferred the thai tea custard to the pandan, but both were good and it was a fun way to end the meal. I definitely recommend this place if you are interested in trying something a little different and aren't afraid of some spice/heat. We really enjoyed our meal here! read more

See all

This was really tasty even for my wife who has been to Yaowarat in Thailand! We thoroughly enjoyed each dish, and the service was great in explaining dishes in case we didn't know what was going on with a particular dish. Overall would recommend for a date night anytime! read more

See all

Still exceptional. I wanted to update that the beef wagu stir fry is one of the best beef dishes I have had in a long time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The lanterns swinging from the ceiling right now are so gorgeous.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And I had not tried the yellow curry before which was super delicious. I love the spicy sauce on the side, and the potatoes were just like little pillows of joy. read more

Listen if I was an omnivore, this place would easily get a 5 star review, but given that I'm vegetarian, I do rate it closer to a 4.5 due mainly to the limited options. I have been here both with reservations and also just wandered in and both experiences were fun! Without a resy, we were able to snag a bar seat which led to randomly socializing with folks sitting just down the bar from us. I have tried all the veggie items on the menu and truly enjoyed them all; the chive cakes are incredible, the black bean tofu is deliiiicious, and their rotating side of greens, a never miss. The cucumber salad is also so refreshing. The desserts also literally never miss; I still dream of their sesame ball dessert they had for a while and would donate a kidney to get more of it. The interior is sooo cute and absolutely gives you an immersive vibe, which you wouldn't expect from the outside. Service is great and the one time we had a dish be forgotten/come out super late, they comped it which was honestly unexpected and very kind. All in all, this is a great addition to the Portland food scene and I recommend going whether you're pescatarian, vegetarian, or omnivor-ian :P read more

Amazing amazing!! The vibes, the food, the drinks. Small little restaurant that was packed on a Thursday night! But we didn't have to wait for a table. I read a lot of reviews raving about the chive cakes, but they looked a lil interesting in the photos so I was skeptical. It was my first time trying chive cakes - they were divine! Crispy on the outside, soft in the inside, hot, and full of flavor. The guay tiew kua gai noodles and the chive cakes were my fave. We also tried the spicy beef salad which was pretty good. I got the coconut drink cocktail which wasn't too coconutty. We also got the toasted buns which were good too - came with thai tea and pandan custard. I'm not sure if I would get the toasted buns again for the price, but it's worth a try. Can't wait to come back!!! read more

See all

shoot, once again i was overcome with excitement and did not get any photos after the 3rd dish that came to our table but we ordered the following: - the chives appetizer - basically all of the things listed under their noodles/rice section in their menu on the bottom left corner lol (guay tiew kua gai, pad see ew, green curry vermicelli, & kao pad pu) - mapo tofu - kra pao (basil stir fry) everything was pleasant and i had the courtesy of taking some back since we ordered family style. the staff was very professional and accommodating with our group of 6! read more

See all

4/5 for ambiance and service. Friendly staff and lively interior. Ample indoor seating with bar area. Outdoor seating includes 4 benches (fits 4 each) with umbrella and a few small round tables for 2. 4/5 for uniqueness. The menu stands out from typical Thai restaurants in PDX. You'll find dishes here that are hard to come by elsewhere, worth checking out at least once to see if it's your thing. 3/5 food quality overall. I ate 9 out of 14 dinner menu items (yes, 64.285% to be exact) within a 3-day window. Despite my dedication, the flavors didn't always hit. 3/5 portion size. Small portions with prices ranging from $10-$30 for appetizers, mains, and sides. Limited options for veggies and vegetarians. 2/5 spicy level (for me). The heat mostly came from fresh sliced Thai chili on top, not the sauces or marinades. I have high spice tolerance, so it felt mild. My husband found it spicier than he liked. So perhaps 3/5 average. Standouts for me: -Spicy Pickled Cabbage Salad ($10): A solid hit, flavors and textures meshed perfectly. I would get it again. -Ice Cream Sandwich ($10): Not on the regular menu, but it was the surprise star. Butter-toasted potato bun, sticky rice, fruit jam, coconut ice cream, whipped cream, toasted coconut, and peanuts. Sounds chaotic, tasted amazing. Everything Else I Tried: -Pla Nua ($17), Albacore Chae Nam Pla ($17), Cucumber Salad ($13): Decent, but nothing stood out. -Chive Cakes ($12): Unique, slightly sweet, but too heavy on the tapioca starch for me. Could use more chive flavor. -Khao Pad Pu ($17): Appreciated the crab, but overall bland. -Fish Ball Green Curry ($19): More like a Thai spaghetti dish. Thin curry, poached egg didn't add much, and paste fish balls weren't my thing. I liked the vermicelli texture. -Black Olive Pork ($18): huge disappointing. The Chinese black olives were chopped so small I could barely see or taste them. Looked and tasted like taco filling. Ginger cubes and crispy pork fat helped the texture, not the flavor. -Stir-Fried Chrysanthemum Greens ($10): I was so excited to see this on the menu, but it was overcooked, too sweet, and too much sauce. -Thai Tea w/ Half & Half + Coffee Jelly ($6): Meh. Few pieces of canned jelly. Nothing special. Restroom: 5/5. Two separate, one-stall gender-neutral restrooms, well-stocked and clean, toilet seat covers and even plenty of feminine hygiene products, a small but appreciated detail. Parking: Free street parking around the restaurant and within a few blocks, even during peak hours and weekends. Overall: Cool space, unique offerings, but inconsistent execution. If you're into exploring Thai flavors beyond the usual curries and pad thai, it's worth a visit. read more

See all

My partner and I want to move to Portland just to live close to this restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe is immaculate and the food is so so so good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Get the chive cakes! The pork was amazing and the Kuay Teow Kua Gai is a must get. read more

Yaowarat - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I went here with a group who intended to indulge, and indulge we did. First, the decor inside is so much fun. It's an intimate location with just a few tables inside and about four tables on their sidewalk (uncovered). It was very clean and inviting. Our server gave us the run down and the menu is designed to be enjoyed family style. She made some great suggestions and gave us tips on what we may want to order double off since there was so many of us. We ordered at least half the menu (no joke) and everything was so great. The standouts for me were the spicy cabbage salad, the shrimp and asparagus fried rice and they had a special pork dish that was out of this world! The drinks selection were all fun and unique to what I've seen around Portland. They batch their cocktails (at least some) so they were not customizable. The one thing I'll call out is that a lot of the selections were a bit spicy. I enjoy spice but there were points at the table where we all were struggling to ease our pallets. I'd highly recommend! read more

Service and decor was good - enjoyed the music. Staff was friendly and had recommendations. The food was pretty good, but the only thing I thought was great were the chive cakes - I would come back just for those. We also had Mapo Tofu, - I liked the addition of the ground beef, but wasn't as flavorful as many of the mapo tofus I've had. I was not impressed with the Yangzhou fried rice nor Road Squid Salad. The kuay teow kua gai was probably 2nd best - maybe worth a revisit and the crispy bean curd were pretty good. Cocktails were good. Overall, I could be convinced to return due to the cocktails, vibes and CHIVE cakes, but no rush. read more

See all

This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time, and I have been to many! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Yaowarat is unassuming from the outside, but the inside transports you into the heart of an electric bright red market in the middle of Bangkok. The color scheme, the lanterns, the interior setup gives it the most compelling ambiance without distracting you from your meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] All of the food is, at a minimum, borderline incredible. For the appetizer I would reccomend ordering the tuna sashimi and the chive cakes, the mapo tofu and the Char Sui spork for your main, and the tea and pandan custard milk buns for your dessert. I actually recommend everything on their menu, but if this is your first time, that is what I would pick. Another aspect of this spot I really love is the affordability, they serve incredible food at very fair prices with decent portions and above-grade service. Overall, I love this spot and I think it is a fantastic and palatable approach to thai-chinese fusion without dimming the flavor too much for the American palate. read more