Andy Ricker’s Sen Yai Closing to Make Way for Tacos

Andy Ricker is closing Sen Yai, the noodle house at 3384 SE Division St.

According to Portland Monthly, Ricker says that Sen Yai has never made money, and thought it would only get worse because of Portland’s high rents, increasing minimum wage, new sick leave laws and “stereotypical ideas about ‘ethnic food’ as ‘cheap food”.

Nate Tilden of Clyde Common, Bar Casa Vale, Pepe Le Moko and more, is going into the space with a new restaurant called Honky Tonk Taco, “a fun, high-energy spot for great tacos, hand-pressed tortillas, and a serious stash of tequila and mescal with the lonesome wail of Willie Nelson and Hank Williams in the background. Tilden, a hard-core welder, plans to build his own charcoal-fired pit for al pastor tacos, along with an outdoor barbacoa pit for slow-cooked lamb or goat feasts.”

Here is a statement Ricker made on Instagram –

Today I announced the closing of my beloved Sen Yai, last day of service May 8th. The numbers just never added up and the future looks less than rosy for the concept given all the changes coming to our industry. We will move a good chunk of the menu down to Whiskey Soda Lounge for lunch service only, and relaunch our breakfast program plus revamp the evening menu as well. All of our employees will be offered new homes in the @pokpokpdx family….So there is some silver lining, but still a pretty sad day for me personally. Onwards #jamuk!

The last day of service will be May 8th.