Completely updated/rewritten 11/2012Welcome to cold season in Portland.Hot Pot City is a constant for many of us, especially in the chilly, gray winter months in Portland. It's warm, it's soothing, it's steamy – perfect medicine for the colds and stuffed sinuses that our climate seems to encourage.Billing itself as Portland’s only Taiwanese Hot Pot Restaurant, … [Read more...] about Review: Hot Pot City
Thai
Review: Kinara Thai Bistro
updated 2/16. It seems like there are hundreds of Thai restaurants in Portland, with little to differentiate them. Pasty noodles, dried out meat, and curry paste from a jar seem to be the norm. When I stumble across one that is actually good, I am always surprised. Kinara Thai Bistro, next to the Lincoln High athletic field in the Goose Hollow area of Portland, is one of those … [Read more...] about Review: Kinara Thai Bistro
Review: Mai Thai Restaurant
Bruce Bauer from WineGuyWorld.com has a look at a Thai restaurant I hadn't heard of before. I dropped by with some friends, and had a large selection of dishes. Based on my meal, I think this is a pretty accurate impression. Food Dude]I have seen the future of Thai food happiness in Portland, and by lucky coincidence it is about a five minute drive from our house! A newish … [Read more...] about Review: Mai Thai Restaurant
Review: Pok Pok Portland
(Last update July 2017)With many people distracted by the deluge of new restaurants opening in Portland, I think it is important not to forget other notable destinations. For that reason, I find myself at Pok Pok on a regular basis.To understand what Andy Ricker is trying to achieve at the restaurant, it helps to have a bit of background in the culture of Thailand. All … [Read more...] about Review: Pok Pok Portland
Review: Pok Pok – Another View
If you have never heard Lou Reed sing "Heroin" ("Heroin, it’s my wife and it’s my life") on Velvet Undergound's first album, "Velvet Underground and Nico," you should have a listen. In protopunk style, Reed nails the junkie insanity of anticipating his fix then rushing through his run and falling back to earth again–pathetically and inevitably. Reed lurches through high-low … [Read more...] about Review: Pok Pok – Another View