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Review: Hot Pot City

[Updated 10/10/09 - Hot Pot City continues to give the same level of quality and service as we discussed in the original review we did here in 2007. However, the restaurant seems to have been "discovered". There are often long waits, especially for counter seating and during prime lunch hours (12-1:30pm). Weekends often fare a bit better. Service can be brisk or completely overwhelmed.]

Kinara Thai Bistro

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 restaurants.

In Thai mythology, the name Kinara, comes from the fabled half-human half-bird that represents purity, mystery and excellence of character. According to their website, they have patterned the restaurant on those qualities: they

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
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Review: Pok Pok

With many new restaurants opening in Portland, I think it is important to remember the other notable destinations. For that reason, I’ve found myself at Pok Pok on a regular basis. To understand what Andy Ricker is trying to achieve at the the restaurant, you need to have a bit of background in the culture of Thailand. All over the
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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
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Review: Pok Pok – To Go Shack

Refreshed 8.09  Note that this review is for the to-go shack and not for Whiskey Soda Lounge, which is reviewed here. It was a chilly night, and I felt like the fox that had gotten into the chicken coop. Crispy, crackly chicken skin gave gently under my teeth releasing a flavor somewhat reminiscent of the time I rode my tricycle
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Review: Siam Society

Refreshed 7.09 In my humble opinion, Thai food is one of the most difficult types of cuisine to make properly. Just look how many Thai restaurants there are in Portland – four in just a few blocks of Alberta Street. Any Thai expatriate may think he can buy a little curry paste and make Thai food, but very few actually
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