Thai Food in Portland

Spicy, sweet and wholly satisfying, Thai food has deeply delicious roots in Portland.

Updated Oct. 11, 2021 3 min read

Emma Mannheimer

Emma Mannheimer is a Seattle-born, Portland-based writer and editor. Read More

In Portland, Thai cuisine can come cheap or pricey, sweet or savory, authentic or Americanized, vegan or meaty. Whatever your culinary preference, the Thai food in Portland is guaranteed to satisfy.

Know Before You Go

To slow the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, effective Aug. 27, a statewide mask mandate is in place. Oregonians and visitors ages 5 and up are required to wear face coverings in all public indoor settings, as well as crowded outdoor public spaces where physical distancing is not possible, regardless of vaccination status. This rule does not apply to individuals actively eating or drinking in food establishments.

Additionally, some restaurants may require proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID test for entry. Please check with individual businesses on their policies and hours of operation before visiting, and continue to be patient, flexible and kind, especially if asked to mask up or share your vaccination status. These measures are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Food

Pad Thai Kitchen

If ever a Thai restaurant were considered dive-y, it would be this Belmont neighborhood joint. Pad Thai Kitchen boasts heaping portions of steaming Thai classics that come out of the kitchen at lighting speed, whether dining in or taking out. As one might guess, the restaurant’s perfected pad Thai, frequently hailed as some of the city’s best, steals the show. However, the pumpkin curry and other menu items are also well worth digging into.

KaTi

Southeast Division’s KaTi offers a wholly vegetarian menu, full of traditional recipes that the chef served in her native Thailand. Gluten-free and vegan options abound, as do fruity cocktails and dairy-free Thai iced tea. Once you’ve scarfed down the fish sauce-free pad Thai, try the nam kao tod (a crispy rice appetizer served with lettuce wraps) and pla rhad prik (deep-fried tofu wrapped in seaweed).

Tarad Thai

The trendy Tarad Thai serves up some of the city’s most reliably excellent pad Thai and caramelized pad see ew. A rotating list of mouthwatering specials, including steamed fish fillets with spicy chili- and herb-infused sauce, keep the menu exciting.

Appethaizing

Appethaizing, a no-frills eatery is comforting and consistent, serving sizable plates of wide, sticky rice noodles and rich curries at reasonable prices. (Plus, that’s a great pun.)

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Langbaan

Count yourself lucky if you manage to snag an elusive seat at one of Langbaan’s eight weekly dinners. Settled covertly behind fellow Thai eatery PaaDee, this upscale gem offers inventive and traditional Thai delicacies. With incredible local and seasonal ingredients, you’ll surely savor each and every bite of the beautiful (though pricey) tasting menu. (Fun fact: Langbaan was named one of the 25 most outstanding restaurants of 2015 by GQ.) For a more accessible taste of Chef Earl Ninsom’s cooking, try the Thai fried chicken and Malaysian curries and roti at Hat Yai.

E-San Thai

With seven food carts and one brick-and-mortar, it’s safe to say people enjoy what E-San has been dishing out since 1999. The family-run spot draws on Laotian roots and Oregon’s local markets whenever possible. The menu is wonderfully expansive, featuring Northwest takes on Thai like salmon panang and duck pad Thai.

Nong’s Khao Man Gai

Nong’s Khao Man Gai was founded by a determined Bangkok immigrant with a mere $70 to her name. (Fun fact: The eponymous Nong went on to win on Food Network’s Chopped!) Beginning as a food cart, Nong later closed both carts to open brick and mortars in Downtown and Southeast Portland.

Originally, the eatery only served its namesake dish: a masterful plate of poached chicken, jasmine rice simmered in chicken stock and an aromatic sauce with a vinegar kick. The Portland staple has since expanded its menu slightly at its two restaurants.

Food