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Food Scene Portland

Food Scene Portland

Written by: Inception Point Ai
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 Discover the vibrant culinary world of Portland with the "Food Scene Portland" podcast. Explore the city's diverse food landscape, from trendy restaurants to hidden gems. Join expert hosts as they interview local chefs, food critics, and artisans, uncovering the stories behind Portland's unique flavors. Whether you're a foodie or a casual diner, "Food Scene Portland" offers a delicious journey through the heart of one of America's top food destinations. Perfect for culinary enthusiasts eager to stay ahead of Portland's ever-evolving food trends. Tune in and savor the taste of Portland!

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Episodes
  • Portland's Thai Takeover: Why Everyone's Fighting Over Khao Soi and What's Really Happening on Division Street

    Portland's Thai Takeover: Why Everyone's Fighting Over Khao Soi and What's Really Happening on Division Street
    Feb 10 2026
    Food Scene Portland

    **Portland's Culinary Renaissance: Sizzling Openings and Flavor Explosions in 2026**

    Listeners, Portland's food scene is firing on all cylinders, blending innovative Thai mastery with hyper-local vibes that make every bite a revelation. Kicking off the year strong, OK Chicken & Khao Soi at 3226 SE Division Street burst onto the scene in early January, helmed by Earl Ninsom, Sam Smith, and Eric Nelson—the dream team behind Yaowarat and Eem. Bridgetown Bites reports their charcoal-grilled meats, crispy fried chicken, and soul-warming Northern Thai larb paired with khao soi noodles deliver smoky, spice-laced perfection in the historic Pok Pok space, proving Portland's Thai dominance is unbreakable. Meanwhile, Chalunthorn “Yui” Schaeffer's Yui reopened at 4246 SE Belmont Street #2, offering a tight menu of rare Thai staples in a spacious hall once home to Musashi’s—Portland Monthly hails it as a triumphant return, with dishes that burst with lemongrass tang and herbal depth.

    Looking ahead, spring promises Fremont Garage at 4403 NE Fremont Street, a food cart pod nodding to its auto-shop roots, and the enigmatic Hearth & Vine at 10 NW 12th Avenue, where Seattle connections and chef-driven menus hint at wood-fired wonders. Bridgetown Bites anticipates these alongside Portland Mercado at 7238 SE Foster Road, evolving into a community hub with farmers' markets amid construction. Local ingredients shine through, from Oregon seafood at the January 24-25 PDX Seafood & Wine Festival to wasabi innovations at June's WasabiFest by SakéOne.

    Trends lean into focused regional flavors, pop-up evolutions like Sure Shot Burger's brick-and-mortar shift, and events like February's Dumpling Week and April's Baker’s Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Festival, all amplifying Portland's cart culture and craft ethos. Chefs like Ninsom weave Thai traditions with Pacific Northwest bounty—think fresh citrus from Rubinette's Citrus Fest and vibrant ferments echoing the city's DIY spirit.

    What sets Portland apart is this unpretentious alchemy: global techniques meet hyper-local farms, birthing a scene that's accessible yet boundary-pushing. Food lovers, tune in now—your next obsession awaits in this flavor-forward frontier..


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    3 mins
  • Portland's Thai Food Glow-Up: Inside the Khao Soi Wars and Why Everyone's Fighting Over Dumplings

    Portland's Thai Food Glow-Up: Inside the Khao Soi Wars and Why Everyone's Fighting Over Dumplings
    Feb 7 2026
    Food Scene Portland

    # Portland's Thai Renaissance: A City Redefining Regional Cuisine

    Portland's culinary landscape is experiencing a remarkable transformation, particularly within its already celebrated Thai food scene. Two standout January 2026 openings have positioned the city at the forefront of authentic regional Thai cuisine, signaling a broader shift toward focused, expert-driven dining concepts.

    Yui represents a triumphant homecoming for the beloved mom-and-daughter establishment. After years operating as a pop-up on Tuesday nights at Alberta Street's Bonne Chance wine bar, owner Chalunthorn Schaeffer reopened her restaurant in a spacious new location on Southeast Belmont Street. Schaeffer's culinary pedigree is impressive—she built her career at Michelin-starred establishments like New York's Bar Masa before founding Yui during the pandemic. What sets this restaurant apart is its rejection of Portland's typical "pick-a-protein" Thai model. Instead, dishes like massaman curry arrive thoughtfully paired with just two options: tofu or braised beef. The menu draws heavily from Northern Thailand, particularly Chiang Mai, with specials featuring lesser-known items like sakoo, tapioca dumplings with sweet radish and soy. The standout khao soi—a coconut noodle soup developed by Schaeffer and her mother Ta Triamchainon—earned validation from one of their Chiang Mai-born chefs, who confirmed it tastes authentically like home.

    Equally significant is OK Chicken and Khao Soi, the brainchild of restaurateur Akkapong Ninsom, whose previous ventures Yaowarat and Eem have garnered considerable acclaim. Opening in the historic space formerly occupied by Pok Pok, one of Portland's most celebrated Thai restaurants, OK Chicken specializes in charcoal-grilled meats, fried chicken, and regional Northern Thai dishes, paired with nonalcoholic juices and teas. This focused approach signals a citywide movement away from broad, encyclopedic menus toward restaurants that master specific regional traditions.

    Beyond restaurant openings, Portland's food calendar brims with celebrations of culinary diversity. Dumpling Week runs February 15 through 21, while Dumpling Fest on March 4 brings tasting events featuring Chinese soup dumplings, Indian kofta, Korean mandu, Nepalese momos, and Mexican tamales. The Good in the Hood Festival, Portland's largest multicultural music and food event, returns June 27 through 29 at Lillis-Albina Park in North Portland, celebrating what the city does best: honoring diverse traditions through food.

    What emerges from Portland's current dining moment is clear: the city's food culture has matured beyond novelty. Listeners are witnessing a culinary scene that prizes expertise, authenticity, and regional specificity. Whether through family-driven Thai kitchens or restored historic spaces, Portland demonstrates that great food doesn't require complexity—it requires knowledge, respect for tradition, and unwavering commitment to quality..


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    3 mins
  • Portland's Spicy Secret: Why This Thai Chef Just Became the Hottest Ticket in Town and What's Cooking Next

    Portland's Spicy Secret: Why This Thai Chef Just Became the Hottest Ticket in Town and What's Cooking Next
    Feb 5 2026
    Food Scene Portland

    **Portland's Culinary Renaissance: Thai Heat and Festive Feasts Ignite 2026**

    Listeners, Portland's food scene is sizzling hotter than a wok over open flame, with January 2026 ushering in game-changing openings that spotlight Northern Thai mastery. OK Chicken & Khao Soi at 3226 SE Division Street, helmed by acclaimed chef Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom alongside Sam Smith and Eric Nelson, channels Chiang Mai's bold flavors into charcoal-grilled meats, crispy fried chicken, and soul-warming khao soi—a coconut curry noodle soup rich with tender chicken, pickled greens, and fiery chilies that dance on your tongue. Bridgetown Bites hails this Pok Pok successor as a frontrunner for the year's biggest debut, its nonalcoholic juices cutting through the spice like a Pacific Northwest breeze.

    Nearby, Yui on SE Belmont Street—4246 SE Belmont Street #2—marks Chalunthorn “Yui” Schaeffer's triumphant brick-and-mortar return, blending Thai staples with rarities like sakoo tapioca dumplings stuffed with sweet radish and soy, plus pork-shrimp shumai. Portland Monthly praises its tight menu, now in a spacious hall once home to Musashi’s, elevating the city's already stellar Thai offerings with fresh, focused precision.

    Look ahead to Hearth & Vine at 10 NW 12th Avenue, poised for an April splash with Seattle ties and a chef-driven vibe that promises wood-fired wonders amid stunning interiors. Sure Shot Burger transitions from cart to mortar next to Taqueria Los Pepitos Locos on NE 42nd Avenue, while Portland Mercado at 7238 SE Foster Road gears up for summer with cart pods, farmers' markets, and community events.

    Local ingredients shine through Oregon seafood at the PDX Seafood & Wine Festival January 24-25 at the Oregon Convention Center, pairing Dungeness crab and albacore with 30-plus wineries. Festivals like Dumpling Week February 15-21, Baker’s Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Festival April 11, and WasabiFest June 13 weave in hyper-local twists, from citrus at Rubinette Produce Market to wasabi innovations at Redd East.

    Portland's gastronomy thrives on this fusion: indigenous bounty meets immigrant ingenuity, from Thai larb laced with Willamette Valley herbs to sustainable seafood nods. What sets it apart? An unpretentious innovation hub where chefs like Ninsom honor roots while pushing boundaries. Food lovers, tune in—this is dining with soul, ready to captivate your senses..


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    3 mins
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