Got a chance to check out Andy Ricker's new place in Chinatown (in Portland) this past weekend. As you may know ... Ricker is the guy behind Pok Pok ... the place on Division that went from Asian street food shack to Restaurant of the Year with its obsession for the details of great Asian food.
This time Ricker teams up with a couple of Wyden & Kennedy design gurus to revitalize a space in the old Hung Far Low building on 4th and Couch ... part of the ongoing revitalization (gentrification?) of Chinatown ... now that the Pearl is built out and full of new glory.
OregonLive story HERE. Apparently the idea behind Ping is part Japanese drinking pub and part SE Asian coffeehouse-cafe. Ricker does the food, W&K nails the design elements.
I would say that Pok Pok is easily the best Asian restaurant in the city ... so we were stoked to try the new spot. Ricker really gets the details right.
Loved the room (high design meets sustainable building and recycled everything). Food was great and fairly interesting and unusual. Prices were high, but not impossible. Staff was friendly and cool. Small plate focus. Lots of cool cocktails and N/A options. Overall a really nice job. Totally dug it.
Erica's a big fan of their drinking vinegars. Seltzer water and flavored slightly sweet vinegars. Spozed to be good for you. Delicious for sure.
Cool design featuring reclaimed wood from the basement of this 1917 building.
Pork skewers in the Thai style
Grilled fish balls ... ubiquitous in Thailand ... very mild & delicious
Counter seating beneath a commissioned light sculpture ... the entire bar evokes blue collar Japan perfectly and plays against the hip design elements elsewhere.
Hum bao steamed pork bun didn't disappoint.
Interesting collection of old radios reclaimed from an abandoned Chinatown repair shop.
4th and NW Couch, Chinatown PDX
1 comment:
Pok Pok is amazing, the service not so much but the food is well worth the wait. Oh yah nice pics of the food. Justin(vajayjay)
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