Pok Pok

Doesn't Recommend

travelqueenpdx

Joined 2 years ago

not sure what the hype is about!. Just prior to a recent trip to Thailand (we have been to Thailand many times and know authentic Thai food) we were chomping at the bit to get some authentic Thai cuisine, so we decided to try Pok Pok based on its great reviews. We were very dissapointed. We love thai food and eat street food in Thailand but I didn't even want to finish my food here. We tried several dishes and found them to be bland. We won't be back.

Doesn't Recommend

lizzysreviews

Joined 4 years ago

Not sure why I tried it again!. So I tried this place again after having a bad experience the first time because of the great reviews. Well, second time is terrible too. I am not sure why people like this place?

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Emmaaa

Joined 3 years ago

Best food. Came here for my friends birthday...awesome drinks and food. Makes you forget about the portland winters for a bit.

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tabordwell

Joined 3 years ago

Excellent if you like spicy foods!. The flavor and atmosphere at this place are great. I take all of my out of town visitors here. Never a complaint. Don't miss the Khao Soi Kai -comes vegetarian or with chicken and the sticky rice. Also the salted plum collins is a bonus.

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gonzoboy

Joined 8 years ago

Not Quite Fulfilling the Promise. After having been sung its praises by several friends we finally made it to Pok Pok last night. A party of five, we tried several dishes and everything was good, but not 'over the top' great to my mind.

The 'slow grilled' Carlton Farms baby back ribs were not really tender and juicy, they could have used a little more time, or maybe a little less; the fish sauce chicken wings were probably my favorite but maybe just a little too long in the deep fryer and not as spicy or interesting as I expected; the catfish marinated in turmeric sounds like the flavors should just explode in your head, but they don't. Tasty, but not memorable. The crispy crepe with mussels was also very good, but short on mussels and long on bean sprouts. The Thai style egg plant was a surprise hit, very flavorful and a nice portion. The special herbal salad was also well received in it's vegetarian form.

Two of us tried a drink, my Pok Pok bloody Mary was sort of watery and although it was spicy it lacked a strong tomato taste to counterpoint the spices and the spices weren't up to my idea of Thai peppers at all with the overall effect of it being odd tasting to my palate; the tamarind whiskey sour was pronounced "O.K." by my wife, but she didn't ask for a second one.

It was quite crowded, even on a Monday night, and allowing for that the service was pretty fast. The wait staff was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive.

Overall it was fine, my problem was that I read the menu before we went and it reads a lot better than it smells or tastes face to face. Generally for Thai or Vietnamese food I'd say it was rather bland overall, and with the great combinations of ingredients described I was hoping for more.

My wife said it was loud, something that reduces her enjoyment quite a bit.

So, the final word is that it's good, and some of it is very good, but it's not great and that's what I was expecting.

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bekheartsfood

Joined 3 years ago

I'd fly into Pdx just to have this food!. This is a must try. My list of top 5 in Portland. Get their spicy fish sauce wings, pok pok salad, and the boars tounge. Try the drinking vinegar too.

Space is tight, but service is great!

This food is beyond amazing! DO TODAY!

Doesn't Recommend

srkkreddy

Joined 8 years ago

Differently tasting Thai cuisine (be prepared!). It has a differently tasting Thai cuisine... but something that did not cater to my taste. Pretty much everything was sweet. We ordered several items (asked everything to be made spicy) - most of them turned out to be sweet and sour.

We ordered Shrimp Chips, HouseRoastedPeanuts ( both items novel and probably the best items, sadly it goes downhill after the appetizers), Ike's Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings (most disappointing order as it had some award/recognition against this... maybe, I am too used to Buffalo Wild Wing's wings), Tam Kai Yaang (roasted game hen salad: this was the best entree that we had), Khao Soi Kai (chicken soup in coconut milk: this was very average), Muu Paa Kham Waan (boar meat: this was decent).

Also, we were very disappointed with the wait time... we were a group of 5 and were asked to wait for 30-45 minutes, waited for an hour seeing others who came much later than us (in groups less than 5) getting seated before us.

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foodiedoger

Joined 3 years ago

ahh so good. This is the thai food i have been searching for all my life. The boars collar meat is so amazing.

Please go.

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OLD DUDE

Joined 3 years ago

Times 3 and still great. My third time here and never disappointed. Wait staff was very knowledgable regarding the dishes on the menu. Been here three different times with three different people and nothing but raves about the food. Different dishes each time except for the Ikes wings which my guest referred to as "they make normal "sweet and sour" and "teriyaki" style wings taste like a boring Disney production".

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Jolindsay13

Joined 3 years ago

good. Finally went here after seeing DDD on foodnetwork. I got here early on purpose so i wouldn't have to wait. I drove past and know one was there, as I looked for a parking spot. about 3 min later i came to the front and about 4 groups of people appeared! So we waited a little bit, but not bad. I went with my 2 year old. Why not? I don't like when people think you cant go to a "hip" Place with a child. why should my life stop? Well that is the attitude i felt from my server. The wings were really good, and i think every table around me ordered them! I hate the spicy chili boar , oh my gosh! I thought i could handle hot and spicy but i was wrong. this made my mouth burn and the ice bok choy didn't help me much. It was very good flavors, but i think i will try something more calm next time! All the other staff were nice and i enjoyed it. It is very expensive, but it's all made fresh.