Pok Pok

10/23/09

Exotic dining experience

by HauteShopper

I like everything spicey. Pok Pok didn't disappoint me. Great food, great ambiance, great service.

You can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

• Pros: There is something for everyone here!
• Cons: Absolutely zero

10/21/09

Disappointing considering the reviews

by citydwellereastwest

After reading numerous glowing reviews about Pok Pok, we finally tried it and were very disappointed. On a Wednesday night at 6pm, we were told there would be a 30-minute wait for the inside dining room. We opted to sit outside by a portable heater instead. The waitress was very slow to arrive (probably at least 10 minutes) but appeared to know the menu. We ordered the house specialty, a 1/2 roasted chicken, which tasted unfresh and arrived lukewarm. The fried catfish dish that the waitress recommended was swimming in oil. It came with an unpleasant sour sauce. The pork skewers were dry and tasteless, but were accompanied by a tasty coconut peanut sauce. In general, all the dishes we sampled were extremely bland and were not hot. One bright spot was that the food came quickly after ordering. We had to track down a runner for a bowl of jasmine rice, as the two containers of sticky rice that the waitress recommended were rubbery, not sticky, and were largely inedible. We also had to steal the water pitcher from the table next to us because our waitress was generally inattentive. My dining companion and I eat out often (several times a week), both in Portland, and other cities. In comparison to other restaurants in Portland, this was in our opinion, well below average. Given our expectations after reading all of Pok Pok's rave reviews, we were very disappointed.

• Pros: Food arrived quickly
• Cons: Everything else, including the food

10/06/09

Amazing Thai

by slbk

We (2 adults and 1 3yr old) had an amazing meal at Pok Pok. We found easy street parking, were seated quickly inside and greeted by a very nice staff. We ordered their chicken wings, curry soup and stir fry vegetables with roasted corn. Each dish was great. For the 3 of us it came to $40 with a tip...not bad. My only complaint is not having toddler friendly drinks like milk. But that is a fairly small gripe and just a personal preference.

• Pros: Easy street parking, no weekday evening wait
• Cons: Limited non-alcohol child friendly drinks

10/03/09

Unique, and very Portland

by entjchick

I see reviews on here from time to time from people who seem to think that Pok Pok has let them down because they don't have pad thai or don't take reservations and whatever else. We've been going to Pok Pok for years and it's consistently great (try the Kha Soi Khai with a Kaffir Lime Gin and Tonic!). Yes, you often have to wait for a long time on the street to get seated. Just accept that as the price of admission like the rest of us do, and leave the snotty 'tude in the car. Since Portlanders are typically tolerant of "not shaving for three weeks" kind of people, I think it actually adds to the authenticity to have a staff that looks like many Portlanders do. I enjoy seeing whether my favorite staff have new tattoos peeking out from their shirtsleeves or on their calves, despite the fact that I look like I come from white-bread-and-mayonnaise-land. If you want homogenized, go to Thai Orchid. They have what are you are looking for in several locations around the city and their pad thai is great.

• Pros: Khao Soi Khai and Pok Pok Gin and Tonic
• Cons: Waiting on the street, but hey...

08/27/09

Really amazing

by mdorz9

Every thai dish I've had here has been wonderful. Bring all my out of town friends and they adore it.

• Pros: Great food
• Cons: crowded sometimes

08/04/09

great thai place

by pafology

love this place for its relatively unique take on thai food and its wide selection of food available to-go. there are some nice parks nearby and a convenient cart which serves food to-go out in the patio area... great for prompt ordering. recommend duck

• Pros: great food, quick to-go orders
• Cons: slow patio service

07/06/09

Worst Thai Restaurant I've Ever Been To

by violentsugar

We went there and ordered a dinner there recently. The place was empty, which should have been a clue to stay away. It took the waiter a long time to seat us, even though we were the only ones there. He finally sat us at a corner table because the other tables weren't set. The waiter was dirty looking and hadn't shaved in about 3 weeks. He even smelled like he'd just come from living in the woods for a month. We ordered some drinks, chicken and some other curries. The food was extremely bland and without any strong flavors. I guess local Portlander's like their food extremely bland, cause this is nothing like the good Thai I've grown up eating. I wouldn't say our service was rude, but it was definitely sporadic. We had to get up several times just to ask for water. The plastic cups and plastic chairs made the whole experience down right awful. I guess if you fall for hype and believe what all the press is reporting, then you should go. If you like good service and good food, then don't go.

• Pros: Good Press
• Cons: Don't Believe the Press

06/27/09

Best Thai

by rugbygirl81

Best Thai Food I've had, the dinning room was small, but the atmosphere was intimate. Waited for about an hour at the bar across the street, but was worth it. (If you tell the hostess that you're going to go have a drink across the street while you're waiting for a table, they will call the bar to let you know when your table is ready...whenever that will be). And the Green Papaya Salad was pretty hot, and the wild boar was fantastic, so was the game hen....Really, everything was great.

• Pros: Original, creative dishes with authentic taste
• Cons: Long wait

05/21/09

Great fun!

by haleaklord

Amazing food, really. SO stinkin' good. Spicy but awesome. Fresh ingredients! Drinks were fanaminal. It is very expencive. It's a treat for sure!

I had to pay for the rice?

The wait staff was great!

cheers!

• Pros: atmosphere, drinks, food,staff
• Cons: Cost and having to pay for rice

05/01/09

Best SE asia street food in America

by mm15883

For any business traveler looking for a local taste or serious asia food fan there is nothing better than Pok Pok. Spicy wings and boat noodle soup are outstanding, but honestly everything is great. A little on the pricey side, but worth it!

• Pros: spices and blending of tastes
• Cons: limited seating