Pok Pok

One of the country’s originals when it comes to replacing the bland, over-sugared pad that was once a hallmark of most American Thai restaurants with bold, exactingly authentic recipes straight from the homeland, chef Andy Ricker made a name for himself—and his eventual Pok Pok empire—when he opened this original Portland location in 2005, after nearly two decades of frequent travel to Thailand to study the food. A decade later, Pok Pok’s food remains relevant and, in fact, a revelation if it happens to be your first time eating bona fide Thai food: fresh, flavorful and exciting.