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Pok Pok

Pok Pok was a chain of Thai restaurants based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The business was founded and led by chef Andy Ricker. Pok Pok won both local recognition and major industry awards, with The Oregonian describing the restaurant as "one of those quintessentially Portland institutions, a sort of rags-to-riches story of the street cart that became a restaurant that became a legend."

The main restaurant was located on Southeast Division Street in Portland;[2] with its success Ricker opened satellite locations elsewhere in Portland, and at various times in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Its remaining locations closed in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

The first Pok Pok opened in 2005, specializing in street food and northern Thai cuisine that Ricker had eaten on his travels, especially through Chiang Mai. The restaurant grew in recognition, being named The Oregonian's 2007 Restaurant of the Year,[2] and featured in a 2009 episode of Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. In 2011, Ricker was named the James Beard Foundation's 2011 "Best Chef: Northwest" for his work.[3] At its closure in 2020, The Oregonian called Pok Pok "Portland’s defining restaurant for more than a decade."

Outposts

A Brooklyn location followed in 2012; the Michelin Guide awarded it a star in its 2015 and 2016 editions but rescinded it in the 2017 Guide.[4][5] Ricker closed the restaurant on September 2, 2018, citing rising costs.[6][7][8]

Pok Pok Phat Thai and Pok Pok LA opened in the Chinatown neighborhood of Los Angeles in December 2014 and November 2015 respectively.[9][10] Pok Pok Phat Thai closed in August 2016, and Pok Pok LA followed in March of the following year.[11][12]

In 2018, a Pok Pok Wing opened in the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas's Block 16 Urban Food Hall dining area.[13] This closed in December 2020 following the expiration of its licensing agreement, the last of the Pok Pok restaurants.[14]

COVID-19 pandemic

In March 2020, Pok Pok announced its indefinite closure of all locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had an impact on the restaurant industry due to social distancing mandates and guidelines. Initially, Pok Pok followed the example of many restaurants across the US in providing takeout and delivery services while dine-in remains prohibited. Following the coronavirus-caused death of New York chef, Floyd Cardoz, Pok Pok's Andy Ricker published a statement explaining Cardoz's death as the reason for the change in strategy. Ricker cited the tragedy as a “wake-up call to the restaurant industry” and himself.[15] In mid June, Ricker confirmed the permanent closure of Pok Pok NW, Whiskey Soda Lounge, and the northeast and southwest Pok Pok Wing locations, leaving just the main restaurant and possibly the southeast Pok Pok Wing location.[16] Ricker announced closure of the original and remaining locations in October 2020.[17][18] A remaining Pok Pok Wing in Las Vegas continued service through December.[14]

Reception

Pok Pok won in the Best Restaurant category of Willamette Week annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2015.[19] It won in the Best Thai Restaurant category in 2016,[20] 2017,[21] and 2018.[22] It was a runner-up in the Best Vietnamese Restaurant category in 2020 and the Best Wings category in 2022.[23][24] Pok Pok was included in Portland Monthly 2025 list of 25 restaurants "that made Portland".[25]

See also

  • COVID-19 pandemic in Portland, Oregon
  • Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry in the United States
  • James Beard Foundation Award: 2010s
  • List of restaurants in New York City
  • List of Thai restaurants

External links

References

  1. Donald Olson. Pok Pok in Portland OR Frommer's, retrieved 2022-05-01^
  2. Karen Brooks. Restaurant of the Year 2007: Pok Pok The Oregonian, 2009-06-07, retrieved 2022-05-01^
  3. Chef Andy Ricker of Pok Pok - Biography Starchefs.com, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  4. Alicia Adamczyk. New York's Michelin-Starred Restaurants Announced For 2015 Forbes, September 30, 2014, retrieved November 21, 2016^
  5. Ryan Sutton. Surprise: Here Are the 2017 NYC Michelin Star Rankings (A Few Days Early) Eater New York, 2016-11-15, retrieved 2022-05-01^
  6. Hannah Goldfield. Pok Pok NY The New Yorker, June 25, 2012, retrieved January 15, 2013^
  7. Pete Wells. Pok Pok Ny in Brooklyn The New York Times, June 26, 2012, retrieved November 21, 2016^
  8. Florence Fabricant. Pok Pok Ny to Close After 6 Years The New York Times, August 13, 2018, retrieved January 1, 2021^
  9. Amy Scattergood. Andy Ricker's Pok Pok Phat Thai now open in Chinatown Los Angeles Times, December 30, 2014, retrieved November 21, 2016^
  10. Lesley Balla. 5 Things to Know About Andy Ricker's Pok Pok in Chinatown Zagat, November 2, 2015, retrieved November 21, 2016^
  11. Farley Elliott. Pok Pok Phat Thai turns off the lights in Chinatown this Sunday Eater LA, August 2, 2016, retrieved November 21, 2016^
  12. Lesley Bargar Suter. Pok Pok L.A. Is No More, but There Is Glory in Its Passing Los Angeles Magazine, 2015-05-15, retrieved 2022-05-01^
  13. Heidi Knapp Rinella, Al Mancini. Pok Pok, Lardo, Hattie B's to open on Las Vegas Strip Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2018-08-14, retrieved 2022-05-01^
  14. Susan Stapleton. Chef Andy Ricker's Pok Pok Wing Closes at the Cosmopolitan This Weekend Eater Las Vegas, 2020-12-02, retrieved 2022-05-01^
  15. Alex Frane. The Pok Pok Empire Closes Indefinitely in Wake of Coronavirus Crisis Eater Portland, 2020-03-25, retrieved 2020-03-30^
  16. Alex Frane. Most of the Pok Pok Empire Is Closing Eater Portland, 2020-06-15, retrieved 2021-07-20^
  17. Russell Michael. Pok Pok, Portland's defining restaurant for more than a decade, is no more The Oregonian, 2020-10-30, retrieved 2021-07-20^
  18. Alex Frane. The Pok Pok Empire Has Officially Fallen Eater Portland, 2020-10-30, retrieved 2021-07-20^
  19. Best of Portland Readers' Poll Willamette Week, 2015-07-15, retrieved 2026-02-14^
  20. Best of Portland Reader's Poll 2016: The Complete List of Winners Willamette Week, 2016-07-18, retrieved 2026-02-14^
  21. Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers’ Poll 2017 Willamette Week, 2017-07-12, retrieved 2026-02-14^
  22. Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers’ Poll 2018 Willamette Week, 2018-07-11, retrieved 2026-02-14^
  23. FOOD, DRINK, RESTAURANTS Willamette Week, 2020-07-22, retrieved 2026-02-14^
  24. Food Winners Willamette Week, 2022-07-13, retrieved 2026-02-14^
  25. —^