Nong's Khao Man Gai (SE)

"The original carts are gone, but Nong's Khao Man Gai’s restaurant spaces on Southeast Ankeny and Southwest 13th are still kicking, serving chef Nong Poonsukwattana’s signature dish: a deceptively simple take on Hainanese chicken. Ask five acolytes their favorite part of the dish and each will offer a different answer: the soul-satisfying broth, the truly perfect rice, Nong's ginger-heavy sauce, or the chicken itself, skins or no. Poonsukwattana’s story is one of dogged perseverance; that has not changed." - Eater Staff

"Nong’s Khao Man Gai started as a food truck in 2003, and the local legend has since expanded to a couple of brick-and-mortar locations on both sides of the river. The counter-service Thai spot mainly serves their namesake dish: deceptively simple chicken rice that’s more than the sum of its parts. Stop in for a casual lunch featuring the now iconic Portland dish and make sure you order some chicken liver on the side if it’s available. While they have a newer outpost downtown, we prefer the eastside setting for the abundance of seating. photo credit: Caitlin Cooper Food Rundown photo credit: Caitlin Cooper Khao Man Gai What you’re here for. This Thai take on Hainanese chicken involves sliced chicken poached with ginger, garlic, and pandan, served with jasmine rice cooked in the highly aromatic chicken stock and a spicy-tart sauce that’s (thankfully) sold by the bottle. photo credit: Caitlin Cooper Khao Kha Muu Don’t sleep on this homey—and very Thai—braise featuring Carlton Farms pork leg served on jasmine rice and accompanied by tart pickled mustard greens, a halved tea egg, and Thai chile sauce." - Krista Garcia

"Nong’s Khao Man Gai started as a food truck in 2003, and the local legend has since expanded to a couple of brick-and-mortar locations on both sides of the river. They mainly serve their namesake dish: deceptively simple sliced chicken poached with ginger, garlic, and pandan, served with jasmine rice cooked in aromatic chicken stock and a spicy-tart sauce that’s sold by the bottle. Stop in for a casual lunch featuring the now iconic Portland dish and make sure you order some crispy fried chicken skins on the side if they aren’t sold out yet." - krista garcia

"Nong’s is a standby for comforting mid-week lunches of impeccably cooked rice, tender chicken, and that citrusy ginger sauce. To switch things up, get the pork rice or peanut sauce chicken instead of the restaurant’s famous khao man gai. The restaurant offers a kids menu as well if dining with children." - Rebecca Roland, Brooke Jackson-Glidden

"The original carts are gone, but Nong's Khao Man Gai’s restaurant spaces on Southeast Ankeny and Southwest 13th are still kicking, serving chef Nong Poonsukwattana’s signature dish: a deceptively simple take on Hainanese chicken. Ask five acolytes their favorite part of the dish and each will offer a different answer: the soul-satisfying broth, the truly perfect rice, Nong's ginger-heavy sauce, or the chicken itself, skins or no. Poonsukwattana’s story is one of dogged perseverance; that has not changed." - Eater Staff