Ping

Lucky for me that while roaming around Chinatown in Portland, I asked for a recommendation on where to eat and was pointed to Ping. This Vietnamese inspired restaurant has many inspired dishes but I was told the spicy ramen noodle soup was worth a try. Noodles not so good but the chili flavors shined. They aren't afraid to use the spice which my taste buds appreciated. Definitely try some of the fun and creative drinks the mixologists prepare. I tried a blood orange update on an old fashion which was pretty good. Skip the thai tea - nothing memorable. As for the serradura dessert - ugh. It tasted like rather flavorless whipped cream and sandy cocoa with only texture to offer up instead of taste. I'd go back for some of the smaller dishes which looks fantastic - small fried fish, spicy peppers. And the bartednder know his stuff. Had a great time eavesdropping on conversation he was having with the couple next to me who lived in Vietnam. He works for Nike. Lucky me I was sitting near them because it offered up an education on soju and I got a taste (drum) of a very good Jinro. Yeah rice fermentation! Never tasted so good.