Boke Bowl Reviews

We were looking for a family friendly place to bring our 4 year old and Boke Bowl East came up in a google search. I read great reviews on here and we decided to go and we were not disappointed. It was a Wednesday night, not very busy. The food came out very quickly. This food was seriously one of the best meals I have had in Portland. We got pork belly steamed buns which had pickles on them....it was so delicious. I had shrimp ramen, my husband had fried chicken rice, and my son had a side of fried chicken. The noodles are made in house and they were al dente and awesome. Although my son usually never eats when we go out, we ordered fried chicken (more for us) and it was hot and fresh and may have been the best fried chicken I ever had also. The atmosphere was very calm. We will definitely be back.

We stopped here for a quick lunch during a vacation a few months ago and expected a pretty average little Asian food place, but it definitely surprised us. The interior is pretty modern and minimalistic. It was clean, service was fast. Food was delicious. We're still talking about it to this day. I had seafood ramen with poached egg, my husband had pulled pork ramen. We split one of the best veggie dishes either of us have ever had - the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower warm salad - this dish is a must have!! We would definitely come back to this place next time we're in the area. They have all the Asian comfort foods you would expect, plus some unique dishes you might not.

The menu at this restaurant is a mixture of Asian cuisines. Enjoy a bowl of ramen noodles topped with miso fish or other fun toppings. Try a bun with belly pork or fried chicken! There is kimchee and pickled ginger/cucumbers to add to your dish. There's even make homemade twinkies. Try the custard filled doughnut for dessert. Very casual dining and family friendly. It can get busy and prices are a little more than your typical Asian restaurant. Try the fried pear appetizer. Street parking only.

The fried chicken is to die for here. The rest of the menu is pretty good, but nothing compares to a fried chicken rice bowl. The variety of flavors is incredible. You'll get pickled mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, bamboo shoots, kim chi, and of course, the amazing fried chicken.

We stopped by Boke Bowl's Water Avenue location for lunch during our spring break vacation. There is only on-street parking in the neighborhood, which is mostly industrial, so finding parking can be a bit of a challenge. The restaurant is modern and trendy, with community seating consisting of several long rows of tables. If you're looking for a fun meal, this is an interesting twist. Being able to exchange opinions on the various entrees with the stranger sitting next to you can be a neat experience. We opted for some rice bowls, namely the pork and shrimp versions. We also ordered the brussels sprout and cauliflower salad because we heard it was very good. First off, the brussels sprout and cauliflower was a really pleasant surprise. It's a great combination of savory and sweet, and the flavor was completely different from what I had mentally prepared myself for, when I took my first bite. The rice bowls are an amazing combination in space of a single large noodle bowl. A small bed of rice provides the foundation for a variety of different sensations, from the warm cooked shrimps and sliced mushrooms to the cold pickled cucumber slices and sampling of kim chee cabbage. I could sample different flavors by just dipping my chopsticks into different areas of the bowl. We'll have to try their ramen bowls next time. Prices were a little on the high side at first glance, but the variety in just one bowl offsets the prices. One bowl made a solid meal for each of us.

Looks like a fast food joint, quick service at the counter, interior is open and modern, took a chance on the food and were delighted with the order, the chicken steam buns are tasty and fresh, the mixed Asian bowls are spicy and good portions. We used this as a 'take out' place when we stayed in Portland.

Everything at Boke Bowl is made in-house, including the yummy ramen noodles. The broth in the caramelized fennel bowl was slurp worthy! The fried oysters so fresh and good. And can't forget to mention the excellent kimchee. Definitely worth the walk to get there from downtown Portland!

Boke is a great find despite the slightly odd location, though it is close to Bunk Bar and a few other small businesses. Boke is a hoppin' lunch spot for this Southeast neighborhood. It is always hard to find a seat if you're with friends or colleagues, but people move through quickly, so you won't have to wait long to get a table. The carmelized fennel ramen is delicious and the contents vary slightly by season. Their salads and steamed buns are also delicious... in fact, I have yet to try anything I haven't enjoyed. So, when you're looking for a nice warm bowl of noodles, broth, veggies (and possibly meat), head to Boke.

An outstanding place for Ramens in a simple setting. Food was delicious. You order the Ramen noodle and then select sauces and additions. A small but nice selection of local beer as well (on tap to boot). A must eat place and very reasonable.

I went here with family last week for dinner. I ordered a bowl with brown rice and fried chicken. It was fantastic. I'm not even sure of what all comes in the bowl, but it tasted great. My niece got a pork Raman bowl . She finished it off. Generous portions! I can't wait to go back.

Had the pork ramen with a slow poached egg and it was fantastic and filling. It's worth noting that the second location is the one that is "dog friendly" with outdoor seating.

Went for lunch with some co-workers. LOVED the seafood ramen. Lovely broth with big shrimp and assorted veggies. The fried chicken buns were amazing and loved both salads we tried. Cute place and very friendly staff. Definitely recommend!

The menu is extensive and creative with ramen bowls full of an amazing choice of ingredients and fresh, made on the premises, noodles. Don't miss the fried chicken in puff rolls and in fact you should try everything because you will be back many times. It's conveniently located on the near east side just half a block over the bridge on Water St. and is very popular, but quick to get your food to you with pleasant and efficient service in a friendly communal feeling, yet very open, and light space. Hip and authentic Portland and very reasonable. Chef/Owner Patrick says they will be opening another Boke Bowl soon on the west side, so be on the look out for it.

My first time here. While lacking ambiance and conversational atmosphere, the food and service were great! I had the shrimp rice bowl. So different in a good way. A nice bed of sticky rice with black sesame seeds surrounded by delicious toppings including fresh yummy pickles, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, and a good serving of shrimp. Instead of a heavy sauce, each separate ingredient had its own seasoning so you can mix as you like. There are ample condiments to use, too.

Great ambience, fun young people. The ramen with black cod was excellent. The pork buns were great. Excellent coffee from Water Avenue. Neat, clean place. Efficient staff workers. The shrimp and rice dish that my friend had was great as well. Worth the trip. Avoind peak lunch hour. Go early or a little later.

Boke Bowl is a super cool ramen bar in the Portland Warehouse District. You order your food at the register, then find a seat at one of the long tables. The ambience is bustling but not too loud. Our whole extended family went (Granny and Granddad, 2 grown children, 3 grandchildren), and a good food time was had by all. All the adults had ramen with broth. I had my ramen with added Buttermilk fried chicken. We had a couple of orders of steam buns (excellent), and several sides of assorted pickles. I also had an excellent draft ale. Their prices are quite reasonable and the staff are cheerful and efficient. We all went away very satisfied.

Maybe in not such a good way. Long tables, lots of noise, order at the counter from a chart on the wall. Hard to share with your group because everyone orders separately. Had Ramen, and some tasty buns, they brought the food to the table the condiments were somewhere else. Rather confusing. Like get your own cup and water. I like ramen, and new food, but it felt like a high school cafeteria, it looked like a high school cafeteria. There is minimalistic and just too bare.

Thursday Korean fried chicken night! Bestest darn chicken ever! And I'm from the South. My family plans our week around Boke Bowl chicken. $50 and the whole family of 5 eats great! Steam buns, rice, seaweed and pickles included. Of special note are the eggplant steam buns. OMG AMAZING!

Order at the door. Delivered to table. Noodles, steam buns, interesting sides. Lots if lightly fried stuff. Fun place for lunch.

What I liked : staff efficiency and friendliness Atmosphere Speed of meal served and cleanliness and the Asian menu Did not like : Rice tots were greasy however we knew those might be a gamble Soup broth was good Noodles were good I did not finish my gin cocktail which was a first so really did not like it at all Grew up in Asia so I feel like I know authentic food ... The kicker : We were both sick after we ate there and so no matter how good the broth was, not going back for more of that Maybe you will have better luck Love PDX and all that it offers

The ramen has greens and butternut squash in addition to the ramen noodles. I enjoyed the spicy chicken sausage in the miso based broth. The steamed buns are filled with eggplant, mushrooms, brisket and even peanut butter and jelly. These are a tasty starter to the meal. The grilled Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower with tofu is also a great sharing dish.

Came here for lunch one day last week and I was delighted! The food came to our table really quickly. Fried chicken bowl. It was fantastic, full of flavour! I loved the mix of flavours, the kimchi, chicken, rice, fresh salad and dressing. The place is nicely decorated, very open and welcoming. Good to take your laptop with! Very highly recommended.

Steamed pork belly and mushroom buns were excellent. The pork and cod ramen bowls were okay. The ramen doesn't have the depth of favor you would find in authentic Korean/Japanese ramen; broth was too greasy for our taste. The restaurant is nice. The cafeteria style seating is fun and friendly for our son. Street parking was hard to find. I drove around and had to park three blocks away. It was a nice, fun place for dinner with wife and son. Wish the ramens were better.

We had a great lunch here. You order at the count and its brought to your table. We found parking easily and the location in close to downtown. The food was great, very fresh both in preparation and creativity. I am not sure how other revers could call it bland because you can add the seasoning you want not to mention all the yummy pickled items to add some zing. Our vegan daughter loved the rice tots (similar to tater tots). I had a bun with fried chicken and some kind of sauce. Several inout party had ramen customized with the extras they wanted and were very happy. We will go back here again when in Portland.

We had a great lunch here - the pork ramen was a rich, dark brown broth, lots of shredded roast pork, springy noodles, and various garnishes. The real standout though was a vegetable dish of Brussels sprouts and cauliflower - both were deep fried, and tossed with smoked tofu, rice vinegar, a bit of fish sauce and ginger, among other things. It was fantastic. We tried not to fill up, so that we could also check out that super famous chicken and rice place, which turned out to be a mistake. I wish we had skipped that and got even more food here, as everything was great.

I had the cold noodles at the Pickathon Festival and I can't stop dreaming about it. I will have to stop in the next time I'm in town.

I went to their location at 1200 NW 18th/Northrup. Service was friendly and quite prompt. Food was tasty and eclectic. Lots to choose from, and of you come on a weekend between 11-2 dim sum from a cart is available as well. I dug into my selections as they all looked so appetizing that I forgot to take until I was halfway through it all. Worth returning to in order to check out more of their menu options.

Just recently went for the second time, and it was a hit again! The food: Excellent ramen bowls - good sizes portions, you really don't need any appetizers. I had the pork bowl and added fried chicken. Both were delicious, the fried chicken I would go out of my way for! Delicious seasoning. I also added an egg, a little too undercooked for me, will skip that next time. We've tried all of the bun appetizers which were delicious as well, but makes the meal much more expensive and you don't need them. The atmosphere: Modern, clean, and utilitarian. Basically you are there to eat. Some tables are community style. Sauces on the tables, water is self serve. The service: You order your food in line, then find a table to sit at. Your food is then brought to your table. Service was adequate, but not warm and friendly either time we were there. Kind of the standard Portland attitude. It's not cool if you are too friendly. We will definitely be back because it's all about the ramen. I actually crave this stuff now.

We and never been to this restaurant. although it is casual decor the food was wonderful, tasty and well prepared.

I was as unaffected by my $10 bowl of soup as I was bored by their obvious efforts to be 'Portland Quirky'. The 20 foot tall menu on the wall was about as helpful as a hole in a rowboat. Its obvious they were more concerned with its aesthetic value than with its actual usefulness. Usefulness, in case there is any confusion, would be a menu that had descriptions of each dish, instead of just "Pork" and "Seafood". (Is the pork grilled?, BBQd?, poached? shredded? ground? What KIND of seafood?) Anyhow, its a very "Portland" kind of place, and I mean that as an insult. Japanese cuisine prepared by white people, for white people, at high prices. No thanks.

Located in an industrial area near the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Boke Bowl is a hip, Portland take on ramen, the Japanese comfort food. Being of Japanese descent and having dined on ramen primarily in the Japanese enclaves of Southern California, I immediately noticed that we were the only Asian diners in the restaurant. And, my son observed that there were no Asian employees either in the kitchen or at the counter. So, what kind of meal were we going to get? As it turned out, we had an enjoyable meal. The broth is a key element of a good ramen, and Boke Bowl offers a couple of ramen options with fairly traditional broths, pork and miso. Their vegan option, a caramelized fennel broth, definitely demonstrates a Portland flair. The broth, while not the deepest or richest I’ve ever tasted, was quite good nonetheless. The ramen noodles were excellent, with just the right amount of firmness. What really distinguished the meal for us was the eclectic selection of optional toppings and add-ons, such as pork belly, cornmeal crusted oysters, smoked tofu and fried chicken. All-in-all, we had a meal that was both tasty and interesting. This is one ramen shop that does not feel like a little slice of Japan; when you eat at Boke Bowl, you definitely know you’re in the unique city of Portland, Oregon!

There's something for everyone in your party at Boke Bowl. I had a really difficult time narrowing down my choices and can't wait to go back to try more. The vegetarian options are plentiful and creative. I love that you can get your bowls with or without broth (I went for a "little broth"). Didn't have enough room for the PB&J Bao (steamed buns) but will get some to go next time.

We were looking forward to this experience but did not find it as fabulous as we had hoped. The ordering went smoothly and the woman taking the order was very helpful. Server was pleasant. I ordered the pork and noodles plus the egg and fried chicken. I found the pork broth flavorful but not memorable. The egg was perfectly cooked but the chicken was very salty. The pickles were just variations on the same flavor but they were crisp. The mushroom pickles were the best and the sticky rice that comes with the pickles is supposed to be at room temperature. The seafood and noodles were OK and the oysters really did not add much. The Dot Orange Sauce didn't contribute to the flavor at all. Now we were NOT there on a Thursday so have not tried their famous chicken. We eat a lot of Korean and Japanese food and right now Portland offers so many choices to try that cuisine that I doubt we are going to return for the chicken unless we keep hearing it is a "must do".

Very nice interiors, helpful order taker, quick service. The cooked vegetables was quite good but the Seafood Miso Ramen was a disappointment: taste was flat, noodles & shrimps were overcooked. Was that an MSG buzz I felt after the meal?

We went here for ramen after seeing good reviews. We were pretty disappointed. We ordered a pork ramen and a miso seafood ramen, and both were mediocre. The pork ramen had some run-of-the-mill slow-cooked pork, store-bought noodles, and basic broth. The pieces of squash and the bok choy were nice touches, but there were no other redeeming characteristics. I could easily make this at home and create a better ramen. Similar story for the miso seafood ramen. The miso broth was basic miso paste with water, and noodles were the same basic ones as the pork ramen. The "seafood" was five small shrimp and a few seafood balls. For $10 and $11, respectively, these dishes are not worth the price. There is room for improvement here, and there is better ramen in town. Our ramen search continues.

Went here with some friends over the weekend and tried a few different things, all delicious. This included the pork dashi, the caramelized fennel dashi and the fried chicken rice bowl which were each were flavorful, rich, and satisfying. The feel of the restaurant is clean and simple, very accommodating and family friendly plus they have the coolest soup spoons! Love this place and have already been back in the span of a few days, I will most certainly be back many times again.

Boke Bowl Water Ave is a fine stop, especially if you have restless children. There is nothing precious or breakable, the food is interesting and healthy, and people who go there do not expect children to sit at attention and eat politely. Everyone is welcome, and the servers are cheerful. So when Boke Bowl West opened, and WITH vegan dim sum, it was a treat. Though expensive, the selections and service the first couple of times were excellent. Today was a bit different. They've changed their spare ribs recipe from a plateful of ribs that actually had meat on them (unlike many Chinese dim sum restaurants) to a few thinly sliced beef ribs in a different, less well crafted sauce. Boke Bowl West is a combo of good and not-so-good. For example, the coffee is the very best you can find in Portland. However, they want to know if you take cream and sugar, and they deliver a medicine dispensing plastic cup with about one tablespoon of white sugar to the table. Maybe they have a sugar grain-counter in the back of the restaurant, or maybe they want you to consume less sugar. I'm hoping for the latter, but they could offer a different, better quality sugar that is less damaging. The small dim sum plates start at $4.75, so paying a bit more for good sugar should be possible. They have plenty of tables for the weekend crowd. However, they reserve the tables that seat four for groups larger than two. That's a good practice when the restaurant is filling. But it was not close to full when we were there.

We stopped here for a quick bite. I loved the spicy hot kimchi and could get enough of it? Interesting drink was made for us - lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf infused vodka with a splash of ginger. I definately would go back.

Late dinner...made it in just before closing and the employees were great and let us order. This is our second time here and we love the concept, love the food and never disappointed. It is a casual dining so order at the bar and sit down, the food is served. Recommend.

Out with family on a recent vacation to Portland/Vancouver we stopped for lunch at Boke Bowl. On a slow Saturday afternoon, I was surprised with the lack of service. I was really wanting to try a rice bowl without rice (an easy and very common substitution/omission) and was very promptly told this was not possible. As there is an "order first, take a seat second" policy clearly displayed in the restaurant and that I was the last to order in our group of four, I quickly ordered a veggie salad unaware that it came with watermelon (seasonal fruit). The salad was tasty and my wife enjoyed the extra watermelon as she had ordered the same. Even though the restaurant was not busy, we found the tables dirty and sticky.

I love ramen noodles and Boke Bowl delivers a superb bowl of freshly made noodles in a yummy broth. The restaurant is big and has a modern industrial feel. If I lived in Portland, I'd be a regular.

When planning a recent vacation along the West Coast, I saw a recommendation for Boke Bowl because of its vegan options. I eagerly jotted it down as a restaurant choice because I love Asian food but Asian or Asian-influenced restaurants do not love me--I am severely allergic to shellfish, and shellfish is so easily cross-contaminated in this cuisine (among other cuisines) in my experience. Although shrimp is served at Boke Bowl, I did not experience any cross-contamination issues and happily chowed down on the vegan options. I'm a big fan of 'dough-wrapped' foods if you will: dumplings, potstickers, buns, piroshkies, ravioli, etc. I tried the Miso Mushroom, Curried Squash, and PB&J steamed buns. Although I enjoyed all of them, the Miso Mushroom was the best; if I could go back in time, I would just order 3 of those. If Boke Bowl had a location in my city, I would eat them often. My fiancé ordered the ramen bowl with caramelized fennel dashi, and it was also delicious, especially warming on a cold day. Do you know how nice it is to go to a restaurant and not start to feel sick from cross-contamination? GLORIOUS. Please, get the Miso Mushroom Steamed Buns and send them my way. :)

Recently a girl friend and I met up here to chat and generally catch up. Typically we do this every couple of months with a focus on the bar. Broke bowl did not disappoint. We each had bowls of ramen with all kinds of deliciousness. Staff extremely helpful & patient in helping newbies order. Don't miss the in house made booze specials. Really the food was a prop for my spicy vodka ginger punch. Casual vibe in Portland's Eastside industrial district...parking can be challenging, so be prepared to walk.

You wait on line, place your order, and it is delivered to you. There are two venues by this name. The East Side location is larger, but noisier than the West Side one... unusual tastes, but comforting, with rice or noodles, vegetarian or not. Not terribly expensive, but delicious.

I had no idea what to expect when I walked into Boke Bowl Saturday afternoon. I had read mixed reviews and was unsure if I really wanted to go but my mom talked me into going. It was amazing I had the pork romen and the pork was just as good as I would get at any bbq place in Kansas City, and that is saying a lot. The season veggies were cooked to perfection. I asked the girl at the register if the steam buns were good and she said yes and I asked her what her favorite was and she recommended the fried chicken. I was so happy I ordered them. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and mixed with the veggies and steamed buns. Wow out of this world, I can't wait to go back next time I come to visit.

I went during the Portland snow and ice period. Very popular with the locals for take out. Pleasant service and quick. The ramen and broth was excellent and travelled well.

It took a little while to find BOKE Bowl, but it was worth it. Good bowls of ramen or rice. I had a ramen bowl and my bride had a rice bowl with meat. Both were great. We had two kids with us, and they liked what they had. Bowls come in take-out containers, so it was easy to take home for later. Good service.

In searching for a ramen noodle place in Portland I came across Boke Bowl. It's located in an industrial section of Portland, so parking at lunch was a bit of a challenge but eventually we got lucky. The restaurant is in an old industrial building and looks true to its origins except way funkier. You order and they give you a number and deliver. Not a long wait at all. Ordered the Pork belly and slow poached egg ramen bowl and it was WOW real ramen, where have you been all my life? I wanted to bring it home with me. I have never tasted it as good as it was here. All of our group of four loved it. And did I mention how much you get for such a good price! Thanks, Boke Bowl. Next time I will get their Sake to go with it.

We went because my wife and I like Ramen Restaurants, and Boke Bowl had a good review in Portland Monthly's Restaurant issue. We order the Shu Mai, the Pork Belly Steamed Buns, and split a bowl of Pork Ramen. The Shu Mai which came 4 to an order were OK. Better at a Dim Sum Restaurant. The Pork Belly Steamed buns were more like a fluffy taco than a Ham Bow, which I expected. I poured hot sauce over everything, and again it was OK. The Ramen was very good, especially when I added a lot of seasoning. Would I go back? Yeah, maybe someday, but I'd have to think about it. The ambience was industrial, but really nice. Loved the communal tables.

Very busy but cosy place with the typical for Portland hipster flavour. You order something simple like chicken and rice, but get an assortment of different foods in your bowl. A lot of pickled veggies and mushrooms there, which is kind of awesome. There are new studies that show that pickling veggies is very beneficial for your gut batteria. So - very healthy and hipster place to go for lunch.

We ate there 8-3-12 and loved it. I arrived right at 6pm and was seated without any troubles. The food was ready in 10 minutes and very good. My girls are 5 y/o and they enjoyed the kiddie chop sticks and ate most of my food including the salad !!! I can not wait to use the catering service for my next party. We had the Salad Broccoli, cauliflower, citrus, tofu croutons, Thai vinaigrette Steam buns, hands down my favorite. I could eat these every day and love it. Grilled zucchini, Pork belly and Fried chicken Seafood miso dashi was very nice with shrimp and veggies and breaded oysters on the side. and Coconut kafir lemongrass tapioca for a little sweet finish. I walked away feeling well fed and very pleased with my meal.

I had the warm Brussels sprouts salad, and thoroughly enjoyed the house tofu "croutons" as well as the unusual addition of watermelon. The vegetables were roasted perfectly and were lightly dressed with a complimentary dressing. The menu isn't huge, but most others in my group were happy with their choices, including the Poke Bowl and carmelized fennel dashi.

Spent two nights in Portland and was craving ramen one of the nights. We searched up Ramen joints and Boke Bowl was one that popped up. Reviews seemed okay so we decided to try it out. Between two of us we ordered the Sui Mai, Pulled Pork Ramen, and the Tofu Rice Bowl. Sui Mai - pricey for what you get. $8 for 5 small/decent sized Sui Mai. Was tasty, but not worth $8. Pulled Pork Ramen - was disappointed in the ramen. Little pulled pork, soup base/noodles/ingredients was nothing special - fairly standard. Noodles were not steaming hot, was easy to eat. Mediocre. Tofu Rice Bowl - super tasty! Good variety of veggies and ingredients including mushrooms, pickled cucumbers, carrots, tofu, greens, rice, etc. Decent size if you're hungry. Really liked the different flavours and variety of ingredients. Would recommend this dish! Parking was kind of a hassle, had to circle around several times to find parking. Ambience and atmosphere was nice, really roomy, liked the layout. Not much selection of beer but it did the job. Friendly staff. Would recommend for the rice bowl!

Ate dinner at Boke Bowl recently with my husband. He had the house ramen and a cocktail, I ordered the mushroom steam buns and a small glass of sake. The portions are surprisingly small for the price - the steam buns were more like an appetizer than a meal, while the ramen would be considered a small portion at most ramen and pho places in town. We were happy with the quality and taste of the food, and I actually appreciate smaller portions, but this place would seriously benefit from some happy hour prices, especially since its an order-at-the-counter setup (our food actually came out way before our drinks did, which isn't a huge deal, but given that they weren't busy, seems odd). There are too many other places in town where you can get the same thing for significantly less money, and they don't have anything to really set them apart. On the flip side, the drinks were decent pours for the price (especially the sake, which was a good-sized glass for $4).

Hey, if your looking for something a little different for lunch, this is your spot. The location is different, inner eastside of town. You order when you arrive at the counter, a little different for this quality of food. Finally the food is different, its not Asian nor does it try to be some sort of fusion food. Its just a bowl with great noodles, great broth, and you decide what makes you happy on top. I like the pork, with pork belly (don't judge me), with fried chicken (which is awesome!), and I like to add fried tofu to finish it off. I would take a picture but never slow down long enough once the food arrives. Speaking of seating, its a little different, you sit where ever you can find space. I have never had a problem with finding a seat and I go during the lunch rush. Check it out, you will find its not cheap but your belly will be full and happy!

First time here was a little confusing at first but the person who took our order explained how's to read the unusual menu. It is a nice fusion of Southern and Asian cooking. Very eclectic and unusual even for Portland standards. The food was delicious and was searched quickly. Everything was fantastic. We already know what we will order on our next visit. We can hardly wait!

I had a trio of buns- fried chicken, brisket and pork belly. Each one perfectly topped. The service was great - honest and friendly. I wish they had their own delivery service; they use Caviar which limits what they’ll deliver. I walked about 3 miles round trip to get what I wanted and it was worth it!!

I have been reading about this spot, and finally had a chance to try it. You order before sitting down. Wait staff were friendly and attentive. We visited on a Tuesday, and the lunch crowd was a mix of family and business people. Our order did not take long to arrive - maybe 10 min. tops. The food was very flavorful. Everything we tried was wonderful, and would encourage ordering a few things and share if possible as the portions are ample. We sampled: Fried chicken steamed buns - the chicken was extremely juicy, flavorful, and not a bit greasy; Pork Dashi Ramen bowl - a very flavorful broth with veggies and smoked pulled pork; Caramelized Fennel Dashi Ramen Bowl - a lighter, fennel flavored broth; A warm broccoli, cauliflower, mango, tofu crouton salad - simply devine! Hours are limited on some days to lunch only. Beer, wine, sake, and spirits are available.

Lunch for two adults and three children $50. Food was okay service was crap. Would not recommend this place.

I had the Cold Ramen Saled with pork. I really liked the hard boiled eggs marinated in soy sauce and all the vegetables included in the salad. It was an excellent choice. Try the rice tots with ginger sauce. Unique.

I had heard great things about Boke Bowl, but it was nothing to write home about. I tried the ramen with the fennel broth and found it to be oily and not very flavorful. The environment was noisy and a bit chaotic - lots of families with kids - and customers ignored the rule about not saving seats. The rice bowls looked better than the ramen. With some work to the menu and the environment, could be a much better spot in the Central Eastside.

Returned to our favorite ramen place to sample its offering for Portland Dumpling Week. The pork filled dumplings were perfect -- first steamed then lightly fried to make the bottom dough have the right amount of crunch. Hope Boke adds these regularly to its menu.

Boke Bowl was absolutely delicious. A must visit in Portland. The staff were friendly, knowledgable & patient explaining the menu, ingredients & ordering options. The Dim Sum was fresh. The dining room & restroom were clean. A very comfortable environment. I had the Bambino (small) fried chicken rice bowl & pickled cucumbers. My friends had a variety of other dishes including a few items from the dim sum cart & everything was the perfect temperature & seasoning. I don't get to that part of town often but would definitely go back.

Went to Boke Bowl West for the new "dim sum aka boke sum" for lunch with the family of 4. Each dish was perfectly presented and delivered fresh and hot! Very creative dishes! The meat eater loved the "chicken and waffle" - I love the sautéed greens with black bean sauce. Desserts were tasty too! Loved the banana profiteroles w tamarind glaze! Lunch for 4 with a coffee and a Kombucha was $90 including a 15% tip - so bring your credit card! All of the staff were super friendly and very professional! Not sure we can afford to make this a regular event due to the cost - but fun every once in awhile.

Having never had Korean food, I was surprise at the excellence of this restaurant. Everything was uniquely tasty, nothing too strong. I had a combination of 3 different Bao sandwiches. Brisket, pork belly and fried chicken. I also had a warm cauliflower and brussel sprout salad. All was delicious and I highly recommend this place for a modest lunch. Service was excellent and quick.

This place has delicious ramen and awesome dim sum!! The rice tots are probably the best things they sell here. Also, all of the staff is really nice and friendly. We come here every time we visit Portland. If you’re in Portland, come to Boke Bowl

Someone must order the fried chicken. We love going to Boke bowl for the 3 steam buns or rice bowls. You can order 3 different buns, so the fried chicken, brisket, and pork belly buns are our favorite. We like to get a side of pickles and the fried pears. It's the perfect amount of food. Things to know: -Makes good takeout -The fried chicken has some heat (in a good way) -You can ask them to leave something off -Family friendly with kids chop sticks available -Quick enough service

Modern Asian food in Water Ave warehouse area. I-5 traffic whizzes past across the street. Rice bowls, noodle bowls, steamed buns, and entree salads,warm and cold, all delight the tongue and palate. The food is fresh and high quality.The seating is light, airy and spacious cafeteria style. Order at the front and they bring the food to your table. Staff is friendly, helpful and efficient. Couples come. Families with young children come, and business/work groups come across the Willamette River from downtown to enjoy the fare. Bonus features nearby include: Cargo, a bazaar of antique Asian import store; the Water Ave Coffee Bar; and the Union Pacific RR line midblock. It is worth the trip.

A group of co-workers stopped at Boke Bowl for a quick lunch while attending a conference near the convention center in Portland. The food was excellent, affordable and fast. My favorite was the steam buns with chicken. Buns were so delectable, light and fluffy and the chicken was crispy, almost like southern fried chicken. Will be back with others.

This must just be a fad destination because it does not resemble authentic or "the best" ramen one can get. Every component of the ramen dish seemed out of place-- definitely will not go there again.

I like the location of this place, but both times I've been there, the food delivery was spotty and the food was fairly bland. My wife's beef was very chewy and under-spiced the first time, and on our second visit, the portions were rather meager. Others in the place seemed happy and I know the place is very popular, so I'm just figuring that our luck was bad (but we're in no rush to return).

I went to the NW location but I understand there are two. The menu is easy to navigate. You pick your noodle, rice bowl, etc. and then select some really delicious and unique add-ons. The salads are great too. Nice outdoor seating and wonderful servers. Liquor drinks and tap beer are also available as well as a number of different drink choices. Great find.

Amazing food, friendly service, cold ramen salad was to die for on this hot summer day. Cant wait to come back again!

We stopped in here for lunch and after we ate my son immediately said he wanted to come back for dinner! He had a noodle dish and I had the brussel sprouts and cauliflower - yum!

The food is fantastic! I went here for dinner with a few friends and we just ordered several dished and shared. We ate rice tots, steam bums, a rice bowl, among other things. Everything was excellent.

This time we came 1/2 hour early to avoid the noise/chaotic lunch hour. Springtime, cloudy skies in NW Neighborhood/Nob Hill warehouse. Hard to find parking place this time, easier last time @ dinner. With that said you can get here by taking the Green North-South Line of Portland Streetcars goes by this busy corner of Northrup & 18th. We were the only in line to order @ their front counter which can seem somewhat cold & indifferent for those not used to it. You take a number & they bring your order to you. I was pleased to see that Jackie offered me a printed menu for those who like to read more of what we are ordering. Actually the TA reviews are more helpful in finding out the different nuances of each of Boke Bowl menu items, take a minute & check them out. For the price you pay you'd like to know. We all decided on our favorite dish, the Fried Chicken Rice Bowl, made of deep fried chicken breast(it has a little season going on), mushrooms, kimchi, pickles & veggies...total came to $38.50. H2O for drinks. We were able to find a table as we watched the guys behind the raised kitchen counter prepare our bowls. It was about 10 minutes before we were served. Not disappointed, the food was consistent w/ our prior lunch & dinners here.The flavors are one of a kind, fresh & Japanese-Asian-vegetarian in style. Appeared clean (cement flooring) cafeteria style. You have windows to look onto the busy street life outside & a feeling of space inside with the high ceilings. Only small irritant is the noise level. All three times we have visited for lunch or dinner we have had difficulty talking to our families from across the table with all the commotion. You get one young child in there plus the music overhead & the place becomes an echo chamber. Makes it hard to carry on a conversation without yelling at each other or sitting it out until you leave. Next time we'll plan to either try their Steam Buns, 3 per order ($11), Salad of cold ramen noodle w/ Pork or Tofu, or a vegetarian rice bowl of caramelized fennel dashi ($11). Our absolute ramen noodle dish is the Pork Bone Dashi, which was simiply delicious w/ their awesome rice tots ($12). Soft beverages are available, Sake ,Beer/cider, wine or house bottled highballs plus some sweets like Bake Twinkie ($2), Tapioca ($4), or Chocolate 5-spice Pot de-Creme ($5).They even have small plates like peanut butter & jam ($7), seasonal pickles & seaweed($7), Sui Mai ($8) pork & shrimp 5 per order. Definitely caters to vegetarians patrons such as offering sub gluten free yam noodles in any bowl..($2). I read the eggplant steam buns were amazing. Some menu items seem to be specific to the location of the restaurant.

I'm a big noodles fan, and my daughter is a big ramen fan. We happened to pass through Portland, and decided to try this place out. You must order before you sit down. It's not a problem until you need to reorder, and there's a line to order. The sign tells you to cut the line, but it's kind of embarrassing to cut the line when there's only one person taking order and there are many in front of you. We order several noodle bowls, and an order of steam buns. For dessert, we tried the mango tapioca cup. The noodles weren't bad, with chewy noodles that I like. The soup is ok, but not particularly tasty. My daughter ordered an extra piece of chicken with hers, and it tasted pretty good. My pulled-pork noodle was just ok. The steam buns were tasty, but too much buns. The tapioca was dull and not that tasty. The three of us spent about $50, quite a bit for noodles. It's not clear whether we should clean up the dishes, or someone else will. Interesting to try, but nothing special.

If you are Ramen savvy, the ramen here is just ok. It still gets 5 stars because everything else. The steam buns are awesome. All the pickled vegetables, awesome. Fried chicken is unreal tasty. Seriously, the brussels sprouts are the best vegetable dishes I have ever had. One of our close friends is vegan gluten free, Boke bowl is one of our go to spots when she visits.

We stopped in here for a quick lunch after sightseeing with some in-town guests. The Brussels sprouts tofu dish was amazing. the dining room is crowded and loud with long tables you share with other guests.

They used to make the ramen on the premises. Now they bring it from another Portland supplier. The food we ordered came warm, not hot. There are great healthy options, and children are welcomed. Easy place to eat alone, bright, and service is available but not taxing. Look elsewhere if you're up for a sedate and fancy two hour dining experience. But for interesting ingredient combinations and some especially healthy options, this is an excellent choice.

It's not exactly on the beaten path, being in an industrial area of the east waterfront in Portland, but once you are inside you are very happy! The exact nationality is not clear, but it's definltely Asian and I would guess Korean. There was a reassuringly large contingent of Asian customers, always a good sign. The menu choices, on the large tall wall, are noodle bowls and rice bowls with various options. I chose a shrimp rice bowl with cornmeal oysters on the side. It was outstanding!! We were a family group, including young children, and they were quite content as well. I sent my grandson back for two vanilla miso twinkles for a shared dessert. Wow! Even the labels on the condiments were creative, with pictorial images of the spiciness levels. I enjoyed my shiso vinegar drInk as a not too sweet new thing to try. I would definitely go here again. Fun for everyone and pleasantly different.

This place is great for lunch. The food is just really good, but a bit different. They are different in that they are not trying to be some sort of Asian fusion, they just serve most of their food in a bowl with a really good broth. They have a different style of seating, seat yourself where every you can find space, I go during the lunch rush and never have a problem finding a seat. The place is not cheap but the food quality and portion size is perfect. I always leave filled up but not weighed down. If you want a little different lunch and something more experimental, check it out. If your afraid of your food touching and need someone to seat you this is not your place.

There is a Boke west and a Boke east and we love both locations for different reasons. Boke west has amazing homemade dim sum every Sunday and Monday and it is extremely tasty and unique. Not your everyday dim sum. The carts come around often and the servers speak clearly so you can understand your different options. Try the Ox Tail, Pork Jam with Kimchi and Black Bean Spare Ribs dim sum if you can. Amazing flavor. Boke east has Boke Bird night every Thursday night which is basically the best marinated fried chicken in the entire universe served with hot dim sum buns to put your savory chicken into with their special sauce. This is insanely tasty. A pickle dish is served with the meal and it compliments it well. I advise you order extra warm buns as they are only fifty cents per bun extra. I dream about the Boke Bird. Both locations serve outstanding dim sum buns and noodle bowls. I especially like their pork belly buns and seafood noodle bowl. AND... They make their own Twinkie style desert roll. Yum, yum, yum. Truly a Porkland, I mean Portland gem!

We eat at Boke at least once a month. It continues to provide excellent food with an Asian twist and with a Portland foodie angle. Everything is made from scratch from the best ingredients. You can watch them make the steamed bun dough as you eat at one of the long communal tables. Ramen with duck confit and outstanding fried chicken in steamed buns give you an indication of the variety of excellent fare on offer.

My kids live in Portland and one of their favorite things is to take me food-exploring. On this rather chilly day, we ended up at Boke Bowl. I'm not a fan of ordering at a counter because I usually have no idea what I want but the helpful server made a suggestion or two and I ended up with the Shrimp Rice Bowl. My daughter and son-in-law both chose Ramen. Everything was fresh and hot and my shrimp were nice-sized and cooked to perfection. the bowl has seasonal vegetables in it. Imagine my surprise to find pumpkin! Being chopstick-challenged, I was glad for the fork and spoon provided. Cleaned my bowl. It's a great place for a quick but well-prepared lunch.

This was my second trip to Boke Bowl , the cafe is cute and easy to get to on the Portland trolley , it stops right in front of it . The staff is friendly and the combinations in the bowls they offer exceptional . At $10.00 the bowl is big enough to share , so at $5.00 a person for lunch or dinner you are eating healthy good food in a great atmosphere . We tried the chicken bowl which was filled with mushrooms , rice , cabbage , spinach and a bunch of other goodness . The cocktails on the menu all sounded delicious along with unique blends of food combinations and fresh source ,it's a sure bet when in Portland .

Arrived on foot to this restaurant, 11:30 AM on a weekday. Parking in this area is not easy because of location in NW Portland where construction & parking is at a premium. Located @ corner of 1200 NW 18th Ave, conveniently along the streetcar route. Impressed w/ the updated, clean, efficiently laid out openness of this restaurant. Wood floors & high ceilings give a feeling of casual dining. Tables inside & outside (heaters available when sitting outside.) They have a dining bar of sorts where u can eat quickly w/ out needing to sit at a table, for those on the run. Clean restrooms available. Lunch crowd began to arrive w/ noise level & time standing in line (5-7 minutes) increased substantially. Helped by user friendly menu displayed above front counter. Lorenzo was fabulous in helping w/ our multiple credit card transactions & maintaining good eye contact w/ us. He didn’t brush us away, took time to make sure our orders were complete in every detail down to our requests for water. By noon, understandably, the place was hopping. Thankfully, an very attentive staff member made sure we were taken care of by going out of his way in clearing & setting a table up to accommodate the 3 of us. May have been the owner/manager himself, apologizes for not catching your name. Appreciate the attention, especially when people have schedules to meet. All of our orders were beautifully presented, substantial & tasty. They arrived in short order. Each one unique. The photos I attached speak for themselves. We ordered the Chichen Rice Bowl ($12.00), Shrimp Ramen ($14.00), & Pork Rice Bowl ($11.00) ...all of which we highly recommend. Keep up the great work!

I wandered in to Boke Bowl West* while staying over for a business trip at the Northrup Inn nearby, and what a treat! It was tough to choose between the rice and ramen bowls, as well as pork buns, but I settled on a rice bowl with fried chicken (rice bowl with fried chicken? yes!). It was awesome, with fresh veggies, kim chee and a number of items that, together, tasted wonderful. Fun atmosphere and prompt service. *Boke Bowl West 1200 NW 18th (at Northrup)

We met family for dinner, their choice, and had low expectations. Ordering at the counter is not my favorite way to begin a meal. Asian food of any kind is our preference, and Boke Bowl did not disappoint. Everything was delicious. Now that we know about it, we will not hesitate to go again.

A cafeteria style dining room and seeral common tables. The food is very good but the ambince is lacking.

This restaurant is a good place for lunch. Their rice or noodle bowls are perfectly sized for a lunch meal. We each had a rice bowl. Mine included pulled pork, kimchi, pickled cucumbers, mushrooms, and corn. The rice was nicely flavored and the meat and vegetables added additional layers of flavor and texture. The restaurant itself is very open and airy. The setting is casual - you order at a counter, get a number and they bring the food to your table.

I have eaten lunch a couple of times now at Boke Bowl on Water Ave in Portland and I'll be back for sure. It may sound odd, but I had the tofu rice bowl with an add-in of fried chicken. The ingenuity comes from the vast array of pickles and such in the bowl and not an over-reliance on a huge amount of rice to fill up the diner. I lost count of the many interesting items arranged in the bowl, things like roasted squash, cucumber pickles, kimchi. Every bite was a new arrangement of flavors and textures. Someone who dislikes spicy dishes might want to mention it to the server; I like some heat in my food, and even added a bit of chili sauce to the result. It's a tough balance for a restaurant so make your preferences clear when you order.

My husband and I tried this restaurant and we probably won't go back. He ordered a simple noodle bowl with chicken and it really wasn't good. I had a rice bowl with pulled pork that could have been very good except that it wasn't hot. The temperature of the rice was not even warm (temperature - not seasoning). With a beer and an ice tea our bill was close to $30.00. It's too bad, this could have been a keeper.

when we entered the westside location, we did not know whether wait to be seated or seat ourselves. the meat texture and flavor of the har gow and shui mai were not good. the meat was loose and salty, rather than binded and coarsely chopped. the rice skin falls apart when touched. the pork belly rice noodle was swimming in too-sweet soy sauce. korean spicy chicken wings should have been their specialty, instead it tasted steamed in liquid smoke and was not spicy nor crispy. the tables are just too small for eating dim sum. tea served in tea bags is a no-no.

Boke bowl is a fun, surprizingly delicious, Korean menu with unusual menu items. The Fried pears were so good, carmelized, and a little salty. Pork belly buns! Yummy. Another order at the counter establishment that is really efficient.