Fish Sauce Reviews

I first experienced Vietnamese food in Los Angeles at a restaurant owned by a “boat person” who spoke perfect French. The year was 1977, and I was writing for a westside newspaper that covered the Orthodox Jewish section of L.A. There, nestled amid the Kosher salami and kreplach, was a tiny Fairfax Avenue eatery that specialized in the cuisine of Vietnam, a country we still didn’t fully understand, but one with which we had just fought a long, grueling war. The owner, a pleasant, mustachioed man in his late 40s, had only recently arrived in the United States, a refugee who was able to rescue what was left of his family from the devastation of his native Saigon. For whatever reason, he and I became fast friends, and slowly, he taught me some of the history of Vietnam and of its wonderful people and cuisine. Even though I had learned of the French colonization of Vietnam and Cambodia in school, it never really sank into my youthful brain. Strangely, it was through my friend’s explanation of the food that I began to realize the influence France had on the culture of the land and its people. That Banh Mi sandwich I came to love was served on what resembled a French baguette and smeared with a smooth and flavorful, (and very French,) pate, and the omelet I ate for lunch, crepe-like and filled with seafood, was almost the identical one Julia Child, The French Chef, was demonstrating to her TV audiences. To me, it seemed as if Chinese food was suddenly shifted to Paris, but this was years before Wolfgang Puck opened his famous Chinos on Main, in Santa Monica. This international mixing of traditional flavors and ingredients was what would become known in the 1990s as Fusion Cuisine, and it would revolutionize the restaurant world and the taste buds of American foodies from Lawrence, Massachusetts to Portland, Oregon. Among the dozens of Vietnamese restaurants that made it across the great divide to the City of Roses, is my personal favorite, Fish Sauce, in what is known as the Alphabet District of westside Portland. Named after the ubiquitous fermented anchovy condiment of South East Asia, the restaurant sports a long, common table down its middle, bordered by traditional tables and chairs. Its non-assuming style reminds me very much of my first Vietnamese haunt on Fairfax in L.A. The result is an inviting atmosphere that cries out home-style eating, and owner, Lauren Huynh, herself an immigrant from South Vietnam, and her family, serve up a menu of traditional and modern Vietnamese specialties to satisfy the most finicky palate. The highest on my list of menu favorites is a bowl of hog heaven called Thit Kho, an exquisite combination of pork belly slow braised in coconut water, green onions and nuoc mam (the untranslated “fish sauce”). The stew is slowly braised until the pork literally melts, filling the broth with a delicious unctuousness that calms the soul as well as the belly. Whole hard-cooked eggs are added and left until they adopt the luscious brown color of the liquid. The resulting dish is served in a clay pot, with a mound of white rice and a side of fermented vegetables (dua chua). According to Lauren, Thit Kho is generally a New Year’s (Tet) dish, but she makes sure it’s available through most of the year. I have never seen it on any other Vietnamese restaurant menu in town, and consider it one of the finest dishes in Portland. Worth calling for in advance. Another stand-out specialty is a dish Lauren calls Botta’s Favorite, though I don’t know why. It’s a combination of deliciously grilled lemongrass pork or chicken and grilled shrimp served over jasmine-flavored rice and topped with two fried eggs. Grilled meats are a Vietnamese staple and are common throughout the country. What separates this dish from the others is the addition of the eggs, fried, but still runny creating a sauce that, combined with the grilled meats and fragrant rice comes to the mouth in pure pleasure. Ga Hainan, (Hainanese chicken), presents a seemingly simple plate of poached Draper Valley chicken with a fine sauce of soy, ginger and garlic. This is a main staple of Southeast Asian cooking and the national dish of Singapore with its roots in the Hainan Provence of China. The chicken is slowly poached in its own broth at just below the boiling point until it is fork tender and juicy. It is served with a large portion of white rice, the garlic sauce, and fermented vegetables. The ideal dish for someone who loves chicken in its purest form. Naturally, Pho is on the menu, and is prepared with your choice of thinly sliced filet mignon and Vietnamese meatballs or chicken. Chao Tom, sugarcane sticks wrapped in minced shrimp meat and fried, Lettuce Wraps, Vietnamese salads and the popular Banh Mi, the aforementioned baguette sandwiches in several varieties are also included on the carte. Prices at Fish Sauce are more than fair, with dishes running in the $12 to $18 range, and the restaurant offers a Happy Hour menu before and after dinner hours that offers most of the menu items at reduced cost. There is a full bar featuring exotic drink concoctions as well as beer, wines, sake and specialty drinks. Ca Phe Su’a Da, another reminder of the French influence, is a rich dark coffee, brewed to order, sweetened with condensed milk and usually served cold. A perfect ending to a perfect visit to one of Portland’s finest Vietnamese restaurants. Fish Sauce is at 407 NW 17th Avenue in Portland. Phone 503-227-8000.

While I had the flavorful lemon(?) pork sandwich with dipping sauce, the menu had many interesting choices to choose from, including a melding of sake and a mojito!

The chicken pho is to die for. The broth has an incredibly rich flavor and the chicken slices are generous with a lovely delicate texture. I like the happy hour portion--a perfect meal with a glass of wine. Add a shrimp and pork salad roll if you're starving.

This was my first visit to Fish Sauce, and it knocked our socks off! The Happy Menu was amazing and the prices were great! We had: Gỏi Cuốn (salad rolls) = yumm! Chem Chép Nướng (grilled mussels) = taste buds very happy Bò Bía (jicama rolls)=delectable! Chả Giò (crispy rolls) = delicious Kalbi (bbq beef) = Awesome The prices for these small plates ranged from $2.50-$7.00. The Happy Hour drink menu was outstanding. I had The Green Lemon: damrak gin, pacific rum, combier peach liqueur, lemon, basil leaves, demerara sugar - it was wonderful. When I was leaving I was thinking "when can I come back". So happy when I find these small treasures in our lovely city!

This restaurant is conveniently located. We arrived for happy hour and sat outside to enjoy the weather. The hostess and waiter were very friendly and explained the dishes and shared their recommendations. We tried the bap nurong (grilled corn), bo cuon (beef rolls) and banh mi pork sandwich with sweet potato fries. The food was very tasty. The pork in the sandwich was full of flavor and the fries were super tasty. During our visit, it got super busy and our waiter was doing his best to keep up with all of the tables.

Our friends recommended this place and although we were skeptical we LOVED IT! Food was all delicious and the happy hour specials made it super affordable. Great wait staff too.

We had a date night here - this place is not good for young kids - and it was great. First thing, wonderful looking place, great atmosphere, the owner did such a terrific job on the space. Looks great, a nice place to be. Second, very nice and fun staff, including the humble owner. Third, good drinks. Finally, great menu - hard to select just a few things - and the food did not disappoint! We were in Vietnam a few months ago, and while we can't find everything we enjoyed there this place was a good spot to go to! Two of us shared the beef rolls, the Bun bowl and the Beef Luc Lac. Can't wait to go back soon! Quite small, so maybe hard with a larger group unless you make a reservation. One thing I think would be cool - since they are in the old Saint Cupcake space, they should have a few "dots" for dessert. But I don't know if Saint Cupcake even exists anymore?? We did not have room for dessert anyhow!

EVERYTHING on the menu is great. Their variety of rolls are superb. My favorite dishes are the beef Pho and Bum......but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

Came for a late dinner, staffing was a bit slow and the prices were higher then expected, but the food and drink were great and the waitress understood the menu and had good recommendations.

I had wonton soup here and thought: "oh, this is how wonton soup is supposed to be." Great broth, great ingredients. Then followed with the best banh mi I've ever had. Highly recommended.

We discovered Fish Sauce by accident while walking the dog, it looked busy and smelled great so we asked for a table and got one for 15 mins from walking in. Busy, lots of kids early on (happy hour I guess). The shrimp in lettuce leaves was great, light and tasty, the korean beef was delicious. Fairly priced, healthy-ish food, there's a nice busy vibe about the restaurant... a big communal table in the middle with smaller tables window side, its fairly small in there. I didn't get to try a cocktail but I will next time! There is outdoor seating for the summer so I look forward to going back then. Great find.

Great atmosphere. Authentic cuisine, friendly service with family styled dining. I like that the place isn't too large, allowing for an intimate feel. Good prices and enough options on the menu.

Place is quite small. Food was excellent quality but maybe a bit more pricey for Asian than I am used to. Person I went with wanted to go back so that is a good sign. Clean. Good wait staff. Nothing negative to say.

Our first time at this restaurant while we had a "staycation" in downtown Portland. We found through reviews and were not disappointed. We shared the grilled pork rolls for an appetizer with our cocktails: Sakejito for me and the Sunstreaker for my husband. All I can say is "Yum"! I think we had seconds on the drinks! We both had to try the Pho-delicious deep flavors in the broth and huge portions! One of the best we've had in Portland. The atmosphere is lively and loud, but the space is cramped. We sat at the large shared table in the middle of the restaurant. Next time I would wait for a table! Service was excellent.

I am always looking for the GF. My daughter and I were visiting Portland and our friend, a local, took us here. I guess a fire required a remodel - very nice feel - community style with a couple two person tables. The Pho looked amazing but don’t overlook the Curry - a day later, I want to go back!

I love Asian food and this place did not disappoint. Interesting dishes, super tasty, fast and friendly service. I can see why this is the locals go to place.

My review for this place was 4 stars until I came back for the second time and had a lesser experience. The food here is good and the value is even better but the service has some flaws that I am not a fan of 1. We ask the server to put the dressing on the side, when the order came, it was added to the salad 2. We asked if a certain dish has refined sugar, we were told no but we know what refined sugar tastes like esp if you havent had it for 15 years 3. We asked the server to wrap our left over dish, she took the plate, and stacked the other dirty plates on top of our left over food, which we just threw away. I was a fan at first but not anymore on the second visit.

Small, local, and fantastic! We are always trying to find new places to try in Portland, and Fish Sauce was amazing. We went with a group of 4, everyone ordered something different and everything was equally delicious, fresh, and in many cases Local as well! It is limited seating, so book a reservation. There is outdoor seating, when it is nice! We got there at the end of Happy Hour, and it must be popular because the place was packed. Add this one to your list!! Portland Monthly got this one right for sure!

I ended up getting Phó. It was good. It was expensive. I did get what I paid for though. Good if you're in the area

You must try their fresh wraps and their beef wrap! Good service and the phone bowl is huge! Great atmosphere as well inside and outside! Didn't have any....but it looks like they have a big cocktail list!

The food was delicious and reasonably priced. Great service and atmosphere. A nice casual and relaxed meal

This place is great for happy hour! Their cocktails are really good and the chicken wings are yummy! If you have a kid with you, get the fresh coconut juice! They will serve it in a freshly cut up coconut with a straw, it's super fun!

This a really nice Vietnamese-themed place in the Alphabet District in Portland. We stopped for lunch on a sunny afternoon. The compact place oozes hipness with the overwhelming back back groaning with every sort of booze to produce cocktail heaven. Collection of tables along the large plate glass windows with a long rustic, wood communal table dominating the space. Outdoor tables on a patio for when the weather permits. Service was spotty at first, but got into full gear later in the meal. Food was excellent; but wasn’t exactly everything we expected: need to return and study the menu and ask questions about it.

Amazing cocktails and the food was so incredibly tasty! So many menu items we have to go back! great atmosphere!

Love the food here, especially the spring rolls, and the Bun noodle dish. The wait staff is friendly. I like to order off their happy hour menu when I go there before 6pm. Also, it's enjoyable to sit outside in the summer evenings.

My second trip to Fish Sauce was better than the first. The food is delicious, fresh and yes nutritious but in a great looking industrial type space. The chef came out to talk to us to make sure everyone was happy. (We were). This is in contrast to a bad experience at trying to get a table at Laurelhurst Market.

We did take out - waited a bit for the order, and the restaurant was busy. The dish I had had a large proportion of bok choy to tofu and other additions. The rolls were generous and tasty. Price was high for the meal.

My wife and I stopped here to see what it was all about and have a drink before seeing a movie at The Mission Theater. The host and servers were friendly and prompt and made sure we were comfortable. We had two different cocktails and enjoyed them. The fact that we can sit outside with our dog and that the service was good means we will come back to eat there soon.

This is just a neighborhood restauant with some tables inside and picnic tables outside. Their happy hour drinks are yummy...about $7 each. Their happy hour food is great! We had the pork spring rolls and the ginger rolls, all in rice paper. Tremendous! Also had the Korean ribs...not really rib like...more like a thinly pounded steak in a great sauce cut into,strips. Get this! Also,had the beef tenderloin rolls....good,,but I'd stick w the other items I mentioned. Great little place!!

This is a great little find in Portland. We were here with a couple of our friends before we went to see a show at the Mission Theater. Our server was Kathleen, "Kat" as she's called here, but she is fantastic and very knowledgeable about the menu. We will definitely be back as all of the food we had was superb and service was outstanding. This place does fill up fast, so be prepared. Also, parking can be kind of interesting in this area, so plan accordingly. They do have a couple of spots in front, but you have to be lucky to get one. But it's very convenient to the theater, food is great, and it has a cool vibe and very open. Nice people working here, too. Go check it out and you will not be disappointed.

The fresh rolls are yummy as are the lettuce wraps. You can't go wrong with Pho. The generous portion served is delicious; the ingredients fresh and of high quality. They also serve some terrific drinks. You can sit at a table for two or join the long wooden table that runs the length of the room. Service is good.

10 of us ate there and we had 10 different dishes. Everything was cooked to perfection and had an amazing blend of flavors. Wait staff was friendly and helpful in chosing a dish and the lovely lady who cooked, came out and greeted all of us when we left!! Going back again soon!

I enjoyed a nice meal of shrimp curry with rice. The lace felt a little cramped but the serving staff were excellent. The menu was quite large and varied.They provide gluten free and dairy free dishes.

Had business lunch with a friend. Well decorated and contemporary resto in a quiet neighborhood. Food was good, but a bit on the pricey side. Would I dine there again? Maybe.

Okay, full disclosure here. We did take out. That can have an impact on your food quality, I understand. Thai is flavorful, and this was kind of 'meh.' Our friends are big fans of spicey, and they did not get spicy-not even close. But then, when you order steamed Tofu and Vegetables, how spicey can that get? We decided to do take out since the restaurant is pretty small and fills up fast. And the restaurant has one big, long table that goes the length of the establishment. Not sure why this is a trend in the restaurant world right now, but am not into striking up a conversation with a complete stranger, when I'm trying to focus on my own party. Just saying. We were there in the Winter, and it looks like the outside seating would be lovely in the Summer. We will try again then.

Everything at this place is frikkin' delicious...that includes the drinks! Service is amazing! The Pho is really the best in town...none of the others will beat it...I promise! The rice cake with pork belly is a great start before having the chicken pho (most tender and juiciest chicken ever)!

Surprisingly there aren't that many Vietnamese restaurants in Portland. This place came highly recommended. However the menu is VERY limited. The service is absolutely terrible. To be honest, we were warned about the poor service before we went. We had to wait over an hour for a noodle bowl and when our food finally came it was COLD!!! If you read my other reviews you will see that I am a big fan of Vietnamese food. This is one of the worse Vietnamese restaurants I have ever visited.

We have eaten here several times. Everything we have had has been excellent, but the Banh Mi sandwiches, especially the Chinese sausage ones. are outstanding. There are a few single tables indoors, but much of the seating is family style. There is quite a bit of outdoor seating. Fish Sauce is popular with groups after work, so it can be crowded. In addition to beer and wine, they have a cocktail menu and an appropriately trendy mixmaster.

I went on a Friday evening for happy hour with friends - and sadly the indoor seating was booked for a private party- so we chose the outdoor patio dining (even in the rain) and the Servers promptly made sure we had large umbrellas over the table. Super nice staff - excellent service. Salad rolls are fresh -but on the small side - I tried one of the Banh Mi Sandwiches (lemongrass pork) - it was a bit on the dry side - the baquette seemed a bit hard - ( I can only compare it to the delicious ones I've had a Jade Teahouse in Sellwood - which are Excellent). Overall not a bad place - I would try it again! On a nice sunny summer evening.

We were looking for some eats while waiting to go to a show at the Mission Theater. An awesome surprise to find this great foodie heaven. Fried mussels, grilled prawns, tofu, chicken, and house fish sauce all fantastic. The sweat potato fries are the the best we ever had. As Arnie would say "I'll be back" for sure. Loved it!