Portland Hainanese Chicken Rice: Success! đđ
The address is 609 SE Ankeny St C, but I had a little mix-up finding it with navigationâitâs not that the shop is hard to spot, but it actually shares a door with the ramen place next door đȘ! If I hadnât stared at the tiny "Nong's" on the sign to double-check, I wouldâve walked right past it. Thereâs no flashy sign outside, just a simple wooden plaque, giving off that old-school "let the food speak for itself" vibe. The second I pushed the door open, I smelled a faint aroma of chicken oilâmy excitement instantly shot up! Inside, the space is smallâonly 5 or 6 little wooden tables. Thereâs a handwritten-style menu on the wall, and at first glance, it was a bit confusing đ”âđ«: all the dishes are labeled in English and Thai spellings, with no food photos. After squinting at it for a minute, I figured it out: there are only 4 items total! Besides the signature Hainanese chicken rice, thereâs braised pork knuckle rice and two side dishes. I originally came for the chicken rice, but when my eyes caught "Braised Pork Knuckle Rice," I couldnât help being "greedy"âI gestured "1+1" to the server, who smiled and nodded. It seems theyâre used to guests wanting "both!" đ The food came out in just a few minutes. First, I dug into the Hainanese chicken rice: the chicken is cut into big, thick pieces, with pale, glossy skin. A light pinch with chopsticks showed how tender it wasâevery bite burst with juicy, sweet chicken flavor, no dryness at all đ„© The rice is the star! Each grain is separate but slightly sticky, infused with chicken oil and lemongrass. You could even eat a bowl plain without any sauce. There are two dipping sauces: classic ginger-scallion sauce (mildly spicy with ginger aroma) and bright orange chili sauce (sweet and tangy). Dipping the chicken in either takes the flavor to a whole new level đ. Then I tried the braised pork knuckle rice, and it blew me away! The pork knuckle is stewed until it falls off the boneâ the skin is chewy, and the fat melts in your mouth, no greasiness at all đ·. Itâs coated in a thick, savory sauce with a hint of sweetness. The rice underneath soaks up all that pork sauce, every grain glistening with flavor. Eating it with the pork knuckle? Pure joy. I was worried I couldnât finish two bowls, but before I knew it, both were cleanâI even scraped the sauce off the edges of the bowls! A serious heads-up though: Watch the surrounding area â ïž. When I walked over, I saw a few homeless tents by the road. Especially in the afternoon (3-4 PM) when there arenât many people, it can feel a bit scary. If youâre traveling alone, drive to a nearby parking lot and walk the last minute or two. If youâre with friends, itâs way more reassuringâsafety always comes first! #PortlandEats #PortlandHainaneseChickenRice #NongsKhaoManGai #PortlandFoodie #FoodFindPortland
