Chi Em MeKha Grill — Restaurant in Portland

New comer tip: you order and pay upfront when you walk in.

Pho MeKha is a cozy hole-in-the-wall eatery that litterally has 5 tables in it which makes for an intimate affair upon visit. The house special pho (Pho Dac Biet) costs about $17, which for some Pho eaters may seem a bit exspensive for a lunch item, and was served in a large bowl to me. When I tack on the Vietnamese ice coffee, the total came out at around $21-ish dollars (not including tip).

The pho was delicious, I especially like the broth that was used. The broth, leaned towards the sweeter end of the spectrum which makes for a pleasant surprise. The pho also contained thick slices of tendon and generous size pieces of tripe, all of which I love and look for in Pho. Meld everything together and I can see why the meal was priced at a premium. It was delectable lunch and I finished the whole bowl despite my intentions of getting a small bowl.

The 1 complaint I had was that the Pho came with a healthy dusting of black and gray pepper on top of the bowl--this threw me off. Despite the load of grounded pepper, it did not take away anything from the meal, it just looked unsightly to me.

Let's talk about the Vietnamese Ice Coffee. I did not finish the coffee (I usually do), you might, but I didn't. It's very strong. Ask for a to-go cup when ordering because you'll be sipping it throughout the day until the ice melts. The coffee has a very strong and had a sharp taste that cuts through all of the condense milk used. The after taste and aroma lingered in my mouth for a bit. I regret not letting the ice melt or cutting it with water.

All-in-in, though pricey for a lunch outting, Pho Mekha gets a good review from me. The pho was good, staff was nice and ethusiactic, and the place was clean. I think all of that is worth the premium charge. I hope to go back again when the weather is nice (written in early...

Update, August 2024

Mekha Grill has now expanded into the space next door - formerly shared by a barber and a lingerie shop. It appears that the kitchen now occupies the entirety of what used to be the seating area plus the original cooking space. The name has been changed as well - it is now Chi Em - Mekha Grill, and in addition to a new menu, the patio area out back has been expanded. Our most recent visit had one old favorite, and a new (to me) variation on it. The classic vermicelli bowl with grilled pork and fried spring rolls is still as good as ever. A special item on the menu essentially replaced the vermicelli noodles with an udon style noodle and a coconut based sauce. One thing that seems to be missing is banh mi - the sandwiches that were a regular choice for me. I didn't ask, because I was in a noodle frame of mind on my recent visit, but I may stick my head in and ask if they still offer banh mi.

The banh mi at Mekha Grill is good enough that it took me a long time, and many visits, to get around to trying anything else. But I'm glad I eventually got around to it. Everything here is well prepared, and though the prices originally seemed a bit high, the comparatively large portion sizes make Mekha a solid value. Like everything else I've tried here, the vermicelli with spring rolls came with crisp, fresh veggies. After multiple visits, I finally visited the wonderful patio out back, with lots of options for sitting in the sun, or in the shade. Mekha is a terrific addition to the...

We visited the Chi Em MeKah Grill on Sunday June 2nd. The restaurant is beautifully appointed and immaculate, (restrooms too)!

They have a outdoor dining patio that is magnificent. It's like a trip back to a Vietnam outdoor restaurant. Go on a nice night!

We met the owner and his wife and they are absolutely delightful, friendly and very attentive to our needs. Service was spot on.

We had 4 appetizers, Clams and lemon grass, wings, papaya Salad, shrimp. they were huge servings and were a meal in themselves.

Next we had the chicken and potato in yellow curry, vietnamese beef stew, and my favorite Bun Cha Ha Noi. These were amazing, flavorful, nice portions, perfect heat for us. The dishes come out beautifully presented, NOT the usual mess on a plate.

My wife is asian, and our circle of friends are from Vietnam. They also raved about the food. I have visited most of the Viet restaurants in the area and this by far is the finest!

If you research my reviews, I tend to be somewhat critical, and rarely hand out a 5 Star review. Chi Em earned every star.

My highest...