Rukdiew Cafe — Restaurant in Portland

Decent Thai restaurant with a really nice ambience. The best dish we had by far was the Lava Noodles, everything else was okay or not good at all. This is a generous 3 - star review. Party size: 4 - people

The order: Fresh Rolls - They were fine I guess? Peanut sauce was okay.. Chicken Wings - Pretty good! Great texture, decent sauce.

Between the appetizers above and the order below we waited 30 minutes. For Stir Fry and Soup/Curry, this seemed completely out-of-whack for not only what we're used to at standard Thai restaurants, but just in general as well.

Eggplant - Not good - boring and bland. Soy sauce and fish sauce notes only, not much else going on here. Didn't taste a hint of the "spicy garlic" sauce. Was expecting more from "spicy eggplant".. Pad Kee Mao - Really disappointing. The noodles were mushy, the sauce didn't have any hint of spice to it at all. Pad Kee Mao is one of my favorite dishes to order at Thai restaurants, and this was maybe one of the worst versions I've had. Khao Soi - Tasty broth, and the chicken was really good, but the noodles had way too much texture and we found ourselves chewing for a long long time. The pickled celery was a nice touch and added an interesting depth of flavor. Lava Noodles - Delicious! Red Curry with peanut-butter for a rich, smooth and spicy flavory. This was our favorite dish - noodles were very good as well - lots of vegetables..very good!

I wouldn't recommend and we won't be going back. You can do way better at a local Thai...

Don’t let the size of this place fool you—Rukdiew Cafe may be small and unassuming, but it’s a total hidden gem and absolutely worth the hype! It has that classic hole-in-the-wall charm, but it’s highly recommended to make reservations—and after visiting, I totally get why.

The food is incredibly authentic Thai cuisine, but with fun, unexpected twists that make the dishes stand out. One of the highlights for us was the crab wontons—packed with flavor and a surprise kick of curry! Every dish we tried had that perfect balance of bold spices, freshness, and creativity.

The decor is delightfully quirky and original, with playful items hanging from the ceiling that made the whole experience feel extra special. And just when we thought it couldn’t get more fun, we spotted a cotton candy machine by the exit—yes, you can grab a puff of cotton candy on your way out!

Service was top-notch—fast, friendly, and genuinely warm. We felt welcomed from the moment we walked in. Bonus points for the easy street parking, which made getting there a breeze.

If you’re in Portland and looking for something authentic, flavorful, and just plain fun, Rukdiew Cafe is a must-visit. We had a blast and can’t wait...

The ant in one of our waters should’ve been enough to turn us back but unfortunately, it was not. As soon as we walked in, we were given a small hand gesture to sit to the right of the restaurant. Confused, we found the most convenient spot to sit ourselves down. The food was truthfully, pretty awful. There are so many better places to indulge in Portland, and even Salem, unfortunately. We asked for our food to be spicy but it was about sweet as our desert was. The pork belly was ridiculously overcooked to a crisp, the drinks were not great, the restrooms were in awful shape, the food wasn't spicy even after we asked, the soft shell crab tasted like chemicals. Not the type to complain but this was an awful experience and I feel as if I cooked better Thai food at home. For reference we ordered pork belly, soft shell crab Pad Thai, and chicken krapow. I hate to say it but I unfortunately cannot return to this spot. If our customer service was a little better, maybe then it could’ve redeemed itself but even still, we were met with uninterested and inconsiderate waiters. Hope this place can once again live up to the 4.5 stars it’s...