ZAAP — Restaurant in Portland

September 4, 2025 Update:

I tried the same dish as on my first and second visits, the Pad Kra Pao (Spicy Basil) and my wife had Green Curry Chicken with sticky rice, she had heat level 2, mine was heat level 3. Mine was perfectly spicy for my needs. My wife's was a bit spicy for her, but she's been caring for her elderly father over the past two years who can only tolerate mild to bland spices.

Regardless, she loved her dish.

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Jan. 19, 2020

Moved into the neighborhood about a year ago and noticed shortly after ZAAP Thai opened up. While my wife and I had been thinking of going to ZAAP, we nearly always went somewhere else. Then fate struck one Sunday afternoon when the neighborhood lost power about 1 pm. Round 4:30 pm the power was still off and there was no way to make dinner, so I suggested we give ZAAP a try.

What a treat! We got there and another couple was finishing up their meal, so we had time to check out the place and take our time ordering. The owners are very friendly, prices are moderate with a casual atmosphere.

I ordered one of the specials, which was ground spicy pork, white rice topped with a fried egg and garnished with pickled cucumber slices and a dipping sauce. My wife had the green curry chicken bowl. Asked how hot we wanted, we both ordered 4 on a 1-5 hot scale. I grew up eating really spicy Mexican food in Arizona, and I will say my dish was nearly too spicy hot for me. But being a trooper, I persevered and did not regret it. The dish was ever as good as I had while visiting Thailand and could not have been happier with my selection.

My wife, unfortunately, asked if they could bring some sugar to help with the heat. It was too much for her. The owner, suggested she allow them to take it back and tone the spiciness down a bit. While they did, the place started filling up with neighbors suffering from the power outage as well. About two minutes later, my wife's meal came back and it was in her words "perfect!" and we finished our meals respectively. Stuffed and happy we walked back to our dark apartment and called it an early night.

ZAAP Thai will not disappoint if you like authentic Thai cuisine, beware of the heat if you're sensitive to spicy foods. My wife said next time we go she would probably get a 2 and I, more than likely, will stay with the 4 on the heat level.

They accept credit and debit cards, kid friendly, beer and wine. And most importantly, if you drive there, parking is located behind the building with access from Fremont Street.

Good thing we got to ZAAP when we did, the place was packed when we left. Probably got a whole new batch of soon to be loyal neighborhood customers. I know we'll be back.

12 hours later, our power finally came back on...

I've eaten at many Thai food restaurants around Portland, but this place is outstanding. Seriously. Don't waste your time anywhere else. Took the family there for the first time tonight, and I was searching for a new place and saw the 4.8 rating. We had the fried tofu as an appetizer and it was fantastic, the tofu was light and fluffy and it had the perfect crisp - you can tell when it's pulled from a fryer at the right moment - with a sauce that was a mix between peanut and sweet and sour. Then we had the orange chicken - mind-blowing. All sauces there are from scratch and you know it when you taste them, the depth of flavor is

Easily our new favorite Thai place. If you're looking for an authentic and delicious Thai dining experience, look no further than ZAAP. From the moment you step inside, you'll be greeted with warm and friendly service, and the aromas of fragrant spices and herbs will transport you to Thailand.

The menu features a wide range of traditional Thai dishes, from classic Pad Thai and Green Curry to lesser-known gems like Kra Pao Moo Krob (spicy basil stir fried with crispy pork belly) and Khao Soi (curry noodle soup). All of the dishes are expertly prepared using fresh ingredients and the perfect balance of spices and flavors.

After several other locations gave us wet and overly sweet noodles, a standout dish is the Pad See Ew, a stir-fry dish with wide noodles and Chinese broccoli.

With reasonable prices and generous portion sizes, it's also a great value.

Overall, ZAAP is an excellent choice for anyone looking for delicious Thai food in a welcoming and...