Pok Pok
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Andy Ricker |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
Area served | Portland, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Las Vegas |
Key people | Andy Ricker (founder) |
| Products | Northern Thai street cuisine |
Pok Pok was a collection of Thai dining establishments headquartered in Portland, Oregon, established and overseen by chef Andy Ricker. The brand garnered significant local praise and prestigious accolades, with The Oregonian describing it as "a quintessentially Portland institution" and highlighting its journey from a humble street cart to a celebrated restaurant.
The original flagship venue was situated on Southeast Division Street in Portland.[1] Its success spurred expansion to additional locations in Portland, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. However, all outlets ceased operations in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
Founded in 2005, Pok Pok specialized in northern Thai street cuisine, drawing inspiration from Ricker’s experiences traveling, particularly in Chiang Mai.[2][3] The restaurant earned the title of The Oregonian's 2007 Restaurant of the Year,[1] and was featured on Guy Fieri's television show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. In 2011, Andy Ricker received the James Beard Foundation award for "Best Chef: Northwest".[4] By the time it closed in 2020, The Oregonian referred to Pok Pok as "Portland’s defining restaurant for more than a decade."[5]
Outposts
In 2012, a Brooklyn location was launched; it earned a Michelin star in both 2015 and 2016 but lost this distinction in 2017.[6]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Due to increasing expenses, the Brooklyn site shut down on September 2, 2018.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Two venues opened in Los Angeles: Pok Pok Phat Thai debuted in Chinatown in December 2014, followed by Pok Pok LA in November 2015.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Both establishments closed within two years—Pok Pok Phat Thai ended operations in August 2016, while Pok Pok LA closed in March 2017.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 2018, Pok Pok Wing began service at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas within the Block 16 Urban Food Hall.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name This final branch discontinued service in December 2020 after its licensing agreement concluded.[7]
COVID-19 pandemic
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, all Pok Pok locations were shuttered indefinitely starting March 2020 due to social distancing rules that severely affected restaurants. Initially adapting to takeout and delivery models because dine-in options were suspended, the company later revised its approach following the coronavirus-related passing of New York chef Floyd Cardoz. Founder Andy Ricker described this event as a “wake-up call to the restaurant industry.” By mid-June, Ricker confirmed permanent shutdowns of Pok Pok NW, Whiskey Soda Lounge, and both northeast and southwest Pok Pok Wing outlets, maintaining only the main restaurant and potentially the southeast Pok Pok Wing. In October 2020, he announced that all remaining Portland locations would close. The Las Vegas Pok Pok Wing remained operational through December.
See also
- COVID-19 pandemic in Portland, Oregon
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry in the United States
- James Beard Foundation Award: 2010s
- List of restaurants in New York City
- List of Thai restaurants
External links
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- Establishments founded in Oregon in 2005
- California establishments from 2014
- California establishments from 2015
- California closures in 2016
- New York (state) closures in 2018
- Oregon closures in 2020
- Brooklyn Asian cuisine venues
- Asian dining spots in Los Angeles
- Closed Asian eateries in New York City
- Closed Asian dining establishments across the United States
- Former Michelin-starred restaurants in New York (state)
- Closed restaurants in Brooklyn
- Closed restaurants in Los Angeles
- Closed dining locations in Richmond, Portland, Oregon
- Closed Thai dining venues in Portland, Oregon
- Thai restaurants awarded Michelin stars
- Restaurants closed due to the COVID-19 crisis
- Restaurants that ceased operations in 2020
- Restaurants inaugurated in 2005
- Dining establishments in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Thai cuisine restaurants in California
- Thai cuisine restaurants in New York (state)
- Thai cuisine restaurants in the United States
- Michelin-starred Thai restaurants