It has been a turbulent couple of years for Portland’s food industry. While restaurants struggle to pivot in the current climate, locals have witnessed long-standing favorites close their doors permanently. But, as they say, when one restaurant door closes, another one opens. The forecast for 2022 is filled with many restaurant openings to be excited about! The future looks bright (and tasty).

Here are just a few restaurant openings that we are especially excited about in the new year. Mark your calendars so you can go check them out for yourself!

What’s better than a massive fried chicken sandwich? A massive fried chicken sandwich with a boozy milkshake! Popular food cart Jojo will open a brick and mortar in the former Daily Space Cafe in the Pearl District.  Offering a new expanded menu that includes boozy milkshakes, this is one opportunity our taste buds cannot miss.

Inspired by the Haitian food of his childhood, Gregory Gourdet will finally open his long awaited restaurant, Kann. The former “Top Chef” star and Departure chef has crafted a menu that incorporates seasonal ingredients of the Pacific Northwest with a Caribbean twist, all cooked over an open fire. Do you hear that? It’s the sound of our stomachs growling in anticipation.

Have you had a chance to try the curious fusion street food at Chaat Wallah? With their already popular location in the Brooklyn neighborhood, this year we can anticipate a new second location in Cully. From the flavor makers behind DesiPDX, Chaat Wallah serves exciting street food fusion blends, with mouthwatering dishes like the nacho chaat with paneer cheese crumbles, pomegranate and graham masala salsa, layered with tamarind and spicy chutneys, and smoked tandoori yogurt. Yum!

The dumplings that took Washington by storm, Dough Zone will finally open up a Portland location. Now with seven locations in Washington and two more in California, Dough Zone will continue its West Coast takeover with the newest location opening downtown in the former River Space event venue, coming this spring. Who’s ready for succulent xiaolongbao, pillowy filled buns, and tender noodles? I know we are!

The renowned Langbaan is evolving and with it, a new Thai experience will emerge! A new restaurant, Phuket Cafe, will open in the former Ataula space in NW and Langbaan will follow, evacuating the space in SE to continue service behind the new destination. Paadee will expand into the former Langbaan space. What does all this mean? More delicious Thai food for our beautiful city.

A new outdoor food hall, Hinterland, will open up on SE 50th between Division and Hawthorne. Plans for the space include a full service bar with 12 taps, WiFi, a television for game nights, and comfortable seating, including two covered dining areas with heaters. The impressive food cart line up includes Matt’s BBQ Tacos, Burger Stevens, Poppyseed, La Taquiza Vegana, and Third Culture Kitchen. Hinterland will surely be a happy addition to our booming food cart scene.

This will be an exciting year for food! Are your mouths watering yet? Feel free to reach out if you have any questions and please give us a follow on social media @sporkbytes!

Cheers!

The Spork Bytes Team