OK Chicken and Khao Soi is now open on Southeast Division, taking over the building that once housed Pok Pok and bringing Northern Thai cooking back to the storied space. The new spot, led by restaurateur Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom with chef Sam Smith and bar director Eric Nelson, fills the room with charcoal-grilled aromas and coconut-curry steam. The menu stays focused on khao soi and shareable grilled and fried chicken in a buzzy, communal setting.
The Team Behind the Food
Restaurateur Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom teamed up with chef Sam Smith and Eric Nelson to shape the concept, leaning on experience from projects such as Langbaan, Yaowarat and Eem. The group spent time researching Northern Thai dishes in Chiang Mai and built the project around charcoal grilling and regional curries as its backbone, as reported by Portland Monthly.
What To Order
The khao soi is the headliner, with a thick coconut-curry sauce clinging to chewy egg noodles, but it would be a mistake to skip the marinated double-fried wings (peek gai tod ka-min) or the playful ovaltine toast. Those dishes, along with boozy and nonalcoholic slushies and attentive service, make the menu well suited to sharing, as reported by Eater Portland.
Where It Is And Practical Details
OK Chicken & Khao Soi sits at 3226 SE Division Street and lists service Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant's OpenTable listing shows hours, menus and reservation availability, which can help plan visits and larger-group bookings, per OpenTable.
A Space That Remembers Pok Pok
The team has embraced the building’s history while making clear they are not trying to recreate Andy Ricker’s restaurant. Remnants like the room-sized charcoal grill and even a few former Pok Pok staff appear alongside the new menu. Coverage of the opening documents the traces of Pok Pok’s legacy in the dining room while noting the trio’s explicit aim to honor rather than reproduce what came before, as reported by Eater Portland.
Expect weekend crowds and a buzzy bar scene, with smaller groups likely to have better luck if they arrive early or midweek. If you are coming with friends, plan to order several plates to share. That is when the place really shines.
