Langbaan, the tiny 24-seat Thai tasting menu that helped put Portland on the national dining map, is getting ready to move again. Owner Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom plans to leave the current Northwest 23rd Place location for a standalone space on the east side, with the team eyeing an October 2026 opening. The new setup is expected to add daytime options without losing the intimate, multi course dinners that turned Langbaan into a reservation trophy.
According to The Oregonian, Langbaan will move into the former Bar Casa Vale space on Portland’s east side, marking the brand’s first true standalone restaurant. The buildout is slated to include a separate dessert room plus a dedicated morning program serving coffee, tea, and pastries alongside the tasting menu at night. Reporter Michael Russell’s story was the first public confirmation of the move and includes comments from Ninsom and his team.
What the menu and service will look like
Langbaan’s current tasting menu runs $139 per person, with reservations released in one month blocks through the restaurant’s booking system, per Langbaan. The restaurant’s team page lists executive chef Kitsanaruk “Pui” Ketkuaviriyanont and pastry chef Maya Erickson among the core leadership that will guide the food and pastry programs in the new space. The plan, the team notes, is to keep the focus on regionally sourced, coursed Thai menus rather than switching to an a la carte format.
From supper club to stand alone
Langbaan’s profile has only grown in recent years. The restaurant was named Outstanding Restaurant at the 2024 James Beard Awards, a national honor that cemented its status, according to the James Beard Foundation. Langbaan first operated as a hidden tasting room tucked behind Paadee, then relocated to its Northwest space in 2021, a shift documented by Eater Portland. Moving into a dedicated east side home adds another chapter for a restaurant that has repeatedly redefined how Portlanders experience Thai food.
Earl Ninsom’s local footprint
Restaurateur Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom already has a notable footprint across Portland, with projects that range from Paadee and Hat Yai to Yaowarat and the newer OK Chicken & Khao Soi. That mix of concepts lets his teams explore everything from tight tasting menus to more casual spots, according to Hoodline. In that context, a standalone Langbaan with its own daytime service fits neatly into Ninsom’s broader strategy and could bring the tasting menu closer to many of its regulars.
What to expect from the new room
As reported by The Oregonian, bar director Eric Nelson says diners will be led to a separate dessert room after they finish the savory portion of the meal, and Ninsom has called the project “Earl’s legacy.” The story also notes that pastry chef Maya Erickson will handle the morning coffee, tea, and pastry offerings for the daytime program. The team is aiming to open the new location by October 2026, although that timeline could shift as construction moves along.
Langbaan’s current seatings and reservation policies are still listed on its website, and the team is asking interested diners to sign up for updates through the restaurant’s mailing list, according to Langbaan. More details on the menu, seating structure, and exact opening date are expected as the buildout progresses.
