Spring is a season of transition, as Mercury music contributor Ryan J. Prado reminded us during his latest biweekly Spin Cycle column. And there sure have been a lot of changes over the past couple weeks since our last big food news roundup. Along with James Beard award updates and a quick shoutout to Franz Bakery, we’ve got a few noteworthy restaurant, bakery, and bar openings, plus news of chef and restaurant moves. Read on for the (literal pu-erh) tea.
Awards Season Update
On March 31, the James Beard Foundation announced the chefs, restaurants, and bars that would be moving forward to the final round of this year’s Restaurant and Chef Awards. There are three Portland folks still in the running. Chef Ryan Roadhouse of Nodoguro and chef Thomas Pisha-Duffly of Gado Gado are still in competition for the regional Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific award, while Scotch Lodge is in the running for the national Best Bar award.
Several Portlanders made it to the previous round but did not proceed, including Le Pigeon for the national Best Restaurant award, Coquine for the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program award, and Joel Gunderson of Heavenly Creatures for the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service award. Portland chefs Kristen Murray of Måurice and Taylor Manning and Siobhan Speirits of Cafe Olli were named in the first round for the Best Chef: Northwest award. Outside of Oregon, Josh Dorcak of MÄS in Ashland and Jack Strong of JORY in Newberg were also named in the first round. The Elbow Room in Vancouver, WA was also in the running for best new bar, but didn’t make it to this round.
The James Beard Award winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on June 15 in Chicago.
What’s New?
We missed this one last time, but Miss Orange Tea and Pastry opened in Southeast Portland on February 27. The tea house specializes in raw pu-erh tea from Yunnan brewed in the gong fu style, with each type labeled with its place of origin and its harvest date (some as old as 2007!), along with the kind of tasting notes you’d expect to see at a winery (fresh cut cedar, astringent, mineral finish). Oolong, black tea, and white tea are also available. The modern yet cozy interior looks perfect for chatting and whiling away an afternoon, and the tea comes served in gorgeous ceramics. Pair tea with a selection of low-sugar pastries, including a red bean egg yolk bun, a rose cookie, and a vegan fruit tart.
816 SE 8th, Tues-Sun 8 am-4 pm, missorange.shop, @miss.orange.tea
The team behind wine-focused restaurant L’Orange opened a sparkling wine bar, Buvons, on March 18. Beverage director Jeff Vejr put together a menu of champagne glass pours ($30-$44), bubbles from around the world, and even a nonalcoholic sparkling rosé from Languedoc. Bites from chef Joel Stocks include jarred eggplant dips and smoked fish with crackers, a Georgian grilled cheese with adjika reminiscent of the offerings at Les Caves, and desserts in jars, including a take on L’Orange’s much-beloved orange cake.
1120 SE Belmont, Wed-Sat 5 pm-11 pm, buvonspdx.com, @buvonspdx
This Chinese and Sichuan restaurant opened on Hawthorne in mid-March in the space formerly belonging to Hello India. The dining room has gotten a makeover since then, with Chinese calligraphy and sculptures of koi fish suspended from the ceiling. Look for dishes like soup dumplings, chile oil wontons, hot pot, dan dan noodles, and Chongqing hot chicken—though this writer’s personal favorite is the Sichuan braised prawns, giant shell-on shrimp lightly fried and blanketed in a sauce of minced pork, pickled radish, and oyster sauce. There’s also a full cocktail menu.
3500 SE Hawthorne, Sun-Thur 11 am-9 pm, dingandspice.com, @dingandspice
A new Thai noodle soup restaurant from the owners of Khao Moo Dang, Thai Peacock, and Rukdiew Cafe opened on March 26. The menu at Guay Tiew includes boat noodles, yen ta fo with its bright pink broth, and a Northern-style chili-tomato noodle soup, served with your choice of noodles. Rice plates are also available, from slow-cooked pork with basil to stir-fried yu choy. A handful of appetizers, cocktails, cold Thai beer, and Thai soft drinks round out the menu.
330 NW 10th, Wed-Fri 4 pm-9 pm, Sat-Sun noon-9 pm, guaytiewpdx.com, @guaytiewpdx
A new bakery has taken up residence in the former Jinju Patisseries space on North Williams. Kokikoki Bakehouse, which got its start popping up at markets around town, opened on March 27, specializing in stuffed cookies. Look for options like a miso-peanut butter cookie stuffed with black sesame paste, a S’mores-inspired chocolate cookie filled with cookie butter and marshmallow creme, and some interesting savory combos like feta, honey, and thyme. The menu also includes coffee, matcha, and soft serve. Hours are subject to change during their soft opening, so check ahead on Instagram.
4063 N Williams, Tues-Thurs 9 am-3 pm (starting April 7), Fri-Sat 9 am-7 pm, kokikokibakehouse.com, @kokikoki.bakehouse
Making Moves
Speaking of James Beard, Timothy Wastell won the James Beard award for Best Chef: Northwest in 2025 for his work at winery Antica Terra in Amity, where he served a meal entitled “A Very Nice Lunch” for $295. Wastell announced last week he was leaving the winery, and on March 26, Old Pal, a little corner restaurant and market on SE Morrison, announced that Wastell would be joining as chef. The menu here looks delicious and much more affordable, with dishes including green garlic panisse with espelette honey, sprouting broccoli with anchovy, sablefish roasted on cedar, and duck confit with borlotti beans.
3350 SE Morrison, Thurs-Sun 4 pm-9 pm, oldpalpdx.com, @oldpalpdx
After closing to prepare for this move back in January, Gumba opened at its new location just a few blocks east on Alberta on March 28. According to Bridgetown Bites, the new space is outfitted with a grill, so look for some fiery proteins coming to the menu.
2203 NE Alberta, Thurs-Mon 4:30 pm-9 pm, gumba-pdx.com, @gumbapdx
This self-described Pacific Northwest restaurant opened in its new home in the Northwest District after closing its doors in Northeast Portland at the end of 2025. (Okay, enough intercardinal directions for today.) The restaurant offers a la carte options as well as a $115 six-course tasting menu.
1639 NW Marshall, Wed-Sat 5 pm-10 pm, lansdownepdx.com, @lansdownepdx
Happy Birthday, Franz!
Did you know that Franz Bakery is really, really old? The bakery’s 120th birthday falls on April 1, but the celebration is on April 14 from 9 am to 3 pm, when the bakery with the famous spinning bread at 340 NE 11th will be hosting a block party and free tours (though the tours are already booked up). Not much info on what the block party will entail, other than the “Franz Grilled Cheese Machine.”