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Home , Delta Cafe, Fong Chong, Hot pot, Pho, Snake bite chicken, Spare ribs

Introduction

As you flip through this, you might be thinking “Why an Asian food guide?” or “Why would a local band even do this?” The answer is simple: food is like art or sex, it is about pure pleasure. Like music, the food created by chefs is the song that they share with the world. And just like local bands, some suck and many are overrated...but every once in a while, you find a gem that just rocks your world. This guide is full of Asian eats that are so good, they make you dance.

Local papers put out restaurant guides all the time.

Have you ever felt disappointed because your favorite eatery wasn’t mentioned of featured? This whole concept was inspired because Aron and I were frustrated that (SE 82nd and Foster) was never listed as one of the better places to get pho in town...and in our not-so-humble opinion, it’s the best pho in the Northwest!

We love the food here so much that most of the working titles on our album, Pageantry, were named after our favorite dishes or restaurants. “Running with the Dead” was originally called “ ,” “Lucky Strike” retained its name, and “You Make Me Alive” was created from “Baby Got Bok (Choy).”

This is our first time doing this. It’ll probably get better, more organized, edited, etc. as time goes on. But you won’t have to thumb through dozens of ads to find our recommendations. It’s listed by ever member of the band’s favorite places to eat. So if you’re a little hungry, you might as well get some Asian tonight. And if you want some dance rock music...well, you might as well go Asian with that too.

- Simon Young (bassist) THE BEST OF THE BEST

As a band, we don’t always agree. But on these places we do. These are our absolute favorites when it comes to Asian eats.

An Xuyen Bakery (Vietnamese) 5345 SE Foster Rd anxuyenbakery.com

This little bakery offers up one of the best deals in town: $3 for a banh mi (Vietnamese with fresh jalapeños, cilantro, , and ) and an iced coffee. While waiting for your food from this family-owned enterprise, you can also Beijing Hot Pot pick up an assortment of delicious French and (Chinese) Vietnamese goods. If they suggest you try 2768 SE 82nd Ave something, listen. They’re great at selling as thebeijinghotpot.com well as baking. Some people call the hot pot experience “Chinese ” but we believe that explanation falls short, simply because fondue is never this good. Fresh, hand-made , Banh Mi: The fresh thinly sliced , a staggering array of veg- vegetables make this baby gies...all cooked in made from scratch and crisp and refreshing! dipped into amazing - it’s healthy and damn good too. Be sure to tell them that The Slants sent you, you’ll get royal treatment and an extra discount too.

Good Taste Grove House (Hawaiian) (Chinese) 515 SW Carolina St 8220 SE Harrison St bghawaiiangrille.com (with two other locations around PDX)

Our band keeps playing events where Bamboo When you walk into a restaurant and see a wall Grove is catering. The teriyaki chicken and of hanging meat, it’s usually a sign of good macaroni salad here make our mouths water things to come. Skip the usual “Americanized” while we melt you face with rock...and free food like anything and dive straight is some of the best payment we can get, but the into the best bowl of noodle in the truth is that we’ve been fans of this slow roasted city. Our favorite is “N9 “: BBQ with won- BBQ joint for years. Our advice: Throw a party. tons, swimming in egg noodles. Other faves Then, have Bamboo Grove cater it and ask The include “3 meat choice over ” (get the spare Slants to play. Mucho Mahalo! ), roast duck , and Super Bowl A. THE BEST OF THE BEST

Q: Can life get any better than a bowl of noodles and meat? A: Yes, simply by adding The Slants to your play list.

Pho Vietnam SakeOne (Vietnamese) (Sake) 5440 SE 82nd Ave 820 Elm St, Forest Grove www.sakeone.com When it comes to a great bowl of , a few things are required: a superb broth, fresh vegetables, quality meat, and plenty of Take a tour and then ask for the “Sake Shock” noodles. This place has all of that, combined experience, where you can try 5 incredible food with good service and the same soundtrack that and sake pairings that will blow your mind. Take has been on rotation everyday for years. This it from us, this place is the best thing about For- has been the meeting place to make slanted- est Grove. The scenic garden, events year world domination plans since day one. After round, and array of sake offerings make it worth ordering the house special (with extra noodle of the drive. The videos of band members being course), you’ll feel like taking over the city too! extra happy as a result of G sake should be enticing enough for you to try it out for yourself!

Pho Dac Biet means “special” and has many cuts of beef, , , and veggies. Wong’s King Double the noodles for only $1 and you’ll double the fun! (Chinese) 8733 SE Division St. www.wongsking.com

Pok Pok is usually only served until (Thai) mid-afternoon and the amount of 3226 SE Division St choices can be staggering. A good pokpokpdx.com start includes these staples: , Shu Mai, Bao, and . It’s rated as one of the best places to eat in the country. Yes, it does Wong’s King is the place to get your Chinese deserve all of the rave reviews. Yes, it’s worth seafood fix or dim sum craving fulfilled. It was moving to just to be near it’s magical just name top Chinese restaurant in the U.S, is Vietnamese Fish Wings. And we’re not recognized by the World Association of Chinese just saying it because you can often catch one Cuisine, consistently wins Chinese cooking of the chefs sporting a Slants’ hoodie through competitions - in , and now has the honor the window either. We’re saying it because it of being in our food guide. You’d think our cue pretty much is the best Thai food you’ll find on was the deli out front with the hanging ducks or the continent. Order anything with a whiskey the $1500/lb they use just for soda and you’ll see why. display, but it’s just great food...and at a reasonable price too. Aron Moxley s favorites ’

Aroy Thai Bombay Cricket Club (Thai) 1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd 506 SW 4th Ave (Indian) “Go for the food, stay for the snake shake.”

Bamboo Grove (Hawaiian) Bush Garden 515 SW Carolina St (Japanese) bghawaiiangrille.com 900 SW Morrison St (band favorite) bush-garden.com “Great traditional vibe, excellent service. Ask for Yumi and tip well!” Bamboo Sushi (Japanese) Good Taste Noodle House 310 SE 28th Ave (Chinese) bamboosushipdx.com 8220 SE Harrison St “There’s a limited menu because everything is (band favorite) sustainable. They have a high regard for the best “6 big and a products available.” heaping of egg noodles for only $5 even makes pho look like a complete rip off!”

King’s Bakery (Chinese) 2346 SE 82nd Ave

Kim Jong Grillin’ (Korean) SE 48th and SE Division Aron enjoying the fresh, hand-made noodles at Beijing Hot Pot. Mee Sen Beijing Hot Pot (Thai) 3924 N Mississippi Ave. (Chinese) meesenpdx.com 2768 SE 82nd Ave thebeijinghotpot.com (band favorite) “Grab a bit here before heading over to Mississippi Studios across the street. You won’t regret eating this street styled Thai faire.” (Japanese) Miho Izakaya 215 SE 9th Ave (Japanese) biwarestaurant.com 4057 N Interstate Ave midopdx.com

Aron Moxley s favorites ’

Pho Vietnam (Vietnamese) 5440 SE 82nd Ave (band favorite) “It’s like a mix between Pho Van and Pho Hung. Pho Van has ‘ghetto broth’ that is cloudy but Pho Vietnam has better meat. Pho Van has great meat but the broth is too clean and clear. This place has both and the garnish plate always has the freshest Thai .”

Pok Pok (Thai) 3226 SE Division St pokpokpdx.com (band favorite)

Powell’s Seafood (Chinese) 6633 SE Powell Blvd “When you walk into this cafeteria style Chinese eatery, look back by the kitchen swinging doors at the live and Black Conch giving you attitude in the aquariums. Because you get to hand pick your About Aron Moxley: dinner! Simply get a waitresses’ attention and point to the lucky/unlucky winner in the cold death pool for supper! Also, the Born on the streets of Saigon in and pepper is out of this world!” war-torn Vietnam, Aron was adopted into a multi-cultural family at a young Samurai Bento age. Aron grew up in the Northwest, (Japanese) moving from Astoria to Portland. 940 SW Alder St. “Not only more traditional food from ala KART but this is where Hayao Miyazaki frequents Aron has been working in the food when doing business from Japan. Nothing like great business since 1988. In addition to Japanese food to get an anime started!” being the lead singer of The Slants, Aron is a husband and manager of the Yoko’s Japanese Restaurant Delta Café Lounge. (Japanese) 2878 SE Gladstone St “Not only some of the best fish quality in Portland, you might have a server in an up and coming punk, thrash, or indie rock band bring you the food!”

Simon Young s favorites ’

An Xuyen Bakery Good Taste Noodle House (Veitnamese) (Chinese) 5345 SE Foster Rd 8220 SE Harrison St anxuyenbakery.com (band favorite) (band favorite) “I used to think that good Chinese food didn’t exist “I love stopping in to pick up rolls and fresh in Portland. That was before I went to Good Taste.” French bread when I’m ordering . They always sweet talk me into trying their newest items Karma Cafe and I’m always happy to be their guinea pig!” (Coffee/Bubble Tea) 8220 SE Harrison St. Arawan karmacafepdx.com (Thai) “Get the best bubble tea in town, not overly 9610 SE 82nd Ave sweetened like other places!” arawanthai.com “If you’re going to Best Buy, Lillokoi then drop in. Great noodle (Laos-Hawaiian) classics like Pad Se Ew” 1324 N Killingsworth lilikoiportland.blogspot.com/ Beijing Hot Pot “This newly opened restaurant has the best meals for (Chinese) less than $5 each. Super generous owners with a 2768 SE 82nd Ave huge for the community.” thebeijinghotpot.com (band favorite) Lucky Strike “Reminds of me the Thanksgivings I had (Chinese) growing up...but even better” 3862 SE Hawthorne St “I can get all of my favorite dishes that no on else Best Baguette serves like dan dan mien. Of course, an order of their (Vietnamese) Guinness spare ribs is a must. It’s like tasting a little 8303 SE Powell Blvd. bit of heaven with every bite.” Bestbaguettesandwhiches.com “I could eat their grilled pork sandwiches everyday Malay Hut if I had to. Who needs a $5 foot long when you can (Malaysian) get a $3 banh mi?” 2850 SE 82nd Ave. www.malaysatayhut.com Bun Bo Hue “I’ve had almost everything on the menu here- that’s (Vietnamese) how often I come here and how much I love it.” 7002 SE 82nd Ave. “I love the grilled plate items Mee Sen here, especially the house (Thai) special. Of course, the real 3924 N Mississippi Ave. star of the show is the “Bun Bo Hue,” a Vietnamese meesenpdx.com spicy noodle soup that is packed with flavor. It puts a “Honestly, I first came here because I heard the different spin to the typical pho joint in Portland. owner was a fan of our band. Now I can say I eat Don’t expect atmosphere here, just good food.” here because I am a fan of their food” Simon Young s favorites ’

Pho Vietnam (Vietnamese) 5440 SE 82nd Ave (band favorite) “I bought my house because it was close to Pho Vietnam. That’s true love.”

Siam Society (Thai, Asian Fusion) 2703 NE Alberta siamsociety.com “Everything they have here is perfect.”

Sinju (Japanese) 1022 NW Johnson St. sinjurestaurant.com “Warning: this place is not cheap...but makes a great date! My favorite fish is Hamachi (yellowtail). They have a dish: ‘Yellowtail Heaven’ that makes me happy to no end.”

Sorabol About Simon Young: (Korean) 7901 SE Powell Blvd. cuisinesorabol.com Originally a native, Simon “The first time I came here, I was traumatized by was born to a celebrated chef and grew videos of cars meowing Christmas songs on loop (in up in a family of Chinese restaurants in the summer). I’ve never seen it since. Nowadays, I enjoy their amazing lunch specials while they show and . Simon relocated K-pop music videos on the screen.” to when he joined PDX-based punk rock band, The Stivs. Takahashi (Japanese) Simon is the bassist as well as the 10324 SE Holgate Blvd. brains behind The Slants and loves to thetakahashi.com “Insiders know: go on Wednesday or Sunday to get keep a pulse on Asian American 40% of sushi and 25% off tempura. I always overeat culture, food, and advocacy issues when I come here. It’s so good!” across the country. You can read Simon’s food reviews restaurants on Wong’s King Seafood Yelp and Citysearch. (Chinese) 8733 SE Division St. www.wongsking.com (band favorite) Johnny Fontanilla s favorites ’

An Xuyen Bakery Karma Cafe (Veitnamese) (Coffee/Bubble Tea) 5345 SE Foster Rd 8220 SE Harrison St. anxuyenbakery.com karmacafepdx.com (band favorite) “I like to sneak over here and get bubble teas when “Even though I am diabetic, I’ll still eat the sweet I’m waiting for my food at Good Taste Noodle breads here until it kills me (literally). The House.” croissants, the Swiss rolls, and of course, their Viet- namese sandwiches are so good!” Pho Vietnam (Vietnamese) Beijing Hot Pot 5440 SE 82nd Ave (Chinese) (band favorite) 2768 SE 82nd Ave “One of my favorite things to do after a long tour is thebeijinghotpot.com to come here and order a huge bowl of pho. It always (band favorite) makes me want to get back out on the road again.” “Simon and I ate here one stormy and rainy afternoon to take a break from songwriting for the new album. After filling up this, we were so inspired that we went back and wrote a new song. At the time, we called it ‘Beijing Hot Pot’ but now it’s known as ‘Running With the Dead.’

Good Taste Noodle House (Chinese) Sushi Sushi 8220 SE Harrison St (Japanese) (band favorite) 5428 SE 82nd Ave. “I got dragged here to try their roasted duck congee “If you want to eat cheap, it’s one of the better con- one day. It was the best day of my life. Now, I’m in veyor belt places. Every plate here is only $1 so it’s love with their BBQ pork wonton noodle soup bowl.” good for the budget.” Johnny Fontanilla s favorites ’

Tambayan (Filipino) 6014 SE Foster Rd. “This is the best Filipino restaurant in town by default...it’s the only one in town. Great traditional dishes that you won’t be able to get anywhere else in Portland like Tapsilong, Tocilog, Sinigang, and pata.”

Johnny was born and raised in San

Diego, CA. Celebrating a shared

heritage of Filipino and Mexican culture,

he experienced the Latin side of Asian

culture. He quickly learned that the best

Chinese food was made by Simon’s

parents...and ended up eating there

almost everyday after school while

honing his guitar playing skills. Takahashi (Japanese) 10324 SE Holgate Blvd. Today, Johnny is the guitarist for The thetakahashi.com Slants. He’s also known for falling “There’s nothing in this world like raw fish on rice. asleep at the worst of times and is often Takahashi is kind of crazy: there are souvenirs from subject to the pranks of his band mates. Japan all over the place. I like to fold origami while I wait for my food. Even though it’s a long wait, it’s always worth it. The sushi master personally inspects every plate before it goes out to make sure that it is up to the very best of standards.” Tyler Chen s favorites ’

Tyler says he offers the more sophisticated choices

Fong Chong Beijing Hot Pot (Chinese) (Chinese) 301 NW 4th Ave. 2768 SE 82nd Ave “ has been my favorite restaurant since I thebeijinghotpot.com was a kid. Simply amazing dim sum!” (band favorite) “I’ve never had hotpot from anywhere else...although I don’t see a reason to go elsewhere...delicious!”

Dok Koon (Thai) 3414 NE 52ND St () http://www.dokkoon.com/ “Dok Koon’s drunken noodle dish is addictive. Good thing the portions are huge!” Pho Vietnam (Vietnamese) Eastland Sushi & Asian Cuisine 5440 SE 82nd Ave (Japanese, Chinese) (band favorite) 16519 SE McGillivray Blvd. (Vancouver) “Pho Vietnam is nearby Simon’s house…I wonder if eastlandcuisine.com he’s caught on why I visit him so frequently?” “I go to Eastland for the sushi...get a dragon roll that is the size of a dragon.” Tyler Chen s favorites ’

Taste of Asia Chinese (Chinese) 2605 East Fourth Plain Boulevard (Vancouver) “I normally cringe when thinking about an Asian buffet, but Taste of Asia puts a majority of Chinese restaurants to shame with any one of their buffet items! High quality food, low price, excellent selection! “ Even though Tyler was born half- Thai Little Home Chinese, he had never identified as an (Thai) 3214 E. Forth Plain Blvd. (Vancouver) "Asian-American" until he joined The “I can’t help but dream about how great it would Slants. Tyler laments, "One of the perks be if Thai Little Home was open 24 hours…” of The Slants is all of the new foods that I get exposed to!" As the drummer and newest member of the band, Tyler brought a harder hitting edge to the band’s already energetic show - and his invaluable drum tech, Ken Simon, who has become the road crew lead.

Tyler grew up in the Northwest, lived in Europe during high school and currently lives in Vancouver, WA. When he isn't rocking the world with The Slants, he has a state job, does copious amounts of freelance work in web development and media production(tylerchen.net), and spends time renovating his house. Special Awards and Mentions

Most Sadomasochistic Meal Best Place to Get Shot at While Experience in Portland Filming an Asian Mafia Movie

Lucky Strike Hung Far Low (Chinese) (Chinese) 3862 SE Hawthorne St. 2410 SE 82nd Ave

Portland Monthly Magazine named Lucky Look for “The Slants and Syndication” on Strike one of the Best Restaurants in their 2009 YouTube and you can check out our brush with feature issue. We liked the place so much that death from the man. When we decided to make we named a song after them on our album, a cameo in the a local Portland film about Asian Pageantry. Even though our accolade is a little mafia,the Director forgot to notify the police that more enduring, they were first on the scene to we’d be in and out of the area carrying replica discover the Hot Pepper Chicken Bath: a dish weapons. So imagine our reaction when a half that is definitely more hot peppers than dozen police cars pull up with snipers, officers chicken. The tasty meals served here are a carrying fully automatic weapons, and attack pleasure-pain experience. Don’t always expect dogs thinking that there was an actual gunfight quick service, a well-stocked kitchen, or even taking place. While our memories of Portland’s regular hours (biggest complaints about the iconic restaurant will never be of their food, place). Just look forward to a sweaty bath of we’ll always treasure the fact that we escaped delicious, authentic, Szechuan spicy Chinese out of the place alive. As it is, it seems that food. most people go for the stiff drinks not the eats.

Hot Pepper Chicken Bath. Delicious treat or Little did we know that this could have been our cruel joke? very last video blog! Special Awards and Mentions

Best Name for an Asian Top 5 Restaurants That You’ll Restaurant Most Likely See Members of The Slants Hung Far Low (Chinese) 1. The Delta Café 2410 SE 82nd Ave (Southern) 4607 SE Woodstock Blvd.

We like taking on stereotypes. Whether or not 2. Pho Vietnam the origin of Hung Far Low’s establishment took (Vietnamese) 5440 SE 82nd Ave. on the concept to fight ideas about Asian male 3. Good Taste Noodle House genitalia, the original sign still attracts people (Chinese) 8220 SE Harrison St. from all over the world. It’s a big sign too. 4. Beijing Hot Pot Runner Up: Kim Jong Grillin’ (Chinese) 2768 SE 82nd Ave. 5. SakeOne Favorite Asian Deli (Sake) 820 Elm St., Forest Grove

Fubonn (Pan-Asian Market) 2850 SE 82nd Ave fubonn.com

Fubonn proudly boasts that they are the largest Asian shopping center in Oregon. They certainly don’t have much competition. The heart of this behemoth is the Fubonn supermarket, a spectacle of Asian groceries and convenient pan-Asian deli. Their focus is on Southeast Chinese and : roast duck or pork, banh mi, etc. but there’s quite a variety and the prices are very reasonable too. You Probably Have an Opinion Runners-Up: H-Mart and Uwajimaya Too…

Best Asian Owned, Non-Asian Did we miss your favorite place? Think we’ve Cuisine Restaurant got it wrong on something? Or maybe there’s some secret restaurant that we haven’t made My Brother’s Crawfish our way to yet (there’s plenty of those).

(Cajun) If that’s the case, then let us know! We’d love to 8220 SE Harrison St. chat food. You can send us an email at mybrotherscrawfish.com [email protected], drop a note on Myspace, or post to our wall on Facebook! Order a crawfish boil. It’ll be one of the best meals of your life. ’Nuff said.