Nong’s Is Opening Downtown One Day Early

In a town where many restaurant owners push their opening dates months later than planned, Thai chicken and rice goddess Nong Poonsukwattana will open her downtown Nong’s Khao Man Gai restaurant one day early. Poonsukwattana told Eater the restaurant will soft-open at the former Heart Pizza location Saturday, March 31 as opposed to Sunday, probably because training was a cinch: Poonsukwattana says the new location will have automated kiosks for quickly ordering her oh-so-famous khao man gai.

As the Oregonian reported earlier this week, This Nong’s location will stick to the cart’s flagship dish: Chicken and rice, with cucumbers, ginger sauce and a fragrant stock. “It just makes sense to me to stick to one dish and do it really well,” she said. No cocktails at this location; Nong’s will serve beer and wine only, including a new Breakside house beer. Nong’s Black Lager should be on-tap at the restaurant next week.

As the restaurant gets its bearings, Nong’s will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Expect some unexpected hour changes this weekend; Portland loves its Nong’s.

• Nong’s Khao Man Gai [Official]
• Nong’s Khao Man Gai opening new downtown Portland restaurant [The O]
• The Restaurant from Award-Winning Chicken Cart Nong’s Opens This Weekend [EPDX]
• All Nong’s downtown coverage [EPDX]