One of Portland’s Oldest Vietnamese Restaurants Is Closing This October

After 35 years in business, Vietnamese staple Yen Ha will leave the Roseway neighborhood next month. The restaurant, known for its seafood dishes, frog’s legs, and thriving lounge, closes for good October 21.

The Tran and Le families opened Yen Ha in 1984, making the NE Sandy restaurant one of the city’s longest standing Vietnamese restaurants. Beyond its expansive menu of pho, noodle dishes, and Vietnamese rice porridge chao, Yen Ha has been a neighborhood favorite for inexpensive drinks and weekend karaoke.

On Saturday morning, the owners posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page announcing plans to close. “We’re incredibly grateful to our loyal customers and our amazing staff, thank you for your friendship and support,” the post reads. “You guys made it possible for us to share a piece of our culture.” It doesn’t explain why the owners have decided to close the restaurant; they have yet to respond to requests for comment.

Still, the post garnered an outpouring of sadness and memories from regulars, from those who visited Yen Ha as kids to those who spent many an evening at the restaurant’s bar. The post alludes to a potential farewell party in the near future; those interested should follow the restaurant’s Facebook page.

• Yen Ha [Official]
• Yen Ha [Facebook]
• Previous Yen Ha coverage [EPDX]
• 19 Classic Restaurants Every Portlander Must Try [EPDX]