Wikipedia

Lúc Lắc Vietnamese Kitchen

(Redirected from Lúc Lác Vietnamese Kitchen)

Lúc Lắc Vietnamese Kitchen, or simply Lúc Lắc, is a Vietnamese restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Leon Chung Company Building, in the United States.[1][2][3][4] It opened in 2011 and has garnered a postiive reception, especially for its pho and cocktails. Known as one of the city's best options for late night dining, Lúc Lắc was named one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the United States by Thrillist in 2018.

Lúc Lắc Vietnamese Kitchen
The restaurant's exterior in August 2020
Map
Interactive map of Lúc Lắc Vietnamese Kitchen
Restaurant information
EstablishedNovember 2011 (2011-11)
Owners
  • Adam Ho
  • Alan "VĐ" Ho
Food typeVietnamese
Location835 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97204, United States
Coordinates45°31′01″N 122°40′31″W / 45.5169°N 122.6754°W / 45.5169; -122.6754
Websiteluclackitchen.com

Description

edit

Lúc Lắc is a counter service style Vietnamese restaurant co-owned by Adam and Alan Ho.[5][6] It has been described as a "cozy Vietnamese sandwich shop/cocktail bar".[7] In 2012, Willamette Week's Kelly Clarke said of the restaurant's interior: "The decor ... is as delightfully baroque as its drink ingredients. A horseshoe of tall-backed, red-leather banquettes surround a huge oval-shaped wood bar painted bright teal. One entire wall is devoted to a stunning, graffiti-ish mural of capering Chinese dragon heads while a flock of pink parasols hang from the high ceiling. It's a fun, fabulous place to eat and drink, like a long lost Asian set piece from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg."[8][9] According to Michael Russell of The Oregonian, "Happy hour is more relaxed, with inexpensive Vietnamese appetizers and inventive cocktails served under the pink parasols hanging from the ceiling."[10]

edit

Menu options include bánh mì,[11] bo tai chanh,[12] crispy rolls,[13] mussels, pho,[5][14] steak rolls, and sugarcane shrimp.[15][16] The restaurant has also served coconut prawns and garlic string beans.[17] The five-spice beef broth is attributed to "our grandmother's secret recipe".[18][19] The "Sassy Sour" is the restaurant's best selling drink.[20] The "Single Knight" has Four Roses bourbon and pho syrup, and the "Hello & Goodbye" is a rum soda with carbonated coconut water.[21] The "LucLac Lush" has jackfruit, coconut cream, mung bean, and lychee jellies.[22] Ca Phe Cola, beer, and wine are also on the drink menu.[23][24]

History

edit

The restaurant opened in November 2011,[25] following Pho PDX's rebranding and relocation.[26][27][28] Imbibe has described Adam Ho as the restaurant's director of operations.[29]

Lúc Lắc began participating in Amazon's Prime Now service in 2015.[30][31] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant had an earlier closing time of 11pm at times.[32][33] The restaurant was among performance locations for the White Lotus Dragon and Lion Dance team's Lunar New Year celebrations in 2023.[34]

In 2026, Luc Lac Mikado LLC (managed by Alan Ho) purchased the nearby Mikado Building. The business has not reveals plans for the acquisition.[35]

Reception

edit
Exterior sign, 2020

Lúc Lắc was included in Bon Appétit's 2012 overview of recommended eateries in Portland.[36] Guide books by Moon Publications recommended the pho and "creative" cocktails", also calling the bánh mì, curries, and vermicelli bowls "excellent".[37] Fodor's guides have described Lúc Lắc as "always-hopping" with "well-executed" cocktails.[38] Readers of The Oregonian ranked Lúc Lắc third for the best pho in the Portland metropolitan area in 2014[39] and voted the business a "fan favorite" in a 2016 poll of the city's best restaurants for Asian noodle soups.[40] The newspaper's Michael Russell ranked the business number 26 on his 2016 list of "Portland's best late-night eats".[41] Samantha Bakall included the restaurant in a 2016 "ultimate guide" to the best happy hours in downtown Portland.[24] In 2017, readers ranked Lúc Lắc number five in The Oregonian's list of the city's best inexpensive restaurants.[42]

Marjorie Skinner of the Portland Mercury said the restaurant had "what's probably the tastiest pho in town, for carnivores and vegans alike" in 2012.[43] Benjamin Tepler of Portland Monthly said Lúc Lắc "remains the gold standard for seriously late-night eating" in 2013.[44] In 2014, the magazine's Rachel Ritchie said Ho "has grown Luc Lac's bar program into one of the city's most wildly creative cocktail galleries".[45] Portland Monthly's Alex Keith included the business in a 2016 overview of the city's "best bars for late-night eating".[46] Alex Frane recommended the vermicelli bowl in The Daily Meal's 2016 overview of the best of each noodle type in Portland. Frane opined, "The banh mi and pho bowls are solid, but we prefer the vermicelli bowls, especially after we've been out to the downtown bars. The honey glazed chicken and the BBQ fried pork sausage are our two favorite toppings, though vegetarians will be happy with the tofu salad."[47]

Exterior during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020)

Adam Ho was nominated in the Bartender of the Year category of Eater's annual Eater Awards in 2012.[48] He was also nominated in the Bartender of the Year category of Eater Portland's annual Eater Awards in 2012.[49][50] In 2018, the website's Nick Woo described Lúc Lắc as "hip and loud", and included the restaurant in a list of fourteen "soul-soothing" noodle soups in the city.[5] The business was included in Eater Portland's 2022 overview of recommended restaurants in downtown Portland,[51] 2023 list of the city's best pho,[19] 2024 overview of the city's best Vietnamese restaurants,[52] and 2025 list of the city's best non-alcoholic drinks.[33] Thrillist has called the restaurant a "late-night pho oasis".[53] The website's Mai Pham included Lúc Lắc in the website's 2018 list of the 28 best Vietnamese restaurants in the U.S.[54] Meira Gebel included the business in Axios Portland's 2025 list of ten restaurants "worth going out of your way for when the midnight munchies hit".[55]

In 2014, Willamette Week said Lúc Lắc "is actually a much better cocktail bar than it is a Vietnamese restaurant".[21] The restaurant won in the "Best Pho" category in the newspaper's annual "Best of Portland" readers' poll in 2015; Lúc Lắc also received "honorable mention" in the "Best Baguette" category.[56] The business won in the same poll's "Best Vietnamese Restaurant" and "Best Late-Night Menu" categories in 2018,[57] 2022,[58] 2024,[59] and 2025.[60] In 2019, Willamette Week included the restaurant in its list of five "places to eat cheap after hours", saying: "Luc Lac is one of the very few spots where you can stuff your drunken craw with delightful, heaping takes on Vietnamese classics in the wee hours of the morn."[61] Singer Storm Large considered the restaurant a favorite in 2024.[62]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ↑ "These Happy Hours Are So Cheap—It's Unreal". Willamette Week. OCLC 54813570. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Lunching at Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen in downtown Portland". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. February 27, 2012. ISSN 8750-1317. OCLC 985410693. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen". Portland Monthly. Hour Media. ISSN 1546-2765. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  4. ↑ Skinner, Marjorie (December 7, 2011). "Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen". Portland Mercury. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Woo, Nick (December 27, 2018). "14 Soul-Soothing Noodle Soups in Portland". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  6. ↑ Bakall, Samantha (March 2, 2017). "Why some of Portland's hottest restaurants are counting on counter service". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  7. ↑ Frankel, Chris (March 4, 2016). "The 10 best American cities for the ethnic food fan". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Communications. ISSN 1074-7109. OCLC 30348909. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  8. ↑ Clarke, Kelly. "Make Me Over". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Drink 2012: Listings by Location". Willamette Week. April 11, 2012. Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  10. ↑ Russell, Michael (April 26, 2012). "Portland happy hour: Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Bar Guide 2014: Westside Bars". Willamette Week. April 9, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Cheap Eats 2012: Listings A-Z". Willamette Week. March 7, 2012. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Cheap Lunches!". Portland Mercury. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Devour 2012: Pho The Win". Willamette Week. May 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  15. ↑ Lassalle, Janelle (December 6, 2018). "A Complete Tourism Guide to Portland's 2018 Cannabis Scene". Leafly. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Cheap Eats 2012: Listings by Location". Willamette Week. March 7, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  17. ↑ Probst, Ashley. "I spent 5 days in Portland, Oregon, for less than $600. Here's what I did and how I spent my money". Business Insider. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  18. ↑ Copeland, Mims (November 20, 2024). "Vote for your favorite pho in the Portland area: Readers Choice Awards". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Garcia, Krista (February 7, 2020). "Where to Find Steamy Bowls of Pho in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  20. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (November 30, 2012). "Simmering Kaffir Tea Syrup with Luc Lac's Adam Ho". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  21. 1 2 "Cocktail Bars by Neighborhood: Portland Distillery Guide". Willamette Week. November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on March 16, 2026. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  22. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (November 26, 2012). "Eater Guides: Where to Drink Cocktails Before Noon". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  23. ↑ Cottell, Pete (November 10, 2015). "Sparkle Party: Where to Get Bubbly Coffee Drinks in Portland". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  24. 1 2 Bakall, Samantha (August 13, 2016). "The ultimate guide to downtown Portland's best happy hours". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  25. ↑ Skinner, Marjorie (December 7, 2011). "Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  26. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (December 2, 2011). "Inside LucLac Vietnamese Kitchen, Now Open Downtown". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  27. ↑ Russell, Michael (January 13, 2017). "How food halls became Portland's next big thing". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  28. ↑ Beck, Byron (October 14, 2011). "Pho PDX Moving Next Door; Becoming Luc Lac Kitchen". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  29. ↑ "DIY Vietnamese Iced Coffee". Imbibe. ISSN 1557-7082. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  30. ↑ Marum, Anna (October 20, 2015). "Amazon rolls out restaurant delivery in Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Amazon adds another food-delivery service in Portland". Oregon Business. November 11, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  32. ↑ Hilton, Thom (March 1, 2023). "16 Portland Restaurants Open for Lunch and Dinner Every Day". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  33. 1 2 Hilton, Thom (August 3, 2018). "14 Portland Restaurants and Bars Mixing up Spirit-Free Drinks". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Want good luck this Lunar New Year? White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance wants to help". KOIN. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Owners of Portland restaurant Luc Lac buy historic downtown building". Portland Business Journal. March 6, 2026. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Where to Eat and Drink Global in Portland, Oregon". Bon Appétit. Condé Nast. August 29, 2012. ISSN 0006-6990. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  37. ↑ Moon Publications:
  38. ↑ Fodor's:
  39. ↑ Bakall, Samantha (May 9, 2014). "Readers pick their favorite Portland-area pho: Diner 2014". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  40. ↑ Gabrielson, Kjerstin (February 19, 2016). "Vote for Portland's best spot for Asian noodle soup (People's Choice)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  41. ↑ Russell, Michael (January 24, 2016). "Portland late-night food: The 27 best places to eat after 10 p.m." The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  42. ↑ Bakall, Samantha (February 23, 2017). "Readers pick Portland's 10 best inexpensive restaurants: Cheap Eats 2017". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  43. ↑ Skinner, Marjorie (June 28, 2012). "Pho in the Morning". Portland Mercury. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Portland's Best Late-Night Dining". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Hey, Barkeep! 5 Local Bartenders to Watch". Portland Monthly. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Portland's Best Bars for Late-Night Eating". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on August 24, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  47. ↑ Frane, Alex (June 27, 2016). "Where To Get The Best Of Each Noodle Type In Portland". The Daily Meal. Static Media. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  48. ↑ Brion, Raphael (November 12, 2012). "The Eater Awards 2012 Winners From Coast to Coast". Eater. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  49. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (November 12, 2012). "Announcing the 2012 Eater Award Winners for Portland". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  50. ↑ Brion, Raphael (November 12, 2012). "The Eater Awards 2012 Winners From Coast to Coast". Eater. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  51. ↑ "Where to Eat and Drink in Downtown Portland". Eater Portland. September 16, 2015. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  52. ↑ Garcia, Krista (April 13, 2018). "The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  53. ↑ "The Ultimate Portland Travel Guide". Thrillist. Vox Media. September 12, 2018. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  54. ↑ Pham, Mai (August 8, 2019). "The 28 Best Vietnamese Restaurants in America". Thrillist. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  55. ↑ Gebel, Meira (June 12, 2025). "Portland's best late-night eats, from pho to pizza". Axios Portland. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Best of Portland Readers' Poll". Willamette Week. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2018". Willamette Week. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Food Winners". Willamette Week. July 13, 2022. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  59. ↑ "2024 Best of Portland Readers' Poll: Food". Willamette Week. July 16, 2024. Archived from the original on September 24, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  60. ↑ "2025 Best of Portland Readers' Poll: Food". Willamette Week. July 23, 2025. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  61. ↑ "Five Places to Eat Cheap After Hours". Willamette Week. March 26, 2019. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  62. ↑ Gallivan, Joseph (June 5, 2024). "Singer Storm Large's Best Day Ever in Portland". Axios Portland. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lúc_Lắc_Vietnamese_Kitchen&oldid=1359573796"