Rangoon Bistro
Rangoon Bistro is a Portland, Oregon restaurant chain specializing in Burmese cuisine shaped by Pacific Northwest ingredients.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Rangoon Bistro is a small Burmese restaurant chain based in Portland, Oregon. The business is associated with co-owners and co-chefs David Sai, Alex Saw, and Nick Sherbo, who have been described as the restaurant's “co-everythings.” Its cooking combines Burmese culinary traditions with ingredients and produce associated with the Pacific Northwest, giving the restaurant a locally specific identity rather than presenting Burmese food as a generic international category. The business began as a pop-up launched by Alex Saw at the King Farmers Market in the 2010s, with assistance from Sai and Sherbo. Before establishing a conventional restaurant, the team appeared at Portland venues including Bollywood Theater, Langbaan, and Malka. It also operated in a takeout-oriented format from the Gotham Building. This progression from farmers-market stall and pop-up to permanent restaurant helped Rangoon Bistro build a local following while testing its menu and operating model. The original brick-and-mortar location opened in southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood, in the Breathe Building near Southeast 50th Avenue and Division Street. A second location was announced for North Mississippi Avenue in 2024, in the Boise neighborhood of north Portland. In January 2026, the owners announced plans to move the Richmond operation to the former Deadshot space in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood of southeast Portland. These developments indicate an active, locally focused expansion and relocation strategy rather than a national chain model. The menu includes noodle dishes, salads, thokes, curries, rice-based items, dumplings, and fried chicken. The restaurant's bone-in fried chicken is marinated with lemongrass, curry leaf, and mild red chiles and served with coconut rice. Lahpet thoke, a salad made with fermented tea leaves, is another representative dish. Coverage has emphasized the restaurant's use of Oregon-grown produce and its interpretation of Burmese food through a Pacific Northwestern lens. Rangoon Bistro has received substantial local food-media attention. The Oregonian ranked it ninth among Portland's best new restaurants in 2022, while Eater Portland named it the winner of its Best New Counter Service category that year. Subsequent coverage highlighted its fried chicken, large dumplings, ghin salad, and broader menu. The restaurant has appeared in guides to Portland's best restaurants, lunch destinations, Mississippi Avenue dining, southeast Portland restaurants, and affordable food. Its reputation remains primarily regional, centered on Portland's dining scene.
History
Rangoon Bistro developed from Portland's pop-up and farmers-market food scene. Alex Saw launched the concept at the King Farmers Market during the 2010s, working with David Sai and Nick Sherbo. The three collaborators subsequently became the restaurant's co-chefs and co-owners. Before opening a permanent location, Rangoon Bistro appeared as a pop-up at Portland restaurants and operated in a takeout-focused format from the Gotham Building. The restaurant eventually established its first brick-and-mortar site in the Breathe Building near Southeast 50th Avenue and Division Street, in Portland's Richmond neighborhood. Its menu presented Burmese food through a Pacific Northwest framework, with Oregon produce used in salads, thokes, and noodle dishes. Representative offerings included lahpet thoke, coconut rice, spiced bone-in fried chicken, dumplings, and other Burmese-inspired dishes. Local media recognition accelerated in 2022. The Oregonian placed Rangoon Bistro ninth among Portland's best new restaurants, and Eater Portland gave it the Best New Counter Service award. Later coverage continued to identify the restaurant as a notable Portland destination for Burmese food, fried chicken, lunch, and affordable dining. The brand began expanding its physical footprint in the mid-2020s. In 2024, the owners announced a second location on North Mississippi Avenue in north Portland's Boise neighborhood. In January 2026, they announced plans to relocate the Richmond restaurant to the former Deadshot premises in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood. Rangoon Bistro remains a locally concentrated Portland restaurant business rather than an internationally operating chain.
- 2026
Richmond location relocation announced
[1]The business announced plans to move its Richmond location to the former Deadshot space in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood.
- 2024
Second location announced
[1]The owners announced plans for a second location on North Mississippi Avenue in Portland's Boise neighborhood.
- 2022
Major local recognition
[1]Rangoon Bistro was ranked ninth among The Oregonian's best new Portland restaurants and won Eater Portland's Best New Counter Service award.
- 2020
Pop-up and takeout period
[1]By 2020, Rangoon Bistro had appeared as a pop-up at Portland venues including Bollywood Theater, Langbaan, and Malka, and had operated in a takeout-oriented format from the Gotham Building.
- 2010
Launch as a farmers-market concept
[1]Alex Saw launched Rangoon Bistro at the King Farmers Market during the 2010s, with assistance from David Sai and Nick Sherbo.
Products and positioning
A neighborhood Burmese restaurant brand that combines traditional Burmese flavors with Oregon-grown produce and Pacific Northwest culinary sensibilities. Rangoon Bistro is positioned as accessible, locally rooted, and counter-service oriented, with a menu spanning salads, noodles, rice dishes, dumplings, and fried chicken.
Salad
Lahpet thoke
A Burmese fermented tea-leaf salad and one of Rangoon Bistro's representative dishes. The restaurant's broader thoke offering reflects its use of Oregon-grown produce and its adaptation of Burmese flavors to a Pacific Northwest setting.
Fried chicken
Bone-in fried chicken
Bone-in chicken marinated with lemongrass, curry leaf, and mild red chiles, served with coconut rice. The dish became one of the restaurant's most frequently praised offerings in Portland food coverage.
Dumplings
Large dumplings
Substantial Burmese-style dumplings highlighted by Bon Appétit in its coverage of notable dishes from newer restaurants. They represent Rangoon Bistro's broader menu beyond salads, noodles, and fried chicken.
Salad
Ghin salad
A salad offering associated with Rangoon Bistro and included in local coverage of Portland's affordable dining. It forms part of the restaurant's vegetable-forward Burmese menu.
Main dishes
Burmese noodle and rice dishes
The restaurant serves noodle dishes and rice-based items, including coconut rice served with its fried chicken. These dishes combine Burmese culinary formats with regional produce and ingredients.
Brand decisions
2026
Relocate the Richmond restaurantStrategyBackground
The owners announced a change to the southeast Portland location's premises while continuing to operate the brand in Portland.
Action taken
Rangoon Bistro planned to move the Richmond location into the former Deadshot space in Hosford-Abernethy.
Aftermath
The relocation was presented as a site change within southeast Portland; no financial or operational outcome was specified in the available reference material.
2024
Expand to North Mississippi AvenueStrategyBackground
After building a following through its farmers-market, pop-up, takeout, and first permanent formats, Rangoon Bistro planned to add a second Portland location.
Action taken
The owners announced plans for a restaurant on North Mississippi Avenue in the Boise neighborhood.
Aftermath
The announcement marked the brand's first disclosed expansion beyond its original Richmond-area location.
Recent events
- 2026
Rangoon Bistro announces Richmond location move[1]
Other
The business announced plans to move its Richmond location to the former Deadshot space in southeast Portland's Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood.
- 2024
Rangoon Bistro plans a second Portland location[1]
Other
The owners announced plans for a second restaurant on North Mississippi Avenue in Portland's Boise neighborhood.
- 2022
Rangoon Bistro receives Portland restaurant recognition[1]
Other
Rangoon Bistro ranked ninth on The Oregonian's list of Portland's best new restaurants and won Eater Portland's Best New Counter Service award.
Sources1 sources
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