Their fried chicken sandwich, banh-mi style, was delicious with crispy chicken, cool veggies and cilantro, all drizzled with a hot-but-not-too-hot sriracha. My friend got the lemongrass chicken(grilled not fried) and she said hers was excellent. there were vegetarian options we’ll have to try next time. We didn’t leave a crumb on our plates(real plates! so nice to not have paper trash as is so common in casual dining.) This may take over as my go-to banh mi place. The space is small and cozy but it is connected to a larger shared dining room in The Zipper complex. Bonuses: covered bike parking, and hard liquor available from Paydirt bar in the same building.
Robert H.
Classificação do local: 3 Portland, OR
This is a review of the fried chicken banh mi. It’s tasty, packed with filling and relatively inexpensive. The bun is OK but not up to top Portland crunchy French loaves. The pickled items are tasty as are the sweet chili mayonnaise flavors. The chicken is interesting. It seems to have a very light crunchy cornmeal coating sans spices. It is not overcooked, it is very tender, that’s a good thing. I am not saying that Rua should slavishly copy the Thai fish sauce recipe or the Korean recipe for fried chicken. But with the universe of Vietnamese flavors, they can do something unique with fried chicken. Which they are not.
Lochlan M.
Classificação do local: 5 Beaverton, OR
The fried chicken sandwich is pretty darn tasty.
L R.
Classificação do local: 5 Portland, OR
Good tofu bahn mi. Nice prices. Haven’t had anything else but I’ll probably try the noodle bowl next. I like the Zipper. And Rua is a solid food option there.
Lindsay P.
Classificação do local: 4 Grant Park, Portland, OR
I was crazy enough to go for a bike ride yesterday with the temps in the 30s… brrrrr! We decided to have lunch at the Zipper, since food choices for all of us. I was dreaming of hot soup and hot tea and Asian, so went to RUA. Disappointed they didn’t have hot tea. Hot water and tea bags wouldn’t be a big investment for a startup. I had to go outside to the coffee place to get hot tea. Was also crushed they didn’t have hot soup, since Phở is mentioned in many reviews. I did get their rice noodle bowl… excellent flavor and super healthy, but definitely a salad, not a hot dish. I’ll go back, but not till summer unless they add some wintertime pizazz.
Chris H.
Classificação do local: 5 Portland, OR
The only reason I’d rather not give this joint five stars is because I don’t want it to become yet another spot in Portland where I have to wait in line 15 minutes to eat there. The only thing wrong with the sandwiches is that they aren’t infinitely long so I could just keep eating it until my stomach explodes and I die fat and happy.
Carolina A.
Classificação do local: 2 Vancouver, WA
It looks pretty but the taste does not compensate. They add the extra stuff so mine was spicy. Will not come back.
Kelly O.
Classificação do local: 4 Portland, OR
Stopped in for phở with my boyfriend. It was nice, the presentation was great, service was friendly and fast. We each got the soup and a side of kimchi. Kimchi was awesome, it came with a warning that it was spicy and gingery, which we love. The broth of the phở was kind of bland, it needed a little more Unami, a little more salt, but we dumped the kimchi into it and that helped. Overall it was good, we’ll definitely go back and try out some other dishes, but there is definitely better, less expensive phở in town.
Linda S.
Classificação do local: 4 Portland, OR
Great pork belly Banh Mi. And the crispy chicken very tasty. Will visit again for the Banh Mi. However, pricing for the Banh Mi seemed steep at $ 7.50. I’ll return when I’m flush and can afford the splurge. Nicely done interior. Staff pleasant and helpful. Nice addition to the Zipper.
Cori W.
Classificação do local: 3 Portland, OR
Tonight we got lazy and ordered delivery from Delivery Dudes. We opted for the tofu bahn mi and tofu rice vermicelli. Both were awesomely priced at $ 6 and $ 7. The bahn mi was on delicious softer French bread and came with well-pickled daikon, carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, sriracha mayo, and tofu. The only negative was that the tofu had no flavor, it was the kind of tofu that scares non-vegetarians. The noodle bowl was almost like a salad bowl, swapping veggies for mixed greens. The sauce + peanuts were delicious. Definitely worth for cheap delivery option.
Brittney d.
Classificação do local: 5 Portland, OR
Yum yum & yum. Great food & great people. Always a pleasure. So happy they’re so close to home now.
Sarah K.
Classificação do local: 5 Austin, TX
I absolutely loooove the fried chicken bahn mi, I could eat one every day! Honorable mentions to the spicy coconut rice & the lemon grass chicken rice bowl if I’m feeling healthy, and the phở is perfect for rainy days. Staff is super friendly too! Love this place!
Alyssa R.
Classificação do local: 5 Portland, OR
I kept driving by The Zipper wondering what magic it held and today finally popped in for a late lunch. What a cool little Portland gem. After scoping out what looked like many great food options, I settled on Rua after seeing the fried chicken wings on the menu. Fried chicken is my frenemy, I secretly love it, but try to hate it, especially publicly, because well, it’s fried. Fried things are bad for you. Right? This may have been bad for my arteries, but every other part of me was leaping with joy. These wings were up there, like in direct competition with fish sauce wings at Pok Pok. Equal sticky mess. I definately recommend.
Chelsea E.
Classificação do local: 5 Portland, OR
I am officially addicted to the siagon fried chicken bahn mi, I got some for my co workers today and they were so happy it’s so close. I think i got them hooked too!
Alyssa F.
Classificação do local: 5 Clackamas, OR
The staff are incredibly friendly and prompt. The food is beautifully plated as well as delicious. I’ve already gone a handful of times. So happy to have Rua in the Zipper building. Amazing hours for those outside the standard 9 to 5 or just for those looking for a late night savory snack. P. S. The fried chicken Banh Mi is to die for.
Julia D.
Classificação do local: 5 Northeast Portland, Portland, OR
I cannot say enough good things! I eat here quite regularly since I work so close. The phở is to die for, seeing me eat it is pretty gruesome however lol! The employees are super sweet and accommodating, the building itself is really rad and the bar across from them is super cute! I hope they never leave! If you can only try them twice do phở once and the fried chicken Bahn mi second!
Jenny P.
Classificação do local: 4 Portland, OR
I’m really liking Rua– I’ve been a couple of times to The Zipper, and admittedly both were sunny breezy days which made lunch that much more enjoyable. There are several restaurants in the Zipper and one promising looking bar(Pay Dirt) I poked my head into. So far I’ve had the Banh Mi– very good, though I swear last time the chicken wasn’t deep fried? Possibly it was. I was very impressed with the freshness of vegetables on my sandwich and daughter enjoyed her phở though she had to add some spice and was hoping for a more intensely flavored broth. The other thing we had again were the chicken wings which my son devoured to bare bones. Go here. Before the rains come! But, I bet after they do it will still be a great spot full of light from the giant glass doors. A super spot to lounge in the sun but mind the parking.
Andrew P.
Classificação do local: 4 Portland, OR
This zipper thing is a top idea! A handful of micro restaurants sharing some facilities. Rua is my favourite so far. Great menu, good value, quality Vietnamese food. And they carry Caleb’s Kola as a super bonus. Going to be a regular haunt I think!
Joni W.
Classificação do local: 2 Portland, OR
Hmmm. I really wanted to like this place, but the Phó was a miss. To be honest, the meat smelled like dog food. I would probably come back to give it one more try.
Jim T.
Classificação do local: 5 Portland, OR
Yeah, I went back… for more spicy coconut meth, er, rice. AND, I had to try the fried chicken bahn mi. Not only did it not disappoint; it made me believe in unicorns and mermaids. I weep gently(like my guitar) in gratitude. Thank you Rua.
Bob K.
Classificação do local: 5 Portland, OR
We are really lucky to have this place so close to out neighborhood. We shared the pork belly Bahn mi and the lemon grass chicken rice noodle bowl(bon). Both were 5 star dishes. I was nervous about the pork belly. If its undercooked and too much is used it can be unpleasant. But if cooked correctly with an appropriate amount it can be Great. And this was great! The Bön was equally good. The place is not much to look at but its part of the«Zipper» building with lots of picnic tables in the sun and the shade. We will be back a lot. BTW the«Delivery Dudes» have this place in its list of deliveries so you can get this wonderful food delivered!