Sen Yai

Sen Yai
2021 photograph of the exterior of the building that housed Sen Yai from 2013 to 2016
Restaurant information
Food typeThai
LocationPortland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States

Sen Yai was a Thai restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States. Andy Ricker opened the restaurant, which operated in southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood from 2013 to 2016.

Description

The Thai noodle house Sen Yai (which translates to "Big Noodle") operated on Division Street in southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood. The interior had two dining rooms with a combined seating capacity of approximately 50 people. There was also a patio and an open kitchen. Sen Yai played Thai pop music. The menu included various noodle dishes, including boat noodles, Kai Kaphrao khai Dao, patangko with sangkhaya, and phat sii ew, and phat Thai thamadaa. Breakfast options included rice porridge and steamed pork buns. Thrillist described the business as "an old-school noodle house". Sunset said Sen Yai served "complex noodle dishes not typically seen in the United States—yet".

History

Andy Ricker, 2011

Andy Ricker opened Sen Yai in May 2013. The business was Ricker's sixth restaurant. Portland Monthly described Sen Yai as a "spin-off" of Ricker's Pok Pok.

In April 2016, the business announced plans to close permanently on May 9. Some of Sen Yai's dishes were moved to Ricker's nearby and now-defunct Whiskey Soda Lounge. The space that had housed Sen Yai was later used by the restaurants Olympia Provisions Public House and Alpenrausch (2023–2026).

Reception

Karen Brooks included Sen Yai in Portland Monthly's 2013 list of the city's best new restaurants. In a 2013 review for the Portland Mercury, Chris Onstad opined, "I can see how the relatively high prices at Sen Yai will have some people grousing, especially in a town with a Thai restaurant scene this saturated. However, the difference in terms of quality of meat, intensity and cleanliness of flavor, and originality is worth it." Drew Tyson included Sen Yai in Thrillist's 2014 list of Portland's ten best noodle restaurants.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Russell, Michael (2015-06-18). "Sen Yai in SE Portland -- Diner 2015 review". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  2. ↑ "Restaurant Guide 2013: Sen Yai". Willamette Week. 2013-10-16. Archived from the original on 2026-04-13. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  3. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (2013-05-10). "Introducing Sen Yai, Andy Ricker's SE Noodle House". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  4. 1 2 Jones, Allison (2013-05-17). "Inside Andy Ricker's Noodle House Sen Yai". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  5. ↑ Fodor's:
  6. ↑ McKeever, Amy (2013-05-10). "Inside Sen Yai, Andy Ricker's Noodle House in Portland". Eater. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  7. ↑ Ritchie, Rachel (2013-09-03). "Five to Try at Sen Yai". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  8. ↑ Richman, Alan (2013-12-09). "Alan Richman: Portland's Latest Craze, Thai Pasta". GQ. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  9. ↑ Kryza, Andy (2013-05-29). "Pok Pok-style Thai noodles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  10. ↑ "Local's Guide to Portland". Sunset. 2015-07-13. Archived from the original on 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  11. ↑ Brooks, Karen (2013-04-29). "Coming Soon: Andy Ricker's Asian Food Marathon". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  12. ↑ "Portland's Southeast Division Street restaurant scene expands". The Georgia Straight. 2014-03-05. Archived from the original on 2015-08-26. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  13. ↑ Shah, Khushbu (2014-07-07). "Watch Farang the Documentary About Andy Ricker". Eater. Archived from the original on 2024-03-03. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  14. ↑ Hamilton, Katherine Chew (2020-10-30). "Pok Pok Announces Its Permanent Closure". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  15. ↑ Bamman, Mattie John (2016-04-28). "Pok Pok Sister-Restaurant Sen Yai Is Closing". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  16. ↑ "5 things to know today, including trouble in Andy Ricker's empire". Portland Business Journal. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  17. ↑ Brooks, Karen (2016-04-28). "Pok Pok's Andy Ricker Closing Sen Yai; Nate Tilden of Olympia Provisions to Open Honky Tonk Taco in Its SE Division Space". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  18. ↑ "Andy Ricker Blames Ethnic-Food Prejudice for Closing of His Sen Yai Noodle House". Willamette Week. 2016-04-28. Archived from the original on 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  19. ↑ "Alpenrausch Brings Swiss-Inspired Dining to Southeast Portland". Willamette Week. 2024-04-09. Archived from the original on 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  20. ↑ Brooks, Karen (2013-11-01). "Portland's 10 Best New Restaurants". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  21. ↑ Brooks, Karen (2014-07-07). "Chef Andy Ricker Has Always Been Destined for Greatness". VICE. Archived from the original on 2026-05-08. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  22. ↑ Onstad, Chris (2013-08-21). "Sen Yai's Disruptive Thai". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  23. ↑ Tyson, Drew (2014-09-03). "From ramen to pho, these are Portland's 10 best noodle spots". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2024-12-14. Retrieved 2026-11-06.