New York Times names 2 Oregon restaurants among the best of 2024

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The New York Times released a list of their 50 favorite restaurants in the United States, with two Portland eateries making the cut.

A team of New York Times reporters scouted a variety of restaurants over the last year to develop the list, explaining, “We ate hyperlocal dishes served out of a trailer in a rural Virginia field, experienced one of America’s most refined seasonal tasting menus in one of San Francisco’s most refined rooms, dined on Creole fare in a strip mall down the road from NASA in Texas and joined a party behind a tattered ranch house in Johns Island, S.C.”

The first Oregon restaurant on the list: Southeast Portland's L’Orange.

The modern French restaurant opened in June 2023 and offers a seasonal menu.

“L’Orange is a real charmer. Occupying the second floor of a Victorian house that has variously been a telegram office and a butcher shop over the last 100-odd years, the dining room has a homey sophistication," The New York Times said.

“Nestle into a chair at the six-seat chef’s counter (read: bar) for a glass from the wine list curated by Jeff Vejr, a co-owner, and a couple of plates as the afternoon light fades to early evening. An ornate ruffle of shaved tête de moine cheese or the chicken liver mousse, presented in tartlet form with a strawberry and red wine gelée, will do very nicely. But so will a buckwheat crepe, amply filled with bay shrimp, Gruyère and zinged with candied jalapeño," The New York Times added.

In a joint statement to KOIN 6 News, Chef Joel Stocks and Owner/Winemaker Jeff Vejr said, "Portland continues to be one of the top food cities in the United States and by affordability and access, there is no better place to dine top to bottom in the United States. To be included in the 2024 list of 'The New York Times 50 Best Restaurants in America' is an honor and truly humbling. These accolades help to continue to put a spotlight on our special food city."

"We at L'Orange are also very happy to share this spotlight with our friends and colleagues at Yaowarat. Lastly, none of this would be possible without our dedicated staff, purveyors, and loyal customers. Today, we share this joy with them and the greater Portland food community," the statement continued.

Next on the Oregon list: Southeast Portland's Yaowarat.

The Thai Chinese restaurant opened in October 2023 – serving dishes inspired by Bangkok, one of the largest Chinatowns in the world.

“Both the room and the food have a night-market feel. Paper lanterns and candles cast a moody light, while dishes like double-fried chive cakes, with a perfect crisp-outside-to-fluffy-inside ratio, and Yaowarat Road Squid, sloshed with fish sauce and Thai chiles, bring the bewitching depth of flavor found in the best street food,” the New York Times said, noting, “a delightfully silky mapo tofu may render any other version of the dish disappointing hereafter.”

Reacting to the news on Instagram, Yaowarat congratulated L'Orange, and later told KOIN 6 News "We are so proud and humbled to be named as one of America best restaurants by New York times 2024. Truly grateful and honored to represent Portland, Oregon and our classical Thai-Chinese cuisine here, with the incredible support of the local community and hard work from our amazing team."