Unearth The Voyage
There is a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, that has been quietly rewriting the rules of what a dinner plate can look like. Thai curry poured over smoked brisket burnt ends sounds like something a very creative chef dreamed up at 2 a.m., and honestly, that energy is exactly what this place brings to the table every single day.
The combination of bold Southeast Asian spices and slow-smoked Texas-style barbecue is not a gimmick here. It is a carefully crafted culinary vision that has earned over 2,800 reviews and a 4.6-star rating on Google, which means a whole lot of people have already discovered what you are about to find out.
Where to Find This Flavor-Packed Spot
Right in the heart of the Williams Avenue corridor in North Portland, Eem Thai BBQ and Cocktails sits at 3808 N Williams Ave, Suite 127, Portland, OR 97227. The neighborhood itself has a relaxed, walkable energy, lined with coffee shops, boutiques, and casual eateries that make it easy to spend an entire afternoon here before your dinner reservation window opens up.
Eem does not take reservations, so the drill is to show up, put your name on the list, and explore the area while you wait. On a busy Friday or Saturday evening, the quoted wait time can stretch to an hour or more, but the restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM, with Sunday hours matching the weekday close at 9 PM.
Arriving closer to 5 PM on a weekday is one of the smartest moves you can make if you want a shorter wait. The phone number is 971-295-1645, and the full menu is available at eempdx.com, so you can plan your order before you even walk through the door.
The Story Behind the Concept
Eem was born from a collaboration between some of Portland’s most respected culinary minds, and the concept is as straightforward as it is bold: take the depth of traditional Thai cooking and pair it with the slow, smoky craft of American barbecue. The result is not a confused identity crisis but rather a confident, cohesive menu that makes total sense once the first bite lands.
The name itself is a Thai word that loosely translates to a feeling of satisfaction after a full, happy meal, which is basically a spoiler for how you are going to feel when you leave. That kind of intentionality runs through every aspect of the restaurant, from the spice levels to the smoke times on the meat.
Portland has always been a city that rewards creative restaurant concepts, and Eem fits right into that tradition while also standing apart from the crowd. This is not fusion for the sake of being trendy.
Every dish on the menu reflects a real understanding of both culinary traditions, and that respect for the source material is what makes the food taste so grounded and satisfying rather than gimmicky.
The Star Dish: White Curry with Brisket Burnt Ends
Ask almost anyone who has been to Eem which dish they think about long after leaving, and the answer is almost always the same: the white curry with brisket burnt ends. The curry itself is rich, creamy, and deeply aromatic, built on a coconut base that carries layers of lemongrass, galangal, and warming spice without turning aggressively hot.
The brisket burnt ends are where the barbecue side of the equation earns its place. Slow-smoked until the exterior develops that characteristic charred crust, the meat is tender all the way through, and when it meets the curry sauce, something genuinely exciting happens.
The smokiness cuts through the richness of the coconut, and the fat from the brisket melts into the sauce in a way that makes every spoonful feel complete.
Roasted cauliflower comes along for the ride, adding a slightly caramelized, nutty counterpoint to the dish, and fluffy jasmine rice soaks up every last drop of the sauce. It is the kind of dish that prompts people to order a second bowl before they have finished the first.
The white curry with brisket burnt ends is not just the most talked-about item on the menu. It is legitimately one of the most memorable things you can eat in Portland right now.
Exploring the Full Menu Beyond the Headliner
The white curry gets most of the attention, but the rest of the menu deserves a serious look before you lock in your order. The smoked pork belly krapao is a standout, taking the classic Thai stir-fry base of holy basil and fish sauce and anchoring it with chunks of slow-cooked pork belly that carry a deep, layered smokiness from the pit.
The sweet and sour fried chicken is a crowd-pleaser that shows up on nearly every table in the room. The chicken arrives crispy on the outside and juicy inside, coated in a glaze that hits tart and sweet in quick succession.
The smaller portion is genuinely filling, which is worth knowing before you over-order.
On the salad side, the som tum, or papaya salad, is traditionally prepared and genuinely fiery. The restaurant does not dial back the heat on this one, so if your spice tolerance has limits, ordering a side of lettuce cups to temper the burn is a solid strategy.
The BBQ fried rice carries a faint but noticeable smokiness that sets it apart from any version you have had elsewhere, and the yu choy greens are simple, well-seasoned, and a smart addition to balance out a heavier order.
The Atmosphere Inside the Restaurant
The inside of Eem has a vibe that lands somewhere between a casual neighborhood hangout and a thoughtfully designed dining destination. The tableware is eclectic and charming, the lighting is warm without being dim, and the overall feel is lively in a way that makes you want to stay longer than you originally planned.
Fair warning: this place gets loud. The acoustics during a busy service can make conversation across the table a genuine challenge, especially on weekend evenings when every seat is full and the energy in the room is cranked up.
If you are planning a quiet, intimate dinner where conversation is the main event, arriving early in the day or on a slower weekday is the better call.
The bar seating is a particularly good option if you arrive solo or as a pair, since you can often get seated there more quickly than waiting for a full table. The staff consistently earns praise for being warm, knowledgeable about the menu, and genuinely enthusiastic about the food they are serving.
That kind of front-of-house energy goes a long way toward making the whole experience feel welcoming rather than transactional, and it shows up in review after review from guests who come back specifically because of how well they were treated.
Navigating the Wait and Getting Seated
No reservations means the wait is part of the experience at Eem, and the restaurant has a system that actually works pretty well. You show up, give your name and party size to the host, get a time estimate, and then head out to explore the neighborhood until your table is ready.
The Williams Avenue area rewards that kind of wandering, with plenty of nearby spots to grab a snack or browse while you wait.
One guest mentioned stopping next door at the ramen spot for a taco appetizer during a 45-minute wait, which is exactly the kind of flexible, neighborhood-hopping approach that makes this part of Portland enjoyable. The quoted wait times can run long during peak dinner hours, particularly after 7 PM on weekends, but the actual wait often comes in shorter than expected.
The most consistently reliable strategy for avoiding a long wait is arriving right around the 5 PM opening window on weekdays. Several regulars note that showing up at or just before 5 PM almost always means getting seated immediately or within minutes.
If your schedule allows that kind of flexibility, it is by far the most stress-free way to experience Eem without the added variable of an unpredictable evening queue.
Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Options Worth Knowing About
Eem is not exclusively a meat-lover’s destination, even though the smoked brisket tends to dominate the conversation. The menu has a genuine range of vegetarian-friendly dishes that hold their own without feeling like afterthoughts bolted onto a barbecue-focused menu.
The fried cauliflower is one of the most talked-about vegetarian options, arriving with a crispy exterior and a sauce that brings real depth and character to what could easily be a forgettable side dish. The beet salad is another option that divides opinion but has its fans among guests who appreciate something lighter and more unconventional on a menu heavy with bold, smoky flavors.
For guests managing gluten sensitivities, Eem offers a solid selection of gluten-free dishes, and the staff is generally well-equipped to walk you through which items on the menu fit those needs. One guest noted coming back twice in two weeks specifically because of how well the gluten-free options were handled, which is a meaningful endorsement in a city where dietary accommodations can sometimes feel like an afterthought.
The vegetable-forward dishes here are seasoned and prepared with the same care as the protein-heavy centerpieces, which makes the menu genuinely accessible to a wider range of diners without sacrificing any of the kitchen’s creative ambition.
The Spice Levels: A Heads-Up for the Heat-Curious
Eem does not shy away from heat, and the spice levels on certain dishes are not performative. The very spicy papaya salad is the most frequently mentioned heat landmark on the menu, and multiple guests who describe themselves as serious spice enthusiasts have noted that this particular dish pushed them to their absolute limit.
The kitchen prepares the som tum in a way that is close to the traditional Thai approach, which means the chilies are not tempered down for a more cautious palate. If you are ordering it and you know your heat tolerance has a ceiling, asking for a side of lettuce cups is a practical move that helps carry the salad to a more manageable temperature level.
The curries vary in heat intensity depending on which one you choose. The white curry tends to be the most approachable for guests who want rich, complex flavor without a significant burn.
The green curry sits at a moderate level, while the jungle curry is where things get more assertive. Being upfront with your server about your spice preferences is genuinely useful here, because the staff knows the menu well enough to steer you toward something that will feel exciting rather than overwhelming on your first visit.
What the Creative Cocktail Menu Brings to the Table
Eem bills itself as a Thai BBQ and cocktail destination, and the drinks menu lives up to that billing with a lineup of creative, visually striking options that lean into tiki traditions and tropical flavor profiles. The cocktails arrive in traditional tiki mugs and decorative vessels that add a theatrical element to the table without feeling over the top.
The mocktail selection is also available for guests who prefer non-alcoholic options, and the kitchen has put real thought into making those alternatives feel like genuine choices rather than watered-down substitutes. Several guests have specifically praised the mocktail lineup as a highlight of their visit, noting that the flavors are just as interesting and well-constructed as the full cocktail versions.
The drinks pair naturally with the food because the flavor profiles are designed to complement the bold, spiced, smoky notes coming off the plates. A cooling, citrus-forward drink alongside the papaya salad, or something rich and slightly sweet next to the white curry, creates a kind of balance at the table that makes the whole meal feel more complete.
The cocktail menu changes with some regularity, so there is always something new to try on a return visit, which is part of what keeps regulars coming back with genuine enthusiasm.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit
A few practical notes can make a real difference in how your visit to Eem plays out. Arriving between 11 AM and 1 PM on a weekday catches the lunch window with much shorter waits and a quieter dining room, which is worth considering if your schedule has that kind of flexibility.
The dinner rush builds quickly after 6 PM, especially Thursday through Saturday.
Ordering a mix of dishes rather than each person picking one entree gives the table a much better overall picture of what the kitchen can do. The white curry, a salad, one of the smoked meat dishes, and a vegetable side covers the main flavor registers without over-ordering.
The portions are generous enough that two to three shared dishes work well for a pair of hungry diners.
The staff is consistently described as knowledgeable and approachable, so asking for recommendations based on your preferences is a smart move rather than a hesitant one. First-time visitors who mention it is their initial visit tend to get especially attentive guidance.
You can reach Eem at 971-295-1645 or browse the full current menu at eempdx.com before your visit, which makes planning your order ahead of time a genuinely useful option.
