Xiao Ye, which translates to "midnight snack" in Mandarin, is a restaurant at the intersection of Sandy Boulevard and 38th Street in northeast Portland's Hollywood neighborhood.[1][2]Bon Appétit has said the restaurant has a "fun, unfussy design which includes mismatched vintage chairs in bold colors, patterned textiles, and checkered tile floors".[3]
The menu has included grilled snapper with chipotle and chile negro butter, served with curtido on the side, as well as masa-mochiko madeleines, tom yum soup, pear and steak tartare, tomato toast, and Jolyn's Favorite Noodle V. 1, a pasta dish with sesame, Taiwanese black vinegar, and Lao Gan Ma.[4]
History
Chef Louis Lin and co-owner Jolyn Chen opened Xiao Ye in September 2023;[5] the duo prefer to describe the cuisine as "first-generation American" instead of New American or fusion.[6][7]
Reception
In 2023, Xiao Ye won in the Best New Restaurant category of Eater Portland's annual Eater Awards.[8] Nathan Williams also included the business in the website's 2023 list of sixteen "standout spots" in the Hollywood neighborhood.[1] In his review for the Portland Mercury, Ned Lannamann wrote: "As it stands, though, Xiao Ye is an artful misfire: the sort of place that, as Mr. Huang sadly appears to desire it to be, is really only best when the customers are a little drunk, a little high, maybe both and in any event extremely hungry."[9]
