America’s most outstanding restaurant is revealed – and it’s located in one of the country’s most notorious cities
A restaurant Oregona city overrun with homeless encampments, has been declared the leading restaurant in the country.
Langbaan, one of the first restaurants to serve a Thai tasting menu in America, was honored Monday at the James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony. Chicago‘s Lyric Opera Building.
Portland has struggled with crime and vagrancy in recent years, and has become more known for their spiraling homelessness and drug crisis than for their vibrant culinary scene. -to do area.
To win the foundation’s Outstanding Restaurant award, a business must consistently deliver exceptional food, create a welcoming atmosphere, provide first-class hospitality and make meaningful contributions to the community, the foundation said.
“This 24-seat restaurant, which exudes a Bangkok night market atmosphere, has been instrumental in introducing Portland to the authentic, addictive flavors of Thai cuisine,” said the awards commentator. “Whether it’s the fresh salads, the mouth-numbing larb, the complex curries… Langbaan is the most fun you can have on a night out in Portland.”
Langbaan, one of the first restaurants in America to serve a Thai tasting menu, was honored Monday at the James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera Building in Chicago.
During his acceptance speech, Langbaan owner Akkapong Ninsom, who locals know as Earl, said he was surprised and honored to have been nominated at all, let alone win an award for an establishment he dreamed up a decade ago (Image: Langbaan group attends the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards at Lyric Opera Of Chicago)
During his acceptance speech, Langbaan owner Akkapong Ninsom, who locals know as Earl, said he was surprised and honored to have been nominated at all, let alone win an award for an establishment he dreamed up a decade ago.
His goal was always to prove that “There was much, much more to Thai food than what Americans had seen,” he said.
The Northwest Portland restaurant changes its menu every two months, rotating between different regions of Thailand.
“I truly hope that this award does not change who we are, that we will not stop innovating, that we will not settle for mediocrity, and that we will continue to care for our guests and our communities,” he said.
Nimson is co-owner of several other Thai restaurants in the Portland area, including PaaDee, Hat Yai, Eem, Phuket Cafe and Yaowarat.
He was previously a finalist in the Outstanding Restaurateur category in 2022 and in 2019 his restaurant Eem, which uniquely combines Thai flavors with Texas-style smoked meats, was a finalist for the foundation’s prestigious Best New Restaurant award.
Langbaan, located at 1818 North West 23rd Place, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Each tasting menu has a flat rate of $125. Reservations are released in one-month blocks.
In recent years, Portland has suffered a devastating homelessness epidemic, affecting thousands of people living on the streets, often on improvised campsites.
Portland has already committed $27 million to three official homeless shelters in an effort to address the problem, but drug addicts are reluctant to clean up and move in
When DailyMail.com visited the city in AugustLittle progress had been made in ending heartbreaking scenes of public drug abuse and poverty.
Portland is known more for their spiraling homelessness and drug crisis than for their vibrant culinary scene. That’s why it came as a shock to some that Langbaan was named the country’s leading restaurant.
Before 2020, Portland’s population had been growing steadily for fifteen years. But that year, voters opted to decriminalize possession of hard drugs, including fentanyl, as the city’s sidewalks continue to play host to homeless encampments.
Portland’s homeless population increased 65 percent from 1,887 to 6,297 between 2015 and 2023, with about 5,398 unsheltered.
Multnomah County plans to create enough shelters for about 2,700 people by the end of next year.
