Spicy Goodness at Ping in Portland
Ping in Portland
One of the highlights of my short holiday shopping trip to Portland was my late lunch/happy hour nosh at Ping (102 NW 4th Ave.). Andreas and I are huge fans of Pok Pok, so I was particularly excited to try Andy Ricker’s new venture, Ping! Housed in the heart of Chinatown, in what used to be a Chinese restaurant, Ping’s interior still retains an old-world Chinese vibe mixed with a contemporary flavor. I went during happy hour (2pm – 5:30pm M-F) and sat at the bar. The view of the kitchen from the bar reminded me of the interior of a kitchen in an Asian house. Needless to say, I felt very comfortable, even eating solo. Happy hour prices are fantastic. I ordered the Spicy Mama Ramen ($5 happy hour; $8 regular) and 2 Wild Caught Prawn Skewers – 6 prawns total – ($2 ea. happy; $3.50 ea. regular), all washed down with a beer for $5.
Wild Caught Prawn Skewers - Ping
The prawns were very good. The dipping sauce was minimal and perfect – lime juice with Vietnamese sea-salt and pepper. You’ll have to use your fingers to eat the shrimp, which make the experience all the more authentic.
Spicy Mama Ramen - Ping
Oh man … the Spicy Mama Ramen hit the spot! After a day of shopping, there’s nothing like having a bowl of ramen. The spice factor was fairly high, but I sprinkled a little more chili flakes, which made my mouth simmer in a good way. The pork broth was perfect! The ramen includes pork balls, shrimp, and a poached egg – perfection! If you are looking for fantastic Asian flavors, Ping is absolutely the place to go!
I will be sure to return.
