EEM

Is EEM Worth Booking in Portland?

Yes — and it's the Thai restaurant in Portland that most consistently punches above its casual format. Chef Akkapong Earl Ninsom runs a tight, relaxed room at 3808 N Williams Ave that has earned Opinionated About Dining recognition every year since 2023, ranking #167 in 2024 and #181 in 2025 on the North America Casual list. A 4.6 Google rating across more than 2,500 reviews confirms this isn't a critical outlier — it's a broadly loved spot that delivers real quality at a price point that won't require much deliberation.

What to Expect

The Williams Avenue location puts EEM in a busy, walkable stretch of North Portland, housed in a modest commercial suite that seats a manageable number of covers. The room is casual by design, don't expect elaborate décor or a formal host experience. What you do get is a space that moves efficiently: open, approachable, and set up for the kind of meal where the food does the talking. If you've been once and wondered whether the setting would improve on a return visit, the honest answer is that it won't change much. The draw is the cooking, and that's the right trade-off for this format.

For a returning visitor, the question is what to try beyond whatever you ordered first. Earl Ninsom is also the chef behind Langbaan, Portland's more intimate Thai tasting menu format, if you've already worked through EEM's casual menu, Langbaan represents the natural next step for deeper exploration of his cooking. EEM and Langbaan sit at opposite ends of the formality spectrum, but both reflect a consistent kitchen sensibility. You can also compare the more focused approach at Nong's Khao Man Gai or the broader, family-style format at Paadee to understand where EEM sits in Portland's Thai range.

The hours skew generous for a Portland casual: open seven days, Monday through Thursday and Sunday until 9 pm, Friday and Saturday until 10 pm, with service starting at 11 am daily. That Friday and Saturday extension to 10 pm is useful if you're eating late after a show or want to avoid the peak dinner rush. Coming in mid-week, particularly on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, gives you the leading combination of availability and a calmer room. Weekend lunch, once a reliable walk-in option at many Portland casuals, has become more competitive here given EEM's sustained recognition.

If you're building a broader Portland food itinerary, Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine and Hat Yai are the other Thai spots worth knowing, Hat Yai in particular focuses tightly on Southern Thai fried chicken and roti, making it a more narrowly focused but highly reliable option. For Thai cooking at the opposite end of the experience spectrum globally, Nahm in Bangkok and Samrub Samrub Thai in Bangkok offer a reference point for how Portland's Thai scene benchmarks internationally.

Pearl has designated EEM a Recommended Restaurant for 2025. The Opinionated About Dining recognition is meaningful context: OAD rankings in the Casual North America category are driven by votes from experienced diners, not editorial placement, which makes EEM's consistent appearance on that list a strong signal of sustained quality rather than a one-year anomaly.

Who EEM Is Right For

EEM works well for diners who prioritise kitchen quality over room ambiance, and who want a Thai meal that goes beyond the generic. It's a better fit for two to four people than for large groups. If you're looking for a celebration dinner with formal service, look elsewhere, Langbaan is the right answer for that. If you want to explore what makes Portland's Thai cooking worth paying attention to, EEM is the more accessible entry point. For wider Portland planning, see our full Portland restaurants guide, hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide.

Quick reference: Open daily from 11 am, late nights Friday–Saturday until 10 pm. Easy to book. Casual dress. North Portland, N Williams Ave.

How It Compares