Chopsticks III

It’s like having drinks in someone’s trailer, if they didn’t like having people over.
I’ve never understood bar owners who clearly hate running a bar. This place is loaded with signs admonishing the customers. The clock is set 15 minutes ahead, food orders stop X minutes before last call so the staff can clean, don’t wear house slippers (#9 on the dress code, IIRC). But what do you expect from a bar with fake wood paneling on the walls?
I was encouraged to join coworkers here and arrived before they did. I started my evening with a well drink, being charged $ 4 for what tasted like dirty water. The bottle said Potters, if the bartender had put a decent amount of that turpentine swill in there I’d have detected it. I stuck to beers after that.
It took two tries to order some food (helpful hint, if they don’t give you a number, they didn’t hear you), but the appetizer plate I got was a decent example of the crappy fried faux-​Chinese food I love so much. But it’s the same stuff you get in any of these places, so no points for that.
Then, they take your ID when you run a tab. If I hadn’t been meeting people, I’d have left. It’s a dump and poorly run to boot. Meh, indeed.

The door guy arbitrarily decides that valid identification is simply unacceptable. Here’s something: when a valid government organization issues your identification, you don’t get to decide that it just isn’t. Case in point: California issues driver’s licenses with out of state addresses. Do your homework, and maybe you won’t have just lost business.

I wish I could review the atmosphere or the menu, but unfortunately the door guy is such an ego driven tool that I wasn’t even allowed inside.
Apparently my completely legal, state issued identification isn’t valid there simply because it’s a California ID with an Oregon address. I realize that isn’t normal, and if it makes them uncomfortable, I’m fine with that. However, rather than say he doesn’t feel right accepting my ID, he decided to lie to my face and claim that he’s called the California DMV about this and that they told him they don’t issue identification with out of state addresses. A quick search of the DMV website will show you that this idiot has no idea what he’s talking about.
Anyway, I guess I’ll just spend my money somewhere else.

I’d give the place a 4 or 5 star review if the door guy didn’t start rejecting my and my housemate’s perfectly legitimate DMV issued identification as «fake» and lying about what the manager or the scanning machine says. Not to mention the fact that he’s let us in with these IDs before. It just doesn’t make sense. I don’t know if it’s because we’re from CA or if he gets off on rejecting people, but I’ve heard the same story from others as well.
Caution is one thing — you’re a doorman, i get it — but making up lies («the scanner says it’s fake»…No it fucking doesn’t because this ID was issued by the DMV) and refusing paying karaōke enthusiasts with disposable incomes is just idiotic and explains why this place doesn’t fill up. I wish this guy would get fired so I could become a regular here.
Low karaōke wait times, reasonable prices, deliciously greasy food (though I’d guess mediocre by others’ standards), kitchen open late, and a fun and relaxed crowd. The sound here is decent and the KJ’s are solid.
Really, 4.5 — 5 stars for this place but the doorman is the most incompetent and unreasonable person I’ve ever had the displeasure of interacting with and I cannot support this establishment with his unprofessional and eager to displease attitude waiting at the door.

Had fun! They have karaōke and alcohol, what more could I ask for?
They have a patio area for smoking and you could still hear the music/​karaōke while you’re out there.
Restrooms were decently clean and the bartender was friendly ^_^

I know a couple of friends that come here for karaōke, so even though it’s a little out of the way for me, I finally came by. I was surprised the bartender didn’t have a drink menu, but there were only a limited number of bottles behind him. We also ordered food, not a bad menu or price. The drink was fine but the food was poor quality. Edible, luckily. I like the fact that they have a computer set up with which to search songs, much easier than the books other places have. I think they need to take a look at their product. I won’t be returning, ever.

My boyfriend and I came here while we were in Portland for vacation. The food is great and the music choice is awesome. Just the sign alone is enough to make you want to come here. HOW CAN BE? How can be what!!! How can be sober while here? The drinks were great as well. I feel like if more people came, this would be a blast.

This place is obnoxious. The door man was lazy and rude. The bartender didn’t know how to make a kamikaze or use his bartender tools properly and walked away an ignored me when I told him the drink he made me was wrong. The stereo system is out of date and sounded awful. My ears were ringing after only a 20 min visit. A Women puked all over the bathroom and no one cared when I informed the staff. I love a dive but this place was just pathetic.

I don’t even know where to start, so I’ll jump off the diving board and see where I land!
This place could be great because of the crowd alone, but, when you factor in drinks that aren’t made correctly (even after a second time) and a karaōke machine that’s off beat with broken mics then you get disappointment.
This was my first time here and the people are AMAZINGLY, but the bartender… Not so much! I ordered a PEACH Long Island (no coke, 7up or sprite instead add peach schnapps) he made my drink both times and they were both just alcohol, no soda, no peach schnapps (even though I kept repeating myself)!! Seriously it’s a simple drink that he kept putting whiskey in even though it doesn’t call for it! It was $ 10 and if I would have paid for it I would’ve had a few choice words for him.
We sung one song and the first half the words and the music weren’t matching up. That sucks… Idk if I’d come back because The Ambassador has better karaōke, and their drinks are always made correctly!!!
Happy Unilocaling…

Horrible establishment. Seedy, sad, no upkeep, tons of rules and regulations posted everywhere upon entering, and a pathetic night of karaōke taking place. Felt unsafe and uncomfortable the entire time. Called to pickup some Chinese «food» if that’s what they claim to be serving, walked in and told the girl at the bar about our order, she pointed to the other guy at the bar then immediately turned around and proceeded to watch TV. Big help! Got the «food,» took it home, took two bites, and right away felt the need to invite a priest over to excorcise the remaining contents of the plastic container filled with thrice cooked, rubbery chicken tossed with cheap, previously frozen vegetables in a sauce that literally could not be any more flavorless and bland even if they tried. Do not acknowledge this place’s existence.

Even for being so cheap the food is not worth it. It tasted like old Chinese hot-​bar food from Safeway.

It was pretty great until they got rid of the karaōke books and put in one single, slow computer at the back of the room, it’s the only way to look up what songs are available: it’s slow, the software they used for it is clunky and difficult, and now if there are more than a few people there, there’s a bottleneck for looking at songs. The old binder system was also clunky, but at least it worked. This new system… meh.

Leave your inhibitions at the door and just get in here and karaōke.
Chopsticks III how can be lounge.
(That’s not a grammar mistake)
This place is shady, scary and awesome. When you pull into the parking lot you will get the sense that there is a back entrance and you are about to walk into a place that has naked ladies. If this is what you expect prepare yourself for disappointment.
What the «How can be Lounge» does have is poor decorating, filthy bathrooms, bad furniture, possibly some mediocre food and probably some of the best times karaōke’ing you will ever have.
Yes. You will not leave Tres Chopsticks unhappy. Whether it’s the beer or the fact that you just belted out some of the best Neil Diamond since Neil Diamond. Chances are you’ll make friends with the other 3 people there and be in a consistent rotation with the KJ.
Just get out there and sing. It’s not like you’ll bump into anyone you know or ever see these people again. Unless you become a regular. I can see that happening.

This place is really better than it somehow should be. The sign alone makes you question your choice prior to entering — How Can Be Lounge… WTF? How can be what?
I have been here a couple times, am always surprised that the food is… better than I expect. There’s even some fresh veggies going on if you order carefully. It’s generally of the fried, old school chinese food variety… but so is much of Portland still. So for what it is, it’s pretty good.
A small video poker area as you enter is easily ignored. The bartender last time was rather uninterested… in me, in making conversation, in being there. But we were there for karaōke anyway. It’s a big room, it’s a big song book, it’s a cool KJ who doesnt even sing his own stuff from what I remember… which is preferable unless they’re superb. The smoking area is just lovely. Big and inviting and super cool in nice weather.
The clientele is quite a mix… The first group of rowdies were a very large, mostly or all lesbian group. They were a large group and grew by the minute. Not all of them sang. Then I was surprised as an obvious regular comes in from his giant truck, dressed in his lovely, if not old fashioned and possibly western (if I remember correctly) skirt and blouse. Then the young sters showed… mostly guys in their 20s… A little of everything. I’m cool with that.
So — try to ignore any service or personality glitches and just enjoy… enjoy the large, and somewhat full (as the night went on) karaōke room that still allowed us all to sing 2 or 3 songs, the better than you expect chinese food, the awesome smoking porch, the diverse clientele and the proximity to my house. Enjoy!

Fun dive with cheap stiff drinks and karaōke. The KJ was friendly and my friend and I were able to sing a few songs each. The crowd is friendly and supportive of everyone who picks up a microphone. Fun time.

This place is fun. I have been only for the karaōke and drinks, can’t speak to the food.
Friday and Saturday nights are generally pretty busy. Tuesday nights are slower, and more my style. The people have been pretty friendly and very accepting, though I rarely muster up the courage to actually sing anything. It’s a fun place to hang out and listen to people rock out on the mic.
They have a nice patio as well, which is a nice way to break up the night if you get tired of shouting at your friends over the music.

«What if there were a way we could all hear everyone’s favorite songs only with really shitty vocals?” — Guy who invented karaōke.
Sometimes you need to have a few to many and belt out some Dolly Patron, you know what I mean?
Oh, you don’t? Well how about some Britney Spears or Ginuwine… Counting Crows? Still, no? We’ll have to agrees to disagree on this one I guess.
Chopsticks III is a dive. The kind of dive that holds your ID if you start a tab because that many people have abandoned bad credit cards here. The kind of dive where you can watch an old sweaty drunk guy sing Break On Though while doing arm wind-​mills with so much enthusiasm that you have 911 punched into your phone … you know, just in case. That’s just the beginning I assure you. It’s a sight to behold!
Unlike other Karaōke joints in town you wont have to wait an obscene amount of time after your song has been put in until you can sing. If you come for a few hours you can easily get up to the mic two or maybe even three times. The song book is a little lacking when it comes to new jams. The newest songs they have around probably about two years old which is a bummer when you have your heart set on singing the new Justin Timberlake song. It’s great for a group of friends looking to get Karao-​Cray and not have to hear to many people sing Journey songs in-​between.

I’ve been informed that my Unilocal review is the first thing that comes up when one does a Google search for Chopsticks III. So, yeah, that’s awkward.
But! I figured I could use it as an opportunity to continue to tout how awesome this place is, since I’ve become a regular now, to the point that the bartenders know my drink order without even having to ask. This is a testament to how often I come here, but also a testament to how great the bartenders are. And of course, the KJ’s continue to rock, as well. Tip your KJ’s and bartenders, y’all!
The one downfall: They do not have «Flagpole Sitta» by Harvey Danger. Le sad. But I’m willing to forgive them for this one minor transgression.

This is my new favorite karaōke bar. So lively!
I went in for the first time last Friday night and had a ton of fun.
They have a pretty good song selection though it could be a little more extensive. I want to sing the Mary Jane Girls– All night long. How come nobody has this cut? It has been sampled like 9,000 times and seems like it would be everywhere buuut it ain’t. I also think the song menus would be a lot easier to read if they were laid out in a more traditional manner.
I can’t remember the KJ’s name but she looked like she was enjoying herself too, rocking out in the booth which always makes it more fun. I also really loved how the crowd got up and danced when they were really feeling it.
The drinks here are stiff and are served quickly and accurately by a couple of no-​nonsense bartenders.
Next time I’m gonna get myself some fried shrimps so I don’t get so drunk while waiting to sing!

There’s a story for this one too — -waaaaait for it…~ (good Ubu)
So I was wearing my Chopsticks sky blue tee the other day in the Bay, and some Asian friend said aloud, «HOW CAN *BE*??? who is that?» and I made a great effort to explain to her about this chain… hilarious!
Super casual, fun with large groups of silly ones, to be sure.
Just came home from work and happened to have run into fellow Asian colleague who coincidentally grew up close to where I used to live, (she in NE’s Grant Park area) studied at OHSU, etc… we reminisced before work about the stuff of Portland that we truly missed.
Mentioned this place and just chuckled and giggled about the silliness of that dude! I consider them a small Pdx icon!