Sok Sab Bai Cambodian Food

I know this restaurant had closed, they were supposed to open a food cart summer of 2015. So far, I’ve checked and still no sign of one. It was one of my favorite restaurants when they were open. Of course, their hours of operation was from 5−9pm. That maybe a reason for the close. Reviews were great, but they really didn’t pack the people in the times we were there.
Of note, the dishes I liked the best was the bass, and pork belly and chicken steamed bun sandwiches. Yummers! I am writing this in hopes they open another restaurant or food cart soon.

I am heart broken that Sok Sai Ba closed! Not sure what happened, the food was stellar, trust me. Oh sure a few yahoos gave it bad press, but it should have been the new Pok Pok.
Heartbroken.

It is with great displeasure and heartfelt sadness that I must report that this restaurant location has Closed…
I discovered Sok Sab Bai about 3 months ago thanks to the Unilocal community, and for that I am deeply grateful. Nowhere else in Portland could I get such Delicious Chicken Wings, Pork Belly Sliders, and a side of Fried Chicken Skin if I so choosed.
I came here tonight in great to stress, seeking their delicious Cambodian Comfort Food, only to find the lights off and a very solemn sign posted on their door.
While I look forward to the promised food cart location coming «Summer of 2015» nothing will do my belly justice tonight…
Thank you for the Dinning Pleasure, Sok Sab Bai.
You will be missed.

Overpriced;
Had 2 drinks, 3 dishes and 1 baguette and spent 72 bucks. Food was ‘okay’, server didn’t suggest any items to eat… perhaps we chose 3 dishes the chef was weak in specializing?
Also $ 2 for a can of sprite (not unlimited) and $ 3 for kids apple juice seems pricey.
My wife and I agreed we may return to try a sandwich at Happy Hour later this year… until then we will continue to cook Khmer food at home.

This place is hands down one of the better new (to me) se Asia restaurants in portland. We had several dishes and they were all really good but the standouts were the fried whole bass with salty/​sour dipping sauce and the beef ribs. The salads were good but not remarkable. I would highly recommend a visit here.

This tiny little place was highly recommended to me by a few friends.
We went right when they opened and it was completely empty. I didn’t see many tables so maybe that was a good thing, because if it got busy I can see a long wait.
We got the wings, the pork belly buns, crunchy chicken salad, the ribs, and fish ball soup.
Everything was amazing. The portions are a little smaller but that just makes sharing all the food even better.

Crispy chicken skin salad was yummy, but the beef ceviche salad was absolutely delicious. I expected both to be spicy, they absolutely were not, but the waiter wheeled over a tray full of different sauces and spices and we doctored up our dishes. I had the soup with meatballs. I did not like this soup at all cuZ I thought the broth tasted bland and a lil weird and also the meatballs were a very strange spongy texture. I took the leftovers home and my boyfriend absolutely loved it, so I guess to each their own. My companion had the ginger bass, which he said was good but had also been fried so hard that a lot of the flavors he was looking for were overpowered by the oil taste. Overall, disappointed, but probably because I’ve been spoiled by Mekong bistro.

This is the best food I’ve had in portland! Service was amazing, the food is ultra fresh and he owner is adorable. It’s right in my hood and far surpasses all the over blown egos of other portland restaurants. Get the crispy chicken skin salad, the pork
Buns and and whole fried fish. I hear the Khmer sausage is great too.

Found out about this place from my friend and after reading the Unilocal reviews my wife and I decided to give it a try.
The restaurant is located in a quant old house on SE 21^st and SE Clinton. On warmer days there is a couple of tables on the porch that you can use to dine on.
We started with the Jalapeño gizzards; beef ceviche; cheeky buns and pork belly buns.
Jalapeño gizzards had a nice heat, not too spicy and great flavor from the soy and beer marinade. Beef ceviche reminded of a great Thai beef salad. Very similar flavors and the lemon grass and lime kept it light.
Cheeky buns and pork belly buns use the same dough as what is used in Chinese restaurants to make steamed buns but the meat is folded in there taco style. Buns were nice and soft. Cheeky buns had char grilled chicken thighs and fried chicken skin and the pork belly buns was braised pork belly that was so tender with a nice crispy crust. Both had slices of Jalapeño and I loved the heat but some people might find it too spicy. No worries just take them out.
Main courses were Krueng Beef Ribs. Local grass-​fed short ribs marinated in spicy krueng and char grilled to perfection. Very tender and great flavor. Next was Ginger Fried Bass. Whole fried striped bass topped with scallions, ginger and fermented soy bean sauce. Nice crispy skin, moist and great tasty sauce. Delicious!
Dessert was coconut battered bananas which was a great way to cap the meal off.
Been here a few times now and every time the food is delicious. and service warm and friendly.

I have never had Cambodian food before I was not disappointed.
I had the Khamer sausage and it was every bit as good as I though it was going to be. The flavors of the sausage and rice were suburb with the sauce and the pickled goodies. I never had sausage stuffed with rice but it was a very surprising flavorful dish. The way the prepared it was perfection. A perfect crisp skin all the way around.
But what really stole the show was the chicken wings. Holy Christ on a broomstick they were the best I’ve ever had. I usually don’t like wings but they had everything. A wonderful blend if spices and they were grilled perfectly. I could have ate 30 of the bastards and not be content.
I am defiantly going back very soon. With a Unilocal check in you get a 50% off coupon for an entrée so why not give it a try. Next time I am
Going for the chicken noodle curry soup. Sounds Devine in every way! Give this place an honest shot. Because I love hearing when good carts move up in the world and find permanent roots in our lovely city.

There isn’t a single negative thing I can say about this place.
1) It’s in my hippy-​hood, which means parking is free and easy to find.
2) It’s located in one of those beautiful old house — like many of the restaurants in NW — only unlike NW, we didn’t have a 2 hour time limit on our parking, nor did we spend more than a minute finding a spot.
3) It was spotless and they have private areas to sit on the floor (on pillows) for a more authentic feel. They also have seating on the front porch for more intimate groups.
4) Our server, Erin, was completely on top of it. There was 14 of us and she got every meal correct and allowed us separate checks (a huge deal for me!) and didn’t make a single error. She was also super nice and didn’t grimace when we asked for a group photo (like a lot of servers will).
5) The food was fantastic! Everything was fresh, tasty and looked pretty enough to photograph. I love spicy, so I ordered the special of the day; Tamarindo and jalapeño chicken wings with a side of jasmine rice. Not only did I eat every bite, but I ate some of my friends chicken (which was too spicy for that wimp!) My brother got a pork sandwich, which he devoured in minutes. Most of my other friends asked for full plates of chicken and sides. Our host ordered a fermented sausage, which sounds weird but was surprisingly tasty. I also loved that they bring around a cart of sauces — to doctor your meals up with. I always go for the Hoisin sauce, but enjoyed trying a few of the others.
6) The prices were a happy surprise ($ 10 for the special of the day and $ 2 extra for rice) which is almost unheard of in a restaurant these days — much less a nice one. In fact, I was so surprised by the low cost of the meals that I ordered an extra drink to celebrate the fact that my dinner wasn’t going to break me.
I had no idea what to expect with Cambodian food, but it’s not too exotic — as some of my unadventurous friends feared — and definitely not weird. Think Bento and Thai.
When in the Clinton neighborhood, you really have to check this place out, even if it’s just to grab a drink out front or to share some small nibbles during their happy hour.

Delighted to report that Sok Sab Bai was great!
Good.
1. Cute yet comfortable atmosphere. I loved the roomy booths with nice thick cushions seats.
2. Our waitress and co-​owner I believe was very helpful and personable.
3. There are a lot of menu choices that range from the mild to the exotic, something for everyone.
Bad
1. The prices were a little high for the portion size.
2. They need more wait staff
I had the Caramelized Tofu and the Khmer Sausage. The Tofu was divine, some of the best I have had in a long time. It had a nice crunchy crust on around a nice soft center, very flavorful. The Khmer Sausage was interesting in taste. It is a fermented sausage so it has a bit of a gamey/​tart taste to it. It wasn’t a traditional sausage texture, a bit crumbly inside. It had good flavor but not my favorite dish.
I will definitely return to Sok Sab Bai in the future to try more of their menu. It’s wonderful to have something new in the area, especially since it is so tasty.

Monkey brain soup?! Yes!
This was my first cambodian food experience in Portland but this was just right. Before this, I’ve never had an opportunity to taste Cambodian food. Shame shame! But I’m glad I waited. This was the best place to try it for me.
Location– this super cute house like place is somewhat hidden, somewhat not! It is around the corner for that amazing ice cream place. You know which one I’m talking about? Yea that one :) Stepping into this place is like transporting yourself into a little oasis. It’s so CUTE! And quaint. It has all the qualities that I like.
Food– oh yum yummmmm! My first try here was back in 2013 May when they first opened. I had no idea what to order so I ask our waiter to surprise me. And he did! Yummy surprises. I like that. Total food crush on that guy’s taste. Total food crush.
Since then, I’ve been eating their food like no tomorrow. Well at least when I’m in Portland anyway!
Food
1. Prahok Katee –sauteed pork with coconut milk.
2. Khmer sausage thing with rice! (The best)
3. Noodle soup with fish balls and meat (It’s not as simple as it sounds)
4. Monkey brain soup!!! (Not really but seriously, they look like monkey brains! I love this one)
5. Spicy wings (sweet!)
6. Porky sammich (this was delish)
7. Fried bass (love this)
There are few others I’ve had that I can’t recall but they’ve all been fantastic. I also love how this place look and feels. Feels like you’re at someone’s house. You can spend hours eating. And everyone I’ve sent here loveeeeee their foood. What else can one ask for? All I can say is –give it a try y’all!

I had one of the most delicious meals in recent memory here the other night, and I just have to spill.
This restaurant lies in an adorable converted house, and it’s bigger than it looks! It’s got a bar area and seating both indoors and out on the patio. The atmosphere is nice, but laid back – sometimes you’ll find things a little slow, but I thought that was part of its charm.
Now – to the food!
My favorite was the Prahok Katee, sautéed pork with coconut milk and fermented fish paste. Out it came, and I pretty much wholeheartedly agree with what our waitress said: «It’s like you’re being good and bad at the same time.» You hoist the decadent, sweet-​salty pork to your mouth in vegetable cradles that complement it very well (my faves were the radishes and red cabbage) – they slightly reduce the guilt factor but only highlight the flavors of the pork with their snappy freshness. This was my favorite item of the night, and I plan on returning just for this.
Other highlights included the oxtail soup (a special, and we got the last of it before they were all out) which was absolutely spectacular. The broth tasted like a cooked-​all-​day affair, and was light, aromatic, and really delicious. The oxtail was perfectly tender and the vegetables soaked up all the delicious juice. I kept eating this, even when I was full. If they’ve got a soup when you’re here, especially the oxtail, I highly recommend it!
The cheeky buns featured splendidly marinated chicken with fried chicken skin, some veggies, and a very spicy jalapeño (I think I must have hit on some seeds) so if you’re spice sensitive, removing it may be wise before you take a bite! Either way, with or without, they were delicious!
The short ribs were good, not unlike other short ribs I’ve had at KBQ restaurants before. We also got the banana blossom salad, which didn’t have much of the namesake flower in it but, regardless, was light and tasty. Both of these were good, but could be skipped in favor of the other items above.
The only drawback about this place is that – like carts – they run out! So if you have your heart set on one thing on the menu, get there early. (We had to skip out on the Khmer sausage for this reason!) However, even if your first choice isn’t available, I recommend you persevere – you may be pleasantly surprised, because everything is delicious!

Sok Sab has a nice atmosphere – a house turned into a restaurant with purple walls with booths, and even a private, Japanese style room. The menu, however, was kind of a disappointment. Everything seemed a bit overpriced, which is truly the case when you consider serving sizes.
For 2 people, we ordered 2 appetizers and a soup.
The Amok Trey (Cambodia’s national dish) was disappointing. I expected it to be more dip-​like, and similar to Prahok Katees (a spicy ground pork in coconut milk, which is also served with sliced, raw vegetables), but it was dry, and mostly flavorless. It was basically a dense, coagulated $ 10 fish-​puck that probably started life as a quarter-​can of salmon. Perhaps its best feature is that it comes in a cute little steaming raft made of banana leaves.
I enjoyed the beef ceviche, but it was a small serving for $ 7, and it seemed to be mostly onions and peppers, rather than beef.
The Khmer red curry, was overall the best item for those who want a filling meal – it was like a sweeter Thai red curry, thinned with stock into soup form. I did not, however, like that the potatoes and carrots were in enormously ‘rustic’ chunks. They really should have sliced them a little smaller, and for the love of soup, please cut the black top off of the carrot, lest I become concerned about what else you’ve put in my soup instead of the trash.

UPDATE — So it looks like Tina, the owner directly responded to my review.
Hi Tina, we both saw your one liner disclosure on your happy hour menu. It states: «Good for dine-​in only and may not be taken to-​go.» When we hear «To Go» food, we think of ordering out, not taking home leftovers. While your restaurant does display this «disclosure» on your happy hour menu, it wouldn’t make us think that we couldn’t get a doggie bag.
I understand you are afraid of people ordering lots of happy hour food with the intention of eating it later, at home. That’s a reasonable concern, especially for a small business, but that fear shouldn’t apply when a customer wants to take home one item. Especially when it’s a half-​eaten sandwich.
My co-​worker and I both work in food policy and were terribly disappointed in the restaurant’s rigid rule, mostly because the rule clearly promotes and even encourages the wasting of food, which is simply unacceptable in our line of work.
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my review, it definitely shows that you care about how to improve and what your customers think.

We have eaten here a couple of times over the last month. We were looking for something new and were very glad we gave this place a try.
Our first time involved a group of seven; the other time a group of four. Both times we were completely satisfied.
We enjoyed essentially everything we tried. We particularly liked the Khemer sausage. They also do a nice curry soup. The flavors of these two dishes were rich and full bodied. We always grab a combination of salad, soup and entrees. Despite ordering several items, the price has always been reasonable.
This has been a nice new treat. We will go back. If you want to try something new, then drop in here for a very nice dinner.

HAPPY HOUR MENU
Another PDX food cart transforming itself into a full service restaurant. Took advantage of the all day happy hour menu this Monday. Tuesdays is 20% off for service industry and students. Wednesdays is check in deal for $ 2 off. Thursdays is throwback special food cart prices. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday 3 pm till 6 pm.
I very much enjoyed their Cambodian Sandwich with braised pork (caw). With the Ka Thiew (noodle soup) being my least favorite. The type of noodle used was not my personal favorite. Too bad I couldn’t substitute the rice noodles with kee mao noodles.
Later this year when I’m in Puerto Rico, I’m going to have to buy a six pack of Coco Rico Coconut Soda… it was off the chart smooth and refreshing.

Whoa! This place freakin rocks!
Went for a late lunch on a date with myself and boy I’m sure glad I did. I didn’t realize se 21^st and Clinton was such a hot spot.
At any rate I had the mango salad with fried chicken skin. Absolutely delicious Super fresh mango, bean sprouts, radish, green peppers and other delicious veggies, slaw style like you would expect from a mango/​papaya salad, with a generous topping of fried chicken skin. Just perfect, amazing really.
For an entrée I had the fried bass, outrageously good. Bass, sliced in half lengthwise curled around a skewer and fried. Skin was crispy, meat was flaky and the flavor was out of control. Served with rice, ‘da sauce (OMG so good, I bought a bottle), delicious pickled veggies and these little fermented beans that were out of control. I picked apart that bass for everything it had. Spicy, fragrant, fresh and mouth wateringly amazing food. I will be back for sure.
Atmosphere was great, in an old converted house, décor was simple and nice. Service was great.
Mmmm I wanna go back!

I am fascinated by SE Asian food. The tart, tangy, earthy, pungent, fishy flavors appeal to me. And thankful for me, I live on the Pacific Rim, where it’s aplenty. Even in a city the size of Portland, we have more Thai Food restaurants than McDonald’s**, and enough phở joints to feed an army. But one thing we don’t have a lot of is Cambodian food. Probably because of the harsh realities that have faced Cambodia over the years — they’re not in as good a position as, say, Siam, to be exporting their culture.
Well Portland does finally have Cambodian food, and you can find it at Sok Sab Bai. This cart never seems to me to be open. Maybe it was closed for the winter or I went by on the wrong days. But when it is open, it serves up some crazy good Cambodian food from a rotating menu. So far I’ve sampled the grilled shrimp (yum) served over rice with salad, and a special soup — Salaw Machoo Kreung — made from tripe, beef, celery, water spinach and lemongrass. Both have been outstanding, but the soup I had yesterday really blew me away. As it should have for $ 8.
The folks working this cart are plenty friendly and they offer some nice service touches. There is a covered seating area with utensils and house-​made spicy sauce. Your food is served on restaurant-​style dishes, often with platters and various home-​y effects. I definitely feel less like I’m eating at a cart and more like I’m dining at a street-​food experience akin to Asia (where the street food usually has a sit-​down area, etc).
The flavors here are deep and complex, and some of the food items here are creative and different from what’s on offer in the rest of town. The only complaint is that I wish they had more of their crazy soups on offer. The time I got the shrimp (which was good), it was a consolation prize… a second choice to the amazing-​looking pork soup they had that day that they had just run out of. I guess the moral is — get there early for the crazy soups/​stews.
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**I pulled this statistic out of my ass.