An intimate 24-seat restaurant in Portland, Oregon, offering a refined multi-course Thai tasting menu that transforms classic Thai flavors using seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients.
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SteakhouseThaiSeafoodFine diningDinnerFine Dining
Last updated: 8/1/2026, 5:14:22 AM
Key Information
Langbaan, meaning “Back of the House,” is an intimate 24-seat restaurant in Portland, Oregon, offering a refined multi-course Thai tasting menu. It transforms classic Thai flavors using seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients, with the menu changing to reflect different regions of Thailand and their cultural history. It's known as a special occasion destination, offering a unique culinary journey.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently describe Langbaan as a delightful and memorable fine dining experience, perfect for special occasions. The tasting menu is praised for being elevated, balanced, and preserving traditional Thai fiery flavors, with dishes like the scallop with coconut cream frequently highlighted as favorites. Service is noted as attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, often accompanied by thoughtful storytelling about each dish. While the food and service receive universal acclaim, some guests note that the atmosphere, particularly at the bar, can feel less intimate than expected for a fine dining establishment due to its proximity to a more casual sister restaurant.
The restaurant's name, Langbaan, translates to “Back of the House,” hinting at its intimate and exclusive nature. The menu is a multi-course tasting experience, typically around 12 items across 5 courses, and changes seasonally, drawing inspiration from various regions of Thailand. Guests can often opt for chef's counter seating to observe the kitchen activity.
Specific dietary accommodations may be limited due to the tasting menu format. It does not generally serve vegetarian or vegan food.
Best Times to Visit
Langbaan operates on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays with seatings at 5:00 pm and 7:45 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, seatings are at 5:30 pm and 8:15 pm. Reservations are highly recommended due to its intimate size.
5
Had long been looking for a good opportunity to give Langbaan a try and finally had the chance to pay them a visit. The food itself was delicious across the board but there were some things to keep in mind for those attending.
Let’s start with the food itself. Everything was tasty and clearly cooked with great care. The scallop dish was definitely my favorite bite of the night and has been on the menu since day one which I now understand why. We wound up getting the upgrade for the aged wagyu which I thought was good but maybe not quite justified for the price. I also think without the wagyu I may have still been a little hungry. End of day the flavors were great and dishes were interesting.
Now to drinks and service. The service itself was good. Every server was knowledgeable about what was being served and presented the dishes well. Was hoping for a few more fruit based tequila drinks but that all comes down to personal preference.
I think the one thing that surprised me about the experience was the atmosphere. Typically for a fine dining meal you’d be in a quiet, intimate space, and this didn’t quite have that feel. We were up at the bar next to another couple and meanwhile the folks not partaking in the Langbaan experience are still enjoying food around you from the standard restaurant. It felt a little odd to see both getting served at the same time when one is this fine dining experience and the other is more casual eats. At the cost I just assumed it was a little more of a unique and special atmosphere.
A delightful experience from start to finish. Tasting menu felt elevated and balanced while preserving the fiery punch of traditional Thai flavors. The opening courses were unquestionably the star of the show - namely the scallop with coconut cream. The menu falls off a bit in the middle but the mains and desserts were also excellent (we particularly enjoyed the pandan). The menu was 12 courses and they were well paced. Book the chefs counter for a cool view into how everything is prepared.
Service was very attentive and the ambiance was intimate and cozy. Perfect place for a special occasion (eg celebrating an anniversary).
Langbaan is a fantastic, special-occasion destination. The tasting menu, accompanied by wine pairings, made for a memorable evening. We were lucky enough to get counter seating for our reservation, so we got to watch both the activity in the kitchen, and the team that was plating all the courses on the other side of the the counter where we sat.
The variety and creativity were spectacular. One example was a dish that looked like Pad Thai, but the 'noodles' were made from sliced squid. Each of the 12 items in the 5 total courses were described in great detail as they were being served.
Portion size ranged from exquisite small bites to bordering on entree sizes. All in all, everything added up to a perfect amount of food for the evening. I was pleasantly surprised by being able to get a reservation on relatively short notice, so if you've been considering the Langbaan experience, don't be discouraged by reports of how much lead time it can take to get a table.
Flew to Portland just for dinner at Langbaan, and it exceeded every expectation.
The space is beautiful, softly lit, calm, and intimate. Service was warm and attentive throughout, including a thoughtful birthday greeting.
The food was outstanding. The tom kha, presented as a panna cotta, melted instantly and delivered incredible depth of flavor, paired with beautifully cured salmon that tasted exceptionally fresh. Pad ped pla was rich and balanced, and the rice cake dessert was a perfect finish. Each dish came with thoughtful storytelling that added to the experience.
The sommelier was excellent. I enjoyed a Jacquère earlier in the meal and was later offered a glass of Merlot to complement the main course, which was spot on.
A truly memorable dining experience and absolutely worth the trip.
Went for lunch to sister restaurant that serves a wonderfully fresh and inventive Thai street food menu. Came back for 9 course prix fixe dinner & great bottle of wine instead of wine pairing. Food is plated beautifully. Service is excellent, friendly and well timed. Dishes entice you from first whiff to last bite. Favorites included Hokkaido Scallop in coconut cream sauce, which wowed us with smoky Thai herbs commanding the sweet and savory flavors. My wife enjoyed the short ribs cured in anchovy paste with beets & radish. We both slurped down the deconstructed Tom Kha, elevated by adding fresh ora King Salmon and combining with wild cordyceps mushrooms.
