Southwest Portland Karaoke Fixture Suki’s Digs Into Its Korean-American Roots | Eater Portland

"Situated in Southwest Portland down the hill from OHSU near the criss-crossing I-405 on- and off-ramps, this 3,000-square-foot late-night karaoke and sports bar (with indoor seating for roughly 70–80 and patio/parking-lot space for nearly 40 more) has evolved from the Caravan Motor Hotel’s attached Lilah’s Restaurant and Bar into a beloved neighborhood spot under Phil Chung. The family history informs the new direction: Chung’s father, Suki, immigrated from South Korea via British Columbia and converted the space in the 1990s from a steakhouse and jazz venue into what became a karaoke-focused, un-fussy bar with red leather booths; Chung took over in 2005 and expanded karaoke nights and sports programming, attracting older PSU students and Southwest Portland regulars. After a massive, 50-item menu was pared back by the COVID-19 shutdowns, Chung used the pause to lean into a Korean-fusion identity—consulting his mother (an excellent Korean cook) and enlisting Josh Missman to help develop and teach the kitchen—creating a menu of Korean bar food like bibimbap, kimchi fried rice, gochujang pork, ginger chicken, Korean tacos and bulgogi tacos, a bulgogi burger, Korean fried chicken wings, a vegetable pancake, and sides such as fried tofu and shiitake mushrooms while still offering bar staples like a cheeseburger, fries, and tots. The bar is temporarily closed to prepare for a full-service reopening when it’s safe, and Chung expects karaoke’s return—with platters, Hite beer, and soju—to help build a distinct niche." - Alex Frane