Asha

"One of the bars closed by influential restaurateur Sanjay Chandrasekaran due to increased operating costs." - Rebecca Roland

"Bar Asha, located in Northeast Portland, announced its immediate closure on October 18 via Instagram. Originally a location of the Sudra, it became Bar Asha in June 2024, with a revamped menu that included non-vegan options. The closure was sudden, and comments on the Instagram post were disabled." - Rebecca Roland

"The closure of restaurateur Sanjay Chandrasekaran’s Northeast 28th cocktail bar Bar Asha was announced on October 18." - Janey Wong

"Bar Asha, a modern South Asian bar from the team behind the now-closed Indian vegan restaurant the Sudra, reopened on Friday, August 30 with an all-new menu and cocktails. The first iteration of the bar opened in June after the Sudra suddenly closed in April, but paused operations in July to rework the menu. The newest iteration is a collaboration between owner Sanjay Chandrasekaran, Deepak Saxena (Desi PDX, Masala Lab), and Ben Preacher (Wilder, The Garrison St Johns). Naureen Huq (Expatriate, Kann/Sousoul) will head up the cocktail offerings. Although Asha will still offer a bevy of vegan options like sambal cauliflower, red lentil vada, and potato samosa chaat, it will also serve meat and dairy dishes like pork belly skewers and burrata chaat for the first time — like the Sudra, the initial menu at Bar Asha was entirely vegan. Chandrasekaran says the shift was partially motivated by growing vegan options at omnivore restaurants, in addition to the many vegan-focused restaurants across the city. “It’s just getting harder and harder to exist as a solely vegan place,” he says. While the Sudra menu was ever-growing, and tended to offer something for everyone, Asha’s offerings are slimmed down and will change with the seasons. “We’re trying to make everything very intentional,” Chandrasekaran says." - Rebecca Roland

"The Sudra is known for its bright, colorful Indian menu, which happens to be vegan. Its drinks menu is no different, offering visitors the chance to try distinct nonalcoholic beverages they may not be able to get their hands on elsewhere. The Masala Film pairs mango puree with lime and ginger juice, while the Bandit Queen mimics a mojito with cucumber, lemon, and mint. Other options include a vegan mango lassi made with coconut yogurt, as well as a tangy tamarind limeade." - Janelle Lassalle, Thom Hilton