Memoire Cà Phê

"Newly minted Eater 2024 Best New Restaurant winner Mémoire Cà Phê smashed into the Portland daytime dining scene over the summer and quickly won over locals with a menu focused on nostalgic, deeply comforting dishes that borrow influences from the Southeast Asian diaspora. The restaurant is an Avengers-like collaboration between Portland Cà Phê’s Kimberly Dam, Matta’s Richard Le, and HeyDay’s Lisa Nguyen and a bright celebration of Vietnamese American flavors, from things like a coconut milk egg omelette pocked with shrimp, fried chicken and pandan-spiked waffles, and a breakfast rice bowl drenched in fish sauce gravy and golden egg yolk. There’s not a miss in the bunch." - Zoe Baillargeon

"Vietnamese American brunch spot Mémoire Cà Phê, opened in August, is a collaborative project between friends — namely, Matta’s Richard Le, HeyDay’s Lisa Nguyen, and Portland Ca Phe’s Kim Dam. The trio apply their own twist to breakfast staples; fried chicken sits on an aromatic pandan waffle, breakfast burritos are filled with fish sauce-lacquered bacon and Thai chile avocado salsa, and cinnamon rolls are enhanced with black sesame filling and dollops of marionberry jam. Order an iced Vietnamese coffee topped with egg cream to enjoy with brunch or on the go." - Paolo Bicchieri

"A collaborative project from Matta’s Richard Le, Portland Cà Phê’s Kimberly Dam, and HeyDay’s Lisa Nguyen, Mémoire Cà Phê is a new, award-winning Vietnamese American brunch destination that serves up nostalgic dishes. Though the restaurant’s fare leans brunch-y most days, the weekend brings an expanded menu of options. Dig into a breakfast burrito with a choice of fish sauce-brined bacon, pork or beef sausage, or curry mushrooms, or go for Đặc Biệt waffles with fish sauce bacon and spicy syrup. Biscuits with fish sauce gravy offer a savory side bite, while those craving eggs can order the shrimp omelet topped with fried shallots and garlic." - Zoe Baillargeon, Eater Staff

"What do you get when you Voltron together Matta’s Richard Le, Portland Cà Phê’s Kimberly Dam, and Heyday’s Lisa Nguyen? You get an incredible Vietnamese brunch spot that boasts coconut milk omelets, hojicha banana cake, and biscuits covered in fish sauce gravy. The menu is a joyous celebration of Vietnamese-American cooking and brunch itself." - Eater Staff

"Post-Vietnam War, the Vietnamese diasporic community dotted Portland with phở restaurants, bánh mì shops, and cafes selling cups of strong coffee sweetened with condensed milk. Now, a new generation is building a sizable scene of Vietnamese cafes, and Mémoire Cà Phê, where three of Portland’s buzziest restaurateurs have teamed up for the most ambitious crossover since the Avengers, is the paragon. Before opening Mémoire, each of its co-owners was a star in their own right — Richard Le in his exploration of Việt Kiều, or “overseas Vietnamese” cuisine, at Matta; Kim Dam and her championing of Vietnam-grown coffee beans in specialty espresso drinks at Portland Cà Phê; and Lisa Nguyen with her mission to share cultural flavors through doughnuts and baked goods at Heyday. At Mémoire on the busy restaurant row of Northeast Alberta, the trio draws equally from childhood memories (hence the name Mémoire, the French word for “memory”) and the collaborative strength forged through their friendship to serve Vietnamese-inflected brunch standards. Gluten-free fried chicken is served atop a chewy, fragrant pandan waffle. Fluffy biscuits are smothered with umami-rich fish sauce gravy. For the table, Nguyen’s black sesame cinnamon roll with marionberry jam is a treat that recalls both Cinnabon and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Dam supplies the brunch-time caffeine boost with drinks like cà phê sữa, or coffee with condensed milk, and coffee topped with silky egg cream or salted sweet cream. At less than three months old, Mémoire already feels intrinsic to the Portland restaurant multiverse, thanks to the shared vision of its creators. Not all heroes wear capes; some reflect on their roots and end up defining the future of brunch. — Janey Wong, Eater Portland reporter" - Eater Staff