Olia Poke & Tea
Poke bar · South Portland ·
Crafts poke bowls, banh mi, smoothies, tea & coffee
Crafts poke bowls, banh mi, smoothies, tea & coffee
"I'm intrigued by a new fast-casual lunch spot coming to Southwest Portland that will offer build-your-own salad rolls, banh mi, and classic raw seafood poke bowls, along with fruit-infused teas. Founded by Anh Tram Nguyen—who grew up in her parents' now-closed Portland Vietnamese restaurant Thanh Truc and named for her children Olivia and Liam—the concept blends a touch of family history with a more contemporary style. Guests will pick one of the three main dishes and build it at separate ingredient bars: the banh mi station will include proteins like grilled pork or Vietnamese cold-cuts with pate and butter, while the poke bar will have a variety of sauces for salmon, tuna, and even watermelon; Nguyen likens the ordering flow to Chipotle's counter service. Alongside customizable entrees, Olia will offer teas infused with fresh fruit or boba with base flavors such as classic milk tea, Thai tea, matcha, and oolong, and in the morning the cafe will serve Vietnamese pastries ideally paired with Vietnamese coffee. The small, clean-and-minimalist space is slated to open in late May in the OHSU Knight Cancer Research Building on SW Moody (though the date may shift due to construction), and Nguyen noted the building's name—meaning "blessed, holy, and successful"—felt like a serendipitous sign." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
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