Step into this retro Chinese dive bar for late-night comfort food, where affordable, hearty dishes and a cozy atmosphere bring timeless flavors to life.
"Republic Cafe, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2022, is one of the few operational vestiges of Portland’s Chinatown, decked out in murals and red-and-gold regalia. And there’s no better place to soak up some nostalgia and dig into Chinese American classics like chop suey and kung pao chicken than in a brown vinyl banquette (ignore the duct tape) bathed in red lights. Bonus: It’s open until midnight every day of the week, and often hosts cool under-the-radar concerts and karaoke nights." - Zoe Baillargeon, Eater Staff
"Walking into this 100-plus-year-old restaurant and bar in the heart of Chinatown feels like walking into Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, all intimate booths and neon red glow. Little wallpapered nooks, a dining room flanked with murals, a back lounge frequented by decades-old regulars, and a hidden banquet-room-turned-venue for concerts and parties make it one of the more compelling spots to grab a no-fuss cocktail and an old-school Chinese American restaurant dish like egg foo young or chop suey. Plus, it’s open until midnight most nights." - Heather Arndt Anderson, Krista Garcia, Rebecca Roland
"While many of the hauntings in Old Town involve the Portland Underground, the stories tied to this neighborhood Chinese restaurant and lounge involve the brutal murder of a 1940s-era Republic Cafe chef. Inside, the red-and-gold touches, matching murals, and banquet hall-turned-venue give the space a distinct, hard-to-replicate atmosphere, one only aided by old-school Chinese American staples like egg foo young and chop suey." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
"Walking into this 100-plus-year-old restaurant and bar in the heart of Chinatown feels like walking into Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, all intimate booths and neon red glow. Little wallpapered nooks, a dining room flanked with murals, a back lounge frequented by decades-old regulars, and a hidden banquet-room-turned-venue for concerts and parties make it one of the more compelling spots to grab a no-fuss cocktail and an old-school Chinese American restaurant dish like egg foo young or chop suey. Plus, it’s open until midnight most nights." - Heather Arndt Anderson, Krista Garcia
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