The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

Vietnamese restaurant · Buckman

The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

Vietnamese restaurant · Buckman

828 SE Ash St, Portland, OR 97214

Highlights

At The Paper Bridge, indulge in authentic Northern Vietnamese delights like fresh pho noodles and bun cha, all served in a cozy, vibrant atmosphere that transports you to Hanoi.

828 SE Ash St, Portland, OR 97214 Get directions

thepaperbridgepdx.com

@thepaperbridgepdx

$30–50

Reserve

@eater

"Hanoi’s cầu giấy (paper bridge in English) district served as not just the namesake for one of Portland’s most popular new Vietnamese destinations, but also the ambiance and dishes. Co-owners and co-chefs Quynh Nguyen and Carlo Reinardy make their own rice noodles, bringing over 20 years of experience as a chef to the kitchen for dishes including bún chả and Vân Đình-style grilled duck served with glass noodles." - Nick Woo, Krista Garcia, Janey Wong

The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Portland

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@eater

"At this stage in my life, I don’t know that I need to eat another charcuterie plate ever again — unless, that is, it’s the version at the Paper Bridge. Along with housemade Vietnamese and lap xoung sausages, pork hock, and pate, the charcuterie platter featured so many unexpected tastes and textures: floss made of shittake mushrooms, pickled morning glory, and strings of cheche, a smoky cheese with ties to the Soviet Union, according to the menu’s helpful descriptors. Pair with the banh ran man, the fried stuffed rice cakes, for an S-tier round of drinking snacks." - Eater Staff

Best Dishes the Eater Portland Team Ate This Week - Eater Portland

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@eater

"The Paper Bridge, an homage to the food found in the Cầu Giấy district and Northern Vietnam at large, will open on Thursday, November 9 in the inner Southeast Portland building that is also home to Bar Casa Vale and Scotch Lodge. The restaurant will introduce regional dishes like phở chiên phồng, Vân Đình-style grilled duck, and bún chả. Ingredients will be imported directly from Vietnam or made in-house, such as house fermented chiles and house-made rice noodles. The venue will also offer a beverage menu with exclusive imported items like tea and custom coffee blends." - Janey Wong

Portland’s Northern Vietnamese Restaurant the Paper Bridge Opens November 9, 2023 - Eater Portland

View Postcard for The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

@eater

"This is a great time to be eating Vietnamese food in Portland. At the Paper Bridge, Northern Vietnamese fare comes with a thorough glossary in the form of a menu." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

A Portland, Oregon Dining Guide to the Food & Drink Scene - Eater Portland

View Postcard for The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

@emilytong

View Postcard for The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

Sherrie Schuldheis

Google

Delicious lunch with great service. Everything we tried was amazing. To begin, Dungeness Crab Spring rolls. Next was sticky rice with a variety of meats and pickled vegetables. The pho Bun Cha Ha Noi was served with several different fresh herbs that you added to the dish. The Dragon Nail tea was a perfect accompaniment and served in a lovely teapot. I am looking forward to my next meal at this restaurant.

Meowy Mint’s

Google

I’m Vietnamese, and my family’s ancestors are from South Vietnam. I grew up enjoying South Vietnamese cuisine, which is common in Beaverton and Portland. However, The Paper Bridge restaurant specializes in North Vietnamese food. I first tried it in late 2023 when I visited with my mom’s side of the family. Initially, I was skeptical about the food since I was primarily accustomed to South Vietnamese dishes. The offerings at the restaurant were quite different from what I was used to in most Vietnamese restaurants in my area, and I didn’t enjoy the food much during my first visit. Yesterday, my mom, brother, and I returned for a second visit, where I decided to try more dishes. To my surprise, the food turned out to be some of the most unique and delicious I have ever tasted, even better than what I had last time. We started with amazing appetizers. I had the Phở Nam Định, my brother had the Phở Vịt Quay Cao Bằng, and my mom had the Fried Rooster. Overall, the experience was unique and delightful. The restaurant's decor was also beautiful, reminding me of Vietnam. Would I come here again? Absolutely. I loved it! 10/10.

Sung Cho

Google

We really enjoyed the food at The Paper Bridge. The bun cha was delicious. The pho was good. O would not recommend the fried chicken. It is pretty expensive and the pieces are all chopped with bone in and cooked. You cannot tell what part you are eating and some pieces were all bone. All pieces will have bone fragments and it’s hard to get the meat from it. The noodles in the pho were a little overdone and broth a bit salty but overall I liked it. The star is the bun cha and it did not disappoint. Really tasty with lots of veggies and meat. The atmosphere is great with plants and bright colors. When you make a reservation, they have a section with tiny stools like the street restaurants of Vietnam. Be aware of where you want to sit and make reservations as the stools and tables are a bit small. Bathrooms are for the building and down a long hallway. Parking was easy and plentiful. Overall I would recommend and we will be going back to try more dishes.

Shawn Nguyen

Google

The most authentic Vietnamese food I have ever had in America, and truly a gem in Portland! Pho dishes are a must-try, as their Pho noodle is made fresh in-house every day, which is so rare to find and makes all the difference.

Trang Vo

Google

The food here is delicious and truly captures the authentic flavors of Northern Vietnam. I especially loved the bún chả and the chẩm chéo from the Northwest region – so flavorful and unique! The restaurant is also beautifully decorated with an artistic touch that makes the dining experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend!

Karol Chen

Google

My friends and family love this spot! We've been countless times and order something new each time- we've never been disappointed. The ingredients are fresh, the herbs similar to what you'd find in Vietnam, and the menu is exciting! I also appreciate that they have a Vietnamese coffee with coconut milk- as someone who can't have dairy but loves Vietnamese coffee, it's a must for me any time of day or night. Our favorite dishes are the sauteed morning glory, pho chua lang son, steamed clams, and fried rooster. My experience with the customer service has been very different from the low star reviews. We've always been welcomed, taken care of, and appreciated. On more than one occasion the owner herself came to check on us! You can tell they are a small but hardworking team, so on the rare occasion where we've had to wait a bit for any reason- we don't mind! Overall, this is a must when we have friends visiting from out of town.

Vy Nguyen

Google

After years of searching for an authentic Northern Vietnamese dining experience in the U.S., The Paper Bridge in Portland finally delivered. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood corner, this small, unassuming spot exceeded all expectations — and reminded us of Hanoi in the best way. The Phở here is truly special. From the first sip of broth, we knew it was the real deal — no artificial sweetness or added sugar, just the natural, clean depth that comes from hours of simmered beef bones. Even more impressive: the noodles are made fresh in-house daily, which is incredibly rare and speaks volumes about the chef’s dedication to authenticity. The Bún Chả was also excellent — balanced and flavorful, with only a minor wish for a bit more char on the pork. The Nem Cua Bể (crab spring rolls) were crisp and rich, perfectly done. If you’ve ever tasted Hanoi street food, you’ll understand just how rare it is to find something this close in the U.S. For anyone missing true Northern Vietnamese cuisine, The Paper Bridge is a must-visit.

Lisa HH

Google

The food is great and truly captures the authenticity of Vietnamese cuisine. I always enjoy both the atmosphere and quality of food here. The price is a bit higher compared to other Vietnamese places, but you get what you pay for. I’m giving 4 stars because they charged me an extra $4 for the mắm tôm (fermented shrimp paste), which is the authentic sauce for my order of “chao long”. I didn’t need the fish sauce, so the extra charge felt unnecessary. It was very interesting for me first time to pay $4 for extra sauce :)

@eater

The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Portland

View Postcard for The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

@eater

Best Dishes the Eater Portland Team Ate This Week - Eater Portland

View Postcard for The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

@eater

Portland’s Northern Vietnamese Restaurant the Paper Bridge Opens November 9, 2023 - Eater Portland

View Postcard for The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

@eater

"This is a great time to be eating Vietnamese food in Portland. At the Paper Bridge, Northern Vietnamese fare comes with a thorough glossary in the form of a menu." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

A Portland, Oregon Dining Guide to the Food & Drink Scene - Eater Portland

View Postcard for The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

@emilytong

View Postcard for The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

Sherrie Schuldheis

Google

Meowy Mint’s

Google

Sung Cho

Google

Shawn Nguyen

Google