Obon Shokudo

Last updated
Obon Shokudo
Obon Shokudo
Interactive map of Obon Shokudo
Restaurant information
Food typeJapanese
Location720 Southeast Grand Avenue, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97214, United States
Coordinates 45°31′03″N122°39′38″W / 45.5176°N 122.6606°W / 45.5176; -122.6606

Obon Shokudo is a vegan restaurant that serves Japanese cuisine in Portland, Oregon, United States.

Contents

Description

The vegan restaurant Obon Shokudo serves Japanese cuisine in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood. The interior has yellow walls and rustic wood tables. [1] The menu includes bento boxes, curries, a katsu burger, noodles, okonomiyaki, [2] onigiri, and soups, [3] [4] including kenchin-jiru. [5]

History

The business started at farmers' markets in 2014 [6] and began operating a stall at the Morrison Market in February 2020. [7] Like many restaurants, the business operated via delivery and take-out during the COVID-19 pandemic. [8] In 2021, the restaurant relocated to Southeast Grand Avenue, in the space that previously housed Kachinka. [9] [10] In 2023, Obon Shokudo closed for a day as part of a strike in solidarity with Palestine. [11] In 2024, the business was featured in The V Word, a documentary series about veganism. [12] [13] Obon Shokudo was a vendor at the first Veganizer Asian Market at the Redd on Salmon Street in 2025. [14]

Reception

Obon Shokudo won in the Best New Restaurant category in VegOut magazine's annual awards in 2022. [3] Margot Bigg included the business in VegNews 's 2022 list of the city's five best international vegan restaurants. [15] Waz Wu included the business in Eater Portland 's 2022 overview of the city's "standout" vegan curries and 2024 list of the "most comforting" vegan noodle soups. [4] [16] The website's Brooke Jackson-Glidden recommended the kenchin-jiru in a 2023 list of recommended "sick day delivery standbys". [5] In 2025, the website's Janey Wong, Anastasia Sloan, and Paolo Bicchieri included the business in lists of the best Japanese restaurants in the Portland metropolitan area, [17] the city's 19 best vegan restaurants, [18] and Portland's best restaurants for lunch, respectively. [19] Alex Frane and Katherine Chew Hamilton included the business in Portland Monthly 's 2026 overview of the best vegan restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. [20]

See also

References

  1. "Obon Shokudo - Review - Central Eastside - Portland, OR". The Infatuation . 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  2. Nocera, Veronica (2025-02-06). "Here are the 5 best vegan restaurants in the Portland area: Readers Choice Awards". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-02-23. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  3. 1 2 "2022 VegOut Awards Winners". VegOut. Archived from the original on 2025-11-16. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  4. 1 2 Wu, Waz (2021-02-08). "Where to Find Standout Vegan Curries in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  5. 1 2 Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2022-01-05). "16 Sick Day Delivery Standbys to Order in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  6. "Kenchinjiru Is the Hearty Stew You Need This Winter". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  7. Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2020-02-26). "What to Know About the Mysterious New Food Hall in Southeast Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-04-15. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  8. Wu, Waz (2020-03-30). "Portland Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants Offering Delivery and Takeout During the COVID-19 Outbreak". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  9. Wu, Waz (2021-06-10). "Vegan Standby Obon Will Open a Full-Blown Restaurant Serving Japanese Curry, Onigiri, and Kenchinjiru". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  10. "Explore Portland's Plant-Based Paradise for a Day". Willamette Week. 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  11. Wong, Janey (2023-12-14). "Ways Portland Restaurants and Food Carts Are Showing Solidarity With Palestine". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  12. ""The V Word" Showcases Interesting Stories Behind Portland's Vegan Restaurants". Willamette Week. 2024-09-11. Archived from the original on 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  13. Turnquist, Kristi (2024-09-20). "Documentary series on Portland vegan restaurants aims to go beyond 'preachy' stereotypes". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  14. "Inaugural Veganizer Asian Market Debuts in Portland June 1". VegOut. Archived from the original on 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  15. Bigg, Margot. "Vegan Food Near Me: The Best International, Vegan Cuisine in Portland". VegNews . Archived from the original on 2025-11-11. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  16. Wu, Waz (2020-02-19). "Where to Find Portland's Most Comforting Vegan Noodle Soups". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  17. Wong, Janey (2023-01-23). "The Best Japanese Food in Portland and Beyond". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  18. Sloan, Anastasia (2015-09-15). "The 19 Most Outstanding Vegan Restaurants in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2025-06-01. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  19. Bicchieri, Paolo (2022-03-08). "The Best Restaurants for Lunch in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  20. "Where to Find the Best Vegan Food in Portland". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2026-01-21.