Matta
Day 3: 5-Course Retracing Vietnamese Roots Tasting Series
Opened this past August in Lil' Dame, Northeast Portland’s restaurant collective, this exceptional eatery started life as a food cart serving the cuisine of the Việt kiều, a.k.a. foreign-born Vietnamese. Matta then appeared on Eater’s 2022 List of “38 Essential PDX Restaurants and Food Carts,” and StarChefs named its chef/owner Richard Le a 2023 "Rising Star." Now, in Matta’s new digs, Chef Le is serving up dishes that have their roots in San Jose, California, where he was raised and where he learned to cook under the tutelage of his mother and aunt. Bringing together the complex flavors of home-style Vietnamese cooking with the American food he grew up on, Chef Le’s menu offers such fare as tôm trúng (mom’s omelet with prawns, coconut milk, basil, cherry tomatoes, fried garlic, and shallots), thit kho (braised pork belly with a 7-minute egg, chiles, and scallion), cha cá lã vong (turmeric catfish with dill, scallion, shrimp paste, peanuts, fish sauces and vermicelli patties), and let’s not forget the awesome coconut-glazed pandan doughnuts. We’re excited to visit here and to learn more from Chef Le about the Vietnamese culinary traditions that inspire him.
About the Host:
Richard Le
Chef/Owner
A San Jose transplant, Chef Richard Le trained in his mother and auntie's home kitchens before creating the popular food cart (and now Lil' Dame restaurant) Matta. In 2023, he was named a StarChefs Mag "Rising Star" Chef.
The Lineup
Courses #1-#4 will be served family style. Course #5 will be served individually plated. For this event’s dietary restriction accommodation policy, see the Event FAQs below.
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Bánh Xèo
rice flour crêpe with shrimp, pork belly, bean sprout, mustard leaf, nước mam, scallion
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Chả Cá Lã Vọng
turmeric catfish with shrimp paste, dill, scallion, chili lime peanut, nước mam, bánh hỏi
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Thịt Kho
braised pork belly with egg, fish sauce caramel broth, chili, scallion, black pepper
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Gà Ro Ti
roasted chicken with fish sauce caramel, herb salad, nước mam, daikon
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Che Chuối
thai banana-tapioca pudding with toasted coconut, sesame seed, pandan powder
Matta
2930 NE Killingsworth St
Portland, OR 97211
Event FAQs
- Do I have to bring printed tickets to the event?
- No tickets are needed.
- What does the ticket price cover?
- The ticket price covers the full cost of the meal.
- Do guests need to be of a certain age to attend this event?
- Yes. All attendees must be 21+ to gain entry.
- What dietary restrictions/food allergies can be accommodated at this event?
- At this event we will be able to accommodate all dietary restrictions and food allergies except for those with garlic or allium allergies. Just make sure to update your dietary restrictions within your Account Info before or after you purchase tickets, or email us at [email protected] after you purchase tickets to let us know what your allergies/restrictions are so we can give the chef a heads up.
- Does this restaurant allow BYOB?
- No. This restaurant is a non-BYO establishment. Outside alcohol will not be permitted at this event.
- What is the event ticket cancellation/refund policy?
- Cancellation requests made within 10 business days of an event are not refundable or transferrable to future events. Cancellation requests made prior to 10 business days will receive a full refund.
- What must I bring to the event?
- Please make sure to bring a government-issued photo ID.
- Will this event be handicap acccessible?
- According to the restaurant, this event is handicap accessible. If applicable however, please email [email protected] with your needs to ensure proper accommodations.
- What parking information has the restaurant provided for this event?
- According to the restaurant, there is nearby street parking available. Availability may be low however, so please plan accordingly.
- Can I bring guests/non-members to this event?
- Yep! For this event, guest tickets are $90 + tax & tip, and you can bring up to 3 guests. Please note, guests are not allowed to attend unaccompanied by a member.
