Visited on 06/03/2023
An Honest Review: Jade Rabbit is absolutely a gem of Portland, Oregon. Formerly Ichiza Kitchen, Jade Rabbit boasts high-quality Pan-Asian cuisine which is comprised of completely vegan ingredients. I had visited Ichiza Kitchen frequently from 2017-2019 and completely fell in love with the food. Never had I had such authentic Pan-Asian cuisine, and visiting was always such a delight due to the amazing service and environment that chef Ichiza cultivated. Due to the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ichiza Kitchen closed down, which was extremely unfortunate. Upon my recent visit to Portland, I was so happy to discover that Ichiza had metamorphized into a new restaurant; Jade Rabbit. We visited twice- once upon landing, and once before we flew home. I took my good friends from Portland, who had previously visited Ichiza with me in years past. The experience was marvelous both times we went, and was truly nostalgic for me as I hadn't had Ichiza's food in nearly four years! Not only was the food phenomenal, but the interior environment was flawless, thoughtful, and elegant. Truly, the experience for me could not have been better.
Photos from Ichiza Kitchen, circa 2019:
Now, onto the amazing food we sampled! We started our meal with vegan cocktails, which do rotate often as Jade Rabbit is located inside of the Emerald Room, a local distillery. I won't list the names of these cocktails since some of them are now removed from the menu . However, just because they aren't on the menu anymore, doesn't mean I can't rave about how delicious, creative, and beautiful the cocktails were! Just look at the photos above. These drinks in themselves were art! We loved every drink we tried, and our friends enjoyed theirs as well. For appetizers, we ordered Rangoon, Bawan Bunny Dumplings, Siu Mai Dumplings, Chili Oil Wontons, and an order of Char Siu Bao. This was essentially our main meal each visit, as all of these dishes are so incredibly satisfying and filling, there isn't always a need for another plate of food. Every single item we tried was so incredibly well-made and well-flavored, I was nearly brought to tears. My favorite items were the Chili Oil Wontons, the Rangoon, and the Char Siu Bao. This is the kind of food I dream about! The flavors, while remaining vegan, transport you to an authentic space of Pan-Asian joy. Each item is carefully crafted, and every flavor of each dish is perfectly cultivated. My good friend was the only one who wanted to order an actual entrée. He ended up ordering the Mapo Tofu, which he happily enjoyed while sitting back in his chair with pair of wooden chopsticks in his hands. The food bliss was evident, although this was not a dish that I sampled. Without hesitation, I will happily be back here when I return to Portland in the near future.
If you are in the Portland area and are vegan-curious, Jade Rabbit at the Emerald Room is a must-try! Supporting chef Ichiza does more than just satisfy your belly- you are supporting a radical and ever-changing vegan food scene that is making a massive impact in the culinary world, and on the Earth!
What we tried:
Bawan Bunny Dumpings
Rangoon
Char Siu Bao
Siu Mai Dumplings
Chili Oil Wontons
Mapo Tofu
What we plan on trying in the future:
Sesame Cucumber
Gailan
Beancurd Skin Dumplings
Turnip Cakes
Cheung Fun
Kimchi Mungbean Pancakes
Vege Spring Rolls
Fiery Wind Noodle Soup
Oyster Mushroom Adobo
Beef and Broccoli
Halo halo
Biko
Ube Bao
Go see what's on the menu for yourself, if and when you're in Portland, Oregon.
https://www.jaderabbitpdx.com/?location=11eb35e58a264dd9b101ac1f6bbbcc9c&menu=#10
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