Introduction
When the Portland Summer heat cranks up occasionally to nearly 100 degrees, the only answer is to fight fire with fire—followed by a very, very cold dessert. That was the plan when Kay and I found ourselves craving Korean food on a sweltering afternoon. Our destination: a small spot in the Hawthorne district called Mok Dong Kimbap, with a planned cool-down at Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko.
The Restaurant: Mok Dong Kimbap
The name itself, Mok Dong Kimbap, tells a story. "Mok Dong" (목동) translates to "Tree Village," referring to a neighborhood in Seoul, while the star of the show, "Kimbap" (비빔밥), means "seaweed cooked rice." It’s a fitting name for a cozy, six-table restaurant focused on a classic Korean dish.
Stepping inside, we were greeted by a modern self-order kiosk and a sleek black-and-white decor accented with chandeliers and art. After placing our order, we settled in.
Appetizers
One thing I appreciate is a restaurant that paces its courses, and even though we ordered everything at once, our dishes arrived in perfect order. We started with a plate of Japanese potstickers. While these were Gyoza, it's a great example of culinary crossover. Korean Mandu (만두) tend to be filled with glass noodles and more vegetables, while Japanese Gyoza are more meat-forward.
Next up was the Kimchi Jeon (김치전), a savory pancake loaded with kimchi and both white and green onions. I always ask for it to be cooked a little extra, and this one delivered the perfect exterior crunch I was hoping for. Feeling obligated to order the namesake dish whenever I visit a new place, to round out the starters, we had the Original Kimbap (김밥). Literally "seaweed rice," this classic roll was filled with egg, cucumber, carrot, and pickled roots. What set it apart was a spot-on spicy mayo dipping sauce that added a welcome kick.
Entrees
For our main courses, Kay chose the Tteokbokki (떡볶이), a classic street food dish of chewy rice cakes, fish cakes, and a hard-boiled egg all swimming in a vibrant, spicy-sweet sauce. It struck a perfect balance between heat and sweetness.
I went for the Bibimbap with Spicy Pork. The bowl was a beautiful mosaic of thin-sliced cabbage, cucumber, carrot, zucchini, and microgreens. My bowl arrived with a raw egg yolk nestled in the center that, once mixed in, coated every grain of rice and vegetable, creating a rich, velvety texture. Alongside it came a series of small bowls filled with pickled vegetables and a dollop of Gochujang (고추장), the essential Korean red chili paste, to further kick up the heat. A perfectly seasoned bowl of miso soup completed the meal.
The portions were so generous that we couldn't come close to finishing. With leftovers packed for lunch (and dinner) the next day, we stepped back out into the blazing sun, ready for part two of our plan.
Dessert
To escape the heat, we headed to a place Kay had visited before: Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko. While it's part of a chain, the Portland location is the only one in town and has become a local favorite.
Kay, a seasoned fan, knew exactly what she wanted: the Matcha Shaved Ice. Topped with matcha syrup, adzuki beans, and soft shiratama mochi, it was a dessert reminiscent of the popular Korean patbingsu (팥빙수), or red bean shaved ice. While she was in heaven, I had a small taste and found the intensely grassy, herbal flavor of matcha a bit too much for my palate.
As a huge fan of root vegetable desserts like Taro, I was thrilled they were offering a limited-time Ube soft serve. The two are often confused, but they're quite different: taro is starchy like a potato, while Ube is a naturally sweet purple yam with a distinct vanilla-like flavor. For a bit of novelty, I splurged on the "Golden" option, which drapes a sheet of 23.75k edible gold over the soft serve. Did it add any flavor? Absolutely not. Was it worth the extra $6 for the sheer fun of eating gold? I couldn't resist.
The Ube itself was fantastic—creamy, sweet, and the perfect antidote to the oppressive heat.
The Verdict
Mok Dong Bibimbap is a definite gem in the Hawthorne district. The food is authentic, delicious, and generously portioned. I’ll definitely be going back for another bowl of that bibimbap.
As for Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko, it’s a paradise for matcha lovers like Kay. For me, I’ll be keeping an eye out for their next seasonal flavor. Together, they made for the perfect "spicy and sweet" day out in Portland.