Portland is already a well-established foodie city, and if you’re in the know, you’ve probably been trying to get a reservation at kann for some time now. If you haven’t heard about this James Beard award-winning restaurant, you’re in for a treat.
To start with, kann is a fine dining restaurant—it’s fancy (but not stuffy), it’s expensive (but worth it). It’s essentially a Haitian restaurant with Pacific Northwest elements woven in and a laser-like focus on sustainability. It’s also a “live-fire” restaurant which means that food is cooked over hot embers, and at kann this is done on an eight-foot long hearth in the middle of the open kitchen.
The mastermind behind kann is chef Gregory Gourdet, who first gained fame on the reality cooking show, Top Chef. kann started as a pop-up restaurant in August of 2020 amid the pandemic. A few months later, it transformed into an Covid-cautious, outdoor dining experience called the Winter Village, and it was only in 2022 that it officially opened the doors of its permanent brick and mortar home on SE 6th and Ash.
In 2023, kann won the James Beard Award for best new restaurant, and in 2024, Gourdet won best chef in the Northwest & Pacific. It was also named the best new restaurant by The New York Times, Eater, and Esquire magazine!
The menu at kann changes with the seasons to celebrate the diverse bounty of the PNW while always holding true to the roots of Haitian cuisine. Dining at kann is intended to be a communal experience, sharing dishes family-style, and the entire menu is a la carte so you can mix and match till your heart’s content. The dishes come out as they’re ready, so order a lot (or be bold and let your server order for you!) and enjoy the constant trickle of delicious food. As a bonus to those with food sensitivities, the entire menu is gluten and dairy free, and there are vegan options upon request!
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Here are just a few of the crowd favorites: for starters, order the warm plantain brioche buns served with epis butter, or the akras which are crispy taro root fritters served over a remoulade. For sides, customers rave about the crispy okra with a sugar cane chili glaze, and the jollof rice made with tomato, ginger and smoked paprika. For the main dish, try the local, pasture-raised pork chop with smoked banana & pumpkin puree, pickled red onion and frisee, or the jerk cauliflower with sour coconut cream.
For dessert, the baked Haiti is not only beautiful to look at, but will also wow your tastebuds. It’s a coconut sponge cake, with bavarian cream, pineapple reduction sauce that’s covered in charred meringue and basil. Another great aspect of kann is their thoughtful and creative cocktail menu that features zero-proof drinks as well. Try the “Minwi Mure” made with blackberry, orange N/A spirit, cashew orgeat, vanilla smoke, lime, or the “Marie-Jeanne” made with bourbon, aged rum, spiced rum punch, vermut, and bitters.
The space is brightly-lit, with a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere, so it isn’t the best choice for a romantic, anniversary dinner. If you’re by yourself or dining with a friend, sitting at the bar is a great experience since you can watch the skilled chefs in action and marvel at every dish as it passes by.
You definitely need a reservation, and they only allow up to six people at a table. Reservations open at noon on the 1st of each month for the next month (so if you want to go in March, you can start looking for reservations on Feb 1). If you can’t swing a reservation, you can appease yourself by getting your hands on a copy of Everyone’s Table, a cookbook Gregory released in 2021, and try your hand at some of his amazing recipes. And, you might be able to snag a signed copy at the restaurant!
Hours:
- Friday and Saturday, 4:00pm - 11:00pm
- Sunday & Tuesday - Thursday, 4:00pm - 10:00pm
- Closed Monday
- Last seating at 9:30pm
Address: 548 SE Ash St, Portland
Phone: (503) 702-0290
