Toki (restaurant)

Toki was a Korean restaurant in downtown Portland, "spun off" from Han Oak and specializing in bao bun burgers and "snacky" brunch specials.{{Cite web|last=|last2=|last3=|first3=|last4=|last5=|last6=|last7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|date=2021-08-13|title=COVID claimed some of Portland's biggest restaurants; others pivoted their way to the future|url=https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2021-08-13/classic-portland-restaurants-some-closed-some-survived|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830150428/https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2021-08-13/classic-portland-restaurants-some-closed-some-survived|url-status=live}} The menu was an expanded version of Han Oak's{{Cite web|title=Han Oak Chef Peter Cho on opening his new restaurant, Toki, mid-pandemic|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2021/02/06/han-oak-chef-peter-cho-new-restaurant-toki-coronavirus-pandemic/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Oregon Public Broadcasting|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523223447/https://www.opb.org/article/2021/02/06/han-oak-chef-peter-cho-new-restaurant-toki-coronavirus-pandemic/|url-status=live}} and included bibimbap, bulgogi, dumplings, gimbap, Korean fried chicken, noodles, and a steamed bao burger.{{Cite web|title=10 Portland Dishes Not to Miss in 2021|url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2021/01/ten-portland-dishes-not-to-miss-in-2021|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Portland Monthly|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206011739/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2021/01/ten-portland-dishes-not-to-miss-in-2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Portland's Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of 2021|url=https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/01/08/portlands-most-anticipated-restaurant-openings-of-2021/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Willamette Week|date=8 January 2021 |language=en|archive-date=2021-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717231610/https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/01/08/portlands-most-anticipated-restaurant-openings-of-2021/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Jackson-Glidden|first=Brooke|date=2021-01-15|title=The Han Oak Team's New Downtown Restaurant Opens Today|url=https://pdx.eater.com/2021/1/15/22233124/toki-pdx-portland-opening|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210021039/https://pdx.eater.com/2021/1/15/22233124/toki-pdx-portland-opening|url-status=live}} There were three varieties of Korean fried chicken: Korean-style hot chili oil, sweet garlic soy glaze, and Han Oak's "essence of instant ramen" seasoning blend intended to taste like instant noodle flavor packets.{{Cite web|last=Woo|first=Nick|date=2015-05-28|title=14 Real-Deal Fried Chicken Spots in Portland|url=https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-fried-chicken-portland|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929002130/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-fried-chicken-portland|url-status=live}} According to Willamette Week, the Gim-bap Supreme was inspired by Taco Bell and the TikTok "wrap" trend, in which "a tortilla is partially cut into four quadrants, topped with four different ingredients, folded into layers, and griddled".{{Cite web|title=Where to Get Food in Portland This Week|url=https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/03/23/where-to-get-food-in-portland-this-week-17/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Willamette Week|date=23 March 2021 |language=en|archive-date=2021-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718160958/https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/03/23/where-to-get-food-in-portland-this-week-17/|url-status=live}} The Buldak-ra-Bboki was described as a "creative mashup" of buldak and tteokbokki.{{Cite web|last=Baillargeon|first=Zoe|date=2021-09-28|title=Where to Find the Cheesiest Dishes in Portland and Beyond|url=https://pdx.eater.com/maps/cheesy-dishes-portland-pizza-kachapuri-quesabirria|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119084030/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/cheesy-dishes-portland-pizza-kachapuri-quesabirria|url-status=live}} The brunch menu had doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches,{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Suzette|date=March 18, 2021|title=Takeout Club: Small Details at Toki PDX Remind Us We're in Han Oak Hands|url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2021/03/18/32243730/takeout-club-small-details-at-toki-pdx-remind-us-were-in-han-oak-hands|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Portland Mercury|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906162400/https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2021/03/18/32243730/takeout-club-small-details-at-toki-pdx-remind-us-were-in-han-oak-hands|url-status=live}} including a bao bun with everything bagel seasoning, koji-cured pork belly or a sausage patty, egg, and cheese.{{Cite web|last=Frane|first=Alex|date=2019-02-27|title=17 Spots to Grab Amazing Breakfast Sandwiches|url=https://pdx.eater.com/maps/amazing-breakfast-sandwiches-bacon-egg-cheese|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021220804/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/amazing-breakfast-sandwiches-bacon-egg-cheese|url-status=live}} Dalgona coffee was also served.{{Cite web|title=Where to Find the Food from Netflix's 'Squid Game' in Portland|url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2021/10/squid-game-food-portland|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Portland Monthly|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129194624/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2021/10/squid-game-food-portland|url-status=live}}

Peter Cho, chef and owner of the Korean restaurant Han Oak, and partner Sun Young Park opened Toki in January 2021,{{Cite web|title=This Week In Portland Food News: A New Restaurant from the Owners of Han Oak Arrives, Burrasca Says Goodbye, and Two New Breweries Are In the Works|url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2021/01/22/31459258/this-week-in-portland-food-news-a-new-restaurant-from-the-owners-of-han-oak-arrives-burrasca-says-goodbye-and-two-new-breweries-are-in-the|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Portland Mercury|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206192645/https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2021/01/22/31459258/this-week-in-portland-food-news-a-new-restaurant-from-the-owners-of-han-oak-arrives-burrasca-says-goodbye-and-two-new-breweries-are-in-the|url-status=live}} in the space which previously housed Tasty n Alder.{{Cite web|last=Jackson-Glidden|first=Brooke|date=2020-10-06|title=The Team Behind Celebrated Korean Restaurant Han Oak Will Open a Restaurant Downtown|url=https://pdx.eater.com/2020/10/6/21504530/toki-han-oak-korean-restaurant-portland|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011082426/https://pdx.eater.com/2020/10/6/21504530/toki-han-oak-korean-restaurant-portland|url-status=live}} Initially, the business operated via take-out during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite journal|last=Bjorke|first=Christopher|date=January 4, 2021|title=Two Portland restaurants on list of 100 'America can't afford to lose'|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/01/04/esquire-names-two-portland-restaurants.html|journal=Portland Business Journal|access-date=January 31, 2022|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104231103/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/01/04/esquire-names-two-portland-restaurants.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Where to Get Food in Portland This Week|url=https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/02/01/where-to-get-food-in-portland-this-week-16/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Willamette Week|date=2 February 2021 |language=en|archive-date=2021-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717132329/https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/02/01/where-to-get-food-in-portland-this-week-16/|url-status=live}} Michael Russell of The Oregonian has said Toki was "fueled by tasty TikTok trends".{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Michael|date=2021-03-20|title=Fueled by TikTok trends, Toki is a new downtown destination from the Han Oak team|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/03/fueled-by-viral-tiktok-trends-downtown-portlands-toki-is-a-new-destination-from-the-han-oak-team-takeout-diaries.html|access-date=2022-01-31|website=The Oregonian|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214083817/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/03/fueled-by-viral-tiktok-trends-downtown-portlands-toki-is-a-new-destination-from-the-han-oak-team-takeout-diaries.html|url-status=live}}

The restaurant closed permanently in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Michael |date=2024-12-21 |title=Portland’s 21 most painful restaurant and bar closures of 2024 |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2024/12/portlands-21-most-painful-restaurant-and-bar-closures-of-2024.html |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=The Oregonian |language=en |archive-date=2024-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222221238/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2024/12/portlands-21-most-painful-restaurant-and-bar-closures-of-2024.html |url-status=live }}

File:Portland, Oregon (August 15, 2022) - 092.jpgIn 2021, Michael Russell included Toki in The Oregonian's list of "Portland’s best new restaurants of 2021 (and 2020)" and recommended "noodles, dumplings, the lunch doshirak with mackerel and fried chicken in all its forms".{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Michael |date=2021-12-09 |title=Portland's best new restaurants of 2021 (and 2020) |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/12/portlands-best-new-restaurants.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=The Oregonian |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428103949/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/12/portlands-best-new-restaurants.html |url-status=live }} He later included the restaurant in The Oregonian's 2023 list of Portland's ten best new brunches{{Cite web |last1=Russell |first1=Michael |last2=Oregonian/OregonLive |first2=Lizzy Acker {{!}} The |date=2023-05-09 |title=Portland's 10 best new brunches of 2023 |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2023/05/portlands-10-best-new-brunches-of-2023.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=The Oregonian |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713214552/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2023/05/portlands-10-best-new-brunches-of-2023.html |url-status=live }} and 2024 list of the year's 21 "most painful" restaurant and bar closures in the city.{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Michael |date=2024-12-21 |title=Portland’s 21 most painful restaurant and bar closures of 2024 |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2024/12/portlands-21-most-painful-restaurant-and-bar-closures-of-2024.html |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Oregonian |language=en}}

Toki was included in several Eater Portland lists in 2021: Alex Frane included the restaurant in "17 Spots to Grab Amazing Breakfast Sandwiches", Nick Woo and Nick Townsend included the Korean fried chicken in "14 Real-Deal Fried Chicken Spots in Portland", and Zoe Baillargeon included the Buldak-ra-Bboki in "Where to Find the Cheesiest Dishes in Portland and Beyond". Additionally, the website's Brooke Jackson-Glidden said Toki "has become a must-visit spot for downtown brunch".{{Cite web|last=Jackson-Glidden|first=Brooke|date=2016-08-09|title=Where to Find Weekend Brunch in Portland|url=https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-portland-brunches-restaurants|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201062701/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-portland-brunches-restaurants|url-status=live}} The business was included in Eater Portland's 2022 overview of "Where to Eat and Drink in Downtown Portland".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-09-16 |title=Where to Eat and Drink in Downtown Portland |url=https://pdx.eater.com/maps/portland-restaurants-bars-food-carts-downtown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104000040/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/portland-restaurants-bars-food-carts-downtown |archive-date=2022-01-04 |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Eater Portland |language=en}}

Portland Monthly included the pork belly breakfast sandwich in a 2021 list of "11 Breakfast Sandwiches to Get You out of Bed".{{Cite web|title=Portland's Top 11 Breakfast Sandwiches|url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-breakfast-sandwiches-portland|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Portland Monthly|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105173255/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-breakfast-sandwiches-portland|url-status=live}} The magazine's Katherine Chew Hamilton also included the restaurant in an overview of the city's best fried chicken.{{Cite web|title=The 17 Best Places to Get Fried Chicken in Portland|url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-fried-chicken-in-portland|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Portland Monthly|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213220211/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-fried-chicken-in-portland|url-status=live}} Portland Monthly included the omurice in a 2022 list of "The 12 Best Breakfasts in Portland".{{Cite news |title=The 12 Best Breakfasts in Portland |url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-portland-breakfast-dishes |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=Portland Monthly |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601182040/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-portland-breakfast-dishes |url-status=live }} In 2023, Cho was one of 18 Portland industry professionals deemed "rising stars" by the restaurant resource and trade publication StarChefs.{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Janey |date=2023-07-14 |title=A Guide to Portland's StarChefs Rising Stars Award Winners for 2023 |url=https://pdx.eater.com/2023/7/14/23794693/portland-starchefs-award-winners-2023 |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Eater Portland |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715132141/https://pdx.eater.com/2023/7/14/23794693/portland-starchefs-award-winners-2023 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=StarChefs - Profile - Peter Chef of Han Oak and Toki |url=https://www.starchefs.com/profiles/peter-cho |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=StarChefs |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715132443/https://www.starchefs.com/profiles/peter-cho |url-status=live }}

{{Portal|Food|Oregon}}

• History of Korean Americans in Portland, Oregon
• List of Korean restaurants

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Toki (restaurant)}}

• {{Official website|https://www.tokipdx.com}}

{{Defunct restaurants in Portland, Oregon}}

Category:2021 establishments in Oregon

Category:2024 disestablishments in Oregon

Category:Defunct Korean restaurants in Portland, Oregon

Category:Restaurants disestablished in 2024

Category:Restaurants established in 2021

Category:Defunct restaurants in Southwest Portland, Oregon