Sep 24, 2025 - Food and Drink

Filipino food and hip-hop fuel Sun Rice's new Portland spot

Meira Gebel

Interior of a modern cafe with a blue order counter, hanging light bulbs, shelves with bottles and plants, a black door with a "Reserved" sign, and customers seated at tables. — The music is bumping as soon as you walk in. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios

Ken Tran and TJ Cruz, the duo behind Sun Rice, opened their first standalone restaurant on North Williams (in the old XLB space) celebrating Filipino food and hip-hop culture earlier this month.

The big picture: The restaurant has gone through many iterations in recent years — from slinging bowls of silogs at farmers markets, serving the late-night crowd out of Deadshot's kitchen, and operating a lunch-time kiosk at the Moxy hotel.

The new North Portland location, with the added square footage, has allowed the team to greatly expand its Southeast Asian-inspired offerings. They'll also use the adjacent space, formerly Dos Hermanos' bakery, for overflow seating.

Best bites: Beloved bowls of garlic rice, egg and choice of protein (branzino or barbecue pork) remain on the menu. A selection of snacks, like lamb kaldereta croquettes and scallop ceviche, give way to larger plates of sisig, coconut milk-braised squash and whole bangús.

The beverage list features creative cocktails like an ube old fashioned and matcha margarita, and is rounded out by a curated selection of draft beers and wine.

Plus: Sun Rice will serve breakfast. Expect classic breakfast sandos and Filipino breakfast plates of yellow veggie curry topped with a sunny-side egg.

If you go: Sun Rice (4090 N Williams Ave.) is open Thursday through Saturday, 10am to 2pm, then 5pm to 9pm. Sundays 10am to 2pm.

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Filipino food and hip-hop fuel Sun Rice's new Portland spot

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