Pho Tacos Are Coming to Southeast Hawthorne

Church, the Sandy cocktail bar that’s probably best known for its frequently Instagrammed photo booth, is spreading the gospel farther south. Willamette Week reported last week that Craig Ericson and Church’s Steven Cook will open a new bar, Chapel Hill, on SE Hawthorne. After some permitting details derailed the intended opening date (April 20), the bar now plans to begin service April 27.

Chefs U’ilaniku’ulei Vele and Jake Gross will attempt to resurrect “Asian-fusion” cuisine with a touch of Mexican-American flavors, including chorizo dumplings and “pho’cos,” tacos filled with five-spice-braised beef, bean sprouts, herbs, and a side of bone broth. The restaurant will also serve bao filled with gochujang-glazed karaage as well as a customizable rice bowl, served with a choice of fried tofu, bulgogi beef, or karaage as well as house-made kimchi, spicy cucumber, and pineapple habanero sauce.

Loyal to Portland’s hefty vegan community, Chapel’s food menu offers a charitable amount of meat-free options, including rangoons with vegan cream cheese and poblanos and flautas with bulgogi tempeh and vegan queso. Gluten-free diners can stick to pad thai crunchwraps or a queso-slathered burger.

The $11 house cocktails, all named with cheeky religious references, range from the supremely fruity to the stark and spirit-heavy. The Divine Ascent, for instance, combines pear vodka with pineapple juice, lime juice, and vanilla. For something a little darker, the Harrowing of Hell pairs Rex Rye Whiskey with amaro CioCiaro, with just a touch of maraschino.

Chapel Hill will be open daily from noon to 2 a.m.

• Church [Official]
• Church [Instagram]
• Chapel Hill [Official]
• Chapel Hill [Instagram]
• The Owner of Church Is Bringing a New Bar—and Pho Tacos—to Southeast Hawthorne [WWeek]