HOWIE B.

J. D.

First time there, and the food was first-rate Americ-Asian. My wife had the kung pao shrimp; although NOT spicy as the menu promised, it was succulent and in a delicious sauce with perfectly done vegetables. I had the sirloin medallions with snow peas, onion, and baby corns in their tangy steak sauce... which was three times more delicious than the menu led one to believe. The sauce was great, the vegetables were perfectly cooked, and the steak was tender and delicious. There weren't actually "medallions," but it was a nice-sized portion of 3/4 inch cubes of sirloin which were perfect. We got the two spring rolls appetizer also, and it was lightly fried and flaky, and the cabbage inside was still fresh and crunchy, not greasy and chewy like you'd usually expect. The food was perfect. That said, the food is the reason this place is still open. The decor is cute, dark, and intimate, which I liked. However, the water stains in the wallpaper were a little old and weird. The service was lukewarm but nice enough. The only thing that really kept me from giving the fifth star, though, was the restroom. If you have to take a crap, pray you've done so before you went to the Republic. Dingy, fairly unclean, and in a state of moderate disrepair, the restrooms here are on par with some of the wonderful punk bars I used to go to in Southern California... just a step better than the basement bars in Tijuana. My wife was unhappy to confirm the lockless saloon door on the ladies' room stall, as well. But I suppose you shouldn't shit where you eat, anyway. Overall, it was a four star dining experience. Just stay out of the can.

Maria G.

I went there today with a friend in the early afternoon. Food is good. The service is very fast and the staff is friendly.

David W.

Forget the blah Republic Cafe tables up front and retreat to the Ming Lounge under the cover of extreme darkness. I discovered this place by happy accident. This was just the faded, out-of-date ambiance that I needed to enjoy my first night in Portland. This is where the Glengarry Glenn Ross spirits (and spirits) are evoked!! Terrific service from the caucasian barman. Don't even think about sitting in the generic main restaurant. Favorite Dish: Anything liquid. Try the tasty "combination dinners" (sour spare ribs a must). Very generous portions.

Jerry M.

Portland's Chinatown is pretty bleak and dead these days because the "actual" Chinatown is now out on SE 82nd Avenue. I will still occasionally brave the bleakness there to get a fill-up of some good Americanized Chinese food at Republic Cafe. It has become a tradition for me to eat there because I've been going there off and on since my college days in the late 60's. Back then, it was one of the very few places in town that stayed open late at night, so it sort of "ruled" by default. Nobody is going to call it a trendy or fancy place, but the food can be really tasty. . .depending on what you order. At many Chinese restaurants, some of the entrees that are also offered on their combination plates may not be freshly made because they're likely to be kept warm and ready on the steam table. So, I always order items that I know have to be prepared fresh. One of my favorite dishes at the Republic is asparagus with chicken in black bean sauce. It's stir fried just right so the asparagus has the proper crispness, the chicken is thinly sliced white meat, and I have always loved black bean sauce. Beef tomato chow mein with pan fried noodles is another favorite (but you have to BE SURE to order it with pan fried noodles which costs a little extra). That way, they stir fry the noodles together with the other ingredients instead of just heaping it on top of the more common crispy noodles. Also, the tea and the rice is free. So, if you don't mind their "lack of coolness" (and the panhandlers in the neighborhood), it's a place to go for tasty food and large portions.

Matt H.

It's a shame that Portland's Chinatown doesn't have many good Chinese restaurants. After a disastrous visit to House of Louie a few years ago, I decided to brave this place. It's as filthy and dingy inside as it looks from the outside. I had one of those build-your-own lunch specials. While technically my plate had egg foo young, sweet & sour chicken, and an egg roll on it, it was more of pile A, B, & C situation. The colors & textures may vary slightly, but everything tastes like salt and grease. Caught a glimpse of the kitchen as I was paying...eep. Looks like something Jack Burton crawled through on his way to take out Lo Pan. Do yourself a favor and drive out to Wong's King for dim sum. Let American Chinese food die.

Jason F.

Not terrible. The hot and sour soup was okay but disappointing - it was neither hot nor sour. I'll give them another try for a larger meal but so far I'm inclined to go next door to Golden Horse.

Roger M.

Worst Chinese food I've ever had. No, really. Granted, we went in about a half hour before closing, but this was just pathetic. The staff grunted and glared at us, signing as they wrote down our order. The people in the booth behind us were complaining that their order wasn't even remotely correct. After the waitress left, they told us not to expect our spring rolls to arrive. Sure enough, 15 minutes later, a completely incorrect order arrived, sans spring rolls as predicted, and they quickly ushered us out the door before we could get it corrected. We tried to mask the foul food with various sauces and whatnot, to no avail. Even the cats didn't want it. Basically cold MSG-laden rubber in a box. Only reason I didn't give it 1 star is because the interior was nice and we didn't find any bugs in the food. I can only hope this place is better during the day.

HOWIE B.

Classic old school Chinatown restaurant. Standard food, stiff drinks, rundown decor, mildly grumpy staff. Really good garlic stringbeans - greasy and flavorful. What's not to like?

J.R. S.

I have been going to this restaurant for over 45 years and I truly believe that it has THE BEST fried shrimp on the planet. They butterfly the shrimp, use the best egg batter and deep fry to a golden brown. The prices are reasonable, the service fantastic, and the atmosphere is OK. I highly recommend this restaurant for a good meal. J.R.

T N.

Tasteless CRAP. But for those who like more detail I will say more. While visiting Portland we went out in search for dinner. The original restaurant we were planning to go to was closed probably because it was Easter Sunday. We somehow ended up in Chinatown and parked on some random street. We came across Republic Cafe, saw a few customers and decided to go in there. We were greeted by a young man dressed like a typical college student and with very little passion or personality, let alone a greeting, led us to a booth. The decor was beyond cheesy and uncared for. We decided to share an appetizer and main dish. We had the Assorted Tidbits (fried shrimp, crab puffs, bbq pork, and egg rolls) and the Super Combo (pork fried rice, pork chow mein, chinese style, and sesame chicken.) Our appetizer came and I was immediately turned off. By that point I was starving and didn't care. Normally when you're starving you'll eat anything right? The food was so bad I couldn't barely eat it! The crab puffs were way too creamy. After two bites I was done. The bbq pork looked unappetizing and barely even resembled bbq pork. The egg rolls were mushy and had some sort of flavor but not enough to make it worth it. The fried shrimp was probably the best out of all the appetizer choices and that's saying a lot. Our combo soon came and once again I was turned off. First of all the pork fried rice felt more like "pork" fried rice because you could barely see any pork in it. The "pork" chow mein didn't even have pork and it looked to have ramen noodles for the mein noodles. The sesame chicken was all fried up and looked more like sweet and sour chicken, minus the sweet and sour. As bland as the rice, chicken, and chow mein was I swallowed enough so my stomach wasn't growling and then I was done. It appears that after being there for 87 years they have not taken care to keep up whatever it was that kept them there for so long. Having grown up and still living in the San Francisco Bay Area I've had my share of excellent and bad Chinese food and the food here was beyond BAD. I don't know if it's because they just don't care or because their customer demogrpahic tends to be non-Asians so the mentality is that the customers wouldn't know any better. Either way it's tasteless crap and I would've rather spent $40 on room service than the $20 I spent there.

Min T.

While wandering around Chinatown, I decided the authentic experience in this cheesy Hollywood-set seeming area was to grab a drink. It looked appropriatedly divey and scummy. Huh, how is a scotch & water and a mai tai $15.50? Plus the receipt had a tip guide. I hate that. The bartender did tell me they're known for Long Island Iced Teas but it wasn't even 5 p.m. yet and I didn't feel like one. My mai tai was okay, not exactly traditional and the only garnish was one lonely maraschino cherry. For prices like these, I expected a whole fucking pineapple. Oh well, it was still kind of fun to duck into this place for 20 minutes.

Michael C.

I love this place! Definitely an old school Chinese restaurant. The decor shows age but its the ambiance and part of the charm. We were there Christmas eve, our second such rendezvous. The place was bustling. It does take some patience and I did bypass the dining room staff and ordered cocktails directly from the bartender. Eric, the bartender was spot on, cocktails were delish and it was smooth sailing from there. Once our order was turned in the food came within a completely reasonable amount of time. It was great. Perhaps there are more authentic Chinese restaurants, like the place next door, but for good old fashioned Chinese food, a place where you can get Egg Foo Young, a place that has cocktails and the florescent lights won't cause temporary blindness, this place rocks! Can't wait to go back.

Tammy B.

Been going here for 50 years. My mom since 1950. You have to know what and how to order to get what's good. Of course they have gone thru many cooks over the years, but use the same recipes. Shrimp foo young, fried shrimp and egg rolls are a must. Family favorites are beef broccoli or peapods extra garlic, beef noodles extra gravy, garlic and peapods, cauliflower chicken extra garlic, mushroom duck and say and air spareribs. They are not very meaty, but love the brown sauce! Atmosphere is dingy and sometimes wait staff rude, but good food if you order right.

Savannah Veronica J.

Things have continued to go downhill. I brought a group of 9 people here yesterday and the customer service was awful. They confirmed orders multiple times but still got things wrong, there were flies everywhere, we were never checked in on (In fact we had to go find them to bring water, refills and take empty plates). Sadly I won't be back, its no longer the quality and customer service it used to be years ago-

Linda M.

I've gone in the Republic twice in the past two years. Each time it was nearly empty and the food was horrible. The only reason I gave it two stars is because the staff was very friendly and the funky ambiance was fun. Other than that I"ll not go back again.

Terrence A.

Very bad customer service experience. The waitress spilled the drink on me and did not apologize and she made my drink wrong. Tried talking to management about this and all they did was shake their head like "yea yea yea"this waitress behavior is very inappropriate and very disrespectful. She should not be working in this establishment nor should she have a very sour attitude towards customers who has done her no wrong. The guest that I brought to this place was disrespected and I was embarrassed as well for her incompetence. Stay away from this dump.

Rick J.

I like the food. Available late night. Beware, not only do you get to deal with loud mouth abusive drunks throwing "F" bombs, but you get to deal with employees that are thieves. They charged my card four minutes after I left with a new and improved bill....that was nothing I ordered. Then I was alerted by my bank that someone tried to hack into my account. Lesson learned, never will go there again and will tell everyone about this!

Holy-foo' X.

Like Ray Liotta said in "GoodFellas", this was "some real grease-ball sh*t." So I was taking a much-needed siesta from many hours hard at it over @ Ground Kontrol, and was seriously jonesing for some salt'n'peppa Squid. This would have been my go-to "litmus test" dish for Asian eateries all these years, but few places indeed even offer S/P squid. So I instead use Shrimp-Fried Rice as my gold standard, and get down on the S/P squid where I can. Imagine my dismay, it being not quite midnight, that right there in Chinatown, to learn that there was only one place open so late---The Republic. What's more, they didn't do Salt-n-Pepper squid, though they do offer S/P shrimp. Fine fine fine, I told the lady on the phone, make up a large order of that, and a side of shrimp-fried rice, and I'll be there in a few minutes. They had the goodies all neatly bagged up and stapled (!) when I got there shortly thereafter. A word about the building and the ambiance..... this place has some eerie similarities to the Old Wishing Well in No Po--think innumerable cozy red leather booths---especially before the forward thinking but anachronistic and highly regrettable ghetto fabulous interior remodel to enlarge the dancing space, etc over at the Well. Fortunately, the big Vegas-like neon signs outside both buildings still remain (thank GOD) and are undeniably of a very similar style and era. Thank goodness the folks at the Republic had the good/poor taste and supreme cheapness to avoid the El Cheapo deluxe remodel! Back to the food. The S/P squid was delicious. Very greasy, but once I caught a sniff of the afore-mentioned Wishing-Well vibe, I knew exactly what to expect. There were also a good amount of very salt-and-peppery onions and green peppers in the mix. Score! The shrimp fried rice, however, *cue horrendous car braking and crashing sound effects* good lordigans, wtf happened??? Not only was the rice drenched in grease, but the shrimp---those beautiful, succulent, jumbo shrimp defining the S/P shrimp basket were nowhere to be found in this rice. Instead, there were tiny pink blobs dotted sporadically throughout the rice--- maybe they were shrimp phoetuses? Shrimp zygotes, perchance? Yeah, probably not a good thing to take one look at your food and suddenly feel compelled to try to recall all the phases of cellular mitosis... The greeter lady waiting for me and my debit card was efficient and no-nonsense in her duties. What she lacked in overt friendliness she more than made up for in a stunning hip-to-waist ratio that would make Beyonce weep w/envy. Not something you see everyday in Asian women, fo sho'! Anyways, this little feast set me back more than 25 smackeroos, which seemed a little steep, to be honest. A couple take out boxes of "take your pick" @ The Wishing Well would have been at least ten dollars less. So. While The Republic scores big retro-fab style points, and makes a good enough Shrimp salt'n'pepper that I would go back for again, the prices and the mucho malo shrimp-fried-rice leaves this rating w/a couple inescapable bullet wounds. S'alright though--- old time joints like the Republic and the Wishing Well wear such wounds w/pride. Just like it was w/Tupac: the bullet wounds only makes their legend, and their 'cool' grow.....

Jim W.

It wasn't the best of time - nor was it the worst of times. Good prices, good quantify, and not bad tasting. You want to fill up and treat your friends? Good place to go - you'll have things to talk about. It's sad they don't put a bit of $$ into updating the decor, the cushions, etc. -but hey - that would translate into higher prices. I'm good as is - for what it is - and where it is.

Brian D.

99% of the time great food! Great pineapple duck. That is the main attraction for me. Been going since I was a toddler along with Kwan yings kitchen. Same decor since I was a kid. I would highly recommend thus place!!

Sev K.

Nothing special, good price. We went here for dinner and it was your a-typical Amercian Chinese food. Although there was nothing impressive about this place there was nothing bad about it either. The service was normal and the food tasted the same. We had fried Mushroom appetizer and 2 dinner specials where you pick 3 items and after tip it came to $25 bucks so not to bad on the price. The portions are not huge though so dont expect to have a lot of leftovers.. though maybe I was just super hungry. I would recommend this place but do NOT go out of your way to come to this average semi-dive Chinese restaurant.

Olivia T.

We are the people of Republic Cafe who aren't afraid of food with possibility of MSG in it. We love cheap Chinese food, like $6.50 cheap. With $6.50, we enjoyed a combo of pork fried rice with sweet and sour short ribs and egg foo yung. We like the rusty and old interior of the Republic Cafe. The women bathroom stall has a swing door for the stall that only about four feet tall, it made it easy for other people to spy on the business that we do in there. We like the service until we need to make a payment. The cashier lady seemed to be confused with the way we split our credit cards and cash, even tho we wrote down whose cards and which amount that supposed to go in that card. She clearly shown how "thrilled" she was with the whole process. We will come back here when we are starving again and want something greasy, fast, and to absorb alcohol that we will consume at future events around Chinatown. Just give us those greasy fried stuff and we are good.

Mac M.

We went here after the Davis St. event to fill up the rest of our hungry stomachs, and I for one was not disappointed. Cheap and savory - not usually two words that go together, but in this case it describes the Ma Po Tofu I got there. MMMMMM yeah...I couldn't have been happier after all the cocktails from Davis St. Add to that the seedy ambiance of an old town Chinese restaurant, and you have a winner that is guaranteed to satisfy your Chinese food cravings. I will be returning, and next time I won't be drunk....maybe...

Alex B.

If you are looking for low-quality, high-quantity Chinese food in Portland's Chinatown, look no further. But if you're looking for anything else (quality food, overall satisfactory dining experience, the expectation that you won't spend all of tomorrow on the toilet), you should probably look elsewhere. I've only been here once, so I don't claim to be any sort of expert. But the experience was bad enough that I have no interest in ever coming back. Service was sporadic, food was salty and processed, and there was just generally nothing special about it. I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

Tamara C.

Are you feeling adventurous? Not scared to venture into Old Town / Chinatown at night and grab some greasy Chinese food in a dive bar? Make no mistake, it is a dive bar. God bless them for doing the Lord's work which is serving up pre-drinking (post-drinking) food to some of the most superb and random groupings of folks you would expect to see in one place. The chicken chow mein was freaking huge. Even with the assistance Oscar B., between the two of us, we barely could put a dent in that dish even though we both found it to be fantastic. Tender chicken, firm and flavorful veggies, we left stuffed. Our server, she had her own charming style. Some creeper slithered in and tried to "get up on her". She threw his ass out the door with a quickness that I could only marvel at. I think I have a girl crush on her. Go on now, get your chow on at Republic. 2015 - Review # 35

Mark C.

The prices are good and the food was OK but the service was poor. They forgot that we ordered an appetizer and our server rarely checked back with us during the meal

Ace E.

The shrimp -the butterflied fried shrimp are the best I've ever had! They should know what they are doing since they've been around since before most all of us were born. I enjoy the atmosphere here. It's quiet and you feel like you've stepped into another world or time period. The food is great overall, and very affordable. I enjoy the green beans and the tofu dish here.

John S.

When I think Republic Cafe, my mind see's Ming Lounge. The only place to hang out at The Republic is the lounge. Great service from either of the two bar tenders, good late night food; and it's located near the clubs. It's a place to get strong drink and is generally never crowded. My favorites include Orange Juice Chicken and the Singapore Noodles. I once witnessed a woman ignore the menu in her hands and ask the bartender for an all white chicken, gluten, and MSG free dinner suggestion. The bartender was able to keep her cool while the drunk out-of-towner slowly came to the realization that she was no longer in California. She then asked if my Orange Juice Chicken was gluten free. No gurl, it's time for you to leave.

Tammey Z.

What the hell happened to this place? It has always been a bit of dive which is why I loved it but now it is just neglected, dirty and sad! The food used to be good, but it was so awful after a few bites we paid our bill and left. We were the only people in there on a Sunday afternoon which seemed odd but now I know why.

Sunil S.

Great food and hear prices. The apps were crispy and warm inside. The soup was a great starter. The combo meal was an amazing price with a huge amount of food. The sweet and sour chicken was very crispy and light. Food came out quick and we got our bill in no time.

David B.

Truly awful food. I wanted to have a Chinese dinner for my birthday so we went to the republic. The server literally tossed us menus and went back to napkin folding. After 20 minutes, she returned to take our order. The food was obviously in steam tables as it came out in seconds. No lie, she was gone for 30 seconds. My beef and broccoli was a dramatic contrast in textures. The beef was mushy and the broccoli was raw. Completely uncooked. The sauce was a dull, glassy brown, and tasted more like brown gravy than anything else. My partner had disappointment 4 ways in the combination meal. It was like 3 ladles of runny stew of sorts and a very well done plain scrambled egg covered by a badly broken sauce the color of dried butterscotch pudding. We pushed both abominations away and said that we were done. To top it off, she asked if we wanted to take it to go. I'd be afraid of being arrested for posessing weaponised bio hazard. Then, after being told that it was awful, she brought us the check and said to come again. The place was good at one time, but sadly it's time has passed. There is no redeeming quality to this sorry excuse for a city icon. The Asian community should be insulted the republic is allowed to pass this hog swill off as tastefully prepared Asian cuisine. If there was any pride of ownership and product, it has long since rotted away. Absolutely ruined what was supposed to be a fun night out celebrating my birthday. If the owners had any sense of honor at all, they would close the doors and spare the city's unsuspecting visitors any further reason to look down on Portland.

City S.

I can't speak to the merits of Republic Cafe's food, but I can vouch for the Ming Lounge, the restaurant's adjoining, vibey and no-pretense bar. If you're in Old Town / Chinatown, and want an authentic lounge that hearkens back to an era when celebrity bar tenders and interior designers weren't creating the next "it" bar on a weekly basis, and where dim lighting and red hues make for a relaxed and loungey feel, this place is for you. It's seen better days, sure. And you're more likely to rub shoulders with someone on parole than you are a web developer or freelance writer or bike messenger. But that's more of the allure. This place is real. And while other bars try hard to recreate the best elements of old-time, dive-y establishments, this place does it with authenticity, no budget, and a collection of stiff drinks, cheap Chinese food, odd-ball characters stumbling in from skid row or the train station, and a friendly bar tender. These places are disappearing all across Portland. So dress down a little, leave the pretense at the door, and enjoy what's becoming a dying breed in Portland.

Melissa G.

Hands down the worst Chinese food I have ever eaten. Ever. Bland, gray, indistinguishable. Ordered chicken chow mein with a side of egg flower soup. Gross. The soup was a thick, gelatinous mass of "eh". The chow mein was comprised of bamboo shoots, mediocre chicken, and soggy celery, and that's about it. Zero flavor. Zero noodles. Zero appeal. Zero satisfaction. I'm visiting Portland, and will tell you that I expected MUCH more from a Chinese restaurant in china town. F**k me, right?

Stuart R.

Hilariously, ecstatically rude service. First time, late at night, our server was receiving a communication direct from the Pope himself on her cell! Or at least it seemed so, because she was intensely occupied by a long and important call; from the time of our arrival, while taking our order, and as we left. Bless her heart. Second night out, and we're again looking for late night Chinese food. We wondered if the staff would have some time freed up. We walk in and up to the front desk where a woman is deeply enaged with a television program. Drat, we think, their obligations to foreign affairs aren't yet over. But just at that moment, our friendly waitress pops her head out from around a corner, locks eye contact with us for one tense second, and then just as quickly vanishes. She must have still been very occupied. The poor dear.

Jerry D.

Great classic Chinese joint. Fabulous service. Food is decent, drinks are very stiff. Decor should not be missed.

Braedie T.

A friend and I were doing a walking tour of Portland and we were STARVING so we stopped in here, it was awful. We ordered Mushroom Duck, Pork Fried Rice and Mandarin Chicken (it was NOT spicy like it was supposed to be). ALL of it was bland, no seasoning at all, the Mushroom Duck had a canned or bottled gravy it was smothered in. The Fried Rice was so bland, the Mandarin Chicken was OK, we could at least eat it, I kept waiting for the spice to kick in though. We ate just enough so we didn't feel like passing out from starvation and went a few blocks to another place and ordered a pizza. I will not be back and I do not recommend this place. Yuck.

Gail P.

Very disappointed with this restaurant. Hostess acted like she was doing us a favor to seat us in the empty restaurant-too busy texting. Food was so, so, but the place could really use a good cleaning. Women's restroom enough to make you sick. Needs a good update, cleaning and professional help.

Elsya W.

DrinkSpecials and Fried shrimp are good that's all I can approve of... Will return

John E.

I gave it 3 stars but it deserves 2, I added one for great memories. "Back in the day" 60s, 70s and part of the 80s it deserved at least 4 it arguably was the best in town. It definitely went downhill after it was sold in the 80s.

Nicole C.

Do not eat here!!! This is my second time dining here. The first time was unpleasant, and the second time was awful. The first time I ordered a full meal.... not good. This time ( I'm currently sitting here waiting for my family to finish), I ordered an appetizer which came out burnt. I complained and she said that's how potstickers come. Nooooooo they do NOT!!! Bad food Bad customer service!

kathy m.

Well,after reading the reviews below knowing I was meeting my daughter and some friends there last night....I was somewhat prepared for indifferent service...but I believe I have cracked the code for a good time at The Republic Cafe!!! Eat in the bar area!! I got to the restaurant first and after being made to feel that my presence was a pain in their asses....honestly..she was the most unwelcoming hostess I think I've ever encountered,,,I finally asked if I could go sit at a table and order a drink while I waited for my daughter and her friends.....she truly seemed irritated that I was causing all this trouble..I ordered my standard old fashion but asked for it to be served in a larger glass with more soda ( I can't handle my booze like I used to..but love my old fashions , and this way I can have a couple and not end up disgracing myself in some way...she brought me a large bucket glass with about two inches of bourbon ...no orange or anything remotely like a proper old fashioned...but no biggie...I asked for some extra soda and just then my daughter texted that they were sitting in the bar...so I went in there and WOW..what a completely different ambiance! While it was very bright and not attractive at all I the dining room, the bar was cozy and lit just right...a terrific bartender who when I told him what I wanted to drink, made me exactly and perfectly a lovely old fashion! My mood was immediately much happier....I wasn't expecting much from the food..but I love good basic Chinese /American food....and we ordered a variety of appetizers and plates to share! WHAT a surprise!!Their fried shrimp was AMAZING!!!! I have usually had those weird " fried shrimp" that are way too heavily battered and have that funny round shape...I know everyone knows what I mean.....these were big beautifully butterflied and very lightly battered in a delicate lovely light crunch and the shrimp were cooked perfectly! I don't usually rhapsodize about fried rice..but this too was exceptional!!we got the " house" version which had lots of nice big shrimp as well as all the other goodies....I realize that I'm going on and on...but to have the evening begin with such low expectations and end on such a high note was a delight..I'm sorry that I can not remember the bartenders name because he was also our server ..and because of him..as well as the really good food , made what started out to be a sketchy dinner ended up being one of the best Chinese food experiences I've had in a long time!! I was not expecting to be writing this positive review when the evening first began... But I'll defiantly go back..as long as I can be seated in the bar area!! Oh!! The egg foo yung and other dishes were all excellent as well,very happy when it came time to pay as it also isn't pricy!

Jenni L.

This is bar-none my favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. It's so good I almost feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot by telling everyone. It's easily found right in Portland's Chinatown (one of the last places on earth I want to park my car at night) and a complete gem. Don't let the dodgy area or mutitude of massage parlors deter you from trying this place. Ignore the police sirens down the street, take two breaths and prepare to be dazzled. Once inside, the restaurant itself is really interesting and pretty. Make sure to check out the really cool gold walls in some of the dining rooms. It is a perfect place to go on a date or just with friends; I make sure to make a visit atleast once a month. Absolutely fantastic food. Everything I have ever tried has been beyond amazing and way more than a few people can ever eat. Can you say leftovers? I know it sounds weird but the best thing on the menu has to be the Cauliflower Chicken. It's served in a light cream sauce and completely mouthwatering over rice. We always go in a group of 4-6, which is easily accomodated at this restaurant, and share everything family style. The staff is friendly and the food arrives quickly. If you tip well the staff will remember you and your meal will be supplemented by extra great service.

Linda C.

We went back here recently for a long island ice tea before a show at the Roseland. It was a different bartender and perhaps that's why the drink wasn't as strong as it was before. It tasted watered down. We hardly ever venture downtown for the nightlife anymore and when we do, not sure if we'll make a pitstop here again. Maybe.

Jamie C.

Finding quality Chinese food is hard to find. The Republic Cafe's food is good! I've been here quite a few times and feel like I know what's good. Their Orange Chicken is good--but surprisingly Panda Express' is better. The best thing I've had on their menu was the Sweet and Sour Shrimp. This is heavenly. Lightly breaded, perfectly crunchy, great sauce. Make it even better by adding pineapple! Pros: Their portions are huge and they have good prices for good food. Cons: The area outside is kinda dingy and the interior is dark and old. The staff doesn't speak very good English and they don't split checks (or at least that's what a sign said). However, the worst con is THE BATHROOM. It's honestly hilarious. Old saloon style doors barley hide and old beat up toilet but that's not the worst of it. Both side stall walls are full mirrors--in case you like watching yourself do your business. I'm sure many a guest has taken a picture of this memorable "rest"-room. Anyway, come for the great sweet and sour shrimp but skip the bathroom.

Tyler C.

I love coming here! How I found the place? Went through a phase where I would go out in Chinatown but would get bored (read drunk) by 11:30 so I would walk home & stop in here for chicken fried rice. It is the bomb drunk food... And surprisingly pretty decent sober. There aren't many places in portland where 4 people can eat for under $30. Get the general tao's, beef w broccoli & potstickers (delish) and you will all leave full! Plus great tea! If you walk by other Chinese restaurants in the area they are all dead while Republic is packed. There is a reason!

Iris D.

Patient bartender, drunken street people, shazammable soundtrack. VERY PLEASED!

Terrence A.

The waitress was very RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL, she treated us as if we done something personal to her, in which we were very polite and nice but was still treated as trash. She works in the bar area, she wouldn't tell us her, and said she wouldn't give two @$!#/, if we complained or not. The drinks she mad was horrible and the customer service was at its all time low. She made this expirence awfull.

Mark S.

I've loved this place for the past 15 years!!! Same servers and food since day one! If you're looking for traditional 'true' Chinese food-this place isn't for you. It's VERY 'Americanized'! This place has been around forever and if you're not hungry then stop in the bar and have a drink at the oldest bar in Portland. I order the same thing everytime I eat here: -Super Special Combo (Sweet & Sour Chicken, Chow Mein, Fried Rice, & Egg Foo Young) & a Lg. bowl of Soup!

John R.

Super tasty. The 4 items we got were all outstanding. Service was great and friendly. 8pm on a Friday night - happy faces. I loved the atmosphere and style and the location is pure city. No problems - enjoyable evening. So much heart and soul in this place - leave the burbs and come in to Republic... Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

Albert G.

Not because the food rates as higher quality Chinese food goes, this little Asian dive DOES aim to please from lunch to late, late night grub. Food is both reasonably priced, almost a steal for any of the combo plates (I love the super special 3 combo) for sheer size and quantity alone! I usually drag friends in to share a meal with me. The duck and roasted asparagus are great, albeit greasy spoon favorites. Also recommended, try the pork chop suey, egg foo young, and breaded eggplant in sweet sauce. SERIOUSLY. If downtown and needing a fast, delicious quick bite, hit the bar and they'll take great care of you... and serve a mean drink in the process. A great in-between meal stop for the late night bends and hungry kids looking for a greasy, heartwarming meal.

Aaron P.

The lady was very rude, when I asked her simple questions about the menu, she was very condescending. The food tasted like crap. I ordered chow mein noodles and they gave me a box full of meat and veggies.... no noodles! Instead they included it with a bag of dry croutons, I was like "are you kidding me?!" If you're looking for Chinese late at night, then sure go to this place because there's no where else. But be prepared for some rudeness.

Neeva D.

Two words: Shrimp rolls. Shrimp rolls Shrimp rolls Shrimp rolls. I love love love them! Deliciously crunchy and amazingly tasty. The noodles are greasy, and the General Tsao's is crunchy and covered in a gooey sauce. Purely American Chinese food, and doesn't pretend to be anything but. I would never suggest The Republic to ANYONE, but I will go, order my shrimp rolls and General Tsao's and hide in a dark, dark corner enjoying every minute and every morsel.

K B.

I would give this place minus stars if I could. Do NOT go here unless you want to be disappointed and treated rudely. We've been here twice... first time was not very good but, the other night, it was late (10pm), not many options available and we thought we'd give them another chance. To start with, the soup tasted off... kinda like wet dog. The food was ridiculously greasy and bland. One person ordered the short ribs and that too was bland, slimy, and tasted like the meat was old. We told the waitress there was something wrong with it and she said "You ordered, not my fault you don't like". We replied, "but, it tastes like bad meat". Her reply again "not my fault, you ordered, can't take back". Another person ordered the Sesame chicken which was also very bland, greasy and no sauce. Someone else had Orange chicken and the flavor was ok but frighteningly greasy. The place looks dirty and we sent one unused soup bowl back because it still had residue in it from a previous use. The health department should seriously check this place out. Also, they have a bar and although it was not visible from the dining room, it could be heard. People were yelling very crude obscenities and threats at each other. We had children with us and it was extremely inappropriate to hear that in a family dining area. We're not conservative but it was still disturbing. We've also eaten at the restaurant next door (different establishment) and even though it is not stellar, it is a much better choice. Strongly recommend you avoid The Republic Cafe! Better to go hungry or to McDonalds (and I'm not a fan of either).

kelly s.

Hilarious, what can I say about this joint. Food is cheap, drinks are cheap, ambiance is hilarious. I had wonton soup and crab puffs of course. The wonton was actually pretty good, and a huge heaping bowl. The crab puffs were mediocre. But the bar ambiance was a perfect divey chinese 10 pointer. I don't even have the time to summate how hilarious my experience was, but in short it included the following; -a lady who walked in off the street at early afternoon, and after acting sober enough to order a drink, passed out on the bar minutes later (bartender acted appropriately and recinded the cocktail, and cut her off with offers to get her home safely) -a cowboy with feather in hat talking to the passed out lady next to him about how he was an amazing prospector in alaska making up to 50 grand in 11 days (apparently that was the only time he made any money, as he discussed in length how expensive the Greyhound bus was) -two elderly ladies next to me who were disappointed to see the new bartender, as I later was informed by them, because they'd been hoping to meet up with the other bartender for some weed. so you see, republic may or may not have good food, who knows, but this seems to be a standard sort of hijinks for this place, come for the hilarious, stay if your plate is edible, lol

Alex F.

YUCK! greasy food, but the service is the very worst. Staff are rude, stupid, and have absolutely no clue about service. NO WAY!!!

JW R.

Not for the faint of stomach, Republic Cafe dishes the greasy, crunchy slathered-in-that-weird-red-sauce American Chinese food that's gonna land like a ton of calories in your gut. And I don't recall any signs about no MSG. I love it. The service is pretty good, too.

Ira G.

If you can find another place in America that can meet or beat their Fried Shrimp I'll fly their tomorrow!

Ray V.

Working evenings I've been on a search for late chinese. I haven't cared if it's "authentic" or which zone it's from. I just wanted good, quality, tasty, and not likely to kill me in the next 15 minutes. In other words basic americanized chinese fast food. And I have found my shangri la! Most nights Republic Cafe is still cooking till midnight. Which means I can get off work in Hillsboro zip down town grab my order and get home to enjoy while it's still hot. 1st qualification met! Since discovering this little gem, in no particular order we've had the sweet n sour spareribs (a little too sweet), fried rice (kinda bland), egg foo yong (best I've had since my fave place for this closed),spring rolls (crisp, fresh, inexpensive), ABC salad (not salad but yummy), mar far chicken, flyboys, fried wontons, shrimp with peapods (delightful), egg flower soup, and creamed cauliflower chicken (tasty). 2nd qualification met! Everything has been good even if not always to personal likes. All has been made with quality ingredients (no question about whether it should've been dumped instead of used), and tasty! Also since I'm writing this, nothing I've eaten from Republic Cafe has killed me yet, though I plan on giving them many more times to try. As most of downtown Portland around burnside can be considered less then desirable for a neighborhood this area of "chinatown" is no different. My biggest problem though has been parking, and on a weekend parking lots that don't post price and then charge you $8 flat fee to go eat. You know who you are! Anyway, this gem that has been here for eons is worth the trip just for the food. The side show the customers put on is just dinner theater anywhere else would charge you for. Hmm, getting hungry perhaps next I'll try the mushroom duck or the kung pao shrimp. So many choices!

Steve K.

I've been reading the other reviews here for the Republic Cafe and I'm happy to report that I've never had a bad experience! I've been a patron for over 20 years and the classic American-Chinese food has never disappointed me. It's inexpensive and the portions are generous. The service has always been good and those who grouse about the locale and the clientele don't seem to appreciate that that's part of the experience of dining here. If you want someplace a little more elegant, perhaps try the August Moon on trendy NW 23rd avenue. I love the Republic Cafe, it's my favorite place for Chinese food downtown!

Thomas W.

Have you ever been to an Americanized Chinese restaurant? Well, chances are pretty good that, if you're reading this, you have a pulse, which means that you have... ...which means that you have eaten here before, even if you have never even visited the Republic before...hell, even if you have never even set foot in the Pacific Northwest. It's just that basic. Sweet and Sour what-not? Check. Flavorless white sauce with chicken? Double check. Plentiful, somewhat dry fried rice? You betcha. The end result is a satisfied stomach, but really, there's nothing here that you haven't had anywhere else. It made for a fun Christmas Eve dinner-dealy with the fam, so that's always a plus.

Alexandra E.

My favorite bar in Portland! Drinks are cheap and strong served by a super cool lady! Food is typical Americanized Chinese, but is still good. I would definitely recommend coming here for some late night fun.

Ajia T.

I've been here a few times, mostly for late night munchies with friends. It's not a place you go to have exceptional Peking duck or Mandarin BBQ dinner. Do not expect to be impressed here, or to impress the people with you. Rather, this is the type of Chinese joint you hit up when you need decent, hot, traditional fare for a reasonable price. I've had better Chinese food, but I've certainly had worse. Pros: Decent and usually friendly service; great menu selection; strong, cheap drinks; fresh veggies; delicious shrimp; excellent General Tsao's chicken. Cons: Divey, dirty (DO NOT use the bathroom, it may be the most disgusting one in town), service can be slow.

Lindsey K.

A surreal dining experience at best...It was slightly forbidding, dark, and just a little Stanley Kubrick-esque. At 5pm. No? Just me? Fair enough. Really, the only reason I'm writing this is to talk about the people who came and sat behind me in a booth. An older douche-y guy, a youngish guy, and a strung-out blonde. My only question: What were they on?? The older guy loudly proclaimed this was "the best Chinese food in Portland", "this rice is incredibly smoky", and repeatedly talked about what a "sensual experience" he was having. I wish I was on what this guy was, because he was having the best meal of his life. I, on the other hand, was not. I ordered the Super Special Combination ($7.95). Sounds like it should be super, or at least special. It was neither. The chicken was dry and tough, the shoots were slimy, and everything was bland bland bland. My friend got the I Love Veggie plate ($6.95) and that was basically a gray salty sauce spooned over tepid veggies. I'm getting a little queasy just thinking about it. The waitress also seriously disliked us, but laughed at the crackhead's jokes, which really hurt my feelings. I mean, I thought I was at least better than a drugged out dirty old man, but apparently not. I'm giving it one more star than it deserves because I feel the bar has potential at 1:30am on a Tuesday night. Don't ask me why, it's just a feeling.

James H.

Went to Portland on November 10th and immediately headed to my favorite Chinese restaurant.....and it was locked up! Has it closed????

Jaime L.

Really good food, fair pricing, but like most chinese restaurants kinda scared to look in the kitchen. Succulent fried rice, excellent sweet and sour chicken, and awesome bbq pork. Makes great leftovers as there is always more than generous portions.

Richard L.

Great location! Cheap drinks! And ridiculously delicious fried shrimp. 5 stars!

Barbara D.

This is an ODD one. I am debating between 1 star and 4 stars. I usually do not have such a large range of irresolution about a place, but one of the other yelpers pinpointed it.....it was a "surreal" experience. First, the place is so dingy that I didn't want to take a look at the kitchen on my way to the hole they call a bathroom for fear of losing my dinner. However, I read that this is the OLDEST Chinese restaurant in China Town...true or not, I just kept thinking about that and looking at the velour upholstery and it made this place almost seem like something out of an old movie...one involving a brothel. Plus, the fact that an older couple was sitting in the corner almost tearing off their clothes and probably swishing around the same bite of food inbetween their tongues, made me wonder about this place. Second, the food was on the below average but OK side. I had the sweet n sour shrimp which was decent, the veggie fried rice which was average and the seafood platter which had good scallops but they were swimming in some sort of a gray sauce which was kind of nasty. I ate the scallops anyway. Now, here's the surreal part....I had a long island ice tea, and then another and another. They were delicious, strong and kept knocking me on my ass but somehow I kept on sucking them down and wanting another one. I had no idea that this place has good long islands, and I usually do not drink them, but somehow that is what popped into my mind and after a few I started asking the bartender for his "famous ice teas." We then moved over to the bar area and here is where the dilema of how many stars comes....the place is dump-like-cool with a casino in the back. The bartender was as slimy as the place which just added to the whole experience. I left feeling like I was in a dream and that this place doesn't really exist. Yeah, I'll be back....not for the food, but for a long island or 3.

Jason S.

This place is, like a few other people have reviewed, straight out of a 1940's movie. The decor is so over the top cheesy, and it's always really dark inside. The men's room is cold and I have a feeling, was once a storage room. The food is what you'd expect. Middle of the road American-Chinese. The tofu soup is good, and so are the fried rice dishes. However, my guy and I got an order of egg rolls. We referred to them as "Deep-fried schlongs". Avoid them. The outer layer of them looks more like a donut that an egg roll. After reading some other reviews, I want to go sit in the bar next time I order from this place. If you're a total foodie, or a picky eater, don't bother. If you're in the mood for average Chinese take-out, give this place a try. It goes down well with beer and a movie. This is Chinatown. I live in the neighborhood. There are lots of homeless, gay bars, drag queens, dive bars and dive strip clubs. Republic Cafe fits right in.

Bill E.

I was hungry at 11PM on a Sunday night and knew I'd probably find something in Chinatown that was open (thank GOD for cities that have a Chinatown!) Anyways, I'd driven past this place many times, though I'd never stopped... it seemed as good as anything. Did I mention I was hungry? Good. The bar was jumpin', the restaurant was almost empty, except for the three hot sisters in the corner table. I went basic, because it's a basic Chinese/American menu. The food was fine, (Kung Pao shrimp) the service was indifferent and void of any personality whatsoever. A smile, a grin, even a hello or goodnight would have been nice. No dice. Whatever...

Whitney C.

The service was decent, the atmosphere was okay. the shrimp with lobster sauce was good, although there were little itsy bitsy pieces of (chicken??) in it which weren't really in the description...kind of sketch. The thing that ruined the entire experience was the MOST NAUSEATING DUCK I HAVE EVER TASTED IN MY LIFE. We ordered the mushroom duck, which we thought would be half a duck, or a duck breast. But instead it was duck that was ground up into a paste in a food processor, then formed into a pastey log, battered, and deep fried. It even had chunks of bone in it. It was so gross. It made my stomach turn. I do not want to know what goes on in that kitchen. Skip this one.

Whitney C.

Jason S.

Ajia T.

Jaime L.

Richard L.

Bill E.

Lindsey K.

James H.

Barbara D.

Jim W.

It wasn't the best of time - nor was it the worst of times. Good prices, good quantify, and not bad tasting. You want to fill up and treat your friends? Good place to go - you'll have things to talk about. It's sad they don't put a bit of $$ into updating the decor, the cushions, etc. -but hey - that would translate into higher prices. I'm good as is - for what it is - and where it is.

Terrence A.

The waitress was very RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL, she treated us as if we done something personal to her, in which we were very polite and nice but was still treated as trash. She works in the bar area, she wouldn't tell us her, and said she wouldn't give two @$!#/, if we complained or not. The drinks she mad was horrible and the customer service was at its all time low. She made this expirence awfull.

Holy-foo' X.

Like Ray Liotta said in "GoodFellas", this was "some real grease-ball sh*t." So I was taking a much-needed siesta from many hours hard at it over @ Ground Kontrol, and was seriously jonesing for some salt'n'peppa Squid. This would have been my go-to "litmus test" dish for Asian eateries all these years, but few places indeed even offer S/P squid. So I instead use Shrimp-Fried Rice as my gold standard, and get down on the S/P squid where I can. Imagine my dismay, it being not quite midnight, that right there in Chinatown, to learn that there was only one place open so late---The Republic. What's more, they didn't do Salt-n-Pepper squid, though they do offer S/P shrimp. Fine fine fine, I told the lady on the phone, make up a large order of that, and a side of shrimp-fried rice, and I'll be there in a few minutes. They had the goodies all neatly bagged up and stapled (!) when I got there shortly thereafter. A word about the building and the ambiance..... this place has some eerie similarities to the Old Wishing Well in No Po--think innumerable cozy red leather booths---especially before the forward thinking but anachronistic and highly regrettable ghetto fabulous interior remodel to enlarge the dancing space, etc over at the Well. Fortunately, the big Vegas-like neon signs outside both buildings still remain (thank GOD) and are undeniably of a very similar style and era. Thank goodness the folks at the Republic had the good/poor taste and supreme cheapness to avoid the El Cheapo deluxe remodel! Back to the food. The S/P squid was delicious. Very greasy, but once I caught a sniff of the afore-mentioned Wishing-Well vibe, I knew exactly what to expect. There were also a good amount of very salt-and-peppery onions and green peppers in the mix. Score! The shrimp fried rice, however, *cue horrendous car braking and crashing sound effects* good lordigans, wtf happened??? Not only was the rice drenched in grease, but the shrimp---those beautiful, succulent, jumbo shrimp defining the S/P shrimp basket were nowhere to be found in this rice. Instead, there were tiny pink blobs dotted sporadically throughout the rice--- maybe they were shrimp phoetuses? Shrimp zygotes, perchance? Yeah, probably not a good thing to take one look at your food and suddenly feel compelled to try to recall all the phases of cellular mitosis... The greeter lady waiting for me and my debit card was efficient and no-nonsense in her duties. What she lacked in overt friendliness she more than made up for in a stunning hip-to-waist ratio that would make Beyonce weep w/envy. Not something you see everyday in Asian women, fo sho'! Anyways, this little feast set me back more than 25 smackeroos, which seemed a little steep, to be honest. A couple take out boxes of "take your pick" @ The Wishing Well would have been at least ten dollars less. So. While The Republic scores big retro-fab style points, and makes a good enough Shrimp salt'n'pepper that I would go back for again, the prices and the mucho malo shrimp-fried-rice leaves this rating w/a couple inescapable bullet wounds. S'alright though--- old time joints like the Republic and the Wishing Well wear such wounds w/pride. Just like it was w/Tupac: the bullet wounds only makes their legend, and their 'cool' grow.....

Jerry M.

Portland's Chinatown is pretty bleak and dead these days because the "actual" Chinatown is now out on SE 82nd Avenue. I will still occasionally brave the bleakness there to get a fill-up of some good Americanized Chinese food at Republic Cafe. It has become a tradition for me to eat there because I've been going there off and on since my college days in the late 60's. Back then, it was one of the very few places in town that stayed open late at night, so it sort of "ruled" by default. Nobody is going to call it a trendy or fancy place, but the food can be really tasty. . .depending on what you order. At many Chinese restaurants, some of the entrees that are also offered on their combination plates may not be freshly made because they're likely to be kept warm and ready on the steam table. So, I always order items that I know have to be prepared fresh. One of my favorite dishes at the Republic is asparagus with chicken in black bean sauce. It's stir fried just right so the asparagus has the proper crispness, the chicken is thinly sliced white meat, and I have always loved black bean sauce. Beef tomato chow mein with pan fried noodles is another favorite (but you have to BE SURE to order it with pan fried noodles which costs a little extra). That way, they stir fry the noodles together with the other ingredients instead of just heaping it on top of the more common crispy noodles. Also, the tea and the rice is free. So, if you don't mind their "lack of coolness" (and the panhandlers in the neighborhood), it's a place to go for tasty food and large portions.

Matt H.

It's a shame that Portland's Chinatown doesn't have many good Chinese restaurants. After a disastrous visit to House of Louie a few years ago, I decided to brave this place. It's as filthy and dingy inside as it looks from the outside. I had one of those build-your-own lunch specials. While technically my plate had egg foo young, sweet & sour chicken, and an egg roll on it, it was more of pile A, B, & C situation. The colors & textures may vary slightly, but everything tastes like salt and grease. Caught a glimpse of the kitchen as I was paying...eep. Looks like something Jack Burton crawled through on his way to take out Lo Pan. Do yourself a favor and drive out to Wong's King for dim sum. Let American Chinese food die.

Alex B.

If you are looking for low-quality, high-quantity Chinese food in Portland's Chinatown, look no further. But if you're looking for anything else (quality food, overall satisfactory dining experience, the expectation that you won't spend all of tomorrow on the toilet), you should probably look elsewhere. I've only been here once, so I don't claim to be any sort of expert. But the experience was bad enough that I have no interest in ever coming back. Service was sporadic, food was salty and processed, and there was just generally nothing special about it. I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

Michael C.

I love this place! Definitely an old school Chinese restaurant. The decor shows age but its the ambiance and part of the charm. We were there Christmas eve, our second such rendezvous. The place was bustling. It does take some patience and I did bypass the dining room staff and ordered cocktails directly from the bartender. Eric, the bartender was spot on, cocktails were delish and it was smooth sailing from there. Once our order was turned in the food came within a completely reasonable amount of time. It was great. Perhaps there are more authentic Chinese restaurants, like the place next door, but for good old fashioned Chinese food, a place where you can get Egg Foo Young, a place that has cocktails and the florescent lights won't cause temporary blindness, this place rocks! Can't wait to go back.

Tammy B.

Been going here for 50 years. My mom since 1950. You have to know what and how to order to get what's good. Of course they have gone thru many cooks over the years, but use the same recipes. Shrimp foo young, fried shrimp and egg rolls are a must. Family favorites are beef broccoli or peapods extra garlic, beef noodles extra gravy, garlic and peapods, cauliflower chicken extra garlic, mushroom duck and say and air spareribs. They are not very meaty, but love the brown sauce! Atmosphere is dingy and sometimes wait staff rude, but good food if you order right.

Savannah Veronica J.

Things have continued to go downhill. I brought a group of 9 people here yesterday and the customer service was awful. They confirmed orders multiple times but still got things wrong, there were flies everywhere, we were never checked in on (In fact we had to go find them to bring water, refills and take empty plates). Sadly I won't be back, its no longer the quality and customer service it used to be years ago-

Linda M.

I've gone in the Republic twice in the past two years. Each time it was nearly empty and the food was horrible. The only reason I gave it two stars is because the staff was very friendly and the funky ambiance was fun. Other than that I"ll not go back again.

Terrence A.

Very bad customer service experience. The waitress spilled the drink on me and did not apologize and she made my drink wrong. Tried talking to management about this and all they did was shake their head like "yea yea yea"this waitress behavior is very inappropriate and very disrespectful. She should not be working in this establishment nor should she have a very sour attitude towards customers who has done her no wrong. The guest that I brought to this place was disrespected and I was embarrassed as well for her incompetence. Stay away from this dump.

Mark S.

I've loved this place for the past 15 years!!! Same servers and food since day one! If you're looking for traditional 'true' Chinese food-this place isn't for you. It's VERY 'Americanized'! This place has been around forever and if you're not hungry then stop in the bar and have a drink at the oldest bar in Portland. I order the same thing everytime I eat here: -Super Special Combo (Sweet & Sour Chicken, Chow Mein, Fried Rice, & Egg Foo Young) & a Lg. bowl of Soup!

Jenni L.

This is bar-none my favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. It's so good I almost feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot by telling everyone. It's easily found right in Portland's Chinatown (one of the last places on earth I want to park my car at night) and a complete gem. Don't let the dodgy area or mutitude of massage parlors deter you from trying this place. Ignore the police sirens down the street, take two breaths and prepare to be dazzled. Once inside, the restaurant itself is really interesting and pretty. Make sure to check out the really cool gold walls in some of the dining rooms. It is a perfect place to go on a date or just with friends; I make sure to make a visit atleast once a month. Absolutely fantastic food. Everything I have ever tried has been beyond amazing and way more than a few people can ever eat. Can you say leftovers? I know it sounds weird but the best thing on the menu has to be the Cauliflower Chicken. It's served in a light cream sauce and completely mouthwatering over rice. We always go in a group of 4-6, which is easily accomodated at this restaurant, and share everything family style. The staff is friendly and the food arrives quickly. If you tip well the staff will remember you and your meal will be supplemented by extra great service.

Linda C.

We went back here recently for a long island ice tea before a show at the Roseland. It was a different bartender and perhaps that's why the drink wasn't as strong as it was before. It tasted watered down. We hardly ever venture downtown for the nightlife anymore and when we do, not sure if we'll make a pitstop here again. Maybe.

Jamie C.

Finding quality Chinese food is hard to find. The Republic Cafe's food is good! I've been here quite a few times and feel like I know what's good. Their Orange Chicken is good--but surprisingly Panda Express' is better. The best thing I've had on their menu was the Sweet and Sour Shrimp. This is heavenly. Lightly breaded, perfectly crunchy, great sauce. Make it even better by adding pineapple! Pros: Their portions are huge and they have good prices for good food. Cons: The area outside is kinda dingy and the interior is dark and old. The staff doesn't speak very good English and they don't split checks (or at least that's what a sign said). However, the worst con is THE BATHROOM. It's honestly hilarious. Old saloon style doors barley hide and old beat up toilet but that's not the worst of it. Both side stall walls are full mirrors--in case you like watching yourself do your business. I'm sure many a guest has taken a picture of this memorable "rest"-room. Anyway, come for the great sweet and sour shrimp but skip the bathroom.

Jason F.

Not terrible. The hot and sour soup was okay but disappointing - it was neither hot nor sour. I'll give them another try for a larger meal but so far I'm inclined to go next door to Golden Horse.

Tamara C.

Are you feeling adventurous? Not scared to venture into Old Town / Chinatown at night and grab some greasy Chinese food in a dive bar? Make no mistake, it is a dive bar. God bless them for doing the Lord's work which is serving up pre-drinking (post-drinking) food to some of the most superb and random groupings of folks you would expect to see in one place. The chicken chow mein was freaking huge. Even with the assistance Oscar B., between the two of us, we barely could put a dent in that dish even though we both found it to be fantastic. Tender chicken, firm and flavorful veggies, we left stuffed. Our server, she had her own charming style. Some creeper slithered in and tried to "get up on her". She threw his ass out the door with a quickness that I could only marvel at. I think I have a girl crush on her. Go on now, get your chow on at Republic. 2015 - Review # 35

Mark C.

The prices are good and the food was OK but the service was poor. They forgot that we ordered an appetizer and our server rarely checked back with us during the meal

Ace E.

The shrimp -the butterflied fried shrimp are the best I've ever had! They should know what they are doing since they've been around since before most all of us were born. I enjoy the atmosphere here. It's quiet and you feel like you've stepped into another world or time period. The food is great overall, and very affordable. I enjoy the green beans and the tofu dish here.

John S.

When I think Republic Cafe, my mind see's Ming Lounge. The only place to hang out at The Republic is the lounge. Great service from either of the two bar tenders, good late night food; and it's located near the clubs. It's a place to get strong drink and is generally never crowded. My favorites include Orange Juice Chicken and the Singapore Noodles. I once witnessed a woman ignore the menu in her hands and ask the bartender for an all white chicken, gluten, and MSG free dinner suggestion. The bartender was able to keep her cool while the drunk out-of-towner slowly came to the realization that she was no longer in California. She then asked if my Orange Juice Chicken was gluten free. No gurl, it's time for you to leave.

Tammey Z.

What the hell happened to this place? It has always been a bit of dive which is why I loved it but now it is just neglected, dirty and sad! The food used to be good, but it was so awful after a few bites we paid our bill and left. We were the only people in there on a Sunday afternoon which seemed odd but now I know why.

Sunil S.

Great food and hear prices. The apps were crispy and warm inside. The soup was a great starter. The combo meal was an amazing price with a huge amount of food. The sweet and sour chicken was very crispy and light. Food came out quick and we got our bill in no time.

Iris D.

Patient bartender, drunken street people, shazammable soundtrack. VERY PLEASED!

David B.

Truly awful food. I wanted to have a Chinese dinner for my birthday so we went to the republic. The server literally tossed us menus and went back to napkin folding. After 20 minutes, she returned to take our order. The food was obviously in steam tables as it came out in seconds. No lie, she was gone for 30 seconds. My beef and broccoli was a dramatic contrast in textures. The beef was mushy and the broccoli was raw. Completely uncooked. The sauce was a dull, glassy brown, and tasted more like brown gravy than anything else. My partner had disappointment 4 ways in the combination meal. It was like 3 ladles of runny stew of sorts and a very well done plain scrambled egg covered by a badly broken sauce the color of dried butterscotch pudding. We pushed both abominations away and said that we were done. To top it off, she asked if we wanted to take it to go. I'd be afraid of being arrested for posessing weaponised bio hazard. Then, after being told that it was awful, she brought us the check and said to come again. The place was good at one time, but sadly it's time has passed. There is no redeeming quality to this sorry excuse for a city icon. The Asian community should be insulted the republic is allowed to pass this hog swill off as tastefully prepared Asian cuisine. If there was any pride of ownership and product, it has long since rotted away. Absolutely ruined what was supposed to be a fun night out celebrating my birthday. If the owners had any sense of honor at all, they would close the doors and spare the city's unsuspecting visitors any further reason to look down on Portland.

City S.

I can't speak to the merits of Republic Cafe's food, but I can vouch for the Ming Lounge, the restaurant's adjoining, vibey and no-pretense bar. If you're in Old Town / Chinatown, and want an authentic lounge that hearkens back to an era when celebrity bar tenders and interior designers weren't creating the next "it" bar on a weekly basis, and where dim lighting and red hues make for a relaxed and loungey feel, this place is for you. It's seen better days, sure. And you're more likely to rub shoulders with someone on parole than you are a web developer or freelance writer or bike messenger. But that's more of the allure. This place is real. And while other bars try hard to recreate the best elements of old-time, dive-y establishments, this place does it with authenticity, no budget, and a collection of stiff drinks, cheap Chinese food, odd-ball characters stumbling in from skid row or the train station, and a friendly bar tender. These places are disappearing all across Portland. So dress down a little, leave the pretense at the door, and enjoy what's becoming a dying breed in Portland.

Melissa G.

Hands down the worst Chinese food I have ever eaten. Ever. Bland, gray, indistinguishable. Ordered chicken chow mein with a side of egg flower soup. Gross. The soup was a thick, gelatinous mass of "eh". The chow mein was comprised of bamboo shoots, mediocre chicken, and soggy celery, and that's about it. Zero flavor. Zero noodles. Zero appeal. Zero satisfaction. I'm visiting Portland, and will tell you that I expected MUCH more from a Chinese restaurant in china town. F**k me, right?

Rick J.

I like the food. Available late night. Beware, not only do you get to deal with loud mouth abusive drunks throwing "F" bombs, but you get to deal with employees that are thieves. They charged my card four minutes after I left with a new and improved bill....that was nothing I ordered. Then I was alerted by my bank that someone tried to hack into my account. Lesson learned, never will go there again and will tell everyone about this!

Stuart R.

Hilariously, ecstatically rude service. First time, late at night, our server was receiving a communication direct from the Pope himself on her cell! Or at least it seemed so, because she was intensely occupied by a long and important call; from the time of our arrival, while taking our order, and as we left. Bless her heart. Second night out, and we're again looking for late night Chinese food. We wondered if the staff would have some time freed up. We walk in and up to the front desk where a woman is deeply enaged with a television program. Drat, we think, their obligations to foreign affairs aren't yet over. But just at that moment, our friendly waitress pops her head out from around a corner, locks eye contact with us for one tense second, and then just as quickly vanishes. She must have still been very occupied. The poor dear.

Jerry D.

Great classic Chinese joint. Fabulous service. Food is decent, drinks are very stiff. Decor should not be missed.

Braedie T.

A friend and I were doing a walking tour of Portland and we were STARVING so we stopped in here, it was awful. We ordered Mushroom Duck, Pork Fried Rice and Mandarin Chicken (it was NOT spicy like it was supposed to be). ALL of it was bland, no seasoning at all, the Mushroom Duck had a canned or bottled gravy it was smothered in. The Fried Rice was so bland, the Mandarin Chicken was OK, we could at least eat it, I kept waiting for the spice to kick in though. We ate just enough so we didn't feel like passing out from starvation and went a few blocks to another place and ordered a pizza. I will not be back and I do not recommend this place. Yuck.

John E.

I gave it 3 stars but it deserves 2, I added one for great memories. "Back in the day" 60s, 70s and part of the 80s it deserved at least 4 it arguably was the best in town. It definitely went downhill after it was sold in the 80s.

Nicole C.

Do not eat here!!! This is my second time dining here. The first time was unpleasant, and the second time was awful. The first time I ordered a full meal.... not good. This time ( I'm currently sitting here waiting for my family to finish), I ordered an appetizer which came out burnt. I complained and she said that's how potstickers come. Nooooooo they do NOT!!! Bad food Bad customer service!

kathy m.

Well,after reading the reviews below knowing I was meeting my daughter and some friends there last night....I was somewhat prepared for indifferent service...but I believe I have cracked the code for a good time at The Republic Cafe!!! Eat in the bar area!! I got to the restaurant first and after being made to feel that my presence was a pain in their asses....honestly..she was the most unwelcoming hostess I think I've ever encountered,,,I finally asked if I could go sit at a table and order a drink while I waited for my daughter and her friends.....she truly seemed irritated that I was causing all this trouble..I ordered my standard old fashion but asked for it to be served in a larger glass with more soda ( I can't handle my booze like I used to..but love my old fashions , and this way I can have a couple and not end up disgracing myself in some way...she brought me a large bucket glass with about two inches of bourbon ...no orange or anything remotely like a proper old fashioned...but no biggie...I asked for some extra soda and just then my daughter texted that they were sitting in the bar...so I went in there and WOW..what a completely different ambiance! While it was very bright and not attractive at all I the dining room, the bar was cozy and lit just right...a terrific bartender who when I told him what I wanted to drink, made me exactly and perfectly a lovely old fashion! My mood was immediately much happier....I wasn't expecting much from the food..but I love good basic Chinese /American food....and we ordered a variety of appetizers and plates to share! WHAT a surprise!!Their fried shrimp was AMAZING!!!! I have usually had those weird " fried shrimp" that are way too heavily battered and have that funny round shape...I know everyone knows what I mean.....these were big beautifully butterflied and very lightly battered in a delicate lovely light crunch and the shrimp were cooked perfectly! I don't usually rhapsodize about fried rice..but this too was exceptional!!we got the " house" version which had lots of nice big shrimp as well as all the other goodies....I realize that I'm going on and on...but to have the evening begin with such low expectations and end on such a high note was a delight..I'm sorry that I can not remember the bartenders name because he was also our server ..and because of him..as well as the really good food , made what started out to be a sketchy dinner ended up being one of the best Chinese food experiences I've had in a long time!! I was not expecting to be writing this positive review when the evening first began... But I'll defiantly go back..as long as I can be seated in the bar area!! Oh!! The egg foo yung and other dishes were all excellent as well,very happy when it came time to pay as it also isn't pricy!

Gail P.

Very disappointed with this restaurant. Hostess acted like she was doing us a favor to seat us in the empty restaurant-too busy texting. Food was so, so, but the place could really use a good cleaning. Women's restroom enough to make you sick. Needs a good update, cleaning and professional help.

Elsya W.

DrinkSpecials and Fried shrimp are good that's all I can approve of... Will return

Tyler C.

I love coming here! How I found the place? Went through a phase where I would go out in Chinatown but would get bored (read drunk) by 11:30 so I would walk home & stop in here for chicken fried rice. It is the bomb drunk food... And surprisingly pretty decent sober. There aren't many places in portland where 4 people can eat for under $30. Get the general tao's, beef w broccoli & potstickers (delish) and you will all leave full! Plus great tea! If you walk by other Chinese restaurants in the area they are all dead while Republic is packed. There is a reason!

John R.

Super tasty. The 4 items we got were all outstanding. Service was great and friendly. 8pm on a Friday night - happy faces. I loved the atmosphere and style and the location is pure city. No problems - enjoyable evening. So much heart and soul in this place - leave the burbs and come in to Republic... Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

Albert G.

Not because the food rates as higher quality Chinese food goes, this little Asian dive DOES aim to please from lunch to late, late night grub. Food is both reasonably priced, almost a steal for any of the combo plates (I love the super special 3 combo) for sheer size and quantity alone! I usually drag friends in to share a meal with me. The duck and roasted asparagus are great, albeit greasy spoon favorites. Also recommended, try the pork chop suey, egg foo young, and breaded eggplant in sweet sauce. SERIOUSLY. If downtown and needing a fast, delicious quick bite, hit the bar and they'll take great care of you... and serve a mean drink in the process. A great in-between meal stop for the late night bends and hungry kids looking for a greasy, heartwarming meal.

K B.

I would give this place minus stars if I could. Do NOT go here unless you want to be disappointed and treated rudely. We've been here twice... first time was not very good but, the other night, it was late (10pm), not many options available and we thought we'd give them another chance. To start with, the soup tasted off... kinda like wet dog. The food was ridiculously greasy and bland. One person ordered the short ribs and that too was bland, slimy, and tasted like the meat was old. We told the waitress there was something wrong with it and she said "You ordered, not my fault you don't like". We replied, "but, it tastes like bad meat". Her reply again "not my fault, you ordered, can't take back". Another person ordered the Sesame chicken which was also very bland, greasy and no sauce. Someone else had Orange chicken and the flavor was ok but frighteningly greasy. The place looks dirty and we sent one unused soup bowl back because it still had residue in it from a previous use. The health department should seriously check this place out. Also, they have a bar and although it was not visible from the dining room, it could be heard. People were yelling very crude obscenities and threats at each other. We had children with us and it was extremely inappropriate to hear that in a family dining area. We're not conservative but it was still disturbing. We've also eaten at the restaurant next door (different establishment) and even though it is not stellar, it is a much better choice. Strongly recommend you avoid The Republic Cafe! Better to go hungry or to McDonalds (and I'm not a fan of either).

kelly s.

Hilarious, what can I say about this joint. Food is cheap, drinks are cheap, ambiance is hilarious. I had wonton soup and crab puffs of course. The wonton was actually pretty good, and a huge heaping bowl. The crab puffs were mediocre. But the bar ambiance was a perfect divey chinese 10 pointer. I don't even have the time to summate how hilarious my experience was, but in short it included the following; -a lady who walked in off the street at early afternoon, and after acting sober enough to order a drink, passed out on the bar minutes later (bartender acted appropriately and recinded the cocktail, and cut her off with offers to get her home safely) -a cowboy with feather in hat talking to the passed out lady next to him about how he was an amazing prospector in alaska making up to 50 grand in 11 days (apparently that was the only time he made any money, as he discussed in length how expensive the Greyhound bus was) -two elderly ladies next to me who were disappointed to see the new bartender, as I later was informed by them, because they'd been hoping to meet up with the other bartender for some weed. so you see, republic may or may not have good food, who knows, but this seems to be a standard sort of hijinks for this place, come for the hilarious, stay if your plate is edible, lol

T N.

Tasteless CRAP. But for those who like more detail I will say more. While visiting Portland we went out in search for dinner. The original restaurant we were planning to go to was closed probably because it was Easter Sunday. We somehow ended up in Chinatown and parked on some random street. We came across Republic Cafe, saw a few customers and decided to go in there. We were greeted by a young man dressed like a typical college student and with very little passion or personality, let alone a greeting, led us to a booth. The decor was beyond cheesy and uncared for. We decided to share an appetizer and main dish. We had the Assorted Tidbits (fried shrimp, crab puffs, bbq pork, and egg rolls) and the Super Combo (pork fried rice, pork chow mein, chinese style, and sesame chicken.) Our appetizer came and I was immediately turned off. By that point I was starving and didn't care. Normally when you're starving you'll eat anything right? The food was so bad I couldn't barely eat it! The crab puffs were way too creamy. After two bites I was done. The bbq pork looked unappetizing and barely even resembled bbq pork. The egg rolls were mushy and had some sort of flavor but not enough to make it worth it. The fried shrimp was probably the best out of all the appetizer choices and that's saying a lot. Our combo soon came and once again I was turned off. First of all the pork fried rice felt more like "pork" fried rice because you could barely see any pork in it. The "pork" chow mein didn't even have pork and it looked to have ramen noodles for the mein noodles. The sesame chicken was all fried up and looked more like sweet and sour chicken, minus the sweet and sour. As bland as the rice, chicken, and chow mein was I swallowed enough so my stomach wasn't growling and then I was done. It appears that after being there for 87 years they have not taken care to keep up whatever it was that kept them there for so long. Having grown up and still living in the San Francisco Bay Area I've had my share of excellent and bad Chinese food and the food here was beyond BAD. I don't know if it's because they just don't care or because their customer demogrpahic tends to be non-Asians so the mentality is that the customers wouldn't know any better. Either way it's tasteless crap and I would've rather spent $40 on room service than the $20 I spent there.

Min T.

While wandering around Chinatown, I decided the authentic experience in this cheesy Hollywood-set seeming area was to grab a drink. It looked appropriatedly divey and scummy. Huh, how is a scotch & water and a mai tai $15.50? Plus the receipt had a tip guide. I hate that. The bartender did tell me they're known for Long Island Iced Teas but it wasn't even 5 p.m. yet and I didn't feel like one. My mai tai was okay, not exactly traditional and the only garnish was one lonely maraschino cherry. For prices like these, I expected a whole fucking pineapple. Oh well, it was still kind of fun to duck into this place for 20 minutes.

Ajia T.

I've been here a few times, mostly for late night munchies with friends. It's not a place you go to have exceptional Peking duck or Mandarin BBQ dinner. Do not expect to be impressed here, or to impress the people with you. Rather, this is the type of Chinese joint you hit up when you need decent, hot, traditional fare for a reasonable price. I've had better Chinese food, but I've certainly had worse. Pros: Decent and usually friendly service; great menu selection; strong, cheap drinks; fresh veggies; delicious shrimp; excellent General Tsao's chicken. Cons: Divey, dirty (DO NOT use the bathroom, it may be the most disgusting one in town), service can be slow.

David B.

Truly awful food. I wanted to have a Chinese dinner for my birthday so we went to the republic. The server literally tossed us menus and went back to napkin folding. After 20 minutes, she returned to take our order. The food was obviously in steam tables as it came out in seconds. No lie, she was gone for 30 seconds. My beef and broccoli was a dramatic contrast in textures. The beef was mushy and the broccoli was raw. Completely uncooked. The sauce was a dull, glassy brown, and tasted more like brown gravy than anything else. My partner had disappointment 4 ways in the combination meal. It was like 3 ladles of runny stew of sorts and a very well done plain scrambled egg covered by a badly broken sauce the color of dried butterscotch pudding. We pushed both abominations away and said that we were done. To top it off, she asked if we wanted to take it to go. I'd be afraid of being arrested for posessing weaponised bio hazard. Then, after being told that it was awful, she brought us the check and said to come again. The place was good at one time, but sadly it's time has passed. There is no redeeming quality to this sorry excuse for a city icon. The Asian community should be insulted the republic is allowed to pass this hog swill off as tastefully prepared Asian cuisine. If there was any pride of ownership and product, it has long since rotted away. Absolutely ruined what was supposed to be a fun night out celebrating my birthday. If the owners had any sense of honor at all, they would close the doors and spare the city's unsuspecting visitors any further reason to look down on Portland.

City S.

I can't speak to the merits of Republic Cafe's food, but I can vouch for the Ming Lounge, the restaurant's adjoining, vibey and no-pretense bar. If you're in Old Town / Chinatown, and want an authentic lounge that hearkens back to an era when celebrity bar tenders and interior designers weren't creating the next "it" bar on a weekly basis, and where dim lighting and red hues make for a relaxed and loungey feel, this place is for you. It's seen better days, sure. And you're more likely to rub shoulders with someone on parole than you are a web developer or freelance writer or bike messenger. But that's more of the allure. This place is real. And while other bars try hard to recreate the best elements of old-time, dive-y establishments, this place does it with authenticity, no budget, and a collection of stiff drinks, cheap Chinese food, odd-ball characters stumbling in from skid row or the train station, and a friendly bar tender. These places are disappearing all across Portland. So dress down a little, leave the pretense at the door, and enjoy what's becoming a dying breed in Portland.

Melissa G.

Hands down the worst Chinese food I have ever eaten. Ever. Bland, gray, indistinguishable. Ordered chicken chow mein with a side of egg flower soup. Gross. The soup was a thick, gelatinous mass of "eh". The chow mein was comprised of bamboo shoots, mediocre chicken, and soggy celery, and that's about it. Zero flavor. Zero noodles. Zero appeal. Zero satisfaction. I'm visiting Portland, and will tell you that I expected MUCH more from a Chinese restaurant in china town. F**k me, right?

Terrence A.

Very bad customer service experience. The waitress spilled the drink on me and did not apologize and she made my drink wrong. Tried talking to management about this and all they did was shake their head like "yea yea yea"this waitress behavior is very inappropriate and very disrespectful. She should not be working in this establishment nor should she have a very sour attitude towards customers who has done her no wrong. The guest that I brought to this place was disrespected and I was embarrassed as well for her incompetence. Stay away from this dump.

Rick J.

I like the food. Available late night. Beware, not only do you get to deal with loud mouth abusive drunks throwing "F" bombs, but you get to deal with employees that are thieves. They charged my card four minutes after I left with a new and improved bill....that was nothing I ordered. Then I was alerted by my bank that someone tried to hack into my account. Lesson learned, never will go there again and will tell everyone about this!

Stuart R.

Hilariously, ecstatically rude service. First time, late at night, our server was receiving a communication direct from the Pope himself on her cell! Or at least it seemed so, because she was intensely occupied by a long and important call; from the time of our arrival, while taking our order, and as we left. Bless her heart. Second night out, and we're again looking for late night Chinese food. We wondered if the staff would have some time freed up. We walk in and up to the front desk where a woman is deeply enaged with a television program. Drat, we think, their obligations to foreign affairs aren't yet over. But just at that moment, our friendly waitress pops her head out from around a corner, locks eye contact with us for one tense second, and then just as quickly vanishes. She must have still been very occupied. The poor dear.

Jerry D.

Great classic Chinese joint. Fabulous service. Food is decent, drinks are very stiff. Decor should not be missed.

Braedie T.

A friend and I were doing a walking tour of Portland and we were STARVING so we stopped in here, it was awful. We ordered Mushroom Duck, Pork Fried Rice and Mandarin Chicken (it was NOT spicy like it was supposed to be). ALL of it was bland, no seasoning at all, the Mushroom Duck had a canned or bottled gravy it was smothered in. The Fried Rice was so bland, the Mandarin Chicken was OK, we could at least eat it, I kept waiting for the spice to kick in though. We ate just enough so we didn't feel like passing out from starvation and went a few blocks to another place and ordered a pizza. I will not be back and I do not recommend this place. Yuck.

Gail P.

Very disappointed with this restaurant. Hostess acted like she was doing us a favor to seat us in the empty restaurant-too busy texting. Food was so, so, but the place could really use a good cleaning. Women's restroom enough to make you sick. Needs a good update, cleaning and professional help.

Elsya W.

DrinkSpecials and Fried shrimp are good that's all I can approve of... Will return

Mark C.

The prices are good and the food was OK but the service was poor. They forgot that we ordered an appetizer and our server rarely checked back with us during the meal

Ace E.

The shrimp -the butterflied fried shrimp are the best I've ever had! They should know what they are doing since they've been around since before most all of us were born. I enjoy the atmosphere here. It's quiet and you feel like you've stepped into another world or time period. The food is great overall, and very affordable. I enjoy the green beans and the tofu dish here.

Jerry M.

Portland's Chinatown is pretty bleak and dead these days because the "actual" Chinatown is now out on SE 82nd Avenue. I will still occasionally brave the bleakness there to get a fill-up of some good Americanized Chinese food at Republic Cafe. It has become a tradition for me to eat there because I've been going there off and on since my college days in the late 60's. Back then, it was one of the very few places in town that stayed open late at night, so it sort of "ruled" by default. Nobody is going to call it a trendy or fancy place, but the food can be really tasty. . .depending on what you order. At many Chinese restaurants, some of the entrees that are also offered on their combination plates may not be freshly made because they're likely to be kept warm and ready on the steam table. So, I always order items that I know have to be prepared fresh. One of my favorite dishes at the Republic is asparagus with chicken in black bean sauce. It's stir fried just right so the asparagus has the proper crispness, the chicken is thinly sliced white meat, and I have always loved black bean sauce. Beef tomato chow mein with pan fried noodles is another favorite (but you have to BE SURE to order it with pan fried noodles which costs a little extra). That way, they stir fry the noodles together with the other ingredients instead of just heaping it on top of the more common crispy noodles. Also, the tea and the rice is free. So, if you don't mind their "lack of coolness" (and the panhandlers in the neighborhood), it's a place to go for tasty food and large portions.

Matt H.

It's a shame that Portland's Chinatown doesn't have many good Chinese restaurants. After a disastrous visit to House of Louie a few years ago, I decided to brave this place. It's as filthy and dingy inside as it looks from the outside. I had one of those build-your-own lunch specials. While technically my plate had egg foo young, sweet & sour chicken, and an egg roll on it, it was more of pile A, B, & C situation. The colors & textures may vary slightly, but everything tastes like salt and grease. Caught a glimpse of the kitchen as I was paying...eep. Looks like something Jack Burton crawled through on his way to take out Lo Pan. Do yourself a favor and drive out to Wong's King for dim sum. Let American Chinese food die.

Jason F.

Not terrible. The hot and sour soup was okay but disappointing - it was neither hot nor sour. I'll give them another try for a larger meal but so far I'm inclined to go next door to Golden Horse.

Tamara C.

Are you feeling adventurous? Not scared to venture into Old Town / Chinatown at night and grab some greasy Chinese food in a dive bar? Make no mistake, it is a dive bar. God bless them for doing the Lord's work which is serving up pre-drinking (post-drinking) food to some of the most superb and random groupings of folks you would expect to see in one place. The chicken chow mein was freaking huge. Even with the assistance Oscar B., between the two of us, we barely could put a dent in that dish even though we both found it to be fantastic. Tender chicken, firm and flavorful veggies, we left stuffed. Our server, she had her own charming style. Some creeper slithered in and tried to "get up on her". She threw his ass out the door with a quickness that I could only marvel at. I think I have a girl crush on her. Go on now, get your chow on at Republic. 2015 - Review # 35

John S.

When I think Republic Cafe, my mind see's Ming Lounge. The only place to hang out at The Republic is the lounge. Great service from either of the two bar tenders, good late night food; and it's located near the clubs. It's a place to get strong drink and is generally never crowded. My favorites include Orange Juice Chicken and the Singapore Noodles. I once witnessed a woman ignore the menu in her hands and ask the bartender for an all white chicken, gluten, and MSG free dinner suggestion. The bartender was able to keep her cool while the drunk out-of-towner slowly came to the realization that she was no longer in California. She then asked if my Orange Juice Chicken was gluten free. No gurl, it's time for you to leave.

Tammey Z.

What the hell happened to this place? It has always been a bit of dive which is why I loved it but now it is just neglected, dirty and sad! The food used to be good, but it was so awful after a few bites we paid our bill and left. We were the only people in there on a Sunday afternoon which seemed odd but now I know why.

Sunil S.

Great food and hear prices. The apps were crispy and warm inside. The soup was a great starter. The combo meal was an amazing price with a huge amount of food. The sweet and sour chicken was very crispy and light. Food came out quick and we got our bill in no time.

John E.

I gave it 3 stars but it deserves 2, I added one for great memories. "Back in the day" 60s, 70s and part of the 80s it deserved at least 4 it arguably was the best in town. It definitely went downhill after it was sold in the 80s.

Nicole C.

Do not eat here!!! This is my second time dining here. The first time was unpleasant, and the second time was awful. The first time I ordered a full meal.... not good. This time ( I'm currently sitting here waiting for my family to finish), I ordered an appetizer which came out burnt. I complained and she said that's how potstickers come. Nooooooo they do NOT!!! Bad food Bad customer service!

Terrence A.

The waitress was very RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL, she treated us as if we done something personal to her, in which we were very polite and nice but was still treated as trash. She works in the bar area, she wouldn't tell us her, and said she wouldn't give two @$!#/, if we complained or not. The drinks she mad was horrible and the customer service was at its all time low. She made this expirence awfull.

Mark S.

I've loved this place for the past 15 years!!! Same servers and food since day one! If you're looking for traditional 'true' Chinese food-this place isn't for you. It's VERY 'Americanized'! This place has been around forever and if you're not hungry then stop in the bar and have a drink at the oldest bar in Portland. I order the same thing everytime I eat here: -Super Special Combo (Sweet & Sour Chicken, Chow Mein, Fried Rice, & Egg Foo Young) & a Lg. bowl of Soup!

John R.

Super tasty. The 4 items we got were all outstanding. Service was great and friendly. 8pm on a Friday night - happy faces. I loved the atmosphere and style and the location is pure city. No problems - enjoyable evening. So much heart and soul in this place - leave the burbs and come in to Republic... Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

Albert G.

Not because the food rates as higher quality Chinese food goes, this little Asian dive DOES aim to please from lunch to late, late night grub. Food is both reasonably priced, almost a steal for any of the combo plates (I love the super special 3 combo) for sheer size and quantity alone! I usually drag friends in to share a meal with me. The duck and roasted asparagus are great, albeit greasy spoon favorites. Also recommended, try the pork chop suey, egg foo young, and breaded eggplant in sweet sauce. SERIOUSLY. If downtown and needing a fast, delicious quick bite, hit the bar and they'll take great care of you... and serve a mean drink in the process. A great in-between meal stop for the late night bends and hungry kids looking for a greasy, heartwarming meal.

Thomas W.

Have you ever been to an Americanized Chinese restaurant? Well, chances are pretty good that, if you're reading this, you have a pulse, which means that you have... ...which means that you have eaten here before, even if you have never even visited the Republic before...hell, even if you have never even set foot in the Pacific Northwest. It's just that basic. Sweet and Sour what-not? Check. Flavorless white sauce with chicken? Double check. Plentiful, somewhat dry fried rice? You betcha. The end result is a satisfied stomach, but really, there's nothing here that you haven't had anywhere else. It made for a fun Christmas Eve dinner-dealy with the fam, so that's always a plus.

kathy m.

Well,after reading the reviews below knowing I was meeting my daughter and some friends there last night....I was somewhat prepared for indifferent service...but I believe I have cracked the code for a good time at The Republic Cafe!!! Eat in the bar area!! I got to the restaurant first and after being made to feel that my presence was a pain in their asses....honestly..she was the most unwelcoming hostess I think I've ever encountered,,,I finally asked if I could go sit at a table and order a drink while I waited for my daughter and her friends.....she truly seemed irritated that I was causing all this trouble..I ordered my standard old fashion but asked for it to be served in a larger glass with more soda ( I can't handle my booze like I used to..but love my old fashions , and this way I can have a couple and not end up disgracing myself in some way...she brought me a large bucket glass with about two inches of bourbon ...no orange or anything remotely like a proper old fashioned...but no biggie...I asked for some extra soda and just then my daughter texted that they were sitting in the bar...so I went in there and WOW..what a completely different ambiance! While it was very bright and not attractive at all I the dining room, the bar was cozy and lit just right...a terrific bartender who when I told him what I wanted to drink, made me exactly and perfectly a lovely old fashion! My mood was immediately much happier....I wasn't expecting much from the food..but I love good basic Chinese /American food....and we ordered a variety of appetizers and plates to share! WHAT a surprise!!Their fried shrimp was AMAZING!!!! I have usually had those weird " fried shrimp" that are way too heavily battered and have that funny round shape...I know everyone knows what I mean.....these were big beautifully butterflied and very lightly battered in a delicate lovely light crunch and the shrimp were cooked perfectly! I don't usually rhapsodize about fried rice..but this too was exceptional!!we got the " house" version which had lots of nice big shrimp as well as all the other goodies....I realize that I'm going on and on...but to have the evening begin with such low expectations and end on such a high note was a delight..I'm sorry that I can not remember the bartenders name because he was also our server ..and because of him..as well as the really good food , made what started out to be a sketchy dinner ended up being one of the best Chinese food experiences I've had in a long time!! I was not expecting to be writing this positive review when the evening first began... But I'll defiantly go back..as long as I can be seated in the bar area!! Oh!! The egg foo yung and other dishes were all excellent as well,very happy when it came time to pay as it also isn't pricy!

Steve K.

I've been reading the other reviews here for the Republic Cafe and I'm happy to report that I've never had a bad experience! I've been a patron for over 20 years and the classic American-Chinese food has never disappointed me. It's inexpensive and the portions are generous. The service has always been good and those who grouse about the locale and the clientele don't seem to appreciate that that's part of the experience of dining here. If you want someplace a little more elegant, perhaps try the August Moon on trendy NW 23rd avenue. I love the Republic Cafe, it's my favorite place for Chinese food downtown!

Jenni L.

This is bar-none my favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. It's so good I almost feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot by telling everyone. It's easily found right in Portland's Chinatown (one of the last places on earth I want to park my car at night) and a complete gem. Don't let the dodgy area or mutitude of massage parlors deter you from trying this place. Ignore the police sirens down the street, take two breaths and prepare to be dazzled. Once inside, the restaurant itself is really interesting and pretty. Make sure to check out the really cool gold walls in some of the dining rooms. It is a perfect place to go on a date or just with friends; I make sure to make a visit atleast once a month. Absolutely fantastic food. Everything I have ever tried has been beyond amazing and way more than a few people can ever eat. Can you say leftovers? I know it sounds weird but the best thing on the menu has to be the Cauliflower Chicken. It's served in a light cream sauce and completely mouthwatering over rice. We always go in a group of 4-6, which is easily accomodated at this restaurant, and share everything family style. The staff is friendly and the food arrives quickly. If you tip well the staff will remember you and your meal will be supplemented by extra great service.

Linda C.

We went back here recently for a long island ice tea before a show at the Roseland. It was a different bartender and perhaps that's why the drink wasn't as strong as it was before. It tasted watered down. We hardly ever venture downtown for the nightlife anymore and when we do, not sure if we'll make a pitstop here again. Maybe.

Jamie C.

Finding quality Chinese food is hard to find. The Republic Cafe's food is good! I've been here quite a few times and feel like I know what's good. Their Orange Chicken is good--but surprisingly Panda Express' is better. The best thing I've had on their menu was the Sweet and Sour Shrimp. This is heavenly. Lightly breaded, perfectly crunchy, great sauce. Make it even better by adding pineapple! Pros: Their portions are huge and they have good prices for good food. Cons: The area outside is kinda dingy and the interior is dark and old. The staff doesn't speak very good English and they don't split checks (or at least that's what a sign said). However, the worst con is THE BATHROOM. It's honestly hilarious. Old saloon style doors barley hide and old beat up toilet but that's not the worst of it. Both side stall walls are full mirrors--in case you like watching yourself do your business. I'm sure many a guest has taken a picture of this memorable "rest"-room. Anyway, come for the great sweet and sour shrimp but skip the bathroom.

Tyler C.

I love coming here! How I found the place? Went through a phase where I would go out in Chinatown but would get bored (read drunk) by 11:30 so I would walk home & stop in here for chicken fried rice. It is the bomb drunk food... And surprisingly pretty decent sober. There aren't many places in portland where 4 people can eat for under $30. Get the general tao's, beef w broccoli & potstickers (delish) and you will all leave full! Plus great tea! If you walk by other Chinese restaurants in the area they are all dead while Republic is packed. There is a reason!

Alexandra E.

My favorite bar in Portland! Drinks are cheap and strong served by a super cool lady! Food is typical Americanized Chinese, but is still good. I would definitely recommend coming here for some late night fun.

Holy-foo' X.

Like Ray Liotta said in "GoodFellas", this was "some real grease-ball sh*t." So I was taking a much-needed siesta from many hours hard at it over @ Ground Kontrol, and was seriously jonesing for some salt'n'peppa Squid. This would have been my go-to "litmus test" dish for Asian eateries all these years, but few places indeed even offer S/P squid. So I instead use Shrimp-Fried Rice as my gold standard, and get down on the S/P squid where I can. Imagine my dismay, it being not quite midnight, that right there in Chinatown, to learn that there was only one place open so late---The Republic. What's more, they didn't do Salt-n-Pepper squid, though they do offer S/P shrimp. Fine fine fine, I told the lady on the phone, make up a large order of that, and a side of shrimp-fried rice, and I'll be there in a few minutes. They had the goodies all neatly bagged up and stapled (!) when I got there shortly thereafter. A word about the building and the ambiance..... this place has some eerie similarities to the Old Wishing Well in No Po--think innumerable cozy red leather booths---especially before the forward thinking but anachronistic and highly regrettable ghetto fabulous interior remodel to enlarge the dancing space, etc over at the Well. Fortunately, the big Vegas-like neon signs outside both buildings still remain (thank GOD) and are undeniably of a very similar style and era. Thank goodness the folks at the Republic had the good/poor taste and supreme cheapness to avoid the El Cheapo deluxe remodel! Back to the food. The S/P squid was delicious. Very greasy, but once I caught a sniff of the afore-mentioned Wishing-Well vibe, I knew exactly what to expect. There were also a good amount of very salt-and-peppery onions and green peppers in the mix. Score! The shrimp fried rice, however, *cue horrendous car braking and crashing sound effects* good lordigans, wtf happened??? Not only was the rice drenched in grease, but the shrimp---those beautiful, succulent, jumbo shrimp defining the S/P shrimp basket were nowhere to be found in this rice. Instead, there were tiny pink blobs dotted sporadically throughout the rice--- maybe they were shrimp phoetuses? Shrimp zygotes, perchance? Yeah, probably not a good thing to take one look at your food and suddenly feel compelled to try to recall all the phases of cellular mitosis... The greeter lady waiting for me and my debit card was efficient and no-nonsense in her duties. What she lacked in overt friendliness she more than made up for in a stunning hip-to-waist ratio that would make Beyonce weep w/envy. Not something you see everyday in Asian women, fo sho'! Anyways, this little feast set me back more than 25 smackeroos, which seemed a little steep, to be honest. A couple take out boxes of "take your pick" @ The Wishing Well would have been at least ten dollars less. So. While The Republic scores big retro-fab style points, and makes a good enough Shrimp salt'n'pepper that I would go back for again, the prices and the mucho malo shrimp-fried-rice leaves this rating w/a couple inescapable bullet wounds. S'alright though--- old time joints like the Republic and the Wishing Well wear such wounds w/pride. Just like it was w/Tupac: the bullet wounds only makes their legend, and their 'cool' grow.....

Jim W.

It wasn't the best of time - nor was it the worst of times. Good prices, good quantify, and not bad tasting. You want to fill up and treat your friends? Good place to go - you'll have things to talk about. It's sad they don't put a bit of $$ into updating the decor, the cushions, etc. -but hey - that would translate into higher prices. I'm good as is - for what it is - and where it is.

JW R.

Not for the faint of stomach, Republic Cafe dishes the greasy, crunchy slathered-in-that-weird-red-sauce American Chinese food that's gonna land like a ton of calories in your gut. And I don't recall any signs about no MSG. I love it. The service is pretty good, too.

Roger M.

Worst Chinese food I've ever had. No, really. Granted, we went in about a half hour before closing, but this was just pathetic. The staff grunted and glared at us, signing as they wrote down our order. The people in the booth behind us were complaining that their order wasn't even remotely correct. After the waitress left, they told us not to expect our spring rolls to arrive. Sure enough, 15 minutes later, a completely incorrect order arrived, sans spring rolls as predicted, and they quickly ushered us out the door before we could get it corrected. We tried to mask the foul food with various sauces and whatnot, to no avail. Even the cats didn't want it. Basically cold MSG-laden rubber in a box. Only reason I didn't give it 1 star is because the interior was nice and we didn't find any bugs in the food. I can only hope this place is better during the day.

Jason S.

This place is, like a few other people have reviewed, straight out of a 1940's movie. The decor is so over the top cheesy, and it's always really dark inside. The men's room is cold and I have a feeling, was once a storage room. The food is what you'd expect. Middle of the road American-Chinese. The tofu soup is good, and so are the fried rice dishes. However, my guy and I got an order of egg rolls. We referred to them as "Deep-fried schlongs". Avoid them. The outer layer of them looks more like a donut that an egg roll. After reading some other reviews, I want to go sit in the bar next time I order from this place. If you're a total foodie, or a picky eater, don't bother. If you're in the mood for average Chinese take-out, give this place a try. It goes down well with beer and a movie. This is Chinatown. I live in the neighborhood. There are lots of homeless, gay bars, drag queens, dive bars and dive strip clubs. Republic Cafe fits right in.

Whitney C.

The service was decent, the atmosphere was okay. the shrimp with lobster sauce was good, although there were little itsy bitsy pieces of (chicken??) in it which weren't really in the description...kind of sketch. The thing that ruined the entire experience was the MOST NAUSEATING DUCK I HAVE EVER TASTED IN MY LIFE. We ordered the mushroom duck, which we thought would be half a duck, or a duck breast. But instead it was duck that was ground up into a paste in a food processor, then formed into a pastey log, battered, and deep fried. It even had chunks of bone in it. It was so gross. It made my stomach turn. I do not want to know what goes on in that kitchen. Skip this one.

T N.

Alex F.

JW R.

Roger M.

Ray V.

Ira G.

Brian D.

Aaron P.

Steve K.

Thomas W.

Alexandra E.

J. D.

Maria G.

David W.

Olivia T.

Mac M.

K B.

I would give this place minus stars if I could. Do NOT go here unless you want to be disappointed and treated rudely. We've been here twice... first time was not very good but, the other night, it was late (10pm), not many options available and we thought we'd give them another chance. To start with, the soup tasted off... kinda like wet dog. The food was ridiculously greasy and bland. One person ordered the short ribs and that too was bland, slimy, and tasted like the meat was old. We told the waitress there was something wrong with it and she said "You ordered, not my fault you don't like". We replied, "but, it tastes like bad meat". Her reply again "not my fault, you ordered, can't take back". Another person ordered the Sesame chicken which was also very bland, greasy and no sauce. Someone else had Orange chicken and the flavor was ok but frighteningly greasy. The place looks dirty and we sent one unused soup bowl back because it still had residue in it from a previous use. The health department should seriously check this place out. Also, they have a bar and although it was not visible from the dining room, it could be heard. People were yelling very crude obscenities and threats at each other. We had children with us and it was extremely inappropriate to hear that in a family dining area. We're not conservative but it was still disturbing. We've also eaten at the restaurant next door (different establishment) and even though it is not stellar, it is a much better choice. Strongly recommend you avoid The Republic Cafe! Better to go hungry or to McDonalds (and I'm not a fan of either).

Alex B.

If you are looking for low-quality, high-quantity Chinese food in Portland's Chinatown, look no further. But if you're looking for anything else (quality food, overall satisfactory dining experience, the expectation that you won't spend all of tomorrow on the toilet), you should probably look elsewhere. I've only been here once, so I don't claim to be any sort of expert. But the experience was bad enough that I have no interest in ever coming back. Service was sporadic, food was salty and processed, and there was just generally nothing special about it. I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

Michael C.

I love this place! Definitely an old school Chinese restaurant. The decor shows age but its the ambiance and part of the charm. We were there Christmas eve, our second such rendezvous. The place was bustling. It does take some patience and I did bypass the dining room staff and ordered cocktails directly from the bartender. Eric, the bartender was spot on, cocktails were delish and it was smooth sailing from there. Once our order was turned in the food came within a completely reasonable amount of time. It was great. Perhaps there are more authentic Chinese restaurants, like the place next door, but for good old fashioned Chinese food, a place where you can get Egg Foo Young, a place that has cocktails and the florescent lights won't cause temporary blindness, this place rocks! Can't wait to go back.

Tammy B.

Been going here for 50 years. My mom since 1950. You have to know what and how to order to get what's good. Of course they have gone thru many cooks over the years, but use the same recipes. Shrimp foo young, fried shrimp and egg rolls are a must. Family favorites are beef broccoli or peapods extra garlic, beef noodles extra gravy, garlic and peapods, cauliflower chicken extra garlic, mushroom duck and say and air spareribs. They are not very meaty, but love the brown sauce! Atmosphere is dingy and sometimes wait staff rude, but good food if you order right.

Savannah Veronica J.

Things have continued to go downhill. I brought a group of 9 people here yesterday and the customer service was awful. They confirmed orders multiple times but still got things wrong, there were flies everywhere, we were never checked in on (In fact we had to go find them to bring water, refills and take empty plates). Sadly I won't be back, its no longer the quality and customer service it used to be years ago-

Linda M.

I've gone in the Republic twice in the past two years. Each time it was nearly empty and the food was horrible. The only reason I gave it two stars is because the staff was very friendly and the funky ambiance was fun. Other than that I"ll not go back again.

kelly s.

Hilarious, what can I say about this joint. Food is cheap, drinks are cheap, ambiance is hilarious. I had wonton soup and crab puffs of course. The wonton was actually pretty good, and a huge heaping bowl. The crab puffs were mediocre. But the bar ambiance was a perfect divey chinese 10 pointer. I don't even have the time to summate how hilarious my experience was, but in short it included the following; -a lady who walked in off the street at early afternoon, and after acting sober enough to order a drink, passed out on the bar minutes later (bartender acted appropriately and recinded the cocktail, and cut her off with offers to get her home safely) -a cowboy with feather in hat talking to the passed out lady next to him about how he was an amazing prospector in alaska making up to 50 grand in 11 days (apparently that was the only time he made any money, as he discussed in length how expensive the Greyhound bus was) -two elderly ladies next to me who were disappointed to see the new bartender, as I later was informed by them, because they'd been hoping to meet up with the other bartender for some weed. so you see, republic may or may not have good food, who knows, but this seems to be a standard sort of hijinks for this place, come for the hilarious, stay if your plate is edible, lol

Alex F.

YUCK! greasy food, but the service is the very worst. Staff are rude, stupid, and have absolutely no clue about service. NO WAY!!!

Ray V.

Working evenings I've been on a search for late chinese. I haven't cared if it's "authentic" or which zone it's from. I just wanted good, quality, tasty, and not likely to kill me in the next 15 minutes. In other words basic americanized chinese fast food. And I have found my shangri la! Most nights Republic Cafe is still cooking till midnight. Which means I can get off work in Hillsboro zip down town grab my order and get home to enjoy while it's still hot. 1st qualification met! Since discovering this little gem, in no particular order we've had the sweet n sour spareribs (a little too sweet), fried rice (kinda bland), egg foo yong (best I've had since my fave place for this closed),spring rolls (crisp, fresh, inexpensive), ABC salad (not salad but yummy), mar far chicken, flyboys, fried wontons, shrimp with peapods (delightful), egg flower soup, and creamed cauliflower chicken (tasty). 2nd qualification met! Everything has been good even if not always to personal likes. All has been made with quality ingredients (no question about whether it should've been dumped instead of used), and tasty! Also since I'm writing this, nothing I've eaten from Republic Cafe has killed me yet, though I plan on giving them many more times to try. As most of downtown Portland around burnside can be considered less then desirable for a neighborhood this area of "chinatown" is no different. My biggest problem though has been parking, and on a weekend parking lots that don't post price and then charge you $8 flat fee to go eat. You know who you are! Anyway, this gem that has been here for eons is worth the trip just for the food. The side show the customers put on is just dinner theater anywhere else would charge you for. Hmm, getting hungry perhaps next I'll try the mushroom duck or the kung pao shrimp. So many choices!

Ira G.

If you can find another place in America that can meet or beat their Fried Shrimp I'll fly their tomorrow!

Brian D.

99% of the time great food! Great pineapple duck. That is the main attraction for me. Been going since I was a toddler along with Kwan yings kitchen. Same decor since I was a kid. I would highly recommend thus place!!

Mac M.

We went here after the Davis St. event to fill up the rest of our hungry stomachs, and I for one was not disappointed. Cheap and savory - not usually two words that go together, but in this case it describes the Ma Po Tofu I got there. MMMMMM yeah...I couldn't have been happier after all the cocktails from Davis St. Add to that the seedy ambiance of an old town Chinese restaurant, and you have a winner that is guaranteed to satisfy your Chinese food cravings. I will be returning, and next time I won't be drunk....maybe...

HOWIE B.

Classic old school Chinatown restaurant. Standard food, stiff drinks, rundown decor, mildly grumpy staff. Really good garlic stringbeans - greasy and flavorful. What's not to like?

J.R. S.

I have been going to this restaurant for over 45 years and I truly believe that it has THE BEST fried shrimp on the planet. They butterfly the shrimp, use the best egg batter and deep fry to a golden brown. The prices are reasonable, the service fantastic, and the atmosphere is OK. I highly recommend this restaurant for a good meal. J.R.

Jaime L.

Really good food, fair pricing, but like most chinese restaurants kinda scared to look in the kitchen. Succulent fried rice, excellent sweet and sour chicken, and awesome bbq pork. Makes great leftovers as there is always more than generous portions.

Richard L.

Great location! Cheap drinks! And ridiculously delicious fried shrimp. 5 stars!

Aaron P.

The lady was very rude, when I asked her simple questions about the menu, she was very condescending. The food tasted like crap. I ordered chow mein noodles and they gave me a box full of meat and veggies.... no noodles! Instead they included it with a bag of dry croutons, I was like "are you kidding me?!" If you're looking for Chinese late at night, then sure go to this place because there's no where else. But be prepared for some rudeness.

Neeva D.

Two words: Shrimp rolls. Shrimp rolls Shrimp rolls Shrimp rolls. I love love love them! Deliciously crunchy and amazingly tasty. The noodles are greasy, and the General Tsao's is crunchy and covered in a gooey sauce. Purely American Chinese food, and doesn't pretend to be anything but. I would never suggest The Republic to ANYONE, but I will go, order my shrimp rolls and General Tsao's and hide in a dark, dark corner enjoying every minute and every morsel.

J. D.

First time there, and the food was first-rate Americ-Asian. My wife had the kung pao shrimp; although NOT spicy as the menu promised, it was succulent and in a delicious sauce with perfectly done vegetables. I had the sirloin medallions with snow peas, onion, and baby corns in their tangy steak sauce... which was three times more delicious than the menu led one to believe. The sauce was great, the vegetables were perfectly cooked, and the steak was tender and delicious. There weren't actually "medallions," but it was a nice-sized portion of 3/4 inch cubes of sirloin which were perfect. We got the two spring rolls appetizer also, and it was lightly fried and flaky, and the cabbage inside was still fresh and crunchy, not greasy and chewy like you'd usually expect. The food was perfect. That said, the food is the reason this place is still open. The decor is cute, dark, and intimate, which I liked. However, the water stains in the wallpaper were a little old and weird. The service was lukewarm but nice enough. The only thing that really kept me from giving the fifth star, though, was the restroom. If you have to take a crap, pray you've done so before you went to the Republic. Dingy, fairly unclean, and in a state of moderate disrepair, the restrooms here are on par with some of the wonderful punk bars I used to go to in Southern California... just a step better than the basement bars in Tijuana. My wife was unhappy to confirm the lockless saloon door on the ladies' room stall, as well. But I suppose you shouldn't shit where you eat, anyway. Overall, it was a four star dining experience. Just stay out of the can.

Maria G.

I went there today with a friend in the early afternoon. Food is good. The service is very fast and the staff is friendly.

David W.

Forget the blah Republic Cafe tables up front and retreat to the Ming Lounge under the cover of extreme darkness. I discovered this place by happy accident. This was just the faded, out-of-date ambiance that I needed to enjoy my first night in Portland. This is where the Glengarry Glenn Ross spirits (and spirits) are evoked!! Terrific service from the caucasian barman. Don't even think about sitting in the generic main restaurant. Favorite Dish: Anything liquid. Try the tasty "combination dinners" (sour spare ribs a must). Very generous portions.

Sev K.

Nothing special, good price. We went here for dinner and it was your a-typical Amercian Chinese food. Although there was nothing impressive about this place there was nothing bad about it either. The service was normal and the food tasted the same. We had fried Mushroom appetizer and 2 dinner specials where you pick 3 items and after tip it came to $25 bucks so not to bad on the price. The portions are not huge though so dont expect to have a lot of leftovers.. though maybe I was just super hungry. I would recommend this place but do NOT go out of your way to come to this average semi-dive Chinese restaurant.

Olivia T.

We are the people of Republic Cafe who aren't afraid of food with possibility of MSG in it. We love cheap Chinese food, like $6.50 cheap. With $6.50, we enjoyed a combo of pork fried rice with sweet and sour short ribs and egg foo yung. We like the rusty and old interior of the Republic Cafe. The women bathroom stall has a swing door for the stall that only about four feet tall, it made it easy for other people to spy on the business that we do in there. We like the service until we need to make a payment. The cashier lady seemed to be confused with the way we split our credit cards and cash, even tho we wrote down whose cards and which amount that supposed to go in that card. She clearly shown how "thrilled" she was with the whole process. We will come back here when we are starving again and want something greasy, fast, and to absorb alcohol that we will consume at future events around Chinatown. Just give us those greasy fried stuff and we are good.

Bill E.

I was hungry at 11PM on a Sunday night and knew I'd probably find something in Chinatown that was open (thank GOD for cities that have a Chinatown!) Anyways, I'd driven past this place many times, though I'd never stopped... it seemed as good as anything. Did I mention I was hungry? Good. The bar was jumpin', the restaurant was almost empty, except for the three hot sisters in the corner table. I went basic, because it's a basic Chinese/American menu. The food was fine, (Kung Pao shrimp) the service was indifferent and void of any personality whatsoever. A smile, a grin, even a hello or goodnight would have been nice. No dice. Whatever...

Lindsey K.

A surreal dining experience at best...It was slightly forbidding, dark, and just a little Stanley Kubrick-esque. At 5pm. No? Just me? Fair enough. Really, the only reason I'm writing this is to talk about the people who came and sat behind me in a booth. An older douche-y guy, a youngish guy, and a strung-out blonde. My only question: What were they on?? The older guy loudly proclaimed this was "the best Chinese food in Portland", "this rice is incredibly smoky", and repeatedly talked about what a "sensual experience" he was having. I wish I was on what this guy was, because he was having the best meal of his life. I, on the other hand, was not. I ordered the Super Special Combination ($7.95). Sounds like it should be super, or at least special. It was neither. The chicken was dry and tough, the shoots were slimy, and everything was bland bland bland. My friend got the I Love Veggie plate ($6.95) and that was basically a gray salty sauce spooned over tepid veggies. I'm getting a little queasy just thinking about it. The waitress also seriously disliked us, but laughed at the crackhead's jokes, which really hurt my feelings. I mean, I thought I was at least better than a drugged out dirty old man, but apparently not. I'm giving it one more star than it deserves because I feel the bar has potential at 1:30am on a Tuesday night. Don't ask me why, it's just a feeling.

James H.

Went to Portland on November 10th and immediately headed to my favorite Chinese restaurant.....and it was locked up! Has it closed????

Barbara D.

This is an ODD one. I am debating between 1 star and 4 stars. I usually do not have such a large range of irresolution about a place, but one of the other yelpers pinpointed it.....it was a "surreal" experience. First, the place is so dingy that I didn't want to take a look at the kitchen on my way to the hole they call a bathroom for fear of losing my dinner. However, I read that this is the OLDEST Chinese restaurant in China Town...true or not, I just kept thinking about that and looking at the velour upholstery and it made this place almost seem like something out of an old movie...one involving a brothel. Plus, the fact that an older couple was sitting in the corner almost tearing off their clothes and probably swishing around the same bite of food inbetween their tongues, made me wonder about this place. Second, the food was on the below average but OK side. I had the sweet n sour shrimp which was decent, the veggie fried rice which was average and the seafood platter which had good scallops but they were swimming in some sort of a gray sauce which was kind of nasty. I ate the scallops anyway. Now, here's the surreal part....I had a long island ice tea, and then another and another. They were delicious, strong and kept knocking me on my ass but somehow I kept on sucking them down and wanting another one. I had no idea that this place has good long islands, and I usually do not drink them, but somehow that is what popped into my mind and after a few I started asking the bartender for his "famous ice teas." We then moved over to the bar area and here is where the dilema of how many stars comes....the place is dump-like-cool with a casino in the back. The bartender was as slimy as the place which just added to the whole experience. I left feeling like I was in a dream and that this place doesn't really exist. Yeah, I'll be back....not for the food, but for a long island or 3.