Cantonese roast duck, soy sauce chicken, crispy pork belly and char siu will be served via takeout starting June 16 on NE Alberta.
Portland, Ore. (May 27, 2021) – YāYā is set to open on the bustling streets of NE Alberta Avenue on June 16, 2021. The restaurant, headed by partners, Steven Chin and Portland restaurateur Micah Camden will feature a limited menu of authentic Cantonese barbecue dishes and sides.
Tired of expensive and hard-to-find roast duck, Chin and Camden came up with the concept of YāYā together, offering guests authentic, accessible and affordable Cantonese barbeque dishes and sides in the heart of Portland. “Yā” meaning duck in Mandarin.
“I grew up in Queens, New York, and have fond memories of visiting my grandparent’s grocery store in Chinatown where the cooks prepared delicious Cantonese barbeque,” said YāYā partner, Steven Chin. “I look forward to introducing Portland to these incredible flavors and passing along my love and knowledge of Chinese cuisine through the dishes we prepare at YāYā.”
YāYā will source spices and other ingredients from China but the majority of its produce and ingredients will come from local farms, as well as, free-range chicken and duck from Mary’s Farm in California. The restaurant, located at 1451 NE Alberta Street, is situated in a building owned by HMS Development Partner and NFL all-pro defensive lineman, Ndamukong Suh, who is also a partner in the restaurant. The interior boasts a gorgeous mid-century modern-inspired lobby, spacious outdoor seating and a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen with large roasting ovens.
“Delicious Cantonese roast duck is not only hard to find in Portland, but it’s also ridiculously expensive,” said YāYā partner Micah Camden. “Steven and I came up with the idea of bringing Chinese barbeque to the Portland food scene that was both affordable and delicious, while still being true to its cultural roots.” The location also represents a full circle moment for Camden who’s first restaurant Yakuza, was located in the same neighborhood, “NE Alberta has always held a special place in my heart. I am excited to be back in the place where it all started!”
Besides its signature Cantonese roast duck, YāYā will serve soy sauce chicken, crispy pork belly, char siu (roast pork) and Impossible mapo tofu, along with authentic sides like wonton soup, garlic sesame greens, vegetable fried rice and vegetable spring rolls. For a full look at the menu, see here. YāYā is available for walk-up orders, take-out and delivery through apps like Caviar, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.
For images of Steven Chin’s inspiration, please see, here.
About YāYā
YāYā, (yā means “duck” in Mandarin) is a restaurant on the bustling streets of NE Alberta Avenue. The restaurant is headed by partners, Steven Chin and Portland restaurateur Micah Camden and supported by third partner, Ndamukong Suh. YāYā features a limited menu of authentic Chinese barbeque dishes and sides. Tired of expensive and hard-to-find roast duck, Chin and Camden created YāYā together and the hopes of offering guests nourishing, accessible and affordable Chinese barbeque dishes and sides in the heart of Portland. YāYā is available for walk-up orders, take out and delivery through apps like Caviar, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.