PDX Food Press

Tonari Opens for Takeaway Today

TONARI OPENS FOR TAKEAWAY ON JUNE 12

Ryan and Elena Roadhouse of Nodoguro open Tonari next door serving healthful Japanese teishoku-style lunch, dinner, beverages, and pantry staples

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 11 , 2020) – Tonari is a healthful Japanese jazz kissaten-inspired cafe in Portland, Oregon led by husband and wife team, Ryan and Elena Roadhouse, opening on June 12th. Tonari will be open Wednesday through Sunday 12 – 2:30 p.m. and 4 – 6:30 p.m. for teishoku-style lunch, dinner and is situated next door to sister restaurant Nodoguro at 2838 SE Belmont Street. Meaning next door in Japanese and inspired by the principle “Happiness in Living” Ryan and Elena Roadhouse will apply the same master craft attention to detail and style at Tonari as with their esteemed omakase restaurant Nodoguro. The healthful Japanese cafe will serve Japanese-style teishoku lunch and dinner sets including coffee and tofu smoothies in the afternoons. Inspired by the Blue Zone diet, especially the foods of Okinawa, Tonari will serve carefully sourced and crafted cuisine featuring naturally healthful ingredients and superfoods. Tonari will develop a community by hosting regular digital classes featuring guest experts in Japanese craft, cooking classes, talks, and other artful activities. The Tonari pantry will feature many of chef Roadhouse’s favorite Japanese cooking staples available for purchase, including seaweed, soy sauce, tonkatsu sauce, Proud Mary coffee, Japanese hand towels, Yuzu hydrosol, incense, and more.

Onigirazu wrap, photo credit John Valls
Tonari will offer grab-and-go Onigirazu seaweed wraps, with warm Sasanishiki rice, red vinegar, and Ariake seaweed, specially sourced for chef Roadhouse. Wraps will include a smoked trout with caper and cucumber, a “Futomaki” and an egg and ham play on the classic Egg McMuffin. Tonari will feature an elegant coffee and tea program, as well as healthful tofu smoothies. Ryan and Elena Roadhouse worked with Proud Mary Founder Nolan Hirte and Director of Coffee Matt Lounsbury to develop Tonari’s coffee program, featuring single-origin coffees, carefully sourced, roasted and prepared by Proud Mary. Tonari’s tea program will feature delicate Genmaicha teas sourced from the esteemed Yamamotoyama, a Japanese master tea maker dating back to 1690.
Teishoku-style lunch at Tonari, illustrated by @DrawnHungry
Teishoku-style is a meal set approach to lunch, popular in Japan. You can mix and match your sides with rotating proteins, the first of which will be black cod and Agedashi tofu. Sides will include a signature Korean-influenced seaweed salad, intricate Haiga black rice house blend or cooked-to-order cauliflower rice, shiraae salad, and kinpira vegetables. Tonari will also offer a variety of a la carte items including “tonguekatsu” sandwiches, saba caesar salad, miso soup, potato salad, and okara parfaits.
Tonari’s mascot Little Nashi, illustrated by @DrawnHungry
Introducing “Little Nashi” Tonari’s mascot inspired by the menu’s signature ham and egg Onigirazu. The character design is especially fitting as Onigirazu was originally created in the Japanese manga Cooking Papa. Little Nashi’s name comes from Japanese hospitality, known as omote nashi, meaning public face, image and nashi – nothing, no pretense. Together, omote nashi means warm service from the bottom of your heart every time.

MENU

Coffee 3.50
Proud Mary Brazil
Genmaicha Tea 3.50
Sugimoto Japan
Miso Soup  5
Organic Miso, Tofu, Seaweed, and Green Onions
Onigirazu  10
Warm Sasanishiki Rice, Red Vinegar, and Ariake Seaweed Wrap
Choice of:
Smoked Trout
Ham and Egg
 “Futomaki” (vegan)
Okara Parfait  9
Okara and Pumpkin Seed Granola, Sweet Tofu, Seasonal Fruit and Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam
Tofu Stamina Shake 8
Natural Protein Smoothie. Ota Tofu, Organic Miso, with Almond Milk, Flaxseed and Fruit
Saba Caesar 13
Smoked mackerel and romaine salad with crispy burdock
Potato Salad 8
Purple potato, smoked egg, curry, pickles and crispy shallots
Tonguekatsu Sandwich 10
beef tongue cooked in the style of tonkatsu with shredded iceberg lettuce, horseradish on toasted milk bread
Yellowtail sashimi 16
Yellowtail with cilantro, garlic, and jalapeno
Bittermelon Salad 7
Bittermelon, pineapple, miso, and goji berry
Teishoku Set 25
(seasonal and subject to change)
Main 
Black cod
or
Agedashi tofu
Sides 
Amur Seaweed Salad
Kinpira Burdock
Mushrooms with Tofu Dressing
Rice 
Cauliflower and black sesame
or
Haiga-Black Rice Blend
—
Tonari Chinsuko 6
Pack of 3 Corn Shortbread Cookie, Organic Miso, and Raisins
About Tonari
Tonari is a healthful Japanese cafe in Portland, Oregon led by husband and wife team, Ryan and Elena Roadhouse, opening on June 12, 2020. Tonari will be open for Japanese-style lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday and is situated next door to sister restaurant Nodoguro at 2838 SE Belmont Street. Meaning next door in Japanese, Ryan and Elena Roadhouse apply the same master craft attention to detail and style at Tonari as with their esteemed omakase restaurant Nodoguro. The healthful Japanese cafe will serve Japanese-style lunch including teishoku-style lunch sets, tofu smoothies and coffee in the afternoons. Inspired by the Blue Zone diet, especially the foods of Okinawa, Tonari will serve carefully sourced and crafted cuisine featuring naturally healthful ingredients and superfoods. A community gathering place, Tonari will also play host to Japanese craft, cooking classes, talks, and other artful events throughout each month.
Tonari is open Wednesday through Sunday 12 – 2:30 p.m. and 4 – 6:30 p.m. for take out. You can order online at www.tonaripdx.com Tonari is located at 2838 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR. Follow along at @tonaripdx on Instagram for the latest.
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