The Sudra Explained
The Sudra |
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Current-Owner: | Sanjay Chandran |
State: | Oregon |
Zip: | --> |
Country: | United States |
Other-Label: | --> |
The Sudra was a small chain of Indian restaurants in the Portland metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Oregon. There were four locations, including three in Portland and another in Beaverton.[1] Sanjay Chandran operated the business from 2013 to 2024.
Description
The Sudra was a small chain of casual counter service[2] Indian restaurants that served vegan and vegetarian[3] food in Portland and Beaverton, Oregon. It was named for Shudra, one of the four varnas of the Hindu caste and social system in ancient India.[4] According to Eater Portland, food at The Sudra was also influenced by New Mexican cuisine.[5]
Menu
The menu included chickpea "cutlets",[6] korma,[7] turmeric-roasted Brussels sprouts, kale-infused dosas with black-eyed peas, and potato masala.[8] [9] It also served roasted cauliflower with sweet-and-sour bell peppers,[10] channa masala, ginger-agave roasted carrots, and soy chicken drumsticks with jalapeño chutney and soy yogurt.[11] The Jackfruit Vindaloo Bowl has jackfruit, vegetables, vindaloo, and a kale salad, and the peacock salad has soy curls and roasted vegetables on raw kale.[12] The Pakora Plate had pickled broccoli and cauliflower pakora, anasazi bean curry, kale with tahini, blueberry-mint chutney, cilantro-lemon sauce, radish, and brown basmati.
On the drink menu, the Beet Tequila had tequila, cilantro, garam masala, beet juice, and grapefruit juice.[13] The Masala Film has mango puree with lime and ginger juice, and the mojito-like Bandit Queen has cucumber, lemon, and mint. The Sudra also served a vegan mango lassi with coconut yogurt and tamarind limeade.[14]
History
The Sudra was owned by Sanjay Chandran. The first location opened in northeast Portland 2013, in the space previously occupied by Basa Basa.[15] [16] [17] [18]
A second followed in the Two-Thirds complex,[19] in the St. Johns neighborhood in May 2016. The location suffered a fire in June,[20] and closed permanently in June 2019.[21] Chanran opened another location on North Mississippi in July 2019.[22] The Fremont location moved to 28th Avenue.[23] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant offere a holiday meal kit with soy "chicken" pakoras, cilantro herb potatoes, and Brussels sprouts.[24]
Another outpost opened in northwest Portland's Pearl District in 2021, in the space that previously housed Aviv.[25] The Pearl District location closed in 2022. The Sudra opened a location in Beaverton by 2023.
The North Mississippi and Beaverton locations closed in 2023.[26] In late April 2024, Chandran announced plans to close the original location in May.[27] His bar Bar Asha began operating from the same space.[28]
Reception
Eater Portland included The Sudra in a list of the city's "essential" vegan and vegetarian restaurants.[29] Waz Wu included the business in the website's 2021 list of recommended restaurants in the city for "standout" vegan curries, and Janelle Lassalle and Thom Hilton included The Sudra in a 2024 list of Portland establishments for non-alcoholic mixed drinks. Ron Scott also included the restaurant in a 2024 overview of "exceptional" Indian food in the metropolitan area.
The Sudra was a runner-up in the Best Indian Restaurant of Willamette Week annual readers' poll in 2020.[30] It was also a runner-up in the same poll's Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant category in 2022.[31]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Russell . Michael . 2024-05-01 . Portland vegan restaurant The Sudra is closing. Here’s what could be coming next . 2024-07-24 . The Oregonian . en . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725022541/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2024/05/portland-vegan-restaurant-the-sudra-is-closing-heres-what-could-be-coming-next.html . live .
- Web site: Woo . Nick . 2019-07-25 . 13 Stellar Curries in Portland . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2020-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603143415/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/curries-in-portland . live .
- Web site: The Sudra Restaurant Listing . 2024-07-24 . Portland Monthly . en-US . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725022544/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/restaurants/the-sudra . live .
- Web site: Dall'Asen . Nicola . 2017-10-05 . The Sudra . 2024-07-24 . Thrillist . en . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725022559/https://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/portland/restaurants/the-sudra . live .
- Web site: Wu . Waz . 2021-02-08 . Where to Find Standout Vegan Curries in Portland . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2021-10-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211026231306/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/portland-restaurants-vegan-vegetarian-meatless-curry . live .
- Web site: DeJesus . Erin . 2013-12-05 . Updating the Eater PDX HeatMap: Where to Eat Now . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725022546/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/updating-the-eater-pdx-heatmap-where-to-eat-now-10 . live .
- Web site: DeJesus . Erin . 2014-01-27 . Trifecta Tavern 'Settling In'; Earnest Cooking at the Sudra . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725022551/https://pdx.eater.com/2014/1/27/6291387/trifecta-tavern-settling-in-earnest-cooking-at-the-sudra . live .
- Book: Fodor's Inside Portland . 2020-04-07 . Fodor's Travel . 978-1-64097-251-3 . en . 2024-07-24 . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725022603/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Fodor_s_Inside_Portland/Iz_ZDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=sudra+restaurant+portland&pg=PT134&printsec=frontcover . live .
- Book: Sawyer, Adam . Unique Eats and Eateries of Portland, Oregon . 2018-10-01 . Reedy Press LLC . 978-1-68106-186-3 . en.
- Web site: Jackson-Glidden . Brooke . 2017-01-18 . Healthy Portland Restaurant Plates That Don’t Feel Like a Bummer . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2021-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211102160920/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-healthy-food-portland-restaurants . live .
- Web site: Scott . Ron . 2017-06-09 . Where to Find Exceptional Indian Food in Portland and the Nearby Suburbs . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2022-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215215734/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-indian-food-restaurants-portland . live .
- Web site: 2019-03-27 . Five Cheap Vegan Meals That Are Actually Good . 2024-07-24 . Willamette Week . en . 2023-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230104191622/https://www.wweek.com/culture/2019/03/27/five-cheap-vegan-meals-that-are-actually-good/ . live .
- Web site: Inside Vegan Indian Eatery the Sudra . 2024-07-24 . Portland Monthly . en-US . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725023125/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2013/11/inside-vegan-indian-the-sudra-november-2013 . live .
- Web site: Lassalle . Janelle . 2018-08-03 . 13 Portland Restaurants and Bars Mixing up Mocktails and Zero-Proof Drinks . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725023119/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/non-alcoholic-cocktails-mocktails-zero-proof-portland-bars-restaurants . live .
- Web site: DeJesus . Erin . 2013-08-23 . Plywood Report . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226005927/https://pdx.eater.com/2013/8/23/6382313/plywood-report . live .
- Web site: DeJesus . Erin . 2013-11-20 . Inside the Sudra, Now Open in NE's Ocean Complex . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2023-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129213304/https://pdx.eater.com/2013/11/20/6327191/inside-the-sudra-now-open-in-nes-ocean-complex . live .
- Web site: Roland . Rebecca . 2024-07-23 . The Former Sudra Space Has Flipped — Again . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725023117/https://pdx.eater.com/2024/7/23/24204697/bar-asha-temporary-closure-the-sudra-portland-oregon . live .
- Web site: Wong . Janey . 2024-05-16 . The Portland Restaurant Closings to Know, May 2024 . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240518011825/https://pdx.eater.com/2024/5/16/24158324/portland-restaurant-closings-may-2024 . live .
- Web site: Bamman . Mattie John . 2016-10-31 . Two-Thirds Complex Takes Flight in St. Johns . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2023-12-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204040730/https://pdx.eater.com/2016/10/31/13478186/two-thirds-opens-in-st-johns-micro-restaurants . live .
- Web site: Bamman . Mattie John . 2016-06-30 . The Original Launches 'Secret' Food Menu . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2017-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170403114149/http://pdx.eater.com/2016/6/30/12069420/the-original-secret-food-menu-sudra-fire . live .
- Web site: Jackson-Glidden . Brooke . 2019-06-17 . Vegan Indian Mainstay The Sudra Has Said Goodbye to St. Johns . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725023120/https://pdx.eater.com/2019/6/17/18682391/sudra-st-johns-87th-and-meatballs-closing . live .
- Web site: Jackson-Glidden . Brooke . 2019-10-04 . Essential Vegan Restaurant the Sudra Will Take Over the Tapalaya Space . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2019-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191005000815/https://pdx.eater.com/2019/10/4/20899048/the-sudra-moving-tapalaya-space . live .
- Web site: Wu . Waz . 2020-03-30 . Portland Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants Offering Delivery and Takeout During the COVID-19 Outbreak . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2021-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210821224850/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/portland-vegan-vegetarian-restaurants-delivery-takeout-coronavirus . live .
- Web site: Wu . Waz . 2020-12-18 . Vegan Holiday Meals and Desserts for Takeout . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2020-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201231222852/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/vegan-holiday-meals-desserts-restaurants-portland . live .
- Web site: Russell . Michael . 2021-10-20 . The Sudra is headed to The Pearl, replacing Aviv . 2024-07-24 . The Oregonian . en . 2021-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211102165448/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2021/10/the-sudra-is-coming-to-the-pearl-vegan-indian-fusion-restaurants-fourth-location.html . live .
- Web site: Wu . Waz . 2023-09-18 . Beaverton’s New Vegan Bar Comes from the Creators of the Sudra, the Uncanny, and Victoria . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2023-09-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929212834/https://pdx.eater.com/2023/9/18/23874310/june-vegan-bar-beaverton-portland . live .
- Web site: 2024-04-29 . Portland vegan Indian restaurant to close after 10 years . 2024-07-24 . kgw.com . en-US . 2024-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725023122/https://www.kgw.com/article/money/business/portland-vegan-indian-restaurant-closure-sudra/283-1e8b9a85-28d5-4ea3-be5e-ef32e885053c . live .
- Web site: Wong . Janey . 2024-06-10 . The Sudra’s Northeast Portland Restaurant Has Transformed Into Bar Asha . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en.
- Web site: 2016-07-20 . Portland's Essential Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants, Spring 2018 . 2024-07-24 . Eater Portland . en . 2023-10-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002043142/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/portlands-best-vegetarian-vegan-dishes . live .
- Web site: FOOD, DRINK, RESTAURANTS . 2024-07-24 . Willamette Week . en . 2020-11-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201115173206/https://www.wweek.com/promotions/2020/07/21/food-drink-restaurants/ . live .
- Web site: Food Winners . 2024-07-24 . Willamette Week . en . 2022-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220715144318/https://www.wweek.com/promotions/2022/07/13/food-winners/ . live .