Wikipedia

The Sudra

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.

The Sudra
Restaurant information
Established2013 (2013)
Closed2024 (2024)
Owner(s)Sanjay Chandran
Food type
  • Indian
  • vegan
  • vegetarian
City
  • Portland
  • Beaverton
StateOregon
CountryUnited States

Description

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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]

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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,[2] 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.[13]

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

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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.[17][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.[17]

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.[17][28]

Reception

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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,[5] and Janelle Lassalle and Thom Hilton included The Sudra in a 2024 list of Portland establishments for non-alcoholic mixed drinks.[14] Ron Scott also included the restaurant in a 2024 overview of "exceptional" Indian food in the metropolitan area.[11]

The Sudra was a runner-up in the Best Indian Restaurant of Willamette Week's 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

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References

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  1. ^ Russell, Michael (2024-05-01). "Portland vegan restaurant The Sudra is closing. Here's what could be coming next". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  2. ^ a b Woo, Nick (2019-07-25). "13 Stellar Curries in Portland". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  3. ^ "The Sudra | Restaurant Listing". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  4. ^ Dall'Asen, Nicola (2017-10-05). "The Sudra". Thrillist. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  5. ^ a b Wu, Waz (2021-02-08). "Where to Find Standout Vegan Curries in Portland". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  6. ^ DeJesus, Erin (2013-12-05). "Updating the Eater PDX HeatMap: Where to Eat Now". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  7. ^ DeJesus, Erin (2014-01-27). "Trifecta Tavern 'Settling In'; Earnest Cooking at the Sudra". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  8. ^ Fodor's Inside Portland. Fodor's Travel. 2020-04-07. ISBN 978-1-64097-251-3.
  9. ^ Sawyer, Adam (2018-10-01). Unique Eats and Eateries of Portland, Oregon. Reedy Press LLC. ISBN 978-1-68106-186-3.
  10. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2017-01-18). "Healthy Portland Restaurant Plates That Don't Feel Like a Bummer". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  11. ^ a b Scott, Ron (2017-06-09). "Where to Find Exceptional Indian Food in Portland and the Nearby Suburbs". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  12. ^ "Five Cheap Vegan Meals That Are Actually Good". Willamette Week. 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  13. ^ a b "Inside Vegan Indian Eatery the Sudra". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  14. ^ a b Lassalle, Janelle (2018-08-03). "13 Portland Restaurants and Bars Mixing up Mocktails and Zero-Proof Drinks". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  15. ^ DeJesus, Erin (2013-08-23). "Plywood Report". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  16. ^ DeJesus, Erin (2013-11-20). "Inside the Sudra, Now Open in NE's Ocean Complex". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  17. ^ a b c d Roland, Rebecca (2024-07-23). "The Former Sudra Space Has Flipped — Again". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  18. ^ Wong, Janey (2024-05-16). "The Portland Restaurant Closings to Know, May 2024". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  19. ^ Bamman, Mattie John (2016-10-31). "Two-Thirds Complex Takes Flight in St. Johns". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  20. ^ Bamman, Mattie John (2016-06-30). "The Original Launches 'Secret' Food Menu". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  21. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2019-06-17). "Vegan Indian Mainstay The Sudra Has Said Goodbye to St. Johns". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  22. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2019-10-04). "Essential Vegan Restaurant the Sudra Will Take Over the Tapalaya Space". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  23. ^ Wu, Waz (2020-03-30). "Portland Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants Offering Delivery and Takeout During the COVID-19 Outbreak". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  24. ^ Wu, Waz (2020-12-18). "Vegan Holiday Meals and Desserts for Takeout". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  25. ^ Russell, Michael (2021-10-20). "The Sudra is headed to The Pearl, replacing Aviv". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  26. ^ Wu, Waz (2023-09-18). "Beaverton's New Vegan Bar Comes from the Creators of the Sudra, the Uncanny, and Victoria". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  27. ^ "Portland vegan Indian restaurant to close after 10 years". kgw.com. 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  28. ^ Wong, Janey (2024-06-10). "The Sudra's Northeast Portland Restaurant Has Transformed Into Bar Asha". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  29. ^ "Portland's Essential Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants, Spring 2018". Eater Portland. 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  30. ^ "FOOD, DRINK, RESTAURANTS". Willamette Week. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  31. ^ "Food Winners". Willamette Week. Retrieved 2024-07-24.

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