Smoke, spice, and surprisingly great wine
Southeast Portland · Portland · Thai BBQ · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed April 11, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Eem’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a Thai BBQ joint expecting Chang beer and maybe a house red nobody's thought about since 2019 — and instead you get a tight, intentional list built around natural and low-intervention wines that actually make sense next to a plate of smoked ribs and som tam. It's a pleasant gut-punch of a surprise. The list is short, but it's clearly been thought about.
Eem leans hard into Pacific Northwest producers with a few sharp detours into Southern France. Bow & Arrow Gamay and Loop de Loop Pinot Noir anchor the Oregon side, while a Languedoc rosé and Melon de Bourgogne give the list some Old World backbone without going full wine-bar pretentious. Whole-cluster Pinot Noir shows up too, which tells you the people building this list have opinions. The gaps are real — no white Burgundy, no Riesling to chase the heat — but what's here is coherent and well-matched to the food.
Eight to twelve pours by the glass is a solid count for a place this size, and the rotation skews toward lighter, higher-acid wines that play well with smoke and chili. The Prosecco is a smart inclusion — bubbles and spice are a reliable team. We'd love to see more rotation, but what's on pour right now is doing its job.
Bow & Arrow Gamay — null
Bow & Arrow is one of Oregon's best natural-leaning producers, and their Gamay is juicy, low-tannin, and built for exactly this kind of food. It drinks well above its price point and holds up to the smoke and heat on this menu without getting bulldozed.
Melon de Bourgogne
Most people at a Thai BBQ spot are reaching for red, but Melon de Bourgogne — think Muscadet — brings a saline, almost briny edge that cuts through fatty pork and coconut curry in a way that red wine simply can't. It's easy to overlook and almost always the right call.
Prosecco
Bubbles are a good idea here in theory, but Prosecco at a restaurant is almost always a commodity pour with a restaurant-sized markup. Save the spend for something from the Oregon side of the list where you're actually getting something you can't open at home for $14.
Languedoc Rosé + Thai BBQ Ribs
A dry Languedoc rosé has enough fruit and savory weight to stand up to charred, saucy ribs without competing with the spice. It's the kind of pairing that looks obvious in hindsight but most people miss in the moment.
The Bottom Line
Eem is the best argument for why Thai BBQ and natural wine belong together — this is a Wild Card in the truest sense, and the wine list punches way above what the concept suggests. If you're eating here, skip the cocktail and order something from the Oregon section. You won't regret it.
Dundee · Portland · Italian, French, American
The official site identifies The Dundee Bistro as closed. The wine selections described here are historical context, not current availability. This notice does not establish a closure date or a future reopening.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Pearl District · Portland · Italian/Mediterranean
A restaurant list with 15 pours by the glass from $11 to $17 and a bottle list from 40 to 1100, split by country. Start with the Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja Crianza '22 at $12, or the Tenuta di Lilliano Chianti Classico '22 at $16 alongside the Radiatore, and confirm prices because the list is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Southeast Portland · Portland · Charcuterie/American
A charcuterie restaurant with a natural-leaning wine list and a 12-pour glass list on the dinner menu. Start with the $14/glass Hoppenot gamay, or split the $55 Stick Figurine orange wine across a board, and confirm current availability. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
King · Portland · Spanish
A Spanish tapas-bar wine page with glass and bottle prices from 13/50 and a ten-sherry list. Start with the Pago del Cielo Celeste Verdejo at 13 a glass, try the chilled Vara y Pulgar Tintilla at 17 if you want something different, and order the Miquel Pons Cava with the croquetas. The page says the posted menu may differ from the restaurant's, so confirm prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Portland · New American with Asian Influences
A long list sorted by style, with glass pours from $9.50 to $20, a Coravin tier above that, and bottles that climb to $750. Start with the A to Z at $13.50 or the Roederer Estate Brut at $20, and confirm current prices because the list isn't dated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Alberta Arts · Portland · Italian
An Italian-leaning bottle list with an Oregon side, and no glass pours posted. Order the $65 Bow and Arrow Gamay, or the $65 Keltis 'Zan White' Slovenian Orange Blend if you want an orange wine, and confirm availability. This unrated guide covers the posted Spring & Summer ’26 beverage menu, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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