Fried Chicken, Roti, and Actually Good Wine
Mississippi · Portland · Southern Thai · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Hat Yai’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're here for the fried chicken. You're absolutely not expecting the wine list to be interesting. And yet — Hat Yai quietly hands you a short, considered selection that makes you do a double take at a counter-service spot on Killingsworth.
The list is tiny — we're talking a handful of options — but whoever chose these bottles was paying attention. A German Riesling and a Languedoc red from Minervois are not the wines of someone who just called a distributor and said 'send me whatever.' These are food-first picks, chosen to actually work with spice, fat, and funk. No Cabernet Sauvignon, no Pinot Grigio from nowhere — just two wines that make sense on the table. The gap, obviously, is depth: if you want a second option mid-meal, your choices are limited.
At least two pours and both are $9 flat — which in Portland in 2024 is practically an act of charity. The Peter Louer Riesling and the Sentinelle de Massiac Minervois cover the white-and-red bases without any fuss. Rotation appears nonexistent, but when what's there works this well, that's easy to forgive.
Sentinelle de Massiac Minervois 2015 — $9
A $18 retail bottle poured at $9 a glass is a straight-up steal. Minervois reds tend to be earthy and herb-driven — exactly what you want next to a bowl of curry.
Peter Louer 'Barrel X' Riesling 2015
Most people ordering fried chicken at a counter-service Thai joint aren't reaching for a 2015 German Riesling. They should be. The acidity and residual character in barrel-aged Riesling is one of the best things you can put next to spicy food, and at $9 it's practically a secret.
Sentinelle de Massiac Minervois 2015
Skip it only if you're leaning into the heat — the Minervois is a solid pour but the tannin structure can amplify spice rather than cool it down. Go Riesling if your curry order is aggressive.
Peter Louer 'Barrel X' Riesling 2015 + House Curry
Riesling's natural acidity cuts through rich coconut-based curry while its fruit weight handles the heat without getting steamrolled. This is a textbook match, stumbled upon at a counter-service spot on a North Portland side street.
The Bottom Line
Hat Yai isn't a wine destination — it's a fried chicken destination that happens to have two genuinely smart, absurdly affordable wine picks. That's more than most restaurants twice its price point can say.
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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