The Great Wall of China was constructed to keep roving packs of ancient pandas from absconding with the local cuisine. Succeed where the bears failed with today’s Groupon for authentic Sichuan fare at Lucky Strike, located in the Hawthorne district. Choose between the following options:
- For $12, you get $25 worth of dinner fare.
- For $6, you get $12 worth of lunch fare.
Portland Monthly named Lucky Strike’s delectable Sichuan cuisine among the city’s best in 2009. With rich crimson chandeliers and a blend of traditional and pop-inspired Asian artwork dotting the walls, Lucky Strike crafts a fun-filled yet elegant atmosphere in which to enjoy small plates from the lunch menu, including the adventurous spicy jellyfish salad ($6) or heartier fare such as spicy kimchee fried rice mixed with egg and luncheon meat or aged tofu ($9). Dinner diners must conquer a mountain of noodle and appetizer choices before indulging in Sichuan-style meals such as the hot pepper chicken bath ($10), which surrounds lucky fowls in a veritable bubble bath of hot peppers, with an optional rubber ducky on the side. The authentic cuisine and vibrant ambience lures large crowds during weekend dinner hours, so call to schedule ahead.
Reviews
Portland Monthly named Lucky Strike the best New Chinatown restaurant of 2009. The Portland Mercury, the Oregonian, the Willamette Week, and foodosophy didn’t strike out while sampling the cuisine at the restaurant. > * At Lucky Strike you can truly enter a new culinary world. – Douglas Perry, the Oregonian
Lucky Strike
In addition to awarding Lucky Strike a spot on its list of Best Restaurants in 2009, Portland Monthly praised the eatery for its ability to "revise everything you know about Chinese food." While the chefs source ingredients from local producers whenever possible, they also embrace the fiery flavors of Sichuan cuisine by incorporating such traditional spices as prickly ash and Sichuan peppercorn. These incendiary ingredients appear throughout the menu, which includes signatures such as twice-cooked pork belly, braised eggplant, and sweet-and-sour chicken.
To complement bites, the restaurant features a selection of locally brewed beers that rotates regularly. Bartenders mix cocktails with spirits infused in-house, including the signature vodka with lemongrass, ginger, and thai chili.
Wine-red and jet-black walls lend a lounge-like ambience to the dining room, which features dark wooden tables and traditional Chinese wall art. From the ceilings, red chandeliers light the space more effectively than a portrait of a supernova.