[1][2] The menu has grilled squid, mapo tofu, and pickled cabbage salad, as well as chive cakes, dumplings, and kuay teow kua gai.

[4] Inspired by and named after Bangkok's Chinatown,[5] Akkapong "Earl" Ninsom—whose other restaurants include Eem, Hat Yai, Langbaan, and PaaDee—opened Yaowarat on October 6, 2023,[3][6] in the space previously occupied by The Country Cat and later Lazy Susan.

[15] Krista Garcia of The Infatuation included Yaowarat in a 2024 list of the 24 best restaurants in Portland and wrote,[16] "a trip to this fun, casual spot ... is your chance to enjoy grilled squid swimming in spicy dressing, some of the silkiest mapo tofu you've ever tasted, and bright curries like Yaowarat's green version with springy fish balls and winter melon."

[4] Thom Hilton of Eater Portland said the dumplings, chive cakes, Chinese sashimi, wide rice noodles, grilled buns, and limeade slushies were the best restaurant meal he had in 2023.

[17] Garcia and Katrina Yentch also included Yaowarat in the website's 2024 overview of eateries for "stunning" Thai cuisine in the metropolitan area, recommending the toasted buns for dessert.