Located just a few blocks east of the Willamette river, Kann is the not-so hidden gem of Portland cuisine.

Put simply, Kann is a breath of fresh air in an industry which can sometimes become a little stale.

All residents of Portland will know that the city is not exactly short of good quality restaurants, but Kann takes this to another level.

For a start, Kann serves Haitian food. This is not a cuisine which most people will be familiar with. Haitian cuisine is a unique blend of African, French, Spanish, and Taino indigenous influences. It is known for its hearty and flavorful dishes that often include a variety of meats such as chicken, beef, and pork, as well as beans, rice, and vegetables. Kann does exactly this as the Haitian influence is observed all the way through its menu from Creole sauce with octopus to the 100% Haitian chocolate ganache used for dessert. Bluntly, you will certainly not be disappointed, whether this is your first or 100th time eating Haitian food.

From the first look at a dish to the taste of the food in general, you can see that Kann is something special. Owned by Gregory Gourdet – Kann is not just another mediocre restaurant endorsed by a celebrity chef and the hype is most certainly real.

Gourdet is known for his innovative and modern approach to cooking, incorporating diverse flavors and techniques from around the world into his dishes. He has received numerous accolades for his culinary skills and has been recognized as a rising star in the food industry. This is reflected through the diversity and taste of the entire Kann menu.

Clearly, Gourdet is the brains and creative behind the operation, but even so, it takes more than one man to run such an operation. The staff are exceptionally well trained from the chefs to the servers. Put simply, they do not put a foot wrong and are a credit to their restaurant.

Open 5 days per week (Wednesday-Sunday), given that Kann is such an original, creative and high quality restaurant, you would be forgiven for thinking that it may be expensive and snobby. Kann isn’t the cheapest restaurant in Portland, but given the quality of the meals it serves, it is extremely good value for money. Moreover, the atmosphere is professional, but still has a rustic charm and is not too over the top or pretentious at all.

Overall, Kann is without a doubt a contender for the best restaurant in Portland. As it is such a young restaurant, only time will tell if can continue upon its early success. However, it is without a doubt one of the best restaurants you will ever eat at.