Black-and-white photos of Italian noodle-makers and vintage menus from Hong Kong dim sum parlors decorate the Honey Paw, billed as a “nondenominational” noodle joint and the latest relatably cool restaurant from one of Portland’s most winning chef-restaurateur teams, Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley. Along with their managing partner Arlin Smith, they had already colonized a stretch of Middle Street, near the Old Port, with the critical favorites Hugo’s and Eventide Oyster Co. When the Honey Paw opened next door in April 2015, it quickly delivered on the expectation of success — Eater named it the state’s restaurant of the year.

At the Honey Paw, communal tables and mismatched plates show off vibrant New England–influenced Asian dishes like rare beef salad with smoked oyster mayo, peanuts, and pickled carrots; fried wings with lime, chili, and coconut; and lobster wontons in a seafood curry with cauliflower and basil. Don't miss the fry bread with ssamjang butter, smoked lamb khao soi, mapo tofu, and whatever vegetables or noodles are being wok-fried or wok-charred that day. End with soft-serve or a slice of the ever-changing layer cake.

The gist: The team behind Eventide and Hugo’s extended their Middle Street sparkle when they opened Honey Paw in 2015. The food: Slather sweet chili butter over warm fried bread and snack onNapa cabbage kimchi while you wait for larger dishes like lobster wontons in miso dashi; tingly biang biang noodles with braised beef; and smoked lamb khao soi—a brothy coconut curry accented with mustard greens, coconut, and lime. The honey soft serve with chocolate shell and honeycomb provides a sweet note to end on.

From the same folks as neighboring Eventide, this “nondenominational noodle bar” runs amok through the flavors of Asia in delicious fashion. Sit at the bar or communal table and order a feast: lobster wontons in lobster dashi with confit mushroom, rare beef salad with smoked oyster mayo, and a passel of house-made noodle dishes, from smoked lamb khao soi to uni udon with crab. After 4 p.m., order large-format fried chicken to share with the table; at brunch, sit alongside hungover hipsters and adorable toddlers as you eat your breakfast sandwich on a togarashi biscuit.

Old Port haunts like small plates hotspot Central Provisions, upscale seafood joint Eventide, and “non-denominational noodle bar the Honey Paw tend to get a lot of the attention (and the lines). And while all are worth a visit, there’s lots of reason to stray from the waterfront. In the industrial-residential East End, Drifters Wife, which evolved from natural wine shop Maine & Loire, is run by a trio of Brooklyn expats, and looks and tastes the part, while Minato offers phenomenal Japanese izakaya in a mood-lit wood-and-steel space.

Don’t miss Café Louis, a Costa Rican and Caribbean restaurant with inventive dishes such as fiddlehead empanadas stuffed with Cabot cheddar cheese; Fore Street, the haute farm-to-table destination restaurant that first ignited Portland’s dining scene 25 years ago; the Honey Paw, a “non­denominational noodle bar” from the folks behind Eventide Oyster Co.; and the new Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company, for craft beers and pizzas topped with Maine blueberries and smoky pulled pork.

Its next-door sibling Eventide gets most of the attention, but don’t neglect The Honey Paw, Big Tree Hospitality’s Asian-inspired noodle bar. It is every bit as good. Pull up a bar-height seat anywhere in the sunny, contemporary dining room and pick a few of the restaurant’s vividly seasoned appetizers, dishes like lobster toast with radish, Fresno pepper and tarragon aioli; or crackers served with a schmear of chicken liver mousse and peppery blueberry-honey jam.

The Honey Paw looks to evoke the experience of a bear waking from hibernation, enjoying a feast of the most delicious food. With food options ranging from savory wontons to wok-fried noodles and delicious fried chicken, The Honey Paw suits a wide variety of tastes, making it the best option for communal dining, takeout, or even delivery. If you're visiting in person, you can sit at one of their dog-friendly outdoor tables for a delicious meal.

The Honey Paw stands as a testament to modern fusion cuisine in Portland, offering a vibrant menu that seamlessly blends Asian flavors with local Maine ingredients. This lively eatery boasts a warm, inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect place for both casual lunches and dinner gatherings. Notable for its innovative noodle dishes and exceptional small plates, The Honey Paw is a culinary adventure waiting to be explored.

Many restaurants in the area are still skeptical about what the winter will bring in terms of outdoor dining and open-air options, but our state got pretty creative last year, so I wouldn’t rule out some of the alternative solutions that sprung up around the city. In my personal opinion, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the same teepee and snow globe innovations we saw during the last (or is this still the same?) pandemic.

In the storied row of restaurants on Middle Street between Franklin and India Streets is a small place called The Honey Paw. Their menu changes sometimes and it’s not always obvious what’s vegan, but they always seem to have at least a couple of dishes that are either already vegan or could be made that way — just ask and they’ll point everything out for you!

The Honey Paw, Eventide’s sister restaurant next door, serves pan-Asian dishes and bills itself as a non-denominational noodle bar. It offers communal eating at its best with one massive table in the center and bar seats around the perimeter. The Fried Green Tomatoes were a particular favorite, and they’re well-known for their soft serve, so save some room!

Run by James Beard award-winning restaurateurs, the Honey Paw serves an eclectic menu focused on South East Asian cuisine. Try the khao soi with smoked lamb, and their take on a Banh mi (made with chicken liver mousse for the carnivores, tofu for vegetarians). Every Honey Paw meal should be finished with a soft-serve swirl—the flavors rotate seasonally.

After stumbling upon The Honey Paw recently, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been going there every single time I had previously been in Portland. They are known for their Asian-style cuisine, specifically their vast array of noodle and rice dishes. But you might miss their soft-serve ice cream if you’re not careful, and that would be a huge mistake.

The Honey Paw: The Old Port noodle bar offers half-off all snacks, including kimchi, pickles and fried bread, $4 off the napa cabbage salad and $5 off wings. Drink specials are; $1 off draft beer, $2 off wine by the glass and $4 off all carafes of tap wine. discounted food and drink specials from 4pm – 6pm, 5 days a week (Monday – Friday).

The two restaurants are right next to each other and we were intrigued by the long lines and happy faves at Honey Paw. Observation duly noted, we decided to visit for lunch the next day and pinched ourselves for not trying it earlier. Honey Paw is a fusion Asian restaurant that is guaranteed to impress the staunchest critic.

Take I-295 north to the breathtaking Route 1 coastal highway to get a feel for Maine’s New England roots. Visit towns like Wiscasset, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland and Camden for quaint cafés, abundant antique shops, stately lighthouses, gleaming harbors filled with gorgeous sailboats and, of course, plenty of lobster shacks.

Honey Paw is a little more on the casual side, offering hand-made noodle dishes, twists on banh mi and inventive soft serve options. Their menu celebrates the best New England has to offer paired with inspiration from South East Asia, China and beyond. Honey Paw is currently offering patio dining, take out and delivery.

The owners of Eventide created this modern pan-Asian joint next door, where handmade noodles or New England ingredients make it into every dish, whether it’s congee or Korean fried chicken. Restore yourself with smoked lamb khao soi, loaded with crispy egg noodles buried in coconut curry with fermented mustard greens.

DEALS: The Old Port noodle bar offers half-off all snacks, including kimchi, pickles and fried bread, $4 off the napa cabbage salad and $5 off wings. Drink specials are $1 off draft beer, $2 off wine by the glass and $4 off all carafes of tap wine. TAGS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, food, beer, wine

For a truly comforting, delicious date in Portland, Maine, visit The Honey Paw (78 Middle Street). This communal-style restaurant serves up highly intentional dishes with unique and classic Asian flavors. Your date will love the cozy atmosphere, amazing hospitality, and irresistible dishes on the menu.

The Honey Paw is a luxurious lounge that serves the best in Asian comfort food. You can find all kinds of delicious dishes in Asian fusion here, from kimchi to mapo doufu and shio ramen. There’s also some Maine influence as is evident by the lobster toast and caramelized honey ice cream!

The Honey Paw is a pet-friendly Asian fusion restaurant in Portland, ME. Their menu includes salads, noodles, chicken, beef and seafood entrees. They're also known for their soft-serve ice creams with rotating flavors. Bring Fido along for lunch or dinner on their quaint patio out front.

We went next door to their “sister” restaurant, The Honey Paw which specializes in home-made noodles and an Asian influenced American menu. Forgot to take a picture of our meal, which was delicious – but I did manage to take a pic of our fun beer choices!

Why It's Great: This award-winning restaurant offers a unique blend of Asian flavors and techniques. Their lunch menu is a delightful mix of small plates and larger entrees, featuring creative dishes like the Vietnamese pork belly banh mi.

This Asian fusion restaurant from the owners of Eventide Oyster Co. and Hugo’s features one type of ramen. It often changes, but recently was duck tonkatsu in a spicy and rich opaque pork broth. 78 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

Honey Paw is a bright and welcoming restaurant that offers a noodle bar and other tasty bites. They offer steaming broths, savory wontons, and wok-fried noodles. Mee Goreng with mein noddle (best thing on the menu!) by @thehoneypaw

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. A post shared by The Honey Paw (@thehoneypaw). This charming restaurant serves authentic Asian food such as ramen, mee goreng, banh mi, and more.

for spendier dinner, Central Provisions, Honey Paw, Pai Men Miyake. For cocktails, The Bearded Lady or Hunt & Alpine. For brunch, Lolita in the East End....pizza at Slab or Otto, beers at Novare Res, dumplings at Bao Bao.

78 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101Phone: 207-774-8538 Visit Website. A post shared by The Honey Paw (@thehoneypaw). The Honey Paw offers international cuisine as the Korean-based menu takes you on a cultural adventure.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (266 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Asian- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 78 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101-4232- Read more on Tripadvisor

The Honey Paw, an Asian fusion and New American spot that offers noodles and more, is another go-to, with four stars out of 386 Yelp reviews. Head over to 78 Middle St. to see for yourself.

Best Chef: Northeast – Celia Bruns, Artemisia Cafe; Ian Driscoll, Bar Futo; Valerie Goldman, The Honey Paw; and Jake Stevens, Leeward