If you didn’t know better you’d be forgiven to think Pasar is perhaps a restaurant serving the cuisine of some Spanish-speaking culture. But those familiar to Portland’s food scene would know it to be the sister restaurant to Wajan, a homey Indonesian restaurant across town. Pasar gives the energy of a younger sibling. Focused on snacks that feel like a perpetual street food coded happy hour party, Pasar is built around jajanan pasar, Indonesian market snacks. Since opening in late 2023, it’s become a local favorite with recognition from regional and national media.

The move here is to act like you’re hanging out at the bar for a while, rather than composing a coursed out meal. Order across the menu, and heavy up in the small dishes until you fill your table with colorful plates. It’s a flavor and textural journey: the chewy lemper ayam (sticky rice wrapped in manana leaf), the crispy bala-bala (fitters loaded with cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts), the brightness of rujak serut (pineapple, mango, jicama, cucumber in a tangy tamarind dressing), the sweet kues that feel like a bite of dessert, and of course a punchy lineup of sambals.

The menu matches the ambience, which rounds out the experience. It’s colorful, casual, like a tropical party that might be gimmicky if it weren’t a lovely family-run operation with real intention to contribute to the Portland food scene. It’s a guaranteed good time, no matter what time of day you’re here for.