"Taylor and Wiley's Old Port noodle bar - Maine ingredients filtered through Southeast Asia, for a lively, walk-in solo dinner."
About The Honey Paw
The Honey Paw is the noodle bar from Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, the Big Tree Hospitality chefs behind Eventide Oyster Co., set on Middle Street in the Old Port of Portland, Maine. The pair won the James Beard Best Chef Northeast award in 2017, and they opened The Honey Paw in 2015 as a deliberately undefined noodle joint that has grown into a Southeast Asian kitchen, taking Maine ingredients and running them through the cooking of Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and Singapore.
This is one of the Old Port's most exciting kitchens. For more of the city's tables, compare its oyster-bar sibling Eventide Oyster Co., the small-plates room Central Provisions and the duck-fat fries at Duckfat. For a relaxed evening, see our solo-dining guide.
The Kitchen
The menu changes constantly, around twenty plates at a time, and roams freely across Southeast Asia while leaning on Maine produce and seafood. The signature is the ramen built on a boat-noodle broth with pork and veal, alongside a dolsot bibimbap with grilled scallops, bonito, mushroom, egg and kimchi, and a pork-sausage ravioli in country-ham brodo with asparagus and pickled ramp that shows the kitchen's willingness to bend tradition. Dishes are sometimes faithful and sometimes heretical, which is the appeal, and the soft-serve finishes the meal. Prices stay in the friendly mid range, which makes it an easy place to order widely and share; the cooking, not the bill, is what fills the room.
The Room
The room is loud, fun and unfussy: an open kitchen, counter seats and tables in a buzzy Old Port space built for sharing rather than ceremony. It is a natural for solo diners at the counter, a lively date or a group ordering across the menu, and the energy is part of the point. It sits on Middle Street in Portland's Old Port, the city's historic dining and bar district, a short walk from the waterfront and from its sibling restaurants. The Honey Paw works largely on a walk-in basis rather than reservations, so a short wait at peak times is common; earlier sittings and weeknights are the easiest, with weekend evenings the busiest service.
Best for a Solo Dinner
The counter seats, the shareable plates and the lively room make The Honey Paw a great solo dinner, an easy first date and a fun birthday table for a group in the Old Port.
Not for
Not for a quiet, white-tablecloth occasion or diners who want guaranteed reservations - this is a loud, walk-in Old Port noodle bar built for sharing, where the wait is part of the night.
Frequently Asked
What is The Honey Paw known for?
The Honey Paw is known for Southeast Asian cooking that runs Maine ingredients through the dishes of Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and Singapore. The ever-changing menu of around twenty plates includes boat-noodle ramen, dolsot bibimbap and inventive noodle and dumpling dishes in a lively Old Port room.
Where is The Honey Paw?
The Honey Paw is at 78 Middle Street in the Old Port of Portland, Maine, the city's historic dining district. It sits a short walk from the waterfront and from its Big Tree Hospitality sibling restaurants, including Eventide Oyster Co.
Who are the chefs at The Honey Paw?
Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, the Big Tree Hospitality chefs behind Eventide Oyster Co., opened The Honey Paw in 2015. The pair won the James Beard Best Chef Northeast award in 2017, and the kitchen has worked with chef-de-cuisine Thomas Pisha-Duffly on its menu.
How much does The Honey Paw cost?
The Honey Paw sits in the friendly mid range for Portland, which makes it easy to order several plates and share. Expect a relaxed, lively meal of noodles, dumplings and small plates rather than a special-occasion bill, finished with the kitchen's soft-serve.
Does The Honey Paw take reservations?
The Honey Paw works largely on a walk-in basis rather than reservations, so a short wait at peak times is common. Earlier sittings and weeknights are the easiest, while weekend evenings in the Old Port are the busiest service.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at The Honey Paw
The Honey Paw works largely on walk-ins; it is at 78 Middle Street in the Old Port. Earlier sittings and weeknights are the easiest for a seat.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address78 Middle St, Old Port, Portland, ME 04101
NeighbourhoodOld Port
CuisineSoutheast Asian
PriceFriendly mid range; ever-changing plates built for sharing
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingCounter seats and tables around an open kitchen
ReservationWalk-in; no reservations
