Every spring, The Source Weekly names one Bend restaurant its Restaurant of the Year. In 2026, the honor went to Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot, a Thai noodle house on NW Newport Avenue near downtown Bend.

That was all the convincing I needed. Nicole and I booked a table over Memorial Day weekend to see if Sen lived up to the hype.

Short answer: it does.

the Stone Faced Exterior of Sen Thai Noodles Features a Glowing Script Sign Glass Double Doors and Window Decals for Noodles and Brunch a Menu Board Stands on the Sidewalk Nearby and a Square Sign with a Bowl Icon Projects from the Corner

Sen is not your average strip-mall Thai spot. The menu is more creative, the cocktails are some of the best we’ve had in Bend, and the room has a vibe that makes you want to stay for one more drink.

Here’s what you need to know before you go, from what to order to when to book.

Two Bartenders Work Behind the Sen Thai Noodles Bar Which Features Three Backlit Shelves Lined with Diverse Liquor Bottles and a Large Arrangement of Dried Grasses Overhead to the Left a Large Window Overlooks a Dark Outdoor Scene While Rows of Empty Wine Glasses Sit on the Counter

It’s now on our short list of the best restaurants in Bend, and it’s the first place we’ll send friends looking for Thai food in Bend.

Two Cocktails Sit on a Wooden Table at Sen Thai Noodles in Front of a Window the Glass on the Left Contains a Pink Drink with Ice and a Grapefruit Slice While the Taller Glass on the Right Holds an Opaque White Drink Garnished with a Lime Wheel and a Straw Near a Vase of White Flowers

Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot in Bend, OR

Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot – Basics

Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot is on NW Newport Avenue, a short walk from downtown Bend and Mirror Pond.

    • Address: 69 NW Newport Ave, Suite 100, Bend, OR 97703
    • Web: senhotpot.com
    • Phone: (541) 385-6479
    • Hours: Tuesday–Sunday from noon; closed Mondays
    • Brunch: Saturday & Sunday, 9 AM–2 PM
    • Price Range: $$ (noodles and curries $20–$28, cocktails $14–$15)
    • Reservations: Tock
    • Menu: Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot Menu

Why Sen Was Named Bend's 2026 Restaurant of the Year

I first heard about Sen when The Source Weekly named it Restaurant of the Year in its 2026 Restaurant Guide.

The write-up praised Sen’s warm hospitality, its Pad Thai, and a weekend brunch it called unmatched in Bend.

🏆
The Source Weekly · Restaurant Guide 2026
Restaurant of the Year
Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot · Bend, Oregon

Read The Source’s full write-up →

a Woman with Wavy Hair Walks Away from the Camera Through the Bright Sen Thai Noodles Cafe Wearing a Black Lace Top and Light Wash Jeans to Her Right Patrons Sit at a Long Counter on Brown Bar Stools While Framed Pictures Hang on the Teal and White Wall to Her Left

Sen is owned by Bua Karoon, who was born and raised in Thailand, and her husband, Krit Dangruenrat. They took over in March 2025 from Karoon’s aunt and uncle, who opened Sen in 2021 and have since retired to Thailand.

This isn’t Sen’s first award. Source readers voted it Bend’s Best New Restaurant the year it opened.

Patrons Sit at a Teal Bar Counter with a White Marble Top at Sen Thai Noodles the Bright Modern Restaurant Features Rows of Glass Bottles on Shelves Leather Stools and Distinctive Curved Lighting Fixtures Suspended from the Ceiling

Nicole and I always say a great restaurant is about the whole experience, and Sen nails the vibe.

Teal wainscoting, leather bar stools, and a glowing backlit bar make the room feel polished, yet it still has the easy energy of a neighborhood noodle shop.

Cocktails That Steal the Show

The biggest surprise at Sen? The cocktails. Nicole and I both agreed they were the night’s highlight. The bar features Thai flavors—house-infused lemongrass and Thai chili tequila, galangal-lime leaf syrup, and coconut milk—without feeling gimmicky.

Most cocktails are priced at $14–$15.

Two Cocktails at Sen Thai Noodles Sit on a Light Wood Table in a Dim Restaurant on the Left is a Frothy White Drink with a Lime Slice and Metal Straw and on the Right is a Pale Pink Spritz in a Stemmed Wine Glass Filled with Ice and a Citrus Garnish

We tried the Sparkle Motion (rosemary-lime-infused gin, grapefruit, ginger, and a prosecco float) and the Tom Khallins, a Thai take on a Tom Collins with galangal-lime leaf syrup, coconut milk, and tonic. Both were excellent.

Other menu standouts include the Thai Fighter and Laab Is All You Need, a savory vodka cocktail finished with a pinch of fish sauce.

Not drinking? Sen has a zero-proof list, Thai iced tea, and Boneyard beer on tap if you prefer beer.

If cocktails drive your dining choices, Sen belongs on any list of the best bars in Bend, right alongside the Hawkeye and Huckleberry Lounge.

Not Your Average Strip-Mall Thai Food

Bend has plenty of solid Thai food, but Sen plays in a different league. The dishes are better and more inventive than the strip-mall Thai most of us are used to.

Four Golden Brown Sen Thai Noodles Spring Rolls Are Arranged on a Dark Green Oval Plate with a Small Side of Reddish Dipping Sauce and a Sprig of Cilantro the Plate Sits on a Light Wooden Table Next to an Empty White Plate and a Glass of Water

Instead of sticking to one region, Sen draws on street-food and noodle-shop recipes from across Thailand.

The result is a menu that feels familiar enough to order from, but with twists you won’t find at most Thai restaurants in Bend.

The Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot Menu

The Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot menu centers on noodles. Start with crispy veggie rolls with sweet chili sauce or the crispy garlic chicken that The Source raved about.

From there, choose from street noodles (Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Drunken Noodles), noodle soups like Old-Fashioned Tom Yum and Braised Spare Ribs, and rich curries.

Most noodle dishes and curries run $20–$28. Check the seasonal specials, too—during our visit, the spring menu included a citrus salad and tamarind shrimp.

a Wooden Table is Spread with Thai Dishes Including a Bowl of Sen Thai Noodles with Chicken a Bowl of Red Rice and Sliced Grilled Meat in Green Curry the Curry is Topped with Fresh Basil and a Glass of Water Sits Nearby Next to a Used Plate and Fork

Nicole and I shared the Drunken Noodles with chicken and the Ribeye Pumpkin Curry with red rice.  The latter was definitely my favorite dish (not sure I’ve ever had ribeye at a Thai restaurant).

The noodles came loaded with wide rice noodles, chicken, and green peppercorns, and the curry was topped with grilled ribeye and fresh Thai basil—a long way from standard takeout Thai.

a Spread of Thai Dishes Includes a Bowl of Green Curry with Grilled Meat a Plate of Sen Thai Noodles with Basil and a Side of Red Rice a Metal Spoon Rests in the Bowl of Rice and a Gold Toned Utensil Lies on a Small Empty Plate Nearby

Save room for dessert. The Mango Butterfly Pea Sticky Rice and Thai Tea Basque Burnt Cheesecake ($12 each) put creative spins on Thai classics.

What About the Hot Pot (and Brunch)?

Full disclosure: Nicole and I aren’t big hot pot fans, so we skipped it. We’ve heard it’s good, though, and hot pot has been part of Sen’s identity since day one.

If it’s your thing, give it a try.

a High Angle View Shows a Meal on a Light Wood Table Including a Bowl of Sen Thai Noodles with Chicken a Dish of Green Curry with Beef a Glass of Beer and a Small Bowl of Brown Rice a Partial Plate of Fried Food Sits in the Foreground and a Glass of Water is Nearby

Sen also serves an Asian-inspired weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Think Thai tea pancakes, French toast stuffed with ube peanut sauce, a fried chicken Benedict, and Tom Yum grits. The Source called it the best brunch in Bend, and we will definitely be back to try it.

a Top Down View Shows Thai Green Curry with Sliced Grilled Steak a Bowl of Red Rice and a Dish of Sen Thai Noodles with Chicken a Metal Knife Rests in the Curry Bowl and a Fork Sits on a Small Side Plate Atop a Light Wood Table

Reservations are available through Tock. Now that the Restaurant of the Year secret is out, book ahead for weekend dinner and brunch.

Tips for Visiting Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot

  • Book ahead on weekends. The award has made Sen one of Bend’s busiest Thai restaurants.
  • Skip Mondays. Sen is closed every Monday.
  • Order a cocktail, even if you usually don’t. It’s the best part of the experience.
  • Come back for brunch. Weekend brunch runs Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM–2 PM.
  • Bringing wine? Corkage is $25 per bottle.
Five Golden Brown Sen Thai Noodles Spring Rolls Are Served on an Oval Plate with a Small Side Dish of Red Dipping Sauce Garnished with Sprigs of Fresh Green Cilantro

Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot FAQ

69 NW Newport Ave, Suite 100, Bend, OR 97703, a short walk from downtown Bend.

Yes. Book through Tock. We recommend it on weekends.

No. Sen is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed every Monday.

Yes. Asian-inspired brunch runs Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM–2 PM.

Noodle dishes and curries run about $20–$28, and cocktails are $14–$15.

The Source Weekly named Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot its 2026 Restaurant of the Year.

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Glenn VanLandingham Travel Writer
Glenn is a travel enthusiast and adventure seeker who lives in Frederick, Maryland, and Bend, Oregon. He and his wife Nicole use EpicBend and EpicFrederick to chronicle their adventures in these amazing places so others can live their best lives in Frederick and Bend.
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