“We wanted to bring something new and exciting to Bend that hadn’t been done before and showcase new flavors, ingredients and dishes.” Cynthia Linh founded JIA Asian Street Kitchen with that mission in mind.

With Linh’s background in social media (she’s known as @Cyneats on Instagram.), marketing and public relations (she helped open restaurants for Kevin Hart and Ayesha Curry.), it’s no wonder there was a long line out the door when the new restaurant opened in the fall of 2023. Fast forward to now, and the vibrant, colorful restaurant on South Brookswood Avenue in Bend is attracting new fans daily, especially with the opening of their festive, private patio perfect for al fresco dining.

“I wanted to bring more spice to Bend,” Linh says, explaining why the menu is brimming with selections such as General Garlic Prawns tossed in a pepper and garlic sauce and Spicy Eggplant with basil and crushed chili. The food is food the owner craves. “The original inspiration for the menu was all the things I crave or grew up eating that I wanted other people to try,” says Linh, whose Chinese parents were born and raised in Vietnam. Linh herself grew up in the Bay Area after her mother and father found refuge in San Francisco after escaping the war.

There's also a distinct Thai influence at JIA, thanks to Linh's business partner, Gen Wongpisethkul. Having owned and operated several successful restaurants in California, Wongpisethkul relocated to Bend to bring his expertise to JIA. Linh is grateful for the incredible knowledge and recipes he brought along, which have both expanded and refined JIA’s original comfort food menu. Many of the dishes are elevated and meant to be enjoyed family-style, encouraging everyone to share and savor together at the table.

Every item on the JIA menu, from custom cocktails to delectable desserts, is thoughtfully curated and full of artistic flare. Take the Tiki Torch rum drink, which is fired up tableside like a 4th of July sparkler, or the showstopping Bone-In Beef Noodle Soup. The giant fall-off-the-bone-tender beef short rib is delivered in a rich broth with udon noodles, various veggies, herbs, and crispy garlic and onion on top.

Some standout dishes from the menu include Pork Belly Baos, featuring five-spice pork belly, pickled carrot, and crisp vegetables on a fluffy bao bun. The Far East Chx consists of fried chicken wings glazed in honey, soy, ginger, garlic, and sesame sauce. The full-size wings are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with the perfect balance of sweetness and heat. Another highlight is the Thai Red Curry with Chicken, which features a quarter leg of chicken marinated in lemongrass, served with roasted potato, turnip, onion, carrot and broccoli simmered in a Thai red curry sauce. This dish is served with jasmine rice and topped with sweet basil and jalapeños, and it's tender, flavorful, and completely satisfying. The Pork Belly & Rice is also slow-cooked and served with jasmine rice, soy-marinated egg, cilantro, green onions, pickled carrots, and a spicy garlic-lime vinaigrette.

Twenty-dollar lunch specials include a choice of crab Rangoon or bone broth and a Vietnamese Saigon Bowl, Thai Crispy Basil with Beef, and a “Pra Ram” Peanut Bomb with peanut curry sauce and a ton of veggies, among other choices.

Whether you’re sitting at JIA’s bar under the Chinese goddess wall painting or relaxing at a table near the blooming cherry blossom tree or outside under the twinkling patio lights and hanging flowers, the WOW factor is strong, and that’s important to Linh. “I want you to see something you don’t see every day. I want the wow factor in taste, in the visual, in everything we do at JIA,” she smiles.

She’s thrilled at the community's response. “We feel really welcomed, and we want to continue to give the community a fun place to go.” That means happy hour, comedy nights, karaoke nights, and arcade games upstairs for the kids, which may seem unexpected for an Asian Street Kitchen, but then again, there’s no place like JIA.

JIA Asian Street Kitchen; 19570 Amber Meadow Dr., #100, Bend; (541) 241-7172; jiastreetkitchen.com; open Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, and 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. for dinner; closed Sunday.