Kann is a live-fire restaurant in Southeast Portland serving seasonal, à la carte Haitian cuisine from chef Gregory Gourdet, who spent 10 years running the kitchen at Departure Restaurant + Lounge before opening this one. The name comes from the Haitian Creole word for sugar cane, a nod to Gourdet's childhood memory of cane vendors in Haiti.
The kitchen works over open fire, marinating proteins for layers of flavor and cooking with traditional Haitian ingredients — Scotch bonnet chili, coconut, plantains, djon djon, sour orange, thyme, clove, cinnamon, allspice, vanilla — alongside local Pacific Northwest vegetables, fruit, meat, and seafood.
The recognition has piled up fast. The James Beard Foundation named Kann Best New Restaurant in 2023 and gave Gourdet Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific region in 2024. Bon Appétit included it among that year's Best New Restaurants, and it's since landed on Eater's Eater 38, Portland Monthly's 2025 best-of list, and North America's 50 Best Restaurants in 2025. Robb Report named it among its Best New Restaurants for 2026, and The Infatuation scored it 9.1 out of 10.
Regulars and critics alike point to the same combination — Haitian flavor, consistent execution, and a room built for special-occasion dining, with vegetarian-friendly options woven through the menu.
The kitchen works over open fire, marinating proteins for layers of flavor and cooking with traditional Haitian ingredients — Scotch bonnet chili, coconut, plantains, djon djon, sour orange, thyme, clove, cinnamon, allspice, vanilla — alongside local Pacific Northwest vegetables, fruit, meat, and seafood.
The recognition has piled up fast. The James Beard Foundation named Kann Best New Restaurant in 2023 and gave Gourdet Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific region in 2024. Bon Appétit included it among that year's Best New Restaurants, and it's since landed on Eater's Eater 38, Portland Monthly's 2025 best-of list, and North America's 50 Best Restaurants in 2025. Robb Report named it among its Best New Restaurants for 2026, and The Infatuation scored it 9.1 out of 10.
Regulars and critics alike point to the same combination — Haitian flavor, consistent execution, and a room built for special-occasion dining, with vegetarian-friendly options woven through the menu.