chef Ryan Roadhouse

"Cooking is our way of fully living the seasons. We transmit the energy and story of the season through the ingredients and share it with the guests our table."​

Ryan Roadhouse is the chef and co-founder of Nodoguro. Since opening the restaurant in Portland in 2014, his work has been devoted to the craft of Japanese cuisine and its dialogue with the seasons of the Pacific Northwest.
What began as a small pop-up gradually grew into one of Portland’s most distinctive dining experiences. Ryan’s cooking draws from the traditions of kaiseki and omakase, where the menu is shaped by the season, the ingredients at hand, and the quiet exchange between the kitchen and the table.
His approach is grounded in technique and careful attention to ingredients. Pacific Northwest seafood, vegetables, and wild foods guide the direction of the menu, allowing classical Japanese methods to meet the landscape of Oregon.
While the foundation of the cooking is disciplined and seasonal, the menus occasionally explore unexpected themes drawn from art, film, and memory. Past dinners have taken inspiration from worlds such as Twin Peaks and Studio Ghibli, reflecting the kitchen’s curiosity while remaining rooted in craft.
Ryan’s work at Nodoguro has been recognized with a nomination from the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef Northwest & Pacific. The restaurant has also been named Restaurant of the Year by Portland Monthly, ranked the #1 restaurant by The Oregonian, and featured in publications including Vogue, Food & Wine, OPB, and Plate.
Ryan continues to cook each evening at Nodoguro, shaping menus that evolve with the seasons and the ingredients that arrive at the kitchen door.