What an interesting, quaint restaurant, tho I'd say less of a restaurant and more like walking into someone's home and paying them to cook and serve you. It's in a converted (barely) house feels like you're eating in the living room even has a fireplace still. When we went on a weeknight it was a 1-woman show doing cooking and serving. She is very funny and nice. Not sure if they have any more staff for weekends or not. The food was very good - we went w/ Kao Soi & Drunken noodle (Kee Mao). The Kao Soi was rich & loaded w/ chicken. Diced ten onion on the side to put in which is a must. Kee Mao was good, but not as sweet as other places, a little more on the spicy side which I like but some ppl prefer the sweetness. We were a little bummed they didn't have the whole fried fish, apparently you need to call a day or two in advance so they can marinate for a while. One thing that might piss some ppl off is it's cash or local check only. They have an atm. But if that makes you mad that's what you get for never having cash, idk when that became normal. read more

Lemongrass - Kee Mao (Drunken noodles) - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The food was so flavorful, I absolutely loved the noodles. And the woman who served us was so kind and welcoming. I loved how she had paper on the tables with crayons to draw. And a small section of drawings other customers left. It was so sweet,and I wish more restaurants did this. I'll definitely be coming back with my mother. read more

Hole in the wall with fantastic food. Cash only and no alcohol, but you won't miss it. The owner is lovely.

Every vegetable was vibrant and still had just the right crunch. Spice was layered and balanced with the sweet - but please listen to her when she says start low! The tofu was perfectly crispy. Portions were generous. Service was attentive and the flowers and plants surrounding us were warm and welcoming. Very vegetarian friendly! read more

Personalized service in a rustic home. Delicious food especially the Pad Thai and papaya salad. Cozy space.

The restaurant is on the ground floor of a older house in Portland. I went here and I thought the food was pretty good. I thought the service was was good. It was really an interesting setting. You'll see some of the owners stained glass art in the windows. I felt the pricing was a bit too high and they also don't accept credit cards read more

Omg omg omg. Go to this place! It is AMAZING! The owner is the nicest human being. Full of energy and smiles. She is a dynamo. She runs it all herself. And the restaurant is in a beautiful old Victorian home. Gorgeous!! And be warned- a 1 star spicy is equivalent of 3.5 or 4 in most places. So darned delicious! Run, do not walk, to Lemongrass. She even lovingly packed our curry to go so TSA wouldn't take it from us at the airport. She is an absolute gem and you should patronize her business ASAP! BE WARNED - cash or local check only. But totally worth the hassle of finding your greenbacks because this is a business worth supporting! She has been here 28 years (as of 2024) and should stay forever. Love love love read more

Lemongrass - Lovingly packed peanut curry for TSA approval - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

If you're looking for authentic Thai cuisine this is the spot! Everything is made to order using only fresh ingredients. Every dish is bursting with flavor. Impossible to even describe how good this place is. Please note, everything great comes with an asterisk...... *You have to be patient when you're here. Owner does it all, cooks, serves and cleans up. It can be a little wait to get your food but it is more than worth it. read more

This place has the best Thai food in Portland! I've been eating with this family since they had the Bangkok kitchen back in the 80s!

The best Thai food in Portland! My wife and I have been coming here for around 30 years. We judge all Thai food in Portland against Lemongrass, and it never matches up. It's a hidden gem! read more

I wish I lived in Portland because if I did, I would eat at Lemongrass Thai Restaurant all the time. This is the best Thai food I have ever tasted! The food is so fresh and flavorful and the meat is cooked PERFECTLY which is a rare experience for me at other Thai restaurants. All you have to do is come here once and you will be convinced! read more

Lemongrass - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The FOOD Omgoodness the food! Be prepared to wait as the cook makes your plates to order. It is worth it!!! The flavors don't get hidden in the heat. Should you prefer real Thai heat without sacrificing flavor. This is the only place in Portland that does that remarkably well. Cute dining room but honestly go there for the food. Bring cash as cards aren't accepted. Again its all worth it for the incredible flavors! read more

Best Thai food in Portland, hands down. The owner/chef makes my favorite Pad Thai.love the cozy atmosphere of the old Portland home that it's located in. The owner is very personable. read more

Expensive. Attentive. Large portions. Bizarre. Caring. Middling. I really don't know how to rate this place, except to say I soooo wanted to love this place. Nope. Don't love, don't hate. Ehhh. Definitely seems like they survive on regulars, and this is really a neighborhood place. The springrolls were leathery and 1/4 was all we ate. They were accompanied with a mild chili paste--good; and hoisin sauce squeezed straight out of the bottle (or large can more likely) and into the monkey dish. Really?!?!?! Not worth it. The chef came out two or three times. She noticed the uneaten springrolls and asked about them. So I shared my opinion, pointing out to her how thick the wrapping was. She replied, "you are the only one who doesn't like them. I make them that thick so they don't soak up oil." Ummm, that's not gonna impact oil absorption, fryer temperature is more the issue for oil absorption. But she removed them from the bill, which I neither asked for nor desired. In fact, I even said, "please leave it on." She removed it anyway, saying, "you will come again." And how I wish I could. From the curmudgeon of a waiter--which I love, btw, to the house-like setting--We really wanted to like it. One entree is enough for two--which maybe means the place isn't expensive? Hard to say. Don't get me wrong, the yellow curry was tasty, the vegetables al dente, the portion size on the large size. The prices are 20% too high for the quality level. Like, this was not the jasmine rice favored by the Thai, but a very low end white rice with many broken ends. Others have mentioned the place being disorganized and dirty. A fair assessment but not what bothered us. We tipped generously on the full tab (with spring rolls included amount) because that way when the mediocre review comes out, they know I am not doing so out of spite. Would we go back? Probably, but not in a hurry. Maybe in a few years. It's heartbreaking because both the chef and husband are very likable. read more

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I use to love this place 22 years ago but just revisited it now and chicken pad thai was horrible. Noodles were Mushy and not what I remember and the chicken wasnt chopped and mixed into it. The inside is in a broken down house that doesn't hasnt been upkept and needs a total reservation. there are no waiters except for the owner who is a sweetheart but who is now doing everything herself. I am sad but would never go here again and would say this place should close down sadly the time has come. Ps - content moderator I did eat there I'm in Portland Oregon now so please don't remove all this is true read more

Top notch food in a comfortable setting. Gets (deservedly) crazy busy at peak times. Has the spiciest food in town. Not even a competition. One of my favorite places. read more

Cute little house in off of NE Couch. Very Portland atmosphere. all their food is made with fresh items, no frozenfood. We live in Vancouver, but it is worth the drive! read more

Payment via cash or local check?! Okay keep avoiding taxes, I see... Also $23 for an entree? read more

Great Thai food in the dining room or to go. This is one of the original Portland Thai restaurants with the standards done very well. Crispy delicious spring rolls are the perfect starter. Warning, believe the advice, the hot level is not what you are used to. "The pad thai noodles are very tasty, the chicken was fresh and the noodles were perfectly done. The spicy noodles are delicious and very spicy. The thai iced tea is a good way to tame the heat. Support a local restaurant during these tough times. Between inflation and Covid, small businesses like this need all the help they can get to stay afloat. read more

THE BEST THAI NOODLES YOU CAN GET OUTSIDE OF THAI LAND! If you love Thai food do yourself a favor and order these right now- you will never have anything else like it read more

It is time to admit that I am completely addicted to Lemongrass food! Had baby boo Chou last night , and loved every bite , fluffy rice, fresh bok choy with slivers of ginger prepared al dente- perfecto! Service was quick , responsive , and very pleasant! Next time you are in say hi to Josie! Top notch service!!!! read more

What a cool little place. Owner runs and she was the only person working the day we ate there. Food was pretty expensive but solid, authentic Thai. They have a spiciness scale (1-10) but stick to lower numbers. The owner was really funny - she's a character! Cash/check only. read more

Consistently superior ingredients and preparation. Authentic heat, so take warning; we order "mild-plus" and it's plenty tingly. Green curry, garlic basil, and Pad Thai are faves. read more

Wow... Anyone that wants the freshest, highest quality, SPICIEST thai food in town needs to at least try this place. Yes, it's probably the most expensive Thai cuisine in Portland (avg $8-10 for appetizer and $16 for entree like curry, noodles, etc), and they get busy fast with one cook and one waiter cooking it only when ordered (reservation recommended), and they have limited hours only for dinner, and it's only cash or check payments, BUT it's still worth visiting. One of the most interesting things I found is how closely this place resembled Khun Pic's Thai on Belmont: One Thai cook and one waiter, in an antique 2-story house, serving up the best Thai food she can cook without cutting corners for quantity or price, with the biggest difference being that Lemongrass can bring the heat! According to the waiter: Level 1/2 of 20 is a "mild" in the minds of most people. Level 1 of 20 is "medium" Level 2 of 20 is hot Level 3 of 20 is supposedly as hot as you'll find in almost all of PDX And that leaves the other 17 levels for you to try at your own risk, and really see how much you love capsaicin :-) If you go, you HAVE to try the fried drumsticks ($10 for 4) (amazing thick, flavorful breading) and khao soi....and it wouldn't be a bad idea to order a thai ice tea to put out the fire in your mouth :-) Finally, don't forget to bring CASH or CHECK! No credit cards!!! read more

Lemongrass - Closed Sunday and Monday! - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The spiciest Thai restaurant here in the City of Roses is definitely Lemongrass. For those who know me, I always grab the black pepper and do the shaker dance. I think this is the few places in town where no additional shake is needed. Set in a quaint house, the ma and pop duo are very welcoming and charming. Definitely order a thai coffee or tea - trust me you will thank me later. The spice level ranges typically 0-5 scale. If you are a regular customer, you will be offered the # as high as 10 during the fall/winter season and up to 20 in the spring/summer. For newbies, 1 is definitely a great heat. Future visits you can work your way up if you so desire. 2 is the highest I can handle which proves these guys mean business. The dishes are prepared in a timely matter - expect no rush and be patient. Once the food arrives, the portions definitely can feed 2-3 people. The prices are a little more but the quality is definitely higher than most thai restaurants in town. I have seen people go as high as 10 and the puddle of tears certainly prove the heat factor is on! Reservations are highly recommended for big groups and please bring cash. They do not accept cards and in a way does make it easier in splitting the check for big groups. read more

Well, it's coming up on the 10 year anniversary of my original review of Lemongrass, so I'd just like to come back and say that they're still just as good as they always have been. Back in the 90's, I worked downtown and had a co-worker with a readily accessible car, so Lemongrass was a regular lunch destination. Coming back recently for lunch was a delight - the garlic basil veggies with chicken remains one of my all time favorite foods, anywhere, any time. I will say that, since the 90's, the food scene in Portland has obviously made huge strides, so Lemongrass remains my favorite spot in town, but the gap has narrowed somewhat - due solely to the change in the quality of the competition. There are a small number of places that I get real cravings for, and I'm happy to have Lemongrass among them. read more

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We loved the food we got from this place! One entree feeds two, easily. None of us finished our food on the first sitting. We adore the lady we met that night (Saturday October 23 at 7pm) who was running this place by herself in the final business hour, and very much worth the wait (there were four of us, and two orders ahead of us). I had the chicken fried rice and shared it with a colleague who said he never had fried rice like this in his life. Very much agreed! Easy to miss if you're walking or driving by; looks like a house. read more

Lemongrass - Four happy out-of-towners from all over the continent! - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Unfortunately, Lemongrass has the worst green curry I've ever had from a restaurant. I asked for a 10 in heat, and they said they would only let me have a 5 unless I was a repeat customer. Which I kind of understand because some customers may turn food back if it's too hot, but I wish I could have had it hotter. The curry itself tasted watered down and did not resemble a curry at all. It tasted more like a strange, cold, and sweet soup with completely raw vegetables. I know the argument, "iF yOU wAntEd fLavOr ThEn dOn'T oRDeR iT sO HoT," but it could have been hotter for my taste, and I've had much hotter curry that was full of flavor elsewhere. If I'm paying the exorbitant prices Lemongrass charges, I expect to have my food as hot as I want. If the owners choose to have policy about heat, which is a total facade here, the food better be damn good; it's not. Gave an extra star because the chef was funny, and reminded me of my adopted Southeast Asian mom, and I actually feel bad for leaving an honest review of my experience here. read more

This place was very nice and homey; A house turned into a restaurant? Awesome. It's really nice and decorative. The owners were very nice and service was quite good. Don't be expecting them to cook up your food in 5 minutes because this is a local family owned restaurant! [+] My friend and I ordered the curries. My expectation of the curries were to be in small bowls because that's how most places have it. But this was not the case, one bowl of curry was about to serve two people! We had so much food that I had to take it to-go! The chicken curry was no joke! You know how some places would have small chunks of chicken and load it up with potatoes because they're cheap? Well this place is loaded up with big chunks of chicken! YUM. The potatoes they use in the curry are also different from the other curry places, they use the Yukon potatoes. It gives a nice texture to the curry. [-] The down side to the places is that they only accept checks or cash, no credit cards. That's understandable because it's a local restaurant and don't want to deal with credit card fees. Second, I think they close one day out of the week, which I cannot remember, but it's a very odd day to be closed. read more

Lemongrass - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This is our favorite Thai place. The chicken pad thai is amazing and so flavourful! Peanut chicken curry has a depth of flavor that is unmatched in any curry I've had. Portions are large. Chef is so sweet and wants to make sure you love your food. We always come back. read more

I liked it there. This was on the night where the power was out at my home but luckily first there's on. The food was great. Even maybe some homemade pecan pie was also good. It's a little hole on the wall I hardly recommend read more

***GREAT SPICY THAI FOOD IN PDX*** I've never really been into spicy foods until I moved up to Portland. Partly because I grew up on Filipino food and if you're familiar with that cuisine, there is hardly any heat in those dishes! Over the last few years, I'm glad I was able to expand my horizons and delve into something hot! I can say that I can tolerate a good amount of heat, but I would totally fail if I ate a ghost chili pepper...... Lemongrass (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lemongrass-portland?select=wAB5bR0TI31cUkx0ASfMsg#s_-3GhcFgM-SssFIPAPcXA) is a hole-in-the-wall-mom-and-pop shop that serves up spicy Thai food! Run by a cute elderly couple (wife is the Thai cook and her Caucasian husband was our waiter). They have different levels which range from zero to twenty. Zero being without any heat and twenty for those who are die-hard heat afficionados. ~~~HOW TO ORDER THE HEAT~~~ Level 0 = no heat Level 1/2 = mild Level 1 = medium (they make a solid "medium") Level 1 + = slightly hotter than a medium Level 2 = hot Level 2 + = slightly hotter than hot (most people order a 2 or 2 +) ..... and this can go on until 20! (refer to Bryan I.'s review for more details) [decor] Mismatched chairs and dining tables. Looks a bit run-down and wasn't sure if the steps on the porch were going to give in. They have a huge fire place filled with Thai-related or random knick knacks. There are also photos of the family and old Christmas cards. Nothing traditional with the decor or dining table. The place is clean, but old. [devour] *SPICY FRIED RICE with PRAWNS ($12.50; **4 STARS**) was ordered "Level 1" since the fried rice was already considered spicy since chili paste was incorporated into the Jasmine fried rice. The dish came out to be a good mild flavor. The prawns were pretty much a fancy word for plump shrimp to me, which were cooked just right. This dish was also cooked with garlic and Thai basil. An excellent dish to eat alone or with an accompanying entree. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lemongrass-portland?select=wAB5bR0TI31cUkx0ASfMsg#NRwoBQZCaH3fixnYfuxTcQ) *CURRY PEANUT SAUCE with CHICKEN ($16.50; **4 STARS**) was ordered "Level 2" and was probably a favorite amongst my diners. This dish came with a bowl of white Jasmine rice. The peanut sauce was a nice mix into the tender chicken. In fact, it tamed the heat that we had ordered as "Level 2". I wouldn't mind ordering this dish again and again! (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lemongrass-portland?select=wAB5bR0TI31cUkx0ASfMsg#ywsSk8kZKENnJhekRnpjmw) *THAI NOODLES with CHICKEN ($12; **5 STARS**) was also ordered as a "Level 2" and I must say was packing a punch of heat! My nose was running after a few bites of these (shows how much I react to heat!)...... This was your traditional Pad Thai where you had small rice noodles, crushed peanuts, pieces of fried egg, side of preserved radish, bean sprouts, chillies, chopped green onions, cilantro, and a wedge of lime. Although it was your run-of-the-mill Pad Thai, it was an amazing dish considering how well executed the entree was. I would recommend anyone coming here for the first time to order this! (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lemongrass-portland?select=wAB5bR0TI31cUkx0ASfMsg#EkdGpTPNh95NHAMowNeMDA) [drank] *THAI ICED TEA ($2.50; **4 STARS**) - I wasn't expecting the color of my drink to look like iced coffee, but perhaps it's because my drink didn't come out of a can. You still had the sweetness that the Thai iced tea would give you but in about a 8 ounce glass. You can easily drink this quickly as you are waiting for your food that you may need a second glass. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lemongrass-portland?select=wAB5bR0TI31cUkx0ASfMsg#5cfsxvsZ0_M_GJKsGMnIBw) FYI = -***CASH ONLY**** -BUT they have an ATM inside the restaurant if you forgot to pick up some cash -Parking on neighborhood streets -They accept reservations (recommended) -They accept to-go orders -Beer (Singha/Widmer) and wine (red/white) available -Other beverages available: iced coffee, Jasmine tea or Mango nectar -They won't let you order past a Level 5 on your first visit there (not sure how they would track how many times you've visited their establishment though.....) -Great service! The Thai food here is FLAWLESS and executed quite well (given that you order within an appropriate heat level that you still taste the flavors). Although the portions are within a respectable amount, one downfall is that the dishes do come with a HEFTY price tag - this can be a bit unbearable for those who are looking for a cheap eat. I wouldn't mind coming back here again. Especially to try their chicken wings! RECOMMENDED for those who love spicy food! Yelp 2013 100+ Reviews Challenge (going for 200!) - Review #172 read more

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I've gotta rescue Lemongrass from the 1-star bashfest. First, everyone now knows this place is a CASH ONLY. Second, everyone now knows that this place has ONE cook, the woman who owns the house. This isn't fast food. Third, everyone now knows when the server (husband of the woman who owns the house) says spicy, he means it. You may discount at least three of the single-star reviews. I've been to Lemongrass about six or seven times. It's my old faithful for the best curry in Portland. The recipes come straight from the family cookbook, which exists only in the mind of the woman who owns this house. I've never had an issue with service, because I know what to expect. Khun Pic's Bahn Thai, the Thai restaurant on Belmont and 34th, is run by the sister and brother-in-law of the lady at Lemongrass. If you like KPBT, you'll like Lemongrass. Both restaurants are run out of old remodeled Victorian homes by the same family. It's really a competition between sisters. The powerhouse dishes at Lemongrass are the curry selections and the soups. The curry isn't too thick, isn't too runny, and has gobs of bubbling flavor. Fairly impossible to disappoint. The Tom Yum with prawns is superb, second in flavor only to KPBT. I hate to say it, but the noodle dishes really pale in comparison to the quality of the curry. That's not to say they are bad, quite the opposite, they are tasty. If you're only in the mood for noodles, and not a curry fan, there's other places I'd try (KPBT does slightly better on this front). I believe Lemongrass offers a whole fish, which I haven't had the opportunity to partake, but looks fantastic. As a final note, be sure NOT to order your dishes with zero spice - always go minimum of mild. Otherwise, she will remove fresh spices and peppers that create so much of the flavor which makes the curry great. With having a better idea of what to expect when you dine here, go enjoy with an open mind. read more

Lemongrass - courtesy of http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3565709306_216492bc43.jpg?v=0 - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is the first restaurant we visited on our first trip to Portland and it exceeded all our expectation! The flavours were well blended and the spice level just right! The chicken Thai noodle has a potent egg flavour that hooks you on first bite. We will definitely come back!! read more

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This restaurant is located inside a quaint little corner house. As you enter, you can see the wife cooking back in the kitchen while the husband mans the front. VERY nice people that will answer your endless questions on how spicy we should order things or anything else about the menu. I do feel that the 1-20 spicy rating is very gimmicky. I can eat spicy food, but do I really want it so spicy that I can't taste anything else after? I don't think so. I guess if you want to have some kind of food challenge amongst your friends, here's a place you can do it. The 3 dishes we tried were all one dimensional, not sure how else to describe it. They're not bad, just seems same-same (but different) between all 3 dishes: spicy fried rice, curry peanut sauce & thai noodles. I ordered the 2 scale and I thought it was just the right spice level for me. I wouldn't avoid going here again, but I would've seek it out either. FYI, they accept cash only but they do have an ATM machine on the premises. read more

Don't call me Surly! The owner/server apparently doesn't speak jive. We visited last night and were overjoyed that Shelly, the chef/owner could make us dishes that were veganized. It'd been years since I've visited this house (on the corner of 17th & Couch St). I found it showing signs of wear, and not quite how I remembered it. They've been doing this for 23 years, 20 at this location Thankfully the food hasn't changed one bit though. Shelly's cooking is otherworldly. I'd forgotten how special a talent she is. When meeting her, you understand why the food is so good. We had the fried tofu, the (spicy) green papaya salad, and the red and yellow curries. It was a lot of food but leftovers were on our agenda. Others in our party seemed happy with their food as well. We can't wait to go back. I urge you to visit and try some of the best Thai food in Portland. read more

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While the food was pretty good, I hated this place because it's overpriced and it felt like a scam; there is no sign anywhere that states "cash only" and with an ATM right in the dining room (pretty tacky) it's clear to me they're intentionally deceiving the customers. Also the waiter wasn't great, kinda arrogant and never checked up on us. read more

Very unique house styled Thai restaurant. I would of never guessed it was a restaurant until my friend took me there to try some of the best Thai food ever. We ordered the fried tofu for starters. Best Tofu I've ever had. It was not like the mushy poo I've had before at some Thai restaurants. My friend and I shared a large vegetable salad with peanut sauce. This salad was loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, sweet onions, hard boiled eggs and fried tofu. We also shared a Chicken/vegetable and rice dish. Believe me, one LUNCH dish is enough for two people. I can't imagine what a Dinner would be like. Anyway, our main meal was made with different kinds of grilled veggies and chicken. Zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, yams, tender pieces of chicken and different colored squash all blended together in a savory sauce . I asked for a level "1" on the Thai rating score of 1-10 heat. A "1" doesn't sound hot, but...If a "1" can make my nose run...can you imagine how hot a "5" would be? This dish was amazing and very tasteful The cook was also very friendly and asked how things tasted at least three times. She was a happy little lady. I will go back again. read more

I am an avid traveler and love to try Thai in every city I visit...over my 29 years on the world...this ranks in my top 1% favorite Thai restaurant...ambiance, flavor, service, smells...it's all perfect. So happy this was my first meal ever in Portland! The Tom kha soup with veggies and tofu was like a true home cooked Thai meal...I could not have asked for more. My husband admitted this was his favorite Thai restaurant ever....that is huge because he rarely in a blue moon agrees to eat Thai with me. His notion is "Thai food" is hit or miss...but his response to Lemongrass was "I'd eat here all the time if I live here." This place needs to be on your short list of musts in Portland. read more

Lemongrass - Dining area - Thai Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It has been years since I have visited lemongrass. Due to the pandemic darn Covid! She is open but only for takeout I have a very high tolerance two spicy foods when I called him I ordered for pick up with my sister and let her know I want a level five she told me that my sister and I would die well here it is the day after reading the great food and my sister and I are still alive. She was great she walked with me to my car made sure I got into the car safely and place the food in my lap. I will take pictures to post with every food but the carnage were so great there's nothing left it's so sad that I'm moving out of state I would love to go there again and again and again wish lemongrass the best in years to come read more