A bowl of pho comes with a front-row view of the Columbia River here. The kitchen also has a habit of throwing pop-ups featuring sablefish, mussels, and Dungeness crab.
The building has a past too. It sits on a pier where ferries once carried cars across the river, long before the big bridge showed up.
I like how this little Oregon spot refuses to stay the same. One week it’s banh mi and pho. Another week it’s ramen or a seaweed-themed seafood event.
I can’t imagine a better way to spend a gray coast afternoon. Warm broth, big water, and passing ships make a strong combination.
A Riverside Kitchen With A Mind Of Its Own
Nekst Event is a small restaurant on the Astoria waterfront with a big personality. Chef Chris Holen owns it, and the kitchen focuses on globally inspired street food.
Most of the daily attention goes to Vietnamese favorites. Think pho, banh mi, and fresh rolls served without fuss or fancy tablecloths.
The name gives you a clue about the spirit here. Nekst Event runs pop-ups and dining events, so the menu can shift depending on what the kitchen has planned.
That keeps things lively. A regular lunch can turn into a ramen day, and a quiet winter week can become a seafood showcase.
The vibe stays casual through all of it. You can order to eat in or grab your food to go, which helps if you’re road-tripping along the coast.
Google describes the spot as a humble pit stop for global street fare. Honestly, that’s a fair summary of the setup.
Still, humble doesn’t mean boring. The combination of a tiny kitchen, rotating events, and a riverfront address makes this one of the more interesting lunch stops in Oregon.
It’s the kind of place that rewards curiosity. Come for one dish, and you may leave planning a return trip for the next event.
Pho That Earns Its Spot On The Waterfront
Pho is the star of the regular menu, and it comes in three main versions. You can choose beef, chicken, or vegan.
That vegan option matters. Plant-based diners often get stuck with a side salad, but here they can order a full bowl of soup.
Each bowl comes with fixings you can adjust yourself. Bean sprouts and crushed red chili let you control the crunch and the heat.
Spice lovers, take note. You decide how fiery things get, so nobody gets surprised by a bowl that’s hotter than expected.
A dipping sauce is part of the pho experience here as well. It adds another layer for anyone who likes to customize each bite.
There’s something cozy about pho on the Oregon coast. The region gets plenty of gray, misty days, and broth feels like the right answer.
The open kitchen adds to the fun. You can see your food being made rather than wondering what happens behind a closed door.
If you only try one thing on your first visit, make it the pho. It’s the dish that built this place’s reputation along the river.
Banh Mi, Fresh Rolls, And A Cookie With Confidence
Sandwich fans get their own reason to visit. Banh mi holds a solid place on the menu at Nekst Event.
A banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich on a crusty roll. It usually stacks savory fillings with bright, crunchy toppings for a great contrast.
Fresh rolls bring a lighter option to the table. They’re a good pick if you want something cool and refreshing alongside a hot bowl.
Chicken wings also appear on the menu. They make an easy add-on for sharing, or for anyone who just wants wings.
Then there’s dessert, and the name alone deserves applause. The menu lists a Rather large Chocolate Chip Cookie.
I appreciate a cookie that tells you exactly what you’re getting. No mystery, no tiny surprise, just an honest promise of size.
Here’s a friendly ordering tip. You may be offered a bowl of broth with your banh mi, so ask about it if you’re curious.
A sandwich, a roll, and that cookie make a pretty great picnic. Carry them out to the deck and let the river handle the entertainment.
Seafood Night Gets Seriously Creative Here
Winter Waters sounds like a mood, and it tasted like the ocean. This special Nekst Event dinner put seaweed and Pacific Northwest seafood in the spotlight.
The lineup was impressive. Dishes included salt-cured sablefish and Nori-Crusted Sablefish, both built around a rich local fish.
Oregon pink shrimp made an appearance too. These small, sweet shrimp are a coastal favorite in this part of the state.
Mussels joined the menu as well. So did Dungeness crab, which might be the most famous shellfish in the Pacific Northwest.
What makes this so fun is the setting. Eating seafood beside the river that feeds into the Pacific feels completely right.
Seaweed as a central ingredient is also unusual. It shows the kitchen likes to experiment rather than repeat the same ideas.
These events don’t happen every day. They’re special occasions, so the menu during your visit might look totally different.
That’s part of the thrill, though. Keep an eye out for future seafood nights, because this kitchen clearly knows how to celebrate the coast.
The Building Has Ferry Stories Baked Right In
Long before anyone slurped noodles here, cars lined up at this pier to cross the Columbia River. The 14th Street Pier was home to the Astoria-North Beach Ferry Company starting in 1921.
Those ferries kept running until 1966. That’s when the Astoria-Megler Bridge opened and changed river travel for good.
Today, Nekst Event sits inside the historic Pilot Station building at that same spot. The name connects to the river pilots who guide ships across the dangerous Columbia Bar.
Interpretive displays along the pier explain that history. They tell the story of the bar and the skilled pilots who handle it.
I love that lunch here comes with a built-in history lesson. You can read about rough water and brave navigators, then go order a sandwich.
It also fits the larger town story. Astoria was founded in 1811 and is known as the oldest permanent U.S. settlement on the West Coast.
So the setting carries real weight. Few casual restaurants can claim a spot with this much maritime background right outside the door.
Give yourself a few extra minutes before or after your meal. The displays are worth a slow read.
Ramen Pop-Ups Keep Everyone Guessing
Ramen day is a big deal around here. Nekst Event regularly hosts pho and ramen pop-ups that bring fresh energy to the menu.
Pop-ups change things up in a fun way. Each one can feature different flavors, so returning visitors get something new to try.
The catch is timing. These offerings can come and go quickly, so missing one means waiting for the next round.
Here’s a smart move from the kitchen itself. The team recommends dining in for ramen events instead of taking bowls to go.
The reason makes sense. Fresh noodles soak up broth quickly during travel, which changes the balance of the dish.
So grab a seat and eat it right away. Bonus points if that seat looks out over the Columbia River.
I believe this rotating style is what gives the place its name. Every visit can feel like its own small event.
It also keeps the kitchen creative. Rather than cooking the same bowl forever, the team gets to play with new ideas and share them with diners.
Food lovers who enjoy variety will feel right at home. Just plan ahead.
Check The Newsletter Before You Hit The Road
Showing up on a whim might leave you staring at a closed door. Nekst Event keeps a flexible schedule, so planning pays off.
Current Google hours list Tuesday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The restaurant shows closed on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
That schedule can shift with events and pop-ups, though. The restaurant encourages guests to subscribe to its newsletter for the latest hours and menus.
Honestly, it’s a small step with a big payoff. You’ll know about ramen days and special dinners before they sell out.
The address is 175 14th St Ste 100, Astoria, OR 97103. It sits inside the Pilot Station building on the 14th Street Pier.
Weekday travelers have a nice advantage here. A Tuesday or Thursday trip lines up neatly with regular service.
Both dine-in and takeout are available. Takeout works well for a quick stop, but dining in gives you the river view.
Road-trippers heading to the beach can make this an easy detour. Just check the newsletter first, so your pho plans don’t end in disappointment.
Grab A Deck Seat And Watch The River Show
Nobody needs a TV when the Columbia River is right there. Nekst Event has a riverfront deck with a wide, open view of the water.
The outdoor seating is simple and charming. A long wooden plank table with stools lines up facing the river, so everyone gets a good look.
And there’s plenty to look at. The Columbia is a working river, so ships and boats move past on their way to and from the Pacific.
Birds are part of the scene too. If luck is on your side, a sea lion might even make a guest appearance.
Sunny days make this deck especially appealing. A warm bowl of soup tastes even better with a breeze and a river view.
On cooler days, window seats inside offer a similar picture without the chill. Oregon coast weather can flip quickly, so options help.
Here’s a practical tip. Bring a light jacket even in summer, because riverside air can get brisk fast.
The deck turns a quick lunch into a small event. It’s hard to rush a meal when the scenery keeps changing in front of you.
Stroll The Riverwalk And Make A Day Of It
Lunch is only the start of the adventure. Nekst Event sits right on the Astoria Riverwalk, a waterfront path along the Columbia River.
That makes walking off your meal easy. Step outside, pick a direction, and enjoy the river views as you go.
The pier itself deserves a look first. Those interpretive displays about river pilots and the Columbia Bar are right there.
From the waterfront, you can spot the Astoria-Megler Bridge. It’s the bridge that ended the ferry era at this very pier back in 1966.
Astoria has deep roots worth exploring. As the oldest permanent U.S. settlement on the West Coast, it carries over two centuries of history.
I like how one stop connects you to so much. Food, history, and scenery all meet in one small corner of Oregon.
Pack comfortable shoes for the walk. The riverfront invites you to wander longer than you planned.
By the time you circle back, you might be hungry again. Luckily, a Rather large Chocolate Chip Cookie could be waiting for you, which feels like the perfect riverside reward.
