Bo and Steve Kline opened the original restaurant in northwest Portland in 1995.[3] The restaurant was charged with unfair labor conditions in 2010.[4][5] In early 2014, after the restaurant had closed, an executive was accused of stealing $1 million.[6]
Legal issues
Typhoon! Has been sued multiple times by their employees, have been delinquent on their taxes and in September 2010, the state filed a civil suit claiming the restaurant discriminated against Thai chefs. One of their locations was seized by the landlord in February 2011 for non-payment of rent. The following month, some of their vendors sued because they weren’t being paid.[7]
The discrimination suit also alleged human trafficking violations. A federal arbitration panel found in favor of the chef and awarded them $268,000. They found no evidence of human trafficking. Arbitrators award damages to former Typhoon! chef but found no evidence on the human trafficking claims.[8]