Came for dinner at 5p on a Friday without reservation and were seated right away downstairs at the chef's bar area. The environment is lively, mostly because Taro is personable and we were able to see him create beautiful sushi dishes live while hearing him engage with the customers seated around him. It was actually really fun listening to his stories, and seeing how he is passionate about the food he makes. He was excited about the uni and was talking about how the fish he orders is from Spain and how he really wanted to order another great cut of fish. The food was delicious, even down to the house sodas they have. We ordered the summer margarita with fresh berries, lime soda, cold beet appetizer, veggie donburi, chef's choice spicy trio hand rolls, chocolate mochi blackberry cake - and at the end Taro gave us 2 nigiri on the house. The house lime soda - usually soda is nothing to blink an eye at, but the lime flavor was fresh and just the right amount of sweetness. We were surprised by how good it was. The summer margarita was a delight, the alcohol and fresh summer flavors balanced perfectly so that neither overpowered the other. The beet appetizer was fun to try. Beets can sometimes be too earthy/muddy in flavor, but the nutty dressing paired with the salty, crunchy puffed chip paired well with the soft bites of beet. The veggie donburi bowl was much bigger than expected, and everything on it was good. The tempura tofu was well executed - silken tofu encased in a thin/crispy layer that tasted light and not greasy. The overall flavor of the bowl is akin to teriyaki, but less sweet and more of a deep umami and more smoky flavor. The handrolls had a good amount of fish to rice/topping ratio. The wasabi actually has some real wasabi in it, and the pickled ginger and soy sauce made every bite flavorful. Very filling. The fish were all fresh and tasted great. My partner who almost never eats meat couldn't resist and ate a piece of nigiri and loved it. The mochi chocolate cake was very unique and definitely worth trying. I find most chocolate cake too sweet with a generic cocoa powder flavor and too heavy. The texture of the cake is not too dense, but has a nice mochi bite to it while tasting a deep cacao flavor without it feeling too heavy. The sweet/richness is just right paired with bites of fresh blackberries. Honestly, may be the best dessert I've eaten so far this year. The interior is well decorated and pays homage to Akira the anime. The hostess who greeted us seemed stressed and it definitely showed on her face the whole night. But, our server was kind and attentive. Despite the handrolls taking ~20 mins to show up, the food was delicious and worth the wait. There is so much more to try on the menu. Will gladly come back and support Taro and crew! read more

See all

Taro was on it last night. He was jumping around smiling, laughing with customers and connecting with friends. We sat at the sushi bar for omakase - chef's choice. Each dish was fantastic. Each little plate was constructed by him with its own touches. He put real care into everything that went out. And it kept coming out and then something else delicious and something else. We had to finally tell them when we were done. Then they gave us some ribs to take home. It was also delicious. Cost is $150 pp. If you can, do read more

See all

Amazing!! The food is always wonderful so unique, so flavorful and delicious! The first time my husband and I went to Akita we were seated upstairs in a quiet sitting room that was very unique and special; it was a great way to celebrate our anniversary. And, the most recent experience was so lovely with getting seated at the sushi bar downstairs and getting to see Taro work his magic. It was also a unique and special experience. Everyone I have met that has ever been to AKira can't stop raving about how delicious the food is. There are not enough adjectives to describe how amazing the food is. Each item is like a crescendo and it builds and build and builds! read more

See all

I would give this place 10 stars if I could. The food was excellent and so was the staff. Well trained in caring for the guests needs and making sure they are comfortable. I will be coming back soon. I was given cash for Christmas so I could come back! read more

Akira - 10 piece Chefs Choice Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

I wanted to break my usual restaurant rotations whenever I'm visiting Eugene and I had Akira bookmarked for awhile. I had been in the mood for some sushi and finally took the leap of faith to try it out. Thankfully they were able to seat me quickly without reservations. I started off with a cocktail- Running Out of Time. What I ordered: -Chicken Karaage -Steamed Buns: Whitefish -Sake Nigiri -Hamachi Nigiri -Mr. V roll The karaage and steamed buns have been served first and thankfully those 2 dishes held me off while I waited for my sushi. Karaage was good, but my absolute favorite was their steamed buns whitefish. I don't know if that was on their menu or a special but whitefish was so buttery and good. Surprisingly their nigiris were good and ordering Mr. V roll was just enough to make me full. As far as the restaurant goes, its in a house that they've renovated to a restaurant. They have 2 floors. Because their sign isn't as visible, I almost missed it. read more

See all

While having a drink at a distillery, we asked if anyone knew a good sushi restaurant. We were told Akira was a good place to go to. We were so happy we went because the food was delicious and the staff was friendly. We started with the Steamed bun braised Dungeness crab tacos and they were unique and flavorful. We followed that with a roll that had steak on it. We never had that before and it was the right move. I think everyone there was ordering them. We also ordered a fried crab roll, edamame, 10 pc sashimi, and a salmon roll. It was all flavorful and plentiful. I told my husband, if I knew the gentleman at the distillery was still there, I'd go back and thank him for telling us about Akira. read more

See all

We love this place. Warning, the quality is so high it will ruin other sushi places for you and it's worth it. It's so good it brings tears to your eyes. Pure love of food, quality and good humans. Leave your bad attitude at the door, and experience food joy. read more

See all

For starters, their service, while not rude, is certainly not given with a smile. We were seated upstairs but were not told until after we were seated that we couldn't order anything from the "special menu" which is reserved only for people sitting downstairs. Our server didn't smile and seemed so impatient when we asked questions about the menu. He was going off the clock and flippantly said, if you need anything ask the other guy or the bartender, both of which seemed disinterested in filling in for him. When we asked about which tuna nigiri was which (several were on the plate) they had no clue and were not interested in finding out for us. Food wise, it was okay and I've certainly had better but the lackluster service tainted the entire night. read more

See all

Excellent sushi and cocktails. They made me a steak and I'm very particularly about how I like it cooked. They nailed it and it was drop dead delicious. It's not very big but it's worth the trip. read more

Akira - Dinning room - Sushi Bars Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Tried Akira for the first time with some friends who go there often, and I was very impressed with the food! Overall taste and presentation 10/10 they also had a strawberry espresso martini that I had to try- soo good! read more

Akira - Espresso martini - Sushi Bars Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

I've heard they take reservations, but I wasn't able to get ahold of anyone by calling -- it's recommended to reach out on Instagram. The main draw for me is their tasting menu, at $150 pp. I can safely say it's worth the price! This time, it was a Monday so the tasting menu was not available -- we ordered a variety of nigiri, sushi, buns, and other small plates, as well as some cocktails. Everything was well executed and greatly enjoyed by our group. The quality of the fish is particularly impressive. You must get dessert! The mochi cake is to die for. I highly recommend sitting at the counter so you can watch and chat with the sushi chefs. They are entertaining and knowledgeable and will recommend things to order if you ask. There are also tables downstairs and upstairs, but they only offer the tasting menu downstairs. read more

See all

Food is delicious, intentions are good, but they have gotten comfortable. There were multiple large spiders in cob webs in the windows, both eating large bugs! One directly above us the entire time! Also dead bugs in windowsills which tells us they are not routinely dusting and cleaning. Service was alright. Might be the new management but this time was lackluster compared to the others. This was our 6th Akira trip and we usually rave about it but the staff this evening does not bring the same energy that the old one did! Food is the reason we are leaving at 4 stars but they are not maintaining their space like they used to! read more

See all

I first discovered this restaurant on Yelp about five years ago while visiting my parents who had recently moved to Eugene, Oregon from Marin County, the suburb of San Francisco. I'm a vegetarian but love vegetarian sushi, and my dad loves seafood and having both been Bay Area natives are used to really quality Japanese food (my mom who doesn't care for sushi or tofu but is a Karage chicken aficionado!). For whatever reason, including COVID and not taking many trips from the Bay Area to Eugene, we were finally able to dine at Akira on May 1, 2026. Thankfully, the food was excellent and didn't disappoint despite the five year wait! A must try as a starter is the Moyashi aka mung bean sprouts - pickled w/soy sauce or tamari, vinegar (?), microgreens & sesame seeds. The dish had a light spice, and may have had shichimi togarashi added. For vegetarians, I highly recommend the Donburi Yasai - $27. The Donburi Yasai it is definitely a large portion for one or even two people. In my opinion, the dish is to be shared amongst two or many at the table. The tofu wedges was one of the best tofu presentations I've ever had. My only complaint is that I never received a knife to which would've been helpful to cut the tofu especially the large pieces of asparagus and lotus root however, I did OK with my chopsticks for everything (with the exception of the asparagus). I also believe the dish required a dipping sauce option such as the karage chicken aïoli which was on the table and excellent with the tofu. Alternatively, a Ponzu sauce option, made in house or even Marukan Sudachi citrus ponzu would've been fine (for those who have a love on ponzu sauce but don't make it themselves, I highly recommend Marukan, a store bought brand). I also wanted to try some vegetarian sushi or even inari, but without the restaurant having Ponzu, I did not order as I do not like to use plain soy sauce with sushi and always substitute Ponzu when eating at Japanese restaurants. The Donburi Yasai dish also had what I later upon looking at my local grocery store believed to be cauliflower mushroom (however I may be incorrect) a very unusual type of mushroom in the dish that was almost seaweed like, delicious and surprising in the dish. Again, the fried tofu wedges were nothing shy of exceptional. The tofu wedges should also be served like the karage chicken as an appetizer or small plate that you can order as a standalone dish with the aioli. Vegetarians would come flocking to the restaurant for the fried tofu alone! Also ordered the salmon, avocado roll, and I had the miso soup served as a larger portion than I'm used to w/seaweed, tofu & mushrooms. I forgot to take pictures of the miso soup as I was starving and waited about 20-25 minutes after our first dish Moyashi and second item, my miso soup was served. That said the soup was divine some of the best I've had and ultimately well worth the wait. Side note, like my fixation on ponzu, I love shichimi togarashi especially in my miso soup (rest assured chefs, I always taste the soup as is before adding this delightful seasoning/condiment) after some back and forth, and a $1.00 charge I was given a tiny side of said spice! To be fair, Akira does state and mean it with their NO SUBSTITUTIONS policy but to me no togarashi shichimi with miso soup is like fries w/o ketchup! ;) They also have an absolute NO to go condiments or condiment containers policy. That I state as just an unusual fact without judgement or personal commentary. Anyways, as a vegetarian, I don't eat chicken, but was told that the Manju chicken buns and Karage chicken were absolutely excellent and some of the best fried chicken dishes my parents had ever had in their lifetime! My mom had just celebrated her 80th birthday so this is quite the statement especially considering she is a Karage chicken aficionado! I did notice that the karage chicken, like Yasai Donburi was a very large portion specially for the $15.00 price point. Despite the parentals best efforts, they had leftovers which were enjoyed at home. Overall, I strongly recommend this restaurant as one of the very best restaurants in Eugene (likely top 3-4 restaurants in the Eugene/Springfied area) and I believe Akira would stand up to some of the best Japanese restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you've never been to Akira and live in the area, you MUST try this place ASAP if you're visiting from anywhere in the country or outside the country, you must visit this restaurant when visiting. I truly cannot recommend this restaurant anymore highly whether it be for vegetarians, pescatarians, and meat eaters alike! read more

See all

This was my second time coming here.. We wanted to give it another shot when the chef was there to try the menu because our first time he was out sick. Service was poor even with a reservation. A bigger group than ours arrived after and their food was delivered before us.. our wait was over an hour for two rolls to come out and this was after we asked to leave. The waitress said our two rolls were ready but she could throw them away with an attitude. We ate what was ready and paid. The food is delicious, though, service was poor. read more

Taro is back! And with him comes the expanded sushi menu. Best sushi in Eugene well worth the extra cost. I had the chef pick sushi for $60. Each bite was perfect. For dessert the chocolate mochi cake with hazelnut and rhubarb was unique and tasty. My cocktail was just ok- I miss Thor. read more

Akira - $60 chef choice sushi- 7 pieces of nigiri and one special roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Truly a world class experience. If Michelin came to Eugene this would surely make their list. I've traveled all over the world and dined in some of the best restaurants and this was the best meal I've ever had. Flawless, consistent, creative, and delicious. The house feels like a home. The vibe is casual, and unique. The owner and Chef is brilliant, entertaining, and humble. Anyone who rates this place less than 5 stars doesn't understand the nuance and intention behind this restaurant. Bravo to the Chef and or our wonderful server. read more

My partner and I have been going here since Mame, probably have visited upwards of like 30-50 times. It has been 10/10 for us every time. Incredibly talented chefs, best in Eugene in my option. You will not find fresher fish in any of Eugene. read more

My husband and I chose Akira last minute for our 1st date since we had our baby last year....Holy moly- we were not disappointed. The food here is absolutely phenomenal. The best negihama i have ever had in all my life. Atmosphere was cozy and warm. Service was great. We will definitely be back! read more

Great little hidden gem! The menu is small but they always have a variety off the menu specials. Some items they serve makes you a little curious as to why they would mix those ingredients together but once you give it try you realize it was delicious choice. I'm currently traveling to Oregon for work and have been coming here every time I'm in town. The bartenders are very friendly. I've tried a variety of items here and my top favorites are...Chirashi bowl - the sashimi is so fresh and melts in mouth and the shrimp baos are packed with so much flavor. The only item I tried that I wasn't a fan of was the appetizer mushroom - it had good flavor but it was a texture thing that threw me off. Highly recommend! Pictured are the Chirashi bowls during different visits. Excellent every time. read more

Akira - Chirashi Bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

See all

I've been trying a lot of sushi places since I moved to Eugene a few years ago. Akira has amazing sushi, rolls, staff, and the vibe of the place makes me happy. They have outside, upstairs and downstairs seating but we chose to eat at the sushi bar. I don't think I want to eat anywhere else but at the sushi bar. Not only did we get to see all the sushi and rolls being put together but Taro was very informative and entertaining as well as crafting perfect sushi for us! If you truly love sushi and willing to pay for quality, this is the place for you! read more

See all

I don't know how this place is rated so highly. The sushi is just OK. It's definitely passable if you've never left Eugene, but for anybody who's been out of this college town, it's really unimpressive. The service is horrible. The woman at the front desk is just really impatient and hyper; an odd choice for a host. The food takes FOREVER to come to the table if they're even a little bit busy. The server/bartender upstairs can just be rude. I don't know if they even know they come off that way. Maybe it's just their normal way of being. On a positive, parking is easy. The ambience is fine. The only problem is the service and the food. There are better places to eat in Eugene. After writing this review, I scrolled down and found many other reviews commenting on the poor service and the rudeness of the staff. So, definitely looks like a pattern. Glad to know I wasn't the only one to experience it. read more

Another great night at Akira! Julie and I took my son Dylan out and I'm pretty sure we ordered most of the menu...and everything was sooo good! A few high points: - The hamachi roll (with pear and green onion) - The Chef's Omakase Chirashi Bowl (with Soft Shell Crab, shrimp, ikura, greens, and a smoky white fish) - The new drinks on the menu (50 First Dates and the Guarding Tess, both yummy). As usual, the service was great. Food came out at a nice pace that allowed us to enjoy each dish without feeling rushed or crowded. Every dish is crafted just so. With all the beautiful wood and Thor's (the bartender) music playing in the background,it's a great place to sit and enjoy friends and a bite! read more

See all

i came here a few months ago, and I still think about it all the time. I tried a bunch of different things off the menu, and every single one was amazing. You can really tell they care about the quality and freshness of their ingredients. The place itself is so cute it feels like you're eating in someone's cozy home. There's an upstairs area, fun and creative wall art, and this simple but unique vibe that makes it stand out. It's definitely my favorite sushi spot in town so far. It's a little on the pricier side, but honestly, it's worth every penny. read more

This was my first time at Akira, and I went on the recommendation of my mom, who wanted to take me out somewhere nice for my birthday. The food was tasty, though disorganized and slow to arrive. The decor is very hip. The bartender was kind and clearly concerned about the way the waitstaff were treating us - as many others here have reported (I came on to see if it was personal?) the servers/hosts were rude, snarky, dismissive... like, bizarrely unkind. It seemed almost like a practical joke? I couldn't help but laugh at the circumstances, but it was really upsetting for my mom, and it definitely could have had the effect of coloring our overall experience in an unpleasant way. Luckily, we're hard to unsettle! We made the best of things, and ended up laughing about it together by the end of the night, but I don't think I'll be returning. I'd much rather dine where the service is civil, at the very least! read more

Our friend decided on Akira for his birthday dinner on Thursday, 12/18/25. I work at a retail store nearby and had to show up after I closed up the shop for the night, so about 15 minutes late. I had only just sat down, and the waitress came and asked me what I'd like to drink. I hadn't even had a chance to look at the menu, so I just defaulted to a baseline order and said "I'll just have a diet Coke or Pepsi." She said, "No." Confused, I replied, "Pardon me?" And again she replied simply "No." I stammered and said, "Uh, ok...". She then finally said "We don't have soft drinks; our drinks are listed on the menu." I replied that I would stick with water. The other four people there had already ordered, so I perused the menu and decided on some of the steam bun tacos. And we sat there. And sat there. About 40 minutes later, our waitress had never returned and I still hasn't got to place my order. I had been on my feet for 8 hours during a busy holiday shopping season. I was sore, tired, but mostly hungry. With no prospect of food in sight, I wished my friend a happy birthday and departed to go home and eat leftovers. My boyfriend returned home later that night and reported that when the food finally arrived it was good, but he didn't feel like the food and "service" warranted the prices they paid for dinner. My friend actually apologized for the waitress treating me so rudely upon arrival, and I think everyone was a little stunned. It was a real slap in the face to finish up a long day providing helpful and friendly customer service in a busy environment, only to be treated like a nuisance when I myself was now the customer looking to have a nice dinner with friends. A few other observations: a coworker described this place as "really fancy", but the building itself is just an old converted house that is pretty boring. Our waitress was in jeans and sweater and a beanie. Nothing about the place felt fancy or luxurious. Also, it was super difficult to find this place in the dark and pouring rain. With the prices they charge, they could invest in better signage. But first focus on finding a waitress without a bad attitude. read more

Delicious menu - everything was so good. Reasonably priced too. Can't wait to return!

In my humble opinion this is one of the best Sushi restaurants in the United States! Hands down Period the service is top notch but we all know it's about the food and the food is the Star and it will not disappoint. read more

Seated at 7:30, served our two simple rolls at 9 with no acknowledgement from the staff. We are historically easy-going customers but this was a very bad experience. A table seated after us got served, ate, and left before us. After we asked about why our order was taking over an hour, our waiter didn't check in on us for the rest of the night- besides to deliver our food- which he delivered with no acknowledgment of the wait and then practically ran away before we could say anything. We talked to who seemed to be the host (?) and he offered to comp a single miso soup off of our $60 bill. Cool(ish) vibe, bad service. Quality fish but tiny little rolls. read more

The food is remarkably good, with the ONLY 'disconnect' being the remarkable frank rudeness of both the 'hosting' staff answering phone as well as in person inquiries and as well the bar-tending staff --on multiple occasions-- where if espec. a non-informed customer is acknowledged IF at all. On the other hand, the food serving staff is regularly helpful and gregarious. This truly gourmet experience is apparently a victim of its own obvious success. read more

Food is exquisite and is the focus. Unassuming atmosphere in a house makes you feel like you are in the Chefs home. He and all the staff care deeply about creating food that excites in both its taste and appearance. read more

Came to Akira hungry enough to consider eating the menu. Left full enough to consider a nap in the parking lot. The food? Amazing. The kind of amazing where you take one bite and immediately start planning your next visit like it's a life decision. The service was super friendly too -- they didn't even judge me for staring lovingly at my plate like it was my long-lost soulmate. 10/10 would absolutely return... mostly because I'm still thinking about the food and it's emotionally haunting me in the best way possible. read more

Outstanding food, drinks and service. It is in my opinion the best sushi in Eugene. If you are hungry you should try the chef's tasting menu. read more

Akira - Sushi Bars Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

See all

We had a last-minute reservation tonight and were graciously squeezed in with no wait, which we really appreciated. The food was incredible- the sushi was some of the best I've had in Eugene, and the blackened scallion steamed bun tacos were a standout (my mom is still talking about them). The kitchen is clearly doing something special. I want to address something I've been seeing in recent reviews about the host/service. As someone who has worked in the service industry for over 20 years, I feel compelled to offer a little perspective. From what I observed tonight, this employee was acting as both host and server- seating guests, taking orders, managing multiple tables, and running up and down stairs constantly to get drinks for guests. That is a heavy load for one person. She had a lot going on. Could she have seemed a bit abrupt at times? Maybe. But I did not experience rudeness- I experienced someone moving quickly, smiling when she could, getting us what we needed efficiently, and trying her best. It seems like some recent reviews reflect expectations of highly polished, five-star dining service colliding with the reality of a small, busy restaurant that may be understaffed. There's a difference between imperfect pacing and bad intent. Online reviews are often used as a place to vent, punish, exaggerate, or project frustration. It's important to remember that these are real people working demanding jobs. Service work is exhausting. Tone can be misread when someone is juggling multiple roles without much backup. If anything, it looked like the team could benefit from one more staff member during peak hours- not a pile-on of harsh character judgments aimed at one person. The food is absolutely worth it. We had a great night. I hope people give this place a fair shot and maybe extend a little grace. read more

Food was incredible. Great focus on good ingredients and locality. My server was nice and kept things casual which I felt reflected the ambiance well. Eric the chef was working at the sushi bar and was incredibly hospitable and passionate. He 100 percent made the experience for me. The host was terrifying. They greeted me with a look like I was the dumbest person they've ever seen. Followed by an estimate of "an hour and some change" to get seated (ultimately took about 30 mins). I was so so uncomfortable by their presence and their approach to service. I saw another party come in and ask if they could get seated and after getting turned away they asked if there was a waitlist. The host responded in the affirmative but so so so rudely, like they were stupid for asking. Totally rude, unprofessional, and made me feel genuinely uncomfortable and unwelcome. Maybe the omakase nights are better??? The scallop steamed buns were excellent along with the negihama hand roll and the spicy tuna is actually spicy (yippee!). The Thai tea creamsicle was just fine and for 8 dollars it should've been life changing. The food is incredible, Eric the chef is amazing, and if you are looking for a terrifying and uncomfortable eating experience this place is perfect. read more

See all

"Well that was awkward and horrible," is what we heard a woman say as she and her party were leaving the restaurant. This sums up our experience with the host perfectly. We walked in and were greeted by a host who looked at us as if we were walking into her own home unannounced. She was very skilled in making us immediately feel uncomfortable and stupid. We like this place and have had great service from the bartender upstairs but our last experience was so quickly ruined by the host's general hostility. The staff feel like they are ghosts that lived in the house and have been forced to become waiters for eternity and aren't too happy about it. The food is good but won't be coming back because of the service. read more

The food was subpar, the table had that horrible sticky residue that old 1970's bars have, the bathroom was filthy. I don't understand the high rating. read more

Went on a Sunday night. We didn't have to wait too long - about 15 mins and got cosy seating upstairs. Food was delicious but service though friendly was slow. We waited 30 mins between our appetizers and main course... Miso soup was very good as was chicken wings. Rice on rolls/nigiri was some of best we've tasted. Loved that the restaurant is situated in an old home and renovation was done well. Great ambiance! read more

If I could have given this restaurant 0 starts, I would. We arrive as a group of 4 around 5:40pm and were told that the wait would be 40 minutes to an hour. We were asked if we wanted to sit at the upstairs bar, and we clearly said no. Despite that, we were not called until 7:00PM - nearly an hour and a half later. While we waited, we watched multiple groups who arrived after us get seated before us. A group of 3 was seated downstairs just one minute before we were finally called. Even more concerning, several parties seated ahead of us told the waitress they had reservations, despite the restaurant's website clearly stating they do not take reservations. That inconsistency felt dishonest and unfair. When we were finally called, the waitress attempted to seat us upstairs. I reminded her that we had repeatedly said we didn't want upstairs seating. Her response was dismissive: "oh, well that is where the table is." After waiting far beyond the quoted time, being brushed off like that was unacceptable. My party is Deaf, and the audism we experienced was horrendous. I attempted to get the waitress's attention and was ignored. However, when a hearing customer called for her, she immediately responded. That difference in treatment was obvious and deeply upsetting. We felt dismissed, disrespected, and treated as less important because we are Deaf. On top of the poor service and disorganization, the restaurant is not ADA compliant. There is no ramp leading to the entrance and no elevator to access upstairs seating. I personally witnessed multiple people stumble on the stairs. This lack of accessibility makes it impossible for imdividuals with limited mobility to dine there safely. Because of the stairs and their refusal to accommodate our seating request, we were ultimately unable to eat there at all after waiting nearly 90 minutes. This experience demonstrated disorganization, inconsistent policies, rude service, blatant audism, and a serious lack of accessibility and inclusivity. We will absolutely not be returning. I will also be filing a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau and contacting the city regarding the lack of accessibility and discriminatory treatment toward Deaf individuals and those with limited mobility. Completely unacceptable. read more

Very cute restaurant located in an old house. They don't take reservations. Service was very efficient. The vegetable starters were delicious. We had beets that had a nice kick to them. The carrots were perfectly roasted. Pickled beans sprouts were a nice palate cleanser. The preparations are straightforward, vegetables being vegetables. The Dungeness crab baos were very good. The fried chicken was too salty for my taste, but the table seemed to enjoy it. The only disappointment was the sushi bowl. It was small and there was nothing that impressive about it except it did have very good fried softshell crab. read more

Akira - sushi bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

After hearing about this place from multiple locals, we gave it a try. Requested the omakase menu, which then gets you a spot at the sushi counter (but you can also dine at the counter à la carte by request.) We have had omakase and izakaya experiences at some great places, but this one was special and amazing to its own. Chef Taro has been cooking for 30 years, and although his technique and style is very quintessentially Japanese, he dubs the cuisine as "Modern American", which makes sense after you experience it. It was two hours of non-stop nigiri, sashimi-style apps, multiple courses from the kitchen (such as an osso bucco polenta that was outstanding) and as chef put it, "a bunch of things that taste great, but probably don't make sense to anyone, even me." Chef and team were engaging throughout, and it was evident by the number of regulars and familiar faces that came to say hello to him throughout the night that he is beloved in the area. What made it even more satisfying was that he seems to genuinely love his team, and apparently does a lot to support other chefs, restaurants, and the industry at large in Eugene, which is refreshing to see in this often cutthroat business. Bar, sake, and beverage selections were also on point, so not sure if there is anything they don't do well. If you're looking for something familiar but different, yet fun and edgy and you want to support a chef and crew that have a greater purpose, eat here. Tip: check the website for the email address to make reservations, especially if you want the omakase (which Chef says he wishes wasn't as expensive, but we thought was a screaming deal compared to others we have had.) And there's no sales tax in OR, so consider that an immediate discount right off the top! read more