We don't *need* another Akira review, but our first time, so here goes: The kampachi was buttery and beautiful. The best piece of nigiri I've had in Eugene or most any other place. Wasabi - like, real wasabi! I kept dabbing in my mouth never having tasted it before. It's both spicier on the front of your tongue and more luxurious on the back. I want more. The fried chicken bao was unfugging, unbelievably delicious. Can we say unfugging on Yelp? We got the Mrs V roll - spicy tuna topped with seared beef. Again, buttery with Rich beef and tuna that's actually spicy. Excellent roll This was an elegant, refined and completely delicious experience. We will definitely be back. read more

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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

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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

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

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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

The food is remarkably good, with the ONLY 'disconnect' is the remarkable rudeness of the staff answering the phone inquiry about available walk-in seating --on multiple occasions-- apparently a victim of it's own obvious success. read more

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

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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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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

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

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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

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 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

Service awful Food is just ok (miso, tofu salad) Def will not be back Cancelled our sushi order after one hour 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 - A sushi bowl contains shrimp, scallops, sashimi, salmon roe, mixed greens, cucumber, and fried fish, served on a wooden table. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Sushi was pretty good. It's the awful service that compelled me to rate it so low. We were disappointed by the service we received last night. From the moment we arrived, the hostess appeared visibly distressed and was quite short with us, which made the welcome feel uninviting. Unfortunately, the experience didn't improve once we were seated. Our server was rude and blunt throughout the evening, offering little warmth or attentiveness. When asked about a recommendation he would make on the menu, he just responded with, "well don't you want to pay more?" We understand that everyone can have an off night, but the overall lack of courtesy made what should have been an enjoyable outing feel uncomfortable and tense. This is the second time I've had an uncomfortable experience at this restaurant. read more

Owner is beyond amazing I get anxious eatting out with my 3 year old and he pulled me to the side to tell me how it's a family place and to never stress about my kid makin noise made me feel really good not to the mention the food is insanely fresh and awesome. Great atmosphere and vibe would highly recommended to all. read more

Akira is a quality sushi experience, but is missing an element to send it over the edge into spectacular. Perhaps a better bang for your buck with larger rolls and cocktails or friendlier staff who notice birthdays or special events could be good places to start. The food was great and clearly thoughtfully made, but this just wasn't a WOW experience for me at the price they are asking. read more

Absolutely the worst service ever experienced almost felt like they didn't even want us there. Hostess (short, beanie, jeans and sweater) and bartender need to find other careers because customer service is not for them. I'm sure the food is amazing if people actually put up with that to be able to actually get the food. These types of employees lose business for you. Went to sushi pure to drop $400 instead read more

You know when you go out to eat and then two days later you're like "remember that bomb sushi we got??" I can't stop thinking about it! And we ate at the bar where it was super personable and cool vibe and great service. read more

We have some decent options for sushi in the area. But Akira is hard to beat with its creative offerings, presentation, friendly staff and fun atmosphere. read more

Wow wow wow!! I think I had the best miso soup I've ever had in my LIFE here! I was also lucky enough to have the Dungeness Crab steamed bun tacos while they were on special.. while they were a LIIIIIITTLE spicy for my liking they were so good and so filling. I also snagged some of their version of fried chicken (I'm not remembering the name off the top of my head) but it was FRESH and HOT! As I left they also gave me an extra dipping sauce for the extra chicken I had left! The service was great! Thor the bartender was SO nice and wonderful to talk to! My waiter, whose name I didn't catch, was very attentive and answered any questions I had. I love the ambiance of the historic house and they really did fuse Asian and American pop culture on their upper level. read more

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Hands down some of the best sushi!! The cold smoked yellow tail (hamachi) was buttery and fresh. I also appreciated the vibe and ability to walk in on a Saturday evening. We also tried a cool complimentary roll as well. We will definitely come back!! read more

Just had dinner here this last week and came home and got on yelp to write a review and decided to read some first. wow! some of the bad reviews are just ridiculous. The chef owner was amazing. Food was great. Service was great. I cannot wait to go back. We have tried many sushi places since moving here from California and everything has been crap. We will 100% be back and we will 100% refer everybody to Akira!!! read more

I was disappointed with our experience. The food is acceptable, but you need to know there's a different menu if you sit upstairs instead of downstairs. If you enjoy a glass of wine with a meal, don't go here because they don't serve wine. They need a website so patrons know what they are getting themselves into. The service was excellent once the bartender took over. It was a Monday night so things were slow For me, it was a disappointing experience. read more

Best sushi in town?? NO!!!! Not even close. Who wants to wait two hours for their food to come out?! Poor service. And if you're going to advertise Pork Belly in your "bun tacos", it should be pork belly and NOT bacon! read more

Excellent restaurant and maybe the best in Eugene. It's spendy but highest quality food and ingredients and always superb service. Their cocktails are also wonderful. Try their creative daily specials, they have never let me down. Dungeness crab steam bun tacos. If it's on their specials do NOT skip this. The seasonal hand rolls are also a must. read more