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Was excited to finally try this special no frills sushi shop that is located at one of the main distributors of uni and sea cucumber to Japan. It is in the warehouse area off Commercial Street -drive or walk down same side road area where Becky's Diner is located. We didnt park out in front of the I.S.F. building but I believe patrons can park there for free. Commercial Street has road parking owned by city for $3 hour. Some of the side lots off Commercial Street are like $26/hr so avoid those. Since this is a distributor some people find the smell off putting. I think outside it smells the worst but you get used to it. (I used their 2nd set of bathrooms further away upstairs) and the smell was 100x worst there so I would not recommend that.. When you walk in you enter the building, go to the right entrance to order your food. They are friendly and helpful. Credit cards accepted. Then you can head upstairs, take a right yo head to the lunch room. Plenty of seating, microwave to heat up rice, soy and sauces, tea or water. Any plates you use their is a sink to wash. There was a small area outside in the nack by the water to eat as well. I think most people eat there but you coukd easily do this as takeaway. You may still spend $100 on sashimi and uni but it's a lot more than you get elsewhere and super fresh.
Really enjoyed my experience here. Unique, fun, playful, great value. Truly some of the best uni I've ever had. Splurge for the more expensive one; the slightly increased price was waaaay more worth it than I thought. Staff were friendly and helpful. The concept is just so fun and the food was quite tasty. I've even started doing mini temaki nights with the microwave rice at home! Loved the upstairs dining area, very reminiscent of small spots on more rural Japanese towns. Not going to be everyones cup of tea, but for uni fans, I very much recommend, and cant wait to be back.
Came here through all the hype and was a little skeptical but it did not disappoint. The fish quality and price is exactly as you may have seen. It is fresh and is not expensive. You can also buy in bulk and they have a bag you can keep it in! After buying your food there is a cafeteria area upstairs where you can microwave rice and add any sauce you may want. They also provide tea, water and coffee. Could not be more satisfied with this place honestly.
What a fun experience!!!! This was my first time coming here and it was so interesting. You order downstairs and than you can walk upstairs and eat in their lunch room. We got some sashimi, tuna and sea urchin. I loved that they also had premade rice and miso you just popped in the microwave upstairs. Highly recommend everyone to go just for the experience!
The freshest sushi. It's a processing plant so the sushi is very fresh. It does not look like a restaurant and really is not. You can pick up your food and then take it upstairs to the employee break area where there is free, hot tea and utensils. This was the freshest Uni (sea urchin) we have ever had. You can buy a container of rice to cook in the microwave in the break area. They also have soy sauce and wasabi available.
FOOD They have a wide variety of fresh seafood, with salmon and uni being among their most popular options. We personally had these two, and they were incredibly light and fresh. We also got a side of rice and seaweed, but you can bring your own as well. Complimentary soy sauce, wasabi, microwaves to heat the rice, and more are available on the second floor lunch rooms. DRINKS They have complimentary green tea/barley tea available on the second floor in the lunchrooms. They also have drinks for purchase. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! They have the menus in both English and Japanese. PARKING Ample parking is available in the lots nearby. Most cost by the hour. BATHROOMS Several bathrooms (Japanese-style with bidets!) are available on the second floor by the lunch rooms and down the hall.
This place is truly an experience. The first thing you'll notice is the fishy smell when you walk along the dock, but don't let that discourage you. It eventually dissipates once you get inside and further on the dock. There was plenty of signage, so it was easy to find where to go. The seafood is incredibly fresh and offered at amazing prices. You place your order downstairs, then head upstairs to a simple break room-style dining area to enjoy your meal. It's completely self-service, but I actually loved the concept. Guests bus their own tables, wash their dishes, and help keep the space clean, which adds to the unique charm. They also provide complimentary tea and water, and there are microwaves available if you want to warm up your rice. If you're looking for a no-frills spot with fresh seafood and great value, this is definitely worth the visit.
Pros: Fresh fish, free parking, authentic feel. Cons: Kind of expensive? $22 for sashimi set, ginger, microwave rice, and nori (seaweed wrap). Usually I'd walk, but I came straight from work so I parked here. It's awesome that they even have free parking unlike many places in Portland. You walk in through door 5, turn right before the stairs. It's no frills. You can order different types of fish, or the sashimi set, plus a couple of add-ons to make your own "sushi." Once you pay, head upstairs to the staff cafeteria (third door on the right). You can use their microwaves to heat up your rice, grab sauces, rice seasonings, etc. There are some bench tables to sit at and enjoy. I am so glad I got to experience this-it was delicious! That being said, I would probably just buy my fish here and take it home next time to roll up my sushi and make it more beautiful. If you are expecting a restaurant with sushi offerings like Yosaku, do NOT be mistaken. This is a fish trading business that happens to sell some DIY lunch items. Still delicious, just come in with the expectation that they are selling and packaging fish, it smells fishy, it is a workplace.
Wanted to love this because of all the hype but I won't be back. You can tell the fish is really good quality but the prices are still high for what you get and you have to make everything yourself if you want to make a roll or anything. If you just want raw fish then this might be the place. It is def about the experience. You are eating in their break room. Handmade signs to get to the spot. You have to wash your own dishes and build your rolls. It def smells fishy and is an interesting spot. It was cool to try once but I doubt I'll be back.
When a friend recommended this place, I didn't believe it was real. When I pulled into the industrial yard I still wasn't sure. When I saw signed directing you to Door #5 I thought it might be a practical joke. But when I got some delicious, super fresh sea urchin from the first floor, then went upstairs to the workers' cafeteria to microwave the rice and make my own (poorly assembled) rolls, I was so happy about my friend's rec. This no frills family-run operation is such a unique way to get ultra fresh seafood for a nice sushi lunch. If you can make it when they're open, and you like good seafood, come check it out!
Super cool place! My friends and I heard about ISF Trading from Instagram and we had to see if we liked uni! We got a small uni tray, a sashimi set, rice, nori, and seaweed salad. It was very affordable and a nice lunch for the three of us! We took the food up to the break room and had bowls, wasabi, sushi vinegar, soy sauce, and tea there. There was a bit of a line to wash our dishes here but otherwise it was a super quick experience considering we went at noon on a Saturday! This was an incredible chance to try uni at a low cost and turns out that all three of us do like it! We're going to incorporate it into our sushi rotation!
Enter through door #5 and immediately turn right- where you can buy pretty affordable food (get the uni!). Make sure you order rice and seaweed to make hand rolls too! Then you bring it upstairs to a really nice, cool, open area where soy sauce, wasabi, barley tea, and coffee are self serve. They make it easy for you by putting paper towel rolls at each table! It's such a nice experience, very reminiscent of Asian seafood markets! I would highly recommend going if you love raw seafood!
Came here after seeing all the hype, and I hate to be that person, but this was honestly a bit of a disappointment for me. Maybe my expectations were just too high, especially because I was most excited about trying their uni. I even ordered the largest size they offered, but unfortunately, it wasn't what I was expecting. The uni was very salty and had a strong fishy taste. I think I'm more accustomed to Japanese uni, which tends to be sweeter and more delicate, so this was quite different from what I was hoping for. I really wanted to love it, but sadly, I just didn't. I also tried the sashimi platter and chopped toro with scallions. Both were decent, but nothing really stood out or left me wanting more. I'd say it's worth trying if you're curious and want to experience the place, especially with all the hype surrounding it. Just don't go in expecting the freshest, sweetest uni because that wasn't my experience.
This is such a great hidden gem of a spot for fresh sashimi! The uni was so fresh, delicious and very reasonably priced. The sashimi set and sweet shrimp ordered were also excellent. It all tasted fresh and delicious. The eating area is upstairs and is basically cafeteria style where you get what you need with chopsticks, plates and sauces. It also comes with free barley tea! After you're done eating. You bus your own table and wash your own dishes. The seafood market itself serves all kinds of seafood for consumption or take home. The staff is super nice and chill and the vibes are very casual but delicious food overall! read more
22 days ago
So... if you're near the Wharf in Portland and want to plan a nice sushi picnic with other Japanese seafood provisions you found the place!!! I purchased a very generous portion of uni in salt water for $20. And the nice person behind the counter put my uni on ice, bagged it and then provided a cool temp. bag to transport it in. Service beyond compare. And super friendly staff that greet the customers. The uni super fresh, buttery and sweet. Surprising and random find. Will happily go back and try a tray of sushi next time!!! read more
Was excited to finally try this special no frills sushi shop that is located at one of the main distributors of uni and sea cucumber to Japan. It is in the warehouse area off Commercial Street -drive or walk down same side road area where Becky's Diner is located. We didnt park out in front of the I.S.F. building but I believe patrons can park there for free. Commercial Street has road parking owned by city for $3 hour. Some of the side lots off Commercial Street are like $26/hr so avoid those. Since this is a distributor some people find the smell off putting. I think outside it smells the worst but you get used to it. (I used their 2nd set of bathrooms further away upstairs) and the smell was 100x worst there so I would not recommend that.. When you walk in you enter the building, go to the right entrance to order your food. They are friendly and helpful. Credit cards accepted. Then you can head upstairs, take a right yo head to the lunch room. Plenty of seating, microwave to heat up rice, soy and sauces, tea or water. Any plates you use their is a sink to wash. There was a small area outside in the nack by the water to eat as well. I think most people eat there but you coukd easily do this as takeaway. You may still spend $100 on sashimi and uni but it's a lot more than you get elsewhere and super fresh. read more
2 months ago
Really enjoyed my experience here. Unique, fun, playful, great value. Truly some of the best uni I've ever had. Splurge for the more expensive one; the slightly increased price was waaaay more worth it than I thought. Staff were friendly and helpful. The concept is just so fun and the food was quite tasty. I've even started doing mini temaki nights with the microwave rice at home! Loved the upstairs dining area, very reminiscent of small spots on more rural Japanese towns. Not going to be everyones cup of tea, but for uni fans, I very much recommend, and cant wait to be back. read more
Came here through all the hype and was a little skeptical but it did not disappoint. The fish quality and price is exactly as you may have seen. It is fresh and is not expensive. You can also buy in bulk and they have a bag you can keep it in! After buying your food there is a cafeteria area upstairs where you can microwave rice and add any sauce you may want. They also provide tea, water and coffee. Could not be more satisfied with this place honestly. read more
What a fun experience!!!! This was my first time coming here and it was so interesting. You order downstairs and than you can walk upstairs and eat in their lunch room. We got some sashimi, tuna and sea urchin. I loved that they also had premade rice and miso you just popped in the microwave upstairs. Highly recommend everyone to go just for the experience! read more
The freshest sushi. It's a processing plant so the sushi is very fresh. It does not look like a restaurant and really is not. You can pick up your food and then take it upstairs to the employee break area where there is free, hot tea and utensils. This was the freshest Uni (sea urchin) we have ever had. You can buy a container of rice to cook in the microwave in the break area. They also have soy sauce and wasabi available. read more
FOOD They have a wide variety of fresh seafood, with salmon and uni being among their most popular options. We personally had these two, and they were incredibly light and fresh. We also got a side of rice and seaweed, but you can bring your own as well. Complimentary soy sauce, wasabi, microwaves to heat the rice, and more are available on the second floor lunch rooms. DRINKS They have complimentary green tea/barley tea available on the second floor in the lunchrooms. They also have drinks for purchase. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! They have the menus in both English and Japanese. PARKING Ample parking is available in the lots nearby. Most cost by the hour. BATHROOMS Several bathrooms (Japanese-style with bidets!) are available on the second floor by the lunch rooms and down the hall. read more
This place is truly an experience. The first thing you'll notice is the fishy smell when you walk along the dock, but don't let that discourage you. It eventually dissipates once you get inside and further on the dock. There was plenty of signage, so it was easy to find where to go. The seafood is incredibly fresh and offered at amazing prices. You place your order downstairs, then head upstairs to a simple break room-style dining area to enjoy your meal. It's completely self-service, but I actually loved the concept. Guests bus their own tables, wash their dishes, and help keep the space clean, which adds to the unique charm. They also provide complimentary tea and water, and there are microwaves available if you want to warm up your rice. If you're looking for a no-frills spot with fresh seafood and great value, this is definitely worth the visit. read more
Pros: Fresh fish, free parking, authentic feel. Cons: Kind of expensive? $22 for sashimi set, ginger, microwave rice, and nori (seaweed wrap). Usually I'd walk, but I came straight from work so I parked here. It's awesome that they even have free parking unlike many places in Portland. You walk in through door 5, turn right before the stairs. It's no frills. You can order different types of fish, or the sashimi set, plus a couple of add-ons to make your own "sushi." Once you pay, head upstairs to the staff cafeteria (third door on the right). You can use their microwaves to heat up your rice, grab sauces, rice seasonings, etc. There are some bench tables to sit at and enjoy. I am so glad I got to experience this-it was delicious! That being said, I would probably just buy my fish here and take it home next time to roll up my sushi and make it more beautiful. If you are expecting a restaurant with sushi offerings like Yosaku, do NOT be mistaken. This is a fish trading business that happens to sell some DIY lunch items. Still delicious, just come in with the expectation that they are selling and packaging fish, it smells fishy, it is a workplace. read more
4 months ago
Wanted to love this because of all the hype but I won't be back. You can tell the fish is really good quality but the prices are still high for what you get and you have to make everything yourself if you want to make a roll or anything. If you just want raw fish then this might be the place. It is def about the experience. You are eating in their break room. Handmade signs to get to the spot. You have to wash your own dishes and build your rolls. It def smells fishy and is an interesting spot. It was cool to try once but I doubt I'll be back. read more
When a friend recommended this place, I didn't believe it was real. When I pulled into the industrial yard I still wasn't sure. When I saw signed directing you to Door #5 I thought it might be a practical joke. But when I got some delicious, super fresh sea urchin from the first floor, then went upstairs to the workers' cafeteria to microwave the rice and make my own (poorly assembled) rolls, I was so happy about my friend's rec. This no frills family-run operation is such a unique way to get ultra fresh seafood for a nice sushi lunch. If you can make it when they're open, and you like good seafood, come check it out! read more
Super cool place! My friends and I heard about ISF Trading from Instagram and we had to see if we liked uni! We got a small uni tray, a sashimi set, rice, nori, and seaweed salad. It was very affordable and a nice lunch for the three of us! We took the food up to the break room and had bowls, wasabi, sushi vinegar, soy sauce, and tea there. There was a bit of a line to wash our dishes here but otherwise it was a super quick experience considering we went at noon on a Saturday! This was an incredible chance to try uni at a low cost and turns out that all three of us do like it! We're going to incorporate it into our sushi rotation! read more
2 months ago
Enter through door #5 and immediately turn right- where you can buy pretty affordable food (get the uni!). Make sure you order rice and seaweed to make hand rolls too! Then you bring it upstairs to a really nice, cool, open area where soy sauce, wasabi, barley tea, and coffee are self serve. They make it easy for you by putting paper towel rolls at each table! It's such a nice experience, very reminiscent of Asian seafood markets! I would highly recommend going if you love raw seafood! read more
2 months ago
Came here after seeing all the hype, and I hate to be that person, but this was honestly a bit of a disappointment for me. Maybe my expectations were just too high, especially because I was most excited about trying their uni. I even ordered the largest size they offered, but unfortunately, it wasn't what I was expecting. The uni was very salty and had a strong fishy taste. I think I'm more accustomed to Japanese uni, which tends to be sweeter and more delicate, so this was quite different from what I was hoping for. I really wanted to love it, but sadly, I just didn't. I also tried the sashimi platter and chopped toro with scallions. Both were decent, but nothing really stood out or left me wanting more. I'd say it's worth trying if you're curious and want to experience the place, especially with all the hype surrounding it. Just don't go in expecting the freshest, sweetest uni because that wasn't my experience. read more
ISF Trading was one of the places that I looked forward to most during our Portland trip. Here's the thing - it's ultimately a warehouse with some seating in their staff lunchroom to enjoy your purchases, but it's super no frills. Don't expect table service or anything glamorous. The uni prices & freshness though are UNMATCHED. A tray of uni for $28 is a crazy deal; prices are even better for a POUND of broken uni. They source from different places depending on the season. March seems to be the last of Maine uni season; we had New Brunswick uni in April. I'd skip the sashimi sets - it was underwhelming for $15 each. The squid, salmon, and ikura were fine; tuna was a bit fishy. Scallops are usually my favorite, but they were just okay here. The uni is excellent. Insant rice & miso soup are available for purchase for $3 each. The staff canteen has sushi vinegar & all the fixings. Parking is available outside. read more
Eating at an employee cafeteria was a surprising turn of events for my trip to Portland, but a most welcome surprise! The fish quality is sooo good and the salmon set had so much fish in it. I was so full at the end but I wanted to keep eating. The squid and scallop are both incredibly soft and flavorful. Each bite blew my mind! I had soo much difficulty locating where the entrance was and where we could buy food (although that is mostly due to my poor sense of direction). But the place to purchase is right when you enter, the door to your right. You then walk up the stairs and turn into the cafeteria. read more
If you're someone that enjoys uni, ISF is a must-visit when in Portland. They process the sea urchin by hand daily every morning and the freshness of the uni really comes through. Good quality uni is not always easy to find, even at fine dining restaurants, but every single piece of uni I had here the past two months has been excellent. Cost of a box of uni as of 1/3/26: $20 (80 grams); $30 (150 grams). Get the $30 box. Much better value and double the happiness. Tip: Plan your visit here for the winter months. Prime uni season! One item i'd skip here is their tuna toro belly. This was quite fishy and disappointing. Parking: Private lot (free) read more
4 months ago
8 months ago
This place is worth the trip. Been seeing posts on social media so I was skeptical to see if it lived up to the praise and it did. The employees were helpful with answering any questions you have about their expansive menu. The ready to eat menu is smaller but still has a good variety of things. I was only with 1 other person so we didn't get to order too many things but we were impressed with what we did try. We got the sashimi plate that comes with 4 different kinds of seafood. All were so fresh. I typically like salmon but this tuna had a subtle sweetness to it that I haven't had before. The scallops were also a hit. Next we got the sweet shrimp that I've seen multiple people get but this one wasn't as impressive. They were still slightly frozen and didn't have the same flavor impact. These, I just learned, are available in Asian supermarkets so it's not an exclusive deal. The star of the show is their uni. They are one of the company that process Maine uni so what you're getting is the freshest of the fresh. We ordered a box of 100g for 2 people and that was plenty. I also bought a box of broken uni that has been amazing to cook with (even though you can eat the fresh too). We bought a few other items to bring home and the prices were very reasonable. I would recommend anyone who loves fresh seafood to try this spot out. read more
4 months ago
6/24/26 A mixed experience- the counter was busy even at 11, with tourists who couldn't decide. As a result the uni I received was swimming in brine; I would have preferred the straight-up uni I had before. I got two vegetarian dishes- both were disappointing: the seaweed salad was crunchy, flavorless and the Maine seaweed in vinegar was slimy and otherwise flavorless. I ordered these for Steff- I'm afraid she and other vegetarians would be disappointed. The whole dish of salmon roe on the other hand was fantastic- I was careful not to leave a single egg- so fresh, so sweet- better than the Osetra and Beluga caviar I have had in Manhattan. Robert Deniro, whose diet I have read about consists mainly of caviar, would love this. It would take little effort to come up with more vegetarian dishes. read more
I had bookmarked ISF Trading two years ago - since then, the spot has definitely blown up. It's an extremely no-frills, hole-in-the-wall joint boasting fresh seafood at reasonable prices. Between the two of us, it was about $100 for two sashimi sets, a whole tray of uni, a container of spicy squid, two packets of rice, two farm eggs, and one packet of nori. I think ... that's pretty good? Some of the cuts of sashimi were a little haphazard and inconsistent in care or quality but I suppose for that price, I wasn't expecting more. They have a large menu up but I got decision fatigue and just went with the smaller list under the ready-to-eat section. There's a cafeteria upstairs with picnic tables and bathrooms that's clean and homey. The ginger is extra but I found the cafeteria very well-stocked with free barley tea and water, utensils, soy sauce, tubes of wasabi, and even bowls for your rice and soy sauce and microwaves for heating up the rice. You turn into the wharf, drive past the gate, and keep to the parking lot on your left. Look for the signs and the door marked #5. read more
Our group arrived at around 1 on a weekend, and unfortunately they've already sold out of uni. We got a variety of sashimi to share, and brought it to the "canteen" / dine-in area on the second floor. It was self-service style with microwave, sushi vinegar, soy sauce, hot tea, coffee available. All for free! ＊Recs: Salmon, Squid, Scallop Very fatty salmon!! 100% a must get. The squid surprised us in the best way possible as it was bouncy and fresh. Scallop was another standout. I wished we got a whole plate of scallop sashimi. Must order rice as a side and mix it with vinegar--honestly a game changer. It waz like making your own chirashi bowl. ＊Skip: Sashimi Set, Shrimp The sashimi in the sashimi set just didn't taste as fresh. The tuna was underwhelming, just like the frozen ones you could get at grocery stores. Ikura was great but you only got a few. Not worth it. Shrimp was the biggest disappointment. It was served FROZEN. We waited a bit for it to defrost, yet the shrimp texture was bad. It also wasn't as meaty as I thought. The shrimp was super small in size. FYI we spent around $90 total. This spread is enough to feed a group of four with rice. read more
10 months ago
As much as I want to gatekeep this place, I can't because everyone needs to try it! Hidden on the port, you won't find this place unless you're looking for it. It looks like a packaging facility, but they also have sashimi that you can buy and eat. My friends and I shared 2 sashimi sets, an uni platter, a scallop platter, and a shrimp platter. All of it was amazing and so fresh! I typically don't like squid for the texture, but here, it was softer that I expected and creamy. My favorites were the scallop, salmon, and uni. If you have ice packs, bring some back with you to eat at home! If you want to eat there, there's a lunch room upstairs where they have soy sauce, wasabi, rice vinegar, and tea! What a great experience and even better food! read more
We ate seafood from this place 3 days in a row and would still go back. No frills, ordered some rice and seaweed, friendly and patient employee when we were there trying to figure it out, soy sauce and tea upstairs (they didn't sell beer or sake - and sorry I didn't ask if it was okay to bring your own). read more
Who would've known a gem like this was shrouded in the industrial area right by the wharf? It's my kind of place: no frills, no heavy marketing, just fresh seafood and a spot to eat. You have to order a side of rice (and/or seaweed) along with whatever sashimi of your choosing. I opted for the uni in the wooden box. To my surprise and delight, the upstairs cafeteria was pleasantly clean. The uni was SO GOOD. Creamy, satisfying, and fresh as it can get. I could've gone for another round. This is a must-go-to for any seafood lover. read more
19 days ago
No frills. Located inside a seafood factory. The uni was fresh! All this for $150 along with rice and seaweed. Proceeded upstairs to self seated employee lunchroom area to make our own handrolls where there was soy sauce, wasabi and microwaves for us to use. read more
1 year ago
Best hidden gem in Maine. The uni is fresh and delicious. Not much more to say about this place. We try to come here every chance we get. read more
1 year ago
Came here for some Uni. Uni tastes so fresh here and sea salty. Ordered the broken uni. They have the common dining area upstairs and order and pay down stairs at the warehouse. We always come back whenever we're in the area. Highly recommend to all uni lovers nearby! read more
21 days ago
When there are more non English speaking Asians than English speaking whites coming to this back door sashimi place, you know you're in for a treat. Had a whole tray of fresh uni to myself. They graciously allow you to make use of the workers lunchroom to sit and eat. Otherwise you take it somewhere for an impromptu picnic. read more
4 months ago
Decided to come here while visiting Portland. Such a great experience. Everything is super fresh and the atmosphere is super casual. The quality is top tier from such an unassuming place. I will be coming back when I'm in Portland again. read more
4 months ago
A super fun experience. You buy sashimi downstairs and then take it upstairs to the break room to eat. Everything was super clean and fresh, and there was even free coffee and tea for customers to use. read more
1 year ago
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4 years ago
