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

ISF Trading - Sashimi set, salmon, nori, and rice - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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

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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

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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

ISF Trading - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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

ISF Trading - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

The staff were so sweet and friendly. Uni and assorted raw fish platter were very fresh- you can buy a little microwaveable rice for $3 and a box of seaweed for $1 to eat with the fish. The upstairs has a cafeteria with free tea and water, utensils, napkins, sinks, hand sanitizer, paper towels, soy sauce, chop sticks, microwaves and tons of seating. It is not fancy but it's very nice they have that area supplied with whatever you need. It's also dog friendly! read more

ISF Trading - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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

ISF Trading - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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

ISF Trading - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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

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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

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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

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This is really a warehouse that also offers the fixings for you to assemble your own sushi or poke bowl. The fish is fresh and reasonably priced although at first it looked like a small portion. I brought the salmon/tuna/scallop/squid home and cooked and seasoned the sushi rice, added wasabi to my taste and wrapped each bite of rice and fish with nori, A sprinkle of furikake was fun and sometimes a squeeze of lemon slice enhances some of my meal. As others have mentioned the upstairs is available for customers and employees to eat their lunch there. You will find soy sauce and tubes of wasabi available there. read more

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

ISF Trading - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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

ISF Trading - Menu - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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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

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Amazing place for uni! Ordered a bunch of stuff to try and if we come back we would only order the following: - Uni - sweet shrimp - scallops The sashimi set was not worth it in our opinion. They also had seaweed and rice that you could purchase to go with your seafood (we had brought our own, as we knew that's what our kids would be eating). Once you get your food, you can go upstairs to the employee eating area to eat your food. It's very clean and nice. The seafood food was so fresh and good! read more

Look, it's a fun, quirky experience. The fish is fresh and cold. The staff is so kind and friendly. I love going there both alone and taking my out of town friends. I got the 15g of uni, rice, seaweed, & sashimi with a friend & it was a nice little lunch. read more

The hype is a bit unwarranted if you don't know what you're expecting. After reading the reviews knowing going in about the sashimi platter being haphazardly sliced I think is key. For $24, I would say there was a decent amount of fish- 6ish pieces of salmon, tuna, 3 scallops, 2-3 squid and a small tablespoon scoop of ikura. So about 18 pieces of seafood is a great price. Got the small uni for $15. It was a nice little snack, or if you got the rice and nori could have made a full meal out of it. I wouldn't bring out of towners to this- but a hankering for sashimi on a budget? Yeah. Luckily there was a bit more signage when we went, it's far down an alley. read more

Honestly, when my friend first brought me here, I was kind of skeptical. But I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the fish. The price was reasonable and while the cuts of sashimi were quite messy, I wasn't too bothered by it. They have a cute little upstairs dining area where they have everything you'd need, including complimentary tea and water. read more

ISF Trading - Sashimi platter! - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

I came here at noon on a Monday. Then again on Tuesday. Then again on Wednesday. Kidding about Wednesday but in all seriousness, I did go two days in a row for fabulously reasonably priced raw seafood at near wholesale prices (because it really is a wholesale place). Atmosphere: Zero fancy things about this place. It's on the pier and smells like fish. The decor is non-existent. You're eating with the workers of the place in their worker break room hah Service: Helpful staff though their English and question-answering abilities were slightly limited. Parking: Paid street parking that is a bit difficult to get on the main road there. Directions to the place are hand-written photos, and they did their best to help direct people to the right place, but it's still pretty difficult to find TBH I gave it 4 stars completely because of the food. Everything else is neutral or slightly negative for the eating experience, so I could not give it 5 stars, but at this price point and quality of fish, I will DEFINITELY be back! read more

ISF Trading - Directions. "#5 door" - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

I almost don't want to review this place and keep it all to myself, but the world deserves to know how amazing ISF is. It's no frills and you basically choose your fresh seafood, they prepare it for you, and you bring in to their self serve cafeteria area. Prices are kept low bc you serve yourself and even wash your own dishes. I love the concept! The uni was some of the best I've ever had. We engorged ourselves with uni and it was so cheap! I can't wait to go back. read more

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Yum! A no frills fish market where they sell sashimi for good value. We got the sashimi set and the salmon set for $28 each. We also got 1 instant rice and 1 pack of roasted seaweed. You buy the fish downstairs and then go upstairs to the employee lunch room to eat it. The lunch room was big and there was plenty of seating. After you eat, you bus your own table and wash the little dishes for soy sauce they give you at the communal sink. We went 20 minutes after opening on a Sunday and the uni was already all sold out. Seems like a very popular place with bott locals and tourists. I loved my experience here and can't wait to go back! read more

One of my favorite spot to get fresh sashimi and uni. Everyone here is so nice and helpful! They even have a lunchroom for you to enjoy read more

ISF Trading - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

Holy moly, what a hidden gem. $24 for a sashimi platter and $26 for salmon sashimi was excellent. Cheaper than anything we could find in Boston. Fish tasted tender and fresh. The dining area is really nice. Tons of seating and all the amenities. You have to clean up your own table afterwards. The staff are very nice. I think an owner or manager came to talk to us and ask us how the food was. read more

Was in Portland for the day and was craving sushi and upon a quick Yelp search, I landed upon ISF Trading--and realized it's actually been on my list since it went viral last year! The hype has since gone down a bit, but I think this mom-and-pop type seafood wholesale fish market is worth the trip and should be on your list too. It's unlike any other dining experience. No frills, as you are literally sharing your dining space with the rest of the building at their lunch break room upstairs. In terms of parking and finding your way to the warehouse, after putting in its address, handwritten signs are pointing your way to the fish market. For parking, there seemed to be some people parked right in front of the entrance, but we were unsure of where to park at the time, so we just found street parking. Once you enter through the door #5 that's marked, it is the very first door on the right, and it will very much look like a wholesale seafood warehouse, with styrofoam boxes, fishy-smelling water on the floor, and pier machinery. When you get to the counter, the people who run the place know enough English for you to order from the QR code, which brings you to their online menu. We got there at 1:30pm on a Sunday (opened 12-4pm), and the salmon sashimi set was already sold out! We didn't see the sign when we ordered until it was too late, but there is a sign for a cash discount (3.5% off). They accept credit cards! Up the stairs at the staff break room, there were easily signs leading up to the break room. There are a few microwaves, which we used to microwave our 2-minute instant white rice. There are a few condiments on the table, including soy sauce, rice vinegar, wasabi, and others, along with iced barley tea, which tasted fairly strong. Everything is self-serve, and after you are done eating, you clean and spray the table once you're done. If you used a sauce container, you'll be the one washing your own dishes too. Overall, we had a great experience! Very much a hole-in-the-wall, no frills meal where you are just there for the food and company! I loved how they had rice, nori, and sushi vinegar, so it was very customizable to one's taste, so I basically just made mini handrolls and nigiri for myself as I ate. It was my first time eating raw squid, and the salmon and tuna were great. The fish roe was a little too fishy and was the only thing that didn't quite taste as fresh, but other than that, I'd recommend this spot to others whenever they're in town! What we ordered: - sashimi set (raw salmon, tuna, scallop, squid, fish roe) $26? - seaweed salad $3 - microwavable rice $3 - nori packet $1 read more

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I apologize in advance for bursting any bubbles... this place lived in social media hype land for me for at least a year. I was so excited to go! This is my dream place! In reality, super disappointing. Giving it a star for hole in the wall appeal, but the food just wasn't very good. The famed sashimi platter is $26 and comes with tuna, salmon, scallop, ikura. It was small, quality was lower to mid, and we had a bite that was still frozen. The slices of fish were messily cut. We are locals who have made sushi and dons from fish markets all over the area, and Harbor Fish is our gold standard. For $26, you could get double the seafood and have it be fresher and higher quality just slicing yourself. For example, they're selling picked lobster meat for $70/lb but it goes for $55-60/lb at local markets fresh. Or, just go to Yosaku and get the sashimi lunch for $22 and it'll be more fish and higher quality. Or go all out for a chirashi bowl for $40 that'll be nicer in . Again, seriously loved the concept from the videos online but the quality to price ratio just doesn't deliver. I imagine the Uni is lovely, that does seem to be their specialty. read more

ISF Trading Seafood Market on Hobson's Pier was a steal to visit. We got Uni (100g),..Sashimi Red Tuna ( 1LB), Sashini Set (Tuna, Salmon, Scallops , Squid, Salmon Roe), Sweet Shrimp Peel 30ps ., Wasabi Octopus, Sashimi Scallops (1LB). The staff was friendly and helpful. We sat in there dining area. We paid about $160 for everything. The stuff was fresh and worth it . Wish we got some to take home. read more

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I am obsessed with this place. It's no frills, literally located in a fishing warehouse, and comes with true Chinese auntie (read: stern) customer service, but you can't find a better deal for fresh uni. We followed the pin on Google maps until we saw a sign with an arrow that said "Please come in to buy sea urchin." You scan a QR code (also located here: https://www.seaurchinmaine.com/en/pd.jsp?fromColId=104&id=18#_pp=104_397) for the menu and order at the register. I got a "plastic container uni" ($15 for 100g), sashimi set ($26), and frozen clams ($15). I ate the uni and sashimi at home with some rice, nori, and soy sauce, so we didn't make use of the staff dining room upstairs (they also had nori and white rice for purchase). The uni, I think, was better than the sashimi -- the sashimi was certainly fresh, and the squid was standout, but the tuna and salmon were nothing to write home about. And $15 for 100g of uni is a total steal: it fulfilled my culinary fantasy of eating uni until I was stuffed. Highly recommend for any seafood lovers -- I'm hoping to stop by soon to get more uni and perhaps a cut of toro to take home. read more

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I was really excited to come here for affordable sashimi. I think the only thing that's ready to go is the sashimi set which comes with a good amount and variety of fish but the cuts are rough and I think the price makes sense for what you get. The staff canteen has some sytrofoam cups and tea available, as well as soy sauce, chopsticks, and paper towel rolls if needed. read more

ISF Trading - Sashimi set w/soy sauce - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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It's a little confusing to get to but definitely worth going. Just remember to get soy sauce, wasabi, ginger, etc if you're grabbing to go versus eating at the canteen. We didn't realize that until we got back to our hotel and we had literally just the sashimi. The sashimi though was fresh and yummy. read more

This was not the best sushi I've ever had. Nor was it the best service I've experienced at an eatery. Neither of those things are what make ISF Trading a giddying experience. Instead, this was the most gobsmacking exceptional value for delectable raw fish and access to a convenient self-service kitchen I could possibly fathom on the east coast -- perhaps anywhere. As others have already noted, finding ISF Trading is a bit of a challenge. Just look for the steady stream of Asians come and going from a nondescript door about halfway down the loading dock and you'll be in the right place. Fair warning, it's a fish market and unquestionably smells like one. Fortunately, my olfactory senses are notoriously dull; folks with high sensitivity to odors should plan accordingly. The sashimi set (priced at $24 the day we went) is easily a satisfying shareable snack for two people. Tack on some microwaveable white rice and some mini-sheets of nori and you have a full-on sushi meal. If you plan ahead, bring your own prepped sushi rice and proper nori sheets for a cheap upgrade. I think the real wow factor was the 150gram salt water uni package at $26. I enjoy sampling uni, but after two or three pieces, I'm tapped out. We were with uni fiends who merrily polished off the rest of the container. This is likely the highest value item you can snag at ISF Trading, especially if you're into urchin gonads. The staff dining room is just up the stairs and down the hall - the door's clearly marked. It's no-frills, but well stocked. We were hooked up with a tube of wasabi, a bottle of soy sauce, and some dipping dishes. I think we must have looked pretty befuddled, because a kind employee (who didn't speak English) came by to help us unwrap and drain our package of uni so we could tuck in. Having a meal at ISF Trading isn't for everyone and requires some adventurous eating spirit, but it's probably one of my favorite Portland experiences ever! read more

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Rating: 4.5 Decided to visit since we were at portland and saw this place on feed/social media. Hidden fish market behind becky's diner. Went right as it opens on 12:00pm but there were already lines formed. It's really hidden but they try their best to show you where it is by putting signs on the doors from the entrance. They sell variations of seafoods which can be eaten there or taken home to cook. They offer very unique seafoods which you cannot but normally in regular fish market. We ordered sashimi set, sweet shrimps, uni, scallops, and sea cucumber meat. They were all tasty and fresh for the most part except sweet shrimp which was still partially frozen. We also got Tamaki farm eggs which are made to be able to be eaten raw so that you can put them on rice which are very rare in the United States. Overall the experience was very unique and interesting. Definitely a must visit hidden gem in portland area. Next time if I were to visit I Would definitely try to aim for things that are caught in Maine locally because some of the things are shipped from elsewhere and are frozen. read more

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Really enjoyed the Toro and wanted to try some of their other fish selection. I got a pound of the frozen Atlantic Sashimi salmon that was very rich and fatty. This is one of the more buttery pieces of salmon sashimi i've tried. Clerk was very helpful in answering all my questions and assisting me read more

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This place is AMAZING and a must-visit for any uni fanatic. I think they have parking in front, though I opted for paid street parking (before realizing the parking situation). The store is run by Chinese people, but they speak multiple languages, including Japanese. They also have a QR code menu you can scan to browse their selection. They offer multiple kinds of uni - I got the salt water uni and the wooden tray uni. If you're planning to eat there, I'd recommend the salt water uni since it seems to come with more pieces. The wooden tray uni is nicer for presentation. also tried one of their sashimi sets, and everything was incredibly fresh. Once you make your purchase, you can either take it to go (they provide an insulated to-go bag that works really well) or eat there. They sell rice and seaweed too so you can make your own sushi. If you choose to eat in, they take you upstairs, where there are plenty of tables and open seating. Utensils, bowls, tea, and condiments are self-serve. I'd highly recommend coming here for uni or any of your seafood needs, especially if you're looking for sashimi. I think it was an excellent value. I'm already craving it again. read more

Love this place. Mr Tamaki could not be any nicer. Looking forward to another order and maybe another visit

Great prices for extremely fresh seafood. The entrance to the building is very unassuming. Upstairs dining area is very clean. Drove up to Maine before going back to NYC just to try it and it was worth every second. read more

ISF Trading - Uni in saltwater, broken uni, oyster, salmon, ankimo - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

What a find! Fantastic fish and uni and plenty of space to enjoy the fresh fish. Prices can't be beat! read more

ISF Trading - Menu - Wholesalers Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Very interesting and a bit daunting spot to check out! Food is very much worth it Follow the signs to find the market, which is behind Betty's dinner and go into the 5th door, as the sign say in both English and Chinese. You will find a line and a chart of all that they offer, in very small letters. Find the QR code above the sink area, to get the list with pictures which is so much more easier to make out. The staff dispatching the food are Asian and have a tad of an accent, so be patient and be ready with your orders. The older women who attended us was elderly and adorable. She was very patient and we showed her the picture from the QR website, and was able to tell us "no" if not available anymore and nod if it was available! in the middle of the conversation she took out a container of spicy sea cucumber and hand out samples, leaving us with a delicious sample to enjoy and a bit dumbfounded that she left for a bit. To me, it was all good because it was endearing. We got scallops, a sashimi plate, sweet shrimp, uni, spicy sea cucumber, and the eggs. The eggs apparently are from chickens who are only feed seafood! Everything was so fresh and the individual working there are so kind. There is seating inside, which seems to be the workers lunch room. There is restrooms as well~ everything is clean! This is not a restaurant, it's a market so the lunchroom is what you should expect of a seafood company's lunchroom~ Best experience in Maine and must to try out! read more

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Our favorite seafood experience in Portland! We got a sashimi set, rice & nori, uni, sweet shrimp, and wasabi squid salad. The lady downstairs when you walk in to the seafood area was very friendly and helped us understand the menu. The sashimi was wonderful quality, and the uni were amazing!! And we we very much enjoyed the experience of eating in the employee cafeteria and cleaning our own dishes. read more

Friends recommended this place for its cheap prices for high quality (and quantity) seafood. It's far out of the way, but a good stopping point between Acadia and Boston. We tried the uni tray and general sashimi platter. I don't typically like uni, but this one was definitely different and sweeter. It's a seafood wholesale company but they also sell in smaller quantities. If you stop by and want to eat a meal, you can order downstairs and head upstairs into their staff lunch area to enjoy your food. They have various sauces and drinks for you there too. read more