The space inside this little downtown restaurant is so cute and cozy. We came at a lunchtime mid-week, so service was quick. The food here was lovely! I enjoyed the miso soup that came with the bento lunch, but the gyoza were my favorite bit. So crunchy and delicious, especially with the sauce. The other elements of the lunch bento were quite delicious as well, and I'd be delighted to try more of their menu when I return. read more

Izakaya Jinsei - Salmon Poke Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

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It's been a few years since my last review and that was based on my take out experience. This time it's for my dine on experience. Definitely better than expected, we walked in and it didn't seem like any tables were available, but there was seating near the back. Service was quick, after placing our order, the food was brought pretty fast. We ordered sushi, katsu curry, poke bowl & gyudon. Everything was delicious, I enjoyed the flavor of my gyudon and the katsu curry was tasty too. My only complaint was the poke bowl--it seemed deceptively big, but the bowl was mostly filler, with rice and greens and some tuna poke on top. Nonetheless our meal was filling, but I'm not sure if I would order the poke bowl again. Overall, our dining experience was good--I wouldn't hesitate to return. read more

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Went here last night with some friends and it was really good! Service was excellent. Ambiance was very nice. The house sake was totally solid and I would order again for sure. Definitely order the grilled shishito peppers. They were excellent as was the takoyaki! The chicken karaage was also very tasty. I loved their take on a jalapeño popper. They call it the jalapeño bomb and it has spicy tuna in it. I'd definitely recommend and it's great for sharing. We also ordered various sashimi and rolls and all were excellent! The Angry Mom was particularly good we thought! I highly recommend this place. Please go here if you haven't been! read more

good sushi, cute small intimate spot. variety of rolls and other chicken entrees! I got the lemon roll, jalapeño albacore rolls and both were very fresh! albacore here is perfect. read more

The ramen tasted really good, super flavorful and satisfying. They serve lemon water instead of regular water, which I didn't expect but it was actually really refreshing. Definitely a great spot to hit for ramen or any of your Japanese cravings. read more

Izakaya Jinsei - Storefront - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

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My most favorite Japanese restaurant in Eugene. The food here is very authentic and they have things like chasuke and umeboshi onigiri that I rarely can find in America. My boyfriend and I went last night and the service was extra incredible. They are always so kind and attentive. I highly recommend the spicy tuna crispy rice & also the veggie tempura roll. Other standouts for me are the veggie potstickers and the house salad just happens to be one of the best salads in the world. Its always so fresh and the miso dressing is tdf!!!! read more

Delicious chicken katsu curry. Great price too. Meal was delicious and served with miso soup and salad with fresh ginger dressing. Such a great value. Quick service too. Truly enjoyed it. Menu has plenty of variety to offer as well. Casual and comfortable place. Super close to campus. Parking available on street out front. So glad I found this gem! Great for single diners as well. Counter seating facing window plus many tables for 1,2 or groups. read more

Izakaya Jinsei - Chicken katsu curry with miso soup and salad with fresh ginger dressing. - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Not that great. I've had worse sushi but it was a bad time when that happened. Sashimi and nigiri were super thick and nothing was very fresh. It's actually 3 stars, but they're overrated so needed to compensate for the average with a 2. read more

I've wanted to try this place since moving to Eugene and it didn't disappoint. I ordered the most basic rolls (classics that you can't mess up) -- and Izakaya nailed it! The hand cut salmon roll and spicy albacore were delicious. The pieces of fish were hefty and the fish and cucumber were incredibly fresh. I ordered via phone for takeout and the process was easy and quick! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because I got takeout -- stay tuned for updates when I dine in! I was nervous I wouldn't be able to find a quality sushi place in Eugene, but I'm so thankful to have found Izakaya Jinsei! I'll definitely be going back to try more rolls and other menu items. If you're looking for more foodie pics and reviews, check out my food Instagram, @sammychews! read more

Izakaya Jinsei - Salmon hand cut roll - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Me and my friend went to Izakaya Jinsei for dinner tonight and we had an amazing experience! Such a cute restaurant. Will definitely be my new go to sushi spot. Very quaint, chill atmosphere. Some standout dishes we ordered were the spicy garlic edamame as an appetizer and the super dragon roll. Service was great. Very friendly employees. The menu was pretty big and had a large variety of dishes, not just sushi. I would definitely come back here again to dine in or for takeout. read more

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Geez I really don't want to give a two star rating but to be fair to those that are possibly like me and thought they might be finding a rare gem that could be reminiscent of a funky Izakaya they went to somewhere else...this is not that. To be real; it's a decent university district Japanese place. But it fell short on being a "rare hidden gem". The service was very pleasant. However the tables were sticky. Possibly from being wiped down with a too strong bleach solution that is dissolving the finish in their tables. Pork gyoza - this was probably the best thing we ordered. Flavorful and pan fried crispiness. I suspect they were a packaged item (vs. made in-house) which is fine. Agadashi Tofu - was served room temp and the broth was too heavy and too sweet. Chicken karage - this was good. I appreciate that they were fresh & hot. Sushi - this was really disappointing. The slices of fish were so thick that it was unpleasant and overwhelming. Not the delicate and satisfying singular experience you might hope for. Some of the pieces had an unpleasant ammonia taste & smell. While some were watery and just barely unfrozen. We attempted each piece but weren't able to finish most of them after the first bite. Like I said, I don't enjoy giving a less than stellar review. I rarely give less than 4 stars. But unfortunately this is a good spot for something simple but it's not a place I could recommend to a food enthusiast. read more

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Home away from home.. some places that make you feel wanted and happy. Chef Ken, the lovely young lady (Olivia) that waits on tables, and the food (but obvious).. Thankful for the quality food and the warmth. Cheers for many more!! read more

Izakaya Jinsei - When chef Ken makes you feel special welcoming you back with your favorite roll (that they remember from a year ago). - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

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This is my go to spot!! I love the owners and the sushi and food is insanely good. It makes me feel at home. I always get the tempura udon with comes fast and tastes delicious. I go probably 2-3x a month. Best sushi spot!! read more

The interior of this place feels nice and warm/cozy with the lighting. I really enjoyed how there were several different seating areas and it wasn't just a huge wide open room. I ordered miso ramen as my entree. It was honestly delicious! My friend got a poke bowl. I really liked it and was pleasantly surprised because of the close proximity to the college campus. We also ordered the edamame and that was really good too, although I wanted more salt and added it with no problem. When it came to the service, it felt like our server really disliked us. My friend and I are college aged and we are in graduate school. Our server was also college aged (or so it seems) and I was thinking maybe that's why it was an interesting experience. Every time we asked for something we said please or thank you at the end. Normally when someone says "can I have some more salt please" the wait staff would respond with "yes" or "no we don't have that". Every time we asked her for something or ordered something she would leave without saying anything, no "you're welcome" or "sounds good" or "I'll be right back". It just made the experience a little bit awkward. At the end, she just brought the check before we were finished eating and didn't ask us if we wanted to order anything else. I have worked in the service industry for quite some time and I just know that I wouldn't be acting like that at work. I still left her 20% although I was disappointed in the service because I know it can be hard as a server sometimes especially if you're doing school at the same time (which I did too). I don't know if I'll be coming back here because I really don't like feeling awkward at dinner, but if you come here I would say the food is really good and we both enjoyed that. read more

Izakaya Jinsei - Miso Ramen Edamame - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

I am a sushi snob and this is the best sushi I've had in Eugene. I was a frequent Sushi Pure goer but when I discovered this gem I haven't gone back. The staff are extremely friendly and it has a very cozy atmosphere. Definitely recommend if you're looking for high quality sushi. read more

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The food is phenomenal! One of my favorite go to places for real Japanese food in Eugene! The service is great and quick. I love the little hole in the wall feel but nice wood decor and coziness. Definitely check this place out! read more

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I would actually rate this 4.5 stars. Visited twice on our 3 night stay in Eugene we liked it so much. Sushi is fresh and fairly priced considering the large portions for the nigiri. On our first visit we had sushi. On the second visit it was Oregon's homecoming and the restaurant was packed. We had a 5 minute wait for a table and I ordered the chicken udon and my wife ordered the salmon poke bowl. It was absolutely delicious. I couldn't eat all the udon soup at one time and took it back to the hotel. This is a small family owned restaurant however it can sit probably up to 60 people. Nicely decorated and located right in the heart of Oregon's campus. If in town for a football game, track event, or any other reason you will do well by coming here to eat dinner read more

Stopped in for lunch after perusing Eugene. I wasn't really in the mood for this particular cuisine, but other people in my party were wanting sushi. I opted for the bento box with Spicy Chicken Teriyaki...since it had a little of this and a little of that. Several of our party ordered rolls. The rolls are a little on the pricy side (more than what I am used to paying at the sushi spots I frequent). Looks like they infuse their water with lemons, strawberry and mint--which was refreshing. Spicy Chicken teriyaki was a little bit different in the sense that the sauce appeared to be somewhat creamy. It was pretty good though and had a little more kick that most spot. That was a welcomed surprise. Our server was a little off and either didn't take our orders down right, or was just a little spacey. Just a small little spot in a college town, so not super impressed, but the food was still good. Overall 3.5 stars since the service was a little wonky. read more

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We were driving between Portland and Ashland and found this at a convenient midpoint. Really excellent! With holiday music playing in the background, we were served quickly. We got a large bento box with shrimp tempura, salmon bento box, and Yu don beef and rice. Tons of food for the price and everything was hot, not heavy (the tempura was a particularly light and well done version with half a dozen shrimp, shrimp Shu mai, three chicken dumplings and cucumber salad with a purple and white rice). A quick detour from our highway trip which really hit the spot! read more

Izakaya Jinsei - Salmon bento box - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

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This is authentic Japanese with a great menu and wonderful food! The salmon nigiri was top notch. Nice owners and friendly service. We will come back! Loved the Star Wars curtains. read more

Maybe too atheistic for us?! I was excited to find a Japanese restaurant on a recent visit to Eugene. My husband had the Poke Bowel, my daughter the Yakiudon and I had Potstickers and Garlic Edamame. My Potstickers were fantastic, definitely try them if you go there. The Edamame was a little weird, but fine. My husband said his Poke Bowl was fine, but nothing special. 'My daughter's Udon was not good. It was very sweet, not the traditional savory gravy we are used to, (again maybe too authentic?). My daughter ordered a lemonade and then asked for a refill of Dr. Pepper, it was minute made lemonade from the soda machine, refills were free, but when she asked for Dr. Pepper as her refill the server charged her for another beverage. Overall everything was just "fine", but I don't know that I would go back. read more

Great place for students and couples! With large portions and great fresh sushi selection there's something for everyone. I love the spicy tuna crispy rice, sake fashion and chicken karaage. Really underrated food spot in Eugene. read more

Me and my mom come here every chance we get, the first time we tried this place the food was delicious and the owner saw us enjoying the food and offered free takoyaki it was super nice of him and it was delicious the food here is always amazing the staff are always super friendly the vibe here is really nice it's a great restaurant to go to in the summer I love this place so much please give it a try if you want some good Japanese food. read more

Color me impressed. Wasn't too busy on a Tuesday night so I didn't have high expectations. But each sushi dish came out fresh, generous in portion and excellent in flavor. We got the snapper and amberjack nigris and was blown away by how fresh the pieces were! The rolls were also quite good, especially "angry mom" with the spicy kick. If we weren't from out of town, this place would be a staple. read more

I miss Izakaya Meiji. I think this place may be owned by the same folks, but it's very different, as befitting, a campus side restaurant that probably caters more to hungry, budget conscious students. It's a cozy environment if a bit drafty in the winter. The large beer with Small sake special was nice. The agadashi tofu was good, although I thought that was a bit too much sauce, which impacts the crunchiness of the cubes. The rice porridge (Okayu, aka Japanese Congee) was nice. I will not ever get the Yaki udon again & advise you to stay clear. Service was... kind if a bit inconsistent. I'm gonna go back and try ramen and their onagiri, The flavored water was delightful. read more

Was looking forward to good Japanese food. High reviews, high hopes. Service was great. There were two other parties in the restaurant. Sashimi pieces were too big. Some perceive as value. There were 3 bones in the salmon. Did not finish meal. Left disappointed. read more

We found nice food here, the rice was just perfect along with fresh fish. No complaints here. We only faced two cons here: the dirty plate was given to us to share the food and there was a lack of AC. It was over 105 degree outside and the AC wasn't doing much inside, so we basically were just melting. It was uncomfortable to enjoy the food. read more

Izakaya Jinsei - Top: California Roll Middle: Tuna Roll (liked the least) Bottom: Salmon Roll (liked the most) - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

This place is absolutely incredible! The food is excellent, and so is the service and atmosphere! It's dangerous having this place so close to home because I will be coming here again! read more

My family and I have Been coming to this restaurant for the last four years and it's never disappointed . The owners are always nice and Colin is an amazing server . Will continue to bring friends and family here as long as we are in euegene ! read more

Izakaya Jinsei - Dinner Curry Chicken Katsu , Chicken Dinner , Popcorn Lobster Roll - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Come eat here with playful reverence for modern-traditional Izakaya done so well that it becomes easy, affordable, nom art. There are a ton of places with great food here. This is one worth any distance walked, biked or other. Great for all your first dates with its casual clean traditional and Star Wars noren. Vibe is happy, grateful, cozy, stylish, comfortable. Everything FELT so good to eat. Our new most favorite. read more

Izakaya Jinsei - It was so delish and beautiful, we were so into it we forgot to take pics. Perfection! - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

If you are looking for good sushi, do not come here. The place was crowded, which was a good sign. Our server was friendly. That's where the positive notes end. We ordered the seaweed salad, which had an off flavor and needed chili or sesame oil. The Ikasansai (squid) salad was mostly frozen, and what wasn't frozen was cut too thickly and chewy. The combo poke bowl was ok - fish was not great quality and topped a large pile of rice with various salad vegetables, some not usually served with poke - like lettuce and tomato. The chicken udon soup had potential but needed a lot more salt. We also ordered 2 rolls of- the "Ex Girlfriend" which was advertised as crab, tuna, avocado topped with salmon, tuna and yellowtail. The crab had so much Mayo in it, my son nearly gagged. The other roll was the "Jinsei Albacore Roll" which is not what we thought we ordered. The roll had tuna & shrimp tempura but was topped with a spicy BBQ type sauce and crispy onions- so many onions they belonged on a burger. We tried it all, left at least half. If this had been our first sushi experience, we'd never try it again. Prices are reasonable so at least we weren't paying top dollar for a bad meal. But still very disappointed. There are lots of options - give another place a try. read more

Update: COMPLETE GEM for sushi lovers and those with allergies or dietary restrictions!! (The website still has the old address and a phone call confirmed they ARE on Alder, NOT 5th.) Tucked away on a side street off of the main UO thoroughfare, this place is ABSOLUTELY worth the small adventure getting here from downtown.The food was fantastic and the service was very attentive and responsive. Water infused with lemon and mint and completely refreshing! Best of all, VERY Gluten-free accommodating. They made the tempura with GF flour (I believe rice flour) and brought GF Tamari in lieu of traditional soy sauce and I ate happily with zero negative digestive reaction afterwards. Great variety of rolls and seafood and my vegetarian friend seemed quite satisfied with the offerings as well. I am so grateful to have found a place with amazing sushi AND peaceful, classy decor AND kind and responsive service AND GF tempura and rolls. THANK YOU! read more

Izakaya Jinsei - The website still has the old address and a phone call confirmed they ARE on Alder, NOT 5th. - Japanese Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

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The Gorilla says, "Sake sashimi Had a bone. Seriously. That's really not cool." Bummer. read more

My wife and I dined in last nite and I must say this place had the worst sushi we have ever eaten, so bad I spit it out, the fish was old you could tell by looking at it. You can get better sushi at a super market deli disgusting.... Won't be coming here again anytime soon read more

Great service and food. Out of all the Japanese spots in Eugene definitely one of my favorites.

This place is awesome - it's the best sushi spot in Eugene. I've been to all of them. Decor, pricing, food, it's all fantastic.

It's hard to find a good Japanese style curry and this place does it well. The chicken Katsu curry was great.

This place is super cute but I don't think the chosen (or available) location lends itself to the kind of restaurant the chef was hoping to create. The food is fine I would say - but I want to really hope it's because it's catered to the palettes of the college kids close by. My salmon skin roll was so crunchy that it was almost painful to eat. I also was not a fan of the aioli provided with the calamari. There was a shining moment though where I could tell how much the chef cared for his craft - I ordered the sweet raw shrimp nigiri, the waiter dropped it in the incorrect orientation to which the Sushi Chef came out from behind the counter to correct it. The waitstaff are kids from the U of O, which makes it a bit hard. The hostess stood at the front speaking very loudly with a group of kids who were exiting, and then again with a group that were entering. She seemed more focused on socializing than serving but again we've all been in college. Overall I was looking for calmer, a bit more refined Izakaya, and I believe the chef would like to create that but being SO close to Greek Row makes that challenging. read more

This is one of my favorite places to go for dinner when I visit Eugene. It is truly a Mom and Pop business and they know what they are doing. It's very authentic Japanese, from the decor to the excellent service and fantastic food. If you love authentic Japanese food, I highly recommend this place! read more

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This place had a good selection of dining choices. All of the items I ordered were thoughtful put together. The flavor and taste was great. The gyoza hand a chewier wrap that I expected but the dipping sauce was good. The yellowtail collar was cooked perfectly and had a decent amount of meat. read more

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