There's not much about Janken that hasn't already been said - this place really lives up to the hype. For me, it's a special occasion restaurant. Birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations... that's what I'd save it for! I probably wouldn't come here for just a casual dinner because it is definitely on the pricey side. The three of us spent well over $500, so plan accordingly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is stunning. The gorgeous cherry blossom tree in the center creates a beautiful atmosphere and makes for the perfect photo spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service is attentive without being overbearing, and I'd definitely recommend making a reservation since it gets busy. The menu has something for everyone, from incredible seafood to premium meats, and everything we tried was delicious. My favorites were the crudo, the fried rice, and the desserts. Do yourself a favor and order both the bingsu Korean shaved ice and the matcha dessert! If you're celebrating something special, Janken is worth the splurge! read more

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Finally had my go at the supposed "Nobu" of Portland. Well, I've never been to Nobu so I can't draw conclusions there but I can tell you we have something special here at Janken. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is certainly instagram worthy with a beautiful interior cherry tree as the centerpiece of the interior.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The star of the show really is the food though, right? My wife tried the caviar as she had never tried this before and it was superb. I had the waygu steak and it was as buttery as it should be and cooked to perfection. We tried several smaller dishes and all were divine. I should mention also, the cocktails are crafted with care and not too boozy. Service was fantastic with a no rush approach and a subtle check in frequently to make sure everything is covered off (drinks, etc.). read more

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience was extremely disappointing. We came to Janken to celebrate my daughter's birthday, expecting a special and professional dining experience. We spent nearly $400 on dinner and expected a much higher level of service and communication. We ordered several dishes, and while most of the food arrived, the last two dishes never came. We waited over 30-40 minutes with no updates from the staff. No one checked on us or informed us of any delay,we had to ask multiple times ourselves. What made the experience even more frustrating was that we noticed another couple who arrived after us. Their food continued to come out promptly, and staff checked on them several times throughout their meal. Meanwhile, we were left waiting, wondering where our food was, with little to no communication from anyone. Each time we asked about our missing dishes, we were told, "Just one minute." Ten minutes later, there was still no food. After waiting so long, I finally asked to cancel the remaining dishes. About five minutes later, one of the dishes was brought out anyway without any explanation. I told the waitress that we had already canceled it, and she simply said "okay," took the dish, and walked away. A few minutes later, another staff member brought out the other canceled dish and told us it was complimentary and that we could take it to go if we weren't hungry. The issue was never about getting free food. I wasn't looking for free food.I brought my daughter here for her birthday because I believed this was a nice restaurant that would provide a memorable experience. Instead of leaving with happy memories from my daughter's birthday celebration, we left feeling frustrated, disappointed, and upset. The lack of communication, poor service, and overall handling of the situation completely overshadowed what should have been a special evening. read more

Went on a solo date for dinner. I sat at the bar. Service is a little slow at the bar, for sure. It would probably help them if they had 2 bartenders and not just 1. But anywho, cocktails are very pricey, but tasty. I ordered the oysters they had on special, spicy yellowtail makimono, corn cakes and ube crème brûlée. Everything was delicious! But this is the last time I'm doing dinner in downtown Portland ever again! I parked in a parking garage and when I got to my car my drivers window was smashed and the only thing they stole of value were my prescription sunglasses. Now I understand why people stopped going to Portland. Add me to that list. So unfortunate. read more

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This place was as amazing as advertised! Top tier customer service, immaculate ambiance, and out of this world food. The Dynamite roll was $39, but worth every penny with how fresh and delicious it was. Their Happy Hour menu is very friendly and has some incredible dishes for a great price. read more

Janken - Oyster Shooters - Japanese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We came here for our anniversary and everything was amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]First of all coming in we were blown away by the ambiance and the cherry blossom tree. I have no idea how they even got that here but it definitely enhanced the experience[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our service was great too, very attentive and knowledgeable. They also have a very decent amount of vegetarian options. We started off with the corn kakiage and mushroom baos, both were very delicious and savory. Our favorite was the kimchi fried rice. It was so good I forgot to take a picture The drinks we got were amazing too, our favorite was the litchi martini for sure Finally for dessert we got the matcha tiramisu which was so creative and a no brainer for us because it was 2 of our favorite things in one 10/10 worth it Yes everything is pricy but for fine dining and the experience we thought it was all worth it Perfect for a special occasion read more

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We came here for our annual work dinner with our coworkers. We ordered "WIDE VARIETY of appetizers" from the "Hot", "Cold" and "ITAMEMONO" sections to try and majority of the main entrees from "land" and "sea". Standout MUST ORDER appetizers for your time here are "garlic wok mussels" and "steak tartare". Mussels are incredibly well seasoned in what I see as an asian fusion type of soy sauce/hosin. Great tasting mussels, no sand and not overpowering sauce. The steak tartare was the standout, they handled the raw ingredients very well and milk bread complimented it very well. As for the entree, I had the 10z grilled Ribeye. It's greatly plated, I love the addition of the sauce, salt and wasabi. It came with pickled greens and salads. But for a high end restaurant, I was a bit dissatisfied and disappointed by the ribeye itself, it was hard to eat since it was abnormally very "CHEWY" which is not normal for a high cut steak. Although the 10z ribeye was the "best value" for your dollar due to its portions compared to other dishes, it being very chewy knocks Janken down as a whole for me. I want to preface I ordered it as medium rare. The highlight of my meal was the matcha tiramisu, wok mussels, and steak tartare. [[HIGHLIGHT]]For a high end restaurant, I would say majority of your dollars goes into the aesthetic and nice atmosphere of the place since its accompany with a nice cherry blossom tree and great attentive staff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food wise... definitely went into the plating and aesthetics, I can recommend ordering from the ITAMEMONO, and hot/cold section. I can't recommend any other dishes though, that'll be up to y'all to try. What stops Janken from getting a 5 stars from me is a defining must order "entree". read more

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I just went here for the first time with my partner for a date night, and we were both blown away. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere was perfect for a date night, it wasn't too loud that you could've hear each other but it also felt intimate like no one else could hear you.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For drinks, definitely try one of their cocktails! My partner and I agreed they were some of the best cocktails we've had in Portland. For food, we got the crispy brussel sprouts which we're a kimchi sauce and were divine! We got the Yangnyum chicken with the most delicious Korean sweet and spicy sauce. The standout wad the Truffle tuna. I never would've thought to pair tuna with truffle but the flavors blended together seamlessly! Overall, it was some of the most impressive sushi in Portland! read more

Janken - Cocktails - Japanese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The food was good, and the service was good, they have us nice recommendations, the ambiance was cute with the cherry tree! read more

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Food was good but honestly nothing memorable and the service was great. The atmosphere was the best part according to my Partner since I had been facing a wall and firehydrant. Was an overall good experience but would not go more than once read more

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Came here for a nice dinner while visiting Portland but wasn't very impressed with the food itself. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is definitely more for the aesthetic or if you care about taking pictures. It's a cutesy place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But the food itself is overpriced and extremely mid. I probably tried 6-8 different dishes and none of them were memorable. Service was great! Definitely a very attentive dining experience which made the is experience great for us! read more

Janken is a must- hit for lovers of Japanese & Korean cuisine. The modern ambiance and vibes mixed with exceptional service and a broad menu made it a treat. Not to mention prices were VERY reasonable for the quality of food/service (+ auto 20% service fee, love to see it) Both cocktails we had, we agreed, were our new favorites in Portland. Just special drinks. The sushi, Truffle Tuna in particular, was the star of the show. We were really impressed by the freshness & flavors in the rolls. Truffle in sushi was new to us but absolutely incredible. We would also recommend the Brussel Sprouts & Yangnyum chicken. Both had lots of texture and flavor. The kimchi vinaigrette stood out in particular. Just go to Janken. You'll love it. read more

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Dined at Janken for a special night out and left feeling a bit mixed overall. The ambiance is undeniably beautiful. The interior feels upscale and thoughtfully designed, with a stunning tree centerpiece that really sets the mood. It's definitely an Instagram-worthy space and a great spot if you're going for atmosphere and aesthetics. Service was also excellent throughout the evening, with staff who were attentive, professional, and very accommodating. That said, while the food was good in terms of quality and presentation, nothing we tried truly stood out or felt memorable for the price point. Each dish was enjoyable, but for a higher-end restaurant, I was hoping for flavors or creativity that would really wow me. Overall, it's a lovely place for the vibes and a polished dining experience, but I'm not fully convinced the food justifies the higher price tag. read more

Janken - Japanese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The food was out of this world! The service was so kind and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was very chic and warm.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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This restaurant felt like it tries for a very specific, high-profile vibe, and I personally prefer a bit more cozy and relaxed. The tree in the center of the room is pretty and dramatic. The food was good but overpriced. We tried many dishes and most were over seasoned, especially the green beans. The raw oysters were delicious and the scallops too. The service was great and they accoomodated dietary restrictions. I'm glad we gave it a shot. read more

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Food quality: 4.5/5. Such fresh and unique flavors fusion with korean & Japanese inspiration. Service: top tier!! One of best services ever. Atmosphere: cozy, romantic, modern, and relaxing. Overall experience: wonderful!! 10/10 would recommend. Notes: make sure to book reservation ahead online! read more

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We came for a birthday, group of 10. When I arrived, 5/10 of the group was already there. My being the 6th, they had my friends waiting at the bar and wouldn't seat us until everyone arrived. Even though our table was ready and available for our group to sit. After another 10 minutes of waiting they advised we could sit, there were now 7/10 for the group. Service was ok. I had about 1/3 of my drink left and a waiter came a grabbed it off the table while asking if I was done. You wait till the customer responds before you put your hands on their item. No, I wasn't done with 1/3 of my drink left. Food was ok, overpriced in my opinion. Ambiance is nice with a beautiful tree in the center. No menus, they have business cards on the table that you scan with your phone to view the menu. Street parking was difficult so we parked in a nearby garage. read more

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Recently went with a large group & had a lovely time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was busy but not overly loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We had a large table with bench seating in one side facing the tree, a beautiful setting for our dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Pretty much everything our server recommended was delicious! Started with spicy edamame, Chef's choice sashimi & nigiri, and then the heirloom salad, all so fresh & flavorful. We also had the tuna & steak tartare, I usually don't go for steak tartare but this was fantastic & I'm glad I tried it! Loved the tiny milk bread toasts it was served with. Our server talked up the waygu fried rice, for me it was just so so. But the waygu gyoza was absolutely fire! The sleeper hit was the fried green beans, could have had just that dish & been perfectly happy! Brussel sprouts were great as well. For mains we did the branzino, the skin was crispy & paired well with the creamy sauce. My top 2 dishes were def the hamachi crispy rice, and the smoked waygu short rib. Those alone are worth going back for! We ended the evening with a couple orders of the bingsu, very pretty but not my cup of tea. Looking forward to going back & trying the matcha tiramisu. read more

Janken - Bingsu - Japanese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The same person who helped create the vibes for Vitolo in Fort Lauderdale, also helped with Janken in Portland. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The attention to detail and this trendy vibe in Portland Oregon was much needed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food here is out of this world. The staff were so professional knowledgeable about the menu and really cared about the experience here. We went here for a friend's birthday and she was completely blown away. The next time I am in Portland, I will definitely be visiting. read more

Amazing Japanese Korean spot with a variety of high end offerings including sushi, caviar, and Wagyu. Had the crudo, bulgogi japchae (potato glass noodles - my favorite), sushi, salmon tacos with ikura, an amazing mushroom and fried rice dish. Good cocktails and a nice selection of wine! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great vibes...[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great service... My server was Connor and he did a good job.. I had the miso soup, Bronzino, boneless chicken, which was like Korean fried chicken, miso cod... Food was good, small plates, shareable. Everything came out hot, fresh, and tasty.. Last reservation was at 9pm... We got seated right away.. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great spot!!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Janken is absolutely lovely. The ambiance is beautiful with warm, welcoming lighting and the 15-foot-tall cherry blossom tree. The servers were all so sweet. And of course, the food was to die for. read more

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We finally made it to Janken for my sister's birthday, and apparently our strategy was to order half the menu and see what happened. There were 4 adults, 2 small children, a full table and no self control. The cocktails were incredible, and the staff was so thoughtful they even split a mocktail for the kids, who felt very fancy and important because of it. We ordered sushi, fried rice, bao buns, lobster rolls, steak tartare, duck, scallops, sliders, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, dumplings, fries... honestly, if it was on the menu, there's a decent chance it landed on our table. By the end we were so full that dessert never stood a chance. The only thing none of us cared for was the Dynamite Roll. The warm creamy crab topping just wasn't our thing. There were also a few dishes I'm glad we tried but probably wouldn't order again--the Peking duck, bao buns, and tableside fried rice. Now for the stars of the show. The STEAK TARTARE. I order steak tartare every chance I get. I've had it all over and make it at home. This was hands down the best steak tartare I've ever eaten. Not "best in Portland." Not "best recently." Best ever. Next time I'm ordering one for the table and one for myself because sharing was a mistake. The hamachi crispy rice was absolutely divine. The King Salmon Roll was fantastic. The fries were somehow memorable enough that I'm mentioning fries in a restaurant review, which feels important. The kids loved their avocado rolls, and the staff happily accommodated their requests. Overall, Janken nailed it. Great food, amazing drinks, wonderful service, and somehow managed to make dining out with two little kids feel easy. I'm already planning to come back for my birthday. This time I'm determined to save room for dessert, try more sushi, and finally enjoy an entire order of steak tartare without having to fend off family members with my fork. read more

I was walking around the neighborhood and stumbled across this place. It was very busy when I walked in, but fortunately they did have a seat at the bar where I gladly took a seat. This restaurant is very high-end and bougie with a great ambience . And I mean that in a good way. You aren't just coming here for the food you're coming here for the experience and the staff were amazing with explaining what they have on their menu and how the food would be served. It was a great experience. It's definitely expensive to eat here, but it's most definitely worth the experience that you get while dining inside. I have eaten a lot of of Japanese cuisine in the area and Janken really hit the spot for me. It's high up there in the best Japanese restaurants that I've eaten at in the PDX area . This is a place that you want to take a person or group you are trying to impress for a special occasion. read more

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"Janken" did not seem like an appropriate name for this place after visiting. Then I realized its name is probably not of English origins. So I looked it up. I guess it's Japanese for a game of rock paper scissors. This made me even more confused. So I decided to focus on the food. This is one of them high end fancy places you normally wouldn't catch me dead inside. But it was my birthday and my gf treated me. The service here was exceptional. The menu was unique and interesting. Everything was at least good but not everything was great. At a fancy pants place like this, you really want to get what you pay for. Maybe it fell short of that, but you would never be disappointed. I can't run down everything we ate, but follow your heart. It's a super cool experience and legit food all the way around. (4.4 Stars) read more

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Been here twice and impressed each time! We had a whole assortment of family style dishes and the stand outs were the fried green beans (maybe the best I've had!), spicy edamame was very unique and flavorful, the eggplant nasu katsu was super divine as well - fried but interesting and full of flavor and texture. I was not disappointed in my old fashioned either - excellent pour and presentation. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is also a nice balance of high end and comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Check this place out for an elevated Portland dinner! read more

This has been on my list of places to go and I finally got the chance to dine here for a friend's birthday. Reservation was easy to make on their website and it was surprisingly busy on a Tuesday night when we were there! (Also equally surprising was how many free spots there were for parking close to it) Obviously their cherry blossom tree is iconic and in the middle of the space. It really contributes to the overall elegance and vibe of the place - very romantic! We came here when they first opened at 5pm so we were able to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials. Our server was so friendly and did an amazing job explaining the Japanese/Korean fusion menu and had some great suggestions. Every dish that came out was so pretty with an equally appealing aroma that wafts through the entire restaurant. We didn't order any rolls but they looked so fresh and the short ribs on the grill looked amazing too! The cocktail special came inside a Smokey dome (we didn't get it but saw it with other tables) but the jasmine drink was yummy. We ordered a few things to share but the most notable for all of us is definitely the Crispy Noodle Salad (omg that dressing!) and the Strawberry Bingsu for dessert. The bingsu was so big we barely finished it with 3 people and it was super creamy and refreshing on a hot day. This is on the more pricey side ($$$$) so it will be more of a special occasion spot for me but they do have good Happy Hour deals! read more

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One of my favorite places in Portland! Their desserts are always so yummy. They keep changing their menu so I always look forward to trying something new read more

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Before going to Portland, I looked up for the best restaurants currently in downtown and Janken was the one recommended by many. We didn't have time to reserve since we weren't sure on the timeline. Luckily, we found an opening and were welcomed in. This is an upscale Korean Japanese fusion restaurant. We loved the simplistic ambiance and the set up. For drinks we went with Pineapple Express, litchi martini, night owl and figuratively speaking. The drinks were perfect and delicious, we loved the litchi martini and Pineapple Express presentation. Figuratively speaking was a let down and would skip it. For food we ordered mushroom bao buns and crispy Brussel sprouts for appetizers. Both were top notch and we finished in no time. For main course we ordered yaki udon and kimchi fried rice. I would skip the fried rice, it was not that great and not worth the money. We wrapped up our dinner with Dubai to Janken and match tiramisu. The desserts were the best part of our meal. We wish the Dubai to janken portion was a little bigger. The tiramisu was a show stopper for sure. The pricing is $$$ since it's upscale but the service is worth it! read more

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Absolutely awesome dining experience. The food, the decor, our server, everything was amazing. Everything except the very end of our meal I will admit. We waited almost 35-40 minutes for the wagyu nigiri- strange because it was the very last thing we ordered I think we were forgotten. It happens. If you're looking for a meal to impress someone come here and be prepared to spend some $ read more

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We had a wonderful anniversary dinner tonight at Janken. One of our favorite bites of fish we've ever had was served here. Our waitress Morgan was very helpful and proactive in her service, and she even got us a complimentary dessert on the house. The dishes we liked most were the truffle salmon carpaccio, the chefs choice nigiri and the mushroom bao. It's a very calm restaurant inside, and they really do strive to take care of you. The only negative thing that occurred was that many dishes use smoke components, and I found that the smell of smoke around me was influencing the taste of my dishes, but it was something I quickly got over. My husband and I shared 8 dishes (plus dessert), that was probably one too many, as we left quite full with leftovers. read more

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Went here for my birthday recently and had a better experience than the last time! The food is amazing as always and the service was very kind and nice! I was too full to try the ube crème bulee but I'll come back again just for that read more

Janken - Pineapple Express - Japanese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I wanted to love Janken but the experience didn't live up to the cost. Our server was fine at first, but once a VIP group sat next to us, the service noticeably dropped. We even ordered dessert to go, and it was literally dropped on our table with a quick "how's the food?" before the server immediately turned her attention back to the VIP group. It felt dismissive. It left us feeling overlooked, which isn't what you expect from a restaurant at this price point. Also, gratuity was automatically included, which took us by surprise given the mediocre service. Hoping they improve consistency because the food itself was good. read more

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Dinner was marvelous at Janken... as per usual! My favorite dish this time was the short rib dish .. beautiful read more

Janken - dirtttty martini steak tartare lobster rolls sake sashimi wagyu gyoza mushroom bao buns grilled ribeye - Japanese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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janken has such a beautiful low-lit ambiance ! we came here for a dinner with some visiting friends and we felt so fancy ! we got a bunch of smaller plates to share and enjoyed them all ! our server was also so sweet ! read more

Janken - hamachi crispy rice and wagyu gyoza - Japanese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Made a reservation to come in on a Saturday night. It was pretty busy but we didn't have to wait very long for the food to come out. The food comes out as it's made by what we were told. We had the corn kakiage, crispy brussels sprouts, salmon, grilled ribeye, and miso black cod (not pictured). My favorite was the grilled ribeye and miso black cod. The corn and crispy Brussels sprouts were okay but felt like they were missing something. This place is pretty pricey and the portions are small for the appetizers. Our server was great and addressed all our concerns. read more

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Menu was vast and unique. We picked items to share which was plentiful, not to mention delish. I would eat there every week until I tasted it all. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The back table in the back was private and the window view was happy and tree lined, sunny.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They open at 4 pm eat early you will be full. I believe everyone in the restaurant took care of us What a evening! And desert read more

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I've gone to eat three times. The third time I skipped everything and just ordered my favorite dish, which is the wagyu gyozo. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Pluses: very pretty interior, photo-worthy really and if you're lucky you get to sit under the beautiful tree; people watching is phenomenal because it's one of the few restaurants in PDX where people try to look good[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Cons: honestly the menu is a little bit too long and it's inconvenient to look at your phone after scanning the QR code because you'll be doing so much scrolling; the staff brings out your food whenever it's done, which they think is kind of novel, but it's kind of annoying. You won't see your same server until the end. Having said this, I've brought people here from the East Coast as well as the Bay Area and they both really thought it was good. read more

Janken is definitely one of the places that you'll need to up your budget for. With the beautiful decor and the intimate feeling of the restaurant it's great for a date night! We ordered the meat hot plate, bingsu, street corn, and the seafood tacos and each of them were definitely really good! For how expensive they all were the taste definitely packed a punch! The service was good but felt a little confusing as they brought out each item separately so that you had time to enjoy them, I think with some communication with the servers this could be changed. Overall it was a nice experience but I'm not sure I would go again due to the poor parking in the area as well as the price for portion. read more

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Excellent food, excellent drinks, excellent service, excellent ambiance, pricy but so worth it! See for yourself! read more

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