ONE STAR?? Hilarious that i got on here and the entitled out of towners are on here giving a one…read morestar. I love obon. The udon noodles are heavenly. The broth is nourishing. The onigiri is art. And the service is always polite and professional. Always. I was physically at the restaurant the night these one star people were there. From what I could tell sitting at the bar and observing the ID in question, it looked fliiiimssy even from where I was sitting. I kinda get both sides ya know , sure one person in the group wants a drink w dinner but dude just tough it out and have your dinner. Instead they popped off and all started fussing and being entitled and it was just gross. I was enjoying a fantastic dinner but that table was like trying to take the stage. I think they ended up storming out and one girl like stomped off and said she was keeping her cup !! lol I worked in food a long time ago. And I've worked in cannabis under the watchful eye of the olcc so I'm on the servers side. Don't take chances and don't listen to these kids scramble for a secondary ID. Sketch. Go to obon. Get the Sando. Enjoy.

What should have been a straightforward ID check became an unnecessarily confrontational…read moreexperience. Rather than communicating professionally or reviewing additional identification, staff escalated the interaction, culminating in my friend being called a "bish." I can't recommend this restaurant. Also just don't treat people that way. It's not cool.

Parking is still sketchy in the area. Nevertheless, their rice texture is perfect…read more Sushi fresh, service excellent & hardworking owners makes this a repeat spot.

Had a great visit to Wa Kitchen Kuu! The service was great. Our server was friendly, made…read moresuggestions when we asked, and made sure we had everything we needed at all times. The restaurant itself has a small entryway and as you go further into the restaurant, it opens up. In the back of the restaurant, there is lots of space and tables. It's beautifully decorated. About the food: it was my first time having Udon in a restaurant. I had a hard time choosing just one because most of the Udon dishes sounded amazing. I don't remember the name of the Udon I chose, but it was full of veggies and tofu. It was delicious. I couldn't finish it all so I took the leftovers home and savored it. I highly recommend this restaurant. It has one downside: street parking. It wasn't terribly hard to find at lunch time, but required me to walk about a block in the rain.

Love it! One of our favorite places to enjoy our weekly family dinner. Incredible service, great…read moresmall plates, can't say enough nice things about it

All Japanese ~ Asian atmosphere, tasty sushi, thorough drink menu…read more Despite being the location of two previously well known restaurants, Hachi has established an authentic Japanese feel of its own. Spacious seating by the windows at lunch or chill in a booth late night. Rice texture is excellent & consistent each visit. As fresh as anywhere in their sushi served. Rolls not overly sauced and a great tapas menu. Service is prompt and polite, good pricing & good tastes making this a repeat favorite. Tables offered up to 30 minutes before closing making this a great midnight sushi run for downtown PDX.

Fish is top notch - very fresh, cut was generous. Service was great. Rice seasoned excellently…read more Ambiance is cozy and comfortable. Only thing that could use some improvement is that some of the nigiri rice were bit loose. But overall very good experience and would recommend.

While attending a conference, I came across Akizawa near by. I was in the mood for some good…read moreJapanese food and this place was perfect. When I entered they asked if I have a reservation, which I didn't, but was able to fit me in before a large part reservation was due to arrive in about 50 minutes. That was the perfect amount of time for me, and almost guaranteed getting served in timely manner. I ordered a couple of appetizers, gyoza and nasu, which were fairly generous for the price, along with some nigiri - chutoro, hamachi and tamago. Everything tasted delicious. It's a small but lovely place with lots of dark wood which makes the place feel special. Service was good, especially for a place that seems to have bare minimum staffing, and everyone looked like they loved what they were eating. Make sure to make a reservation so you guarantee to get in. I'll keep this on my list of places to go when I'm in town.

Dining at Murata is always a real treat. The beautiful Makunouchi Bento arrives in a two-tier…read morelacquered box, and even the careful handling and presentation add to the pleasure of the meal. Every element is prepared and served with such precision and care--you can feel the pride behind it. For nearly 40 years, this family-owned restaurant has been a Portland go-to for authentic Japanese cuisine, and today's lovely lunch reminded me why. Beautiful food, gracious hospitality, and a commitment to excellence that makes each visit special.

Nothing like fresh sushi and lunch specials, now add them together and you're in for one hell of a…read moretreat. Murata is a short walking distance from The Porter Hotel. I was luckily able to walk in without a reservation which was a bonus. I had to say I was quite surprised at just how packed it was with many of the tables taken. They had a few rooms with traditional seating where you sat on the ground and took your shoes off. My lunch came with fresh miso soup and the entree itself. The sushi was absolutely divine and I was in awe of each cut. Phew was it a solid meal. I'm not too sure how it is during dinner service, but a very solid spot for lunch.

Kichinto is cozy and decorated with lots of interesting Japanese art. There's an extensive menu -…read morebut it's nice to go there for a simple meal of salted salmon with rice or a bowl of ramen.

Their menu has a good balance between having a good number of options without being too…read moreoverwhelming. We got the grilled mackarel, salmon onigiri, and their obanzai (sides) and everything tasted great. The staff were super nice and the food came out pretty quickly as well. This is a good place to go with your partner or your friends, share some plates and drink, and chat. The decor is really cute and there are different seating options depending on your preference.

The following is a review of Nodoguro Zen, the restaurant's afternoon high-tea experience, offered…read moreonly on Sundays. Much to our disappointment, we were unable to secure tickets for their more well-known and critically acclaimed evening tasting menu. Tucked away inside Portland's historic Morgan Building is a restaurant unlike any other you'll ever visit. Chef Ryan Roadhouse and his crew took us on an unforgettable journey through a menagerie of Japanese-inspired high-tea delights. From the moment we stepped inside, we felt like we were transported into a secret and exclusive world, the kind of place you have to know someone to be invited into. The main dining area was intimate, and tastefully decorated with a blend of modern and classic Japanese decor. There were seven to eight tables spaced comfortably apart to provide privacy between groups. On the table itself, we found two plates, a miniature Zen garden, the tasting menu (a sneak preview of the wonderful dishes to come), and an oshibori (compressed hand towel that expands when introduced to hot water). Soft Japanese music played in the background. The Chef and his staff spoke to us softly, almost in whispers. The entire atmosphere evoked a sense of tranquility and relaxation. Our experience started with a Cold-brew Strawberry Sencha, a tea with a subtle strawberry aroma. It was a wonderful gateway to the adventures to come. Throughout the dining experience, we also enjoyed two other types of teas: Lemon and Ginger Tea, and Kanazawa Hojicha. We had the privilege of enjoying a variety of mind blowing savory dishes such as the Octopus Konbucha, House Cured Inari with Curry and Bay Shrimp, Masu Zushi with Smoked Salmon, Fried Oyster Sando with Tartar, Smoked Egg Sando with Ikura, Chives, and Pickled Carrot, and Squid Ink Cracker with Shitake and Scallop. The experience concluded with a spectacular finale of sweets including a Roll Cake with Honey Nut Squash, Black Sesame Tofu with Black Sugar, Pear Kanten, Pate a Choux with Hojicha Cream and Persimmon, Miso Caramel filled with Black Truffle, and Berry Meringue. Each dish was meticulously crafted to perfection. Choosing my favorite dish of the afternoon is a difficult task since everything I tasted was delicious beyond comprehension. But if I had to choose one, it would be the Fisherman's style Sea Bream Sashimi, something that wasn't even on the tasting menu. It was very clean-tasting and had subtle hints of something that tasted like sour plums. The presentation of the dishes was almost as impressive as the foods themselves. All the individual plates and bowls were unique and beautiful. The way in which the savory and sweet items were displayed was like pieces of art. Before I wrap up this review I do have to mention a few things. The entire experience lasted about two hours from beginning to end. To reserve a spot at this restaurant, you must purchase tickets in advance. As mentioned earlier, there are only a small number of tables available so you won't be able to just walk in to this restaurant. So don't even bother to try. Gratuities are included in the purchase fee. For this meal, tickets were $150 per person. For what you get, this price point is a steal of a deal. If you want to try their sake (I recommend the Hideyoshi "La Chamte" Sparkling Sake), these are not included in your initial purchase. If you're looking for an unbelievable and memorable dining experience, this restaurant deserves to be at the top of your to-try list. My only regret is that as a visitor to Portland, I won't be able to try their dinner tasting menu, which I'm sure is just as incredible as the afternoon experience.

3.5 stars overall. This is a prebooked experience which is nice as it includes tip (though you can…read moreadd on alcohol pairings). The restaurant itself has a nice atmosphere though interestingly located (the area you go through doesn't match the price point). When you are first seated, there is a small welcome drink which is nice. Our experience ended up taking about 3 hours in total and comprised of several courses of small bites. We were not able to snag countertop seating (though in hindsight, I am happier with how romantic it was so not a big deal). While it was a nice relaxed atmosphere, the experience and food itself was just OK. I did feel a little pressured throughout the meal to add on a beverage pairing (such as sake, wine, non-alcoholic beverages) and was asked at least 4 times even though we declined, which felt like a lot of pressure (that being said - the sake pairing pours looked generous from the tables around us). The bites sounded nice and in small quantities, were pleasant. However, I did not feel like any were truly stand out or amazing to match the price point of the meal. While I did enjoy that there was an attempt at a theme to put everything together, the dishes themselves did not wow me. Some of the presentation was fun/interesting, but some made me feel like I was straight out of a prank and was looking for a camera (sliced marinated tuna served in a "tin" can). We were unfortunately a little disappointed, but perhaps it is because of the high expectations we had.

Loved this place! If you're in the mood for sushi must try…read more Service is wonderful and ambiance was nice. The food was all delicious and the presentation was beautiful! Would definitely go back and eat here again when in Portland!

Definitely recommend going during their lunch hours to get the best deals. This space is quiet,…read moreeasy to converse with your friends, and has a wide array of allergen free options for all folks to pick from. There is something here for everybody without having much worry about being served the wrong thing. Service is quite quick, and the seating is arranged well because you do not feel like you are sitting directly on top of your neighbor. There's no rush to leave after finishing your meal. Highly recommend grabbing a meal here.

fast and tasty, reasonable price, I recommend…read moreThank you )))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Great food and service in a cozy setting!…read more We had a great time here on a Tuesday night. Our server Shannon was so friendly and fun to chat with. We tried the most unique nigori (unfiltered) sake which had lemongrass and coconut in it and tasted kind of like a piña colada! They have a really nice drink menu with lots of choices especially if you like sake. The food was delicious and fresh. The chicken Karaage was piping hot and oh so crispy. The hamachi Kama was a decent sized portion which melted in my mouth. It's served with a tangy ponzu (citrus soy) sauce. Their sushi was also good, we tried a hamachi roll and a salmon/ avocado/ shrimp tempura roll. Both were fresh. They served us a surprise "raver orange" dessert with a blinking light which was a nice free treat at the end of a great meal.

I saw a review that said to get the hot matcha latte and I did just that. The best one I had on my…read moreSeattle/Portland trip. Not overly foamy, with deep matcha flavor. I asked for it only lightly sweetened, and it was right on. I also got the hojicha soft serve and this rivals Matcha Maiko's version. Flavorful and nutty. I added matcha and hojicha brownies to the soft serve to try them and they are a skip. They are too hard and the flavors don't come out as much as the latte or soft serve. I wanted to come back here a 2nd time but they open too late and I can't drink caffeine after the morning.

After flying into Portland, I needed caffeine before my long night. Behind the Museum Cafe is a…read morespot I've had bookmarked for years! I wanted to visit the last time I was in Portland but didn't have the opportunity. So I made it a point to visit on my trip and convinced my manager to come too. The cafe is so quaint and serene! As a Japanese cafe, it has lovely art, crafts, and antiques around. I loved the overall space and vibe. It's a nice place to work or hang out with friends, too. Plus, all the workers were kind and helpful, and the items came out quickly. When you enter, their counter offers a wide menu of food and drinks. It can be overwhelming, but in a good way! They have seasonal and traditional items. I got the Pumpkin Matcha Latte with Soy Milk, a Salmon Onigiri, and a Matcha Brownie. My manager got a drink, onigiri, and dessert as well. The matcha latte was yummy! It was creamy, more pumpkin-forward, sweet, with a hint of earthiness. The brownie was very dense and not like a typical brownie texture or consistency. It was heavy on the matcha, and the walnuts had a nice texture; I wish it were chewier! The onigiri was a bit disappointing, and I'd skip it. There was a decent amount of salmon, but the nori was soggy, not crispy like in Japan, and the rice kept falling apart. As a Japanese person, I have high standards for my onigiris, and this wasn't it. I recommend their drinks over their food. Behind the Museum Cafe has such a nice vibe whether you're visiting or living in Portland. I would come back for their drinks! You'll find them across from the art museum off SW 10th Ave.