Intimate dining with the sushi chef right infront of us explaining everything. The food was good but truly not worth price. Everything was heavily over powered by wasabi. It was a good experience but not worth the premium. read more

Others have left reviews saying the food here wasn't great. I'd say I've certainly had worse food for twice as much money with worse service. Not everything we had was spectacular, but 80% of it was, and the tamago and salmon were insanely good. One of the two owners was our chef and host, and was super nice and friendly, and answered any questions we had. I wouldn't hesitate to come back again next time I'm in town and and am thankful I got to experience this restaurant and it's staff and food. read more

Uninspired kitchen making 50 min wait for "2nd" round seating (no reservations taken) not worth the wait despite great wait staff and alcohol options This was a place we had longed for quite some time. Ordered the chefs 11 course tasting (omakase) for 2 with a preference leaning away from uni and scallops. We were served primarily slices of fish, no innovative couplings, not even the usual micro greens and house chili garlic oil, which would have been welcome here as some of the rice was dry, and sparse as were some of the fish pieces. It was also weird receiving albacore tuna a couple of times. If we had wanted primarily nigiri, we would have selected our own cuts. Never was tomago presented, which some consider to be the gauge of a sushi bar. I would have loved to have had some eel too.....o well read more

This was my first in person omakase experience and our sushi chef definitely was the highlight. Yasu was our chef and he delicately prepared each course for us. Just based on the way he preps the fish, I can tell he puts a lot of details and attention to his dishes. Everything was super yummy and we even ordered a few a la carte pieces after the omakase meal so we could have seconds of some of our favorite pieces and try additional fish they had on hand. Definitely plan to be there for awhile, this is not a meal you want to rush. read more

Nimblefish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I like sushi, but when my wife said she wanted to get upscale sushi for her birthday, admittedly, my heart sank a little. If we're going to pay a premium for a nice birthday meal, why not go to a steakhouse? - Then I was introduced to Nimblefish. This is hands down the best sushi/sashimi I have ever had. In fact, it's up there with one of the best meals I've had. We laughed our way through it due to the pure deliciousness in every bite. We got a Chirashi bowl each. An assortment of sashimi over a bed of rice. Fresh, flavorful, pure quality... and surprisingly filling. Let's just say my birthday is coming up in a couple of months and I think I know where my birthday meal is coming from. read more

Nimblefish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

"Claimed to be 'Edomai' inspired, but not executed tastefully. I have visited some of the finest sushi restaurants worldwide, worked as a food critic, and experienced various sushi styles. However, my experience at Nimblefish left much to be desired. While they did cure the fish (possibly following the Edomai style) and sourced their selection from Japan, the umami flavor was lacking. The sushi rice nearly fell apart due to poor technique, and the consistency was subpar. Each time a new piece of nigiri arrived, it had a different temperature, acidity, and shape - a departure from the precision typically associated with Japanese Omakase. The seasoning of the rice, a crucial element of sushi sophistication, tasted as if it were made by an amateur at a sushi party. The flavor seemed to separate from the fish and did not harmonize well. Their small dishes were intriguing, but for instance, they used an excess of corn in the Chawanmushi, overpowering the umami flavor of the seafood in the egg custard. We spent around $700 for two people on poorly crafted sushi and received rather mediocre service. The day after I just realized I ordered two additional A5 Miyazaki wagyu sushi which never came but we got charged. The entire team seemed unfamiliar with their offerings, and the chef couldn't even identify all the fishes or address my questions. If you truly seek a fine dining experience with sophisticated flavors, I would recommend investing your money in a different type of cuisine in Portland. A very disappointing experience.ji read more

Delicious omakase and an intimate, no-frills place. It was a super relaxing dinner. Best sushi I have had in a long time. read more

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Quite possibly the best sushi I've had. Definitely the best octopus I've ever eaten. The tamago, as well as the scallops were really good. The portion sizes were perfect. Loved the ambiance and the dope playlist. Chef Yasu was awesome. Pacing was nice and leisurely. I think for the quality you're getting, the price point is very fair. Highly recommend! My only complaint is that it's quite chilly, I had to wear my coat the whole time. read more

Came in for a weekend dinner while traveling! I dont eat wasabi in the nigiris & the chef was very nice about remembering not to put wasabi in my food :) He was very sociable and very funny and made the night a memorable time. The servers were friendly as well and recommended us sake. My favorite was definitely the kawahagi (ive never had it even in sf!) my friends favorites were the wagyu nigiri! Omakase price is quite affordable read more

I have been dreaming of this meal since we walked out the door. It was our favorite restaurant experience in Portland and that's saying a lot. We had an action-packed culinary tour of the city and I am craving Nimblefish. It would be dangerous if it were local...for my bank account. I would want to eat there daily. The whole omakase was special. I loved eating at the counter and interacting with the sushi chefs. The wine was also great. The standouts were...everything, but especially the uni and the tuna with pickled daikon. I ordered three of each AFTER the omakase. It was also all so affordable. We'll be running back. read more

Nimblefish is amazing. I brought son here. He is a dynamite roll guy so trying an omakase was a risk. He ate every bite. Everything was amazing. Call outs were the smoked mackerel, salt water eel, waygu, sardine and skip jack tuna. It is pricey but so good to treat yourself. Worth the omakase and premium flight price. read more

A very solid Omakase spot (the best in Portland for sure); it doesn't quite have the flair of Michelin-starred sushi spots in California, but the price is very affordable. The tamago is divine. read more

Beautiful space, Japanese serenity w slight Portland vibe. Loved the sushi and assigned chef, you will probably need to order more beyond Omakasi selections if you're hungry. read more

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Really lovely and intimate atmosphere but the sushi selection was disappointing for the price tag. Our selection very mackerel heavy. The best plate was amaebi, but they don't have a fryer so they didn't serve the heads. You could order uni at $14 for one piece (!!) but it wasn't part of the 11 piece menu. I ordered extra two pieces for 13 pieces total and walked out hungry. I am glad I tried it but don't plan to be back. read more

Laid back with neo Oregonion menage a vie. Not the best per say. Yet, great quality and adhering to the nuance of thought for everything possible ... (typical mindset of Japan but not often found in the US for being excessively tedious) . Mr. Auger as intimidating as he appears is sweet and tender and ever growing as a talented man whom in his own maraudering will, takes on edo-mae style for the sake of culture. All his labor handed in a single mouthful of a pleasant experience for you the guest; as well as you being his potential human sign of approval. Having then a connection made to you and for him, his family's ancestral home country, while enjoying a delight well worth all it stands for. If those who read this are of many who go back and forth to Seattle from or to Portland. Please check out Tsukushinbo if you have enjoyed the rising place to be, Nimblefish. read more

It's good, but not great. The pieces of fish they give you are tiny. I'd honestly rather have given a 3.5 if i could. For the price, I'd expect to be slightly more full after a meal. I've done many omakase's so i understand you go for the taste/experience than a full belly, but compared to many other omakase's i've done, nimble fish stands out as smaller cuts. I've been here twice and both times was the same small pieces. That said, the small cuts were still good . The service was excellent, though we were seated about 25 minutes after our reservation time. They did not have any uni, which in my eyes is a huge loss when you're laying as much as you are. Portland omakase scene is lacking, so I can't say there are many better options, perhaps that's why Nimblefish gets away with smaller cuts? Oh, yeah, not a huge fan of them cutting all the fish in the beginning. It takes away from the experience and makes it more about being efficient rather than quality of service. read more

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When I first moved to SE PDX, I was jonesing for some sushi that was might be superior to a chain and found a difficult-to-pronounce place on Belmont called Hokusei. It was a little expensive, but it tasted distinctly fresh and delicious. I was impressed the main chef (and maybe owner), a thirtysomething named Cody, was able to capture and present an unparalleled cuisine in Portland. I would treat myself as often as I could afford and bring friends. And then Cody's bar was gone... A couple years and a few travels in Japan later, I realize Cody returned with new tattoos and a little more help with Dwight, in this present form of Nimblefish. Having this sushi again in town has made my heart-mouth happy. The menu remains on the pricey side, but you will not be disappointed with what you pay for while weeding out those content with the likes of any local alternative. The buildout is clean and limited. The music playlist is cool and comfortable. I've even Shazammed some of the songs. The chefs are kind, humble and clearly passionate about their profession. Enjoy a choice sake, wine, beer or whiskey while you watch your meal delicately prepared before your appetite. read more

Nimblefish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Outside of Tokyo, some of the best sushi I've ever had and even then so, it's one of my favorite. Visiting from the east coast, we got a recommendation from a Portland chef who has his own tasting restaurant. Great find. Nice presentation, excellent service, really fresh and unique offerings. read more

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Omakase anyone?? This is by far one of the best sushi in Portland! The tamago nigiri and the portion of the tamago is amazing! All the fish that was presented was lightly brushed with a soy base and was as fresh as can be. Restaurant also has a good sake collection to pair with the sushi as well. Totally recommend!! read more

I heard about Nimblefish through the bon appetite magazine and based off of their description of the restaurant, it seemed to be a very trendy sushi place with fresh varieties of fish. So I came in with a group of friends on a weekend to try this place out. The interior is very clean and modern looking and seating area is quite small actually. They don't take reservations so it's a first come first serve basis and they only open during dinner hours. When we got there they were already full and the wait was going to be about 1-2 hours. Once it was our turn we sat at a long rectangle table which is shared among other customers. The menu is very simple, they only offer omakase, sashimi, nigiri, or hand rolls. We wanted to try a little bit of everything so we got the omakase for $90 per person which included 11 piece nigiri and it was 7 courses. The portions of each course were very small which is normal given that it's omakase. However, the fish we got for our sashimi was very fishy. And when we got our nigiri platter, each slice of fish were extremely tiny. I eat sushi, especially sashimi or omakase a lot at plenty of sushi restaurants, but this is the first time I encountered this kind of experience where all this fish were so small and thin. Also I'm not sure how fresh their fish was because most of the fish tasted fishy and they weren't glistening (had a dull look to them). In addition, all the fish tastes the same and no sweetness at all. When we got our dessert, I ordered the yuzu sorbet and everyone else got the panna cotta. The dessert was good but the portion between the panna cotta and sorbet were completely different. You could finish the sorbet in like 2-3 bites. You definitely get a lot more with the panna cotta. Overall I was not impressed with Nimblefish. Don't plan on getting full here unless you are willing to spend a couple hundred dollars. We left still feeling hungry even after spending $100 each. read more

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Everything was great except the price $95 per person seems a little overpriced for the quality. However, Portland doesn't have much places that have omakase so there's not other choices. But other than that service was great and very taken care of. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time. Pretty hard to book! read more

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I'm from the Bay Area in NorCal, and read about this place in Bon Appetit. Decided to give it a try. They have a tasting menu, but the dishes did not sound that innovative, so we went with the daily catch. I have to say, the freshness of the seafood was superb. A good variety, too. The nigiri was a bit on the dimunitive side, but the prices were reasonable. I did not see anyone Japanese working there, which is different from what I am used to. I would say that it is really solid, and enjoyable. Besides the nigiri, I got two rolls. The shimesaba (they called it gari saba) was open faced, and difficult to eat. They also chopped the fish, so it lost its signature texture. Not a good preparation, I felt. The ume shiso was flavored well, maybe they used katsuo ume. But this roll is hard to mess up. Go for nigiri or sashimi, skips the rolls read more

I really wanted to like this place but I was left moderately disappointed. I don't mind spending $120 or $200 for a good edomae sushi, but it was FAR FAR from that. From reading other reviews, it outlines a clear fact that Portlandians have no clue what good edomae sushi is supposed to be and this is reflected by lack of decent sushi restaurants in this city. I had the 11 nigiri omakase and ordered a glass of daiginjo to go along with it. Usually omakase will start with a few appetizers, which were renkon and carrots, house made silken tofu, sashimi of bonito and albacore, then eggplant in dashi. What's wrong with this picture, 3 out of 4 appetizers are not even seafood. This would never happen in a sushi ya in Japan. NEVER, and it's not a good start. Nigiri course consisted of kanpachi, iwashi, masu, Kamasu, uni, ikura, kasugodai, anago, and I can't recall a few others. Guess what though, there was NO TUNA. Usually omakase will have akami or zuke, chutoro and/or toro. No tuna in omakase is quite unbelievable and I had to order toro separately, which turned out to be a disappointment. It was from US but I didn't ask where. It was probably the least impressive $11 toro I've eaten. Overall, sushi quality was mediocre at best. Don't get me wrong, sushi here is better than 90% of "sushi" places in the US where they serve pre frozen tuna, albacore, salmon, etc. but if you claim to serve edomae sushi at that price point then this was far below par coming from a real Japanese diner like myself. None of the nigiri was memorable, they tasted as if proper "work" haven't been done, as edomae sushi is ANYTHING BUT serving the "freshest" sushi, it's about processing the fish to bring out the best flavor and I don't think they get it. If anyone says "their sushi is so fresh!" Don't listen to that person. On a side note, service was excellent. Pace of providing sushi was good. I don't know what other people are complaining about in those respects. Still searching for real sushi in Portlandia.. read more

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We've eaten a lot of sushi up in Seattle, and Nimblefish ranks among the very best and at about half the price our neighbors to the north have grown used to paying. Reading some of the other reviews here makes me think that maybe it will take time for Portland to appreciate a truly fine sushi restaurant. First and foremost, the fish is of the very highest quality, and the tamago (egg omelet) alone is worth a visit. This is food to savor. Our favorites are the chirashi (a bowl of exquisite assorted sashimi on sushi rice), the anago (eel), and the tamago. We also like a selection of temaki (handrolls), particularly the salmon skin (yamagobo, cucumber, kaiware, and itogaki), the gari saba (mackerel, green onion, pickled ginger, takuan, and shiso), and the big tuna (bigeye tuna, red crab, ikura, shiso, and anago sauce). Excellent service. I'd like to explore more of their menu and look forward to my next meal at Nimblefish. read more

Amazing. Every piece melts in your mouth. Delicate but flavorful. This is only the second time I've had nigiri (and the first time having omakase). I am hooked. read more

Hands down, the best sushi I've ever had! And I've eaten a lot of sushi in my day. Uber fresh, premium cuts and super friendly service. You can tell this space is special to someone, I mean they make their own soy sauce! Who does that?!? :) The food was only made better by the very simple but eclectic but chic atmosphere. Can't wait to go here again! read more

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I've always walked or driven by Nimblefish and finally decided to give it a try. I read an article online on how they were shifting to take out and I am glad I did. I ordered a couple of their rolls and a seaweed salad. You can order online https://nimblefish.square.site/ check them out. I will have to swing by this week as I am jonesing for more sushi! read more

Thanks to a very generous giftcard, my sister and I got to try out Nimblefish. Such fanciness calls for a long review. FOOD: Fantastic sushi! Everything was fresh and so good. They had some fish on the menu that are difficult to find here in the states, and some of the nigiri toppings (like lime zest) were pretty unique. Everything we ordered was delicious. EXPERIENCE: Despite some apprehensions due to the very mixed reviews on Yelp (an equal mix of 5-star "best sushi ever" and 2-star "overpriced and slow"), we actually had a really nice time! We didn't experience the long wait and slow service that others wrote about. Maybe it's because we went at 6:00pm on a Tuesday... we did notice that the restaurant was pretty filled up when we left at 7:15pm. It's quite small and very trendy-hipster. Definitely ask to sit at the bar instead of at the long shared table. PRICE: Expensive but probably worth it (in my opinion). We spent a little over a hundred dollars total (thank goodness for the giftcard!) and left feeling pleasantly full. We opted to order nigiri separately since it was more affordable than ordering the omakase (which would have been $60/$95 each). The special nigiri were pricy and the special uni donburi was both pricy and very small. However, the normal chirashi bowl on the normal dinner menu was sizeable and a reasonable $27 (most restaurants charge over $20 for a good chirashi). So if you're visiting Nimblefish and feeling mighty hungry, I would suggest ordering the chirashi and then selecting whichever rare nigiri catch your fancy on the special menu. WE ATE: Uni, Ikura, and Kani Donburi Hirame (wild fluke) Kamasu (barracuda, my sister's favorite) Kinmedai (Golden eye snapper, my favorite. I was lucky to order some before they ran out!) Iwashi (sardine) Kohada (gizzard shad) Sanma (pike mackeral) Chirashi read more

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Will change the way you eat sushi forever. The staff was charming, friendly and helpful. Had the deluxe pre-set menu, was well worth it over the other option. Had one of the most delicious gin and tonics as well with the Nikka Coffey Still Gin. read more

Left here STARVING after spending $200 lol. Went down the street to Canard and spent another $100 to get full

wonderful experience! I dont need to explain.. Just sit down and ask for the omakase. Everything was delicious from start to finish. Our server was amazing, ambiance was amazing--its small yet so intimate. Thank you Nimblefish!! read more

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Food here is really fresh and delicious, I have no complaint there. My main complaint is portion size. The nigiri pieces are half the size of normal restaurants (even expensive ones) with a corresponding rationed piece of fish. We spent close to $300 here for two people+omakase+several extra nigiri and we were both still hungry afterwards. I'd recommend going to other omakase/kaiseki places. I can't say I recommend Nimblefish, unless you have a small appetite. read more

Nimblefish is an absolutely amazing sushi experience. Chef Keenan was outstanding. Every selection was an incredible experience. Sit back and allow the chef to bring you delicious bites of the best raw fish on the planet. Thank you Keenan and Nimblefish!!!! read more

I was sad to learn that Hokusei on SE Belmont was closing, but eagerly awaited the next venture by its chef: Nimblefish. Taking the same space as the long-defunct Boxer Sushi, Nimblefish is a breath of fresh air and brings a much needed balance of quality and price to Portland's sushi scene. Sushi in Portland has long been a precarious kind of meal. There's good fish to be had, but almost always at a very premium price. Nimblefish is extremely good fish and more affordable than, say, Bamboo Sushi. I had ten nigiri (four of which were seasonal specials), two hand rolls, and a glass of sake. The standouts for me: Nodoguro: in the peak of its season. This one melted in my mouth. Uni: really fresh, great quality, nice ocean flavor Aji: horse mackerel is a classic and one of my favorites, and they served it impeccably When I was done, I had accrued a measly $75 bill including tip. Considering the amazing quality of the fish and service, I expected it to cost more. Nimblefish is both cheaper and better than Bamboo sushi. I'll save Nodoguro as my splurge spot, but Nimblefish just became my new favorite sushi spot in Portland. BONUS: maybe not the highest bar, but the sushi chef serving me knew that tamago gets served last. Can't say that about certain other sushi places I've been to! read more

Nimblefish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I was super excited to try this place, but sadly, it's just not worth the price. The fish isn't bad quality, but it's not worth what they charge and the portions are unbelievably small. After spending nearly $80 for two people, we ended up giving up and eating at Little Big Burger next door because we were still starving. The service was also very slow. read more

Came here for a special occasion meal. The place is very intimate with only seating around the sushi bar so you can see and interact with the chefs throughout the meal. They had a good variety of fish in the omakase and noted that as a small establishment they can often get rarer fish that come in smaller quantities. Everything was good but nothing too inventive. I was most disappointed that for an expensive meal we didn't leave full. It was a nice experience though and I'd say worth at least one visit. read more

I honestly can't understand how anyone could rate this place anything fewer than 5 stars. The best, freshest, most interesting fish I've ever had. You get 11 pieces of nigiri, plus a small appetizer, and then miso soup and a small dessert. That seems worth it for $85, if you ask me. The chef was awesome and explained everything to us. It was a very lovely evening and I have nothing but glowing things to say about it. If you love sushi and live in Portland, you have to come here at least once in your life. read more

Took the hubby here for his bday dinner. We both LOVE this place. Everyone was really nice, the chef was incredible cool. The food was AMAZING. Now our fave sushi spot in PDX. Extra plus, plus for the excellent choice in background music. Highly recommended! read more

This place was phenomenal! We got there right at 5p. The service was fabulous and the ambience is really warm with the wood decor. My friend and I got a 11 course omakase which includes 11 sushi + 1 premium sushi. We took our time to eat each of the course and boy the sushi was so good. The rice fell apart smoothly in your mouth with the perfect fish ratio. I enjoyed their rice so much and that is a deal breaker! Jules was our chef and he was watching our pace and making sure we werent waiting for him and if we were enjoying the fish choices he made. The dessert yuzu sorbet was SOOOO good! They all tasted very good. The size and the ratio were just right where we left full but not overwhelmed. Recommend this place! read more

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Nimblefish is offering Takeaway and Curbside pickup 7 days a week 12-8pm.Their dining room is closed until further notice due to current health situation. The patio is open pending weather and offering new Grilled items : kushi yaki. Follow their IG @nimblefisfor daily updates. read more

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