I heard about this place from an auntie who lived in Japan and she said it's really good and authentic. My Japanese friend's parents have been a regular here for a long time but she has not been here for a long time. We decided to grab lunch here on a random Tuesday. The inside is really nice, it is spacious and has about 10 tables. I thought it would be much smaller, hole in a wall kind of place. Service is very nice and attentive. The value of the food is worth it, I had the Karaage Teshoku and it's $20 but it is a big portion. The other items my friends ordered also on the larger side. We are already thinking to return and not just return once. Not sure how busy it would be during dinner / weekend, but weekday lunch was pretty chill in the restaurant. Highly recommended! read more

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Found this small, unassuming spot by accident, and I'm so glad I did. The food is incredibly authentic and of amazing quality. The fish was exceptionally fresh. I especially loved the rolls that hey don't overdo on the rice. We also tried the Tonkatsu, it features a very thin, light batter. I personally enjoyed the delicate crunch, though my husband prefers the thicker, extra-crispy style of breading. Overall, every dish we ordered was delicious. Nice service. This place is definitely a keeper, and we'll absolutely be back. read more

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Overall: 5.0/5.0 ________________________________________ *Food: 1. Karaage Omu-Curry - Karaage was crispy, juicy, and seasoned very well. Pretty much what Karaage would taste like in Japan. Curry was very traditional, yet modern. Most vegetables that are incorporated into the curry are blended, this giving a smooth consistency. Japanese omelette has a silky and smooth texture, which makes the dish balanced. - 10/10 2. Katsu Don & Tonjiru - No explanation necessary. Most identical to Japan. If criticism is needed, dish is a little too sweet. - Tonjiru reminded me of my elementary school days in Japan. Good flavor, good amount of toppings. - 10/10 3. Tempura & Udon - By far the best tempura in Portland. When fried to perfection, the tempura "blossoms" and this restaurant did this to perfection. - Udon was simple, but broth was deep and flavorful. - 10/10 4.Salmon Hamachi Sushi Rice Bowl - 5-6 pieces of Salmon and Hamachi each. Fish is fresh and has an extraordinary texture. No fishy aftertaste. The rice was seasoned to perfection, presented with the right amount of vinegar for al dente textured rice. - 10/10 5.Aburi Saba (Seared Mackerel) - Searing on the mackerel was spot on, fishy aftertaste is nowhere to be found, shari was very well balanced. Probably the best Saba in Portland. - 10/10 6.Aburi Sake (Seared Salmon) - Seared to perfection. Balanced shari. Has a smoky flavor after torching the fish. Texture is also amazing since it just melts in your mouth. - 10/10 7.Hamachi (Amberjack/Yellowtail) - Alike tuna, hamchi could be very fishy. However, blood was completely drained. Color of the fish displays the freshness. - 10/10 ________________________________________ *Service: - No reservation necessary, ordering was simple and organized. When seated at table, there are 3 buttons: Order, call, pay. Food is brought to table in less than 15 minutes of ordering. ________________________________________ * Atmosphere: - Overall highly satisfied. For the price of the items, quality and quantity was assured and tasted great. Restaurant was clean and quiet despite the full seating. Again, friendly servers and excellent food quality as well as fast serving time. Portland does not have a proper Japanese restaurant. This changes with Sambi as they serve Tonjiru instead of the simple Miso soup, and their quality Japanese dishes. The restaurant, again reminded me of Japan. I will be recommending this place to anyone who is looking for actual Japanese food, not the usual Korean owned "Japanese" teriyaki chicken restaurants. No explanation further necessary. Best quality sushi and Japanese dishes. read more

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Still delicious as always!!!!! Good portions and quality food. The katsu was juicy, tender and crunchy! We always look forward to the miso icecream for dessert. read more

Sambi - Japanese Near Me - Beaverton, Oregon

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The small restaurant is very good and authentic. Management has worked hard to give you a good Japanese food experience. The fish was very fresh and the other dishes we ordered were Great. I ended up going twice in a week when I was in the neighborhood and tried a different set of dishes each night. read more

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I enjoyed a tasty pork katsu here on a bustling weekday night. Conveniently located by the Pizza Schmizza/ice skating rink complex, this is a great local spot to get your Japanese food fix. We started with the Kaki fried oysters that came with a delightful mayonnaise sauce and shredded cabbage. At 5 scrumptious fried oysters for $12 (including tip), I thoroughly enjoyed this appetizer. I ordered the pork katsu, and was pleasantly surprised by the portion of not only the meat and entree itself but the side dishes as well. This is the first time I've seen miso soup with actual toppings inside beyond tofu and seaweed, but the mix of meat, veggies, and potato was delightful, tasty, and an ample portion size. The pickled cucumber, seaweed, and shrimp side dish was also tasty and balanced out the hearty meal. The katsu itself was well-breaded, and I once again must laud the chefs for providing such an ample cut of meat, particularly in this economy! The rice, potato salad, and shredded cabbage made this dish not only yummy but well worth the price at $18-20 for different types of meat. I also tried their donburi chicken and chicken karaage, both which were also delicious. With ample parking, great food and hearty portion sizes, I would recommend this place to anyone in the Portland area looking for their Japanese food fix! read more

Their food is super authentic. I'm from Japan, and their home-style dishes really hit the spot for me. Everything tastes clean and light--they clearly use good-quality oil, even for fried food. Highly recommend if you're looking for real Japanese food and great service. read more

I stopped by on the very day they reopened after the renovation, and it was absolutely worth it. We ordered the tonkatsu set and the ginger pork set, and both were outstanding. This place is nothing like the "Japanese-style" restaurants you often find in the U.S.--the flavors, presentation, and attention to detail all reflect genuine Japanese cooking. Honestly, it's surprising to find this level of authenticity at around $20. A truly great value and a spot I'm excited to come back to. read more

Sambi - Karaage - Japanese Near Me - Beaverton, Oregon

We have been going to Sambi since 2001, when they were inside of Uwijamaya. It's a family owned business (now owned by the previous owner's son). The food makes you feel like you're literally in someone's home kitchen in Japan. Everything is made with love and tastes delicious! There's nothing bad to say. Definitely give them a try! Hidden gem, for sure. read more

I love this restaurant. The ambiance of this place is wonderful, very nicely and appropriately decorated and the music is relaxing and not too disturbing. The servers are very patient, friendly, and accommodating, as well as the sushi chef (who I'm assuming is the owner). The food is absolutely delicious and for the prices, the portion sizes are perfect. The fish is all so fresh and really gives the feeling of melting in your mouth, especially the salmon. Although if you are afraid of fish, the omu curries are also delicious and perfectly balanced for anyone to try. I hope this business continues to thrive and despite how far it is from my house, I will be coming back often. :) read more

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We were huge fans of the old Sambi restaurant and are so excited about Sambi's new re-opening! The decor is beautiful and the food continues to be outstanding. It combines the best of Machiko-san's cooking and Taichi's sushi skills. It is comfort food with a modern touch. We are third-generation Japanese-Americans from LA and ties to Hawaii, and we think Sambi is one of the best! read more

Sambi - Tempura Teishoku Set - Japanese Near Me - Beaverton, Oregon

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I haven't been here in ages and I finally had the chance to! Environment: very Japanese style set up with flags and Japanese decorations. There were also lots of adorable figures. The restaurant is mostly wood and they had various big tables. Staff: I wanted to practice my Japanese. They were super nice, friendly, and even gave me water to drink while I waited for my take out. Food: 1. I ordered creamy scallop. There was a very light mayo sauce with it and to be honest, that part didn't taste like anything. The scallops were big and good. Not fishy. 2. I ordered the tonkatsudon. It was very thick and not dry. The flavors were nice and with the onions and eggs mixed into it, it was very nice. The portion was also very reasonable! The rice was cooked nicely too. read more

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Incredible! Quite possible my favorite restaurant in the Portland Metro, and by far my favorite restaurant for sushi. My girlfriend and I have probably been here at least once a week for the last few months, and I've tried a wide range of items from the menu. So far, I've tried the green salad, vegetable croquettes, various nigiri (eel, salmon, tuna, yellowtail, mackerel, tamago, squid, and octopus), hamachi donburi, curry, shrimp & vegetable tempura, bento boxes, and california roll. Everything was absolutely amazing and the raw fish is unlike any other Japanese restaurant I've been to. As a note, the bento boxes offer you the most bang-for-your-buck with a wide variety of small sides (pictured is the mackerel bento). The restaurant itself is tucked away in a strip mall beside a coin shop and nail salon with minimal signage. I wish I had photos of the inside, but it's very cute and cozy. There are flags covering the ceiling and cute, little knick-knacks scattered around. There is somewhat limited seating and I've had to wait outside for a table on a couple occasions. I think I've only had to wait upwards of 20 minutes though. It's really hard to put in to words just how exceptional this restaurant is and I highly recommend trying it for yourself. The staff are all incredibly kind as well and the waitress was quick to recognize us once we started coming in regularly. At this point, it feels just as comfortable as sitting in my own dining room and I look forward to my next visit (likely next week)! read more

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I went to Sambi twice within a month. It feels like eating at a Japanese home, and it's so nostalgic every time I go. It's really hard to find a good Japanese restaurant in Portland, and the prices tend to be high for the low quality of food. Sambi is the first place I've found that has both atmosphere and price. It's run by a Japanese family, and the cozy, rustic atmosphere makes you feel like you're in Japan, so it's a must-visit whenever you miss Asian food or want to travel to Japan. Every day, the chef recommends a menu based on the freshness of the ingredients and the types of dishes that are available, and you can't go wrong with any of them. read more

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Authentic mom-pop style Japanese shop serving staple comfort foods. Pricey when compared to other Japanese restaurants, but this is the real deal. (I uploaded my receipt pic). Not fancy feeling, but very authentic feeling vibes inside - like good for a date night meal with someone you already like, not a first time date lol. read more

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Tiny little place, but amazing Japanese at very reasonable prices. This is budget enough to be a regular stop when I'm on the west side. There is not too much for vegetarians, but I really enjoyed the Croquette Don and the Veggie Tempura Rolls--the tempura was hot in the roll, just scrumptious. If you're conscious about fish-based dashi, ask before having any of the soups. read more

Sambi - Croquette Don - Japanese Near Me - Beaverton, Oregon

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THE. BEST. Can't say enough about this wonderful gem of a restaurant. My husband and I both have a pretty high bar for japanese food. We adore this place, every visit is a delight. Everything is great - the sashimi, the cold tofu, the specials, the chef's little concoctions. The ginger salad dressing. The salmon collar. Everything is divine. The ingredients and preparation are simple and perfect. The staff is kind and attentive. Sambi is the BEST. read more

What a hidden gem, authentic Japanese! It's really hard to find authentic Japanese food with great service and since I've been in Japan a few times the ambience of a cool nice restaurant, I would highly recommend Sambi to anybody! read more

Sambi - Japanese Near Me - Beaverton, Oregon

Cute little place. Great dining environment. Super lovely, friendly and welcoming service. I ordered a Beef Soboro Donburi & it was super yummy! I highly recommend. There are several vegetarian and vegan options on the menu too. Plenty of parking spaces in the parking lot. read more

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Sambi is a hole in the wall for us. We went to get lunch here to try out their Japanese cuisine! At first glance, there was a lot to order from, but I went with the Salmon Donburi Bowl. The bowl consisted of Salmon sashimis with a bowl of rice. The bowl was hearty and filling, but nothing special in my opinion. I felt like it could've been elevated a bit more for $28 a bowl. read more

Went again with 1 of my daughter's and had another fantastic experience. Staff is so kind, friendly, and quick despite a sign saying their service is slow because they're understaffed. One of their specials was a California roll with real crab, I asked if that meant it was gluten free since I'm allergic and the waitress confirmed that with 1 other modification it could be. It was delicious!!!! I haven't gotten to have a California roll in so long and wish I had room for a second one. She immediately brought me tamari without me asking as well, and made sure our hot teas were refilled. The rest of our meal was equally great; fresh, big proportions, and flavorful. read more

Perhaps "the" sushi made by Japanese around those sushi joints... like white chef (e.g bamboo sushi) or Korean own (e.g. crazy sushi). I really need to give them 5 stars review (and return soon) so they can compete with those big biz. A Japanese friend used to work here and she's very true. You can expect what you'd get from Japanese cooking. Nothing fancy but it's a real deal. read more

Ambiance was the same as always but this place has clearly changed over the last few years. Service was fine but the food was bland and uninteresting compared to the last time I went. Used to recommend this place as my go-to izakaya recommendation. Food wasn't bad, it just wasn't amazing anymore. read more

The food quality and price were superb! Especially fish (Saba) was very soft and the pork cutlet was still hot and all the entre menus were outstanding. And the waiter and waitress were very kind too! read more

My Japanese food obsessed teen and I came in here for enormous bento after a pretty long day at around 7. It was payday and I decided we deserved a sit down and be waited on dinner. We really do not do that too often these days. It took a little while to be seated and have our orders taken but the place is tiny, was packed, and we got the last table. There were a lot of Asian families eating there which is almost always a good sign. The atmosphere was warm and cozy. I didn't notice a tv. I was so glad. I am seriously tired of tvs these days. I didn't notice if there was music ( also good) and even though it is small we had space between us and our neighbors which I appreciate. The two ladies serving us were really nice. Our food ( a big variety of sushi, teriyaki, tempura, miso, salads, gyoza, and rice in big portions) was fresh and delicious. Our waters were refilled without asking. We loved everything. We were so full we took food home. This was a very good dinner and we will be back. read more

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Food was highest quality, everything from bento to sushi to curry was perfect. Service was so friendly, welcoming in every way. Love the cozy feel of a family run place. We will be back. read more

We've found our Japanese restaurant. After scouring Portland searching from Downtown to King City - Beaverton wins the prize. Coming from LA and SD, it's been difficult to say the least to find any decent Asian food (aside from the plethora of Thai). I've taken local recommendations on places and have struck out. So, I turned to my coworker who's from Tokyo and said Sambi reminded him of home. This place is a Mom and Pop home style restaurant. Nestled in a drab looking strip mall, a short drive from the only Japanese Supermarket in town, it's outside appearance is deceptive. Inside, there's nothing fancy. Typical decor adorns the walls, but you're greeted by a Japanese staff. There's an average amount of seating inside, but not too long after we sat down, the crowds showed up so be aware of a long wait. Looking around, one thing I noticed was the amount of actual Japanese patrons. Doing the census numbers, this is atypical for the city/area - an indication that it bears the respect of a Japanese palette. So when I order tea in Japanese (my litmus test) and I don't get a puzzled look - it's a good sign. Onto the food: - sushi combo B - large pieces of fresh fish nigiri, huge tamago (egg), and my favorite unagi. The rice is cooked/seasoned well. - shrimp tendon - batter is slightly dense, but the meat is tender and the sauce's flavor is on point. It's no frills and reasonably priced. Service is a bit slow for sushi, but I could care less tbh. This will be our go to now. read more

Sambi - Shrimp tempura, krab, cream cheese, and avocado - Japanese Near Me - Beaverton, Oregon

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This Japanese restaurant serves very traditional Japanese food. Run by Japanese, very friendly and Oishii food. My wife is Japanese and she found this restaurant. I'm visiting my mom from California. read more

This place is a sleeper that will blow you away! Not a cheap eat, but excellent value and quality that other quality Japanese spots would probably charge much more for! This is now a go-to for me when I want Japanese food! When I first arrived, my impression was that the exterior and interior appearance weren't very impressive, a little messy inside, but it does have a charm. I was surprised by the variety of their menu for such a small establishment - from Ramen to Udon to Sushi to Curries to Dons and Bentos and more! We ordered a ton of food - so much so that the waitress even had to check with us that we wanted as much as we did because it was a lot! Service was excellent and efficient. Everyone was very kind and quick! All of our food came out very timely, no complaints! But the food blew me away. I mean everything was great! I was continuously impressed with every new thing I tried! Here are a few quick thoughts on dishes that I and my girlfriend tried: Salmon Nigiri: SO good! A nice generous piece of salmon atop perfectly made rice. An excellent start! Unagi Nigiri: Nice, large pieces of unagi that are not overly covered with sauce that I often see. Maybe some of the best I've had! It was served just right for my palate. Rice was perfect as well! Agedashi Tofu: Might be the best that I've had. Wow. At the very least, the broth was the best I've had. It was perfect! Tempura Bento: Comes with so many small sides that are both delicious and fun to try! The tempura itself was delicious too! Chicken Katsu Curry: Impressed by the generous portion and was exactly what I was craving. So good! Rainbow Roll: SO good but we were super full so we took some home! Each roll is pleasantly large, not too big! Not so big that it would be difficult to eat like Saburo's. Will not go overboard on how much we order next time but will definitely come back. The food was too good, and the people were very sincere. Well done! read more

We have ate there twice now and both times we have had delicious meals and excellent service. This last time we each ordered a roll and then a bento box. So much yummy food! Next time we might just stick to the rolls or the boxes. Their sushi rolls taste extremely fresh and they are quite large! We'll definitely continue to be repeat customers. read more

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My new favorite place! We usually go to Banya - it's pretty good and close to home - but tonight they were closed so we tried Sambi. The sushi was excellent- both in quality and quantity. My husband liked the spicy ramen, gave it 4/5 stars "it could have been spicier." My friends enjoyed the sake and tempura. The service was excellent, including the waitress running out to the parking lot with a forgotten toddler's sippy cup! Like I said, new favorite place. :) read more

I haven't been to Sambi since a couple years ago. In my memory it was just an OK restaurant. However, tonight after we went there again, my impression had totally changed. Although the decor is the same as before, this time around I felt that the food was so delicious and authentic. The atmosphere felt like walking into a small restaurant in Tokyo. Excellent service and Japanese hospitality. I would definitely come back here more often from now on! read more

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Japanese food that's affordable and won't break the bank? It must be crap right? I don't think so. Simple rule, when you go into an ethnic restaurant and the place has many of that persuasion eating there, then it's probably good. As soon as we walked in, we saw several Japanese families eating there. Good sign. One of the recent reviews was from a woman from Japan comparing this place to a place back home and how it reminded her of the restaurant she used to go to. That's a pretty big compliment. We went for sushi, fried tofu and for me some ramen. We started off with the sushi. All reasonably priced. I got some striped bass (2 pc. $3.50) and my buddy got California roll and salmon skin roll. The wasabi was killer! I will admit, I hadn't had wasabi that potent in a long time. Really good, cleared the nasal passages up super fast. My buddy and his daughter split a fried tofu dish and I got the Sambi Ramen ($9.25) and it came with three gyoza and rice. The gyoza were nice and crispy and the rice was almost buttery in consistency and creamy in taste. As for the ramen? Good chunks of pork and veggies, nori and hard boiled egg. The broth was different from what I've had before but it was good. Very friendly staff and accommodating. I got out of there spending less that $15 with tip. Unheard of for a sushi place. But it happened and it's worth going back soon. Enjoy. read more

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How did I not know about this place?! I've lived 10 minutes away for the past three years! It is exactly what I've been looking for -- not trendy or hip but delicious food and great service. I had the salmon shioyaki bento and my spouse-like person had the hamachi donburi. Everything was so good, including all the little dishes that came with the bento. There are lots of other things I want to try and can easily see eating here every week. read more

We had again amazing fresh sushi and rolls to go! Staff always friendly and efficient. We are glad to see they are open for dine in again and will take advantage of it. We have never been disappointed, whether sushi, curry, yakisoba or baked Salomon etc. Always generous and delicious offerings Highlight this time was Spider Roll , asparagus tempura roll, tuna and green onion roll . read more

We've enjoyed everything about Sambi for the past 20 years--the service, the family who operates their restaurant, the delicious, authentic food and the decor. Thank you for a most enjoyable meal every single time... read more

We tried to call and make a reservation for 12; they refused to take our reservations saying they had "other customers". We have been here many times before and the food is pretty good, they've always been nice. We will never return here again. read more

I recently visited the Portland area. We took a day trip to a quaint town near the coast at Cannon Beach which was lovely. On our way back to Portland we stopped at Sambi's and it was a truly Japanese owned business. I ordered the bento with grilled mackerel. It came with, of course, grilled, not fried, mackerel, agedashi tofu, shrimp balls, shumai, eggplant, tamagoyaki (which was slightly sweet and fluffy), fresh cucumber rolls, salad and rice. It was truly wonderful and my soul was very happy. I felt that everything was made with love and care! My family ordered various other dishes which they all seemed very happy with. I wished there were more high quality and authentic Japanese restaurants near my home in Los Angeles. There are too many faux restaurants that use too much sugar, chili sauce, etc., disappointing. Keep it up Sambi! We will mis your food read more

Great food, and probably the best service of any restaurant I've ever been to. Extremely nice people. The servings are fairly generous and all the food we got was delicious. The Sambi bento comes with a good assortment of different foods, including what are probably the best California rolls I've ever had in my life. Everything is perfectly seasoned. Everything was super flavorful, all the way down to the cucumber salad. We will definitely be coming back here again. read more

so yummy so authentic!! they are so kind and really make sure you are doing well. the setting is quite and calming .