A very small and quaint sushi spot in the town of Mount Hood off the side of one of the streets. A little bit hard to find, but you go down a few stairs and can enter. It was super busy on a Saturday night and we had to put our name on the waitlist. They seemed a bit understaffed and estimated the wait time to be an hour and a half but it actually ended up only being 20 minutes. Once we were seated, they had a variety of sushi and specials along with some noodle dishes. We ordered a few rolls and we were shockingly surprised with the salmon nigiri, which were plump and tasted delicious. Certainly not the best sushi I've ever had but for a small town sushi spot, was pretty good. Would come back I was in the area really wanted sushi. read more

Sushi Okalani - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

A nice little sushi shop in downtown Hood River. They get quite busy, especially on the weekends, so plan ahead and arrive early if you can. They have a variety of nigiris and specialty rolls. Some food highlights: really smooth miso soup and the salmon rolls. Really generous cut and the fish tasted super smooth. Would love to go back and try some other sushi! Overall definitely recommend. read more

Sushi Okalani - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

In the basement of a building in the center of Hood River. Every seat taken on a Saturday. Crowded but manageable. Service was okay, nothing special. I was mostly satisfied with the food. It did the job. I ordered the chef's selection: $24 for a set of nigiri plus four California rolls. The rolls were great, no complaints there. All the nigiri was pretty good but I noticed that some of the pieces were separating - The tuna nigiri, was noticeably fishy, which was not ideal. Mackerel was also on the border of fishiness. Also got the kalbi, which came in at $13.50. Heavily salted, capital S salty. Seasoning was good, but just too powerful. Also some bits charred past a proper sear. Miso soup leaned too salty as well. Overall, the meal was OK. I think could be fixed easily. read more

Absolutely DELICIOUS!! My husband and I came here for a quick dinner just the two of us and had a lovely meal! It didn't take long to get seated as a party of two and the service was pretty efficient. The ambiance is kind of hole in the wall-esque and it was great! There was a lot of energy and conversation happening around us that made it all the more fun! Our food was spectacular and I wish I could go back anytime to eat there, truly a gem in hood river! read more

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The food is amazing!! I've been coming here for around 15 years and they consistently have high quality fresh and delicious food. It's got a pretty chill atmosphere and service to match, which I enjoy. Their house-made desserts are DELIGHTFUL! And the prices are really reasonable for the quality of the fish. Highly recommend. read more

Sushi Okalani - Solo meal at the sushi bar. Definitely try the shiro maguro! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

trying out a sushi place in Hood River. There's three white guys prepping sushi at the sushi bar. Definitely a story to tell here. Columbia Gorge News (https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/archive/of-heaven-sushi-okalani-fulfills-a-couple-s-dream/article_b13d450e-9cd6-522d-9bfa-d92cf042d141.html) has the origin story on the chef and the fish wife. My chirashi bowl was delicious. I learned about this place from the Visit Hood River newsletter (and their website for local eateries). Seevice was great and the place seemed like it had a hip but divey vibe. read more

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Food is great. Atmosphere is excellent. However two visits in a row seated next to overly drunk and obnoxious patrons making the experience contentious at best. Server told us to "just keep your eyes forward" while the table next to us slammed their cups down and made fun of our complaint. Phones on full volume. The line is long, and they over serve hungry people drinks while they wait. So it's no surprise that late in the evening things can be awful. Maybe skip after 6pm. read more

Excellent sushi! We had a Rainbow Roll, Deluxe Vulcan, one other and Escolar and Salmon nigiri. All were excellent! The sushi chefs were efficient and friendly. Seemed super nice and enjoying their work. I could have done without the local gals yelling back and forth from my left to my husband's right, passing chocolates to each other or the other gal trying to pick my husband up. "Have you been here before? " Him: no Her "Are you SURE?" Him: yes I would go back but would not sit at the sushi bar again. read more

So good and great service too. The nigiri's were extremely fresh. I would come back next time I'm in Portland read more

Sushi Okalani - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

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This is a small intimate Sushi joint with the Sushi Bar dominating the space. The Sushi is excellent. Everything was fresh and vibrant. Service staff are friendly and the chefs at the bar were fun to banter with as they prepared our meal. Wait was about 30 minutes, but they gave us a call when our table was ready so we could stroll around town. I will be going back. read more

Sushi Okalani - Deluxe Sashimi Plate - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

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Still amazing sushi, great staff, and a cozy location. Encrusted Ahi is a work of art and delicious.

The service was great. Sitting at the bar was so fun watching them make your sushi and then they just pass it over the counter. But the sushi - top notch. Really incomparable to a lot of other sushi I've had. I live in Portland and I drive to hood river just to eat at Okalani. It's just that good. If you haven't tried it you need to! read more

Love this sushi spot! It's particularly fun to bring a few friends and reserve one of the Tatami rooms. You all slide in after taking your shoes off and the doors close behind you. It's an intimate experience that is perfect for fostering deep conversation and for sharing platters of sushi. The fish is very fresh and they have interesting specials. I make it in a couple of times a year and I don't even live close by. It's worth the travel and has become a favorite repeat for my friends and I. read more

Our last supper in Hood River was here which was right across the street from our hotel (Hood River Hotel). What an odd name. Kalani in Hawaii can be a surname or first name. Not sure what "Okalani" means. But, if you're in the mood for some Japanese food, this is one of two spots I've tried in the area. ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant is underground so don't expect any views, LOL. Décor was clean and simple. Because of our large party, we got seated in their "tatami room" which has a cutout in the floor for your legs to hang like a traditional sitting even though you're really sitting on the floor. MENU: Fusion of Japanese/Mexican/American apps, sashimi, "Hawaiian" pokē, sushi, noodles (no ramen), desserts. BEVERAGE: Momokawa Pearl Sake - $22.00 large This was a cold sake, cloudy in color, and sweet. Being a white wine drinker, I liked it but had to take it slow due to its potency. FOOD: Miso Soup - $2.50 I had a sip from my spouse's bowl which was extremely drab. Miso soup should be salty and bold with bits of tofu and seaweed. Nada. Tempura Shriimp - $9.50, 3 pcs. Definitely not frozen, they were fairly crispy, but the tempura sauce was weak in flavor from being too diluted with water. Yakisoba with Chicken - $11.50 My choice but because we were eating family-style, I didn't get enough of it (the main reason why I loathe family style). I always choose a good dish and everyone else whacks it up. Anyway, the sauce was a bit tart and tasted like it came out of a jar. That said, being a noodle fanatic, I still liked it even if it wasn't the best I've had. Dragon Maki Sushi - $8.50 The last time I had eel I didn't care for it, but someone at our table convinced me to try it again. Second time is a charm! There were no bones in it like my last experience and it was savory and sweet with a texture similar to butterfish. Sushi Platter Someone ordered a huge platter of 16 nigiri and 24 maki. I'm not a huge sushi fan so I had just a piece of California roll which was good. The fish looked very fresh, just like back home. Udon Avoid this as the broth was extremely uninteresting and bland. The al dente udon noodles were good but you need a good broth for the perfect marriage. SERVICE: The male server that assisted our side of the room was friendly and professional. OVERALL: I wasn't expecting exquisite Japanese cuisine in Hood River and neither should you. read more

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Not usually a big sushi person. Here is the deal you see a line out the door and down the sidewalk you have to stop and think whats going on in there? You see it the second night you say okay we better order some of that and find out why with all the options available this place is so crowded. We got the spicy tuna and the california roll. I know safe bets to say the least but they did it right. We ordered three rolls because it was supposed to be an appetizer for us. It was so good with their wasabi and sauce we devoured the entire order and wished we had ordered 3 more. A little on the pricey side but you get what you pay for and it was worth it. A notice above your ordinary sushi read more

Best in HR, good environment. Fast service with nice people. Great beer selection. Get there early, limited seating.

With a name like sushi okalani (queen of Hawaii), and a full staff with no people of color I was already worried. Sat down at the sushi bar, asked the chef if I can be served. A blunt NO was answered. Then after a few minutes he yelled to the back and said there's a one seater at the bar. All this time no contact no smile just blunt rudeness. I walked out, Don't go there, even if the food is okay - this place does not deserve the name. Shame on you, not only for cultural appropriation of the name but also just plain bad service. read more

We came here for take-out and loved it. Their sushi is fresh, innovative and delicious. The restaurant itself provides a very intimate dining experience and pre-plague, it would have been exactly the kind of spot I would have loved to do to indoor dining. No one in this small restaurant was wearing masks and they were all very close to each other and us as we waited for our order. So, for us ....it was a great place for take-out sushi! Yum!! read more

Sushi Okalani - The sushi bar at this restaurant & where we were standing while waiting for our to-go order. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

Artists are fantastic at making sushi, and the environment is amazing. Fresh and amazing. Cons- gotta hobble ass down the stairs. read more

Sushi Okalani - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

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Deciding to eat here was an awful experience for my bf & I on Valentine's Day. First off, the server with the short, blonde hair did not call us after we placed our name on the waitlist then said she did & no one answered when we called to inquire about dinner. Red flag from the get go! We should have run away as fast as possible in a different direction to enjoy this special occasion. She pretended to talk to a "hostess" (that wasn't there at all as far as we could see when we arrived) then grudgingly said a table would be ready in 5 minutes and that she had no idea what happened. We are pretty sure she just crossed us off the list and didn't call...sad but true, very obvious. We proceeded to have some poor-mediocre at best sushi. The same server approached our table and asked if we needed a box. I said, "oh, are you closing?" She said that they weren't but the restaurant is small, there were people on the waitlist and they had a strict 2 hr time limit for people to occupy a table. We had been there an hr and to be honest, I have been to many, many restaurants in my day and that kind of rudeness was a first for me. Primarily because the majority of the restaurant had been there before we sat down. I asked if she had been telling everyone to leave or if it was just us. She retorted that there was a waitlist and they were trying to move people through. I asked to talk to her supervisor and have not had an experience like this ever in my 45 years, it was shocking and seemed personal, very strange. The supervisor agreed it wasn't a good communication strategy to retain customers, however I couldn't wait to get out of there. We paid good money to be treated with disrespect and that is absolutely unacceptable any way you look at it. Especially when this strict 2 hr time limit restaurant policy is not communicated clearly prior to deciding to support the establishment. I wish I had a better Valentine's Day experience because for so many reasons she brought our night down to deal with her stress, the opposite of what people are trying to do when they go out to dinner on a special night. Never will I ever go back there and if you decide to: hope she treats you with the respect you deserve. I recommend not risking paying $$$ to have your night ruined. Food 1 star, service 0 stars, ambiance 1 star. read more

Hands down my favorite sushi restaurant. It's chill, it's got great service and the food is amazing. read more

Sushi Okalani - Sashimi. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

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Absolute worst sushi experience ever. They cut the sashimi in thirds so they can give you "more" pieces. Didn't even get the miso soup or the beer I ordered. Oh and I waited an hour for a seat when I showed up I was first in line and they sat 2 people in front of me. read more

Sushi Okalani - Thats what they call 1 piece of sashimi. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

Waited a while to get in but truly worth it. Sashimi was super fresh and melt in your mouth. Seaweed salad was bright and crispy. Randall who made our platter was spot on. Fun to talk to and and knowledgeable about his produ read more

Okalani is the best sushi in this part of the Gorge, hands down. Super fresh fish, great flavor combinations in the rolls, wonderful staff (we miss you!) We've been super impressed by their shift to take away since COVID restrictions began. They get your order over the phone (you can start pre-orders at 4pm if you want to beat the rush) and offer you a pickup time. Roll up to the special loading zone and they bring the food to you in your car. Touchless payment. Easy everything. Only drawback is that we don't get to see staff (we miss you!) read more

We Eat there regularly through the summer - good basic sushi. My major issue with them is they do not serve wild salmon. Farm salmon is a huge issue in our ecosystem and they are not showing care for the product they are serving their guests and shows a lack of respect for the environment. read more

Awesome sushi joint with incredibly friendly and knowledgeable servers/staff. Made us feel welcome- definitely a gem!

So yummy! Great wait staff and chef's. Reminds me of a speak easy a hidden gem suggested by locals. Nice decor and lighting.

The best in the west!!! Great atmosphere, creative menu, excellent service. Must try the Walu!!! read more

Honestly it was really good. I was a little put off by others reviews but I'm glad we came. We came during lunch time on a Friday and the server was prompt, gave us water right away, and was helpful with ordering and helping us with our little one. We got the Cali roll, some sashimi, cucumber roll, avacado roll, and spicy tuna. All of it was tasty and very filling. Thank you for a pleasant experience. We will be back! read more

Sushi Okalani - Sushi!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

Just in town on a business trip and found this wonderful place. Absolute yum. Love the variety and freshness. Busy but that is because the food is so good. Worth the wait read more

We love this place! Food is SO a good, affordable for sushi, and they are always so sweet accommodating with our toddler. It's one of our go-to spots in town, and every time it's wonderful. read more

Cute sushi place! Really nice service and fresh sushi. Prompt service, like the vibes:) Didn't really taste Hawai'i that much...since we are actually visiting from Kauai, but thats ok read more

Completing this review after enjoying our dinner fully and I mean fully! Restaurant environment was chill and modern, only 1 guy walked in without a mask while I waited for my food, otherwise it was respectful. Loved the staff! Treated me like gold and the food sealed the deal! A family of 4 can eat a little bit of everything, so we did and everyone was happy and satisfied. They did not provide soy sauce and we did not wish for any, as the food did not need it, even the fish was delish, despite burning off my nose hairs on wasabi, my bad... It's my cousins birthday tomorrow, and he wanted to eat here, so we tried it and will be happily returning! Love the owners story and the staff was nice and seemed to happy to work there. I wish they had outside seating and the formal restaurant above thought my family was homeless as we waited for our to go owner, but we have a home and we let them have their restaurant sidewalk setting after I hollered to our hungry kids: "Do you want a bar?" It had been a long day and this local can't get the CA DMV to release this locals plates, my dad graduated high school in HR;-P Ha! Will eat hear again for sure! Thanks for a wonderful dinner! read more

Sushi Okalani - Great vibe! Loved our take out! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

Best sushi in the Gorge. Inside is cozy, so it can fill up fast, but takeout is always available and delicious. Favorite rolls are the Bonjo and Gonzo. read more

Honestly food was great, friendly atmosphere but I don't appreciate being lied to. Watching a servers friends come in and get seated after waiting over 45mins already and being told it's another 5 mins for a back room to clear out and then not even being sat back there horrible service. read more

Been here a few times, passing through and sushi was pretty good. Service has always been lackluster, perhaps due to it being understaffed for how busy it is. Today, the sushi was horrible. The rice hard and the tuna slimy. Once we expressed there may be an issue, the waiter seemed to be avoiding us. We weren't trying to avoid paying, we just wanted to leave. We had to flag down another guy, who was happy to take our money, without even asking about our nearly full dish of sushi rolls. Needless to say, we will not be returning. read more

Hood River is so lucky to have this place. Great service and convenient location. Very fresh and delicious sushi as well as great selection of sake! read more

I've been here several times over the years. The sushi here is pretty good. Although, to be honest, I love to eat all forms of sushi rolls and sashimi, etc, but I'm not an expert. However, what I can tell you is that as a restaurant, this place needs some work. It's usually always crowded, with slow service, loud acoustics, and they pipe in weird music that doesn't go with an Asian meal. In this latest visit, there were a lot of flat brimmed tucker hats all around me, we waited 30 mins for our drink order, and I had to lean in to hear my wife speak. Both sushi places in town have pretty good food. One is more "Asian"...and quiet. This one is more "bro" and like a rave or party. But Sushi Okalani gets one more star than Kaze because they tend to operate with normal hours - you never know if Kaze is going to be open or closed. read more

Sushi Okalani - Dirty Finger bike shop....Hood River's "bro" headquarters. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

Really good sushi in the middle of downtown hood river. Every time we visit the area, we come here.

Awesome service, awesome food! Great atmosphere!! Can be hard to find as it it a basement restaurant.