As someone whose lived and loved sushi all over the west coast and Japan I was shocked how good this place is. Affordable, amazing, and super comfortable inside. Not a wait or bland fish like Bamboo and the chefs and owners know their stuff and source direct from Japan. Traditional and inventive at the same time. I don't know why you'd wait an hour across the street from here at Bamboo when you could have some of the best omikase I have ever had anywhere. Plus their sake selection is off the CHAIN good! DO IT! EAT GOOD! read more

nice and cozy space. Massive sake selection. That's the positive. Service is slow and 'too cool for school'. We went in last night and sat waiting for menus and water. We realized the 'queen of all hipsters' was the server. it brought back sour memories of our last experience there (over a year ago). We changed our mind, got up and walked out. This place is too expensive to offer such poor service. I'm not coming back. read more

The fish quality is great and the sake menu is ample. I would say if you're going for sashimi / nigiri, that you will be happy with the quality of the fresh fish. I wanted some more flavors, sauces, and richness. The rolls were bland and small for my taste. But again, fish quality and freshness were there. read more

This is what Americans think a sake bar should be like...shi shi with mood music and sushi. Sushi=poorly made, amateurish, nothing special Sake=great selection but very high prices Service=saaaaaalooooooooooooow. We're on hipster time here. You definitely get the idea that they have spent a lot of time thinking about how people will think about their place and not very much time finding tangible ways for people to really enjoy it. I am unlikely to return. read more

Atmosphere... at first I loved the feeling of being in this space. Some of it is nostalgia: looking at the bar and seeing the bottles of sake with Japanese writing, smelling delicious Japanese smells, etc. There are fun touches like the Godzilla statues and the Japanese toriis above the door that hint at the background. Upon deeper inspection, I began to get a Gothic feeling. There are these gorgeous iron and glass lights in the shape of scary flowers. The booths are pointed and dark. The paintings by themselves have a stark Asian feel, but the materials--leathery canvas tied to silver frames--make me feel like I'm in a biker bar or a Gothic dream. I was never a sake expert--I used to drink Southern Japan's stronger, less delicate potato alcohol called Shochu. We wanted a fruity version to start and a smoky or dry version at the end. The fruity one recommended was very nice--it had subtle flavors of mochi and honeydew. The first few we wanted to try of the smoky or dry sakes were out. The waitress recommended something that was not listed as dry on the menu, but she said it was in that category. It did not taste dry at all to me, but rather very sweet. Maybe my palate is not ready for that much subtlety. Next time, we will try the sampler that comes with four or five flavors for $16. I tried two food items, both wonderful. The first was the hijiki salad, which I loved and felt nourished by (hijiki has super-high iron content). The second was Maguro nigiri sushi. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and I would come back for more. I guess the sushi route was chosen because it pairs well with sake, or perhaps because it's what most Americans expect and want when they think of Japanese food. Either way, it's very good. read more

I'll start with the bad and then go to the good. The service was horrible. What the hell is going on with this staff? From slow, to slower, to absolute slowest ever and it wasn't busy. (1.5 hr for drinks, apps, sushi) The sushi was good but not spectacular and definitely not worth the bad service. Took forever for drink order and even longer to get drinks. (Oh and why one menu? With an empty restaurant, couldn't you give us two menus?) Why the peanut size Wasabi for 12 pieces of sushi? We had to ask for more. Why is the Wasabi so inconsistent? Mostly no heat, then, hey, I got some heat! How in the world can you screw up wasabi? Then you seemed to forget our other two orders of sushi, eventually that came, but no wasabi, and no ginger. We had to ask for more. Really? One of the worst dining experiences in Portland. The good? The Zilla Saki 101 flight. I liked it a lot. But he never explained the Saki other than pointing to the menu and what is was by name. For a Saki bar I expected much more information about the flavors and what made each one unique. Overall it was not a good dining experience. The sushi was good but not that great, and I think the bad service made everything worse. Good Saki. Bad everything else. read more

Look elsewhere for creamcheese - this is the real deal This is the best traditional sushi in Portland and my top 3 world-wide. Zilla serves simple, traditional sushi presented in an Alberta Arts vibe. Their sake list is extensive and interesting. I knew I'd miss Zilla when I moved to Australia, but I didn't realize how much. The place is pitch perfect. Don't let the cool vibe fool you - zilla is dead serious about quality food, drink and service. The clientele is hip, relaxed and regular. Always a good time. Oscar is rad. He is attentive in an unobstrusive way and the man knows his sake. Have him set you up with a sake flight customized to your liking. I've tasted some amazing sake including a delicious 'live' or raw sake which had an efervescent texture like kombucha tea. Nice nigori selection, too. They have barley beer and cocktails which are unique and tasty. Their hijiki seaweed salad is phenomenal - not fishy or slimy at all. Tastes light and healthy with a fantastic texture and a nice kick. Haven't found it anywhere else. The kitchen always pays close attention to make sure it's just right, and often makes it fresh to order. Kate, sushi chef extraoirdinnaire, keeps the sushi traditional and tantalizing. Just look in the case and you'll see the outstanding quality. Everything she makes is outstanding. When available, Sashimi Omakase is the way to go. Let Kate take care of you and relax into a memorable culinary experience. The whole team at Zilla does a great job without trying too hard. Service does slow down when it gets busy but that is expected from a small place. Don't be shy, get friendly with the staff and let them know what you need. They're good people. See conversation starters below. Zilla doesn't do much in the way of desert (yet?) but that's what Random Order is for, right next door. That's my #2 favorite place in Portland. Conversation starters: Oscar is a DJ and hails from Yaqui heritage. Kate has perfect pitch and occasionally teaches cooking classes around town. Kate hates the Beatles. read more

The atmosphere is amazing and the sake selection is the best in the state. A highly informative menu that gives descriptions of each sake's flavor profile, and some background on the maker. Someone below said their sake is overpriced and has no idea what they're talking about. I work for the wholesaler and their markup to pour is not much higher than retail. About 200% lower than your standard bar markup. For example, you can get a glass of watari bune 55 for $16 bucks at zilla, that glass is $100 at Sinju in the Pearl. read more

This place is the best kept secret in Portland so I write this review with a little hesitation. I have been going here for the past two years and the sushi is some of if not the best in Portland. Nothing fancy but excellent quality and delicious. The staff is so personable and fun. Kate is the sushi chef and she is always helpful. She will often create rolls and dishes that aren't on the menu. Don't ever order cream cheese!! She makes things traditionally. Im getting hungry just typing. Also they have great drinks and cool atmosphere. The owner Allowe is very friendly as well. Im Hooked. **We all have our opinions but the negative reviews here are a bit suspicious! Rarely is there a gap so wide. I visit this place regularly and have never experienced the issues people describe and it's straight out bullshit to say they charge you $2 for wasabi. Stop hating. read more

Just randomly found this sushi house.... Fantastic sushi!! The owners also prepare the sushi too, and they know more about sushi than anyone I've ever met. Trust them! They had new trying fish that I normally don't like, but it was amazing. I hope you try them and enjoy them as much as I didn't -Roger. read more

Worst sushi experience ever. Don't even bother. It's too bad, because I herd such "great" things about this place. First off, I don't mind waiting a long time for great food, but an hour and a half for 4 rolls and some miso??? @ 75 bucks? Come on. And the sushi was decent. The sake flight was amazing. But the service....holy crap. Girl did not even seems to care. Classic Portland hipster with " I don't give a f*ck" attitude. That sums it up right there. Zilla Sake House: Portland hipster sushi, with overpriced food, and a chitty attitude. read more

I've been excited to try this place for a very long time. I finally stopped in this evening. A few full tables, but not a packed house. Nice overall atmosphere. I was greeted quickly, shown to a table in the bar, and then immediately forgotten. I had questions about the impressive sake menu, but the bartender was more interested in pouring himself a drink and chatting it up with other patrons. I wasn't acknowledged once after being seated. I wasn't offered any water to start and no one came to take my food order. No one noticed when I got up and left either. It was cool to be a ghost for a little while, but I came and left very hungry. Good thing Hana Japanese Bistro was in walking distance! More importantly, Hana was staffed with friendly folks who knew I existed. I left them a generous tip ;) maybe I'll try Zilla again some other time. read more

This place is a FAKE & FAIL SAKE BAR. Let me explain... Good points first, the place looks adorable. It has that cozy sake tavern feel. The waitress was also really friendly and helpful. Second, the drink menu is thick and big, but the food menu is small and it mainly only have sushi rolls. I was expecting Japanese street food or sake accompanied food. Like squid skewers or tempura soup. So we ordered four rolls of sushi, $2 for wasabi!? WTF. And I try the (salad)seaweed kelp with sushi rice in a bowl, $6. Third, the sushi rolls are tiny. The eel avocado roll is pretty good, I can taste the eel. But the spicy tuna was not spicy enough, and the seaweed/nori wrap was stiff and stale... was it old and expired? The kelp bowl... big disappointment. The bowl is so small. The rice was really watered down with rice vinegar, and the kelp was also watered down with too much soy sauce. It tasted like a college student made it. And... where was our last roll!? We forgot about it too, didn't realize it wasn't serve to us until we left. It just felt like they ripped us off. Oh, and the shrimp inigari was like $5 for two... the shrimp tasted old too; not chewy, it has that gross defrosted texture. We didn't get any sake since already I'm pissed about the quality of the food. Why would I even order the sake? So basically 4 rolls of sushi (1 roll never showed up) and two inigari, two miso soup, one tiny rice bowl, and paid wasabi for $45. So expensive. I still can't believe they charge wasabi. It is just as bad charging egg at a ramen house. I am definitely not coming back and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. PS: We didn't get water refill until we finished our food. It took that long for the server to give us more water. I was a fool to let the exterior to taunt me in. read more

Warning: If you like the flavor of fish only after it's been covered in eel sauce, cream cheese or fried, don't come here. This is not your place. If, however, you like simple fresh food that focuses on the quality of the ingredients, this is your place. Zilla has a limited menu and does not do custom sushi orders, but don't let that deter you. Everything on the menu is delicious and incredibly fresh, and the food is made with love. My family and I love it not only because of the food, but also because of the solid service and cozy, dark atmosphere that feels traditionally Japanese. It's a little oasis for us, and my three year old loves it so much that we can't pass the restaurant without her trying to go in. Another plus is that they just started happy hour. Yippea! read more

I dug the sushi here, good, but not the best. Living right down the street I was really looking forward to making this a regular spot. However, the service was so terrible, I will go so far as to say do not dine here. Harsh, I know, but justified. 1.Our waitress never filled up our glasses in the hour and a half we were there. 2. We waited 45 minutes for three sushi rolls and there were two other people there. 3. Our waitress spent more time talking on her phone and flirt ing with some guy at the counter than doing her job. 4. We would have ordered more sushi, but our waitress never came back after dropping off the rolls. I am not a stickler when it comes to service, but when I feel like I am being flagrantly ignored while paying you money to do so, I am going to be pretty pissed off. read more

Zilla is a tiny place with very good sushi and an awesome selection of sake. We've never had a bad experience with the waitstaff, but I could see it going south under certain circumstances. In fact, our experience with the servers has been fantastic on the whole. They answered questions, gave us samples of sake so we could get one we liked, and were nicely chatty. Some of the staff is very drugged out PDX hipster, so on a busy night I could easily see service being less than ideal, but I just haven't really had that experience. I've had one borderline experience, but never outright poor service. Wait time: the whole place is very small, so without a reservation, expect to wait. The place seats probably 40 people total, including 10 or so at the sushi bar. I don't get why having to wait at a small place when you don't have a reservation reflects badly on the restaurant. When it's busy, the food comes out slowly. Other than a small steaming/soup kitchen, this is a true sushi place. Its usually 1 chef on the real sushi and one chef on rolls. Things can get backed up, especially if everyone comes in ordering rolls all at once. On nights like that, order some edamame and some miso soup and relax. If you can't handle that, find a conveyor belt place. They have a decent selection of vegetarian rolls that are very good. Hubby says the fish is good quality. Not San Francisco quality, but good quality. I've been to Masu and was underwhelmed compared to Zilla. Masu was far more expensive and the sushi was not as good. But, don't get me wrong, Zilla is NOT cheap, especially if you come from a Mio or conveyor belt mindset. If you are looking for cheap quick eats, this is not the place to go. If you are a nothing but rolls person and expect them 2 minutes after ordering, this is not the place to go. If you want a nice meal where you can take your time and try a variety of sakes, this is the place to go. This is not Mio or sushi go round. It's a small sushi and sake house and I thoroughly enjoy it. read more

Oh man, disappointing, I just left the restaurant and still under the influence of sake so take this with a grain of salt. From the start, the place seemed to be disorganized. The bar lady seemed more busy drinking than working but whatever, I can let that slide. My cook was very good and the quality of the food was very good as well just totally overpriced. If you wish to spend top buck and still feel famished then visit this place. FYI, I am not fat, slightly chubby. read more

Quality of fish is very good, and they make rice well too, which is a key factor when I choose a sushi place to go. They cure their own salmon roe which was one of my favorite, not overly salty but flavorful read more

I absolutely love this place! I've been twice and the food has been excellent and the service was great both times. The atmosphere inside is extremely welcoming and thankfully it has always been warm inside. The booths are comfortable and they also play great music at the perfect volume. I took a promising date here during my last visit and it was a great choice. We got the chef's special, where you get to choose your price and you are served with a few custom dishes. What an awesome experience even considering that we did the lowest price of $25.00 per person. We received four dishes and they all flowed from each other perfectly. One dish was a marinated raw fish cut sashimi that I would kill to get again! While I did end up spending about $60.00 for both of our meals and drink I don't consider this place to be too expensive. The first time I came here I went with two other people and we ate and drank plenty for the same price. Overall this place has a great atmosphere, fantastic food, good service, and some pretty unique dishes. read more

This is my first Yelp review. The omakase (chef's choice) was the best sushi I've had in Portland. A cucumber and Dungeness crab salad to start that was fantastic. Shad was terrific, as well. This isn't Americanized sushi. It's outstanding and worth the price. read more

A wonderful sake house with a great drink menu, and a small menu of incredible fish. The head chef is a bitchin' chick named Kate, which is unusual in many cuisines but extremely so in sushi. She was super talented and fun to talk to. We had some really amazing fish here, especially the Tai. We even got free uni, after I was overheard saying that I didn't like it the handful of other times I've tried it. And, while I still don't like it, it was admittedly better here. Best sushi I've had outside of San Francisco. read more

A very unpleasant experience. The restaurant was not full. Service was ok but really slow. The things we ordered suddenly weren't available anymore - no coke, just enough salmon to make one of our plates - and it wasn't even 8pm. Really small portions and honestly not that good for the price they charge. We waited an hour for 14 pieces of sushi. My 2 stars were earned because the waiter recomended a delicious sake just the way I like. Other than that, very disappointing. Payed $50 and went home to make dinner. read more

Which is better the fish or the sake...I have to go back again....and again...and again to decide. I have wanted to try this place since it opened as I have read about it locally and in national rags as one of three sake bars in the US - cool! Score another one for P-town's super foodie mecca. Interior is very cool. I love the art on the walls and want to take them all home. Bathroom has great mirrors, glass tiles (spendy cool) and a very interesting and ample TP holder. We sat at the bar which turned out to be a great decision. Sushi artist Kate totally schooled us! The waitress was very new and was no help in ordering, service, advice on sake, etc, but she was new, so...give her a try when you are in. Kate gave us an education on sake, Japanese, good times in Hawaii, and the sweetness goodness of fresh fish. I would definitely recommend this place as a go-to for sushi and sake. Kate was able to perfectly pair every dish we had with one or more sakes which was educational, delish and fun. Try the delux miso and be ready for some tasty squid jerky chews. So good I can suck on it! Kate has a passion for her fish -fresh and sweet. Just ask her to make up some favorites and enjoy the experience. Ever try "real" wasabi? They have it there on a few dishes. I recommend you just ask for it first as it is nothing like that what you find in other raw fish houses. Only the best for Kate and her fishy biz. Try some of the Nam sakes during your visit for a completely different experience. They are seasonal and take sake to a different level in their aliveness. Did you know that you can buy full bottles of sake from Zilla to take home. Try a sample a few glasses or more and then take a bottle or two home for later - we did. Zilla is monster hip, cool, and tasty. read more

Zilla Sake - hamachi belly - melts like butta. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great atmosphere, helpful staff, but mostly the sushi was really really good. Such thought is rarely put to precise combination of specific flavors to make a unique and pleasing dining experience. At least not in my sushi experience. read more

If you want mediocre sushi, I think you should go elsewhere. Like Koji. Walk in, the entire place smells like old fish. Sake glasses in a big bin, you stick your hand in it like those nasty bar peanuts. Who cares if the jerk before you shook off the pee of his instrument then didn't wash his hands? Cuz perhaps the staff didn't either! They need 4 servers for a 30 seater restaurant because no one understands how to be a server in this town! Ok I am being mean, it's true. I'm an angry person, especially when it's last Thursday and choosing to be on Alberta on such a day is bad news - I only say that because I live in Alberta - so yeah. Go eat sushi elsewhere, on another day. read more

Amazing mix of appetizers and a friendly and knowledgeable staff.. I took my starving 18 yr old son home from his first term of college and he was starving.. Can't say enough on how happy he was to dive into the chicken karage starter we ordered along with the miso soup and cucumber salad. Even better once we got into the mix of sushi they recommended.. So tasty and a perfect spot on a pre xmas evening.. Keep up the good work!! read more

I WISH I could write a review of the food here but after waiting for a couple simple rolls and sunomono for over an hour we finally had to leave. Story: We sat down and began to read over the menu. The waitress came by and told us we should put our orders in soon (we did) because we were looking at about a 45 minute wait to get our food. (keep in mind that the restaurant was not crowded). We ordered a bottle of sake. About an hour goes by and we're about to order another bottle of sake. Before we place our second sake order I ask the waitress how much longer it'll be till we get our food. After talking to the sushi chef she returns to our table and informs us it will be ANOTHER 45 minutes to an hour!! Are you kidding me?? Anywhere else we would have to wait 20 minutes TOPS. The reason for the slow service? There was only one sushi chef...on a Friday! To give this place some credit (and an extra star) I will say that their sake menu was extremely extensive (a thick book) and our sake was good for a somewhat decent price. If you must come here only come for the sake. Don't even bother ordering sushi, it's not worth the frustration. read more

Ordered the tuna bento. Expensive, ridiculously tiny portions. Good green tea and ok service. Won't be back. read more

Zilla Sake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We love Zilla. This is our go to sushi spot in Portland. Always fresh and tasty. Everybody that works there is friendly. I would highly recommend. read more

Zilla is one of my favorite Portland sushi joints. I love it for it's rustic simplicity, and the fact that it's supposedly the largest collection of sake on the whole left coast. I mean they have some amazing sake, and the flights are pretty indicative of their selection. As LollyRae puts it- they are consistent with the menu items, and the fish is fresh. If that doesn't bring you back to such an intimate, personable sushi house... you're going out for sushi/sake for the wrong reasons. -Fresh fish -Consistent menu -Killer sake selection read more

Love love love Zilla Sake! Best fish, especially nigiri, in Portland. So thankful to have this in my neighborhood.

I'm very much in love with Zilla, and really appalled at the negative reviews, because they seem to be based on preconceived expectation rather than a proper review of reality. I'm sorry that Edward J has his own impression of what should be served at a sake house, but I'm glad that Zilla didn't meet his expectations by serving Japanese street food. I go there for sake and sushi. Period. They've got over 40 different kinds of sake available, and can educate you on any of them while you wait on your sushi. It's a relaxed place, focused on allowing people time to enjoy the atmosphere and the menu. The reality is that Zilla offers amazingly fresh fish, and their menu items are consistent. ALWAYS. The water is placed directly on the table in a large glass bottle, so you can serve yourself as much as you like. Wasabi is added to each and every plate of sushi, alongside the ginger. You can choose to purchase a different grade of wasabi if you really want to. The people who work at Zilla are very kind and very knowledgeable about their carefully chosen menu items. No, they don't serve a massive list of options. What they have is an expertise, and it's evident they're damn good at what they do. Zilla does their sushi traditionally, which is a refreshing change. So if you're out for an "experience like no other" with hyperactive waitstaff pawing at you, and multiple pages of menu items to service every imaginable need, you might want to visit Sherry's or Red Robin. Hell, you're in Portland - if you need someone to paw at you while you eat, head out to the Acropolis. read more

I decided one night that I wanted to try some sake. They have a large selection that covers all regions in Japan. Being clueless, I chose the flight of sake. They described in great detail the process of making sake and the flavour notes that I should be tasting. The employees treated me as a great guest, and I am forever gratefull for the hospitality. The sushi that I had was good, and didn't have have the time to try more choices from the menu. This establishment, if you haven't realised already, is about the sake. If this place was closer to my house, I would be here quite frequently. I really like this place. read more

I love the ambiance and the charm of the place. It's a cute little bar with some booths, dark wood, and a nice cozy feel. Great service, sushi was OK, sake selection was also good. I wouldn't say the sushi was amazing, but it was good. Service was really good, and our food came out very quickly, everyone was really friendly. read more

Solid five stars. Nigiri/Sashimi centric menu. Super high quality/fresh fish being served up here. Location: great neighborhood with cool vibe. Ambiance: kinda funky, cozy...very Portland. Service: uneven on account of being busy but the staff seems to be very passionate especially on the subject of sake. Sake: they have ninety varieties. We purchased a sake flight recommended by our server. We really enjoyed four of the five in the flight. Sushi: amazeballs. We especially liked the Dungeness crab and albacore tuna. House cured Ikura, possibly the best salmon eggs I've ever eaten, and I've eaten a lot of Ikura. Lastly, the organic miso soup was fantastic. read more

Went herewith the Girl Friend shortly after they were new. As I recall, it was a pleasant enough experience. Decent waitress, and the food was ok. Not a stellar experience, but it was a cute place, comfy, and they had a young Japanese woman making the sushi, which I was pleased to see. Stopped in Saturday evening whilst in the neighborhood. About 6:30. It was dark, it was empty, and it stunk of what smelled like rotten fish and urine (or could have been ammonia from rotting fish). We stood in the entry for 5 minutes at the "please wait to be seated sign", and no one made a move to seat us. As the smell moved from a curious and disconcerting odor to an inescapable stink and warning sign, we looked at each other and, without needing to exchange a word, we simultaneously turned and bolted for the door. Won't be back. Ended up (happily) at Miho. read more

There are literally no words to describe the sushi experience here. The fish is out of this world. The drinks are incredible and the staff feels just like family! You haven't had sushi if you haven't eaten at Zilla. Do yourself a favor and get off the computer or phone and go have the chefs dinner right now!!! read more

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, and OH my god we love this place! We've been plenty of times before and it has always impressed, however, this time they went above and beyond. The bartender from Cali, forgot his name, treated us like gold. The total bill came to $130 and it was worth every penny... we tried tons of extravagant rolls, sashimi and top shelf sake. This place, hands down, my favorite sushi / sake place in Portland. The salmon melts in your mouth, the albacore -- perfection, the hijiki salad should be called "the hijack salad" because i want to hijack the recipe and eat it's healthy goodness every day! read more

This is the place that made me fall in love with sake! The staff is so helpful in helping a "newbie" find his way around the sake menu (and it's an impressive one!). Space inside is a little tight when it's busy, but not enough to deter me from meeting up with a number of friends. From the sushi bar I almost always get the special of the day. If you want to venture in by yourself you can be sure to be entertained. Most of the times when I have visited they are projecting a classic old school Japanese movie above the bar or some great anime. Scattered around the bar is some pretty cool eclectic art (I just found out you can buy if you want to spend a arm and a leg). All in all this is one of my favorite places to visit in the Alberta Arts District. read more

I love zilla not for the individual elements, but for the sum of its parts. I love the vibe of the place - it really reminds me of little neighborhood sushi joints in Japan, from the hodgepodge decor to the fun, young staff. The main chef, ms. fukuko, doesn't say much but she holds it down. They don't have a full kitchen, so they make do with what they have. They want to keep the ingredients as fresh and local as possible, so they have a limited menu of options available. That, to me, is the true spirit of sushi. Here's the thing about sushi - not everything is in season all the time, and sometimes things have to be flown in from all over the world just to provide the "standard" array of fish that people have become used to. At zilla, they keep the selection limited so that what they have is fresh, and they try to use as much of what is seasonal and local as would be reasonable for a commercial establishment. If you are looking for a dazzling array of exotic fish and a huge menu with everything from teriyaki to tempura, zilla is not for you. If you want a fun vibe, good, fresh sushi, and a huge sake selection, go to this place. read more