12 Best Japanese Restaurants in Portland

“This place is an absolute must go to restaurant in Portland. The atmosphere is very cozy, at least in the space and the lighting, but super hip. They play lots of dancey, fun music, which wasn’t deafening or obnoxious but just added to the great vibe.They have lots of great options, all smaller plates which makes it so much fun to share with whoever you’re with. We got the garlic edamame, bacon mochi, the cabbage pancake (I forget the official name, forgive me), and the udon. Every bite was perfect, and the service was awesome.We sat at the bar, and the bartender was super attentive despite being busy. The cocktail menu is also fantastic! Definitely worth trying at *least* one.“

“Quick update: I highly recommend Miyake as a place to stop in for lunch, too! It's a quieter vibe than dinner, so perfect for grabbing a seat at the sushi bar. There are bento box lunch specials and chef's choice sushi and sashimi, or you can order rolls from the lunch menu; I had a wonderful red snapper ceviche roll and of course, their wonderful miso soup!“

“Been talking about Bar Futo for a year now ever since their pop up at the amazing Koji Club in Boston. Here’s how it went. Get one of everything. Drink a bottle of sake. Chat with amazing staff. Order more yakitori. Have some beers. Order a crazy dessert. Buy the kitchen some shots. And listen to the story of the amazing chef and owner on what it takes to open and run the best new restaurant in New England. I said it. Sorry Boston but gonna have to step it up notch. Can’t wait to come back!“

“My girlfriend and I had a wonderful dinner on 2-15. We sat at the end of the sushi bar- it was a little tight when it got busy, but it’s definitely the best sushi place we’ve been to. Our server Chad was awesome and made us feel very welcome. I told a few friends and decided to write a review“

“We were all pleasantly surprised by the quality and delightful flavors of the food at Pai Men Miyake. The pork steamed buns were an absolute treat and they make me want to try the other options. The beef short rib, tantanmen, and chicken and pork ramens were all fantastic with tender meat that fell apart. The spice levels of all bowls were delicious. If you are craving fantastic ramen, this is the place for you!“

“Small cozy spot with delicious food. We had the pork belly ramen, highly recommend. Pork was very flavorful, and definitely get the side of spicy sauce if you like spicy. A pretty large portion too for a reasonable price. We'll be going back to try the poke bowls, which are all customizable with a pretty good selection of veggies and toppings.Only downside is if you're allergic/not a fan of seafood there was not a lot of options, tofu or pork only.“

“Pork Belly is the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth!“

“We were in Portland for a long Weekend. Benkay was just two blocks from our hotel, the reviews were good, So happy we tried this restaurant, everything was more than perfect! Impossible for me now to go to Portland without having dinner at Benkay! can't wait to return. I strongly recommend !!! WoW!“

“We had lunch here. Food was great! The scallop small plate was well seasoned and delicious! Sushi was also good. The miso soup tasted a little interesting but good.They are open for dine-in but stated we had to order at the counter than eat at the table without waiter. I saw only one person working and we were only ones there. She was kind enough to come by and take our orders at the table.“

“I love Chad. Best bartender on earth. If he leaves Kon I'll have a new place to eat on Thursdays. I placed a take out order because I didn't want to spend an hour at the bar. I was exhausted. I gave the blond twenty-something my name and told him I was early for a take out order. He took my name. Chad served me my hot saki as soon as I sat down. 40 minutes later there was no sign of my order. Chad had to tell me it was at the front. The SAME kid who took my NAME, told me i should have told him I was there........“

“Delicious very fresh sushi and a Ramen to boot! Very delicious.“

“The salmon bento was the best.“