50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Portland

“The best meal I have had at any Portland restaurant! We ate our way through the entire menu and each dish was amazing and the perfect combination of flavors! Highly recommend this for any occasion, we will definitely be back. The staff and chef made us feel like life long friends. Sitting at the counter was an extra special treat and enlightening into the dish preparations.“

“Really delicious, and so happy to have a Japanese sandwich cart in Portland. I loved the Pork katsu!“

“Dinner was amazing. Staff was amazing. just AMAZING. My son took me as a surprise while visiting him from FL. Thank you for making this moment for us. 5 star!“

“Friendly staff fast service, best sushi I’ve ever had“

“Excelent tapas and coctails.“

“THE FOOD! Excellent service. Fabulous food. Wonderful vibe. 🔥🔥🔥“

“Excellent! Fast, friendly service and absolutely delicious food. We had the tempura udon and curry plate. We also enjoyed the sake flight. Cannot wait to go back.“

“This is one of my favorite places to each lunch, a great place to meet a friend, and the friendliest service you can imagine. I wish more restaurants focused on doing one thing well and being deeply authentic in vibe and presentation. After today's visit I felt compelled to write a review because it sparked true joy. This is a meal that you end up thinking about - sometimes DIRECTLY after eating it. You should probably go - there's bike parking directly outside, and it will be something you enjoy.“

“The husband and I were on a ramen rampage, and the weather was our perfect excuse. Then, out of nowhere, we stumbled upon this restaurant. The service was spot-on, the food arrived in record time, and that ramen? Sheer perfection. The broth was a flavor bomb, the chashu was tender and divine, and those noodles? Freshly made and sublime. We left feeling like we just discovered ramen nirvana.“

“We had an excellent dining experience at Akizawa, with outstanding food, drinks, and service. Despite some previous reviews mentioning a one-hour time limit for two people, the staff was flexible and didn’t rush us—possibly because the restaurant wasn’t full.
Here’s a breakdown of what we ordered:
• Grilled Duck (Appetizer): Tender, juicy, and full with umami flavor.
• Pork Tonkatsu (Appetizer): A lean cut of meat that was very tender and not dry at all. The crust was light and perfectly crispy.
• Nigiri and Sushi Rolls: The fish was incredibly fresh, and the rice was well-prepared with just the right balance. As a fan of Edomae-style (more vinegary) rice, I found their rice slightly different but still excellent. We only wished they offered chutoro, which wasn’t available, and a wider variety of fish.
• Caramel Pudding (Dessert): Tasty but not particularly memorable.
• Sake: The staff provided thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences and even let us sample a few options before we chose a bottle we loved.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the experience. We’ll definitely return and recommend Akizawa to anyone looking for a great dining experience!“

“Good food!“

“This is the first place we go eat at every time we visit PDX. Great sushi, great atmosphere, a really great staff- only complaint: bring back the potato killer“

“Great Sushi and Phenomenal Service❣️“

“Everything was wonderful with the drinks, food and service. Only thing that was a bit of a disappointment with the food was that there were no sides with the burger. Also every time the front door opened all of us in the first few tables froze and we all wish the barrier would have been longer to block that so we could all enjoy our dinner and drinks more. Overall we loved it there and the staff was wonderful.“

“I love musubi and this place does not disappoint! They have a variety but we always walk by in the morning so I get the one with egg. Today, we also got the taiyaki - one with cheese and one with Nutella. They were both soooooo good! I had the one with Nutella and it was so good, nice and warm with a crispy exterior. Aaaaaaand we had a slice of banana bread. Again, delicious and I am a banana bread snob. Highly recommend visiting!“

“Amazing sushi and good flavor“

“Skip Bamboo and come here.

The takoyaki is insanely good. Never had a roll I didn't like, and every other item I have tried here was good-to-great. Prices can't be beat, and you always get service with a smile. A real gem that shouldn't be overlooked.“

“Everything. This is not just going to dinner. This is a dining experience. It’s a small reserved venue. Yes it’s spendy, but worth every penny. You’ll try food you never thought you try. The mostly seafood menu it so well prepared. Plus you can watch the prepared each course. A fun night.“

“🌟 A Return Worth Celebrating! 🌟

This was my second visit—and honestly, it was just as unforgettable as the first. I originally came here to celebrate my birthday, and the food blew me away so much that I had to come back for more.

Every dish I ordered was a masterpiece. The house tonkatsu ramen was rich and comforting, with a broth that could warm your soul. The dynamite salmon roll, hello kitty roll, and kazien roll each brought their own unique flavor profiles and textures—playful, bold, and beautifully balanced.

But the real showstopper? The chef’s choice sashimi. Each slice of fish was paired with toppings that elevated the flavor to a whole new level. It was clear that every detail was thoughtfully curated, and the result was nothing short of spectacular.

If you're looking for a place that delivers not just amazing food but a memorable experience, this is it. I’ll definitely be back again.“

“This place is one of the best teriyaki places in the entire area of downtown portland. Generous portions worth every single penny ❤️

The charred chicken pieces are extremely perfect and juicy, dressed in perfect homemade teriyaki sauce.

The pot stickers on the other hand, have the gingery aroma flavor, makes it more palatable and appetizing at the same time.“

“TL;DR: Good sushi, unforgettable Portland dining.

After years of searching for my favorite sushi spot in Portland, I finally found Yosu.

Now, I won’t say it’s the best sushi in the city, I’m probably not qualified to do that, and honestly, there’s a food truck that still wins my heart for pure quality.

My sample size was small, though. I only had one roll, the Red Dragon Roll. It wasn’t life-changing, but it was solid. It’s what you would expect from your sushi options in town. The calamari, though, was *chef’s kiss*, lightly breaded, crispy, and meaty in all the right ways. The miso soup was fine/good, and the cucumber salad was fresh and interesting (though the martini glass presentation was awkward to eat from).

Where Yosu really stands out is the experience. The place nailed its mix of traditional Japanese art and Portland quirk. Big glowing windows on Broadway, fun neon lighting, fun spacey murals and music that actually adds to the vibe. The plating was the cutest and most fun I’ve ever seen, and the staff’s traditional-style jackets tie the whole theme together perfectly.

I felt that someone truly cares about all of the small details and I really appreciate that.

Whether you are visiting Portland and looking for a memorable sushi experience, or you live here, Yosu is absolutely worth a stop.“

“Sho is our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. Katsu and his team are awesome.“

“The food was very good, but the service is very slow. Hard to find your server, when you need to order a drink or more food. When ordering a beer or drink, at least 10 minutes for it to come out. The people bringing your food and drinks out were great!“

“Fresh food at a reasonable price, loved my own pot of green tea:). I’ll be back!“

“Loved it! Had a really good night out on the town!“

“This hands down is one of my favorite restaurants in Portland OR. It the same quality of other top spots in the US like Nobu , O-Ya , and Morimoto . The location is perfect located in the Pearl district. The chefs are high quality and the fish is extremely fresh. They have a great but simple flavor approach. The service is warm, helpful, and appreciative. I always ask for Joy as she is a true professional and loves providing an exceptional experience on every visit.“

“Great food, fast service and great atmosphere. Highly recommend.“

“The karaage chicken is extremely flavorful and tender, while also being crispy. Mix in some gyoza and you've got the perfect meal. Great portion size, especially for the price. The pickled cabbage could use a bit more pickling to really stand up to the richness of the chicken, but it felt very Japanese in that it was more delicately flavored.This cart pod has tons of seating, booze, and way too many vegan places.“

“Great Sushi.. must eat place.“

“I've been eating here since 2015 and ABSOLUTELY LOVE this place. Top notch sushi with a wonderful staff. This is my 1st choice place for sushi in Portland Oregon“

“High quality jet fresh seafood from Tokyo“

“AMAZING to say the least. The atmosphere, the staff, the food and the music were perfect ✨ I will definitely be back“

“We've been loyal customers of Yaraimura Maru for the past 3 years, and it continues to be one of our favorite spots! The food is always amazing—this time I had the Abu Udon and Shoyu Ramen, and both were absolutely delicious, as always. Cynthia and Phil were awesome—so kind, welcoming, and attentive. Their warm service really makes the experience extra special. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great food and great people!“

“super friendly staff and awesome manager who didn't blink an eye and replaced my mom and aunts order to accommodate their health conditions. bomb food and and super fast serve time. will be back again Special shout out to Damont for being an awesome manager!“

“Nice little high end food court with craft beer, cocktails, ramen etc.“

“One of the best kept secrets of getting fantastic sushi and omakase in the city. A great selection of sake personally curated by the owner. The restaurant doubles as a sushi grade, dry aged fish butchery shop that serves fantastic sashimi rice bowls on the back end of the week. reservations highly recommended in the weekend.“

“so lovely! delicious mocha latte and macha brownie. shared a salmon and locks bagel with cream cheese too! lovely staff!“

“I've been here twice in the last couple of months and I absolutely love this spot! Great, authentic food, friendly staff and pretty decent prices especially for the quality that you get. The presentation of everything is so pretty too! On top of all that, everyone there is very patient with me when I try to use some of my very limited Japanese :)“

“They walk around to all the tables asking if the shaved ice is theirs to all customers sitting down. Not very efficient. The kakigoris were amazing! Best in US so far for me. I would want to try the dangos next and hope they have the Uji Matcha kakigori next time. We ordered Berry Hojicha and Berry Matcha kakigoris. While we were there on Saturday lunch time, there was always a line. Most people looked like they were getting a drink and walking out with it. Half of the people had trouble going out as the door was tricky to open out lol. You have to push the button down while pushing the door out haha. Only street parking available.“

“I would love to give this place five stars. They're are often not open during their scheduled business hours. I've been here multiple times in the last few weeks at 12:00, which is when they say they open yet they are closed. I'm sitting here right now at 12:15 and their food truck is closed.“

“I ordered a pick-up from Google map yesterday. When I got there there was many people so I could not reach out to any staffs. Turned out to pick up my order without letting any staffs know but I guess it’s normal for such a busy restaurant. Ate at a table outside the restaurant and really enjoyed the cool weather. The pork katsu sandwich tasted great. The fries with curry tasted good at first but just OK as time went by. Want to try other sandwiches when I come to Portland again.“

“BIG SUSHI!!! It’s a hole in the wall location, but once found you won’t forget it!“

“Yama is our favorite spot for sushi. Great sake menu too.“

“This is my go to sushi spot, the staff is so kind and helpful and the sushi is so good and fresh! I really love the ambiance and I’ll happily dine in, to go is amazing too because they make everything for Togo fresh:) best nigiri and best miso soup in Portland !!“

“So yummy! And walking distance. :)“

“This place I would highly recommend. The serves here was very good and nice even though it took me forover for some people in my party to choose what they wanted. They also have good atmosphere and the tables are clean and doesn't take that much time to wait (5-10 minutes for my party). The food was also very good and I hope you guys are able to come her with a party and have a good time as well a I did when I came.

Also side note (that doesn't have to do with my review of this place) I would like to apologize for not posting in such a long time but I will be able to start posting agian.“

“There was no line at 10:30am on a Wednesday. I got the Oregon roll. They were done in less than 5 minutes. It was really good, but for 6 pieces, $13 is too expensive. 4 instead of 5 star for the price. The to go boxes in the refrigerated section seemed to be a better deal. I'd go back to try those. The ladies working were nice and fast. The area was clean, and there's limited countertop seating inside, but there were lots of tables in the hallway with plenty of availability and a great piano player nearby.“

“Food was yum, friendly environment and great hospitality.“

“After spending a couple of hours wandering Powell’s, I stumbled into Hana Sushi and Izakaya — and wow, what a find! This place is a total gem. The conveyor belt sushi setup is fun, fast, and full of incredibly fresh options. You can tell they take real pride in the quality of their fish — everything from the buttery salmon nigiri to the spicy tuna rolls was spot-on.
The vibe is cozy but modern, with friendly staff and a surprisingly wide variety of dishes rotating through. I also loved the little izakaya touches — some tasty hot dishes and sake options if you're looking to linger. Bonus: the prices are totally reasonable, so you can try a bit of everything without breaking the bank.“

“Great service, friendly staff and very delicious, fresh fish at a fair price. Plus they are celiac friendly! We will definitely be back.“