Soen/Courier Coffee is a small Japanese café. It's one café and one counter for ordering, so there is no functional distinction between Soen and Courier Coffee, I think the coffee menu and small baked goods selection is from Courier Coffee and the rest (norimaki, kakigori, and tea) is Soen. Kakigori is available seasonally - I was lucky that I visited during the last week of kakigori for the year. It's a pretty small space, a few tables tables inside and a few outside on the sidewalk. There's not much room for standing, but the staff will bring your food to your table so you don't have to stand around waiting after you order. The staff members were very nice! I got there 45 minutes before closing. They were out of most of the norimaki but had one ume-taku norimaki left, so that was what I ordered, along with an apple cinnamon kakigori and buckwheat tea. I really enjoyed the norimaki even though it wasn't my first choice. The pickled plum and radish gave it a big pop of flavour and the inari added some nice sweetness. Perfect interplay of sweet, savoury, and vegetal flavours. The kakigori looked huge but since kakigori is mostly ice it wasn't heavy or hard to finish. The apple cinnamon flavour came with a creamy sweet potato sauce, a shot of hojicha, and of course baked apples. It was a really interesting and unique combination of flavours. Very good. The tea was a nice warming accompaniment to my meal. I think for the high quality the prices were fair.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Meg Taasin
Really cute little snack spot! Very small inside, there is additional seating outside. We got the buckwheat soba tea, the houjicha latte, and the vegetarian roll. All very good, my favorite of the 3 was the tea! Very sweet staff, just a little on the pricey side for the size. (We did not get kakigori this time, so will definitelg be back for a quaint little snack!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Something Sushi
Nicole
Yuzu shaved ice ⭐⭐⭐ - a little too much yuzu - the rose water was good and not candle tasting - we loved the matcha though and the texture - delicate
Lea Young
Soen is inside a cute tiny cafe. I love the different specials - especially the shaved ice! It was smooth and full of fruity flavors that ran throughout the whole shaved ice. The sushi - also delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ai
My mother, sister and I ordered the zuni Kintoki and Strawberry Matcha shaved rice along with some Tsuna Mayo Avocado rolls, all of which were delicious!! I have a very sweet tooth and so I really enjoyed the Strawberry Matcha shaved ice but I also surprisingly enjoyed the Uji Kintoki as well. The atmosphere and people were very nice and kind and I would totally recommend this place to others
Friendly staff, authentic kakigori, good coffee, cute little space. Downside, can get packed and run out of things often+ in downtown not easy to get too or acquire parking.
Extremely awkward staff. The gentleman behind the counter was extremely fidgety and whispering about the customers behind their backs. The gentleman was giving off very creepy vibes. Also the latte had almost no flavor and very watery. Don't waste your time.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Alex Banks-Watson
11:40a on a MondayThere are three tables, all occupied. We order the Inari, a Norimaki, and a Miso Soup. We eat the first two standing at a small bar. Then a table by the window frees up and we enjoy the miso soup there. It's all so good. We then get the three Dango to finish, and order a couple of coffee drinks and a Canele to go with them.Delicious flavors, unique atmosphere. The whole experience is delightful. Thank you!
This place has some really good shaved ice! It's a small counter located in Courier Coffee. They also have small snacks to eat. We got the Hojicha Kokuto Kinaco shaved ice, and it was pretty good. I liked the hojicha flavor and the combo with sweet adzuki beans. It's a pleasant dessert that's not too heavy. It's definitely worth a try.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Svetlana Orlova
We got shaved ice and some pastries. I haven’t tried the pastries yet, but they look delicious and the top food critic in Portland had good things to say about the. Canelle. The shaved ice was very good. Everything is homemade even the condensed milk and mochi. Service was good. It’s downtown though, so there’s not much place for seating. FYI.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Uji Matcha Shaved Ice
Mayra R
So refreshing to find such a great place!As a POC and a mom I can say its very hard to find places where we feel comfortable and accepted. This is the kind of place that has that special touch.Very kid friendly, real people and super kind. My daughter is a picky eater and she loved the berry shaved ice and honestly compared to other places i had it, this is way better and healthier. Home made ingridients and coffee is excellent. Daugther even aproved their sushi!
Kid-friendliness: Owners were super kind, patience and nice to my girl!Very hard to find places where they actually care for customer needs, the very kind lady made her a simpler version of the rolls, she loved! She ate 5 pieces of it! This is a most go for POC parents looking for a nice spot to have a quick bite and coffee and a treat for your kid!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joy
The shaved ice is really good!!! Their sushi roll is so good as well!!!I’m so glad I got to try them in time because last year we went they didn’t have the shaved ice (it’s a seasonal thing) not sure how much longer they’ll have it but I would recommend it!! :)))
Soen/Courier Coffee is a small Japanese café. It's one café and one counter for ordering, so there is no functional distinction between Soen and Courier Coffee, I think the coffee menu and small baked goods selection is from Courier Coffee and the rest (norimaki, kakigori, and tea) is Soen. Kakigori is available seasonally - I was lucky that I visited during the last week of kakigori for the year.
It's a pretty small space, a few tables tables inside and a few outside on the sidewalk. There's not much room for standing, but the staff will bring your food to your table so you don't have to stand around waiting after you order. The staff members were very nice!
I got there 45 minutes before closing. They were out of most of the norimaki but had one ume-taku norimaki left, so that was what I ordered, along with an apple cinnamon kakigori and buckwheat tea. I really enjoyed the norimaki even though it wasn't my first choice. The pickled plum and radish gave it a big pop of flavour and the inari added some nice sweetness. Perfect interplay of sweet, savoury, and vegetal flavours. The kakigori looked huge but since kakigori is mostly ice it wasn't heavy or hard to finish. The apple cinnamon flavour came with a creamy sweet potato sauce, a shot of hojicha, and of course baked apples. It was a really interesting and unique combination of flavours. Very good. The tea was a nice warming accompaniment to my meal. I think for the high quality the prices were fair.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really cute little snack spot! Very small inside, there is additional seating outside.
We got the buckwheat soba tea, the houjicha latte, and the vegetarian roll. All very good, my favorite of the 3 was the tea!
Very sweet staff, just a little on the pricey side for the size. (We did not get kakigori this time, so will definitelg be back for a quaint little snack!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Something Sushi
Yuzu shaved ice ⭐⭐⭐
- a little too much yuzu
- the rose water was good and not candle tasting
- we loved the matcha though and the texture
- delicate
Soen is inside a cute tiny cafe. I love the different specials - especially the shaved ice! It was smooth and full of fruity flavors that ran throughout the whole shaved ice. The sushi - also delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My mother, sister and I ordered the zuni Kintoki and Strawberry Matcha shaved rice along with some Tsuna Mayo Avocado rolls, all of which were delicious!! I have a very sweet tooth and so I really enjoyed the Strawberry Matcha shaved ice but I also surprisingly enjoyed the Uji Kintoki as well. The atmosphere and people were very nice and kind and I would totally recommend this place to others
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna Mayo, Half Strawberry Half Matcha Kakigori, Uji Matcha Shaved Ice
Friendly staff, authentic kakigori, good coffee, cute little space. Downside, can get packed and run out of things often+ in downtown not easy to get too or acquire parking.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Anmitsu, Matcha Yuzu Rosewater Kakigori, Uji Matcha Shaved Ice
Extremely awkward staff. The gentleman behind the counter was extremely fidgety and whispering about the customers behind their backs. The gentleman was giving off very creepy vibes. Also the latte had almost no flavor and very watery. Don't waste your time.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
11:40a on a MondayThere are three tables, all occupied. We order the Inari, a Norimaki, and a Miso Soup. We eat the first two standing at a small bar. Then a table by the window frees up and we enjoy the miso soup there. It's all so good. We then get the three Dango to finish, and order a couple of coffee drinks and a Canele to go with them.Delicious flavors, unique atmosphere. The whole experience is delightful. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dango-Mochi Sticks, Inari Sushi
Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair friendly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Something Sushi
I will be going back over and over again to try everything!
Restaurantji Recommends
Right up there with what we had in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place has some really good shaved ice! It's a small counter located in Courier Coffee. They also have small snacks to eat. We got the Hojicha Kokuto Kinaco shaved ice, and it was pretty good. I liked the hojicha flavor and the combo with sweet adzuki beans. It's a pleasant dessert that's not too heavy. It's definitely worth a try.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We got shaved ice and some pastries. I haven’t tried the pastries yet, but they look delicious and the top food critic in Portland had good things to say about the. Canelle. The shaved ice was very good. Everything is homemade even the condensed milk and mochi. Service was good. It’s downtown though, so there’s not much place for seating. FYI.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Uji Matcha Shaved Ice
So refreshing to find such a great place!As a POC and a mom I can say its very hard to find places where we feel comfortable and accepted. This is the kind of place that has that special touch.Very kid friendly, real people and super kind. My daughter is a picky eater and she loved the berry shaved ice and honestly compared to other places i had it, this is way better and healthier. Home made ingridients and coffee is excellent. Daugther even aproved their sushi!
Kid-friendliness: Owners were super kind, patience and nice to my girl!Very hard to find places where they actually care for customer needs, the very kind lady made her a simpler version of the rolls, she loved! She ate 5 pieces of it! This is a most go for POC parents looking for a nice spot to have a quick bite and coffee and a treat for your kid!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The shaved ice is really good!!! Their sushi roll is so good as well!!!I’m so glad I got to try them in time because last year we went they didn’t have the shaved ice (it’s a seasonal thing) not sure how much longer they’ll have it but I would recommend it!! :)))
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