Cute and authentic hole in the wall. Loved the iced Yuzu, and shaved ice was incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eri Wisniewski
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.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Jada Lewis
Yummy kakigori, the strawberry puree is really flavorful and not too sweet. The store is a bit small so there's not many places to sit or stand, but they have some outdoor tables as well.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kanit W
Norimaki and onigiri amazing. I didn’t expect much coming in since i have been to Japan. But they blew my mind. Definitely will come again next time im in portland
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stefan Lidington
Amazing coffee. Service was typical. Limited seating, no decor. Cool record player though.
For food, Soen is inside the coffee shop. It's not obvious.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Dana Sullivan
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!
Cute and authentic hole in the wall. Loved the iced Yuzu, and shaved ice was incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Yummy kakigori, the strawberry puree is really flavorful and not too sweet. The store is a bit small so there's not many places to sit or stand, but they have some outdoor tables as well.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Norimaki and onigiri amazing. I didn’t expect much coming in since i have been to Japan.
But they blew my mind. Definitely will come again next time im in portland
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing coffee.
Service was typical.
Limited seating, no decor. Cool record player though.
For food, Soen is inside the coffee shop. It's not obvious.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
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
Restaurantji Recommends
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!
Loading...