Top Japanese restaurants in Portland, United States

I lived in Japan for 5 years and had my fair share of fresh fish. I thought I’d give this place a try and the fish is fresh, it’s not slimy nor does it smell fishy. As good as it gets for being in America, but not as cheap as what you can get in Japan but it was worth it to me because I haven’t had sashimi this good since I left Japan. Miso is really simple to make and some Japanese restaurants just serve crap but this one is top notch!

Hands down the best sushi I’ve had in Portland, and I’ve been on a whirlwind tour over the last several weeks. Best Kampachi I’ve ever had. Outdoor seating area is stunning. Service was great.

We ordered three dishes. Despite the restaurant being empty, we had to wait about 30 minutes. The sushi was fresh, but the server, a Caucasian woman, had no smile and stared at me, which made me feel uncomfortable.

The best and sushi I’ve ever had and I’ve been all over. The Uni spoons are out of this world, i also loved the sushi rice with soy marinated quail egg and ikura. Every dish i tried was a masterpiece… chef’s kiss.

It’s upsetting that we are here midway through our getaway to Portland. I guarantee the service, quality, and execution of food service at literally any other restaurant will pale in comparison.
This was one of the best meals I’ve had in my life.
The omakase selections were perfect. The subsequent Sake pairing- the same.
The appetizers were absolutely delectable.
And the SERVICE from FOH and BOH was second to none.
A top tier experience. This place doesn’t need reviews, or any validation for their craft.
I’m just so appreciative that I want everyone to know.

Great spot for locally harvested fish. Servers were very friendly and knowledgeable. 🍣🍶

The sushi and sashimi are delicious. Get the lobster roll for their signature dish and sashimi platter to try a variety of fish (chefs choice).

Everything was great, but the orange lighting made it hard to Sée the plates and fully appreciate the beauty of the dishes we ordered. We all know how visually artistic Japanese cuisine is, and seeing our plate enhances the appetite.

A few evenings ago, I dined early at Izakaya Minato. With reservations only accepted for parties of four or more, I found myself arriving right at opening to avoid a lengthy wait. Additionally, the lack of a dedicated parking lot added an extra $45 for public parking to the experience.

The ambiance is casual, with little to capture the eye—something easily overlooked if the food excels. However, the menu, while simple, proved somewhat confusing, and notably lacked any seasonal specials, a hallmark of authentic Japanese cuisine. The restaurant’s attempt at authenticity, unfortunately, fell short.

We sampled all the options from the “To Start” section, skipped the “From the Port” offerings due to concerns about freshness, and chose three dishes “From the Farm” to begin our meal. Regrettably, the broiled oysters and mochi bacon arrived cold, suggesting they had been prepared in advance without sufficient effort to warm them before serving. Some of the vegetables were passable, but overall, the dishes were underwhelming. After finishing our initial order, we contemplated trying more, but the disappointment thus far deterred us.

I glanced at other tables, hoping to spot something that might redeem the experience. The sashimi, however, looked unappealing, and the miso soup seemed to have the telltale signs of being made from a packet (though this is mere speculation).

Eager to explore one of the few Japanese restaurants in Maine, I was left thoroughly disappointed. The quality of the food was lacking, especially given the higher price point.

Would I return? Unfortunately, no. The experience left much to be desired. If you wish to serve foreign cuisine, it’s essential to have someone in the kitchen who truly understands how to prepare and present it.

Small plates place, where we’d initially planned to get the omakase, but ended up arriving to dinner quite full from all the places we’d been beforehand. In that sense, the portions being rather small worked out for us. We did really enjoy all the dishes we tried: oyster, beef yukke, tuna, sakana negi, and JFC. Udon was alright too, though not as impressive as the others or particularly interesting/stand out. Food comes reasonably fast, though order is random and it’s like one plate every so often. Presentation is good and flavors weren’t overwhelming.

Would recommend having 4 ppl for a reservation if possible. Like most places here, a bit small and when we arrived for ours at 5:15, the place was already filled and we heard a server tell people there’d be a 1.5 hr wait. The playlist was kind of funny, but music is at a perfect volume for still actually being able to hear your companions.

Bento box lunch was an impressive array of tasty things. If you're looking for a fancy, but affordable lunch then look no further.

Y’all. The tuna in the bento box was some of the best fish I’ve ever had. Sam was a great waiter and very informative. We got the Spicy Lobster roll and the Salmon Lady II roll. With the bento box, we got a miso soup that my mother exclaimed was the greatest she’d ever had.

I’m impressed every time I come here! I always go with the omakase & I love the variety. The miso oysters are one of the tastiest things to ever exist! And I absolutely love the salad with lions mane mushrooms. Izakaya Minato is one of my favorites in town… highly recommend!

Beautiful restaurant in Portland with delicious and thoughtfully crafted Japanese food. My fiancé had the sashimi and it was delicious. The duck buns were out of this world, as were the scallops with celeriac purée. The service was excellent, knowledgeable about the food and drink options and checking in, but not hovering. Thanks for an incredible meal!

The seating and staff are very nice but the food was very very mid. The food took about 45 minutes to serve and it didn't taste very great. It's also fairly pricy for the things you can get. It's my first and only time.

Very high quality sushi and service. The inside has a super clean traditional Japanese aesthetic. The dish that really blew us away was the duck nikuman buns —truly one of the most finely crafted dishes that has ever graced our palates. What ever you do, do not miss out on this one.

I would say some dishes are very small and can’t be shared, the rest were for 1-2 people and are indeed high quality. The crab salad was very good. Price is just right, service is good.

Delicious nigiri and rolls. Everything tasted fresh. Service was superb and atmosphere was good. Would return again for great sushi.

Incredible experience and ambiance. The pictures do not do it justice! Freshest sushi I have ever had coupled with an extremely friendly staff ensures that you’ll want to come back again and again! Just be sure to come hungry as the portions are very generous!

Perfect mother-daughter spot for sushi . We sat outside near the little waterfall. Even though it was busy we were able to enjoy the calmness of the space. The dishes were quite tasty. I tried a Sake martini and was impressed with the presentation. Cute spot- This will be a favorite for us.

We got the lobster egg drop soup as an appetizer which was really good - very light. For the main course my husband and I both ordered the sashimi omakase. The fish was great, tender and a nice temperature. All of the food came out very quickly and we appreciated the handmade pottery it was served on. My only complaint is that the omakase meals are served all at once and not in separate courses.

We stopped by for a quick lunch. Got the vegetables tempura and the sushi & sashimi lunch set. All sashimi is very fresh. Everyone very friendly.

This gem was recommend by several people and we were not disappointed, varied menu selections, good quality fresh seafood, fair prices and great service!

Came in at opening and it was quiet. Decorate is lovely and what you'd expect. The food really was the highlight. Fish was fresh. Outdoor seating area available.

Bathroom is a bit bare bones.

Lovely little shop with very affordable prices and great seating options. The sushi was a little less refined than I would’ve preferred when it comes to its assembly, and unfortunately I had a fish bone in my salmon sushi. Honestly though it was a good experience, and I’d certainly go back if invited.

Yosaku is THE spot for sushi! This place is fantastic and one of our favorite spots to grab the yummiest sushi in town.

We first discovered Yosaku last spring, and I’m honestly a bit sad we haven’t gone back more often. The sushi is so fresh and creative — they offer the classics, like spicy tuna and California rolls, but also fun rolls you won’t find anywhere else. The rolls are enormous; 5-6 rolls for two people is more than enough (and honestly, you might have leftovers). They also offer noodles, delicious appetizers, and everything you’d expect at a sushi place. Seriously, the menu is about six pages long. We’ve never tried anything at Yosaku that we didn’t love.

My favorite thing, though? The ambiance and the value. Yosaku offers outdoor seating under a beautiful tree, which is lovely during the spring and summer. Their indoor ambiance is just as nice and cozy. The value at Yosaku is unmatched. There are few places in town where you can get delicious, fresh sushi for this price. 4-5 rolls usually cost us $60 or so, a steal for Downtown Portland.

Never change, Yosaku.

the BEST sushi and noodles we've ever had. Coming up here from Boston, maybe that says a lot? Have been looking for this kind of ramen/udon forever and never would have thought I'd find it in Portland, ME! Broth sublime, shaved steak delicious, both sushi rolls were super fresh and tasty. Everyone very friendly, very courteous, and service was prompt and food came out fairly quickly, especially for lunch time on a Saturday. We sat at the sushi bar, which was a neat experience. The sushi chefs were all friendly, they greeted us when we sat down. There were low tables with pillows or seats to lean on, and an area under neath to put shoes. Will definitely come here again the next time we're in Portland!

Great Sushi. Had the dumpling soup as an app and was perfect on a cool day. Finished off with a avacodo eel sushi role ! Very good.

One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. Great comfort Japanese food. The restaurant itself is a really cozy and has expanded from when we first visited many years ago. The staff did a great job and were very attentive. We’ve done both the omakase and gone a la carte. Both after great options. We love the uni spoons and can eat them forever. The omakase is a great option if you’re not sure what you want. They do a great mix of all their heavy hitters. Overall this is one of our favorite stops when we come up to Portland and hope you try it out!

Very relaxing time after walking through the garden. Put our name on the list when we first walked into the garden, right when they opened since their reservations were full. Only waited an hour. Atmosphere, tea and food, and service is great!

Had a solid time at Minato with good service. We got to try a wide variety of items through the omakase which I'd definitely recommend if you're hungry. Didn't love each dish we tried, but overall prices were fair and I appreciated the variety of options for food and drinks. Cool spot.

Google doesn’t said anything about make a reservation for this café so my review if for the host who doesn’t collaborated and find a table when was so many Available, she want us to wait for 30 min when was so many inside and outside tables available. Also suggest to come back another day and I am not sure if I will never back in Portland in my life but she should treat better the travelers. can’t try the tea and food so nothing to said about that. Just keep in mind call before.

A really great spot to try out the Japanese sets. Their green tea is excellent. Staff are friendly and helpful but can be overwhelmed when they’re busy.

This is not the place to go when you are hungry. Plain rice in a water without any flavors. Tea was not very intense and they give you 2 free refills. If you like warm water then get the refills, but for us it felt diluated after the first one.
Maybe this place is just not for us..

Just want to add for other people, that menu showing on Google maps is incorrect, the menu here as of 2023 is just tea and pastries, with option for miso soup and rice. There is very little option for gluten and dairy free, so be mindful when you must consider these. The staff and atmosphere is beautiful and pleasant nonetheless. Don't let this discourage you, just adding this information for others so their expectations are consistent. ♡

What a lovely experience! We got the tea sets and the matcha and hojicha brownies (yum). We didn’t think to make a reservation but it only ended up being a 30 min wait on a Saturday afternoon. I can see people thinking it’s expensive for tea and a snack, but the atmosphere is unique and makes up for that in my opinion.

I volunteer at the garden so my review will be biased. That said, this is a great place to have quiet conversations while admiring the greenery outside. They mainly have variety of Japanese teas. I like all of the tea they have. All of the teas are serves with Japanese sweets. I like all of them, since choices are not that large, you may want to try all of them.

Went after calling so seating was not the issue.
Staff is actually nice. They answered our questions and waited while we took our time to decide what to order.
I ordered shrimp tempura rolls. It came out pretty quick but it was not up to the mark. I am no expert in rolls so cant say what was missing but i have had lot better in Boston. Shrimp tempura is always my go to when i visit a sushi place as it always came out nice. This was an exception here at Sapporo.

Very nice experience, very authentic tea at Umami Café.
We thought we made the reservation, but turned out we only made the reservation for the garden… but luckily there was a outdoor seat available when we went, the staff welcomed us and was nice that we were able to get in.
It was a bit cold but nice to sit outdoor and enjoy the view with hot teas.
All of the food/tea we ordered were really good and if you order tea, you get three rounds of it. (the staff will add water for you)
I love their matcha, made me think of the time i visited Japan.

Referred by a good friend of mine, the roll, Maine and the soft shell crabs, scallops roll are excellent, also order the kitchen items but the taste is too strong (kind of salty) for me. Service is good can be not so busy when I there. Parking is easy, I parked right in front by the store with meter parking and there’s lot to park as well.