Yuki Japanese Restaurant
Downtown Portland's Yuki Japanese Restaurant features elaborate sushi and specialty sakes. The sushi rolls are artfully made and conjure images of Japanese floral arrangements. The Sake Bomb, made with spicy tuna, cucumber, avocado and fresh salmon, is shaped like a flower a features a single cherry in the middle. The Hurricane spirals outward, an elegant shape made with wakame salad, spicy tuna, unagi sauce, shrimp tempura and cucumber. The sake list is truly staggering, and the menu even has a map of Japan that highlights sake regions. Get lost in the long list, or order one of Yuki's three sampler sake trays. With a prime location on 23rd avenue, Yuki Japanese Restaurant is a great place to stop before doing a little neighborhood exploring.
Yuki Japanese Restaurant
930 NW 23rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 525-8807
yukisushibar.com
Yakuza
Northeast Portland's Yakuza is a sophisticated and modern Japanese sushi lounge that offers fresh rolls in an upscale environment. The decor is immediately striking: handcrafted furniture, painted murals and subtle green succulent plants are spread out through the restaurant. Indulge in a dish of carpaccio, made with tuna, yellowtail & salmon sashimi, cilantro, thai chillies and tobiko, or pick from a selection of house rolls to share with your table. The Yakuza house roll, made with fried Japanese eggplant, avocado, carrot, cucumber, pickled radish and umeboshi, is a unique treat. Complement your meal with a pour of sake, or try a cocktail like the sugar snap, a blend of juiced organic sugar snap peas, monopolowa vodka and lime.
Yakuza
5411 NE 30th Ave.
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 450-0893
yakuzalounge.com
Sinju
Northwest Portland's Sinju is a traditional Japanese sushi bar located in the Pearl district neighborhood. The polished wood interior and overall sleek appearance of the restaurant make it one of the more sophisticated downtown options. In addition to sushi rolls, lunch offerings include options like the sukiyaki, a dish of
thinly sliced rib-eye beef cooked with fresh vegetables, bamboo shoots and sweet yam noodles in a flavorful broth. Dinner appetizers include plates like the seared albacore tuna served over sliced radish and seaweed in a vinegar sauce, and entrees range from seafood tempura to miso salmon. House special rolls are tempting. Get into the spirit of the Pacific Northwest by ordering the Portland, a combination of spicy salmon, shrimp and avocado, or the Oregon, made with tempura shrimp, eel and spicy tuna. Sinju is best as a lunchtime spot, as the dinner menu is about double the price.
Sinju
1022 NW Johnson St.
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 223-6535
sinjurestaurant.com
About The Author
Michelle Wishhart is a writer based out of Astoria, Ore. She has been writing professionally for five years, starting with her position as a staff arts writer for an alternative weekly paper in Santa Cruz. She has a B.A. in fine arts from the University of California in Santa Cruz and a minor in English literature.
