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Jenni Moore
Jenni is an Alaska-born, Oregon-raised writer living in Portland. Read More
Great Sushi Spots Around Portland
Dine on sustainable seafood, flaming rolls and even fish-free creations at these local sushi spots.
Jenni Moore
Jenni is an Alaska-born, Oregon-raised writer living in Portland. Read More
Portland is a nationally renowned foodie city only an hour away from the Pacific Ocean, so it should come as no surprise that the city’s sushi options are both delicious and extensive. There is a sushi restaurant for every preference, mood, occasion, and neighborhood. Enjoy rolls, nigiri and Japanese fare at these stellar sushi spots.
Bamboo Sushi
With a location in almost every quadrant of Portland, Bamboo Sushi is maybe the city’s most beloved sushi staple. Locals appreciate the restaurant’s commitment to environmentalism (the Marine Stewardship Council even declared it the world’s first certified sustainable sushi restaurant). Bamboo also offers a chic ambiance, knowledgeable wait staff and outdoor seating for your people-watching pleasure. If you have work to do, simply plug in at the end of the bar, nibble on edamame and sip on your Dew Drop cocktail (made with tofu vodka, shiso sugar, and yuzu). Another favorite is the Green Machine roll (loaded with tempura-fried beans and green onion and topped with avocado and a cilantro sweet chili aioli).
Departure
As if the gorgeous city views from the west deck of Departure weren’t enough of a draw, the restaurant’s original director of culinary operations, Gregory Gourdet (who won the 2024 James Beard Award for best chef), brought his love of healthful eating and elegant design to Departure’s sushi menu. In addition to rolls stuffed with enoki mushrooms or chili mango pickles, the award-winning date-night favorite serves other noteworthy Asian-inspired dishes. Try their fried rice topped with a sunny-side-up egg, the Korean glazed salmon, or vegetarian options like roasted squash dan dan noodles.
Sushi Ichiban
As far as sushi-go-rounds go, Sushi Ichiban has been a local favorite for years. This cheery staple is in Old Town Chinatown. Ichiban is loved for its low prices, quality ingredients, toy train-inspired sushi conveyor belt and rock music soundtrack. Order your favorite rolls off the menu or pluck a few fresh sushi creations off the conveyor belt train.
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SHO
An authentic Japanese restaurant in the suburbs of Southwest Portland, SHO is great for family outings, offering an expansive space and various seating options. Traveling alone? Grab a seat at the bar, where you can watch sumo wrestling (or a Portland Trail Blazers game) while you dine. Sushi is served on wooden boards amidst modern decor. Enjoy traditional offerings and specialty rolls like the Summer Heat (albacore, avocado and shrimp tempura, with spicy tempura bits on top) and the Flamingo (tuna, avocado, spicy sauce and cream cheese, cooked tempura-style). Customers also come here for the Wafu steak, ramen and spectacular sauces, which you can buy by the bottle.
Yama Sushi and Sake Bar
Just a 10-minute walk from Sushi Ichiban is Yama Sushi and Sake Bar, a highly regarded spot in the Pearl District with delicious and creative offerings. Try the layered ahi tuna tower and baked lobster rolls. (Whatever you choose, add an order of the Flaming Jack roll — made with asparagus, spicy tuna, salmon or shrimp, avocado, and Cajun sauce — which arrives at your table encircled in flames.)
Uchu Sushi & Fried Chicken
In this city of indulgent idealists, someone was bound to do something as weirdly awesome as combining sushi and soul food. In addition to classic rolls and sashimi — and fried chicken wings, of course — Mississippi Avenue’s Uchu Sushi and Fried Chicken has creative rolls like the Symphony #9 (featuring unagi and avocado topped with seared salmon, green onions, unagi sauce and sriracha). They also offer a slew of vegan and vegetarian rolls stuffed with ingredients like fried eggplant, enoki mushrooms and tofu.
Saburo’s
Northeast of the Sellwood Bridge, you’ll find Saburo’s, a small but popular sushi house in Southeast Portland (look for a green awning with tiny letters). Known for its high value and generous serving sizes, Saburo’s has drawn crowds since it opened way back in 1988. Expect a wait to get in, but when a platter of monstrous unagi, hamachi, creamy scallops and salmon skin rolls arrive at your table, you’ll find the wait was worth it.
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