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    Makoto Japanese Buffet

    3.2 (631 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Buffets
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM

    Order Makoto Japanese Buffet Takeout or Delivery

    Makoto Japanese Buffet Photos

    Business Info

    MAKOTO JAPANESE BUFFET ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Makoto Japanese Buffet

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    Delicious buffet food
    Roxy R.

    Holy moly packedness on a Saturday evening. There was probably a 30 min wait and a bajillion people which tells me A) don't come at 6PM again. And B) people love Makoto. I can't blame them! So much variety, the sushi is fresh, the food is good, and the price is reasonable. This place is one of my family's regular spots. The servers are friendly enough, they bus the tables moderately frequently, and will refill your drinks upon request. It's not a normally noisy place but the volume naturally increases as the crowd grows. Tips - there are no reservations so plan to get there early if you are aiming for classic dinner times (5-7pm), especially on the weekend. Lunch is cheaper and still so much variety offered, go for a weekday lunch if you can! You can ask to pull tables together for larger groups!

    Pile of shit
    Maddux S.

    Every time we drove by this place, it's extremely packed so I decided to finally give it a try. Well, first start off with the miso soup more like miso shit. My Mongolian beef had a rubbery taste to it. They made me wanna throw up the fried rice was more like white rice with no soy sauce put into it. The yakisoba noodles were all right. If heavily Dottin soy sauce the dessert side was phenomenal. I loved every bit of that, the sushi was all right a very three star maybe 2 1/2 star restaurant.

    Sushi!
    Timothy L.

    Growing up near Vancouver, WA I have a lot of fond memories eating here, including spending many birthdays here! I recently came back during the holiday season and it still gives off a nice nostalgic vibe! The buffet price is pretty good, especially since I have been living in a more expensive area. Sushi is good but not the best but that is to be expected.

    David W.

    I came here for lunch. The sushi isn't as good as it is during dinner, but I can't complain too much since there's an $8 difference between the lunch and dinner prices. Everything is really fresh, and that's what counts. I really enjoyed my lunch here today.

    Some yellow fin tuna (I believe). Sashimi was in short supply while we were there.
    Liz L.

    Tried coming here for the first time. The wait was crazy long. They said about 30 mins wait and we were waiting in the initial entry area for a solid 20 mins. I have no idea how anyone can hear the lady calling names. I went with my dad and it felt like the line wasn't moving at all. When we were finally able to go to the waiting area inside, it felt like it started moving faster. It was packed and kind of weirded me out that there were people waiting near the food and people seated. When we were finally seated it was uncomfortable trying to maneuver through the masses waiting for a table. If I ever come here again, I'd come right when they open and probably not on a weekend again. Lol. The food was different types of Asian, not strictly Japanese. There was Chinese, Hawaiian and Mongolian too. Lots of seafood options. Idk how people eat so much food but I felt like a rookie. Some peoples plates were loaded lol I tried a little bit of each area minus the sushi. I wasn't sure how long it was sitting out and I'm weird about it. I took my dad out to dinner and he got down with 5 plates to my single. I didn't even see cake or fruit that other folks got. Next time I go, I'll come hungrier. It's definitely a place to come casual and get your money's worth. Despite people staring at you as table vultures, it was pretty good and I'd go back. To be honest, it was better than some local Chinese take out places I've tried. Solid 3 stars. Id like to try going earlier in the day when it's less busy to give it a better assessment.

    Taj T.

    I was certainly skeptical when my parents offered to take me to a sushi buffet. Conveyor belt sushi is often too dry or too mushy and unclear what decade it was first prepared. I'm happy to report however that Makoto Japanese Buffet is an elevated buffet experience. It's price point is EXCELLENT for what you get: a clean, wide open space with simple but pleasant decorative touches like warm lamp lighting and florals; sushi that's being constantly churned out by the chefs in the back who also man a live station, attentive waitresses who bring drinks quickly, and so many choices from hot and cold dishes. The sushi honestly rivals that from many sit down sushi spots. There's so many varieties to choose from, with classic tuna rolls, sashimi, and then the tempura fried ones. There's some really nice mango topped sushi as well. For the hot foods, I was happy to see a wide variety of vegetarian, pescatarian, and carnivorous options. I wouldn't say that every one of the hot food items were a hit - definitely better to spend your stomach space on the sushi. Dessert was pleasant. Wish there was some ice cream but the jello cakes and such came in a lot of flavors and tasted fresh. If there's one thing Makoto should get five stars for, it's keeping everything fresh. I can't imagine Makoto ever getting a health code violation as plagues other such establishments. No, they clearly take cleanliness seriously and that's a buffet that I feel excited to return to again.

    People still need to be reminded how to behave in public. This sign made me laugh because I've seen why they needed to write the sign.

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    3 months ago

    Thought the food had been sitting out for awhile. However there was a large selection. Most likely won't be going back.

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    7 months ago

    The food is delicious and the selection is good. The service was timely. The ambiance is somewhat lively and casual.

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - Makoto Japanese Buffet

    What is the word Makoto translated into English?

    It means "good" or "sincerity".

    Is it true you can eat for free if it's your birthday?

    Yes, but you need to have 2 other people with you buying their meals. Still a very good deal

    Do they have seafood during the entire week or just on weekends? Also, what seafood do they have?

    They always have all types of seafood. Clams oysters crab Crawdad salmon sushi sashimi shrimp pretty much you name it

    Free lunch on birthday?

    With two paying adults

    View All 5 Questions

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    Salty's on the Columbia River

    Salty's on the Columbia River

    4.0
    (1.9k reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$$

    We had such a wonderful experience at Salty's on the Columbia River! From the moment we walked in,…read morethe views were absolutely stunning, you truly can't beat dining right on the river. It made the whole evening feel special and relaxing. The food was amazing fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Everything we ordered exceeded expectations. A huge shoutout to our waitress, Nancy! She was so kind, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. We can be a little picky with our food, and she went above and beyond to help customize our entrées so they were exactly how we like them. She made us feel completely taken care of without ever making us feel like we were being difficult. Between the beautiful view, exceptional service, and fantastic food, this place is a must-visit.

    Ok, a new restaurant for us. The airport is part of our routine so we have been driving by this…read moreplace for years but always in transit and we never stopped. Took our out of town friends with a short layover at PDX to make a reservation. And, especially on a hot day, just lovely to be in this place with big windows looking at the river. The staff was great- busy with dinner service but still providing plenty of attention. We had a table of six upstairs which I recommend for a nice view even if you aren't seated at a window table. Noise level is near perfect- buzzy but no one needed to shout for normal conversation and that's with a pretty much full house. We may have skipped this place for years but clearly many people don't- crowded and we used valet parking because their parking lot was full. They don't charge but as downtown city people we tip. And, of course the food- perfectly fine, ample menu with lots of choice, fish forward but a couple of meat choices for silly people who avoid fish, shell fish. Everyone cleaned their plates except me, the remains of my crab/ shrimp salad, under $40.00, loaded with crab and shrimp came home for in a box for a more than ample lunch. And, boy do I love a restaurant that boxes up the food rather than dumps a take-out container for me to do it. Really nice classy touch. I rate the food as well executed with a full range of standard choices, nothing ground breaking but good solid plates. This is certainly the place for entertaining a party- everyone will find a sweet spot on the menu in a casual but still feels like a treat meal out. So there is clearly a reason that people love this place.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    1 lb. Dungeness Crab Legs
    1 lb. Dungeness Crab Legs
    Beet Salad

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    Beet Salad
    Kingkong Korean BBQ

    Kingkong Korean BBQ

    3.5
    (166 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    This was my second visit to this spot. Both times had the same thing, the hot stone bibimbap…read more This day I went solo for lunch. King Kong Korean does it right. Sizzling bowl of heaven. The Banchan sides are perfect. Especially the radish and fish cake. I was served by Jonathan. A very polite and courteous young man. He made sure my drinks were topped off and also took the time to engage me in conversation. The bibimbap is fresh, sizzling hot and delicious. I sat in a booth , and want to say there are tables available as well. Obviously this place has made my faves list when in the area. Thanks King Kong Korean. One happy customer.

    On the surface, Kingkong Korean BBQ is pretty much like every other "grill-it-yourself"…read moreestablishment, which is generally a good thing. It's immediate flaws are the same as its brethren: why does it seem like no one knows how to operate the grill at the table properly? It's always too slow to warm up, not hot enough, and requires manual intervention. Once that issue is taken care of, though, you're pretty much left to your own devices, and your satisfaction is solely based on what you order, and how well you cook it. Well, almost. In this case, for the most part, the cuts of meat were as good as any other Korean BBQ, but there were some that were decidedly not. Winners: bulgogi, miso pork belly, la galbi short ribs, steamed egg, all the side dishes and sauces. Losers: just about everything else, including the service; the employees were well-meaning and nice enough, but they were obviously very green, awkward, and forgetful. Despite being on the "premium" menu, avoid the King Kong Steak and the King Kong Marinated Beef, both of which are thick, tough slabs of meat that are took difficult to grill properly, especially when there are any of the aforementioned grill heating problems, and even then, they're just too thick, and not particularly appetizing. We also had some uninspired "cajun" shrimp, which is just regular shrimp with a dusting of seasoning on top. In fact, if it weren't for the LA Galbi short ribs, I'd say you can safely ignore the "premium" menu altogether, and just stick with the basics. That way, you can have an enjoyable meal, without paying extra for things you aren't likely to enjoy. There are better Korean BBQ places out there, but I wouldn't be opposed to giving King Kong another shot in the future. I just wouldn't pay anything more than standard price.

    Photos
    Side banchan fish cake 16oz
    Side banchan fish cake 16oz
    Korean Side Dishes
    Korean Side Dishes
    Banchan sides

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    Banchan sides

    Makoto Japanese Buffet - japanese - Updated July 2026

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