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I came here with a friend for a quick bite to eat. I was happy that they had onigiris. I haven't had one since I have traveled to Japan. I couldn't decide which ones I should get so I ordered three. I got the ginger pistachio, and umeboshi, and yuzu with pumpkin seed. The flavors were okay but honestly it was hard to know the difference in what was what. It seemed they all blended together. I did try a piece of my friend's tofu and it was really good. I do know there is cross contamination for those who are celiac so I would avoid this place. I'm gluten and dairy free for reference
As a non-vegan I was surprised by how much I loved everything that I ate here. the food is perfect and delicious ans the ambiance is actually fire, the inside is so cute and spacious and the long benches are way better then regular chairs. The service was good too naturally. overall had a great experience and id recommend this spot
If you're daydreaming of a place that magically blends your grandma's Japanese kitchen, a zen shrine made of tofu, and the kind of kindness that makes you want to hug your chopsticks, then Obon Shokudo in Portland is your new holy temple. Their house-made udon is so gloriously bouncy, you'd swear the noodles were doing tai chi before landing in your bowl. Let me put this simply: their vegan Japanese comfort food does justice to the real deal. This isn't some watered-down, tofu-on-toast wannabe it's deep, soulful, grandma-from-Saitama-style cooking, reimagined with Pacific Northwest seasonal produce. The curry udon, topped with their signature kakiage (fritter) and fried tofu, is absurdly good. Think of it like your simple Japanese vegan expectations got a deluxe makeover: it's humble, but over-the-top in the best way possible. The vibe? Incredible. Walk in, and you feel like you've stepped through a glass pane into a history soaked in soy sauce and yum. The space is warm and down-to-earth I almost wanted to take off my sandals, bow at the doorway, pour a cup of tea, and meditate on how lucky I am to be here. The staff go so far above and beyond. They don't just serve food; they treat you like old friends, like family, like you're crashing at their parents' place and they're honored you made it. Their care makes the place feel like home. Seriously, this is a must-treat. Whether you're vegan, curious, or just hangry for some soulful noodles, Obon Shokudo delivers. Go. Your stomach (and your heart) will thank you.
This restaurant is a true Portland gem. The interior is small but charming, with cozy, thoughtful decor. You order online, but the staff are incredibly helpful and friendly. The food is both innovative and delicious, with a menu that is largely seasonal and unique. I tried the okayu, a special brown rice congee with a variety of toppings. They were able to make gluten-free kakiage at no extra charge, and it was absolutely delicious! My only minor critiques are that the kakiage can get soggy when added to soups or congee, the dishes don't include much tofu, and the portions are on the smaller side. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to both vegans and omnivores alike.
Woah, I was not expecting to love my meal at Obon as much as I did. My friend and I grabbed two seats inside on a rainy Portland afternoon and had the best time. I grabbed their special at the time and can't remember what it was called, but it was amazing. My friend grabbed their curry udon and that was the winner for sure. We also tried one of their onigiri's , which wasn't the tastiest. Either way, service was great and the vibes were awesome.
Small Japanese restaurant located right off of grand. The food had good flavor, but I haven't experienced many Japanese restaurants and it seemed to me that almost everything had been fried. This might be common with Japanese food, it wasn't my cup of tea. You have to order via a QR code and you have to flag someone down for service.
Super cute spot! We got the tempura udon and the katsu curry, both delicious. We are not vegan or vegetarian, but it was great nonetheless. QR code menus and self seating, but server was very kind and happy to help! Would definitely recommend for a quick lunch. We were in and out in 30 minutes, not a very busy spot and parking was good.
The food was so flavorful! We got the tofu katsu which was my favorite of our spread. The soup kenchinjiru was delicious. The combo was also great and it was nice to get a tasting platter. I got the buddhas hand onigiri was tasty but the miso was quite salty on the top half. The kinzanji miso glazed tofu dengaku was tasty and the Thai chili hit quickly and caught me off guard; while the topping was salty it complimented the tofu well. The waitress was kind. The space was somewhat tight between tables but they could seat quite a few parties with this space.
This place is amazing!! The curry noodles are amazing and the tofu so good. You don't have to be vegan to appreciate this place.
We had a great experience exploring the menu here, and the textures really stole the show. The Udon Salad was a standout - the crunchy fritters hidden inside were easily the best part and added such a satisfying bite. For something lighter, the Potato Salad was perfectly cold and refreshing. We also tried the Okonomiyaki (cabbage and onion pancake). It had the most unique flavor profile of the whole meal, and I was pleasantly surprised that it arrived much faster than the 30-minute wait time they cautioned us about. If you're a fan of 'crunchy goodness,' the Giant Tater Tots and Tofu Katsu are absolute must-orders. While the Miso Glazed Tofu Dengaku was decent, and the Katsu Curry meal was okay, they didn't quite hit the same highs as the others. I'd definitely suggest leaning into the small plates and fried specialties here--that's where the kitchen really shines!
Obon Shokudo is an entirely plant-based Japanese comfort cuisine place in Portland, OR. I mean, how often do you come across a place like that.. ? When I walked in, my expectations were high, and this place met all of them. I'm grateful to have paid visit before I flew home the following day. If I were local, I'd be here at least once a week. We ordered a genmaitcha, curried korokke, tempura udon, and ichigo daifuku... all super flavorful and comforting. We also got a kombucha, which was personally not my favorite (didn't get much of the flavor, tasted a bit like plain unflavored kombucha). The environment felt like a space that people come to often -- with kind and helpful workers. "Make Onigiri Not War"
Quite an unexpected fabulous lunch at Obon. Located on the Eastside, it ha s an Unpretentious entrance and a little dark which makes it cozy.. Oboe is a small intimate space and fairly quiet for such a full house for lunch. Limited menu but that's what makes the offerings so special. To save time, you order off of a Q code and it pops a wonderful selection of Japanese food. I ordered the Tempora udon with extra noodles and fried tofu. I think it was the best broth I have ever had. It was incredibly savory. From observation of others, looks like many ordered a mixture of menu items. In others words you cannot go wrong here! Highly recommend!
A couple months ago my partner and I visited Portland. We were in the area and very hungry and found Obon Shokudo on Yelp! So glad we stopped by for a quick bite to eat. The ambiance is warm and welcoming. The staff was friendly and prompt. The food was served quickly and was delicious--well seasoned, hot, and fresh. We highly recommend this place if you want delicious vegan Japanese food!
3 months ago
3 months ago
3 months ago
I came here with a friend for a quick bite to eat. I was happy that they had onigiris. I haven't had one since I have traveled to Japan. I couldn't decide which ones I should get so I ordered three. I got the ginger pistachio, and umeboshi, and yuzu with pumpkin seed. The flavors were okay but honestly it was hard to know the difference in what was what. It seemed they all blended together. I did try a piece of my friend's tofu and it was really good. I do know there is cross contamination for those who are celiac so I would avoid this place. I'm gluten and dairy free for reference read more
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Jason D.
Yes, we try to keep gluten away from other foods, but we are…
As a non-vegan I was surprised by how much I loved everything that I ate here. the food is perfect and delicious ans the ambiance is actually fire, the inside is so cute and spacious and the long benches are way better then regular chairs. The service was good too naturally. overall had a great experience and id recommend this spot read more
If you're daydreaming of a place that magically blends your grandma's Japanese kitchen, a zen shrine made of tofu, and the kind of kindness that makes you want to hug your chopsticks, then Obon Shokudo in Portland is your new holy temple. Their house-made udon is so gloriously bouncy, you'd swear the noodles were doing tai chi before landing in your bowl. Let me put this simply: their vegan Japanese comfort food does justice to the real deal. This isn't some watered-down, tofu-on-toast wannabe it's deep, soulful, grandma-from-Saitama-style cooking, reimagined with Pacific Northwest seasonal produce. The curry udon, topped with their signature kakiage (fritter) and fried tofu, is absurdly good. Think of it like your simple Japanese vegan expectations got a deluxe makeover: it's humble, but over-the-top in the best way possible. The vibe? Incredible. Walk in, and you feel like you've stepped through a glass pane into a history soaked in soy sauce and yum. The space is warm and down-to-earth I almost wanted to take off my sandals, bow at the doorway, pour a cup of tea, and meditate on how lucky I am to be here. The staff go so far above and beyond. They don't just serve food; they treat you like old friends, like family, like you're crashing at their parents' place and they're honored you made it. Their care makes the place feel like home. Seriously, this is a must-treat. Whether you're vegan, curious, or just hangry for some soulful noodles, Obon Shokudo delivers. Go. Your stomach (and your heart) will thank you. read more
This restaurant is a true Portland gem. The interior is small but charming, with cozy, thoughtful decor. You order online, but the staff are incredibly helpful and friendly. The food is both innovative and delicious, with a menu that is largely seasonal and unique. I tried the okayu, a special brown rice congee with a variety of toppings. They were able to make gluten-free kakiage at no extra charge, and it was absolutely delicious! My only minor critiques are that the kakiage can get soggy when added to soups or congee, the dishes don't include much tofu, and the portions are on the smaller side. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to both vegans and omnivores alike. read more
Woah, I was not expecting to love my meal at Obon as much as I did. My friend and I grabbed two seats inside on a rainy Portland afternoon and had the best time. I grabbed their special at the time and can't remember what it was called, but it was amazing. My friend grabbed their curry udon and that was the winner for sure. We also tried one of their onigiri's , which wasn't the tastiest. Either way, service was great and the vibes were awesome. read more
9 months ago
Small Japanese restaurant located right off of grand. The food had good flavor, but I haven't experienced many Japanese restaurants and it seemed to me that almost everything had been fried. This might be common with Japanese food, it wasn't my cup of tea. You have to order via a QR code and you have to flag someone down for service. read more
1 month ago
Super cute spot! We got the tempura udon and the katsu curry, both delicious. We are not vegan or vegetarian, but it was great nonetheless. QR code menus and self seating, but server was very kind and happy to help! Would definitely recommend for a quick lunch. We were in and out in 30 minutes, not a very busy spot and parking was good. read more
The food was so flavorful! We got the tofu katsu which was my favorite of our spread. The soup kenchinjiru was delicious. The combo was also great and it was nice to get a tasting platter. I got the buddhas hand onigiri was tasty but the miso was quite salty on the top half. The kinzanji miso glazed tofu dengaku was tasty and the Thai chili hit quickly and caught me off guard; while the topping was salty it complimented the tofu well. The waitress was kind. The space was somewhat tight between tables but they could seat quite a few parties with this space. read more
4 months ago
This place is amazing!! The curry noodles are amazing and the tofu so good. You don't have to be vegan to appreciate this place. read more
We had a great experience exploring the menu here, and the textures really stole the show. The Udon Salad was a standout - the crunchy fritters hidden inside were easily the best part and added such a satisfying bite. For something lighter, the Potato Salad was perfectly cold and refreshing. We also tried the Okonomiyaki (cabbage and onion pancake). It had the most unique flavor profile of the whole meal, and I was pleasantly surprised that it arrived much faster than the 30-minute wait time they cautioned us about. If you're a fan of 'crunchy goodness,' the Giant Tater Tots and Tofu Katsu are absolute must-orders. While the Miso Glazed Tofu Dengaku was decent, and the Katsu Curry meal was okay, they didn't quite hit the same highs as the others. I'd definitely suggest leaning into the small plates and fried specialties here--that's where the kitchen really shines! read more
1 year ago
Obon Shokudo is an entirely plant-based Japanese comfort cuisine place in Portland, OR. I mean, how often do you come across a place like that.. ? When I walked in, my expectations were high, and this place met all of them. I'm grateful to have paid visit before I flew home the following day. If I were local, I'd be here at least once a week. We ordered a genmaitcha, curried korokke, tempura udon, and ichigo daifuku... all super flavorful and comforting. We also got a kombucha, which was personally not my favorite (didn't get much of the flavor, tasted a bit like plain unflavored kombucha). The environment felt like a space that people come to often -- with kind and helpful workers. "Make Onigiri Not War" read more
Quite an unexpected fabulous lunch at Obon. Located on the Eastside, it ha s an Unpretentious entrance and a little dark which makes it cozy.. Oboe is a small intimate space and fairly quiet for such a full house for lunch. Limited menu but that's what makes the offerings so special. To save time, you order off of a Q code and it pops a wonderful selection of Japanese food. I ordered the Tempora udon with extra noodles and fried tofu. I think it was the best broth I have ever had. It was incredibly savory. From observation of others, looks like many ordered a mixture of menu items. In others words you cannot go wrong here! Highly recommend! read more
A couple months ago my partner and I visited Portland. We were in the area and very hungry and found Obon Shokudo on Yelp! So glad we stopped by for a quick bite to eat. The ambiance is warm and welcoming. The staff was friendly and prompt. The food was served quickly and was delicious--well seasoned, hot, and fresh. We highly recommend this place if you want delicious vegan Japanese food! read more
Came in for lunch on a Sunday and there was plenty of seating. The inside is very cozy. We were told we can look up the menu via QR code or request hard copies, and then order/pay on our phones. I don't totally love the phone concept but the phone menu does show pictures of the items and I think they might have been dealing with some staffing shortages. The food came out very fresh - our favorite was the curry udon which was super flavorful. The okonomiyaki came out piping hot and it was a large quantity which made it easy to eat family style. read more
2 years ago
Can't believe it took me this long to try Obon since it's delicious vegan food! Parking is hard around this area so definitely come early if you can but on a Saturday afternoon the lunch rush wasn't too bad. We were able to get seating right away but as we were leaving the place started to fill up. It's super unassuming as you walk into the place but they have a long space with a surprising amount of seating. As for the food, I was tempted to get the curry udon but the katsu with curry was calling to me. In addition to the main entree we got the giant tater tots and kakiage to share. The main entrees took a little longer to come out but the apps were fried to perfection. My favorite was the kakiage with all the veggies but the what's not to like with tater tots? haha Once the katsu came out it came out on a serving tray type of place with a side salad, rice, curry, and katsu. Similar to the apps the tofu for the katsu was fried well and was a nice crunch contrast to the rice and curry. The amount of food is pretty hefty and could be saved for leftovers. Overall, really enjoyed it and all the fried foods didn't come out oily at all. read more
2 years ago
Went here for a birthday celebration, one of our party is a vegetarian so this way, they could pick anything on the menu with no worries. It's a QRMenu place, food was varied and inviting. Flavors were shining. We had the sampler plate, udon (broth was *chefs kiss), house made pickles, tonkatsu, take home chili crisp, and A BABY YUZU SPROUT . Apparently they had a lot of sprouts and you can bring one home as long as you're a responsible plant parent. Weird call out, but their potato salad was so good. read more
I'm not vegan and I didn't realize how much i like the meat i have in japanese food. the food was good, just a little different than i expected. i got something like a plate with a little bit of everything. everything that was fried tasted the way i expected. nice salad. the tofu appetizer was soso. Everything presented was beautiful. I didn't take many photos because i was so hungry... definitely 5 stars for service, my friend accidentally spilled 1/2 his drink and they brought towels to clean AND gave him another drink even though it was his fault. Wow. incredible. read more
7 months ago
3 months ago
1 year ago
Full disclosure: I am not vegan or even vegetarian, but even an omnivore (sometimes feel like a carnivore) like me thought the food was superb at this vegan eatery! We were blown away by the specials, made with morel that the chef picked that morning (what!!!). The portions were on the smaller size but everything was so flavorful it was worth it. Excellent ambiance as well; I felt like I was eating in Muji haha. Service was super fast. You can order with the server or online via QR code. I can't wait to go ba read more
7 months ago
Great spot for Japanese vegan cuisine. We ordered the curry udon. Rich flavor. We ordered 2 Nigiri, yuzu w pumpkin seed & Buddha's hand. I would recommend the Yuzu one more. We also tried the Okonomomiyaki which was tasty as well. We wanted to try the cheesecake but all sold out. I would definitely try this place again. read more
7 months ago
The curry udon is my favorite entree on the menu, but of course, it's hard not to be stuffed from eating way too many appetizers. I always get the karaage and the curry korokke, but the giant tots and pancake are always delicious too. Great service. You order at the table and the food comes out super quick! read more
2 years ago
I thoroughly enjoyed dining at this all vegan spot. They call themselves Japanese comfort food and I can agree. Especially on a chill, rainy day this warm food was all kinds of comforting. To start we ordered the Curried korokke which were crispy and bursting with flavors. I hadn't had anything like this before and I enjoyed the taste. I tasted some of the kenchinjiru which is like a vegetable stew. Again bursting with flavors and very comforting. For my entree I ordered the Tempura udon and it did not disappoint. They make their noodles in house and that was just a selling point. Again a very comforting dish when it's rainy. Service was good and very attentive. This place is very inclusive and had a nice, comforts vibe. When I ever visit PDX again I will return. read more
1 year ago
I love Obon Shokudo oh so very much. I've been coming here for years and finally decided to leave a review. Of all the things I recommend here: the ginger onigiri. garlic onigiri. kakiage. and the kinzanji miso-glazed tofu dengaku - sweet onion. i love the small bites here as it's easy to pace myself and not get over stuffed on huge potions. my partner really loves the giant tater tots. i never leave obon feeling sluggish or tired. which is how you know it's gooooood food to be putting in your body. ambiance is amazing. i know they go out and hand forage a lot of their produce- especially the seasonal specials. it's lovely to know you're getting TRULY local ingredients. people will crap on it because it's "vegan" because people have an immediate dislike for vegan food for whatever reason. but obon always surpasses my expectations as well as others. the service is amazing too. some of the people here recognize me which is super sweet and welcoming. i usually come during the week and always have a lovely experience. i came on saturday (today) for the first time in a while and the staff definitely wasn't as nice as usual... but i wont let it deter me from my usual obon experience. i'm a little bitter because today is my birthday but it's okay haha. overall, on a usual day, a 1000/10. read more
4 months ago
All of the food we got was great! All vegan! Super fun flavors and options, including gluten free. Service was quick and sweet and the atmosphere was comfy and laid back. Great, warm lighting. Favorite item was the udon soup and we really liked the ginger pistachio onigiri. read more
1 year ago
We just finished a fantastic dinner. We are visiting from out of town and this is near our hotel. The service was lovely and the food outstanding. We had kimchi okonomiyaki, tempura udon, curry udon and kuwacha tea. The broths for the two udon were rich and flavorful and the okonomiyaki was so yummy. read more
1 year ago
My best friend and I came here to grab lunch and overall, it was just okay. We both ordered the gluten-free tempura udon, and honestly for me , the noodles were the best part--they really hit the spot. She thought it was too salty. I also tried the hand-battered karaage, which was alright. The sauce was delicious, but the fried part itself tasted more like sausage, which was a little strange. My friend is vegan but I like to try everything. My friend got the garlic with white miso onigiri and didn't love it. She said the rice had this wet texture that was off, and she couldn't finish it. On the plus side, the service was great, and the food came out fast, but the dishes were kind of a hit or miss. Not sure I'd come back. read more
First of all, the location is great! Plenty of free parking on Sunday night, and close enough to downtown that you can catch a bite before a show without having to limit yourself to the pricier downtown restaurants that may not be as dietary inclusive or fast. The menus are the QR code ones, but they do have paper ones on request. I'm vegan, so it's always good that I have my choice of whatever I want from the menu. My partner has celiac, so it was a bit more difficult for him to decipher the QR code menus. While things are labeled as gluten-free or gluten-free optional, some items contained deep-fried foods that were made in a shared fryer. However, our server clarified all our questions fairly easily and double checked on things they weren't sure of. All that out of the way, my partner was still able to pick three onigiri and a few of the noodle options. I ordered the rhubarb onigiri and a curry udon soup. Our food came out fairly quickly after ordering- we arrived around 6:45 and were out of there by 7:30pm to catch at 8pm show downtown and didn't feel like we were rushed. The food itself is pretty good. Flavorful broth on the soups, nice onigiri that held together. We spent about $50 for the two of us with three onigiri to take home. One suggestion- the QR code ordering is nice, but the system they use doesn't allow for shared tabs, and we ended up paying for our meals separately because we both ordered from our own phones. I've seen ToastTab at other restaurants that put all the orders on one list and have the option to split the check. read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
Meh. I was really excited to come here but nothing stood out on the menu (maybe I should have studied it a bit more carefully, lol). So, I decided to try a bunch of small bites - tofu katsu, kakiage, and potato salad. Tofu katsu by itself was flavorless and dry. The sauce that came with it was its redeeming grace - a nice cool sweet sauce to complement the heat and crunch of the katsu. Potato salad was what you'd expect, which was a relief. The kakiage was tasty - great selection of veggies that had lovely flavor. Although, I can't figure out why it seemed short of perfect to me. I can't tell if it was cooked a little too long or the oil needed to be refreshed or the breading/batter was a little too thick; it lacked the lightness of great Japanese cooking. My bestie got the tofu katsu sandwich with a scoop of potato salad, which they put inside the sandwich. He enjoyed it, but he also put a bunch of the chili crisp oil on his sandwich, which I'm guessing gave a nice balance of flavor between the nuttiness of the chili crisp oil and the potato salad/cole slaw creaminess and acidity. Service was okay. You order online and they deliver your email. I appreciate that our server brought me some hot sauce and I didn't have to go back online and order a side of sauce. Atmosphere is nice. Neighborhood is rough, but that didn't deter us. Me: 3 stars My bestie: 5 stars Overall: 4 stars read more
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More info about Obon Shokudo
720 SE Grand Ave
Portland, OR 97214
Industrial District, Central Eastside, Buckman, Southeast Portland
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(503) 206-7967
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https://www.obonpdx.com
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Are reservations required?
Reservations are not required. Though we do recommend making them on our website if you plan to visit on a weekend night. Especially if you plan to bring more than one other guest with you.
