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    Saburo's

    3.5 (1.6k reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM

    Saburo's Photos

    Business Info

    SABURO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Saburo's

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    bar seating
    Trista A.

    Hands down one of my favorite sushi spots in Portland! The portions here are absolutely generous. I've honestly never had nigiri this large anywhere else. If you're someone who loves a sushi meal that actually leaves you full, this place delivers. Timing is key because wait times can get long during peak lunch and dinner hours, but if you swing by just before the rush, you should be fine. Bonus points: they have a parking lot right next to the restaurant, so no stressful street parking drama. The vibe is classic Japanese sushi bar meets cozy Portland charm. There's sushi bar seating, plenty of decor that adds personality, and a real sense of authenticity that makes the experience feel special. We started with miso soup, which is always a solid choice, and paired it with some classic Japanese beers. Big bottles at a great price - perfect for sipping while you wait for your mains. For our mains, we went all in on nigiri: tuna, salmon, and seared salmon. My personal favorite? The seared salmon - rich, flavorful, and perfectly tender. We also tried the Sabu Roll, which comes with salmon, red tuna, and albacore tuna. Every bite was fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. Overall, this place hits all the marks: great portions, authentic vibes, delicious sushi, and a menu that keeps you coming back to try something new each time. Highly recommend if you're in Portland and craving a sushi fix that won't disappoint!

    Elaine H.

    The portions here are HUGE compared to other sushi places and the quality doesn't disappoint! They have very limited hours so you'll have to make sure to get there early if you want to be able there. There's so many options to choose from so anything you get will be worth it. Definitely nice to go with others so that you can share though.

    Esther L.

    We ordered the chef choice sashimi and aji nigiri, anago nigiri and aburi sake nigiri. Everything was quite tasty. The anago had more bones than we were used to. The seared salmon was so good. We love the portion sizes here!

    Kathy M.

    Food is good, the rolls are big, my family comes here every often , the service is slow and bad.

    Spider roll, eel, sweet shrimp, Saba, Uni, creamy scallop.
    Karen W.

    Saburo's Sushi House Restaurant is a very popular local favorite sushi spot, well known for its generously sized nigiri. The cozy feeling and furniture reminds me a mom and pop's stores in Japan. What we love most is the freshness of the fish and the impressively large slices served on each piece of nigiri. Every bite feels satisfying and high quality. My personal favorites are the creamy scallops, eel, and the spider roll -- all consistently delicious. The service has always been fast. I enjoy it every time I visit.

    Katrina V.

    We were told that there can be a long wait at Saburo's since they don't take reservations, so we decided to arrive 10 minutes before 5pm, which was listed as their opening time online. We came to find out that the place was already open and had several parties inside already. Luckily the place wasn't totally full yet, so we were able to get seated right away. For those not so lucky upon arrival, you would put your name on the waitlist. Seating appeared to be limited despite there being a back room that extended the restaurant. The tables felt like they were on top of each other. I begged my pardon to the customers next to us while awkwardly squeezing my butt between our tables. Our eyes were hungrier than our stomach. We ordered a ton of items but did not realize how big the pieces were going to be. The slices of fish on the nigiri were greater than an inch thick, but that also meant they came with a lot of rice. The regular rolls were nearly like small burritos. That said, you can say that you get your money's worth there. We ordered the following: - Agedashi tofu - Mixed tempura - Calamari - Aji nigiri - Creamy scallop nigiri - Salmon belly nigiri - Seared salmon nigiri - California roll with real crab - Alaskan roll - Salmon skin roll I thought that everything was just OK, and my biggest gripe was that the California roll with "real crab" was really made with imitation crab. Next time I would just get the salmon belly and creamy scallop nigiri.

    Richard S.

    Still the best Sush in Portland. Bring a VERY VERY sharp knife so you can cut the HUGE slabs of sushi as they're way too large to pick up and gobble down in one bite, SERIOUSLY !!! I used to give them 5 s BUT their prices doubled in the past year or two. GREAT food, not a bargain like it was. Thanks Donald.

    Somy K.

    Wow the portions are huge here. I wasn't sure what to expect with the size portion but the fish was super fresh. The salmon and tuna were amazing. You only need 1-2 pieces and maybe a roll or two since they are so big. Our server was on top of things and took great care of us. The space seems small, but I didn't get to see the back. I'm definitely coming back.

    Farah A.

    Saburo's is my regular sushi spot and it never disappoints. The portions are enormous and always fresh. My go-to is their salmon toro, it's consistently fresh and melts in your mouth. They also have many varieties of rolls to choose from. The staff is friendly and efficient despite how busy it gets. If you're craving generous cuts of sashimi or rolls that actually fill you up, this is the place. I always forget how big their portions are and end up overordering every time, but the leftovers are always great. The wait can be long. They don't take advance reservations or phone holds, so you'll need to put your name down and wait nearby. All parties must be present before being seated. My usual wait time is around 30-40 minutes (the more ppl the longer). I took one star off because the space is very small and can feel cramped, and it could be a bit cleaner. Expect to wait outside since there's no indoor waiting area. Parking can fill up quickly, so street parking is usually the best option.

    Miki M.

    When I think of local legends and bang-for-the-buck spots, Saburo's comes to mind. Although I've known about this restaurant since I was little, it wasn't until recently that I finally went. Knowing how busy it gets, we came right around opening and were some of the first customers in line, so we got seated right away. The decor has all the elements of an authentic Japanese restaurant, it instantly felt cozy and familiar to me. We ordered and the food came fairly quickly, like 10 minutes after we placed our order. Do not underestimate the size of their sushi! If you're ordering just sushi, I'd say about two nigiri and one roll is plenty for one person. Also the quality of the fish is superb. I'll quote my friend who said it's authentic sushi but in an American portion. My favorites were the Creamy Scallop, Torosake, and the Sabu Roll, to name a few. I'm already dreaming of the next time I can go back!

    Assorted place of nigiri and sushi. Nigiri is so big
    Timothy L.

    Very good sushi quite a wait but the nigiri size and the presentation are great! Always a favorite in Portland!

    Duc K.

    I've been a loyal follower of Saburo's since 2020 and I felt compelled to write a review to thank them for never letting me down. This is my go to restaurant for whenever I'm craving sushi. Their sushi is so enormous, fresh and tasty that me and my friends would always drive 40-50 minutes from Hillsboro down to this part of Portland. Staff are always friendly to me and my friends even when they're handling large amounts of customers so I appreciate them for that. If you do try Saburo's on the weekend, I recommend lining up at 10-15 minutes before opening to avoid a large wait time. Restaurant is very clean and homey so I recommend this place for any sushi lovers or for catchup with friends. I also guaranteed if you take your dates here, you'll leave an everlasting impression

    7 spider rolls 14.95
    Mahogani M.

    Food~ First time trying this A-1 fresh, 7 huge spider rolls w/ no sesame seeds definitely worth it. You're giving chopsticks, wasabi, ginger, and plenty of soy sauce. It would nice if they would use to go container but, it's tightly wrapped with Saran Wrap. Service~I was greeted immediately and, the server was so nice. He gave me to go menu and, I was given plenty of time to look over all the options. All of the Sushi preps greeted me as well with a smile. I didn't have to wait long (5 mins) even though they were very busy. Ambiance~It's great vibe there music playing as well as a tv but, low enough that you can hold a conversation. I did get my order to go but, I definitely will be back to dine-in to receive the full sushi experience. It's a parking lot but, it was full so it's street parking on both sides. I would highly recommend giving them a visit.

    Creamy scallop. Toro salmon

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    2 years ago

    Best quality best size best sushi always! I love this plave and have been going here for over a decade and it's the best hands down!

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    3 years ago

    I like the huge rolls. I cannot stand the poor service. I get food from here maybe once a year even though I live less than 2 miles away.

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    Saburo's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Saburo's

    Do they have parking lots or I have to park on the street? Is it difficult to find parking?

    they have a parking lot. you can also park in the street if it's full!

    How many pieces come in each order of Nigiri, such as the Salmon belly? Thank you!

    2 pieces of nigiri in each order! They are really big, probably equal to 3-4 regular nigiri in other restaurants.

    As of August 22 are you open for dine in at 5pm with waiting list as you were prior to covid?

    As of April 2022, Saburo's has only the small back dining room open for dine in, only a few days a week. Take out is still most of their business.

    Dine in available?

    Yes!!! Limited walk in only, no wait list yet. I was there a few minutes before 5pm on Thursday July… 

    When do you plan on reopening? Take out just isn't the same.

    Limited walk in only, no wait list yet. I was there a few minutes before 5pm today Thursday July 29th and there were a couple of guys all excited about being first to dine in.… 

    Will Saburo's be open soon for take-out?

    They have opened on June 1st for take out only. Dine in is still unavailable.

    Is Saburo's closed during COVID-19?

    I have no idea, wish I knew!

    Do they do call in orders to go?

    No. They are so popular, you have to show up and be seated, then pack all that you ordered to go. This is only fair to all of us who wait in line for a table. Take out orders do not get priority over in person dining.

    Are they open on New Year's day?

    No they will be closed

    Do they do take-out orders?

    Yes they do. But you need to wait in line in order to take it to go. Haha

    Do they take reservations? Good time to try to eat there?

    They do not take reservations. Show up at least an hour before you want to eat because there will be long wait time! Parties bigger than 4 may take longer. It's a small… 

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    ONE STAR?? Hilarious that i got on here and the entitled out of towners are on here giving a one…read morestar. I love obon. The udon noodles are heavenly. The broth is nourishing. The onigiri is art. And the service is always polite and professional. Always. I was physically at the restaurant the night these one star people were there. From what I could tell sitting at the bar and observing the ID in question, it looked fliiiimssy even from where I was sitting. I kinda get both sides ya know , sure one person in the group wants a drink w dinner but dude just tough it out and have your dinner. Instead they popped off and all started fussing and being entitled and it was just gross. I was enjoying a fantastic dinner but that table was like trying to take the stage. I think they ended up storming out and one girl like stomped off and said she was keeping her cup !! lol I worked in food a long time ago. And I've worked in cannabis under the watchful eye of the olcc so I'm on the servers side. Don't take chances and don't listen to these kids scramble for a secondary ID. Sketch. Go to obon. Get the Sando. Enjoy.

    What should have been a straightforward ID check became an unnecessarily confrontational…read moreexperience. Rather than communicating professionally or reviewing additional identification, staff escalated the interaction, culminating in my friend being called a "bish." I can't recommend this restaurant. Also just don't treat people that way. It's not cool.

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    Yataimura Maru

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    We rate this place as more traditionally Japanese than you might expect in Portland. Tables and…read morechairs are very comfortable and well spaced. We haven't eaten here in a while and never in the summer. In the darker, cooler months this is a place that entertains a packed, loud, happy crowd. The food is really good, lots of choice, the service is equally on point. So, a great evening on our cold dark winters. We dropped in last week, so July. Same range of food, maybe fewer items but what we had was more than fine. The service was personable, helpful and the food was delicious. But way, way quieter - turns out Summer is their slow time, more like a neighborhood place and less like party central. We enjoy both, but the slower months allows more focus on the menu. And there might be something not to your taste but given the range you will find a dish that you will enjoy. So, pick your adventure, we like both and you will be happy with the food, the ambiance and the service either way.

    A very cool and fun spot! They were playing 80's new wave music and the air conditioning was…read morepumping on a hot summer day. Service was prompt and friendly. It happened to be happy hour so I got a mixed poke bowl and a glass of white wine and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The fish in the poke bowl was a mix of buttery hamachi, tuna and salmon. The fish tasted fresh. I loved how the rice was perfectly cooked and seasoned. They added tobiko, perfectly ripe avocado, seaweed salad and greens.

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    Yoko's Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar

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    Went for the first time last night (Wednesday). Got there before opening and waited in line. They…read morewere late to open which wasn't that big of a deal. Seated at a four top and water was waiting at the table. Ordering was easy (if not abit delayed with only one waitress). The issue here is that everyone orders at once and the food delivery is super inconsistent. Our waitress was terrible to be honest and I hear from my family she's always awful. Our food was ordered in line with every one else but came out dead last (we even had to ask why our food was taking so long). Items we ordered never showed up (so we just told her never mind). I ordered the teriyaki steak and it was burnt and the rice was swimming in teriyaki sauce, it's was fairly inedible. The miso soup was WAY too salty. I couldn't eat it. This is the place for sushi and drinks. Seated just after 5 and after an hour still had no food. I won't be back but my sushi loving family will be. They need more than one waitress as this one's typical response to questions is 'well I got called in so I'm not sure'. The restaurant is clean and well lit and definitely popular.

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    Baka Umai

    Baka Umai

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    (248 reviews)
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    Great food, great service, great ambiance. I had the Reaper Ramen (I think it was called) and it…read morewas perhaps the best bowl of ramen I've ever had.

    We are visiting and were looking for some dinner. Came in to Baka Umai located along Hawthorne…read moreclose to Por Que No taqueria. Parking along the busy street or nearby off streets between the housing. Let's start with what was great: The staff was very friendly, attentive and quickly sat us down with booster and high chair. Drinks (IPA and a Calpico) came out very quick as well as the Tabor tofu (3). The food was good. We had the Tabor tofu (kids enjoyed) and x2 Kaiyo Tsukemen. The dipping ramen came out with a nice jammy soft boiled egg and the noodles had a pretty good chew. The sauce was a bit thin but had that good seafood umami flavor. Pork belly was well portioned and had a light char. Overall, decent place to eat. Had to dock stars because out of the 4 items we were hoping to get for dinner, they did not have 3 available (fried Ota Tofu, Blistered Shishitos and Umami Mazemen). Maybe they were super busy early on but we were there around 6:45p so surprised menu items were not available. The staff was quick to apologize and worked quickly to get a 2nd Kaiyo Tsukemen out for us when the Umami Mazemen was not available. Wish we could've tried those dishes as I think it would've been a better complete meal. Kids still enjoyed it and our plates were empty so food was still good. Good amount of seating inside, utensils and water are self serve and looks like it could be a fun spot during summer months if they are able to roll up the garage doors!

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    Tomo Ramen

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    I hate writing these types of reviews and if you go reading through my past ones, I tend to leave…read morevery few negative or non-positive reviews unless I feel like I have something to say. The decor and atmosphere in here is wonderful, but I feel like everything else was average or left for desiring. I'm not sure if it was because they had one server or that there was a second that just went on break, but it took a while to put our order in. We sat for roughly 12-15 minutes after being given water and menus to see the server again to put our order in. There was approximately 5-6 tables, mostly 2-tops and none seemed to be overly needy. We both ordered ramen and got the takiyaki as an appetizer. The takiyaki was ok, the flavor seemed to have been dialed back but ok, maybe it was just me or something. There were 5 or 6 pieces, when I got it from other places in the past, it's roughly a dozen, but once again, times a tough right now, so ok. Then I get my ramen, the Tomo ramen, the dish with the same name as the restaurant. It advertises to have quail eggs and some other fun stuff in it on the menu. Nope, no eggs, barely any grilled pork, mostly just the ground pork, noodles, and broth. I was disappointed to say the least. The server took some time to come check up on how everything was tasting and at that point, I just wanted to leave. She seemed nice enough, maybe having a bad night, maybe the cook was as well. We don't go out often now because times are tight, but this was disappointing. Really was hoping for something to be at least pretty good.

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    Delicious sushi in a great vibe here. The service was knowledgeable and friendly. Cant wait to go…read moreback!

    This was by far the most frustrating dining experience I've ever had with my toddler. This place is…read morenot toddler-friendly despite the "minors allowed" sign. I ordered a spam musubi for my 2 year old, assuming it was plain since the menu explicitly listed it only with rice and nori. It came with green onions and spicy seasoning that weren't mentioned. The waiter knew I was ordering this for my son, but didn't check or mention the unlisted ingredients to make sure it was okay. I had to ask for a new one plain with just rice, spam, and nori after he took a bite and cried about it being too spicy. 15 minutes later, it STILL didn't arrive plain- it came out with green onions and the sauce. . . I was in disbelief but by then it was 7pm and my son had waited almost an hour to eat (mamas all know how I'm feeling), so I held my tongue and fed it to him, picking out the onions. If someone had a green onion allergy, this could have been much more serious. I debated back and forth to communicate this. When I mentioned the issue afterward so she could be more mindful, the waiter's "sorry?" came across as dismissive rather than receptive. I hope they take this feedback seriously and improve service, communication and attention to dietary requests. A menu update should also be considered.

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    Saburo's - japanese - Updated August 2026

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