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    Tanaka

    3.9 (346 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    TANAKA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Tanaka

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    Flora M.

    I was so excited to try this place but I left dissapointed. The girl who took our order wasn't friendly and that started the visit off on the wrong foot. I ordered the Taro cream matcha and it was one of the worst matchas i've ever had. The taro cream was flavorless and chunky and the matcha tasted just like milk. It began separating after a few mins. I had to leave almost my whole drink as it wasn't drinkable. for $8.50 that's crazy!

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    Joanna F.

    Really nice sandwich! Good ambiance inside, friendly staff. I was scared it would be too much chicken stuff but the egg salad was super good and unique

    Tuyen H.

    The pork sandos tasted amazing! With the right crunchiness and the shredded cabbage, and the small amount of katsu sauce makes this a really great sandwich. It is highly recommended. The ube cream matcha was just okay, but the original is where the money is at. You can taste the matcha and the sweetness. It's very yummy. The strawberry sando brings it home though. Wonderful flavors. We will definitely come back and try some other sandos. When you get here, you order at the kiosk and get a number. Then you can find a seat with your number. There is a large table for community seating with very few individual tables that are usually full.

    Breakfast sando
    John H.

    TL:DR A flavorful, beautiful change of pace with a tasteful blend of surroundings Truthfully I've been looking at some of the lower reviews and I do see some merit of what the masses have been saying, the food was absolutely delightful. Even if it's a little higher on the price, for me recognizing that things are more expensive due to things beyond our control (within reason) shouldn't disappoint the overall experience of the food. Enough about the general hellscape of society though, I genuinely loved the taste of food and at least for my party of four it was delicious, salty, different and flavorful. The highlight of course was their mustard/curry sauce paired with their fries which can honestly stand out on its own. I ordered the chicken and egg sando, and even though the spicy sauce was not at all spicy the sandwich was definitely strong enough on its own to merit another visit. In terms of the service, it was standard, what did stand out to me is that they were willing to accommodate an influencer and help film/photograph her review. Regardless it's worth a visit, for me I am more than willing to come back and try another menu item. My friends and I also had similar things to reciprocate. It was delicious, and different from what I'm use to having.

    Pork Katsu Curry Plate
    John H.

    A bright, open corner space with high ceilings - it was a nice stop for lunch in downtown. Short order style with lots of seating, some shared long tables. The staff were quick to take our order. We ordered the classic chicken katsu sandwich with fries and the curry rice plate with pork katsu. The sandwich is what you would hope - crispy chicken, veggies, yummy sauce on white bread - solid overall. You get soooo many fries and they are phenomenal! The curry aioli was a nice dip. The pork curry plate was good - very classic Japanese curry. I think the katsu plate with the beef consommé is my next choice! Unlimited soda fountain! Baked goods were scarce by late afternoon. I will go back for more, recommend you try it.

    Shrimp Sando
    Melody X.

    Friendly workers. I got the shrimp sandwich, it was really good! It definitely has a lighter flavor but it's just enough and pairs well with the cabbage. I enjoyed the fries as well with the curry aioli. Nice ambiance and spacious but can get busy during lunch. Will come again.

    Fries, sandwich, matcha donut
    Olivia S.

    Japanese sandwich spot - the fries were *slightly* too salty but the matcha cream donut was super fun, sandwich was good. Staff was very kind and helpful!

    Chicken katsu sandwhich
    Winter B.

    I have been wanting to come here after seeing the Portland location and it was great! Chicken katsu was delicious and tender. Really yummy breading. I loved that it came with a kale slaw although there were too many onions for me in it but still good. The bread was really fluffy and soft. I didn't get any pastries or treats but those also looked amazing. Especially the cream donut and the strawberry sando. Will have to come back! Sandwhich was 14$ which was pretty reasonable. Service is pretty fast as well. Nice indoor seating and some outdoor.

    Tofu Katsu
    Maeleth C.

    Five stars mofos!!! As a vegetarian I have always longed for a chance to experience the wonders of a katsu sando. It seemed impossible to me until I stumbled upon this establishment. Not only was there a vegetarian option, but according to my gf who had the shrimp katsu, it holds its ground against the meat options. We also had some miso and matcha cookies which were the perfect sweet treat to finish our meal with! The natural light and big windows allow for some fun people watching while you enjoy your food. It can get a little noisy but that's to be expected in a spot with such tall ceilings. The employees are very kind, friendly, and generous (iykyk). Will definitely be returning next time I'm in Portland.

    Chicken Katsu & Curry Rice  + Chicken & Egg Sando
    Lily T.

    We stopped by Tanaka Katsu Sandwiches for lunch and it did not disappoint! We ordered the Chicken & Egg Sando (which was their popular item) in spicy and got the chicken curry plate to try, and then a refreshing iced sencha. If you do the meal for the sando, it includes any of the drinks listed on their menu such as their matchas, senchas, etc. I definitely recommend getting the combo since the fries and the sauce it came with did not disappoint! The chicken & egg sando was so good! It was juicy, the chicken was cooked well and it wasn't dry, the egg and mayo was amazing and added a creamy factor to the sando, and the shredded cabbage/slaw added the perfect crunch. The bread was toasted just right! I would recommend getting this if you are unsure of what to pick, I would go back and try another sando, if only I had extra stomachs to try more than one. The fries were so crispy and you definitely get enough fries for two people to share, the sauce it came with is like a mayo mixed with some curry spices which was a perfect combo. If you are a potato lover get the fries, they were golden and crunchy! The chicken and curry plate was okay, didn't have anything really that stood out. It definitely has a different curry flavor than what I have had at other katsu curry plates, and felt more heavy on the curry spices. I got the iced sencha which was very refreshing and a perfect balance for the savory and carb heavy food we had ordered.

    Joseph H.

    Walking around downtown Portland, we were hungry and wanted something affordable yet tasty. We came across Tanaka Katsu and decided to give them a try. Walking in, it didn't seem too busy, though we appreciated the industrial interior of the place. We looked at the menu and ordered a pork sandu with fries and a pork katsu with rice. After waiting about 10 minutes, our food came out hot. We were impressed by the presentation of the food on the plates. Both the pork sandu and the pork katsu were very good. They gave us a generous portion of fries, which made our meal even more enjoyable. We were stuffed full after we finished. There is ample natural lighting in this restaurant, which made it particularly pleasant. We had chosen a booth next to the windows, and we were able to converse quietly to ourselves. There's a bit of a quiet ambiance to the place. We saw a few people working there and about the same amount of people simply dining there like us. This overall was a 5-star experience and an excellent value for the money paid. We'd happily go back to try out their other options if we're ever in the area!

    menu
    Quentin T.

    Absolute banger of a casual eatery located on a super convenient streetside corner with a great view of half the block. Plenty of seating options. Good spot for a casual lunch or grab & go for solo or groups. I was staying at the Hyatt around the corner & popped in once they opened for a lunchtime beer, katsu sandwhich & strawberry sandwhich to tuck in the hotel fridge for an evening snack. Sandwhich was really good & provided plenty of energy for an extended walk around town. Staff was nice. The person working the counter even attempted to locate an XL shirt for me to no avail but i appreciated the effort. Anywhere you can grab a beer & a good japanese style sandwhich before 11am on a weekday is ok with me. Worth a stop.

    Tracy M.

    Tanaka's management reached out after my review, apologized, and made it right by giving me a refund. When I'm in town again, I'll definitely be by to give them another shot.

    Eggplant

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    4 years ago

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    Tanaka S.

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    9 months ago

    Good food. We had breakfast sandos. I would definitely go back. Next time I would get a lunch sandwich as those looked delicious.

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    9 months ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 months ago

    Amazing Chicken & Egg Sando and the Dirty fries with the Curry Aioli was spectacular!

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    Tanaka S.

    Thank you so much for stopping by!

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    1 year ago

    Incredible wow. The wait staff was so nice and the chicken nuggets were outstanding. The sandwich was good. Curry Mayo 10/10

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Was sad to see some OG favorites taken off the menu. What's left is good, but generic and overpriced. Cool tees though.

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    2 years ago

    This place has some sandwiches! Loved the spicy chicken katsu and pork katsu that my husband and I shared.

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    11 months ago

    Extremely delicious sandwiches and great hospitality. The price is also reasonable. Must visit!

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    Obon Shokudo

    Obon Shokudo

    4.4
    (292 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    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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    Wa Kitchen Kuu

    Wa Kitchen Kuu

    4.5
    (241 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Parking is still sketchy in the area. Nevertheless, their rice texture is perfect…read more Sushi fresh, service excellent & hardworking owners makes this a repeat spot.

    I absolutely recommend this place! I went to Portland for a road trip and was watching the Trail…read moreBlazers vs Bucks game at the Moda Center- this restaurant is located 8 minutes from the center! I was looking for food nearby and came across this restaurant. The food was surprisingly delicious! We ordered the chicken katsu curry, kama-age udon (hokkai miso soup), and the kama-meshi seafood. The chicken katsu was cooked perfectly: crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside! The sauce also was the perfect texture and taste. My favorite was the kama-age udon with the hokkai miso soup. I love udon but sometimes don't like how thick it is because it fills you up faster and is harder to digest, the udon here is thinner which I fell in love with! It's soft and chewy and the perfect thickness: you dip it on the soup when you eat it. I also loved the soup, I usually have leftover soup when eat noodles, but I finished every last sip! Definitely recommend this dish if you were to only order one item! We also ordered the kama-meshi seafood. I thought this one tasted okay! The flavors of the seafood come through, but I personally like stronger and heavier flavors. It was worth a try! Parking: This restaurant is in downtown portland so it was difficult to find parking. We ended up parking at a nearby garage and paid for parking. They do have a few street parking spots near the restaurant if you want to test your luck! Seating and service: We were seated really quickly as we went on a weekday! They have several tables and a large table that can be reserved as well as bar spots. The restaurant overall looks really nice and is pretty spacious. The servers were really nice and fast to get you what you need! A side note: they have heated toilet seats in their restroom so that's always a plus!

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    Wa Kitchen Kuu
    Salmon Collar
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    Murata Restaurant

    Murata Restaurant

    4.4
    (539 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Nothing like fresh sushi and lunch specials, now add them together and you're in for one hell of a…read moretreat. Murata is a short walking distance from The Porter Hotel. I was luckily able to walk in without a reservation which was a bonus. I had to say I was quite surprised at just how packed it was with many of the tables taken. They had a few rooms with traditional seating where you sat on the ground and took your shoes off. My lunch came with fresh miso soup and the entree itself. The sushi was absolutely divine and I was in awe of each cut. Phew was it a solid meal. I'm not too sure how it is during dinner service, but a very solid spot for lunch.

    Murata never fails to impress us and everyone we bring! Tonight we celebrated my birthday with our…read more8 month old and it was a blast! The sushi is phenomenal, fresh, perfectly sliced and prepared, and the toppings compliment the fish perfectly in a way that soy sauce would only insult the meal We had the carpaccio (tuna & salmon) and ended up ordering another, then moved on to salmon, albacore tuna, and bluefin medium tuna nigiri which was also sliced perfectly and proportioned beautifully to the wasabi and rice below it. Again, no soy sauce needed. We got the fresh salmon roll that had a spicy mayo type sauce and it was the perfect finish. For dessert we choose the cake & vanilla ice cream and were in love with how light and fluffy the cake was wrapped around the fluffy strawberry filling and vanilla ice cream was great as it balanced the sweetness nicely without stealing the show. I had some miso and green tea as well, the green tea never stops coming, I love that energy. We sat in one of the little rooms inside of the restaurant and it was nice floor style seating but still with room for your legs to go in. The waitress was incredibly kind - she brought out a kids bowl & spoon for our daughter and offered a sippy cup too. Overall it was an awesome birthday dinner, and something Id be lucky to do annually as the budget allows. What a treat!! OH! And park in the attached parking garage, bring the receipt with you, and get it validated for free, covered parking attached to the restaurant.

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    The entry and waiting area
    The entry and waiting area
    Chirashi A
    Chirashi A
    Storefront

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    Storefront

    Tanaka - sandwiches - Updated August 2026

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