The space is very cute and the workers were friendly, however, the food was lacking overall. I ordered the Spicy Pork Katsu sando and the strawberry sando. There was no hint of spice in my Spicy Pork Katsu while the strawberry sando was essentially just a slice of cake (quite sweet), not terrible, was just surprised by this. The portion size compared to the price was just not great. I'm used to getting sandos from Tokyo Sando which isn't too far away from here and their quality is truly just so much better. Same price point too, would recommend going there instead . read more

Tanaka - Spicy Pork Katsu - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We ordered some sandwiches to try for the road. The egg and chicken katsu sandwiches were tasty. The Pork Katsu was still slightly crispy even an hour later. The breakfast egg and sausage sandwich was okay, nothing too special. However, their bread is made in-house and is very light and fluffy. But it's a tad expensive. We bought some sliced bread to take home, it was $5 for 5 slices. There wasn't much service as it was a walk-up and order establishment. Inside, the space was bright, modern, and mostly clean. We'll come try other items next time we're in town. read more

Tanaka - Menu July 2025 - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Strawberry matcha: Tremendously disappointing, tastes like $7 milk, zero strawberry or matcha flavor whatsoever. Tanaka Loaded Fries: greasy, slightly curry flavored, but a bit one note. Chicken Katsu Sando: highlight of the meal, was kinda soggy, tastes like spicy mayo, slightly sweet. It was pretty okay. Everything overall is lacking in flavor, if it has a flavor its very low impact. read more

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Loved this place!! I tried the $13 smoked pulled pork and the $15 spicy chicken katsu. Both were absolutely delicious, but the spicy chicken katsu was probably my favorite katsu sandwich ever! The smoked pulled pork was great as well, but the spicy chicken katsu definitely stood out more to me. They also gave us a curry sauce to dip the sandwiches in, which added an extra layer of flavor. The service was great, and the interior was nice and welcoming. I'll definitely be coming back to try more of their menu! read more

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I am a huge fan of Tanaka's style and substance. The bread is as important as it is phenomenal. Sandwich contents are equally good. We have found that the fries are great but the dipping sauces are specific to person- so try a few. The counter service and seating is comfortable and I love getting strawberry milk in a little can and then trotting along about my day, full and happy. The baked goods are very tasty! Hopefully a longtime Portland staple. read more

3 Stars - Clean Spot with Great Service Tanaka Katsu is a nice, clean spot with friendly and attentive service. The staff made us feel welcome, and everything was well-organized and fresh. As for the sandwiches--they just weren't my cup of tea. Nothing wrong with them, but the flavors and style didn't quite hit the mark for me personally. That said, I think it's worth trying for yourself--everyone has different tastes, and you might love it! The quality is there, even if it wasn't quite for me. read more

This just might be amongst one of my favorite meals ever. Japanese sandos are the real deal -- crispy chicken/pork katsu, cabbage slaw, and savory egg salad sandwiched between soft Japanese milk bread will quite literally change your life. Tanaka has a handful of options and even offers seasonal specials! My favorite was the pork katsu because it included egg salad, but you really can't go wrong with any of the options. The pork Katsu is always tender, juicy, and crispy and pairs perfectly with the egg salad and cabbage slaw. And as if the sandwiches weren't enough, their side plates are incredible. My recs are the Brussels sprouts (seasonal) and dirty fries. If you're lucky enough to visit when they have the Brussels sprouts on the menu, you must get them. They're crispy, tender, and savory, with sesame brittle crumbled on top for a salty sweet bite. And the dirty fries? They could be a meal in and of themselves. Picture this: tender shredded pork, their house curry, and fried shishito peppers over a bed of crispy fries. Need I say more?! read more

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This is my favorite eatery in Downtown Portland. I tried breakfast/brunch and lunch. I loved my Breakfast Sando. The sausage patty quality is good. It worked very well with the Milk Bread and egg. The pulled pork was ok. The curry ball was ok as well. However, their fries and curry are exceptional here. Street parking Outdoor seating area available A loaf of 5pieces milk bread is available for purchase. read more

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WOW! I didn't know I was missing a Katsu Sandwich in my life. Felt hungry for a sandwich after exploring the Discovery Museum. Came along this location and thought.. hmm that sounds interesting! Family ordered 4- Combos : Pork Katsu Sandos with Fries / Slaw / Egg Salad We also tried the Curry Bun (as our starter) and Strawberry Sando for Dessert. The curry bun was delicious! We all agreed that if it was served warm (or even fresh out the oven) would've tasted better. The Katsu Sando was SUCH a delicious combination of Katsu, shredded cabbage, mayo, Katsu sauce on soft white bread. The slaw... was different and not my personal favorite but the egg salad was DELICIOUS! The fries were served with Curry Aioli sauce... SOO GOOD!! The strawberry Sando was a nice way to top off our meal. When in Portland... Tanaka is a MUST!! Staff were friendly and attentive. Restaurant was cool, casual, and family friendly. read more

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Just go to Tanaka. You won't regret it. My cousin and I enjoyed every bite of our lunch meal. I added miso tomato soup to the sando, omfg, it tasted bombass delicious!!!! read more

Tanaka - Shrimp Katsu Sando and Miso Tomato Soup - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Yummy! Stopped on a random Sunday while downtown and this caught our eye. Beautiful calming esthetic inside and kind workers. Delicious crispy Katsu and the Miso tomato soup was tangy. The star was the cream of mushr soup, rich and a little chunky! Worth stopping in for a few minutes! read more

Tanaka - Ube almond latte - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I ordered the Chicken & Egg Salad sandwich on the Toast app. when I got to the restaurant, the employee at the counter stated it wasn't ready and she would bring it to me. I used the restroom and came back. Still not ready, I sat at a table to wait. I saw what appeared to be a sandwich waiting at the counter, but figured it must have been another online/app order, since the employee was just standing there speaking to another employee. Then I saw her getting some sauce ready on the side and figured it must have been my sandwich, since I ordered some sauce on the side. Then I saw the same employee walk away. It is talk to another employee and then come back to that order again. 10 minutes minutes later, she finally came over and handed me that sandwich that had been sitting there for at least 10 minutes! By the time I walked to my car, just down the street, and took a bite of my sandwich, it had gone cold! What was pathetic was that there was nobody in the restaurant when my sandwich had been sitting around for all that time! There was absolutely no excuse to have given me that sandwich that was sitting around the counter the whole time that late! Also, my sandwich tasted like the Pork Katsu and not chicken! I will not be dining here again! read more

Tanaka - Chicken Katsu with Egg Salad sandwich. Tasted like they it was the Pork Katsu instead Chicken Katsu! Cold by the time they handed it to me! - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We tried to give this place the benefit of the doubt. We drove past here months ago and wanted to try it the next time we were in town. Next time was here. We ordered the egg salad sandwich & the katsu chicken caesar salad, which my wife was looking forward to trying the katsu. We took the food home only to realize that we bought a really expensive salad, since they neglected to give us the chicken with the salad. The store was not crowded at mid-morning since we were the only ones in line, so no breakfast or coffee rush. As far as the egg salad sando, I personally like Oyatsupan in Beaverton better. I tried to reach out to Tanaka via feedback on the receipt as well as the "Contact Us" on their website. I got no response from either avenue, while giving them ample time to respond. So, unfortunately, this is my last resort. read more

My girlfriend and I came here on a Saturday afternoon. The place itself has an open layout with high ceilings with great music. The ambiance was perfect. Waited in line for a short while and then got a window seat on the high tops and they brought our food to us. The chicken katsu sandwich was sublime. The chicken was perfectly cooked, the sauce and salad added a touch of tanginess that made it incredible. Also, they sprinkled a spicy seasoning just to top it off as one the best chicken katsu sandwiches I've ever had. I have lived up and down the coast of California and just recently moved to the area last year and I can confidently say this sandwich compares to some of the best katsu out there. I strongly suggest this place to anyone looking for a great bite to eat before enjoying the pleasures of downtown Portland! ET read more

Sorry, service really killed my experience here. I found it very odd that a Japanese sandwich restaurant is run by three Caucasians and two Hispanics. Not a single Asian person working there so the service was not what I had hoped for. Had to wait five minutes to place my order after the person before me left. Then, while we asked for take out, food came in a tray and not wrapped up to go. It took 20 minutes for a chicken/egg sandwich, egg salad sandwich and grilled cheese that had way too much cheese on it. Plus the egg salad had a lot of celery which I do not like and the menu did not state. It did not taste anything like the traditional Japanese sando we were hoping for. The best part of the meal was the drinks. And they were canned from Japan! read more

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Sandwich spot with fast service and ample seating. Cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and tasty sandwiches. A solid choice for a quick bite. read more

Tanaka - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Love the sandwiches! I wish I could come back again. I went on a weekday afternoon and there was no wait to order. The food came out hot and cut in half. These are easy to share. The curry was amazing. There is a restroom available. Parking might be challenging read more

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Food is terrible. I don't usually complain about portions but my god, So little Katsu for the katsu curry. Curry tastes bad. Rather use the instant curry because it is bitter and strong. The sliced cabbage salad came with no dressing. Please take a trip down to Southern California because this is not how you should represent this food. read more

Tanaka - Pork Katsu - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Ambiance is nice modern and clean. The customer drawings were cute! Katsu sando was great! Light , crispy, and I loved how the fried component was balanced out with the cabbage slaw! The curry was surprisingly really good, reminds me of coco ichibanya curry, but could use more rice. My biggest qualm was with the iced matcha, which was just very milky. read more

Tanaka - Chicken katsu sando Matcha Latte Ebi Curry Bowl - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Lots of seating, nice interior. I ordered the kids meal which was $9.5 for fries, two morsels of chicken karage, a side of egg salad, and a grilled cheese. It took a long time for them to prepare my order, and then it was served cold lol. The chicken karage was a little bit warm. The fries were delicious and I bet they would be even better if they were hot. The egg salad was nice and lemony. You have to bus your own tables and they're usually left dirty. We came in at 1630 and it seems like they run out of a lot of things by then. They didn't have any of the dessert sandos nor did they have any curry. I would've given them 3 stars because their fries and egg salad was honestly pretty good but the fact that they served me cold food and that it was generally pretty dirty combined with the fact that I felt like it was unreasonably pricy put me off read more

Tanaka - TANAKA Kid's plate - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is very mid. Very Americanized Japanese food. I got the tonkatsu egg San which with a side of egg salad. There was little to no egg in my sandwich and the katsu was very small in my opinion , the egg salad had a lot of dill and didn't tasted like how Japanese egg salad would taste it tasted more like store bought egg salad not sweet really bland dill flavor . The katsu chicken curry was also whatever. The chicken itself was crispy but the curry tasted like the box curry so it was also something I could have made at home. Salad it came with had no flavor, not sweet or pickled. Restaurant is cute but food was a no go for me. read more

Tanaka - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I do love everything Japanese, so this wasn't a stretch, BUT WOW this place did justice! The soup and sandwich combo was perfect for brunch (soup is a miso tomato soup with a little "zing" of spiciness). I had the Ebi (shrimp) sandwich. Kinda like shrimp tempura-ish, but on their wonderful bread with amazing condiments. My friend had the pork which I found surprisingly delish (I'm not always a pork cutlet fan. But this was super-tender!) The meal comes with a drink (very good coffee or fountain drinks) and then I splurged and got one of the purple cream filled donuts. Very decadent. Real pastry cream! Bonus points if you're over 21, they even have sake to-go, in a sealed glass jar! Niiiiice! read more

WHEN: Fri @10:30am What a lovely restaurant! I can sit here all day. You order at the counter first, and when you sit down, they will bring your order out when it's ready. Here's what I had: CLASSIC KATSU SANDO - PORK - $13 Pork Loin Katsu, Cabbage, Kewpie Mayo, Tanaka Katsu Sauce, Milk Bread. Since it's freshly made, it's pretty hot, and crispy. The bread is toasted, so it's hard to tell that it's milk bread. I would prefer soft in-toasted bread since you already have the crispy texture from the katsu. So I know the insides of my mouth will be very scraped up, haha. The sauce is good, with a bit of tangy. I wish there was more kewpie mayo because it tasted like there was none. Overall, decent sandwich. I rec sharing this sandwich since it's quite filling. The Pork Katsu is really thick. Oh and they have really nice merch. I considered buying their shirt ($25) and hoodie ($40). read more

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Always have tasty food here! Every sandwich is delectable, and it is a cozy, bustling setting. We had the chicken and shrimp katsu sandwiches today. The shrimp was just perfectly flavored with fresh, shrimp flavor in a crisp envelope of goodness. The chicken was cooked well but needed something to brighten it up more like a squeeze of lemon or something. The sandwiches are quite sumptuous and could easily be shared with two people as a hearty snack. Look forward to coming back sometime to try their donuts! read more

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Spent more than $10 on a drink I couldn't even drink... I was so excited to try their matcha drinks so I ordered a Strawberry Matcha Latte. I'm sometimes sensitive to dairy, so I ordered it with oat milk and asked for no ice since I didn't want the ice to melt and dilute the matcha. These additions were shown clearly on the register screen. However, when I received the drink, it had ice. I'm one of those people who never sends back food and I was tempted to just leave it, because it wasn't too big of a deal, but since "no ice" was clearly on the order, I went up to the counter and told the two employees who were there. They looked immediately annoyed, as if I were just being fussy and unreasonable. Then one of them went to the back corner to remake it... without looking at the order. At least I hope he didn't see the order, because I saw him use regular milk even though I paid extra for oat. At this point, I was already uncomfortable with the whole experience and needed to get to my next appointment, so I just didn't say anything else. The man then took back the original drink... which was... fair. But he clearly thought I was just trying to get an extra drink and it felt like he was trying to make a point. Well... I didn't even get one full drink because I could only drink about a 4th of it before it started to give me a stomach ache. (I had hoped I'd be fine, because dairy is only a sometimes trigger. It depends on the specific milk and quantity.) I'm not sure if the employee also just didn't care how he was making it at that point, but the matcha still ended up tasting diluted, even without ice. I wish I could like this place because as an Asian American, I love patronizing delicious Asian eateries, but I don't think I'll feel able to come back after paying extra for something I didn't receive, and tipping to be treated poorly. read more

Stopped by here after a recommendation from a YouTube blogger. We shared the Breakfast Sando, which was supposed to be amazing, but honestly, it was just okay nothing special. We split it, and somehow one of us ended up with sauce on their side, and the other didn't. Not sure how that happened. The place itself was really clean and welcoming, though. The menu had plenty of other options we didn't try, but I'd definitely consider coming back to try the katsu sando. Just won't be getting the breakfast one again read more

Tanaka - Breakfast Sando - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Tried both of their breakfast sandwiches (bacon and sausage). We were really hoping it would be something special, especially given that they're on milk bread, which we expected to be moist and fluffy. The sandwiches themselves, while tasty, were really nothing unique. The bread had a similar consistency to white bread, and was more dense than we anticipated. We did add the spicy katsu sauce to dip the sandos into which I'd recommend. We were also surprised that it took them 25 minutes to make two sandwiches; we went at 10am on a Monday, and there weren't many folks ahead of us. Overall, the food was good, but didn't live up to our expectations. read more

I got the chicken katsu with no Mayo. I ordered chicken and slaw only. But the sandwich came with a brown sauce and Mayo! The chicken tasted weird. Hard to say. Never coming here again read more

Tanaka - Half eaten sandwich with Mayo after I ordered with no Mayo - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Do not sleep on this sandwich spot. Went Sunday afternoon and there were plenty of seats. Staff was friendly and helpful. We ordered the spicy katsu chicken sando combo with the curry fries and the tanaka dip. Both sandwiches were really good, but the spicy chicken was a little too spicy for me. Had huge portions and had leftovers. Can't wait to come back and try other items. Everything looked so good! read more

Tanaka - Tanaka dip - took half home. - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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From the reviews, I was worried that I'd get a dry sandwich, or that the spicy katsu sauce wouldn't be that spicy. Happily, neither of those were true. I wouldn't say no to a little more sauce, it had a nice heat to it and I like a messy sandwich, but it wasn't dry. The problem was that they don't season or marinate the tofu. The sandwich was fine, but if they just chucked the tofu into even a simple marinade for half an hour it could have been great. The pastries are good too, but it's a little weird that they're dusted with what tastes like plain corn starch instead of powdered sugar. I get keeping the sweetness down, but the dusting added no flavor and got a little gummy. Was it just for aesthetics? read more

I did not enjoy the food here. I got the curry plate, the curry tasted bad, not like Japanese curry, just salty. The katsu wasn't anything special. The egg salad had a yuzu flavor, wasn't expecting that and no where in the menu did they mention this. I also got a strawberry sando that we didn't even try and I ended up throwing away later that night. The best thing abt the food was the white rice, which is not a good sign. I also thought the food was expensive, over $40 for mediocre food. And the food took a long time to come out. If you have a Japanese palette and looking for something traditional, this isn't the place. Woiodbjot go back. read more

First time trying a Japanese sando and Tanaka did not disappoint. The sandwich is light but filling, and packed with flavor while fried perfectly. The beer battered fries complimented the sandwich very well. It's a little on the expensive side but worth it. Service was ok nothing special to write about. Very communal space with is normal for Portland restaurants. read more

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Tanaka was the first place to pop up when I was looking for a Japanese sandwich. However the menu selection was much more than just sandwiches. There was everything from nuggets to salads. I got the spicy chicken katsu and while it was good, I would try something else if I visited again. The sandwich wasn't as spicy as I was expecting and it could use some more sauce. The prices were also higher than I would typically expect for this kind of meal.While the inside was very nice and the service was fast, I don't think this is a place I will come back to time and time again. read more

Tanaka - Spicy Chicken Katsu - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I wish I was joking about how awful the kitchen staff is at following request that have options for NO mayo or NO bacon through door dash. It sucks because I love going to Tanaka in person, but ordering it is a different experience. Today I ordered with NO mayo and got extra mayo. You really can't make this up. Every single order online they mess up. read more

Tanaka - Breakfast Bacon - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I was feeling unsure about Tanaka given the mixed reviews, but I was hopeful given some of the more positive reviews. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with both the chicken the pork sandwiches. The chicken sandwich did have one redeeming quality - notably, the chicken itself was very moist, but it ended there. The pork was so dry, and it didn't help that neither sandwich had enough sauce or spread to offset the dryness and lend more flavor. The star was the fries - they came out piping hot, crispy, and the accompanying curry aioli was a unique twist. It's a good thing I really like a good fry, because everything else was pretty meh. read more

Tanaka - Spicy Chicken Katsu and Pork Katsu - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great lunch spot downtown ~ spacious vibe, plenty of seating, parking garage across the street. The sandos are good, different sauces available to mix it up, a little small for the price. A couple lite lagers on tap. Auto gratuity is a boo for fast food counter service and self order pickup. read more

Tanaka - Tofu Sando ;) - Sandwiches Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I had their delicious fish katsu sando with a side of fries. It was dressed well and I loved the texture of the kale slaw. I appreciated that the bread held everything together. The fries were fries. After a day of walking around the city, this definitely hit the spot. The dining area is spacious, great for groups. The entire space is open which was really inviting. The service was quick but there wasn't too many people during my visit. I also walked here so I'm not too sure about the parking situation but I wouldn't worry. I'm sure there's plenty around the corner or across the street. read more

An amazing sando spot in Portland! I've been here several times and have had a great experience each time. They recently changed their menu and (from what I've noticed) gotten rid of their fish sando as well as added some special sandos. I'm super sad that there are no longer any fish sandos (only fish burgers), but the special ones have found a new spot in my heart. Service is quick. I've tried all of the regular sandos, as well as the spicy version, and I would say that I prefer the regular ones more. The biggest reason is that even though I love spicy foods, the spicy in these sandwiches is based on a more wasabi/dijion mustard kind of spice (I can't quite explain it, but it's not what I'm expect when I want something spicy). Not bad, but just not my taste!! The new special sandos are phenomenal however. I love the twist on them and how they incorporated different ingridents not typical to Japanese sandos into them. I've tried the Tanaka Dip and the BLT and they were phenomenal, and new favorites. Drinks here are also overall great. I love the ube and sesame lattes, but I think the strawberry matcha is a miss (as a matcha fan, the drink mostly just tasted like strawberry milk). Nonetheless, a reliable spot for a quick, casual bite! read more

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Great location with easy parking in such a busy city. My friends and I all ordered different katsu sandwiches no complaints except for our server switching the pork and chicken on us on accident and my friend who doesn't eat pork accidentally ate pork.. they refunded the order but just made us feel a little strange. The Tanaka fog was delicious I'm glad I gave it a try they use a cinnamon simple syrup with it which compliments it very well 8/10 My friends ordered the lychee yuzuade they weren't the biggest fans of it tasted almost like a non alcoholic drink with bitters 5/10 The katsu sandos were 8.5/10 I'd definitely order them again just wish there was a little more meat but sauce to topping ratio was perfect The dirty fries were very soggy and were the least touched item ordered taste was alright just very oily curry 6/10 Strawberry fruit Sando was fantastic I should've ordered some to go for the road 10/10 I'd definitely come back just triple check with the server which sandwich was which and no dirty fries read more

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Food was good! Ordered the spicy chicken katsu sando , katsu nuggets and fries. The sandwich was good the katsu was perfectly crunchy on the outside and tender inside, the curry pairs so well with the sandwich highly recommend this combo. Nuggets and fries were good just wish the nuggets had more seasoning on it tho! The interior is really nice with high ceiling they utilized their big open space really well. You bus your own table after you're done and they have a to go station for whatever left over you have to bring home so you don't have to come up and them. Would I come back next time? Definitely yes! read more

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