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Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Southeast Portland, SellwoodMon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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This is a very enthusiastic A-OK, mind you.
My wife and I came her on a recommendation. We're out-of-towners visiting from SF so we have a higher standard for our fish. You simply can't beat how fresh the fish is in SF. With that, we came here with lowered expectations but also expecting a crowd. We sat at the bar on a crowded Sunday night. We ordered 2 rolls, gyoza, and a chef's sashimi plate.
1. The rolls here are big and generous. Big points for the rolls.
2. The gyoza was battered in tempura and deep-fried. We were not expecting this and mildly disappointed.
3. The sashimi plate was good but I felt like a majority of the fish was not fresh. It tasted a bit funny.
My wife quipped that we would come here often if we lived in Portland. We probably would but we'd probably get the rolls more often instead of the fish.
It's a shame you can't eat here without a line,
and feeling you're getting rushed out,
to seat other people waiting in line.
It's a great sushi place, though.
You can eat fish like a crazed pelican,
and get full for a reasonable price.
One thing I really hate about a lot of sushi places I've been to, is they don't get the rice right. The rice is a major part of the sushi, and the sushi tastes horribly bland if the rice is low quality. Saburo's has about the worst sushi rice I've tasted, but I really wasn't expecting much from the price of the sushi. You get what you pay for.
I consider Saburo's sushi to be the gag gift of the sushi world (Literally). I went there to have fun with friends, and I knew I wasn't going to get the best sushi in the world, but at least the experience was enjoyable.
Waiting in line in the rain was tolerable with friends, and we had leftovers to take home, which saved me from giving Saburo's a one star rating.
Will I go back? Only if my friends are going, otherwise there are places closer to home if I want cheap, bland sushi.
I have tried to come to Saburo twice. Once they were " closed for summer vacation " huh? Next they did not open until dinner. Finally I came when they were open and after a 45 min wait I was swept inside. Gauging the size of the place to the size of the people waiting It is my estimation that 45 + min wait should be anticipated if you want to eat here.
I ordered 4 rolls which came out to a total of 24$ including a beer! The spicy tuna roll, which is normally a staple classic for me was kinda meh. The Sabu Roll was my favorite. What really made the sushi was the generous portions of fish, the rolls are huge! What really turned me off to the sushi was the use of mayonnaise. I absolutely hate mayonnaise. Strangely enough I was so into the sushi that this did not detour me from plowing through all the rolls. Afterwards I was hit with eaters remorse that I had taken down all that mayonnaise filled sushi. I'm not saying I wouldn't go back..I'm just withholding a star.
This place is truly a tiny treasure. Very Tiny..so tiny in fact that they pack the tables together so that you feel like you're eating with a bunch of strangers. I found myself nervously smiling at the people at the next table like I was on an awkward blind date. I felt strangely protective over my food like the person next to me might reach over to try it. There is nothing romantic about being able to touch the elbow of the random person next to you while you eat, so although the food is great I'd refrain from taking a first date here.
Arigato Saburo!
Sometimes, you just have to accept something for what it is. Saburo doesn't pretend to be authentic (um ... they don't put cream cheese on sushi rolls in Japan), and it doesn't pretend to be the best sushi joint in town. What is it? Saburo is the gigantic, 72 ounce steak challenge of sushi restaurants.
What does that mean? What it means is that instead of getting Japanese style sushi, where everything is a delicately balanced ballet bite of flavors, you get everything "American style". The portions here are all measured by the same fat guy that created the Sizzler all you can eat buffet, the 72 ounce steak that they used to serve at the Old Country Kitchen, the 12 egg omelet, and the double-double animal style.
The nigiri sushi here is the equivalent of an entire fillet-o-fish slapped on a bed of rice. You wouldn't know it though, because you can't see the rice under the fillet.
The rolls here are all about the same thickness as my forearm. No human can consume one piece of their rolls in one bite. In fact, word of advice, best to deconstruct the roll into individual bites.
But, how is any of this a bad thing? When I feel like stuffing my insides with inordinate amounts of fresh fish at a bargain basement price, Saburo is my pick. Yes, the wait is long, but the wait is always long when people can sniff a bargain. Just check out Ben n Jerry's on free cone day. I've never had bad fish here. If you want to try something off the beaten path, get the broiled hamachi collar. The collar is the most flavorful, deliciously fatty part of the hamachi. When you broil it and serve it with a light ponzu sauce and grated daikon radish, its delicious. And cheap, since most fish markets toss the collar.
Warning: the service typically sucks. Its better now. But the mama-san that used to run the "front of the house" was half soup nazi. She would yell at you, chastise you for trying to order more than once, refuse take out orders, and generally act like a frigid you know what. I still would not expect to get 5-star service here. Just wait in line for 2 hours for your table, order your sushi, eat your fish and go.
This is me not praising my new favorite sushi joint. The wait is long enough. I don't need more Portlanders to compete with.
To come to Saburo's not starving for sushi wouldn't make sense. The portions are ginormous. If you like eel, get the eel, you will not be disappointed. Be careful because you can easily order too much here. The service is very prompt. Ready, set, eat and go. If you're looking for a little romance, this is not the place.
Finally made it in here, and I thought the rolls were pretty good. Although their mammoth size made for awkward eating, I had to eventually forgo the chopsticks and just dive in. The service was attentive and quick, for how busy it was. Guess I lucked out, I showed up at 5 on a Tuesday and was able to follow the line in and snag a table. I could not imagine waiting 1+ hours to get in here. It was good, but not spend my whole night in Sellwood good. Also, $.75 for refills? Pffft.
I'll probably come back if I can walk right in, and maybe smuggle a Sprite in my purse.
There must have been a reason why we have avoided going here for three years. I found at least five of them.
Why there are hordes of people standing outside of this joint is beside me. Tonight there was nobody waiting outside at 5:07PM.
I have to give two stars to the staff. They were prompt and polite.
Let me also come clean here and tell you that I understand that Saburos is a big machine. Big machines are not going to be personable and extremely attentive. I am not some pathetic shit who needs to be coddled, nor do I think that the waiter is going to sit in my lap and whisper sweet nothings in my ear.
Now, for an overview of one of the least impressive experiences I have ever had...
First up was edamame. My advice would be SKIP this. Over steamed and salted with plain table salt. I hate to seem like an edamame snob but this was awful.
Oysters are on special right now. We live dangerously a few times each year and ordered the half dozen. They arrived with a haphazard bed of ripped iceburg lettuce leaves. Each oyster was swimming in a ponzu sauce. I liked them but my oyster aficionado wife said they sucked.
We then received the spicy tuna handroll. FOR THE LOVE OF... This monstrosity is wrapped in a FULL sheet of nori. Thanks a lot chef... I was feeling a little bit inadequate with that giant phallice. Too much.
Next on deck was a creamy scallop roll. This was actually tasty, but again way too big. I hate to be complaining about getting MORE but this is sushi for f*ck's sake.
The main course arrived. We went with the chef's choice sashimi. The first assortment was decent: yellow tail, salmon, tuna, albacore, prawn, mackerel, and snapper. The way they cut this sashimi is just odd to me. Hira Zukumi is a thick cut but this one seemed even thicker?
We got that check and bolted out of there to seek refuge at a place that could serve the kind of cocktails that would help us forget...
My suggestion for the hordes is to think outside the lemming box and seek out some cheap sushi from a joint that is better than Saburo's.
I am at the table utterly disgusted. Enough to stop eating and write this review. There is no feeling miserable enough to compare with this sushi experience. To keep it simple, the restuarant stinks, the staff have a very poor attitude, and more importantly the fish, in any form, nigiri or maki (rolls) is unpalatable. The piece are gigantic, the fish has an aweful stench and feels like it's been left out to rot in the sun before being sloppy chopped up and rolled around mammoth balls of rice.
Please save you stomach and your time. We waited an hour to get a table. Seeing the other positive reviews leaves me dumbstruck. I don't recommend this restaurant to even my enemies.
Holy Crap! One of the highlights of my tour de Portland! The sushi is so freaking cheap here. Eight piece sashimi for like $8. The salmon sashimi was outta this world fresh!! The rolls were huge, averaging 6 to 7 peices each and very well priced at ~$6. I'd get the speciality rolls over the more plain rolls cuz even though they are the same width, the plain rolls have a lot of rice and not much fish. Order everything at once! They don't like it when you finish your meal and order more food.
Restaurant is a bit small, so expect to wait if your group is larger than 4.
Is bigger really better?
If you want to eat a bite of rice, a bite of cucumber and then a bite of fish all seperately.. then you'll like saburo's rolls. The size doesn't really allow you to taste the wonderful combination of the maki ingredients in my opinion.
nigiri on the other hand however is pretty ok.
It may seem large portion and cheap for the price but somehow i always ended up paying the same amount if i were to eat anywhere else... why is that?!
My favorite sushi place :)
The sushi here are MONSTROUS, fresh, and absolutely delicious!
They're only open for several hours during dinner and there's always a line, but it's totally worth the wait. People are usually lining up before the restaurant even opens. Crazy! The wait can vary between 15 minutes to over an hour. Bring a jacket because you'll be waiting outside. There's not really much around this restaurant. You can chill in the Starbucks from across the street if they're open; usually they are.
I've never had any problem with their service here. The people here are always polite and prompt. Even though they say you can only order once, I've never had any issue if I want to order more. But that's rare, because I usually over-order as I forget how huge their sushi are.
Saburo's doesn't offer the nicest decor or atmosphere but that's not what Saburo's is about. Yes, it's loud, crowded, often humid and hot, and DIRTY! There are crumbs on the seats, the table tops are sticky, and their restroom reeks. It irked me the first couple of times I went there, too. But Saburo's is about MONDO SUSHI! So yeah, ask for extra napkins, bring hand sanitizers, and don't drink too much -- OR take togo like my cousin-in-law. =D
Personal Fave :)
- Creamy Scallop
- Sweet Raw Shrimp with Fried Shrimp Head
- Salmon (Sake?)
- Salmon Belly
- Spicy Tuna Roll
My sister raved about this place and she goes there everytime she visits Portland. With me being a sushi lover, it was only natural that I would try this place out. Now if you've never been there, there is always a line, especially before they open. When the bf and I got there (15 minutes before it opened) there was a line wrapped around the corner and down the side of the building. A daunting wait for a tiny place such as this! As the doors opened and people flooded the restaurant we were astonished to find out that we were the second to last table filled before you had to wait for a table to open up. SWEET!
We sat down and surveyed the menu. The Big-O roll, yakitori, the Hawaiian Roll, California roll (with real crab!), 2 orders of fresh salmon nigiri and one order of unagi. Oh. My. God!!!! Not only was everything fresh...it was HUGE!!!! One of the unagi was almost as long as my chopstick!! Out of this world size of cut! The portion sizes are amazing deals for the price, I would expect twice the price for what we got and the quality was great as well.
If you love sushi and are looking for a great meal that is easy on the pocketbook, then this is your place!
I can't add anything more than what was said. I went, I loved, I had a G-R-E-A-T time. I did have a huge beer and Sake' to match along with my huge Unagi. Yum.
Waiter: Hi, welcome to Saburo's can I take your order?
Us: Can we get 4 orders of unagi, 3 orders of salmon, 2 Spicy Tuna Salads, 2 California rolls, side order of mixed tempura and some gyoza.
Waiter: Would you like to try our House Special Roll?
Us: Maybe later
Waiter: Sorry, you can only order ONCE
Us: Oh.........ok?
Yes, if it seems like I'm trying to make Saburo's sound like a fast food joint such as McDonald's then you are correct. While there are considerable similarities there are salient differences.
Similarities: Both offer super size options, affordable prices, quantity over quality philosophy, more than necessary daily caloric intake, mayonnaise over usages, cramp seating, nonexistent servers
Differences: Super size is only option at Saburo's, McDonald's has no limit on orders
As a sushi joint Saburo's deserves 1 star (if that) but as a McDonald's of sushi 2 star (laughable at best)
BEST SUSHI PLACE EVER!
The rolls are big and come in amounts of 4-8 rolls per order. They are not only big but delicious! On top of that, there's a large selection of sushi, and the prices rock!
For a group of 3 people, spending $30-$35 total will more than fill you up and satisfy you. Best place for cheap sushi, but also has a a lot of quantity and quality.
The only thing about Saburo's, is that it can take a while to get in. Expect to wait 15-45 minutes to get in. It's not open all day but when it is open it's packed. Why? BECAUSE IT ROCKS!
This place is a hit or miss kinda deal. You will always have to wait in line, sometimes the sushi is amazingly fresh and sometimes the rice is undercooked and the fish is almost on the brink of being bad, but the portions always crazy huge!!!!
The udon noodles always super yummy! The grilled yellowtail collar melts in your mouth. The service is always fast and furious with a smile!!
I love it and there's really nothing like it in Portland, where else can you possibly get 10lbs worth of sushi for 50 bucks?!
From the nightly lines outside Saburo's, it's clear that the people of Portland have spoken. They love cheap, mammoth portions of sushi and they don't care what it tastes like!
Whenever I see that two hour long line outside of this Sellwood-Moreland area Japanese joint I want to slap everyone out of their trance-like state and remind them of two things.
1. Less is more. There's something pretty gross about a giant slab of raw fish in your mouth. Sushi was always meant to be small and precious. That's why the chefs have knives. So they can cut the fist up before they serve it to you. If I wanted to eat an entire raw fish, I'd just go cave man style, and grab one out of the river with my bare hands. Gnaw on it right there by the river. Right next to where I pooped a few seconds before. But I can see where being the Claim Jumper of sushi would have a lot of appeal in this down economy. There's nothing like a doggy bag of rotting fish on a hot summer night. Goes really well with Dairy Queen.
2. Cheap sushi sounds like a great idea until you really think about what that means. If it's cheap for you, it means that Saburo's paid even less for it. Once again...this fish is RAW. That means uncooked. I kinda don't want to put the super cheap raw crap in my mouth. With sushi, sometimes it pays to pay a little more.
Although not always. Had plenty of sucky expensive sushi in my time so I get why people line up for massive piles of raw fish at rock bottom prices.
Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of Saburo's. Reasonably priced sushi in a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. But that's not what this is. This is sushi for people that don't know better and that have been conditioned by Cheesecake Factory to think that if you didn't get served enough food for a family of six people, you got ripped off.
Oh. And what about the line up? Who's gonna nip this whole makin' people wait outside their restaurant trend in Portland? It's just F-ing food for god's sake.
They expanded, so more seats. However, the trick still is go early and wait for it to open. Otherwise, don't bother as long long wait!! They open at 5pm on weekday, and 4:30 on weekend. If you are at the restaurant ~15min before it open, you can ensure to have seat!!
The portion has become smaller since I first came here years ago :( but still bigger portion than most of the sushi places. This is still my favorite sushi place in PDX!!
Skip the sashimi and halibut sushi... The halibut sushi was pretty thin. Each fish of sashimi was only half size of the sushi ... Just stick with the sushi! Also don't expect much services
Cheap, but good sushi..
be sure to go early so won't have to wait in lin.
they usally go on vacation…
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You have to wait at least two hours before you can go in. If that's not for you then cut down on the number of people in your party.
The portions are enormous and the price is so cheap, a definite plus.
Do get your orders right because it will be a long time before you'll see them again. There's just too many people and the space is small, and the staff is limited.
Great sushi. Very small and very popular, so show up early and be prepared to wait (a while). These are the biggest pieces of sushi that I've ever seen! Unless you want leftovers, back off the quantity a little. Parking is really limited, too.
You know, Saburo's reminds of Claim Jumper. Sushi rolls the size of burrito that you eat with both hands (which does look a bit odd).
We were surprised and pleased to come here last night and just have a five minute wait for a table.
I think the menu cards that you fill out are a great idea, it reduces the risk chance for a goof-up between you and the kitchen, but not entirely as we were to find out.
We started with the Octo Sunomo salad. This delicious and colorful salad came with a recognizable strip of octopus but also delightful little shreds of marinated octopus as well. I definitely recommend!
For another appetizer we had the Baby Octupus. This octopus was also marinated, bright red and very good. I also highly recommend. You might gather that I am rather fond of octopus, and I am! Then came the Big O Roll. Not sure what it had as far as fish, but I think it was salmon and a white fish. Came with a very nice dipping sauce. Next, we had the Spider Roll. Huge! And delicious, of course.
We then split an order of chicken teriyaki. It came with broccoli, cabbage and carrot. It had an excellent sauce (not that lousy oversweet goop that most teriyaki joints use). The teriyaki automatically comes with miso soup and ice cream.
But that leads me to say that service was only fair. While orders were delivered quickly to the table, no one ever came around to refill our water glasses. Also, I had to remind them to bring me the delicious and fluffy green tea ice cream at the end of the meal. And now I realize as I write this review, they forgot to give me my miso soup. I guess with all the other wonderful food around me, I just forgot.
Still, that's gonna cost a star.
4 stars for one thing - cheap HUGE rolls
the food overall is okay, and the sashimi is not as fresh as i would perfer, but you are definitely getting your money's worth!!
i got the edaname and miso soup for appetizer. edaname was good. miso could have been better... the seaweed in the soup wasnt the normal texture im used to.
for rolls, i got the sabu roll. really good!! it comes with 3 different types of sashimi on top and inside has cucumber, fish roe, avocado amongst other things - definitely worth it. i would have gotten more rolls if i knew it was going to be so good
i also go the chef's special sashimi dish. definitely comes with a vareity of sashimi probably 6 different ones with shrimp and crab on top of cucumber
i read some complaints about the staff but you write your order on the menu, so they can't get it wrong. they were very attentive, but then again i went in pretty late at like 9pm so there wasn't that many patrons. but i was satisfied..
definitely would come here again with a bigger appetite.
I just moved back to Portland from Tokyo, and I missed Saburo's while I was there...that is how much I love this restaurant!!!
The wait is ridiculously long especially if you go with more than 2 people...but the key is make friends with the staff...they will bend over backwards for you if you become a true regular. I have had them bend rules for me a lot... Then you can zip around the corner to the Lime Light bar while you wait.
Sitting outside salivating through the window for 1+ hours is for the amateurs, now its just a part of the tradition to go to the limelight for a tasty pre-sushi-funking cocktail.
By the end of it your liquored up, sushi-ed out, and rolling out the door with leftovers.
My favorites on the menu by far best thing ever: hawaiian roll ... rolled in cucumber a spicy tuna filling..... Salmon nigiri, albacore nigiri, unagi nigiri (although eat it as soon as it comes out while its warm or it gets rubbery),
Oh and the pink bottle of cold Nigori sake. The bottle is really cool and the sake is my favorite!.
But be careful, this place can spoil you...once you stuff yourself for $10 with leftovers, its hard to go to other places where you drop $20+ and don't get nearly as much.
biggest sushi ever?
at most places you have to order a lot to get full - not here.. everything is super-sized and cheap. quality is good (based on taste)
this place is great..
however, this place has too many nuances (they can get away with it given their demand)
better for smaller groups
long line to get in (i recommend waiting at the starbucks across the corner).
you can only order once, two checks per group, and auto 15% gratuity for parties of 5 or more.
worth checking out at least once~
This place has the craziest sushi EVER. And by crazy, I mean CRAZY BIG. Oh my goodness. I swear the eel was the length of my friend's face. It was ridiculously large but ridiculously scrumptious!!! I love sushi and the two almost three hour wait for this restaurant was worth it.
I came with three other people and we were told to wait forever but we decided to venture around the block to kill time and we ended up finding another joint to sit and drink wine while we waited. So the wait wasn't too bad but I would've given Saburo's 5 stars if the place was more accommodating to eliminate unnecessarily lengthy wait times.
We ordered a plethora or sushi... eel, california rolls, creamy scallops (TO DIE FOR!), salmon, tuna, and a lot more than I cannot remember right now. We also ordered hot sake to go with the sushi because that is a must at sushi restaurants. It was absolutely tasty and soo cheap! I love the no tax thing in Portland.
People who live near Saburo's are so blessed... and I'm truly jealous because I am definitely a fan!
Sushi Awesomeness. The legendary Saburo's portion is what keeps me come back for more. In fact, this is my number #1 choice when I want some quality sushi. Speaking of quality, aside from the giant portion, the fish and seafood are very fresh. I have eaten sushi around Portland, I have to say it may be the freshest in Portland.
But I do have to mention, prepare to wait a long time to be seated and your sushi to be made.
Now, before I get pelted to death with raw fish, let me say that I WANTED to love this place. I heard so many great things about it from my friends, saw what the Yelpers had to say, and was really excited to try out what I expected was going to be my new favorite sushi joint. Yeah, not so much.
Let me start out by saying some nice things about the place. The location is nice, and parking wasn't hard to find. I have to say that the sushi rolls here are the biggest I've seen by far, and as one person said, I couldn't believe they made sushi you had to eat with two hands! For the size of the rolls, this place was dirt cheap.
Now that I've played nice, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty. The fish wasn't that great. Oh yeah, I said it. The fish was not nearly as fresh as other places I've eaten at which would account for why it's so cheap. Fresh, top-quality fish is spendy! I've been to places where the sushi wasn't edible, but that wasn't the case here. It was just that it didn't leave a lasting impression.
The other issue I had was the wait. I suppose if you are a lover of the restaurant then you wouldn't mind; however, I was not. Imagine how I feel about the 1-hour+ of my life I can't get back? I thought Jenna's suggestion about the happy hour was a good one though for those of you who do like this place and need to find a way to kill time.
Lastly, and probably the biggest reason I probably won't eat here again is the service. Oh Lord, that service. *shakes head* They barely talk to you, throw the food down on the table, and you are never allowed to order again. I felt like I was in Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi" episode! I was told that was par for the course with this place.
There are some places you'll travel to great lengths to (it took us nearly an hour in traffic to get out there) for a good meal. This isn't one of them. Let the fish-slapping begin!
OMG, so GOOD and CHEAP! The holy grail of dining, so definitely 5 stars in my book.
Yes, yes, everyone will rant and complain about the wait. It's soooo worth it! Go to Kay's and a grab a pint or stop by Starbucks while you wait. Don't worry if you're away too long and they cross your name off, they're nice about getting you a table once you return.
I was in town on a last minute business trip and a friend took me here for dinner.
1) River Eel - Such a generous piece of eel. It's seriously like 2x the size of the rice underneath. LOL!
2) Spicy Tuna - A standard staple, and executed perfectly.
3) CA/Crab Roll - Another staple, very good as well.
4) Hawaiian Roll - My favorite! It has spicy tuna and a few other things, and has a thin cucumber shell on the outside. Delicious!
5) Karate Roll - Another delicious special roll. A mix of a few kinds of fish, I forgot which ones, but I think it included chopped hamachi.
The portions are gigantic. Definitely American sized. We could barely finish and had to will our stomachs to victory. Afterwards, we could hardly walk. lol! Prepare your mentally and physically to totally pig out on some delicious sushi. And don't worry about the cost because it's so cheap! Our dinner was about $25, so I left a generous tip.
A true gem. I wish I could find a place like this in the Bay Area... ;P
Next time I'm in Portland, I'll definitely have to go back to Saburo's. :D
Not my cup of soy sauce. The wait is super long, portions are strangely HUGE and not that flavorful, and the tables are so close that you feel like you're intruding on the next table's conversation! The tuna is a strange hot pink color I'm not used to seeing and as I'm eating the Unagi, I can't help but wonder how large this eel must have been for this slice to be as big as a snack sized snickers bar!
Overall, I feel this sushi is better photographed than consumed. The pictures are gorgeous, but my stomach would prefer to go elsewhere- without the wait.
While most think the "Civil War" takes place in Eugene or Corvallis there's another going on right here. Saburo's is a yelp ratings battleground that like most war's has at least two distinctly disparate sides.
The Lover's argue that it's worth the wait. That the rolls are HUGE, the cuts of fish are HUGE, the platters are HUGE. They love that it's cheap. They claim the fish there is fresh, and that the sushi is the best. They fire off five and four stars like they're going out of style.
The Hater's argue that it's not worth the wait. That the rolls are HUGE, the cuts of fish are HUGE, the platters are HUGE. They like that it's cheap. They claim the fish there isn't fresh, and that the sushi is the worst. They fire off barrages of one and two stars like Martha Stewart handing out criticism.
So having read all this I met up here for dinner with some friends and will now add my generally less than humble opinion to the war.
Sixteen years ago I didn't like sushi so would have hated it regardless.
Fifteen to Eleven years ago I would have thought as the Lover's do. At the time I thought great sushi was paper thin slices of fish on cold rice served on a conveyor belt. Saburo's would have been a revelation.
Ten year's ago I happened to stop in at Sushi Masa (a tiny little place in Honolulu http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and my concept of good sushi (perhaps even my life) was forever changed. This is when I became a Hamachi addict (I'd attend HA meetings if such a group existed). This is when I went from mild mannered Joshua C to Super Sushi Snob. I've spent the last decade eating and studying great sushi and I'll be honest with you....I'm with the Hater's....this ain't it.
I knew from the reviews and pictures what side I'd land in, but I'm open to giving places a try and the people we were meeting were cool.
Sushi is about balance, subtlety, freshness, and perfection. None of which can be found here.
While most people focus on the fish, great sushi begins with great rice. Here the rice was under seasoned (read bland) and overcooked (mushy texture). The rolls and nigiri were sloppily formed, so much so that despite their mushiness were they were still falling apart. Additionally there was just too much rice, I ended up leaving about half of it on my plate.
Logically (and definitely) economically you'd think getting bigger slices of fish would be a good thing. In the world of great sushi, it's not. Nigiri should be bite sized (meaning you should be able to fit the whole thing in your mouth without choking). The fish wasn't the freshest to begin with and only got worse since it's served on large platters and just sat out for a while. Ideally nigiri should be eaten immediately after the sushi-ya puts the cold fish on the warm rice.
The nigiri for all there size had really minuscule amounts of wasabi. And as with the nigiri the rolls were also too large and hastily constructed.
You'd think from this review that I probably hated my visit. That I sat their agonizing each bite, I didn't. I've come to accept that there'll be times when hanging out with friends will mean eating less than stellar food. I decided years ago in my "foodie career" that if I was going to choose to be somewhere I wouldn't waste my time or money being pissed off. I knew what to expect going in, so instead focused in on the great company.
Saburo's is cheap enough (as far as sushi goes) that I wouldn't have been upset to have paid, but thankfully one of our generous friends took care of the check. Would I return were I paying and it was up to me to pick a place? No way.
I can see how the other side loves this place, had I never experienced anything better I might have too. I even considered giving it Three Stars out of consideration for those that don't know any better, but will instead just rate it as it deserves. From an authentic sushi purist's perspective this isn't great sushi, in fact it's not even good...so...Two Stars (For horrific One Star sushi action check out http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
"Saburo's didn't get 5 starts for atmosphere... those stars are all for the food! HUGE portions, plan on sharing. Everything was very fresh and best of all you can request not to have any mayonnaise sauces on the rolls.
I went with a regular, so he knew to arrive before the 4:30 pm opening time to avoid the wait. A trip is worth the wait in the line, but I don't have much patience waiting for food. Many of the other patrons printed out the menu ahead of time and marked their orders allowing them to be at the front of the line in the kitchen."
I have been eating at saburros since i was little (7 i think), my parents were among the first in Portland to "discover" the restaurant (i remember when you didn't really have to wait in line to be seated).
I see alot of people on here smashing saburros because of the portion size (which kind of inflated over the years), sometimes mentioning that the fish quality must suffer, which i find ridiculous. I have found that they have some of the best tasting fish around. However i will say that it is hardly elegant anymore, and alot of people have trouble handling the sushi without making a mess. They used to allow multiple orders from a table, and to-go, but since they have become so popular i dont think the kitchen can handle it.
But, you pay around the same price as other sushi places and get about 3 times as much food.
and yeah you really do have to get there well before they open if you want to be in the first seating.
The first time I went here, I had just moved to Portland and when I did a search found this to be one of the closer places. I called to order some to-go and the hostess answered. She basically told me to come in and order, and hung up on me. Fine....OK....I'll come in. So in I went to this super crowded restaurant, with no sign out front, next door to a shoe repair shop. I did my best to stand out of the way while I waited. Busy employees zoomed past me, nearly knocking me over while I thought, "NEVER again will I eat here!!". Finally my order was ready and I drove my few miles home in a snit.
When I saw the size of the portions I was shocked, but hey, size isn't everything. One bite into the fresh Hamachi, and I was sold. The flavor and texture was amazing! OK, fine, they do that well, but what about the rest? The rest was just as amazing. I was a devoted customer.
I learned to plan for the wait, and wait I did- usually in the rain. I became a weekly visitor and eventually I wore the terse hostess down. She would actually smile and say hello to me, comment on my hair cuts, and show me warmth and kindness. Never did she show me any favoritism, nor did I expect her to, but I loved the looks of disbelief from other patrons when they watched us quickly chit chat. I felt like Kramer and the Soup Nazi.
There's a reason this place always has a line outside every day. It's one of the best places for sushi.
Big portions at good prices. Good enough for me. The yakisoba isn't so great though, it tastes kind of weird but overall, it's a must for anyone who likes Japanese.
I think there are different levels of sushi restaurants, so before you get on your sushi-connissour-high-horse, take into consideration the cost. If you are going to pay maybe 3 bucks for two pieces of salmon nigri, then it isn't going to make your taste-buds orgasm. However, if the fish is fresh and melts in your mouth - then you have the right to be excited that you found a decent sushi joint that's softer on your pocket book.
That being said: I heart Saburo's. As my sister-in-law said to me, "Just another reason to move to Portland..."
Three of us ordered:
- salmon nigri
- hamachi nigri
- spicy tuna roll
- real crab California roll (real crab?! c'mon!)
- tuna maki
- spider roll
At a normal restaurant, this would have probably made all our tum-tums content, but alas - you're at Saburo's. We took almost all the tuna maki home! HUGE rolls and, though I don't think bigger is better, every bit was flavorful and delicious! And our bill was less than 40 bucks! Can I get a high-five, seriously!?
Super-downer: the wait, but I say give this place a try.
Simply the best for when you want to gorge on sushi - big rolls little prices. But the line. The godforsaken line. Makes me wonder if I should knock my rating down a star or two. If you are so hot to trot that you have a two hour line stretching around the block, why not expand? Seriously. Just expand enough to knock the line down to one hour. You'll still be Saburo's.
I don't do lines, because I read somewhere once that if you stand in enough of them, by the time you die, the tally will add up to months and possibly years. With this fear in mind, my strategy is to go spontaneously on a horribly rainy day. I bet a snowy day would work even better ! Anyway, I check my name right when they open and go back and wait in the car. You and your buds can take turns checking on your status. When you get ok'd for clearance, they can cell-y tele you back in the car. Or we will wait for the evening of said stormy night and do the same thing about 30 minutes before closing. The food is great and cheap, but lines are for people who enjoy being bored and watching cars drive by.
OK I will jump into this firestorm too. There are much better places to get sushi than Saburo's in Portland. I said it I will not appologize for it. I have eaten here twice once a few years ago and then about 6 months ago both with regulars who swear it is the best place ever. Each time I thought ok lets give it a try. I love sushi and am always looking out for good eats but to me Saburo's just isnt it.
The review by Joshua C is totally right on. Sushi is balance. I have been taught that by my step-mother, one of the first trained female sashimi chefs; by our family Japanese friends; and most importantly from a pure taste stand point of my own palate.
Sure a roll the size of your head may be cool but it is impracticle to eat and you miss most of the flavors the roll is trying to impart. And a giant slab of fish over a tiny and not that wonderfully seasoned rice (and yes the rice for sushi is just as important as the fish) is lacking balance in so many ways it just isnt that good.
I will say the amount of seafood they give you for your money is outstanding, I wonder how they pull off giving such a good deal. The fish always seems fairly fresh. And I have liked the food it is just I can see how much better it would be with a little more TLC from the chef.
If you want to enjoy the best sushi in Oregon go to Syun, it is just a tad more expensive, but the fish, rice, food over all is so much better you'll be glad you paid a little more.
*Edited: 3/5 because my last experience there was somewhat gross. Some of the fish didn't seem "sushi fresh" to me. The red tuna & salmons were kinda slimy. Sadness :( I'm giving Saburo's ONE more chance..
Original:
If you're a feral glutton like me, Saburo's is paradise! Focusing on speed, quantity, & price, this place wins best affordable Portland sushi in my book. Sansei on NW 23rd is a close 2nd.
I wouldn't go here with more than 4 people, it's always busy & you'll be waiting a long time for a table.
The cuts are beyond enormous & the gal I dined with said she couldn't fit them in her mouth (twss). Each piece of sushi was about double the size of what you'd expect so BEWARE OF HOW MUCH YOU ORDER. The unagi sushi was the biggest & was totally rocking 8 inches, literally! Not an exaggeration, I swear. I've never seen a place serve a full eel on a 2pc order before, especially for under $5.
Alright, if you're a vanity whore or a sushi snob, this place probably isn't for you. You don't get greeted at the door, or at all really. Sushi really isn't supposed to be this big, it's supposed to be only the best parts of the fish in bite size pieces. It was perfect for me though. I kinda enjoyed the shoddy service here because I could grunt and growl while eating without feeling rude. The decor is probably unattractive to the vanity whores of the world, but I really don't focus such trivialities. I focus on what's on my plate & how much it costs.
A $30 bill is a steal for 2 rolls, 3 orders of sushi, sake for 2, & tea, especially when the fish is double what you'd usually expect.
If you're the type person that could grab a live fish, rip its scales off, & just start gnashing away at it to your heart's content, this place is a must! 4/5 only because the lady couldn't fit it in her mouth. 5/5's make everyone happy.
Wow! The photos pretty much tell the whole story. Gargantuan portions at jaw-dropping prices.
What you don't see is hit or miss waiter service. Others have said the wait can be long. And I don't mean the food, but a table. A signup sheet hangs by the front door. If you aren't there before the doors open, sign up immediately! I've seen newbies fail to notice the little clipboard and others sign up ahead of them while they wait patiently for the crowd to dwindle. What a pity. I've also seen people erase a name in the queue and write in their own. For shame.
You see, it's a battlefield out there. Once you get past the barbed wire and landmines (mild exaggeration) a coveted seat awaits. Another tip: print out a copy of the menu on their website and fill it in before visiting Saburo's. The wait will seem much shorter and I'm sure the waiter appreciates it. Plus, it will be the only order you'll get to make on your visit, because that's how they run things.
I recommend, well, all of their nigiri. Their sea urchin (an acquired taste) is actually quite good. I hate to admit this, but their salmon nigiri, made from farmed salmon, tasted better than any wild salmon nigiri I've had. Probably because of the extra fat that gave it its smooth, buttery flavor.
Also a hit is their fried salmon skin salad. Their tempura is so-so average. Try a bit of everything. I'm willing to bet nothing on their menu will disappoint. Just don't try it all in one sitting!
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Clinton
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Sushi Bars
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