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Yoko's Japanese Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
2878 SE Gladstone StPortland, OR 97202
Neighborhoods: Creston-Kenilworth, Southeast Portland
(503) 736-9228
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
125 reviews for Yoko's Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
"I love the batman roll."
(in 7 reviews)
"The other stuff is delicious too (Taka's tuna FTW."
(in 12 reviews)
"...liked to wait at C-Bar next door (which has now moved away."
(in 22 reviews)
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125 reviews in English
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Review from Sherry S.
1/19/2012
Tiny and intimate, mixed with some really cool reggae and retro music, and finally some awesome sushi chefs that make dreamy food. Digging that recipe!
All these scary reviews I read of mean servers and a wait that lasts forever.. NOT what we experienced one bit. However, I do my research and was waiting at 5pm to get in the door. I also was especially warm to the hard workers, but they seemed to be naturally nice. Maybe I hit a good day, or maybe they got rid of the mean servers?
All I know is I had some of THE best sushi I've had in forever. We went hog wild in ordering too. We were sitting at the sushi bar which also is helpful as you are directly in touch with your personal chef. ;) I took the advice of the reviews and got a couple of their specials like the Taki Tuna (hot rice patty on the bottom, tons of avocado on top of that, complete with another ton of poke tuna). That is some great stuff. On to the unagi which was warm and sweet, the way it's supposed to be. Next up was the wasabi fish eggs.. Watch it!!! They are so hot I almost choked on my sushi.. Yikes! But, I mean this in a good way. I also read on here that you cannot get uni.. au contraire.. it was on special and once again fresh and delectable, melt in your mouth. I could keep going but I think you catch my drift.
I will say that they are more expensive than some other places, but they also seem to match that up with size of the order, as well as just how fresh it all is.
Not only discovered some new sushi choices, including poke here in Portland, I also found a champagne sake!!!! Right up my alley!
It's like starting over... over and over.. Thanks Yoko!
http://www.youtube.com...Listed in: Raw fish (sushi)
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Review from Lily J.
A bit overrated... the food here is good but not the best sushi joint in town... small place with tables directly next to each other and bright lights!
I was pretty much blinded by the overhead lights.
Everything was pretty much okay but their specialty, the spicy tuna on top of crispy rice was the only thing that was really good. My only complaint about it was the fact that it was too big to eat at once so I had to cut it into small peaces which messes with the consistency & taste as well as the presentation. Katsya in LA has something similar but is totally bite size so that you can enjoy all of the flavors all at once.
Anyway, we did have decent service but I still wouldn't go out of my way to come back. If I ever did agree to come back I would probably just order sashimi and their spicy tuna specialty. -
Review from Hanna D.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I will resist including all of my ninja jokes that I have generated over the day.
I do however have to include the give it to me raw joke.
Now that's out of the way....I wasn't really impressed. The food was mediocre, the service was slow, and the place is cramped.
I thought it was average sushi (and other food, for that matter) at a little above average prices. Everything was fresh and made properly, I just wasn't a fan of the flavors. That being said, sushi is definitely not my specialty. We also got the yakisoba noodle and chicken dish that was really unimpressive. The chicken was chewy and flavorless, it had altogether too much soy sauce and only a few veggies (3 broccoli florets, a tablespoon of shaved carrots and a handful of cabbage.)
We had a bigger group (6) and I understand that it is a smaller joint, however the service was outrageously slow. It took them 30 minutes to get me a soda and others in my party need got the glass of water that we requested 3 times. The food came out as quickly as it could be made, which did impress me. -
Review from jesse f.
Portland, OR
2/7/2012
Best sushi we got in Portland. Still the undefeated champ, but the service is eh.
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Review from Sheena D.
Portland, OR
2/3/2012
I am shocked at some of the reviews on here, this place is amazing and I have been going here a long time. The staff is very friendly and very BUSY, and you know why? because the food is amazing there for they are always packed. Yes there is a long wait but it is so worth it. Best gyoza I have ever had, everything really is good. I love the atmosphere and how the sushi chefs are ligitimatly concerned whether you are enjoying your food or not. HIGHLY recommended.
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Review from Danielle S.
Portland, OR
1/14/2012
Several people spoke very highly of this sushi place so I went several times and it is not great. First off they seem to be understaffed because my order took so ridiculously long I thought about taking it to go. In fact I asked but it seemed to confuse them so I just canceled the rest of my order.
They need help someone who can roll sushi fast and waiters to help bring checks and fill waters. the sushi wasnt horrible but the flavors of the fish didn't shine through.
Everything was kind of muddled I think great sushi starts with the rice and yokos isn't winning any awards in my book -
Review from jopa l.
Portland, OR
12/8/2011
I have had both good and awful food here, so choose wisely. There is kind of a smelly, dirty feeling sometimes when i go in, as if the place is not properly ventilated and not often cleaned.
I live nearby and the whole "sometimes we do take-out and sometimes we don't" thing is particularly annoying, does it depend on who answers the phone? Now, I understand the place is small but please just have some kind of consistent policy.
Overall i do not recommend the joint, but I don't argue with friends who choose it. -
Review from Brandon T.
Portland, OR
1/11/2012
This is my favorite place to go in Portland period. Amazing sushi. Great quality fish. Just try the chirashi. The atmosphere is great. You just have to be... you know... a human.
As a server/bartender myself I know that yelp is basically like youtube. A bunch of bitchy haters just trolling. That is why this place gets 5 star reviews and 1 star reviews. Jobs suck. Waiters are just people.
I have gone there alone and made friends with the sushi chefs. I have brought dates and had great service. I have gone there plastered and been humored. The place is amazing! 5 stars!
Ignore the haters unless of course you suck. If you suck stay at home. The place always has a wait for a reason. Enjoy the wait at the C-Bar. It is a wonderful tradition! -
Review from Mike T.
Beaverton, OR
12/28/2011
Very fresh sushi. Good presentation but a little expensive. I would stop back if I have friends that want fresh sushi but would not consider this place a regular spot.
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Review from Carly J.
Portland, OR
9/19/2011
I would never leave a bad review for one bad experience, but after my experiences over the last few years I just want to get this off my chest.
This place is in our neighborhood. We could walk here every week if we wanted. But the service can be so bad. For example- I had a more pleasant visit to the DMV this morning with my toddler than my failed dining experience with them last night.
I really don't blame it on the servers, they are all nice, capable folks. The service issues come from the top-the owner/manager doesn't need to worry about how slow things are or how unresponsive they are are to issues because people keep coming through the door. So be it. The food is decent, the business keeps things fresh. But in the end there is nothing at Yoko's that can't be enjoyed elsewhere. -
Review from Brice B.
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
[The setting: a crowded Tuesday night at Yoko's. The waitstaff looks a little harried, but nothing serious. I am seated at sushi bar along with beautiful wife.]
Me: It's my birthday dinner!
Wife: Yay!
Me: Hey sushi chefs, do you do omakase?
Chefs: Yeah.
Me: Great! Let's do it!
Waitress: Can I get you a beer and take your order?
Me: Yep. We want omakase, is that cool?
Waitress: Did you tell the chefs?
Me: Yep.
Waitress: Cool! I'll take those menus from you.
[15 minutes elapse. Food is not present. I ask waitress if we did something wrong, she says no, sorry we're busy.]
Me: Sigh.
[15 minutes elapse, no food. We decide to make our exit]
Sushi chef: You needed to check a box. It's not our fault. You are in the wrong.
Me [To Self]: Fuck you.
Fin.
Mistakes were made. Maybe even by me. That does not forgive being a jerk. A sushi chef at a bar that seats 10 should probably have noticed two patrons without food for 30 minutes and investigated, busy or not. I was polite enough not to inform them of my opinion in the matter. The least they could have done was return the favor. -
Review from Harley P.
Santa Barbara, CA
8/20/2011
amazing sushi quality. I'm an Asian (Taiwanese) and I'm a sushi lover. I have tried about 30 to 50 sushi restaurants in the Northwest. So far, I give Yoko's sushi 5 stars for the following reasons:
1. Their ingredient is fresh. If you want to experience the freshness, try straight up salmon sashimi or Oregon roll.
2. They do population control. They only serve a certain amount of customers so that they keep their service refine.
3. Their menu is creative. Look at all their rolls! They don't just serve typical American Japanese food; instead, they serve creativity.
for that, as a sushi critic, I give Yoko five starts. -
Review from Korin W.
Portland, OR
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a hankering for sushi Saturday evening, searched Yelp, and decided we had to try Yoko's. There was a wait for a table but we got there just before the big rush. We only waited 12 minutes or so, and we waited next door at C bar (which was legit). The fish was fresh and delish! The special roll we ordered, which had BBQ eel, was giant - and therefore off putting. Still enjoyed picking out the eel and avocado :) I understand the 'roll' on top of the fried rice looking-McDonald's-type patty is suppose to be good, but I didn't care for it. Overall really delish and GREAT atmosphere!!
The only issue we really had was the service... We had a very small table and could barely hold all of our ordered food and drink, which was an issue because our server never cleared a single item off of our table. We cleared each empty plate, cup, etc and had to place it on the floor next to us. Also, our sushi came before our miso soup... WTF!? Our server was intoxicated and oblivious to our needs let alone our table. So our server blew chunks, but I know we'll be back....just as long as we don't have the same server :) -
Review from Joshua B.
4/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've gone to so many sushi restaurants I'm pretty inured to the claims that a new place will somehow be "great". But I went here with some Portlandites (Portlandians?) on a recent trip and a few things prompted me to bump up the review to 5 stars.
One - seared albacore tuna nigiri. Warm and buttery, crisped edges - heaven. Not sure why this isn't on the menu at any places in Seattle I've been - it's great.
Two - Taka's Tuna, which is a small fried rice patty topped w/ spicy tuna sashimi, avocado, and green onions. It is pretty unique, but you have to have a big mouth to get it all in there in one bite (I knew my big yapper would come in handy one day).
Three - The dessert that was ice cream wrapped in cake then deep fried. We all shared it, but just a few bites was perfect. Much better, IMHO, than mochi.
We had two kids in our party of 7, and mine loves edamame, shrimp and the adegashi tofu, so it wasn't too hard to keep him entertained. They have a few choices for kids, including noodles, so unless your kids a Japanese food hater it's pretty cool to bring them here.
Note that the other reviews are right - make sure to get here right when it opens or be prepared for a massive wait.Listed in: Portland
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Review from Emily F.
Portland, OR
10/24/2011
Phenomenal. My husband and I are sushi lovers and Yoko's never disappoints. Freshest we've had in Portland and cozy little ambiance.
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Review from Brooks S.
Portland, OR
4/7/2011 20 Check-ins Here
By far the best sushi this town has to offer. It gets pretty packed so it's best to go early, right at 5 for a seat at the bar, otherwise be ready for a wait.
But, pinball fans that can't make it early will love that the hostess will call you at the neighboring bars when your table is ready.
Always friendly conversation at the bar, and for the few extra bucks, the quality of the fish here will blow you away. -
Review from Linda M.
Vancouver, WA
8/14/2011 3 photos
Terrible service, great food!
However, it is my favorite place to go on my Birthday, since they do have the freshest sushi in town. I absolutely love the hamachi sashimi...The side dipping sauce itself is to die for! They also have a great softshell crab...lightly battered and very tasty. My husband always opts for the Halibut Tempura...Very good. Pretty much all the sushi/sashimi is fresh and well worth the splurge! The Poki roll is a must! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because the service tends to be very slow moving and not so friendly at times. However, Yoko herself is an absolute doll! (~_~) -
Review from Megan L.
5/21/2011 1 photo
I love this place!
I have been going to this place for years, but new to Yelp and when I go to a place so often...I forget to post a review!
The staff is friendly, the food is delicious and the ambiance is great!
They have a great menu...sushi, chicken teri and many other yummy choices!
If there is a wait...no problem. Write your cell number on the wait list and enjoy a frosty one at the C-bar next door! which is fabulous too!
Enjoy your dinner!! -
Review from j. a.
Portland, OR
10/20/2011
Taka's tuna & poke roll. My favorite restaurant in Portland. Hands down.
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Review from Rachelle B.
Portland, OR
3/5/2011
The thing about Yoko's is... it's an event. Plan to wait. Get on the list, go next door to C Bar and have a drink or three. Be nice to the staff. The world does not revolve around you, and there is a line of people waiting to take your place every night of the week.
Now about the food: Yoko's has access to some choice cuts of fish, so the portions are generous and unbelievably good. Taka's tuna is a favorite, as are the agedashi (tofu) and hamachi (yellowfin collar). My husband must have the scallops every time we visit. And sake by the masu is heartwarming any time of the year.
Sushi cravings being what they are, Yoko and her staff often see our names on that list and we always leave happy. -
Review from Olivia T.
2/16/2011
Sometimes I think to myself, where da heck have I been? There are so many good restaurants in Portland and even though I've lived here for more than 10 years, I still didn't try every single restaurant in this city.
Yoko came into my life this year and I'm pretty happy with our encountered. My dining companion and I ordered sushi and I thought we ordered way too much. They brought us this giant circular tray with all sushi in it.
I have to say, Yoko's done Nigiri style of sushi the right way. Fresh salmon, tuna, and even for the Unagi (eel) which was cooked, I could taste the freshness of it. However, for rolls, they were just ok. They were delicious, but not mind blowing.
Thank gawd we got there about 5:30 ish, as soon as we got our seats, people started coming in and some people waited in line. I will come back, Yoko. I still have to try your other offerings. -
Review from Forrest S.
Happy Valley, OR
1/23/2011
I just recently discovered Yoko's in my quest for good, reasonably priced sushi in Portland. A lot of places have decent rolls, tempura etc., but not many places have really high quality fish. Yoko's has all of the above, and if you are willing to wait, it is well worth it.
I came here around 8 on a Friday, so I knew I was going to be waiting for an hour or so, but no biggie, it's was a good date so an extra hour of conversation is always a good thing. If you get bored, go next door for some drinks and wait for the phone call.
The staff wasn't rude, nor were they overly attentive, with that "please give me a tip" attitude. Our server was very polite, and didn't rush us in spite the fact we were committing the cardinal sin of being there at closing time. It's a pretty small place, so I wouldn't recommend it for big groups or if you are in a hurry.
We had the batman roll which was great with it's melt in your mouth unagi. A delicious, spicy tuna roll, with its fresh and flavorful tuna, and a dynamite roll. Add in soba noodles with tempura, some yellow tail and heavenly salmon nigiri (of which I wish I could have eaten 20 more of), we both left very happy and very full.
I will be coming back here to brave the long wait to sample some more of their offerings. 4.5 stars that are well deserved. -
Review from Heather R.
Portland, OR
10/11/2011
Reading bad reviews of a sushi bar which only reference wait times as the main offender makes me pity the impatient. When out for great sushi, you are going to wait. Sometimes a while if it's a busy/good place. Drink your sake and order appetizers which are quick to come out (i.e. seaweed salad or edamame). Wait, drink, converse, and enjoy yourselves. This is not sushi-train or McDonald's. It's fabulous! (a couple of their rolls are larger than ideal, which is why I only gave 4 stars)
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Review from Erin M.
11/27/2010
Maybe I just have California on my mind, but this sushi joint reminds me of southern Cali like crazy. There's that 20-something sushi chef with his baseball hat on backwards. There's the tiki-style decoration. There's that fake blonde in her plaid shirt with her date in the west coast choppers sweatshirt. There's the chill, albeit slow waiter who doesn't even care. It just feels so.... CA.
But, the food is damn good. -
Review from Don B.
9/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
I was really surprised by the quality of the sushi at Yoko's. I'm not going to say that it's the white guys behind the sushi bar, the location, or anything else that caused me hesitation or even made me enter with low expectations.. I'll just say that I walked in not knowing what to expect, and came out stoked to have consumed some great fish.
I'm really picky when it comes to my fish, and I can comfortably say that what I was served at Yoko's was way more fresh than I'm used to getting at other random P-town sushi joints (at least the ones that fall outside of my usual preferred rounds). The rice wasn't perfect, but it was good enough. The cuts were made with care, the size of the portion was just right, and, again, as far as what I'm concerned is the number one attribute - the fish fresh.
The space here is tiny, but somehow I managed to slide right in and grab a seat at the counter. I was solo, so that helped, I'm sure. A masu of sake, some mackerel, salmon and albacore nigiri, and a salmon skin hand roll came to about $30, which by no means is cheap. But for good fish I'm willing to dip into the discretionary income.
The setup of this little sushi closet affords a cozy, communal feel. I'd balk at any attempt to draw together a group of people at this joint, but as a pair, or a 4-top at most, I'd happily return.
I love surprises. Especially good ones. -
Review from jeff w.
Austin, TX
3/20/2011
Best way to explain this place was 'Phish and The Dead decided to open up a Sushi Bar". Prepare for a wait, be nice to the folks there, and they give you a ring inviting you on in. (time for some social apps guys).
The interior is very cozy and the vibe is all about being mellow to enjoy the rich colors and flavors of the food you receive.
Very fresh fish that has brought me back several times to this neighborhood hot spot. -
Review from Rachel K.
Portland, OR
5/2/2011
Chocolate and Peanutbutter, Pizza and Root Beer, --- fantastic combinations! Yoko has the Poke Roll -- perfect combination of seared and raw tuna with a poke sauce to die for! (They should bottle and sell that stuff).
Wonderful, fresh fish, delicious spicy octopus roll and the salmon nigiri-- plan and simple is utterly devine -- and the true test of a good sushi restaurant.
and you can wait next door at the C-Bar and Yoko's will call you when your table is ready ! How great is that? Have a sake or cheap PBR while you wait, seated in a warm place unlike that OTHER popular place down the road on SE Bybee where you wait in line -- rain or shine. -
Review from Katie R.
Portland, OR
10/16/2010
I used to love this place.... lately super disappointed.
Went here a few weeks back to impress some guests I was entertaining from out of town, because I honestly believed that they were the best mid-range $$ sushi joint here in P-town.
I ended up dismayed. My guest ordered sashimi, and was quizzed by the waitress as to whether or not he really wanted the rice that typically comes with the meal. Sort of like "Are you sure you want rice with that?" what the hell?
Additionally, I ordered a few rolls, which came out w/ everyone else's food, and one order of Unagi. 20 minutes after we finished eating our meals respectively, the Unagi hadn't showed up. I asked the waitress if we could just cancel it, since it was taking so long, but she insisted since it was on it's way, and that we'd eat it or take it to go. I don't know about you, but nothing grosses me out more than leftover sushi. Isn't that a health hazard or something?
Overall, my disappointment with this place is purely over the service. The food is okay, but honestly, I don't want to have to battle the service staff over what I want for my meal. It defeats the point of eating out, doesn't it?
And this is the second time I've had a shitty experience. I owe them one more opportunity to reconcile themselves but after that, I'm moving on. Or maybe I already have.... -
Review from Katie H.
Lahaina, HI
8/17/2010
If you like your service staff to hate your guts, this place is for you!
I couldn't believe how terrible the service was. I love to dine out. I dont care about how expensive or cheap the food is, but I really appreciate great service. The woman who served us should be serving inmates at a federal prison.
We signed up on the clipboard to wait, and we just so happen to be the last people they were serving that night. (Weird because it was 8pm) As we were sitting in the entry way, waiting for a table, two guys came in to sign up about 4 min after us and the server was so rude to them and shoved them away like they were street rats. They were really confused why, since they were obviously open for business. I felt so bad for them, and it didnt leave a great first impression of this establishment.
After waiting ONE HOUR we finally got a table. Our server never came over to say hi, or tell us about the menu items, NOTHING. Instead she slithered over to our table and just said, "Do you know what you want?"
Turns out the Dynamite looks like a baked pile of vomit, and the sushi was so big I could not fit it all into my mouth. I seriously thought I was going to choke!
Never coming back. They really need to pull their sushi rolls out of their asses.
PS- I saw those frozen boxes of Ice-Cream Mochi balls in your freezer from my table. I buy those boxes from the super market all the time. I like how they made it on your menu and want to charge us $3.50 for your "Dessert" Get real. -
Review from Jason B.
Portland, OR
Best sushi in Portland, maybe Oregon
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Review from Emily G.
Portland, OR
8/11/2011
I went to Yoko's on a recommendation and loved it. I will also recommend this place to my friends. They take your cell phone number down on the wait list, which is great because you can head nextdoor and grab a beer or cocktail (or sake!) while you wait for your table or seat at the sushi bar. The fish was fresh and cut well, the rice was perfect and the cheeks were the best I've ever had. Only wish they had a couple items like escolar and quail egg.
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Review from kelly s.
Portland, OR
9/25/2010
Pretty long wait, but I felt it was worth it. All the rolls and sashimi were fresh and flavorful. Roll combinations were inventive. Reminded me of Bklyn a little so I felt a bit back at home. Not the best you'll ever eat or anything, but definitely worth the wait.
WORD TO THE WISE: GO WHEN YOU CAN DEAL WITH WAITING A BIT. -
Review from ash. a.
Portland, OR
5/10/2009 ROTD 1/23/2010
There are two things I really like about Yoko's sushi:
1. That the owner, Yoko, prepares pretty much everything herself
And....
2. Because of that fact, it taste like love was put into every bite.
Although there are many good sushi places in Portland, like Bamboo Sushi, not many of them have the taste of home like this place does. If you can imagine, the food taste like it would if your momma was a Japanese sushi chef.
The ahi tuna was fresh and tasty, and the eel roll is worth going back for alone. Also, the saki menu is really great. Just ask your server for a suggestion and you can't go wrong. -
Review from Kayt d.
8/20/2008
After reading so many terrific Yelp reviews for this place we stopped here for a pre-movie dinner last Friday night. We only had to wait about 5 minutes before we were seated right next to the aquarium. (Cute fish!)
My "uh oh" radar went off when I saw a lot of items on the menu that contained "krab". And what's with the young white guys behind the sushi bar? I have a feeling we're not in San Francisco anymore....
But, I kept an open mind about all this (think of the terrific Yelp reviews!) and ordered a handful of ngiri and several specialty maki rolls. None of them were particularly good or memorable. The fish tasted a little "off" and there was altogether too much rice in the maki which made them all look the same. At first we wondered if we mistakenly got 5 of the same roll.
The service was acceptable. Our waiter forgot the seaweed salad we ordered and served us two of a particular roll when we only ordered one.
The Japanese food in Portland gets better than this, right? Right? *worried look* -
Review from Shane e.
New Orleans, LA
3/8/2008
We had a roll there with salmon, avocado, cream cheese, and mango, and it was just about the most damn delicious roll of sushi I've ever had. No joke. Yum yum yum. Everything else was great as well. The sauce that comes with the tempura is some of the best dippiesauce around.
A little overpriced, but hey, you're hanging out on Gladstone, where else are you going to eat? Totino's party pizzas out of the Ship Ahoy microwave? Also, it's really cramped in there and there's frequently a really long wait for tables, but just go play some Big Buck Hunter at the Ship to kill some time. -
Review from Suzanne F.
Portland, OR
2/6/2008
Best Darn Sushi I have ever had, bar none! I dream about this place, and while I pride myself on adventuresome dining, I will predictably return to Yoko's again and again.
There's been a wait each time we have eaten here, which is fine. We just go next door to C-Bar and have a drink. It's worth the wait. Upon entering the restaurant there is a very well maintained salt water tank with an incredible array of animal life. I know how difficult it is to keep up with these tanks and this is one of the healthiest I have seen. It is a good sign indicating the care lavished upon food here.
We had several specials including spider rolls, a roll with salmon skin, and spicy tuna rolls. The special spring rolls were OUTSTANDING and filled with prawns and vegetables. We also enjoyed a salad of wakame, cucumbers and slivered carrots. This food is swoon-worthy. We have had fun conversations with folks next to us at the sushi bar, tho' we haven't spoken to the sushi chefs. They are so focused and concentrating so hard on the food...which is what I want to see!
To top it all off, I think the logo for this place is about the most humorous I have found. Without giving too much away, let me just say an inflated blow-fish with enlarged lipsticked lips is pretty gosh-darned attractive! Highly favored by me and I am a frequent flyer to this terrific spot! It WILL, however, spoil you to all other sushi from this time forth. -
Review from Alissa R.
Portland, OR
10/29/2008
"In the hands of an able cook, fish can become an inexhaustible source of perpetual delight." Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
I LOVE sushi... no really. Not Like, Not Lust... true LOVE. Buuuuuut I don't give love easily. When done correctly, sushi, for me, is a little slice of heaven wrapped in rice and seaweed. For the longest time, I thought that Saburos was THE place to get great (and inexpensive) sushi. Thankfully my coworker informed me I was incorrect and needed to try Yokos... the sushi challenge was on.
First off, gotta give a shout out to C-Bar, which provided wonderful cocktails while we patiently waited for a table to become available next door at Yokos... alcohol always makes the wait more bearable. Then, once seated, the Sake list was quite impressive as was the specialty roll menu.... all were DELISH!! I could rant and rave about how amazingly tasty everything was (faves were the Poki roll, walla-walla roll, Takas tuna, Salmon nigiri... i could go on) but I'm just going to declare Yokos FTW... best inexpensive sushi in PDX!!! -
Review from Abe I.
Portland, OR
5/25/2007
It is really good. It is true. Everybody seems to say so, and this time they were all on to something. It is a ghetto little hole-in-the-wall place with very few tables, no room to wait so everyone spills over into the C-bar next door, and it is the best sushi I have eaten in Portland.
I went, sat right next to the aquarium, highly entertained by the funny fish, with a buzz on from my 2 drink wait. My friend ordered, being a regular here, some old standbys and then some rolls I have never had before, but it was all so good. Definitely a destination if you are looking to eat good sushi. -
Review from John B.
Portland, OR
4/9/2010
Okay - first, let me say I'm a HUGE, HUGE fan of this place. Secondly, let me say that I lived in Japan for three years, so sushi, I know. The C-Bar/Yoko's routine has been a regular pilgrimage of mine for many years and watching Yoko's gain popularity has been a bitter-sweet process. Their sushi really is the best in town - the quality of the fish is unparalleled. The sushi rice is good, but I have yet to find REAL sushi rice anywhere in Portland. If you've had it, you know what I'm sayin. Something that's hard for me to describe - somehow this too-small place just really captures the essence of the small Japanese sushi bar, then adds the Portland funk with eclectic music choices and a totally bad-assed wait staff.
After all that goodness, let me also say that this place is NOT for everyone. From out of town? It may not go well for you - this place is for locals. My first four or five trips didn't go so well on the service side, but I kept coming back again and again for the quality of the food. If you keep at it, they get to know you and the service is second to none. Secondly, the selection of fish is limited. I'm a huge fan of uni, but you'll never see it there. Outside of the sushi, three must tries: agedashi tofu, broiled yellow-fin collar, and the dynamite. -
Review from Tanna E.
Portland, OR
9/13/2010 2 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite sushi spot ever!! I love the batman roll!
I usually go right at 5 when they open so I don't have to wait. In the past I would go later and wait at C bar if I want to break the bank and spend a lot, but on the cheaper side prior to sushi I go to Ship Ahoy instead and wait for Yoko's to call me.
My boyfriend and I never get out of Yoko's without spending at least $80 which is kind of expensive for one meal but then again it's so hard to limit yourself there everything is good!! I always get the Batman roll, Philly roll, seared Ahi Tuna, Takas Tuna, fresh salmon, smoked salmon, the list goes on.....
It's too bad for the people who have had a bad experience here :(
When one of the wait staff walks by, I usually just say "excuse me" if I need something and they are always on top of it. They have always been pretty friendly to us and the groups that we have brought in so I can't say I have ever had a bad experience here.
They have street parking. They usually serve food 5-8ish, I guess sometimes 9 is they have enough fresh fish, it's been a long time since I went late.
Keep on rockin' Yoko and Family!!!!
