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Yuzu
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
4130 SW 117th AveSte H
Beaverton, OR 97005
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
(503) 350-1801
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6 pm - 11 pm
Sat 6 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Shawn W. said: "For the price, this is the best sushi experience in town. My wife and I have been frequenting Hakatamon since we moved to SW Portland in 2006. Of all the restaurants in Portland, I would be willing to bet we have made the most visits…" read more »
118 reviews for Yuzu
Review Highlights
"I had the Kakuni ramen - it was heavenly."
(in 30 reviews)
"The beef tongue is superb as well."
(in 18 reviews)
"You gotta look hard to find this place."
(in 14 reviews)
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118 reviews in English
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Review from Stanley T.
Portland, OR
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Move over Biwa, there's a new Stanley T favorite ramen in town. Well, one town over anyway.
We found Yuzu last evening. "Found" is the operative word here - it ain't easy. For one thing, the map that comes up on Yelp is off by 1/4 mile or so. I called from the exact spot marked on that map and a very helpful young lady gave me directions. Even when you get in the right strip mall it's still not easy. All of the other businesses in the mall have large, brightly lit signs while Yuzu has a little white paint name stencilled on their glass door. Find them though - it's worth it.
Others have described Yuzu as a hole in the wall place. Accurate I guess, but there's nothing the least bit unpleasant about the space. Our server (the same young lady who rescued me when I was lost) could not have been more delightful. We started with a couple of Asahi pints then a lovely Caesar salad with a miso-based dressing. We both ordered the Kakuni Ramen and were both quickly transported to culinary Heaven. I admit that $11 seems like a lot to pay for a bowl of noodles, but I'd say it's well worth it here. There's a bunch of food in that bowl. My bowl ended up empty, but I was very full. Also very happy. -
Review from Vi B.
12/16/2011
Finally! I got the chance to eat here after two tries (both times the place was so full I decided to forgo the wait and eat somewhere else).
This place is tiny, hidden, and far away from my usual haunts. But I was told the food was worth it, and I'm the type of girl who's willing to travel for food.
After reading so many reviews for it, I tried the Kakuni Ramen and couldn't speak because (1) it was so delicious and (2) my mouth was full of broth.
If I had the choice, I'd live next door to Yuzu so I could eat there every day. But then I'd be 300 pounds and they'd have to roll me out the door. But as anyone who's tried the food knows, being 300 pounds and full of Yuzu Ramen wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. -
Review from Omi H.
Portland, OR
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
EXPENSIVE EXPENSIVE EXPENSIVE!
No it's not like $50 per person, but more like small ass portions!!! XO
O/w it is very authentic traditional Jpn Izakaya food --- small portions! Serves your typical Izakaya food. If you don't know what Izakaya serves you should look it up --- nothing special if you've been to Jpn b4.
Nothing there tastes better than their ramen. I'd say it's the most authentic in town you can get (i've yet to try Shigezo though). Your bowl comes w/ all the condiments, seaweed, bamboo shoots, sesame, & most importantly LOADS OF GREEN ONIONS!!! AWWWWW YEAH! Broil is flavorful & doesn't taste like loads of MSG added. Only complain i have would be the noodles, it honestly looks like packaged noodles --- looks a lil' too thin compared to traditional ramen. I'm not sure if they hand make it or what but that could be improved.
My friend order a mini-Tonkotsu-don, looked delicious, but for $7.75 i could go to Koji in DT for bigger portions.
Environment wise can be more fancier. Simple tables & chairs, Not really like your traditional izakaya again. somebody pls decorate the walls better! XO -
Review from Joseph H.
Hillsboro, OR
2/1/2012
Fantastic food, reasonable prices, excellent service.
I order the Tonkotsu Ramen and am never disappointed. -
Review from Yun ah L.
Portland, OR
1/24/2012
We loved Yuzu!
We ordered the kakuni ramen, saba shio (grilled mackerel), deep fried chicken wings and the cold tofu appetizer. All of the dishes were freshly prepared, perfectly seasoned and delicious.
We will definitely go back. -
Review from nik o.
11/29/2011 2 photos
Pretty hard to find at night -look for the lighted open sign without a business name sign near it. They just have a very understated sign stenciled in white on the door
Its a small place similar to the ramen joints I've been to in other cities - completely open kitchen with some bar seating and a few tables. Maneki neko (lucky cat) to greet you at the door along with an adorable Japanese waitress.
Pretty simple menu- we went with the gyoza, fried ika/squid, katsu donburi and the kakuni ramen. Gyoza was TINY almost more like siu mai and flavor just wasn't there, so pass. Ika was really good although it was disconcerting how much they looked like onion rings. Katsu don is tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), eggs and onions over a bowl of rice with donburi sauce. Not sure what donburi sauce is exactly, but its kind of like a sweetened soy sauce. Very good and super filling.
The ramen's egg noodles were just ok, but the kakuni broth was amazing! Super rich and complex, it just said pork flavored soup but looked like tonkotsu - cloudy white, made from cooked down pork bones and marrow. The pieces of pork belly were probably the best I've ever had. The fat practically melts in your mouth. I wish they had more add ons like soft boiled egg and more veggies, but sometimes simple is better.
Beaverton is pretty far, but I'd definitely go there again on a cold winter night -
Review from Nick G.
Portland, OR
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very authentic, very decent food, but not for vegetarians.
This place didn't have a lot of vegan options, which is understandable because the place is very traditional, but I really wish that they had a vegan ramen dish.
The ramen portions seem to be a decent size, but our party still ordered several appetizers and didn't have any left overs. So I would say expect to spend a little more.
They have an excellent sake selection.
I give this place 4 stars because I enjoyed the dishes I had and the rest of my party really enjoyed theirs, but I definitely wouldn't come back due to the lack of vegan (and vegetarian for that matter) options. Probably great and cheap for the average meat eater, but just too spendy for me to get enough food.
Oh and you likely will have trouble finding this place because it doesn't have a lighted sign. It's in the corner between Best Teryaki and a salon! -
Review from Kayla F.
Hillsboro, OR
11/23/2011
This place. This might be the a huge part of my decision to live in Oregon.
Having spent a year living in Fukuoka, seeing Hakata ramen on a menu makes me happy. In Rhode Island, Japanese is synonymous with sushi and nothing else. Not only does the waitress speak fluent Japanese, the whole inside looks just like an old school izakaya. They bring you a tray of steamed and salted edamame to nosh on while you look at the menu. They have Kirin Ichiban, another rarity I could never find in RI. When I saw the opaque, creamy white broth, thin perfect noodles and chashu. Oh lordy. Despite the car being basically on it's death bed, I have made the trip out to Beaverton so many times just for this place. The kakiage is also pretty great, but totally blown out of the water by the ramen. This place isn't Ichiran, but it's definitely the best ramen I've had in the U.S. -
Review from Ryohei A.
Portland, OR
Updated - 11/9/2011 7 Check-ins Here
When in doubt, I end up coming here.
We had Katsu-don and it hit the spot today. It was just nice to have food as close as my home after all these "Japanese" foods I have been getting here. (When my wife gives an approval, you have officially made our list of greats. Yes she is very picky about what she thinks is a good food, even more then me!)
Ask for the special! They always have something that is not on the menu and if you can't read the wall menus (They are all written in Japanese...duh) ask them. Chances are you will find something you like. (They had grilled sardine caught in Oregon, Oyster Katsu or Kaki fry, and Kakiage tempura today.)
I also don't order the generic stuff like Agedashi tofu, gyoza, and food of this kind. You can get that somewhere else.(While I bet they are better then most of the other store...)
I'll can tell you that you will find better Japanese food in Japan, LA, NY, or maybe SFO. But it really is hard to find someone that serves something this close to my home here in Portland. This is why I give them 5 stars now because nothing else comes even remotely close to what they do and serve here.
You see the owner doing all cooking? There are helpers helping him prep but he is the one finishing up the most important part. You can't make this kind of flavor if you are not Japanese. Well, I guess you can but it takes pure understanding of the cuisine to make this flavor.
You hear those music they play? I grew up with those music and spent alot of time singing those songs in Japan at karaoke box with my school friends! (lol)
Everything just hit my spot here. I am sure people disagree. It is impossible to impress ALL people. I know that. But for me, this is as good as it gets in Portland.
Um, yeah. I guess that's all I wanted to say lol.
Eat and be happy folks.Listed in: The "For real" Japanese from…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/9/2011
I am updating my review for one particular dish.
Karei Kara-age.( Fried flatfish)
I think it was… Read more »
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Review from Jenny T.
Beaverton, OR
1/8/2012
Oh my goodness this place was heavenly. My husband and I tried it because he loves ramen. I wasn't a fan until I ate here. Wow it was amazing!
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Review from Andrea D.
11/18/2011
I TAKE IT ALLLLL BACK!
There is an izakaya that does decent, nay, *heavenly* ramen! Listen to your heart, listen to your fellow yelpers. Get the kakuni ramen.
The pork belly, oh how it melts in your mouth but not in the porky broth. The noodles, oh how they chew just the right amount of chewy (though they could be a touch thicker).
Split it along with some of their stellar small plates, including beef tongue and the yaki-onigiri, both authentic dishes you ain't gonna find many places 'round here.
I love Wafu's ramen too, because its limited menu makes it more of a ramen shop with izakaya dishes. But I love Yuzu's ramen even more -- and this is a gen-u-ine izakaya. Too bad it's in the Beav. Srsly. -
Review from Mari K.
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Woot Woot! Yuzu is amazing! I can't believe it took me so long to try this place. I've heard about it over and over again from friends and family but finally got to sneak in here and give it a try.
Everyone says it's a little hard to find (which maybe is a good thing because it makes it like an excellent secret hole in the wall). But, well come closer, i'll share the secret...it's in the shopping area next to Red Robin, Sushi Land and I think its Petco or Petsmart. There's no large neon sign and the only place that says Yuzu is on the door in these small stickers.
It's a small restaurant so make sure you make a reservation, and it's so authentic. I spent time studying in Japan and this place lives up to the glory of real, authentic, Japanese food.
Listening to my fellow yelpers I tried to beef tongue (my first time eating tongue) and have to agree it was oh so yummy and not really all that chewy. And their ramen was a must. I am a natto fan so we also had the yakinatto which is natto (fermented soy beans) wrapped in a shiso leave and deep fried. UGH, heavenly. Natto is not everyone's favorite but if it's yours, don't miss this dish! -
Review from Cindy L.
Sacramento, CA
10/10/2011
First of all, the hours are wrong on here haha. Mon-Fri they open til 11. And saturday they open til 9. Wtf right? And they close sundays.
I got the shoyu ramen and it was kind of salty for my taste, and I usually like salty food. My sister got the tonkatsu ramen. Kind of a unique taste. I've had amazing ramen before and this is nothing like it. =\
The lady that works there has a really squeaky/annoying voice haha! -
Review from Keith O.
San Diego, CA
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
THE BEST RAMEN/Japanese food that I have EVER had! They don't mess around, this place is as authentic as it gets.
A very good friend of mine that lives in Portland took me here for the first time. I was happy that he did! This place set the standard for me and will forever be my favorite japanese restaurant. Don't stray away from this restaurant because of its small size or long wait, It is worth every minute.
Now quit reading! Go try it for yourself and thank me later. -
Review from Danielle S.
Portland, OR
10/21/2011
One of the only reasons I drive to Beaverton
I have visited 7 times the black cod app is very good and I love their ramen the flavors are clean and simple I also enjoy the the giant squid and the tofu appetizer.
The service is always pleasant and efficient I love consistency and Yuzu gives me the same product every time -
Review from Danielle M.
Portland, OR
12/4/2011
I love ramen (period!) and after trying a handful of places in the Portland area I was beginning to get concerned that there just wasn't any good ramen to be had here. And then we tried, Yuzu. Thank goodness for Yuzu! We tried 3 different types of noodle dishes and all of them were fantastic. Based on other yelp reviews, I tried Kakuni and thank you to all who have recommended it before. The broth was perfect and not too oily. The noodles were prepared just the way I like the - a little bit chewy. And the chasu was tender. I will definitely be going back for more!
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Review from Allan K.
Hillsboro, OR
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best Ramen Noodles!!!!!!!!!!!!! Soup base and noodles simply amazing! This is your traditional Japanese hole in wall restaurant. Nice atmosphere, small simple and quaint. Food is beautifully presented and taste is good. This is a place you just can't miss!
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Review from Deb F.
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm a HUGE fan of ramen and have been searching for my Portland-area go-to shop. I think Yuzu may be it, but I haven't scoped out all the ramen shops here yet. BUT, of the places I've tried here so far, Yuzu comes the closest to what I consider "the best."
I tried to make a reservation for Yuzu but they aren't open during the day, so I called around 5:45 to see what was available that night; nothing, but I could take my chances with the counter seating. We got there at 6:15pm and the 4 counter seats were full. All the other tables were full or reserved but the waitress said we could have the next table that opened up, in about 30 minutes. So we waited, and watched scores of other groups appear and be turned away. Clearly this is a popular place!
We finally got a seat and each tried a different dish. I had the Kakuni ramen - it was heavenly! It wasn't exactly like my favorite (Santouka in SJ), but it was fairly close. It was rich and flavorful, not overly salty for my palate and I enjoyed the pork slice. The pork belly was too fatty for me so I won't get that again, and the noodles were good. Thinner than in the Shouyu ramen that my son had.
The shouyu ramen had curlier and thicker noodles than the Kakuni ramen - not sure which I liked better, but I did note the difference.
Hubby had the Gyu Negima - thin sliced beef wrapped around green onions. Yum - this was delicious!
Ambiance was great - very small, probably seats only about 20 or so. The service was great, although food didn't come out very quickly. I loved the decor, and I liked the ramen a lot. I will definitely be back, making reservations ahead of time. I have to deduct a star for not being open at lunch; it's easier for me to get out at lunchtime than dinnertime. -
Review from Rhu B.
Fremont, CA
11/22/2011
Yuzu was a total cleansing experience after two nights of MSG-loaded disappointing dinners on this roadtrip.
I didn't do my miso-shiru test (where I check *when* the miso soup is served - should be WITH the meal, not before), but judging from my native palate, the dishes were authentic.
Their special was "Oden" (stewed vegetables and fish cakes in dash-based broth - is my best attempt at describing it, but translations inevitably take away the appeal of the real stuff...), which I haven't seen served at other Japanese restaurants the U.S. It's a common winter-time dish that you eat while puffing and huffing (because it's hot) that warms you from the core :) We would've tried it if he hadn't had it a week ago at home.
These are the items we ordered:
Buta-Shabu Salad - Greens and boiled thin pork slices with tangy, soy-sauce base dressing - simple and refreshing.
Tonkotsu Ramen - The only oddity for me was the beni-shoga (red pickled gingers) in the ramen, which in my opinion overpowered the base flavor of the tonkotsu soup, but my hubby, the ramen-buff, didn't mind.
Kimchi Harumaki (spring rolls) - Of the two rolls, I think one was cheese + kimchi, and the other one, kimchi + pork (?). I could taste the kimchi more on the latter.
Menchi Katsu (minced meat katsu) - I was craving the katsu sauce, so this hit the spot for me. They serve with a swirl of Japanese mayo on top - just saying.
The service was pleasant, the price was right, and we left very satisfied with full, warm bellies :)
The location was a bit hard to find in a small shopping plaza across a large one, and with only a small discreet sign on the door with dim lights. It's quite classy for such a nice place to keep such a low profile ;) -
Review from Chris M.
Vancouver, WA
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ramen is solid. The cow tongue is a burst of flavor in your mouth. Yuzu is a small restaurant so if you are a large party make a reservation.
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Review from Gerry K.
Sacramento, CA
5/23/2011
Upon reading the reviews of Yuzu, I stopped by for a quick dinner recently in search of good, authentic Japanese fare - no franken-sushi, no teriyaki.
I was pleasantly surprised with my simple dinner consisting of a couple of small appetizers and ramen.
The first appetizer was the karashii mentaiko -- basically chili marinated whitefish roe. While advertised as house marinated, it seemed to be artificially colored (which I don't like and will avoid buying in stores). If it wasn't artificially colored, one wonders which ingredient results in this coloring. Nevertheless, the roe seemed firm and fresh (both taste and smell) and lightly spicy (I prefer a little more robustness of spice but it was sufficiently acceptable). It was tasty and flavorful although it would have been much better served with a little white rice and shiso. I'll have to check if they offer a mentaiko onigiri next time.
I also tried the renkon hasamiage -- sliced renkon (lotus root) with shrimp paste that has been deep fried. Tasty and as expected; one of my favorite, go-to appetizers -- if an izakaya offers it, I'll usually order it.
Finally, I had the kakuni ramen. The tonkotsu broth, the accompaniments, the stewed pork (which is melt in your mouth tender and slightly sweet -- excellent) and the chashu were all excellent. It's been a long time since I've had ramen and this hit the spot. The oddity, ironically, was the noodles. The noodles didn't look or taste like typical ramen noodles, fresh or pre-prepared. Perhaps it's a style of noodle from their particular area of Japan. But the noodles were straight and round - more like a thick somen.It was okay but different -- for ramen, I prefer the squiggly, flat edged noodles as it tends to capture broth better while slurping.
One small note -- while the shochu list is a little sparse (and unfortunately, partial to non-rice ones), the sake menu is not too bad and there are some nice ones from Niigata and other places.
Overall, a good positive experience and I'm looking forward to going again someday and trying many of their other dishes. If only we had more establishments like this rather than the over abundance of frankensushi places that seems so perversely pervasive. -
Review from Leah H.
I really wish Yuzu had delicious noodles in their ramen. Their porky powers would pretty much be unstoppable at that point and they could go for total world domination. Wait...maybe that is why they insist on the unremarkable noodles.
I kid you not about this world domination though. The pork broth, pork slices, and stewed pork meat are so incredibly life changing that your world will never look the same after you experience it. Secret nano-mind-control-devices in it? Maybe! All I know is that the urge to go to Yuzu can come on so quickly and strongly that it is almost embarrassing when you find yourself doing things like running out of your house to get some with no pants and only one shoe on.
I remember my first visit when I was so scared I wouldn't get a ramen fix that I made a reservation. Ha! You really just need to go some time after 8 and you don't have to worry about it.
I've come to experience how amazingly friendly the staff is. They now remember my order and make my mind-control soup just the way I like it...or am I liking it just the way they make it?? o_0
Oh dear, they can have my mind as long as I can continue to get that....CAN I GETTA R(AHMEN)!?Listed in: Suburban Hell (Westside)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/12/2010
I am by no means a ramen expert. That being said, it was pretty dang tasty! Like the majority of… Read more »
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Review from Steven W.
Portland, OR
9/29/2011
Wow, loved it! Authentic in an artistic attention to detail kind of way, not in a strange weird kind of way. Friendly service with a smile. I'm definitely going back.
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Review from Aya I.
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best japanese food I've had in Portland. This isn't the type of japanese restaurant that serves sushi. They have a number of small plates that you can enjoy while drinking a good beer or sake. It reminds me of my mother's cooking. Some of my favorite dishes that I've tried here are:
Kakuni (Sweet/Salty Pork Belly)
Chingensai to Eringi no itamemono (Chinese cabbage and eringi mushroom stirfry)
Yaki onigiri (grilled rice ball)
Gyu Tan (Beef tongue)
I've heard their Kakuni Ramen is pretty good but I have yet to try it. -
Review from Mike H.
Oregon City, OR
9/28/2011
If you're a ramen noodle lover this place is amazing! By far the best hole in the wall place in Portland! This place is legit!
I'm a culinary student, so I'm always on the look out for a great place to eat, and relax. My friend Tracy found this place on Yelp, and thought we should check it out. So, we get there, and they don't really have any advertising except for a little sign on the door simply saying "YUZU." We didn't know what to think, but we opened the door and it was packed, luckily we got a table.. All you hear is the beautiful sound of everybody slurping. I knew this was the right place I said to her. The staff is amazing very friendly! I had a Sapporo. Just seemed right! Then we ordered there Gyoza (dumplings) which were amazing, and we got there pickled veggies which were great too. But the best part was the RAMEN!! We got the soy sauce base with pork (Kakuni). It Comes to the table in this huge steaming bowl. The smells were to die for. Then here is the piece that put it over the top, and around again.... It had huge pieces of braised Pork Belly! You know Bacon the only reason why i get out bed in the morning.. lol. well others too. It was succulent, and juicy, and fatty. It was the best combination... Next time I'm ordering extra pork belly! :)
Now quit reading, and go get yourself a bowl of Pork belly Ramen right now! I'll hold. You'll be saying thank you may I have another. Go now! You won't be disappointed! Tell them Big Mike sent ya!Listed in: Best Happy Hour
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Review from El W.
Hillsboro, OR
4/24/2011
I'm not so sure why this place gets such a raving review. The food is average at best.
I only tried the ramen.
*Ramen soup stock is average. The flavor is not deep enough. The meat is full of fat (it is supposed to be), but there is not enough meat to complement the noodle. 3*
*Service is also average, borderline slow, especially when we want to pay. 3*
I'll try it again and update this review. -
Review from Amanda D.
Beaverton, OR
2/25/2011
Yeah, I've eaten there one time. I went on a Tuesday. No one was there except one table. That one table got great service. We did not. We ordered the house ramen, the same thing as the other table. Ours was missing half the ingredients an hour later.
Still, I obeyed the majority of reviews on Yelp, despite the few that said this place was racist and rude. I went at 6 p.m. on a Thursday night. They told me the restaurant was booked until closing. The next day I called for reservations. They told me they do not take reservations. In one last ditch effort, I showed up at 6 p.m. on the next Friday. They said they had filled their reservations.
I would not give this place my business. Honestly, the customer service is out of the 20th century. I've lived abroad for several years and I've also lived near little Tokyo in L.A. I've eaten at P.F. Chang's. All places are more notable. Their ramen is not amazing. It's average at best. It just has a ton of salt and MSG. That's why it tastes good to most people. If you want a good family owned restaurant that appreciates you, go to Du Ku Bee a few blocks down. They have authentic amazing Korean food and excellent customer service. You'll feel like family there, not like a burden at Yuzu. -
Review from Jeanie P.
Portland, OR
10/11/2011
I was pleasantly surprised by the authenticity of the restaurant and the variety of Japanese dishes offered at Yuzu. I was not pleased with how small the dishes are for its price. I cannot justify two petite girls spending around fifty dollars to share a bowl of ramen and a few grilled dishes. These grilled dishes like beef tongue, eggplant, and cod were the sizes of small dish dishes, but each cost $7-10. They were good, especially the cod which was so buttery and delicious. But it will probably be a once in a while treat. I will probably stick with a bowl of ramen for a normal rainy day.
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Review from Tya P.
Beaverton, OR
3/25/2011
Only there kakuni ramen is worth going for. Everything else is just okay.
It is portlands only noteworthy ramen shop but eating at ramen shops in california and hawaii there is nothing spectacular about this one... again except the kakuni ramen
Because of the price (super expensive- also they give small portions)- i would never go again. Pho for 6 bucks beats this any day.... -
Review from Zouyan L.
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Extremely small. Very clean, with Sapporo on tap!
A bit pricy, the blackened cod appetizer was delicious, same for the pork broth in the ramen.
My friend ordered the ramen with tender pork, that was amazing, perfectly tender and seasoned, I was so jealous of her order. -
Review from T. N.
Portland, OR
10/17/2011
Ramen noodles was way too salty. My husband said his miso soba noodles soup was not so salty but I didn't try it. Then again, his taste buds can handle more salt than me. I did really like their onigiris and their calamari appetizers though. I would go back again to try perhaps their miso soba noodles and other items but too bad their ramen noodles didn't work for me or my family members.
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Review from Shay F.
4/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I ended up here tonight for dinner. The food was ok. I guess since I just came from Tokyo...the food can't compare, but I guess it's as good as it's gonna get for being so far from Japan. LoL.
There wasn't too much choice for vegetarians. -
Review from Grace K.
San Diego, CA
5/24/2011
Hole in the wall izakaya style Japanese food. Almost literally a hole in the wall, it's that tiny! 20 maybe 30 people, tops.
Amazingly we were able to get a table really quickly. We must have arrived at a good time, since I've heard it gets quite crowded here.
The food itself was okay; not bad but nothing to rave over. I've traveled Japan, lived in Cali and Hawaii, all of which have amazing restaurants. On food alone, I might have given this place 3 stars, maybe 3 and a half.
Service was for the most part distant and inefficient, which is the major reason this place is getting 2 stars.
The day I went there was a "big" group at another table (like 10 people), and I'm not sure that they were equipped to handle that group along with their other patrons. It took 20 minutes for them to bring me a spoon (fairly basic request). And they didn't even acknowledge that they had taken so long. When we were ready to pay, again it took forever. So I can't imagine what the service would have been like had it been a busy night.
They also charged us like $4 for a tiny plate of pickled daikon. Seriously? I'm willing to pay and had it been like a dollar or two, fine, but $4 was a little ridiculous, and I wish they had said something. It's trivial, but daikon is so cheap! The Asian in me cried a little when I saw what it was charged on the bill.
Portland has a million great restaurants with good food AND good service, I'm not so sure I'll be rushing to make this one a stop again. -
Review from kristin e.
Portland, OR
Updated - 12/23/2010
There was a period of time that I wasn't eating here (during the summer because I'd spent it out of state) and when I finally returned in the fall and ordered the beloved Kakuni Ramen, I noticed that they changed their ramen noodles! I thought it was a fluke but when I went there again last week, it was the same.
They're skinnier, more vermicelli-like. Has anyone noticed this? I miss the former, chewier, thicker noodles that they used to have.
The broth and all the fatty pork fixins however, were still TOP NOTCH.Listed in: portland ROTDs
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/12/2010 ROTD 11/10/2010
Ok. I've been here 3 times already and the (kakuni) ramen just gets better and better. The pork, oh… Read more »
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Review from Katya J.
Portland, OR
12/7/2010
It really kills me to give a decent place two stars, but we'll have to chalk this one up to a public service announcement. Before I go any further, though, I'd like to save most of you the trouble of reading what will surely be an involved review of limited use to most people.
A screening is in order!
Have you eaten a lot of Japanese food IN JAPAN?
Do you have a CRYSTAL CLEAR idea of what to expect from Japanese cuisine?
Are you looking for Japanese food that does NOT revolve around sushi?
Have you eaten at MANY izakayas?
Do you already have a LONG MENTAL LIST OF DISHES that you're hoping to find at this restaurant?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, you'll probably get a lot more use out of other reviews. If you answered yes to most all of them, then rejoice! You have located the review that will address your most burning questions! For those of you still with me, allow me to explain why Yuzu has so far been the greatest disappointment I've encountered in Portland.
It is not a bad restaurant; it even has the most comforting izakaya-like embrace available in the metro area.
Its authenticity is not in question.
You may find a few favorites here and you may even genuinely enjoy them.
But you will leave with the same nagging natsukashii kimochi that you had when you arrived. Yuzu is unfortunately not what you're fervently hoping it will be.
It is lacking the atmosphere of a real izakaya, and there is not the same opportunity for your party to have privacy. For me, this is no big deal, but I could see how it might be important to you. If you're familiar with small izakayas, then you already know you'll probably need a reservation here even on a weeknight. You'll also be aware that plates are generally tapas-style portions and that a good appetite will cost you about $20 a head. The service is generally what you'd expect, and you be overjoyed to receive your beer poured with abundant head if that's your freaky-teaky thing. (Other booze options are fairly limited.) The big kicker for me is the food itself -- particularly the lack of dishes I grew to consider staples.
You want gobo? Too bad. Renkon nikku? Sorry. Bacon-aspara? Screw you, buddy. Love those shiso-wrapped, tempura battered chicken-stuffed maki? Yeah, no dice. If you have a hankering for truly succulent tori negi, well... they have that, but it's loveless and sad. I couldn't even get agedashi tofu (!!!). The okonomiyaki is certainly not the way you like it, and the yakisoba tastes sterile and packaged. In fact, most of the food here does. Think pickles that have lived a long, fruitful life in a jar. Some of it is probably prepared fresh, but it really tastes like it spent a lot of time in a box flying over the Pacific. And while you can't fault the place for that since we're not in Japan, it does mean that you will not get the fix you're looking to get.
I could continue with a pretty long list of things you might expect at any izakaya that are NOT served here, but it would pain us both and bore the people who ignored the screening questions and kept reading.
Suffice it to say that Yuzu is probably the best and most authentic izakaya-style Japanese joint in Portland. And if you're looking to soothe a well-informed nostalgic craving for Japan, that is a depressing thing indeed. -
Review from Annette C.
Austin, TX
3/27/2011
I only have been here once, but the experience blew me away. Like, a transcendental experience. Whew. First time I've had beef tongue!! And it was soooo good! Cut very thin, so not as chewy as I've heard beef tongue can be, and so well-seasoned. Just a truly wonderful set of bites.
Agh! The mackerel was heavenly, I mean, stop talking to your friend and take a moment to yourself kind of heavenly. Unreal.
I don't think you can go wrong with anything on this menu. We tried a good amount of stuff, and it was all really, really good. I love these little hidden places where it's really all about the food. I swoon when I go by this little shopping mall. Hell, I am on the verge of swooning now just writing about this place. *sigh* -
Review from Brian N.
12/6/2010
Waited for a week night to get a seat at this place, which is notorious for being hard to get into...
Don't go out of your way.
Way too pricey.
4oz piece of black cod for 9.50.
Mediocre ramen for 10.75.
6 slices of beef tongue for $6.50
No rice included.
Not only was I poor afterwards, I was still hungry. Sometimes quality is not enough. =[Listed in: PDX Chinatown.
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Review from Orian I.
10/13/2010 2 Check-ins Here
so...I'm as picky about Japanese food as New Yorkers for their thin pizza and any New Orleans natives to their home cooking/bbq/pretty much anything actually. Some would say it goes beyond picky to down right bitchy about it. And admittedly I am, cause to be honest if i ask hard enough my mom will make pretty much anything i want.
I throw up my hands and wave a white flag, this, oh my little japonphiles, you want a little slice of a Tokyo izaka? Try this little almost mirage like restaurant. If you don't know where it is already, it's almost impossible to identify in the dark off the street unless you look at it at just the right angle.
Truly one of those suburban strip mall treasures you almost don't want to share with others. and yet..i am.
I've been battling a cold/fever with no letting up, my boy suggested we go get some soup and came up with this brilliant idea. I mustered enough energy to get dressed. I walked in and all those lovely memories of childhood came flooding back . Even the music is like old pop from when i was a kid, it made me home sick and hungry.
edamame, oshinko, agedashidofu, yaki onigiri and two things of ramen, we got the kakuni and the chashu.
First of all, I have no idea why yaki onigiri is so unusual, we bbq rice every summer on the grill. bbq rice balls? mochilon! it's fab. and tasty. Their pickles were nom, and their agedashi tofu was perfect. such a treat.
to the ramen - should have gotten 2 kakuni. I was jealously eyeing my boys bowl and that lovely pork belly floating it's identical except the pork belly of course. do not discard the fatty layer it tastes incredibly good. soooo good. That cloudy broth was just dreamy - you're left in a sweet bath of steam and chewy noodles and nom nom noming and silence while you slurp and savor and ahhh at the end. besides hitting the spot, it totally kicked my colds butt.
We went on a weekday of course so the reservation thing wasn't as big a deal but it filled up really fast. a table wasn't open more than 10 min. so be ready to wait or like others said call ahead. -
Review from Kyle F.
Updated - 1/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had an amazing dinner here recently and tried my new favorite item: Black Cod. Grilled with a great texture and sauce, so good. Also had a fried cream cheese ball that was tasty.
4.5 StarsListed in: Places in Beaverton
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/28/2010
Came with a group of friends and shared dishes family style. Went with the kakuni ramen and loved… Read more »
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Review from H O.
Portland, OR
1/17/2011
+: One of the best food spots in Beavertron.
-: Nothing that I've had so far has been AMAZING but maybe I keep ordering the wrong things.
!: The closest I've felt to Japan while living in Portland!
?: Why are you in a random strip mall in Beaverton???
