AndyCho.com

Saburo’s Sushi House Review

August 17, 2006 | Updated: September 6, 2006

This place used to be known as the Sushi Nazi, but apparently the attitude has mellowed over the years. They don’t take reservations and there is a constant line every night. When we arrive, there was a substantial line, but we were told that the line is “short” because it didn’t wrap around the building. The was a sign-up sheet on a clipboard hanging outside the door; first come, first serve. We were in a group of eight and our wait was about 25 minutes. Wasn’t too bad, but I would still advise coming as a pair and sitting at the bar.

The run-down interior was expected. If it were half the size, one could almost call it a hole-in-the-wall. This is not the place for a first date. Service was not terrible and at least it was prompt. You don’t come to Saburo’s for either the decor or the service.

So how’s the food? The quality was surprisingly uneven. Some items were mediocre but some items were as fresh as any I’ve had in New York and Tokyo. The cooked dishes generally fell in the mediocre camp. I would avoid them. The nigiri pieces were very similar to size to those at Yama in NYC. They’re downright monstrous. The length was longer than my index finger while the width was about double my thumb width. There was some variation in quality between the different sushi as well, but the price was better than just right ($5 to $7 for a plate of 6 pieces).

When you combine the three factors into a quality * quantity / price metric (of only the sushi), this place probably ranks #1 out of all the sushi places I’ve visited. I especially recommend the salmon nigiri and the soft-shelled crab rolls.

The biggest downside I could see is the lack of public transportation. But if you’re a sushi lover and you’re in Portland, find a way to get there. It’ll be worth the trip.

Entry Filed under: Portland, Restaurants