Akizawa Japanese Bistro: An Authentic Sushi Experience in Downtown Portland

A very small Japanese restaurant, no advertising, no online reservation, no take out, but oh such a gem!! It has 5 - 2 person tables and 5 counter seats, that’s it. My friend works at adjacent bldg for 2 years even didn’t know it was there. Chef is Japanese, with one assistant chef, with only two of them with two waitresses, this size would be just enough to give customers good service. Their foods are authentic Japanese dishes, but I experienced something I’ve never experienced any other Japanese restaurants I’ve ever been. Their foods are not only tasty but visually beautiful. Each dish is not overly assertive, yet all the dishes create a wonderful harmony, like a philharmonic orchestra. You may feel that dishes that are not very assertive and somewhat lacking. But I was amazed and deeply moved by realizing how this chef is deeply knowledgeable about Japanese dishes. We ordered gyoza appetizer, tuna roll, Akizawa futomaki roll, chirashi sushi and pork katsu. I chuckled about Katsu that they use a good grade meat with no fat, it even killed its junky katsu taste that Japanese katsu should have, yet it was tender and flavorful. Akizawa roll and chirashi were my favorite. Their sushi rice too, I didn’t taste vinegar nor sugar, considering the amount of rice chef uses, sushi rice didn’t scream its existence at all but perfectly supported variety of fresh seafoods, the way it supposed to do. Wow! Totally hats off to the chef’s sense of art of both visual and taste beauty. He’s a true magician of Japanese cuisine! FYI, they said lunch time is very busy too as well as dinner time, they have chicken or pork katsu or katsudon (katsu bowl) lunch set all under $20. Reservation is a must regardless if it’s lunch or dinner. I’m glad I found this gem. You should visit to experience the chef’s beautiful magic of the art of authentic Japanese cuisine that only this restaurant has, nowhere else.

We had an excellent dining experience at Akizawa, with outstanding food, drinks, and service. Despite some previous reviews mentioning a one-hour time limit for two people, the staff was flexible and didn’t rush us—possibly because the restaurant wasn’t full. Here’s a breakdown of what we ordered: • Grilled Duck (Appetizer): Tender, juicy, and full with umami flavor. • Pork Tonkatsu (Appetizer): A lean cut of meat that was very tender and not dry at all. The crust was light and perfectly crispy. • Nigiri and Sushi Rolls: The fish was incredibly fresh, and the rice was well-prepared with just the right balance. As a fan of Edomae-style (more vinegary) rice, I found their rice slightly different but still excellent. We only wished they offered chutoro, which wasn’t available, and a wider variety of fish. • Caramel Pudding (Dessert): Tasty but not particularly memorable. • Sake: The staff provided thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences and even let us sample a few options before we chose a bottle we loved. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the experience. We’ll definitely return and recommend Akizawa to anyone looking for a great dining experience!

A very small Japanese restaurant, no advertising, no online reservation, no take out, but oh such a gem!! It has 5 - 2 person tables and 5 counter seats, that’s it. My friend works at adjacent bldg for 2 years even didn’t know it was there. Chef is Japanese, with one assistant chef, with only two of them with two waitresses, this size would be just enough to give customers good service. Their foods are authentic Japanese dishes, but I experienced something I’ve never experienced any other Japanese restaurants I’ve ever been. Their foods are not only tasty but visually beautiful. Each dish is not overly assertive, yet all the dishes create a wonderful harmony, like a philharmonic orchestra. You may feel that dishes that are not very assertive and somewhat lacking. But I was amazed and deeply moved by realizing how this chef is deeply knowledgeable about Japanese dishes. We ordered gyoza appetizer, tuna roll, Akizawa futomaki roll, chirashi sushi and pork katsu. I chuckled about Katsu that they use a good grade meat with no fat, it even killed its junky katsu taste that Japanese katsu should have, yet it was tender and flavorful. Akizawa roll and chirashi were my favorite. Their sushi rice too, I didn’t taste vinegar nor sugar, considering the amount of rice chef uses, sushi rice didn’t scream its existence at all but perfectly supported variety of fresh seafoods, the way it supposed to do. Wow! Totally hats off to the chef’s sense of art of both visual and taste beauty. He’s a true magician of Japanese cuisine! FYI, they said lunch time is very busy too as well as dinner time, they have chicken or pork katsu or katsudon (katsu bowl) lunch set all under $20. Reservation is a must regardless if it’s lunch or dinner. I’m glad I found this gem. You should visit to experience the chef’s beautiful magic of the art of authentic Japanese cuisine that only this restaurant has, nowhere else.

Came here with friends for dinner and had a great time. Highly recommend the chicken karaage, super crispy outside, and juicy&tender inside! The omakase sashimi was very fresh, and the texture was amazing. They also have a nice selection of Japanese style beers, I tried matcha IPA which was surprisingly special and really good:::)))))) Loved the vibe and the food, definitely will come back again!

This spot is one of those rare restaurants where the quality is the same quality of eating in Japan. Everything was fresh and phenomenal. The owner was so kind and very helpful. I could not recommend more.

Delicious sushi spot ! The fish was super fresh and loved the twists they bring to the sushi. I’ve never had citrus in my sushi, and I loved it! Super tasty. Will definitely come back.

Amazing place. Very small but wonderfully laid out and authentic feeling. Had Katsu, Miso, Miso Cod, Uni Toro Handrolls, Eel Avacado Roll, and some great sake. Highly recommend this place. In house soy sauce is always a great tell for authentic Japanese food. Will be back soon.

Positively the best Japanese I’ve had outside of Japan!!! And moderately priced to boot! The 3 of us enjoyed tako karaage, gyoza, salmon maki, negi hama, salmon nigiri, and the caramel pudding. Everything was amazing! My photos are half eaten dishes because I was too excited to take photos and instead opted to eat! Reservations are a must! There’s only 14 seats in the restaurant so seating is very limited!

Came here with friends for dinner and had a great time. Highly recommend the chicken karaage, super crispy outside, and juicy&tender inside! The omakase sashimi was very fresh, and the texture was amazing. They also have a nice selection of Japanese style beers, I tried matcha IPA which was surprisingly special and really good:::)))))) Loved the vibe and the food, definitely will come back again!

This is a small restaurant located in downtown. I came for a quick lunch meal after visiting the portland japanese garden nearby. All the dishes here were very good. My favorite was the egg dish and the tonkatsu. Service was excellent as well. The bathrooms are located in a separate part of the building and you need to ask for a key.