Best Restaurants 2021

Portland's Best New Dining Experiences: Toki, St. Jack, Sweedeedee & Oma’s Hideaway

Meet the restaurants—beyond República—that transported us into their worlds and mindsets.

12/01/2021 By Karen Brooks and Katherine Chew Hamilton

Bakery

Kimura Toast Bar’s Japanese Basque Cheesecake Is Ready to Conquer Portland

Kayoko Kaye unleashes her own version of the cult food phenom.

05/26/2021 By Karen Brooks

Breaking News

Kimura Toast Bar Is What We Need Right Now

Japanese pizza toast, homemade shokupan, and dessert for breakfast is coming for N Williams, from the minds behind Kayo's Ramen Bar.

06/30/2020 By Karen Brooks

Food News

Tonari Shows How to Open a Restaurant during a Pandemic: With Grace, Passion, and Humor

From the minds behind acclaimed omakase spot Nodoguro, Tonari brings manga-inspired sandwiches and wild tofu parfaits to SE Belmont on June 12.

06/08/2020 By Karen Brooks

Eat This Now

Miso-Pork Katsu Is the Star at Tokyo Sando

A new PSU food cart joins the cheffy konbini movement.

03/06/2020 By Benjamin Tepler

Breaking News

Joshua McFadden and Bar Legend Jim Meehan to Open Takibi

The Japanese bar and restaurant unites McFadden’s Submarine Hospitality, Meehan, and lifestyle brand Snow Peak in Northwest Portland.

01/27/2020 By Karen Brooks

Word of Mouth

One of the Country’s Few Wagashi Experts Lives in Portland

Gena Renaud crafts intricate, time-consuming Japanese confections.

01/21/2020 By Karen Brooks

Art

Designer Noritaka Tatehana Debuts His First Solo Show at the Portland Japanese Garden

The Japanese creator of Lady Gaga's heel-less platforms chooses Portland for his first solo exhibition in the US.

10/03/2019 By Eden Dawn

Travel

Eat All the Japanese Food in This Vancouver, BC, Burb

Richmond is home base for Vancouver’s airport—and also some of the best ramen, sushi, and teppanyaki in the West.

04/23/2019 By Heather Arndt Anderson

Insider’s Guide 2019: Tourism

Portland’s Cultural Liaison to Japan Shows Us Her Local Itinerary

Sakiko Setaka gives Japanese visitors a “local experience” of our city. Here's her hit list.

03/26/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

Breaking News

Nodoguro’s New Project Is a Healthful Japanese Café by Day and a Vinyl Jazz Salon by Night

Tonari and Peter Cat will launch on SE Belmont in late spring.

01/30/2019 By Karen Brooks

Eat Here Now

With Giraffe, the Biwa Folks Take On the Japanese Grocery

Located inside Cargo, it's one of the central city's few places to find Japanese groceries, snacks, and baked treats.

01/29/2019 By Kelly Clarke

Just Opened

Curio-Cute Japanese Deli and Market Giraffe Opens Inside Cargo

Former Biwa co-owner Gabe Rosen brings bento boxes, home cooking staples, and coveted Oyatsupan baked goods to the Central Eastside.

12/12/2018 By Kelly Clarke

Eat Here Now

Nimblefish Brings the Art of Sushi Back to the Basics

With a stellar wine list to boot.

02/27/2018 By Benjamin Tepler

First Impressions

Downtown’s New Afuri Ramen Outpost Brings Double the Dumplings

The Tokyo chain’s newest Portland location wields a slimmed-down menu with zippy service, poke, and more gyoza.

11/21/2017 By Benjamin Tepler

Best Restaurants 2017: Step into the Light

Behold the Most Elegant—Dare We Say, Delicate—Ramen on Portland’s Scene

Kayo’s Ramen Bar isn’t out to overpower you. And that’s a good thing.

10/12/2017 By Zach Dundas

Best Restaurants 2017: Three Degrees of Naoko

3 Ways a Japanese Chef Created an Only-in-Portland Gem

Here’s how Naoko Tamura’s downtown spot went from dorky to destination.

10/12/2017 By Karen Brooks

Restaurant Review

Chef Naoko's Radical, Farm-Fresh Japanese Cooking Lures a Star Architect

The downtown bento spot morphs from anti-space to high-design statement, but Naoko Tamura's bold cooking remains center stage.

03/20/2017 By Karen Brooks

Eat This Now

Where to Eat This Week: Feb 21–28

From broccoli rabe dumplings at Han Oak to sourdough waffles at Beeswing, these are the things you must eat this week.

02/21/2017 By Eat Beat Team

Coffee Guide: International Bakeries

Pastries without Borders: 6 Globe-Trotting Portland Bakeries

Swedish cinnamon knots to Japanese kare doughnuts, butter is a universal language.

02/20/2017 By Kelly Clarke, Karen Brooks, and Benjamin Tepler