Akizawa Japanese Bistro: An Authentic Culinary Journey in Portland, OR

Akizawa Japanese Bistro Introduce

Welcome to the heart of Portland, Oregon, where a truly special culinary experience awaits you at Akizawa Japanese Bistro. Nestled in the bustling downtown area, Akizawa offers a taste of authentic Japan right here in our vibrant city. If you’re a local looking to expand your gastronomic horizons or a visitor eager to discover Portland's diverse food scene, this bistro is a must-visit for its genuine flavors, inviting atmosphere, and commitment to quality. The name "Akizawa" itself, meaning "Autumn Pond" or "Marsh," hints at the serene and thoughtful dining experience the owners aim to create. It’s a place where tradition meets subtle innovation, making every dish a delightful journey.

Akizawa Japanese Bistro is conveniently located at 507 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205, USA. This prime downtown Portland location makes it highly accessible whether you’re commuting by public transportation, walking from nearby offices, or exploring the city’s attractions. Being in the heart of downtown means it’s surrounded by other points of interest, making it easy to integrate a delicious Japanese meal into your day. While its intimate size adds to its charm and unique ambiance, it also means that securing a table can sometimes require a bit of planning. Many patrons have found that calling ahead for reservations, especially during peak dining hours, is a good idea to ensure you get to experience what Akizawa has to offer without a lengthy wait. The cozy setting, praised by many, strikes a perfect balance between elegance and comfort, creating an ideal spot for intimate dinners or small gatherings with friends and family.

At Akizawa Japanese Bistro, the focus is on delivering a comprehensive Japanese dining experience. They pride themselves on a menu crafted with care, highlighting both the freshness and quality of their ingredients.

Services Offered:

Lunch and Dinner Service: Akizawa is open for both lunch and dinner, providing options for a midday treat or an evening culinary adventure.
Authentic Japanese Cuisine: The menu features a wide array of traditional Japanese dishes, moving beyond just sushi to offer a more complete taste of Japan.
Premium Sushi and Sashimi: Patrons frequently praise the quality and freshness of their sushi and sashimi, often noting the meticulous preparation.
Diverse Sake Selection: A standout feature is their extensive sake menu, which is much more varied than what you might find at typical sushi restaurants. The staff is often eager to help diners select the perfect pairing for their meal.
Seasonal Course Menus: For those looking for a curated experience, Akizawa offers wonderful seasonal courses, allowing you to taste the best of what's fresh and available.
Takeout Options: While primarily a dine-in experience, takeout options are available for those who wish to enjoy Akizawa's delicious food at home.

Akizawa Japanese Bistro distinguishes itself through several unique features and highlights that contribute to its exceptional reputation among Portland locals and visitors alike.

Features / Highlights:

Intimate and Exotic Atmosphere: Despite its small size, the bistro is thoughtfully decorated, creating an exotic and charming ambiance that transports diners, making it feel distinctly authentic by American standards.
High-Quality Ingredients: Reviews consistently commend the freshness of the fish and the overall quality of ingredients used in every dish. The owner, often praised as an "amazing sushi chef," ensures meticulous preparation.
Unique Preparations: The kitchen goes beyond the ordinary. For example, some patrons have raved about the perfectly cooked Chawanmushi, the incredibly crispy and moist shrimp croquettes, and Agedashi Tofu with an exceptional texture. A highlight for some has been the practice of frying shrimp heads, a common and delicious custom in Korea and Japan, beautifully capturing their rich, natural flavor.
Diverse Menu Beyond Sushi: While sushi is a draw, Akizawa offers much more. Expect delights like mackerel marinated in a seaweed-salt brine and air-dried before grilling, and a beautifully executed tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet) with a tender, sweet-savory eel filling. Their specials board often features unique offerings, such as aji prepared three ways, including yuzu-fragrant tataki and crispy-fried tails.
Exceptional Sake Selection: Akizawa is renowned for its impressive wall adorned with sake bottles, offering a far more diverse selection than many other Japanese establishments. This allows for excellent pairings with their dishes.
Attentive and Knowledgeable Staff: Diners frequently commend the warm greeting and attentive service, with staff knowledgeable about the menu and eager to offer recommendations.
Artful Presentation: While some customers have noted preferences for plate sizing, the overall presentation of dishes is often described as beautifully done and visually appealing, showcasing the culinary artistry.

While specific, ongoing promotions are best confirmed directly with the restaurant upon your visit, Akizawa Japanese Bistro is known for its excellent value, particularly with its lunch packages and seasonal course offerings. These structured menus often provide a fantastic opportunity to sample a variety of their culinary delights at a favorable price point. Additionally, their diverse sake offerings can sometimes include special selections or flights, allowing patrons to explore different labels and find new favorites. Given the focus on seasonal ingredients, be sure to inquire about any special chef's creations or limited-time offerings when you dine in.

To experience the authentic flavors and inviting atmosphere of Akizawa Japanese Bistro, here’s how you can get in touch:

Address:

507 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205, USA

Phone:

(971) 469-9753

Mobile Phone:

+1 971-469-9753

It is highly recommended to call ahead for reservations, especially for dinner or if you are planning to visit during popular times. The bistro's intimate size means it can fill up quickly, and a reservation ensures a seamless dining experience.

Akizawa Japanese Bistro is an excellent choice for Portland locals seeking an authentic and high-quality Japanese dining experience. Its downtown location makes it a convenient spot for after-work dinners, special occasions, or simply a casual lunch. The dedication to fresh, meticulously prepared ingredients, combined with an extensive and well-curated sake selection, sets it apart from many other establishments. Whether you're a sushi aficionado or new to Japanese cuisine, the diverse menu, which includes traditional dishes beyond just raw fish, promises to offer something delightful for every palate. The warm and intimate ambiance provides a perfect setting for a memorable meal, making it feel like a true culinary escape right here in our city. Locals appreciate the attention to detail and the genuine passion for Japanese culinary traditions that permeate every aspect of Akizawa Japanese Bistro, making it a truly suitable and cherished spot within the Oregon community.

Akizawa Japanese Bistro Photos

Akizawa Japanese Bistro Location

Akizawa Japanese Bistro

Oregon Multnomah County Portland Southwest Portland Southwest Broadway

507 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205, USA

Akizawa Japanese Bistro Reviews

Without a reservation, I called and managed to secure two available seats, making us the first to enter the restaurant. Though small, it was filled with charming decorations and exuded a distinctly exotic atmosphere by American standards. With high expectations, I ordered a few simple dishes, which turned out to be excellent. I went on to order a sake sampler and the premium sushi set. The Chawanmushi had perfectly cooked eggs, the shrimp croquette was incredibly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, and the Agedashi Tofu had a beautifully even texture adhering lightly to the tofu—I’m not sure what starch they used, but it gave it an exceptional finish. While there are methods to fry it even crispier, that approach tends to lean towards Thai cuisine, and personally, I prefer the more authentic style like how it was prepared here.Frying the shrimp heads served before the sushi was a real highlight. This practice is quite common in Korea and Japan, and it’s something I often do at home. The way the shrimp heads were cooked here captured their rich, natural flavor beautifully. Moving on to the sushi—it was above average. The vinegar seasoning in the rice was slightly mild, and for the amount of rice served, the fish slices could have been thicker for better balance. Conversely, for the thickness of the fish slices, the rice could have been slightly increased in weight for greater harmony.The plating, however, fell short. The use of small circular plates with intricate patterns made the white-fleshed fish sushi look sparse and diminished. Wider circular plates with simple monochrome designs would have created a more abundant visual effect. While the table size may have influenced the choice of plates, the excessive, colorful patterns unintentionally made the sushi portions seem smaller than they actually were.I wanted to try more dishes, but since I was dining with my dog, I decided to be considerate of incoming guests and ended my meal earlier. I definitely plan to revisit this place and would recommend it to others.Knowing the name allows you to glimpse into the world the restaurant owner aspires to create.Aki is meaning Autumn and Jawa is pond or marsh like .
Apr 06, 2025 · Kai Dwd
Stopped by for lunch. Great lunch packages, and also had a wonderful seasonal course as well. The Sake offerings are not be missed, much better than many sushi joints that only have 1 or 2 labels.
Mar 21, 2025 · Erik Charles
It has the BEST chirashi! I forgot to take the picture of the rice in it, but the chef mixed it with something like seaweed and bonito flakes. It amazes me! yums I highly recommend this location.
Feb 16, 2025 · Suyee
Genuinely my new favorite restaurant. I have dreamed about getting food like this in Portland for so long. A few places come close, but this place has all the Japanese comfort foods I've been craving. From delicate chawanmushi served piping hot, to exquisitely grilled black cod cooked right in front of you, to refreshing and inventive persimmon namasu. I've never been to Japan, but this feels about as authentic as you can get stateside. I ate and ate and then ordered more. It was all very reasonably priced and the staff are very friendly and accommodating. Will be going back as soon as possible!
Dec 07, 2024 · Emily Hemenway
What a little hidden gem! For a tiny place they offer an impressively diverse menu, seasonal menu, and the quality was chef-grade top notch, it’s definitely on the pricy side but you get the ingredients you pay for, the fish is fresh, grilled pork was perfectly marinated.A dinner to remember! Cannot wait to come back again
Jan 04, 2025 · Max