Toshi Restaurant

Reviews 8

RU

Ruth Graham

Terrible food. Really bad. Do not order sashimi here, even though this place pretends to be genuine it is anything but. I am a regular sushi restaurant hunter. I know what sashimi should taste like, all of the different types. I probably eat out and order sashimi 1-3 times a week, and Im very picky. My love of Scandinavian and Russian food also means I love herring (mackerel or saba, both pickled and fresh) which most people dont know is really good and one of those secretly cheap but wonderful things. I have over time tried the whole spectrum of good and bad raw fish...and for everyone to know. Toshis is the latter. The unagi was old. I could taste and smell the oldness of it even though it was cooked and bbqd. I forced one piece into my mouth and gave up. (Note I was really hungry having just run 7 miles and some with intervals - if this fish could kill that kind of appetite then consider yourself armed with how bad it is - unagi is usually my favorite.) The tuna was meagre and obviously dyed, it was on the bad side of so-so. The saba (mackerel) was the worst of all. It was turned! The first piece I put in my mouth I had to spit it out immediately. I smelled it once and I nearly vomited, it had the whole turned fish smell. I had to leave it a half chewed mess on my plate. I regret not complaining but my SO was trying to be nice. And I was so so hungry. The thing with saba is because of its high fat content it becomes old very quickly, as well very stinky. Fresh herring (mackerel) is another kind of heaven though, its really really good. It should be very sweet and fatty with no smell (except faint salty/ocean) and remarkably a bang for the buck as it is abundant. Sashimi should never smell like rot. That is not what sashimi is. Old herring is really bad, and it gets bad quickly, but there is no excuse for it to be served this way, making people sick. As I am writing this, my SO who went with me (who braved eating one piece of saba - which I warned him about multiple times! (hes stubborn and doesnt know sashimi well) is sick right now. Thats right, he got sick from it. The only thing in the menu that was remotely palatable was the salmon. It was overpriced for a so-so taste at $4.75. You can get better for cheaper in a number of places in Portland. I also cant believe what they charged for the saba considering the small amount they gave (like barely a half ounce) and how BAD it was. DO NOT GO HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO GET SICK. First time there, never will go back. We were a quiet couple who ordered (him)a beer, and (me) a tea. I have no problems with the service or the wait for a table but noticed later that almost everyone else there was ordering fried food. This is not a good sushi place. Go here if you want tempura maybe. I wouldnt trust the meat though.

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BE

Ben Roos

As a half-Japanese person, I have pretty high standards when it comes to places that serve Japanese food. I went to Toshi because I typically seek more traditional places (something something Asian comfort food). Toshi is definitely a more traditional location. Its staffed by primarily Japanese people, and its customers are primarily Japanese - this is a good thing. It is quite small, with seating for only about 30 people in a tight space. My personal recommendation would be to go at most as a group of 2 during the busier hours, as there are only 2-3 tables that can seat 4. The menu is pretty expansive. There are many traditional options - tempura, ramen, etc. I only ordered nigiri, and for the most part it was good. I only had issue with the saba (mackerel), but I am going to chalk that up to the fish not being market fresh (most places in Japan use frozen fish, so no harm done). Overall, it definitely is a good spot for a single person or a couple if you are looking for some good food. I will definitely be returning to sample more of the other options on their menu, as most of the reviews on Google and Yelp are very favorable.

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JA

James Ayers

Quaint, quiet, and cozy. Nothing fancy or flashy, just basic Japanese food executed with decent quality by friendly people. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen and was promptly served a small salad of iceberg lettuce and the traditional orange Japanese dressing. My ramen came about 10 minutes later. The portion size was good, pork was tasty although slightly overcooked, the broth was nice after a little salt and pepper, and the noodles tasted fresh and were cooked just right. My biggest disappointment was that the half soft boiled egg that came with it was not marinated and was very cold as if it had been pulled out of a refrigerator seconds before I got it. Overall, the atmosphere was good, the service was good, and the food was good, but nothing was great. If it was $10 I would have given an extra star for value, but for $14 I expect more than just "good enough."

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BR

Breanna Brzezinski

A friend showed us this place, but the rolls were incredibly over priced, and were lacking. Shoten over on walker is much better, cheaper, and their rolls are stuffed to the brim. The rainbow roll here was 6 pieces, and had nothing but a slice of avocado and some rice and a small piece of fish. No veggies or anything? Wow. Service was incredibly slow, no one took our drinks until 20 minutes after being seated when we ordered, and the sushi chef too almost 40 minutes to make our food, even though we only ordered 3 rolls and a hand roll. Usually we spend the same and walk out stuffed and happy, today we were tempted to get mcdonalds after.

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IV

Ivan Hendricks

For standard rolls, they are the best and a great value. When you order 2 rolls, you also get a free salad and soup. I usually order the salmon nigiri and spicy tuna roll. Service is always good. If you go during lunch, be sure to get there at 11:30 and sometimes we will try to arrive 2-3 min before opening. If youre even 20 minutes later, it could take a bit of time to get your sushi order. Ramen and other things are faster.

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TR

Tristan Noel

Small, homey, family-operated restaurant with a focus on great food, amazing service, and an all-over wonderful experience. The restaurant is small, so you may wish to call ahead, but it is well worth the wait in this way, as the sushi is far better than any restaurant nearby. A definite recommendation here, as this is a diamond hidden in the rough of this strip mall.

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GI

Ginger Steele

Toshis is the best sushi in Portland. The portions are large, super fresh, and beautifully presented. The wait staff is friendly and helpful... I particularly like the refreshing and delicious salad dressing that comes on the small salad that accompanies each meal. The cold ramen plate is also wonderful... udon is the best anywhere.

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RE

Renee Middleton

This was the first place I ever had sushi and it remains my all time favorite Japanese restaurant. The sushi is always fantastic and never fishy, and the cooked dishes have never disappointed me. The interior is cozy and intimate, and the soundtrack is forever on-point. I end up taking all my close friends here at some point.

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