Taki’s

Done. Gonzo. Sayonara. Kaput. What once was a bastion of healthy, delicious, affordable fare smack in the middle of Cap Hill, is now a sad semblance of it’s former glory.
The first time I dined at Taki’s was probably in 1998 and I was knocked back by the quality (and quantity!) of ingredients. I had the Udon noodle soup with shrimp tempura and it was so good, I dreamed about it! Went back multiple times that week, and month and year and so on. You get the picture.
Ever since then, I have really never been let down by the «Golden Bowl’s» vast selection of dishes, whenever I had the time to stop in. Often did I share massive plates of noodles loaded with fresh veggies and tasty marinated meats with friends and loved ones. Or, maybe just gobbled down a big bowl of rice and curry during a break from «art» school.
Lo. All (good) things must come to an end; and Taki’s time, it would seem, has emphatically passed. Today was my first visit in many, many months, but I was shocked to find the once generous menu is now a sparse selection of meals which all came with explanations. For example, the «Yakisoba Tempura shrimp plate» is now a «grilled shrimp yakisoba» (read ‘brownish rock shrimp with scant oily noodles’). Sadly, what this all adds up to is a previously amazingly gratifying experience is now just a hollow shell of it’s previous self.
Ce la vie. It was great, now it’s trash. And the beat goes on…

Ok, news flash, people, this place is infested with roaches! Baby roaches look like little black bugs with a light spot on their back. They run REALLy fast usually, but the ones I saw all over the place here, the floorboards, the soda machine, the bathroom!!! Eeew!!! They were just walking around all full from your food they were snacking on all day. I really loved Takis before they burnt down in the fire like eight years ago. Since then, they haven’t been as good, and now, after like five years of not going, I saw the cockroaches !! I immediately told Facebook what I saw and tell everyone I know it’s not safe there. Health department has made numerous attempts to fine them for health violations as well. Please, do not go here.

It’s not perfection but as Lindy L. say’s, «…it gets the job done… on a budget.» Its one of the very few places that has a decent curry rice dish, and yakisoba. Now if they were to add okonomiyaki and takoyaki to the menu, they’d get 10 more stars from me.

Ordered a piece of unagi sushi and steamed snapper.
The unagi nigiri wasoverladen with a too heavy and sweet sauce; also, too much rice, which was a little mushy.
The snapper was steamed in aluminum foil (in itself not necessarily bad), but wasn’t very flavorful. In Japanese one could call it «mottai nai», or a waste. In Japan snapper is typically grilled over charcoal, or marinated/​steamed in a very flavorful shoyu/​sweet sake sauce.
The miso soup tasted as though it were the instant cup of soup version.
I’m also with previous reviewers– would much prefer self-​service counter style, rather than having to leave a tip for the somewhat clueless waitress (was quite late in serving up the check).

6.95 for a bento lunch. I’ll try it… 6.95 for a bento lunch what was I thinking. Gyoza, miso & salad dressing tasted like a Sysco product. The yaki soba wasn’t too good either. A total let down. An instant Annie chun lunch is better

Being from Portland… The sushi was not of the quality and freshness that I’m accustomed to. That said it was OK. The waitress was a nice person but a terrible waitress.

I have not eaten sushi at Taki’s so I cannot judge on that. I went for noodle soup and boy, was it yuck. The broth did not resemble a dashi flavor at all, it was this bizarre powder mix taste that was just plain not good. My boyfriend ordered a completely different soup which the menu described as having different broths, but our broths were the same. They basically just stuck different toppings in the same nasty broth mix. Not to mention the girl who took our order at the counter was pretty rude.
I had a few of the vegetables out of my soup and then left the whole thing behind. Maybe their sushi is better.

Taki’s most definitely gets the job done if you have a sushi craving, but are on a budget. You can get four rolls, a large sake, and an order of edamame for $ 30. Happy hour is Monday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and includes a large hot or cold sake for $ 3.50 or a small Sapporo or Asahi for $ 2.50.
Service is friendly and efficient. Our server mentioned that tuna and salmon are top sellers, so sticking with those will likely ensure the freshest fish.
The edamame had pretty clearly been frozen, so I’d skip it.
The rolls were pretty good. The spicy tuna and yellow tail rolls were good. The rainbow roll was just fine, although the California roll in the center had a touch too much mayonnaise. The unagi roll was just average for me, despite the fact that unagi is typically one of my favorites.
Taki’s has two small outdoor tables, which were both taken, but we still got a window seat in one of their booths and got to do some Colfax people watching. The restaurant’s interior looks like an old diner, so pretty no-​frills, but to be expected for such low prices.

I use to LOVE this place until they went to the server format. Everything was just fine when you’d order at the counter and chit chat with the person taking your order. You’d get your drink right there, sit down, and have the food brought to you. They rarely messed that up. I thought I found the perfect single girl restaurant to go have good unpretentious sushi.
Then they decided to revamp and go to the server format where you sit down and order from the menu and the entire experience is gauged on the server being adequate at her job. I managed to get a server who had no clue what she was doing. I was sat down and waited 15 minutes to be acknowledged while she served a two top table. (I was alone). She got them water but I was left to my own accords to get mine (strike one). Wouldn’t had minded if she hadn’t got water for the two top who showed up minutes after me. From there I never saw her again as one person brought out my tempura, someone else brought out the sushi, and the owner’s wife brought me lukewarm sake (I got hot sake).
The food was as usual for Taki’s: delicious vegetarian sushi which was fresh and tasty and filling tempura. I do love the food there, no mistaking that. Just too bad they cannot get their act together with the server. She finally returned after I was finished and had been sitting there for 15 minutes to ask if I wanted the check. I must had looked really pissed because she hustled it out! I left a pitiful tip and took off. I haven’t been back.
I miss the old Taki’s where I could sit at a booth, drink sake, and watch the crack dealers being hassled by police. I’ve put this place on the blacklist.

I’ve been going to Taki’s for over 15 years and I love it. The addition of the sushi bar was great, though I find the rolls a little too rice heavy.
Their ginger miso is great and I love the green vegetable gyoza. Their bento boxes are a great deal, and I love the grilled salmon. I never get chicken or beef so I can’t attest to those dishes. The sesame tofu is decent and the udon soup is wonderful.
My only complaint is the new introduction of waiter service. Taki’s was unique in that it really was fast, cheap, and healthy Japanese food. Now it is not as fast as just paying up front and this obviously adds to the cost via table tipping. I like the old model MUCH better. It will effect how much I go there, as I often go alone and I don’t like having a server when I just want to eat and read the Westword and mind my own business.
That being said, the service was fine– I’d just rather serve myself.

Oh, shoot. I thought I’d find the cheap noodle bowl of my dreams here (Large portions? Udon? Ramen? Crazy cheap? YES!) but sadly was pretty disappointed. Instead of a bowl of thick, springy noodles soaked in a clear, sweet and savory broth with fresh veggies and light chicken, my ramen was a tomato soup broth with yellowed veggies and chunks of super dark meat chicken. Rarely do I ever (EVER!) put my spoon/​fork/​whatever eating utensil I’m using down after only a few bites, but I lost my appetite pretty quickly. It was a very… different ramen than I’m used to, and not necessarily different in a good way. I also ordered the potstickers ($ 4 for 6) which were good but not spectacular.
I wasn’t expecting a lot out of what could be considered the Asian dive bar equivalent of a Japanese/​sushi restaurant, but shoot, some Maruchan Ramen mixed with Campbell’s would’ve tasted about the same as this ramen =/​
Service was friendly, however, and my order was ready to go at the time I specified. Portions were large. If you’re in this neck of the woods, I might have to steer you away from the noodle bowls here.

Not sure why people rate this place so low. Maybe before it had horrible owners or something. I ventured in and yes the seating is out dated and tired but oh well, doesnt have an impression on the quality of the food. It was happy hour when i ventured in.
I started my meal with a Sapporo for 2 bucks awesomeness. And then a Cucumber salad with Sesame dressing. Fresh and Delicious.
My friend ordered the Teriyaki Chicken bowl and they made sure they came out at almost the same time.
My First roll was a specialty one with beef inside. Absolutely delicious and big and not over filled with rice.
Then a Philadelphia Salmon Roll with Salmon on top. Another good choice and the roll was packed in as well.
Then Shrimp Ngiri which was great and the shrimp was sweet and fresh.
And I finished my meal with the Shrimp Tempura roll. Warm and sweet just how it should be. And my bill here was cheaper than other places I ventured too. And the eclectic view from Colfax is a plus as well.
The staff always came around to check on you and i couldnt be more pleased with the service.

I think this place is on the divey side of Japanese restaurants. In the sense that you know it’s probably not the best, but you keep coming back for some reason?
It’s located on a part of Colfax many might not want to go out of their way to get to, but I’ve found myself in that area for other reasons and dropped in. Also, it has a back parking lot so it saves on trying to find street parking.
I love their bowls, they’re jam-​packed with rice, meat and assorted veggies. I usually can’t finish them in one go, and they’ve got great prices. I recently returned and tried their Bento Box, which I also love and feel you get a pretty great amount of food for the price. I wouldn’t say it’s high end quality, but it’s delicious and that’s all that matters.
The atmosphere isn’t bad either. It has one of the BEST storefront windows for people watching.

This place is pretty decent. Not great, not horrible, but just alright. It’s situated close enough by to pick up a cheap and relatively healthy-​ish meal. I am a huge fan of their bento boxes, especially. For a mere $ 10, I got chicken teriyaki, brown rice, veggie/​shrimp tempuras, salad, and cali rolls! Takeouts do not include the miso apparently.
I haven’t had their sushi yet or any other seafood options, but even if ya stick to basics like Chicken it will definitely satisfy for appetite on the cheap. They do have a small patio for great people watching– this is the corner of Colfax and Penn after all.

I have mixed emotions about Taki’s.
I’m a big fan of sushi and have been going here for a while but the sushi has consistently left me unimpressed. Before I became a pescatarian I loved getting the Bento Box and it’s really the only thing I can recommend there. I have recently tried the nigiri and now know to stay away — not my favorite.
I must admit I am an absolute California roll slut and that’s usually what I order now and the rolls are average, nothing to rave about — but also affordable.
I definitely recommend that everyone stops by once if they are in the neighborhood but it’s nothing to write home about.

I mean… it’s cheap. And it tastes like exactly what you pay for. Boyfriend and I both got bento boxes – I got sushi and he got teriyaki something or other. It was fine. Not the most delicious thing I’ve ever put in my food-​hole but, you know, it temporarily cured my hunger. The staff was friendly. The beer was cold.

For what it is – it’s not bad. My boyfriend and I both thought that we were going to have someone seat us, but then we discovered that we had to go up and order and then find a spot – not a major deal, that’s how some places work.
However, this is another place that I feel like you might be taking your life in your hands when eating there. Nonetheless, the food was yummy, the sushi was decent and people were friendly while we were looking around the menu like idiots lol. You want inexpensive sushi, you got it, but just be reminded that it might be cheaper than most places for a reason.

Excellent service with a friendly smile. I like that about any place. But even with the near-​perfect Colfax execution (MacGuyver’ed fan cooling setup, standard restaurant chairs, and confusing ‘order here’ sign), the food is consistently great in some areas and a constant failure in others.
For example, dumplings, udon noodles, and their tempura kicks ass 95% of the time. Rice bowls, however, are often really really bland (their seared Salmon in particular) and their sushi certainly won’t blow you away either.
On the other hand, if you live in the area, you can grab huge (and I mean HUGE) portions for around $ 10. Save that extra money for Argonaut Liquors down the block. Then tell all your friends about this epic formula for the Colfax experience I have especially designed for you.

It’s really not just about the food. It’s so much more than that. I love their philosophy of healthiness. I love the ‘free edamame for kids”. I love the little mini-​market with overpriced hijiki, nori, sencha, and panko flakes. But most of all, I love the food. :)
I’ve been here several times. Their food has ALWAYS been pleasing to me, and I’ve covered quite a bit of the menu. Their unagi bowl is delicious. Their udon soups are delicious, and the tempura contained therein is light, breaded perfection. The rice is always spot-​on, never mushy, never starchy. The people who work here are always lovely and pleasant (with one exception to be covered later…). The service is quick. The ingredients are fresh. I could go on and on, but now I’ll tell you why this place didn’t get five stars.
No ramen. And I don’t really understand why. They would do it SO well. I know I should rate for what they DO instead of what they don’t HAVE, but I really wish they served ramen. The udon and soba dishes are wonderful, but… want!!! WAAAANT!!!
Also, the infamous ‘nazi’ who works here… she is what would be described in Japanse as an ‘obattarion’ (old battleship). She really does have the capacity to be phenomenally rude, esecially to people who don’t understand the menu (DO NOT ask her about sushi!!). Also, she saw me wearing a mala once and started speaking to me about Buddhism. Now, you must understand– she is a Nichiren Buddhist. Understanding Nichiren, you will better understand her. So that gave me a grain of salt to take her actions with, but to most people she’ll just seem like a rude old woman. However, don’t let her start in on you with her Nichiren proselytizing. She is extremely persistent and damned near ruined my otherwise perfect meal badgering me about ‘name-​myoho rengekkyo’.
Anyways… that’s the only thing keeping me from giving that last sacred star. I realize that it might seem a bit trivial, but I can guarantee you that neither of the above will keep me from coming back here. :)

I am nonplussed about why Taki’s has a low rating on here. One of the pleasures of working where I do is that it is across the street from Taki’s and I can come her almost every day and have delicious Japanese food for quite little money.
It may not be as fancy as some sushi place with weird fusion Asian, but it makes great, healthy food. And I’ve been eating at Taki’s since I was 10 and it has not changed in quality at all in my opinion even after Taki himself passed away.
Plus now they are doing daily specials. I had a shrimp tempura one the other day with yakisoba noodles, chicken and vegetables and a side of ginger miso soup. Everything was supurb: The chicken lean and delectable, the jumbo sized shrimp lightly battered and served with a great slightly sweet tempura sauce, tons of fresh vegetables with a light miso dressing and the ginger miso soup that is so flavorful with ginger, it was spicy.
So I don’t understand the Taki’s haters on here. I’ve ordered literally everything on the menu (except sushi, which I dislike regardless of who makes it) and it is all fantastic: light, healthy, cheap, and wonderful, just like it has been the last 25+ years and hopefully for the next quarter decade too.