Saburo’s

Went in for the first time yesterday to celebrates my cousins early birthday. I’ve been wanting to try this place out since forever, after seeing all the mouthwatering pictures.
They have their own parking lot, or there’s a 2 hour parking lot down the street. We came in around 6:00pm on a Wednesday, and there was no line at all! We probably waited around 5 – 10 minutes just because all the servers were so busy.
The space was a bit cramped. Service was decent, everything felt a little rushed just because we can only order ONCE. And then the food came trickling out slowly. They try to pack everything on to a plate or two, so all your nigiri will take a while then come out all at once.
The rolls had 6 pieces each and they were HUGE. Everything was «Texas sized» basically. I got three full bites out of one piece of nigiri! The sushi rice was very flavorful as well, not like many other sushi restaurant.
There was a 15−16% gratitude already added to our bill, but it was pretty cheap for a party of 6, around $ 93 total.
TL;DR: Rushed service and space is a bit cramped. Can skip line depending on days of the week. Quality is worth the wait! Will definitely recommend!

Quick service, do not let the line deceive — they are pros at turning a table. Some of the best sushi in town for decades and not to be missed. The Hawaiian roll is my jam!

Price is fair. Portion is great. But sushi to me isn’t about portion, its about quality.
the service her is pretty poor.

super disappoint for this restaurant. because this restaurant has racial discrimination for Asian people. I went to this place tonight with my friend, our bill includes 15% tip. however we found out a white girl
who sat next to us, her bill doesn’t include tip in her bill. may I ask why??? because we’re Chinese, so your waiters decide to charge tip first. This is discrimination!!! very bad!!!

First impression is that the service was so bad and I don’t even know why the lady was so rude to everyone??! The 15% tips will be automatically added, maybe that’s why she didn’t be nice to customers. The sushi was worth to try but will not come again.

We came at 830 pm in a Tuesday. We still waited over 30 minutes to get in. If I hadn’t known this, I would have been really disappointed.
That being said, the fish was good & fresh, and the portions extremely large– which was a cool novelty. However, it’s a bit of a conundrum: don’t come hungry because of the line, but come hungry because the portions are huge!
Worth trying when you don’t mind the wait, but I’m too impatient for extremely long lines for kitschy ideas, so I probably wouldn’t bother with the line… Unless on another slow night where I can drink next door while waiting :)

I love sushi and I love huge amount of food! Saburo’s sushi rolls are basically sushi burritos. And their rolls not all rice; they put huge amount of fillings inside too! Their nigiri rice is too much for me though. BUT their seared salmon nigiri is to DIE FOR.
The wait is usually 1 – 2 hours, but my family and I went on a Tuesday this one time and we didn’t even have to wait!

I don’t think it worth the wait. One hour waiting is the essential. Therefore don’t come when you are hungry. Put your name on waiting list, the waitress will call, but she only call three times. After that she will cross out your name.
Service was fast, the food was okay. I think people come here for the huge portion. The sushi was giant! Almost every table left a lot and took to go. Since the restaurant was packed, they only allowed us to order once which bothers me a lot! I had to worry we don’t get enough food while we are marking down the menu.
They do provide parking but limited.

This place is great if you are a starving student or have NO IDEA WHAT REAL SUSHI IS!
Great value, all quantity and absolutely NO QUALITY !
You can only order once, so you are rushed to eat what is already semi fresh only to have a bad fish oil residue taste in your mouth The wait is not worth your time. The only reason I gave this place 3 stars is for the corky, cranky ass Japanese hostess who clearly expresses how much she hates the people that eat there.

I’ve been coming here for… years. Longer than when Portland was deemed «cool» and the people who live here have actually lived in the city. Like 10+ years… but I digress.
This place used to be great. I understood why there were lines. BUUUUUTTTTTTTTTT… I’ve been here 5 – 6 times since they’ve changed owners. The old (awesome) wait staff isn’t there. They’ve been replaced with cranky servers who don’t smile or look at you. I get it, you’re busy. Granted, the food is still good, but not what it used to be. It seems like the freshness is gone. The rolls are smaller than they used to be (but still huge) and now cost more.
AND!!! they automatically add 15% gratuity on your bill. Or, maybe it’s just my bill. The last 4 times I went, it was a party of 4 or less. And gratuity was automatically added. WTF.
I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m Asian. The people at the next table (not Asian) didn’t have gratuity. I would tip more than 15%, but you already told me what to tip you… so yeah. Nothing extra from me.

Lesson 1: Arrived in line at 4:15 pm, and I thought that would have been an early enough time to be the first group to be sat. They opened at 4:30 pm, and ended up being the 3^rd group to be placed on the wait list. We ended up getting sat around 5:45 pm.
What I learned: Be here by 4:00 pm and you’ll have a good chance of not having to wait an hour and a half. If you are one of the first 40 people in line before they open, you’re in good shape.
Lesson 2: Some of the hosts here are very snappy. There are rules when you dine here as well. You can order only one time, so make sure you know what you want, and no to go orders.
What I learned: This place has poor hosting service. If you don’t like how they serve you or their rules, they are too busy to care.
Lesson 3: The rolls and nigiri are huge, and tastes awesome! The salmon belly and creamy scallop nirigi are so good. It was a challenge handling the ginormous pieces, so I started using my hands. I had about 6 – 7 pieces total and I was full.
What I learned: I didn’t care about the wait time and service at this point. This place is unique for the biggest portions of nigiri and sushi I have ever seen! Well worth it.
If you are aware of these 3 lessons, you’ll be in for some great sushi!

The food is good, the sushi is awesome
Make sure you come early since the wait is pretty long

I quite liked Saburo’s. If it was closer to my home and I had time to kill, Saburo’s would be my go to sushi place. Yesterday, I was en bus route, and looked out the bus window to see five people waiting in line. Immediately, I requested a stop and jumped off the bus to wait for 30 more minutes in the rain until the restaurant’s opening. In just 15 minutes more, our line went from 5 to 14, and just kept increasing. Anyway, it was all good after we were in. They are very organized and fast. I was out in 35 minutes flat. If you are a twosome, plan to be seated next to another table. If you are a single diner at a two top, plan on dining with a stranger.
The various nigiri and sashimi were super fresh and of generous portions. The hot house sake was good. Saburo’s is not expensive, but it’s not a bargain either. sushi grade fish isn’t cheap. Since I wasn’t sure when I was coming back, I ordered extra to take home to the other sushi lover who refuses to wait in lines like Saburo’s. Trust me, I have tried to come to Saburo’s with others, and finally had to do it alone.
Out of the Chef’s choice sashimi, uni with quail egg, salmon, unagi, and mackerel, my favorites were the large nigiri pieces of unagi, makerel, and salmon. Next time, I am ordering more of those. I did hope Uni would have tasted better. Final thought… don’t forget the miso. It’s not included. By the time I saw it go by for another table, it was too late to order it.

Not your typical fancy sushi spot. They’re known for giantttt rolls! And giant rolls mean big portions of raw fishh! Had such a good time out here, was brought by Portland locals and they insisted this place despite the reviews cause they’re mainly for their rude service and long waits. However the rolls itself are priced fairly cheap.
I can’t even recall what we ordered, I just know, for four we ordered way too much! The sake and beer we got for some sake bomb action might have something to do with it.
However the seared salmon amazed me, alot of wasabi under that big piece of raw fish though. The Alaska roll was delicious. The salads are a must! We got the salmon skin and the spicy tuna. I suggest you just get one to share cause the lettuce and dressing is the same for all.
The fried rolls were our appetizer, I believe one of them was called the big ol’ very filling and made it incredibly hard to eat our main course.
Overall, come with good conpany cause you’ll be with them for a good amount of time, for my party, we put our name down, and went to a bar down the street, came back an hour later and our table was ready. I guess our timing was just on point: D

Do not come hungry! If the weather is nice then don’t expect to eat unless you come before they open. It’s a super small place and they don’t take reservations so good luck.
I love that the rolls are super cheap and they’re massive! It’s kind of hard to eat. Good quality relative to the price.
Once you put in your order, that’s all you’re getting. There’s no hanky panky! It’s sad, but the brief interaction with your waiter really sets the tone for the meal. It really does depend on who you get. It’s a place where you basically shuttle in and out.
Just came recently and I had an awesome server! Jordan was so kind and nice! He had let a table reorder and the other server (girl with glasses), came back and scowled the table. They’re not children. The restaurant wasn’t even busy! I certainly hope the tips aren’t pooled. I would have possibly even gave them 5 stars but her attitude always rains on my food parade. My heart drops every time I get her as a waitress.

Saburo I have been going to your restaurant for years and couldn’t believe the attitude that I had received from your server tonight during my take out order. I have been ordering take out and eating sushi at your restaurant since I was a teenager.
Once your server handed me my order she said to me «the chef told me to tell you to tip at least $ 5 or $ 10 or he was not making the togo sushi next time» I was appalled. Togo orders have never asked me to tip before. Your not serving me when I order take out. The server told me the sushi chefs are paid by tips.
I understand your hardship but it’s pretty disrespectful that you ask your server to come right out and say that. Needless to say I am never ordering take out from you anymore and will less frequent your restaurant.
DONT ORDER TAKE OUT from this place unless your willing to tip at least 30% or more.

There’s a long line outside this place so it seems promising. The wait is long so we thought it was going to be good. One hour later, we get inside and well… it’s ok.
The sushi here is HUGE. I guess that’s their thing. The hand roll is more like a sushi roll put together less nicely. The pieces of sushi are so big, they’re not really bite size. On the one hand, you might think it’s a great value but I think there’s an art to sushi and it’s meant to be bite sized. This is like… the Costco of sushi and I’m not a big fan of perversions to my favorite food.
The quality of the fish is just ok. It’s not the most fresh and the uni, my favorite sushi, was not great.
This place is ok and kitschy. It’ll have it’s fans but it’s a little too wild for me.

You know who the genius of the 21^st century is? The folks at Saburo’s who decided that enormously giant pieces of sushi were a necessity.
Each nigiri is at least 5 – 6 inches long with a generously thick cut of fish on top. I definitely think that the quality is above average for a typical sit-​down sushi place, and it seems like all the other folks who were waiting with me an hour before the 4:30 opening time agreed. Be prepared to wait a while — especially if you come in after the first wave of customers is seated, but it is most definitely worth it.
You only get one chance to order, so make sure you order everything you could possibly want! I always order at least 2 orders of the torosake (salmon belly) and a single order of sake (salmon) and aburi sake (seared salmon). Can you tell I’m a giant salmon fan? Every time I’ve been here, I always order enough to make a meal of for the next day. The pieces keep surprisingly well in the fridge and the rice doesn’t harden overnight.
Verdict: Make your friends jealous with an Instagram/​Snapchat of the giant platters of sushi that you can only find here in Saburo’s.

I don’t care if the wait is long & service is not «the best,» (I haven’t had horrible service there though), the food makes up for it, in my opinion. Saburo’s has large, & I mean LARGE pieces of sushi rolls & cuts of sashimi for CHEAP prices, & I’m all about great tasting & good quality food at a great value!
Make sure you order all that you want because they don’t let you add on to your order after it’s been in, but you can take leftovers home.
Some of my favorite items to order are: Agedashi Tofu ($ 5.25), Sake (Salmon Nigiri) ($ 4), Creamy Scallops Roll ($ 5.95), Budokhan Roll ($ 8), Sunset Roll ($ 8), & the Hawaiian Roll ($ 8.50).

Not a sushi lover… But impressed how delicious and special & unique their sushi are!
Long lines waiting explained why!!!

Go here for the food. The sushi are huge! The lines can get crazy long, as I had to wait 2 hours to get a seat. Also its packed so be prepared to share tables as well. The food here is super good but the service need a lot of work. Its super busy and the food is really good so be understanding. Also, getting force to tip is not a way to go.

This restaurant is the spot to be if you love sushi!
I would give this place 5 stars if the service was better, but this place is extremely popular and packed. I came here five minute after they opened on a weekDAY night and they were already full WITH A WAITLIST!
My friends and I went a bit ham on ordering, but it was well worth it! Got a mix of nigiri and rolls and both were extremely good and the portion was HUGE. One slice of the roll is basically the size of my palm.
A must go if you’re in the area and I will definitely come back whenever I go down to Portland again.

Long wait, but very worth it. The service is not great, but the food was delicious. I ordered the combination plate (b) with sushi, shrimp and veggies tempura, and teriyaki chicken. The sushi was chef’s choice and it was fresh and yummy even though I’m picky when it comes to nigiri. It was also a huge portion. I also liked the shrimp and veggies tempura. For the teriyaki chicken, it was probably the worst teriyaki chicken I’ve ever tried and it surprised me since the other things on the plate were amazing. The chicken lacked flavor and was dry. Other than that, I enjoyed their food overall and my friends did too.

Humungous rolls, generous portions of fish, super long wait times.
Saburo is famous for their giant portions of sushi, making it quite the tourist and local attraction. This is definitely a good option to take out of town guests you want to impress. But people are not joking about the super long wait. Even if you get there 30 minutes before open, a line has already formed. If you arrive anytime after opening, get ready for at least a 1 – 2 hour wait.
The restaurant is quaint and seating is cramped. Get ready to squeeze in and make your selections quickly. The sushi comes out all together squished onto one platter of fishy goodness. Some of our favorites include salmon nigiri, tamago, super soft shell crab spider roll, yellowtail, spicy scallops, unagi. I think one piece of nigiri sushi here is equivalent to perhaps four pieces of nigiri sushi at most other Japanese restaurants. They are ginormous! I however wouldn’t say they are superior quality compared to upscale Japanese, but it is definitely more about the quantity and value here.
Overall, a fun place to go once in awhile if you have time on your hands to bear the super long wait for huge sushi rolls.

I’m surprised how low overall rating is. Its absolutely delicious every time I come here. There is always a long line because of how tiny the place is and it’s almost impossible to get in during certain holiday and breaks.
The price is a bit high but totally worth the portion and size. The taste and flavor is always there. I always order salmon sashimi and spider rolls. the pieces are gigantic and mouthwatering.
The servers do their best for how busy it gets.
Only 2 cards per table allowed. And gratuity is automatically put in for orders worth more than $ 100 or tables exceeding a certain number of people.
This place is better suited for true sushi and sashimi enthusiasts. California roll lovers would not find this place very worth it.
Verdict: Sometimes, bigger is better. Wink*

People weren’t lying about the lines. We parked in the lot at 445pm and there we already a line forming so we decided to jump in. As soon as the door opened, people started to file in. The hostess assigned table numbers and luckily, we were one of the last to snag a table with the first round. Unfortunately, our friends hadn’t arrived and when the hostess realized we were seated without our full party, she scolded us and told us not to «wait 30 minutes before ordering.» When our friends arrived, we ordered (under 30mins, btw) and the same hostess/​server told us we would not be able to place more orders and to make sure we had everything we needed. It didn’t make for the most pleasant dining experience but we got through it just fine.
The rolls and sushi were huge and for the price, quite the deal. Fish came sliced in large pieces and we were definitely happy with our selection and the final bill at the end. I probably wouldn’t be in a rush to get back there on our next trip to PDX… but it’ll remain a sushi option.

Hooly, this place is amazing. The fish is fresh and the portions are really generous. The overall size of the nigiri and sushi rolls are unlike anything I have ever seen — they are HUGE. It is no wonder there is always a long line and waitlist. I ate here recently with a group of 6 and we arrived on a Saturday night around 6:00PM and did not get seated until 7:40PM. The wait is not so bad because you can put your name down, leave, and just come back an hour to an hour and a half later. With that said, it is definitely worth the wait! Saburo’s is a very trendy and local restaurant that attracts a very young and lively crowd (it is also very family friendly). The service is fast and efficient, the vibe is fun, and the food is amazing.
Don’t be mistaken, the sushi is not regal, dainty, elegant, or anything close to sushi from michelin star rated sushi joints. The vibe is quirky, youthful, and very casual. The sushi rolls are huge and messy, with generous amounts of high quality fish. It is not exactly cheap… but a pretty good value for what you get.
My favorite sushi roll was the Rainbow Roll, it was california roll (made with real crab meat) and was topped with many different sashimi cuts.
And my favorite nigiri selections were: Creamy Scallop, Seared Salmon (had a nice smoked flavor from the sear and was half raw), Sweet Raw Shrimp, and the Fatty Salmon Belly. In my opinion, skip the regular salmon nigiri (Sake) and just get the Salmon Belly and Seared Salmon.
Our party of 6 ordered 54 nigiri pieces, the chef’s sashimi selection, 4 sushi rolls (rainbow, dragon, saburo, and spider roll), and 4 miso soups and it totaled to $ 250. At the end of the dinner we were so full, we did not even touch the 4 sushi rolls and had a few nigiri left. We took it to-​go and ate it for the next 2 days. It was still very delicious 2 days later!!! I cannot wait to go back the next time I visit Portland! I highly recommend Saburo’s, it is a very unique sushi joint!
NOTE:
— Because they are so busy, they only allow every party to order once. So, once you’ve put in your order, you cannot modify or add to your order. So, it’s better to order more than to not order enough — you can always take leftovers home!
— They do not do take-​out orders (must dine-​in).
— Try to come earlier rather than later, they started to sell out of some nigiri selections later in the night.
— They have a very small private lot, but expect to park in street parking.

Worst service I have ever experienced.
The food is good. BUT we just found a BUG in the wasabi. And when we told the waitress about that, all she said is «ok, I’ll let the kitchen know.» She was not even sorry and did not apologize at all. We were all shocked. Just want to let people know this.

I came to Portland for visiting my aunt for 3 days. We went to Saburo for the dinner time because my aunt love sushi and never try this place before. I though it gonna be a long line when I read from the review. We arrived Saburo around 7 pm and no long line. Only 2 group of people ahead. It is very fast to get the table. I think we waited only 5 minutes. Food served very fast after took the order and the potion of the sushi is HUGE. I like it! My aunt love their sushi very much and she said this is the best sushi in Portland!

HUGE ROLLS. The biggest rolls of sushi I have ever seen in my life. It’s funny to look around and see the people who come here as first timers. The sushi is decent quality. The wait kind of nuts unless you go during off-​hours.
You only need one roll per person! Trust me. Maybe two.

I had my first meal in Portland at Saburo’s and it was the best way to start my trip.
We arrived around 7.30PM and waited about 15 minutes before being seated. No one could have prepared my group of 6 for the monster-​sized portions. My local friend tried to warn us but we did not take his warning. What we ordered: 1 order of edamame, 1 order of sesame chicken, 2 orders of sake nigiri [salmon], 2 ordrs of torosake nigiri [salmon belly], 1 order of creamy scallop nigiri, 2 spider rolls, 1 spicy tuna roll, 1 Philly roll, 1 Sabu roll, and an order of chicken teriyaki. We definitely left with a box of leftovers.
The sushi portions are so big that I would be surprised if you could get an entire piece in your mouth; definitely not the end pieces. They were all well prepared and arrived quickly to our table. The nigiri was the highlight of the night. The fish was delicious and thick-​cut. The creamy scallop was tender and flavorful. I wish I had only ordered nigiri! Our non-​sushi eaters highly enjoyed their chicken teriyaki and sesame chicken; both bowls were completely empty when we left.
The service was not the best. Although the staff was initially attentive, it took three separate requests to get water glasses for the table. Forks and extra chopsticks also took quite a while to obtain. Additionally, the staff started to clean up parts of our table before we had concluded our meal as the restaurant was closing. The entire restaurant was full, so it was unusual for them to subtly push us out as no one waiting for our table.
Another issue was the limitation of paying the bill with a maximum of two credit cards. Not so group friendly. We worked it out amongst our group but it wasn’t ideal.
Despite the minor issues, I wish I lived in Portland because I know I would dine at Saburo’s at least twice a week.

I am not a fan of sushi. I came here because my friends all wanted to go and I really didn’t have a choice. We got there when it opened, so we were able to get a seat for our group of 6. The service was very slow, because they were busy. I have no idea what they ordered, but they were all happy and stuffed. I just ordered the avocado and cucumber roll and miso soup, but had some of the California roll with real crab and Budokhan roll. The rolls were huge and pretty tasty. I gave them 4 stars based off the reaction of my friends.

Huge pieces, good beer prices, fat tuna, and no Japanese staff on site.
A friend said the wait usually is over an hour long but we got seats after 30mins. A women yelling out names on the waiting list and I immediately knew she was Chinese. Japanese people don’t yell like that. I was thinking to myself, here’s another one of those Japanese sushi spots ran by Koreans/​Chinese which most time turns out to be kind of crappy. But, it actually wasn’t that bad. They have huge pieces of fish and the rice amount was massive!
Anyways, not bad overall, 4 people eating and 1 bottle of beer came out to $ 120. I guess that’s not too bad.

Really good sushi and the it is unbelievable the portion size at this place. The fish was extremely fresh and all the nigiri we ordered was excellent. We also ordered the sabu roll based on a recommendation from a friend and it was sublime. The sushi roll pieces are too large to fit in your mouth in one bite but the sabu roll was easy to eat in two bites. It was also my first time trying one cup sake and it was a decent cold sake especially for the price.
The wait is very long so I would definitely recommended getting there right when it opens but once you are seated the waiters do not rush you which is nice. We put our name on the list and it probably took 25 minutes before we had a table. The place is small and the tables are cozy but the food was amazing and I definitely will be eating here everytime I am in Portland.

For huge portions of decent quality sushi rolls at an amazing price, Saburo’s does an amazing job. Because of the portions and price, the wait is always long, having been rumored to be at over two hours sometimes. We waited for 45 minutes, which was not bad for this place.
The atmosphere could be better as it was tiny, squished, and loud, but for the amount and price, it is not a deal breaker to prevent me from coming back. Four or five sushi rolls only cost us $ 48, and we were all filled and satisfied upon leaving. The seafood was fresh, and the rolls did not fall apart easily while eating. I noticed that the rice to fish ratio was slightly higher on some rolls though, so Saburo’s could do a better job maintaining the consistency and making sure the ratio is the same for all rolls.
The size of the sushi and nigiri really stood out because they were all 3 or 4 bite sushi, which is amazingly large. The nigiri was twice or three times as long as normal nigiri, and the sushi rolls were packed with ingredients. For a hole in the wall place, I would definitely come back.

Saburo’s is hands down the best sushi in Portland. Their sushi is huge and student prices, and the wait of Friday night is 2 hours, wrapping around the building starting at 4:30 before they open.
Recommend the Sabu Roll, Veggie Budokudon, and nigiri of your choice. The atmosphere is very Asian bustling and crowded, which is great if you like the feeling of Japanese Street Food ambiance in an indoor setting.

Seriously? There’s a line for this place? I am glad we came when it wasn’t busy, or it would’ve been a total waste of our time.
I’ve had at least a couple of friends from work, recommend this place. What we have here folks, is quantity over quality. If that’s what you like, then this is the place for you. Not the freshest tasting fish either. Also, an exorbitant amount of rice in the rolls.

I love sushi. But I don’t love sushi from Saburo’s.
As many people have said before, their portions are huge! This is a great thing, if you don’t care about the taste of your food. The quality of fish here is really poor and isn’t very appetizing. After my first visit here, I wasn’t extremely impressed, but decided to give it another try since so many people seem to love it. During my second visit, I was even less impressed and decided that I won’t be coming back. The restaurant is pretty cramped and the customer service isn’t that great. The wait is also really long even if you’re only in a party of 2. It is not worth the long wait, especially since there are other delicious sushi restaurants in Portland that will be more worth your time and money.

I have been to Japan every year of my life, and have a definite love for sushi. Nothing that I have had so far in the US compares to the quality and care of the cuts of fish in Japan. With that being said, Saburos will make due and comes close enough for some pretty good sushi in Oregon.
I have eaten here several times, and enjoy it every time. The quality and cuts of fish are excellent. Very soft and tender pieces of fish, never chewy or stringy, and gives that melts-​in-​your-​mouth bite. Both the sushi and the rolls here are tasty, and the rolls are very creative. The key difference between sushi here as oppoed to most other places, is the pieces are huge. Not your normal sushi size, making it a different feel. I would definitely come here for the sushi, if you want to wait in the long line.
Outside of the sushi, I am not a big fan. I have explored the udon, katsudon, tempura and some other items that I’ve found to be just alright. Aside from that, the pricing gets sort of spendy and they have poor customer service every once in a while. An order has been messed up without any reimbursement or offering of another item a few times, as well as limits on how many credit cards groups may use, and sometimes they won’t allow a table to order again after the first order. Weird rules here. Thus I believe this place is worth 4 stars.
I have brought several people here. My family enjoys it. I have had study abroad friends from Japan as well as friends that live in Oregon that have been to Japan, find it just okay. I have had relatives visit from Japan I take here and they found it different but delicious. To each their own of course but I think this place is worth it if you want good sushi and is probaly the best sushi I have had in the states.