Hilary M.

We love this place. Go with friends and order lots of plates to share. The sushi is good but the other small plates are the real draw... try the Nasu Miso. You will fall in love.
(5)
Angel O.

This is hands down, the best sushi place in the metro area. It was recommended by a friend of mine who is from Japan. The atmosphere, fish, sake and service were phenomenal. I look forward to many return visits.
(5)
Rachel H.

We came by after graduation in forest grove. They were really busy, service was a bit slow, but the food was absolutely worth the wait!! Spicy Tuna Salad on organic greens, mango tango specialty sushi roll and rice noodles with shrimp and veggies were all 5 star! Our 7 year old son declared this the "best restaurant ever"!
(4)
Patti F.

When first moving to Portland 7 years ago, I was told by people in Hillsboro that this was the BEST sushi place. I'm thinking, what does Hillsboro know about sushi? Seriously? I am happy to admit, they clearly know what AWESOME sushi is - because as many times as I've been recommended to try it - I was a little taken aback by "it's in the basement of the library". Do NOT let this deter you, once you get inside, it is wonderfully decorated, has a SUPER cool vibe, no to mention some amazing sushi for the money. I will be back, and I am kicking myself I didn't have the cajones to try this sooner.
(5)
Kurdy S.

I'm a huge Izakaya fan, let's start with that first. Their menu is quite extensive which I was excited about. I like a variety when it comes to Japanese small bites and bar food. I typically try to order things that are atypical but I wasn't too impress so I went ahead and got a Okonomiyaki which was just okay. The flavor was there, but it lacked some crispy texture. I sampled food from my table peers but wasn't blown either. There wasn't one dish that I said, "oh, I will order that again!" Two positives to take away from here were: fantastic and friendly service and sushi chefs wore polo shirts and a cap! Have you ever seen that?! I guess only in Portland area?! I love the cozy atmosphere and the tucked away style in the historic area of Hillsboro. It was Japanese cuisine away from the city! So I wasn't sure what to expect. But if you ever stay in this area for whatever reason and crave Japanese food, I guess this will do.
(4)
Chris W.

If you have plenty of time to wait and like SLOW service, this is the place. We had about 40 minutes before being back in court by 1:30. We waited 7-8 minutes to take our drink order, another 7-8 minutes to take our order. Another 15 minutes for 1 order of Chicken Teriyaki to arrive, and a couple more minutes for a Spicy Tuna roll. We never got our 2 California Rolls. They had 1 prepared when we had to leave so we had to pack it to go. They gave us the bill and charged us for 2 California Rolls. The 2 items we received were okay. Never tried the California Roll. Had to throw it away. I doubt I will ever try this place again.
(1)
Kristen M.

**Happy Hour Review only** I've lived in Hillsboro for the last four years and FINALLY visited Syun! In Hillsboro, there aren't that much good restaurants as you would find in the heart of Portland. Being in the 'burbs, that is one downfall. I'm glad that Syun is in the area so I don't have to venture downtown for good eats! For those of you who are unfamiliar with izakaya - think of it as Japanese tapas. Small plates to share! It may be a bit pricey for some people (if that's the case then visit during HH), but it's worth your dollar! [devour] CRISPY SALMON SKIN STICKS with spicy mayo - ($3) **4 STARS** was light and crispy! There was a definite crunch factor with the salmon skin sticks. The spicy mayo that came along with it wasn't that spicy in my opinion. The salmon sticks were also presented with a bed of shredded radish. I wouldn't mind ordering this item again. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/syunâ€¦ ) SEARED TUNA PIZZA on a crispy gyoza skin - ($4 for 2 pieces) **4 STARS** was quite a unique dish! It was a very creative item on their menu and looks delicate upon presentation. Out of all the things that was ordered for HH, I think this dish was the most intricately executed. I think the photo can explain what I'm talking about ( yelp.com/biz_photos/syunâ€¦ ) BAY SCALLOP SUNOMOMO was a dish made up of cucumbers with a vinaigrette ($4) **4 STARS** what I liked about the tangy-pickled tasting cucumbers, was that the scallops were lightly dressed in the vinaigrette. For some people, the scallops may be a bit too bland, but for others, it's the light flavor that is quite pleasing. There's a hint of sesame flavor, which enriches you taste palette. I wouldn't mind ordering this item again. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/syunâ€¦ ) MINI CHIRASHI with salmon, ikura (fish eggs) and avocado ($5) **5 STARS** You have the option of ordering spicy tuna if you don't like salmon. I must say that the other Yelpers are correct about the rice! It's very yummy! The preparation used to make the sushi rice was flawless! I love anything with avocados, so it was nice that it came with this dish. The salmon was very BUTTERY. It was definitely fresh! Although the dish may look or sound simple, it was constructed very well! Definitely worth ordering again! ( yelp.com/biz_photos/syunâ€¦ ) CRUNCHY DYNAMITE ROLL ($7) **3 STARS** has the fish of the day (baked) made with spicy mayo, tempura and tobiko. The fish of the day was tuna. I wasn't blown away with the dish, but I did think it was decent for what it was. I've had a better crunchy roll elsewhere. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/syunâ€¦ ) SPICY CHICKEN NUGGETS - ($4.95) **5 STARS** was probably the favorite item on the menu that was ordered. The chicken nuggets were breaded quite well, had a nice crispy texture and was definitely hot off the fryer! I didn't think it was that spicy. Consider that spicy level to be mild, but nonetheless it was quite pleasant. I wouldn't mind devouring this dish again! ( yelp.com/biz_photos/syunâ€¦ ) [imbibe] *Sake - ordered the special that they had on their menu. I don't recall the name, but it was $7 for the sake and it was good for about 6 shots. This sake was available hot or cold (I opted for the latter) *Asahi Beer - wasn't on the HH menu, but was $4.25 for a large frosty mug which was good to share ^_^ FYI *The location used to be a library *Parking is on the neighborhood streets (caution as there are some 1-way streets) *There are two entrances *Service is a bit slow, but the waitresses are very kind and helpful *Nearest intersection: Lincoln & 2nd If you're venturing out to Hillsboro and happen to be in the area, definitely check out Syun and make sure you order sushi and sake! =) Yelp 2013 100 for 100 Challenge - Review #71
(4)
Jeanne Z.

If you ever find yourself going to Hillsboro or Forest Grove, definitely stop at Syun! the food is amazing! The staff is super friendly & helpful! It's a cool building, it used to be a library and then you walk in and you are surrounded by Sake bottles! If you love sushi and Japanese food, you will love this place!
(5)
Steven L.

This place is great, the fish was fresh and everything was delicious. If I had to recommend anything it's that they are very short staffed and unattentive to the little things like making sure you're ok with such things as your drink, my wife and I ended up sharing our water because getting someone to the table was impossible. Listen to your customers guys, you can't skate by on good food alone, good customer service is vital!
(3)
Momo B.

COME DRINK WITH ME I have a strange feeling that not many of you would take a Monday evening off to drive forty-five minutes each direction to dine at a "izakaya" that's is housed in the basement of a former public library. "Izakaya" means "i" to stay "sakaya" sake shop. On their street sign they say that they're both a Japanese restaurant and sake club. When we actually enter the basement, there is no mistake that you've entered a Japanese themed restaurant... the fishnets, bamboo, colored glass bulbs and shoji screens covering all the basement windows. And then the hundreds of beautifully designed sake bottles everywhere you turn to. In the background, you hear live guitar music. You see a dark complexion Japanese musician with a short pig tail in back of the restaurant playing unbelievable music... that is jazz on a Spanish guitar. His name is Toshi Onizuka and it just happened to be his first day back. Toshi rotates playing with a number of Portland restaurants. Well, we're here not for the sake, but for the much talked about ultra fresh fish. To start with we ordered their kitchen special of simmered Age tofu with egg, carrot "Hijiki" seaweed, eda-mame beans and a baked potato with bacon, cod row,and veggie top. Then an order of their pork katsu with curry plus rice. And of course sashimi... a regular combo plate. It is all very well prepared and delightfully presented. Like all those who had reviewed this Izakaya, the fish was exceptionally fresh. To conclude our dinner we order a slice of their fruit cake that was not too sweet and filled with all sorts of fresh berries accompanied with wonderful hot green tea.
(5)
Samantha V.

Whoa everyone likes tthis place it was packed on Friday of course. I didn't think the meals took very long BUT still they gave us free soup apologizing for the wait. The sushi soo good. The vegetarian my god yum. atmosphere is super pleasant cozy, fun, and intimate. only complaint was i had some yellow tail and eel which my huusband didn't and i got a little sick that night. BUT that was the only bad thing. everything else was soo good.
(4)
Carissa B.

If you are looking for a great sit-down restaurant with high quality sushi, this is the place to be! If the weather is nice, sit on the patio - it's in a quiet part of town and the courtyard ambiance is peaceful and enjoyable. They try to source many of their products from local organic vendors and you can tell that the food is very high quality.
(4)
Linda C.

My husband and I went here last night thinking it would be a great experience considering all the nice reviews it's received. Ummm, no. We arrived at 7:00 and were seated right away and got our drinks almost immediately and then we were totally ignored. I mean completely and totally ignored, no acknowledgement, no eye contact even. A waitress came up to the table next to us twice and didn't even look at us to see if we were ready to order or if we needed anything. Another couple, who were seated at least 15 minutes after us, were asked if they were ready to order right away. It was as if we were invisible. So after 30 minutes of being ignored, we left. Hands down the worst experience we've had at a restaurant ever. I can't review their food because we didn't get to order any but their service sucks.
(1)
Courtney R.

This place is the best sushi in the service is very good. The atmosphere is great. It's in the old library which is pretty cool as well. I try to eat here at least a couple times a month.
(5)
Steve P.

Would give this 6 stars if I could. A very approachable Japanese restaurant. Excellent freshness. I had the yellowtail cheeks and they were sublime. In my happy place!
(5)
A C.

This place is amazing!!!!! The food quality is top-notch! Their fish is fresh and delicious! You can't beat the customer service here either! Perfect date night spot! =)
(5)
Stuart H.

Been sitting here on the patio 25 + minutes, no drink order taken let alone food. Bout ready to leave but it is 8:36 Thursday night. Where the hell else are we gonna get sushi? I used to think this place was good and would recommend it to anyone that asked...not so sure now. My customer service oriented wife is going inside to complain! Uh-oh!
(1)
William S.

This restaurant truly deserves 5 stars. I've been here multiple times and the sushi and service are always perfect. If I ever want to treat myself to an amazing meal, I know exactly where to go.
(5)
Jessica M.

YAY!! YAY!!! YAY!!!!! I never thought I would find sushi happiness near my home....but HERE IT IS! So...the story goes like this, it was my birthday weekend...we were hungry...it was almost that sushi cut off time, you know....from 2-5 when you can not get anything except grocery store sushi. We arrived and had a warm greeting and were seated right away. I was not going to judge this place on business because it was late in the day and the weekend but the atmosphere was beautiful. The music...was interesting. It was like high school hiphop (meaning the 90s for me) but it was really fun. Ordered a few things. The boy went straight for some basic sushi to test the freshness. PASSED! I went for the tataki which seems to in Oregon, be a beef thing where in California, it was always tuna. But well, it was lovely. We also got the port belly and for me, a basic tuna roll. Everything was wonderful. Waitress was nice and accommodating to my slow ordering (they have a very large menu). All in all, I will be back. It was a wonderful experience and oh so very close to home.
(5)
Julie L.

We have always had such a fabulous time here. How does little old Hillsboro rate such a fabulous Japanese restaurant?
(4)
Kasey N.

Happy hour was phenomenal!! A friend and I stopped by after a tough week of exams. $3.25 a pint plus top-quality sushi?!! Ohmygosh I must be dreaming. It's hard to find an authentic feeling sushi bar. Thumbs up for Syun Izakaya!! I'll be back soon ;)
(4)
Emily C.

Never am I disappointed here! Love going for lunch for the salad and miso. The sushi is the highest of quality as are the rest of the dishes! Tempura is to die for! Staff is very friendly!
(5)
Melvin T.

I live 1.5 miles from Syun (pronounced Shun). I guess that is why it has taken me so long to review the best izakaya in Portland. I have been taking it for granted. The menu is a sprawling wonderland of Japanese "tapas", sushi, and sake. One of my favorites is their chawanmushi. It is a steamed egg custard with such a deep, earthy flavor. Their Chawanmushi is the epitome of umami. There are so many choices of authentic Japanese fare that you can't find at too many other Japanese restaurants. Each dish is executed well and so frickin umami good. Syun's sushi is super fresh. The rice is the perfect flavor and texture. I know a lot of you out there are strictly salmon and tuna eaters, but veer off the safe path and go for their specials board. The specials are always the freshest fish and it will expand your horizon. To say Hillsboro has the best of anything (besides Mexican food) may be blasphemous to you city-types, but I am not kidding around when I say Syun is the best Japanese restaurant in the Portland area. From izakaya to sushi bar, it just can't be beat.
(5)
Ben M.

We really enjoyed the fresh fish! Going with the chef's choice on sushi is never a bad idea and we were rewarded with some wonderful fresh nigiri. We had a local saki (mono kawa) which wasn't bad (better with the food). You don't get authentic Izakaya atmosphere very often here in this neighborhood so this place is easy to recommend so highly when its competition is primarily sushi belt parlors.
(5)
Sophie R.

I had dinner tonight with my family at Syun izakaya, and was impressed from the beginning. The location was unique and spunky - located in the bottom of an old library. The setting, atmosphere and overall vibe of the restaurant was superb. Great lighting, great food, and friendly workers! My family ordered dishes including squid, octopus, clams and sushi. I'm a vegetarian, and they offered to make me a noodle dish not even listed on their menu. It tasted delicious and it's not very often a restaurant offers to accommodate your needs to that extent. For dessert we had the banana cream tempura and mochi and it was refreshing and well prepared! I left feeling pleased, full, but also refreshed - not stuffed and heavy. The service was great, and the food was priced exceptionally reasonably. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone!
(4)
T T.

Excellent flavors and dishes. Broiled mackerel, agedashi tofu, miso eggplant, fried squid... all off the chart! Haven't had any of their sushi or sashimi, but it always looks super fresh and really clean. Finally a decent place for Japanese food!
(5)
Emily S.

The sushi quality here is unparalleled. If you are a sushi snob, who only goes for the ultimate in foo-foo freshness and all that, you will be in love. If you are just someone who can never get enough sushi, no matter what (me), you will also be in love. I have only occasionally ordered food that was not off the sushi menu, but it's all well worth the price you pay. I was initially disappointed at the tiny size of the tempura green tea ice cream, but it was so rich that I could barely finish it! I have also had the tempura shrimp, which was exceptionally light and delicious--a pleasant change from typical, thicker coating at most Asian restaurants. Make a reservation, take a friend and have a truly enjoyable experience!
(5)
Kent W.

The most amazing Eggplant in Miso sauce. Love the creative rolls too. We went two times. Great location
(4)
Tiffany M.

Unfortunately we were unable to eat here, which sucks because the reviews seemed awesome. The website should say by reservations only. We walked in and there were names on all the tables for those who booked a table. When we asked how long the wait, the waitress didn't really know and seemed like she really did not want to help us. Oh well nothing missed, there are other sushi places out there like Sushi & Maki who have fresh fish and an awesome staff. Maybe we will try another time.
(1)
Lior A.

Fresh, fresh, fresh A delight, time after time We come from Bethany area and it worth the journey. Everything is great but the sushi is superb. Great variety of sake
(5)
Scott U.

Very good place if a bit of a trek in the Portland metro. The sushi is quite good, but the thing to understand is that this place is really more of a bar/pub and I'd encourage looking at the rest of the menu beyond the sushi to check out some excellent Japanese pub fare. I have returned and would do so again.
(4)
Deborah M.

Best sushi in Portland! Everything was fresh and delicious. I just ordered the Sushi Nigiri plate. Service was prompt, friendly and efficient. I couldn't recommend this place enough!
(5)
Molly F.

love love love!!! their ring of fire is amazing!!!! great place for a date!
(5)
Dan N.

After reading a few recent Yelp reviews, I was wondering if our experience at Syun would be all that it was at our last visit. Saturday afternoon, 5:05pm (just after opening time). We popped in for a light dinner, having a "snacky" engagement to hit around 7:00 and wanting to save a little appetite for what was to come. We started with four orders of Nigiri: Maguro (Tuna), Sake (Salmon), Saba (Makerel) and we decided to try their Kani (Snow Crab). The tuna was, again, the finest we've ever eaten. Mouthwateringly delicious, and with a total "melts in the mouth" tenderness. Fantastic. The Salmon was wild (possibly Sockeye or Chinook) and had this beautiful deep color. The taste was out of this world. Saba, my favorite, was tender, moist, and well-marinated--flawless. The Crab was great--haven't had it before but this was the real thing, not your typical "Krab Stick". Saba was $3.75, Maguro $4.75, Salmon I think was $5.00, Crab was $4.85. Pricing very reasonable given the very high quality (we paid 20% more last weekend somewhere else and got substantially worse sushi for the money there.) We also ordered an Izakaya special appetizer of the night, a threesome of cod, bacon-wrapped scallops, and Teriyaki chicken. While pricey, the flavor of all three was spot on and all were perfectly and artfully prepared. Beautiful presentation. For the main course, we shared an order of Yakiudon, fat noodles with beef, cabbage, bean sprouts and miscellaneous veggies tossed in. Their sauce was fantastic. Japanese comfort food at its best. Service was actually great. Attentive, kept the water full, bussed plates when necessary, brought the check quickly, smiled, etc. We were driving away at 5:50, which I think is the fastest we've ever gotten through there. Food as stellar as I remember it--not one thing I could suggest that could have improved upon the meal. Maintaining five stars.
(5)
Holy-foo' X.

Boy oh boy, this is a charming spot nestled into the basement of a very old, beautifully maintained house, tucked away just a stone's throw from Tuality Hillsboro Hospital. This place is open about as late (2200-ish) as anything you'll find that isn't fast food/chain franchise in these parts. The tuna rolls and tempura-style lightly crisped eggplant were wonderful. The sushi portions (we had eel and flounder, in addition to the tuna, I believe) were fresh and succulent. High quality grinds! We burned through $70 way too easily at this place. I won't say we came away hungry, but it would have been nice to have more leftovers. Hard to believe this place has already been in the community for 16 years. Here's to many many more.
(4)
Katie C.

My mother took my husband and I here for a birthday dinner. We were really excited after hearing all the great things about this place. Unfortunately we were ignored and never seated so we ended up walking out. There were servers all over. We stood in their way so it wasn't like we weren't seen. Great way to treat customers!
(1)
Tom S.

Very authentic food in an unexpected location. You might walk right by and not know it is there. A bit hard to describe, you need to experience it. Just get out and try this place.
(4)
Corrie C.

Best sushi in town. Great location and I love the feel. We take our sushi loving friends here,...always a hit! Everything is fresh, great wine selection!
(5)
Nick H.

I appreciated the atmosphere and the quality of food. Prices and service were fair. I greatly enjoyed the real California Roll, the best I've ever had, particularly because it was real crab and packed into the roll. I got a tray of 9 pieces of chefs choice fish. It was ok, but for some reason most of the fish lacked a kick of flavor. That made me sad, especially with the eel being bland. I also didn't like how the chef puts wasabi under all the fish, because I wouldn't have gotten it, and this somewhat ruins the experience of the fish. And not to complain further, but I've been to other Japanese places where a Japanese salad and miso soup come standard with a meal, but not here for some reason. I give this place a 3.5 and would go somewhere else.
(4)
Tami M.

Everything tasted great and looked so beautiful. We are already planning our next visit. The service was amazing as well.
(5)
Cami G.

After reading and hearing rave reviews about this sushi place, we finally checked it out. Wow, was I impressed! I'm not an adventurous sushi eater nor do I eat sashimi, but they had a huge menu with plenty of other authentic Japanese dishes. My husband had both sushi and sashimi and he said it's the freshest and tastiest he's had since moving to Oregon. The presentation was amazing as well. My food was soooo flavorful and just the right portions. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere was nice and I felt like I was in an actual izakaya - at least from what I've heard. And it was nice to see actual Japanese sushi chefs in the kitchen!The happy hour prices were great too!
(5)
Annette S.

This is hands down the best sushi I've ever had! It was fresh and buttery. Be prepared to wait for it - is very busy but worth it!
(5)
June W.

We all had a totally enjoyable time there! We had reservations at 5pm, right after they opened and by the time we left about 6:30, the place was PACKED with folks standing in line - the place is not that big to begin with, and I would say, most of the patrons were Asians - good sign. So, reservations are needed for sure. We ordered sashimi (tuna, salmon and hamachi), CA rolls, Philadelphia rolls, gyoza, eel rolls, crispy salmon skin (was on their "happy hour" special till 6pm), and seafood yakisoba. We all agreed the seafood was very fresh and the sashimi portions were generous and delicious. We thought the seafood yakisoba was good, but we've had better elsewhere. For dessert, we had custard (essentially a flan), a mochi ice cream sampler (green tea, red bean and mango), and a "seasonal" special, an orange "souffle" inside a hollowed out orange, that was warm and absolutely DELICIOUS too! Also, they offer dozens of varieties of sake, empty bottles of them lining all the walls. I think they had a good wine list too. So, all in all, a great place, lots of atmosphere, great food, lots of items on the menu with friendly, efficient service - their prices are mid- to high, but worth the price for the freshness of the fish.
(4)
Michael W.

This place is a real jam what you wouldn't think you would find this far from Portland. The pork belly is a must get. I tried mackerel for the first time here and it was delicious. Great menu selection.
(5)
Elaine P.

Can you give less than one star? If you could, I'd give it to Syun. The salmon was fatty and small, and just plain gross. Same horrid service. I notice that nobody comes here anymore. This place will be going out of business soon, I predict.
(1)
Valerie W.

If you live or are ever in the Hillsboro area you HAVE to try out Syun. It's a bit hard to find at first....old brick library building tucked away amongst residential areas, but it's well worth it. The seating is hard to come by....it's a small place, and popular, so be prepared to wait a couple minutes especially on the weekends. They do have some outdoor seating options however which is quite nice. I have been to Japan and I would say that Syun is the closest I have come to authentic Japanese food here in the area. The sushi is super fresh and always tasty. Many of their items are 'small plates' and delightful enough to share with a small group. The Okonomiyake (japanese pancakes) are superb. The only item I didn't quite enjoy once was some rice (fried perhaps?) covered in an odd brown sauce. It wasn't bad, but wasn't the greatest. My apologies for forgetting what it was called, but the waitress had recommended it if I wanted something authentic. The sake selection is nice and they have a wide variety to choose from. I have always had great service here. PROS: Come here if you like authentic Japanese food! Try many of the small plates to share as well as the sushi. CONS: Restaurant is small. Perhaps 4 star worthy. If they are busy expect to wait a bit they do not have a large staff. However, they are always polite and friendly. The prices can be a bit spendy if you don't watch what you are ordering.
(5)
MP P.

I've been to this place 5 times now. I can't belive it took me this long to review this place. One of the best Japanese resturants I've been to. I was surprised to find such a great place especially in Hillsboro. If you're curious I recommend going during happy hours. Be cautious. You might get hooked and might want to go back again and again and again.
(5)
Jarrod F.

I came here on a recommendation from Ted Zava... Maybe you've heard of him. Supposedly the best sushi in Oregon. Well, my favorite place is Bamboo Sushi on 23rd but wowsa, this place is legit. Line at all times. The Oh Kara dry Plum sake was awesome. The Ring of Fire roll was outstanding and the Himachi was the best I've had. The Rockin Role and the Second and Lincoln roll are top notch. Do yourself a favor and check this place out. Just make sure to make a reservation.
(5)
Heather F.

They have great sushi and sashimi! I've been there for both lunch and dinner and their prices are very reasonable for the quality of food you get. I know they take reservations and I'm sure they get busy because their restaurant isn't that big but out of the 8 or 9 times I've been there, I've never had a problem with getting a table and is there isn't one, I've waited maybe 10 minutes. If you like great sushi, go here!
(5)
John L.

It is some of the best Japanese food around Portland. I've been eyeing this place since moving to Portland.... just haven't been able to make it out there as it's too far. It will definitely be on the list of places to visit if ever in the Hillsboro area. They do everything really well and a few things "as good as it gets." The sushi is really fresh and of high quality. You can tell as soon as it starts melting in your mouth. I liked the salmon and yellowtail just a tad bit better than the tuna but in my experience that can change each time you go. 4 1/2 stars. The udon was pretty good 4 stars. The tofu salad was really good. 5 stars. It's one of those simple things that's hard to do really bad but also really hard to get it just right. They got it just right. Tasted a few other salads my friends ordered, they were all good but know the names. I usually don't like mackerel as it's quite fishy... but they said they are known for their mackerel. It lived up to it's reputation. The best mackerel I've ever had. Grilled to perfection and not very fishy. I can't wait to go back and try some other dishes....
(4)
Lelay P.

This place was very busy, and it seemed that they didn't plan well with their staffing. Long wait for the food, and the drinks or refill of drinks, and even just water. No one asked us how things are, but I don't blame the servers, They were very busy. I just wished the manager or whoever is running the place plans better, they'll have a better chance of repeat customers. Although, the place is smack in the middle of nowhere so they would probably have repeat customers just because it is most likely the only decent place to eat in this area. Here's the breakdown: Out of 5 Stars. +2 for the food +1 for the price +1 for the ambiance -1 for the shortage of servers
(4)
Becca J.

I've been to this restaurant a few times, and it is one of my favorite sushi places in the Portland area - it is even better considering how close it is to home! I haven't tried any of their small plates, so I can only speak to the sushi. What really stands out to me is how fresh tasting their fish is. I would definitely recommend calling for a reservation, or else you may end up waiting for a while.
(5)
m o.

A sake bar with the best Sushi on the Westside. And it's underground, fun and consistent. Other reveiws really say it all.
(4)
Rick K.

My wife and I have been here several times and have never been disappointed. Sometimes the service is just so-so but the food is always top notch! The wife and I ate here for Valentines Day and they were spot on w/ their Filet Mignon & Alaskan King Crab w/ spicy sauce (I could have ate 2 of these plates by myself!) We also order a Philadelphia roll, Spicy Tuna roll and the volcano roll which were all excellent. You will be able to tell ur not @ $1 Sushi by the quality of the ingredients used...The Volcano Roll was outstanding. I recommend Syun to anybody looking for a romantic or traditional Japanese dining experience that doesnt mind spending a few extra bucks for top quality food. This is one of my favorite places to eat in Hillsboro!
(5)
JEFF D.

The Food is incredible and the Sushi Chefs are great. It is the management that I take issue with... When you choose a Sushi Bar there are several things that you normally take into consideration, Location, Food Quality and uniqueness of fish offerings and preparations, Friendliness of the Chef and how you are greeted when you walk in the door. Developing your relationship with your chosen Sushi Bar takes time and money, a good deal of money compared to alternative more customary dining options, therefore when you walk in the door there is an expectation of recognition of all those thousands of dollars spent and hours of time one spends developing the relationship with the Sushi Bar. So needless to say that when one walks into the place there is an expectancy of greeting and recognition that make you feel glad you have spent thousands of dollars with them. My relationship with Syun ended when I came in one a Friday night for my reserved table for 8 people to find one of the owners pretending to be a hostess. She told me that I did not have a reservation and that without a reservation, I could not have a table as they were too busy, so I went to the Sushi Chef in an attempt to see what could be done about my lost reservation and was asked to wait until he could figure something out. So we waited in the entry area when in walked a nice party of Japanese people who obviously had never even been there and did not have a reservation, yet they had a table nearly instantly... wow that's some kind of discrimination against the round eyes... needless to say, we did not get a table and we were so upset that we forfeited our half full giant bottle of sake that we had stored there waiting for our return... but we never did, and probably never will after that slap in the face. Fortunately, they are not the only Sushi establishment around and although I am sure that our absence is hardly missed at all, I take comfort in finding Sushi Maki near the Hillsboro Airport where Sushi Chef Paul serves comparable sushi for the most part and on most items he serves superior food and just as importantly Paul at Sushi Maki would NEVER treat us like that.... ever. The most sincerely nice people and best overall sushi in the Tri-County area. Period. These people deserve your business. Syun...not so much by my standards.
(3)
Ivan Z.

Best restaurant in Hillsboro. Some of the best sushi in Oregon. Great atmosphere.
(5)
Joanne L.

Love! I just came back tom Syun. I had the "special" izakaya set which has tiny portion sizes but full of taste and presentation. FAVORITE: Chawanmushi, it's a steamed egg savory custard with seafood and meat in it. It's a delicacy that's not usually served in a sushi restaurant, but reminds me of growing up so it's super comforting and feels very authentic as it was served to me in a tea cup! oh and the fatty tuna nigiri was very good... I love toro! Yummy green tea soy milk custard... with adzuki beans, and fresh fruit, not too sweet!
(5)
Doug C.

Great service and really fresh fish. Am going back for lunch today!
(4)
Kim O.

$65 and no rice. Just came here late tonight and I'm sorry but wtf!- no rice with a very expensive order of food ?? Are you kidding me?!?! I spend literally $65 dollars on food there Togo and NO RICE in my bag when I got home :-( I ordered it while I was there and nothing was said about extra charges for rice or anything. I spend a good amount of money there for a late night munchie, the least you could do is give me rice with my pork Kim chee thing. Let alone I'm Korean! Give me rice! You get 2 stars because the food was good and a really great flavored 'extra spicy tuna roll'- props to the sushi-rice-maker.. good sushi rice... but I can NEVER give a restaurant more than 2 stars for being THAT CHEAP you couldn't give me even a CUP of rice with my order, what is that costing you..... 1/2 a cent?????? Who eats Kim chee without rice??? Pork Kim chee ENTREE without rice??? Or even bother to tell me- "hey lady it's extra for rice!" You know at Benihana when they practically yell at you that it's $4 exla for the flied lice!.... Like duh! it's amazing so ya I'm going to pay fooouurrr dalla exla! I would have paid extra here too if I would have know... I just moved here, I just got my furniture in my house TODAY, haven't gone grocery shopping or had time to make rice or I would have at least had a real meal with rice from my own fridge but no.. I miss my rice... Rrreally wanted to like you weird little sushi place that looks like a jail on the outside :-( sucks... I still wish I had rice. Guess I'll go to the store tomorrow to buy rice, a big huge bag of rice... To make soft chewy and just the right blandness to offset the strong flavors of Asian cuisine, because that's why we go to Japanese restaurants right??? To get rice??? Not a salad, or fries or mashed potatoes.... Ya I'm going on and on and you probably thing I'm crazy now but it's ridiculous... and not fair, play by the rules and don't be cheap in places you don't need to be. $58 check, tipped her $7 on top for a Togo order=$65 (we ate the spicy tuna there while we waited for the rest of the food) just to come home to find NO RICE. I'm sure this review will get trashed like the other 1 star reviews I saw on the "reviews that don't matter link because I probably pay to have yelp remove them." Okay I'm done venting.
(2)
Jake A.

This place was great, but not excellent. We got the nigiri combo plate. Good, but not excellent. Same with the four rolls we had. I just feel a little disappointed. Maybe we just ordered the wrong stuff. Give it a try.
(4)
Meg G.

Personally, we didn't think it was worth the hype. When we walked in, we saw one of the chefs walk back into the kitchen and hock and huge spitball onto the floor. We turned a blind eye and decided to continue with our reservation. We were seated in an extremely cramped table next to two extremely loud talkers. The service was really great (reason for the 3 stars), despite the fact our sushi took forever to come out (because of a "big" catering order). Our food came out in rounds, which was a little odd considering we only ordered 4 rolls to share? Overall, the sushi rolls were definitely not the best we've had. Not a great selection and not worth another visit.
(2)
Betty C.

My husband loves sushi; me, not so much. So when I noticed the reviews of this lovely restaurant online, I messaged a local yelper to see if there were things not of the sea for me to enjoy. She assured me there was, so today, I surprised him with a sushi lunch. The restaurant is very well appointed, and the prices quite reasonable for lunch. I ordered a stir fry beef box and it was wonderful. So often, stir fries are made of the worst cuts of nearly non-digestible meat. At Syun Izakaya, the meat is delectable and it melts in your mouth! I loved the flavor. My husband said the sushi was wonderful, as well! So, if you live with a sushi lover, and you prefer the land to the sea, try Syun...and keep peace in the family! As an update, our first visit, we overlooked the fact that my dinner, which is cooked and to be eaten warm showed up at least fifteen minutes before his sushi... so I ate mine cold so as not to eat in front of my husband. We thought it was just the lunch rush. However, we went back and had the same experience. I like their food, but the service is terrible. I'm pulling back a star due to this. Also, I ordered the same dish, but it came with different sides that previously. I didn't like the new sides AT ALL. I re-ordered because I LIKED the meal...I'm not into chef's choice.
(3)
Amanda M.

My friend has been talking about this place for a long time so we decided to check it out. I am surprised by the location, it actually is in a very deserted part of downtown Hillsboro I believe, there aren't many restaurants nearby or any sign of vibrant night life going on...so I was very surprised how many were there when we were waiting to be seated. The food was good, I am not a big fan of Japanese food in general because I guess I have not really had any great Japanese food that could potentially wow me (I'm a picky eater), so I would say the food we had was pretty legit, I like their pork on the small sampling menu (forgot about the name), which reminds me of the Chinese way of pork stew, very flavorful. The service is very slow by the way, and I was told that it has been like this for a long time because they only have a very limited number of waitress. The decor is actually pretty amazing with all the empty sake bottles. There are always line of people waiting, so if you can, make a reservation in advance!
(4)
Patti W.

We love visiting Syun! Great service, wonderful food, and a pleasant atmosphere. One of our go-to places in Hillsboro!
(5)
Timothy R.

Helped my friend move into a house about 6 blocks from Syun. Walked over there with he, his wife and my wife after moving everything in. It was absolutely fantastic. Great ambiance, fantastic help, delicious food. Best sushi I've ever had (and i've been to Japan) was the Oregon Albacore sashimi that I had here. Will definitely be going back as often as I can when i go over to my friend's new place.
(5)
Anna W.

So good! I work at nearby Washington county and enjoy this place a lot. Service is always fast and efficient and the food is good. I might say it's a tad expensive, but I suppose that can be typical of Japanese restaurants. I got the ebi fry curry and it takes me back to curry houses in Tokyo. Now, some may say there is better Japanese elsewhere, but I'll be damned if there is anything better within a 10 mile radius. Yum!
(5)
Leah K.

It really is becoming hard to find an AUTHENTIC Japanese sushi restaurant these days. But your worries are now over: Syun Izakaya is a gem! Heaven I tell you. You must go. The restaurant is located in the old library building in downtown Hillsboro, off of Lincoln & 2nd. I swear, I caught a whiff of that old-library-books-thousands-of-pages smell as we were leaving Syun Izakaya. Ha. The atmosphere exactly how I imagine a Japanese sushi house to be, small and humble yet efficient. There are sake bottles lining the walls, hints of coastal decor... If this restaurant were actually in Japan, I imagine it to be in a coastal city where fresh fish is plentiful. The servers were so friendly and polite and not afraid to get to know you. I was on a date with my mother :) Between the two of us we shared the Salmon Lovers roll, 2nd & Lincoln roll, the Hotate dish, and some nigiri. Quality was fresh, rolls were a good size, and I loved how inventive the chefs were with the dishes and different ingredients. I really recommend the Hotate dish (on first page of menu). Fresh scallops paired with orange slices and topped with green onion and chives. Sounds like a really strange combination but it was perfect, the citrus brought out the sweetness of the scallops. SO so fresh. Our bill came out to $47 (including tip). Overall the menu is a bit on the pricier side but remember that sushi is an art, it should be expensive. Worth the money for the quality. I shall be returning. Also if you love sake, this is the place for you.
(5)
Kristine H.

Do you like Japanese food? Yes? Then read on... Do you find yourself in Portland often? Yes again? Please continue... If you are in Portland, it would behoove you to beg, borrow, cheat or even steal your way to Hillsboro. Tucked away under an old library is one of the best Japanese restaurants I have EVER frequented. And we've frequented the hell out of this place. I don't want to say how many times but when they were out of a particular item that I loved, the waitress would always apologise before I even asked on subsequent visits. The menu is solid with a portable chalkboard of daily specials that is read out to you by your server. When they run out of a special, it's removed from the board. They have proper okonomiyaki, elegant nigiri that glistens on the platter and sushi rolls that will have you wishing you had an extra stomach. We've enjoyed many a good night of laughter, food and drink that I nearly wish it were a best kept secret! Sit at the bar or at one of the tables against the sake bottle lined walls, the service will be attentive and pleasant. The bathrooms are located outside of the restaurant in the lobby. Watch the doors in the women's room, they slam quite loudly because of their weight. Rather than give the laundry list of things that we've had and enjoyed here, I'm just going to refer you to the photographs that I've uploaded. Each dish pictured was fantastic and flavourful, I've searched my memory if there was a dish there that we didn't like and the answer is a resounding no.
(5)
Phil D.

Best sashimi in the Pacific NW. I could have gorged on the Toro and Maguro. Co-worker got Onigiri baked rice balls and was tripping on how good they were. I was very impressed with not only the food and atmosphere, but also how informed the servers were with their extensive sake collection. My new favorite eatery in the Portland area.
(5)
Tony M.

Great place, quick service for 5 of us and very nicely done! very happy with my first visit! nice treat for for a working lunch!
(4)
Jen K.

Why can't I remember? Normally I have an almost photographic memory for restaurants and what we ate, where we sat, etc. After our recent visit to Syun, many of the details have become fuzzy. Yes, there was a little drinking involved, but I think the main reason is that I don't want this little suburban gem to become even more popular than it already is. I'm always looking for an interesting place to eat on our way back from the coast. Hillsboro can seem like the land of endless strip malls and chain restaurants, but then you walk in the door and down the stairs at Syun and feel like you are transported thousands of miles away. It is a good reminder that not every interesting place resides in Portland proper. Without using the 'A' word or giving you a resume of my time in Asia, I will say that the atmosphere was unbelievably wonderful. Syun is nestled in the basement of the old library just a block off Main Street. Sake bottles line all the walls of the main room and more intimate back dining area, and it is a festive atmosphere. Service was very good and the place was absolutely packed on a Saturday night. An izakaya is best experienced with a group so you can order multiple plates of dishes both familiar and unusual. We ordered at least ten items and while not all were the best I've ever had in Portland or elsewhere, the cumulative experience was nothing short of extraordinary. My kids were fighting over the sukiyaki, but I'd pass on the gyoza. The sushi rolls, especially the unagi, were very good and the sake list was extensive. We actually drank plum wine instead since it is less common. Apparently plum wine = memory loss. What is perfectly clear is that this is the kind of place that restores my faith in the suburbs. Can't wait to return... and take notes.
(4)
Jenny H.

How does this place have such good reviews?!? I came for lunch with a friend, and we both thought the sushi was horrible. Here's what we tried: SALMON NIGIRI : First thing, the color was off! It was a strange deep orangish red color that I've never seen before. Second, the texture was nothing like the normally smooth, soft salmon that I like. It was also cut very thin. I wish I took a picture of this... SPICY TUNA ROLL : Tasted okay, but the tuna was very stringy. It seems they didn't cut the tuna properly because I pulled out a long strand of white stringy thing from my mouth. CHIRASHI : My friend ordered this, and I noticed he was picking around his food. I think he finally couldn't take it anymore and asked me to try his sushi. The piece of tuna he gave me tasted pretty disgusting. The texture was very strange because usually tuna is a little harder, but this seemed kinda mushy and tasted very fishy. I don't think I've had such bad tasting tuna in a long time. I'm never coming back here again. Maybe their cooked food entrees are good, but their sashimi was horrible in my opinion. It was a Wednesday, so perhaps it's in the middle of the week and they were lacking fresh fish?
(2)
Sean M.

Pretty fantastic. The building is awesome! The food was Amazing! The service was great! Go here. Make a reservation, sit down, eat amazing food, smile, and eat more. Its really that simple. This is now my sushi joint.
(5)
Rosa M.

I've only been here once, but I gave it 'Five Stars' due to the following: 1. My husband and I were immediately greeted when we came into the restaurant 2. Although we came into the restaurant 10 minutes before closing (we try not to make a habit of doing that at any place of business, but it happens -- sue us) and wasn't told the time they'd be closing or that we only had 10 minutes to decide on what we wanted to eat and then "make like a tree and leave" 3. Our hostess allowed us to choose where we wanted to sit and assured us that we were welcome (after we tried apologizing a few million times about our timing) 4. Once seated, there was an assortment of items to choose from on the menu 5. When we finally decided on what to eat we were not disappointed by our choices - the food was DELICIOUS. It is for all these reasons I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Janet M.

We went to Syun last night for a quiet dinner. We went early. On a Saturday night at 6 it wasn't too crowded. Do you have reservations? the nice woman asked us at the "please wait here to be seated sign". Um, no. It's ok, she said, and swept us to a room in the back. Which was fine. Mostly empty and quiet. The two servers were lovely, attentive, and sweet to us and to our daughter, who was being particularly cute that night. (sometimes it's a crap shoot, you know?) We ordered a number of things to share, except for BIL, who ordered a sample sort of plate with three items on it. One was a mushroom thing, another had pork sausage and asparagus, and the third he ate so fast I didn't register what it was. He loved all of it. He also had miso, green tea and complimentary edamame. He was so happy, he didn't talk. He declared himself full, and rubbed his stomach contentedly while we kept on eating. Darling kid ( who inspired this trip with a "can you make miso for dinner mommy?", er no, let's go out tonight).. she had miso soup ( it had beautiful snow peas floating in it), green tea, wonton stuffed with cheese, some tonkatsu pork strips ( savory and crispy and yummy), soba ( cold with a vinegary salad under it), sunomono ( her favorite, it is very good here, crisp and served in a pretty glass), and edamame. She was blissful, and there was a lot for her to look at. She liked the tablet that comes attached to the menu. It is very pretty and nicely presented. When we asked the server for a spoon for my little miso soup eater, she quickly and sweetly brought a bowl with a traditional Japanese ladle ( it had a bunny on it) and a typical metal spoon. So thoughtful. Of course, misokid took the ladle, are you kidding me? Husband and I had a lot of the same items, miso, edamame, green tea,cheese wonton, but also a pork belly dish (OMG it was so sick, er really good,and kid swiped a big chunk of it and ate it with her sticky little fingers) and crispy perfect tempura ( vegetables and shrimp), and OH!, we all shared agedashi tofu ( which wasn't child's favorite because the tofu was silky inside, to her "mooshy", but the rest of us thought it was delicious). Kid and husband had tempura green ice cream for desert. It was beautifully presented with fresh fruit and a dusting of powdered sugar, and there were two scoops, so it's perfect to share. It was a really lovely dinner, nicely paced, everything was hot and delicious, and there were no sour notes. Our water and tea were refilled without our asking, and there was nothing about the evening that could have been better. For that I give it a five. It's a nice grownup restaurant with a lot of personality that is still good for a well behaved kid. We highly recommend it.
(5)
Jessica N.

Wow. Tucked away in downtown Hillsboro, not something you'd expect especially since Hillsboro is considered "the suburbs" (that, and on the top 10 list of places for the retired) - far, far away from Portland... Syun surpasses my expectations, being that the location is mildly cool (the basement of an old library) and the sake menu is extensive (just look at all the empty sake bottles aligning the wall)! Along with an extensive menu of sake, the food list goes on and on with the izakaya style foods, hots foods, cold foods, noodles, SUSHI, and much more. Unfortunately, the costs seem mildly high with the portions not matching the price... $5-$8 an izakaya plate, but very delicious. Ordered: bacon stir-fried with asparagus alongside another plate, pork belly. The pork belly was very moist and had a gingery taste to it, not like other PBs I'm used to. However, you can never go wrong with bacon = yum, yum, yum! Had ordered the regular sashimi platter (check the photos) and the fish were the freshest of all sushi/sashimi I have had yet in Oregon. For $22.50, it had a large assortment and had a good quantity making it entirely worth it... But eating it on your own = bad idea. Other sushi ordered: spider, alaska, spicy tuna = very fresh AND very delicious. Very disappointed they were out of the green tea pudding as I was excited to try it out... But the tempura fried green tea ice cream and tempura fried bananas well made up for it for the most part. We had arranged reservations being it the first time going there, so we were seated in a separate room from the main show of sushi chefs and excitement... Once other patrons had left in the room, it felt as if we were forgotten: service was slow, water was desperately needed to accompany the soysauceness/sushi, and waiting for the check to arrive brought this entire review down to a 4. Definitely will come here again in the near future... But I'll cross my fingers for the green tea pudding!
(4)
Bethany P.

Most authentic Japanese food ever! My husband and I lived in Japan for two years. This is by far the very best Japanese food we've had since being back in the States (we got here about a year ago). Everything we ordered came and tasted the exact same as what we would get in Japan. It's also a great feeling having the place filled with Japanese people and our server being Japanese. The hottate nigiri sushi (scallop) was super fresh and tender and butter and amazing. We've ordered this at Bamboo Sushi, and were disappointed. But here, it was exactly what we were hoping for. I highly recommend the sake yakionigiri (salmon stuffed grilled rice ball) and saba shioyaki (salted, grilled mackerel). I can't wait until we go back, but we live in downtown Portland, so it's a bit of a drive!
(5)
Frank C.

Definitely worth going to.
(4)
Kate B.

Friendly people, eclectic space, great food that's always fresh. I work around the corner and go often and it's consistently terrific. Haven't had a bad meal yet and will continue to go back. I can't believe it's in Hillsboro, it deserves a Portland address.
(5)
Don B.

Finally. After years of waiting, I finally made it to Syun, and based on the myriad of food I sampled I feel pretty good giving it a 5-star review after even one visit. Syun has been the subject of much hype for a long time, and in my opinion, the food lives up to it. This little Japanese Izakaya downstairs in the basement of the old Hillsboro Library is pretty much the picture-perfect definition of 'diamond in the rough.' The menu reads like something out of one of my happiest dreams. An extensive list of small izakaya-style hot dishes, some noodles and similar, and a litany of awesome sushi choices. Interesting and unique options like Chawanmushi abound. The prices are immensely reasonable for the size of the these unique and delicious small plates (in the $4 to $9 range). A long and carefully-crafted sake list and friendly service round out this great bar-food inspired menu. On my first visit, I got a pretty decent sampling of both sushi and hot items. We tried the tofu steak, which was a thick slab of tofu cooked in a soy/ginger sauce with a funky yam-based white syrupy sauce on top. The soy/ginger sauce had a great depth and complexity and the funky white yam sauce on top had a strange texture but added a creaminess not normally found in vegan food. I also enjoyed the Chawanmushi (egg custard with veggies and shrimp/fish-cake) a LOT, and my broiled mackerel (an entire 1/2 of a fish for somewhere around $8) was rich, oily, and, for lack of a better term, fucking delicious. The other hot dish was a deep-fried spicy salmon special that pretty much blew me away. These represent only a small fraction of the number of hot izakaya plates offered, and I can't wait to come back for more. On the sushi-side, we ordered a $50 sashimi plate omakase style, and the chef selected ahi, hamachi, uni (very fresh right now), salmon roe, albacore, sweet shrimp (with heads), squid, mackerel, salmon and more. All of the fish was super fresh and amazingly clean. I would dub this some of the better sushi I've had in Portland. In total, it was a great meal. Unfortunately I did not sample the sakÃ© seleciton, but no matter, I will definitely be back. How often depends on my willingness to drive 40 minutes from where I live to Hillsboro. While I am tempted to dock a star for them having the audacity to be located so far from me, I just can't bring myself to do it. Amazing izakaya food, great sake list, funky cool historic space, friendly service, and cozy atmosphere make for an all-around amazing experience. Go now.
(5)
Jessica R.

The best sushi I've had in these United States! Great sake selection. Great atmosphere. I'd give it 5 stars if it wasn't so far away, and well to be honest, downtown Hillsboro is a dump.
(4)
Wendy M.

Oh Syun what has happened to you?? The menu has changed (the prices!!), the service was just okay ...but...the food, ugh. We went for lunch on a not-so-busy Monday: -miso soup: tasted like grit was in it, very weird tasting -my sushi was paper thin and did not seem fresh -seafood yakisoba was so bad (greasy) within 10 minutes my man had to puke We both drove all the way back to Portland with our stomachs rolling and $40 poorer. We could've gotten better Japenese food at a chain restaurant. Obviously Syun is cutting big corners now. So very disappointed.
(1)
Rick S.

Bottom Line - This place is good. Visited on 23 April 2010 and all of the dishes we ordered were well prepared, tasty and there were no dishes I would not order again (though I'd like to try the many other items that we didn't get to order). I came with 2 friends for a light dinner, but left quite full. We ordered the following (also see my photos): Endamame - well, we didn't order this, it's just given to you. (= Agedashi Tofu (cubes of tofu in soy broth) $4.95 - The broth was very good, and I liked the sliced mushrooms that came on top. The tofu wasn't as silky smooth as I like, but other than that, no complaints about the dish. Asparagus Becon (stir-fried asparagus and bacon) $5.95 - This was probably my favourite dish. I love asparagus and it goes well with bacon fat... I guess everything goes well with bacon fat. There was a lot of bacon in this dish, so I was almost at bacon overload. I'd order this dish again. Botashoga (tender slices of pork, stir-fried with ginger and onions) $6.25 - This was a very tasty dish. The sauce was nice and thick and the pork came out pretty tender. I also love onions, so this dish is an overall win in my book. Hotate Becon (grilled scallops wrapped in bacon) $6.95 - The scallops were a bit over-done, so they were on the verge of being tough on the outside. They are quite generous with the amount of bacon.... a whole slice wrapped around one small scallop. I think this dish would have been more enjoyable if there were just one layer of bacon around the scallop rather than the 4. The bacon overly over-powered this dish. I think next time I'll just try the regular grilled scallops w/o the bacon. Sui Gyoza (boiled dumplings with Chinese chives and crab) $8.95 - These boiled gyoza were good. The soy sauce it came with was a bit too salty.. I think it'd be better if the gyoza were served with the soy sauce on the side. But the gyoza itself was exactly what I expected, and the chive and crab filling was quite tasty. Sake Yakionigiri (baked rice ball with salmon) $4.95 - This is a very basic dish. I thought the salmon was a bit too dry, but I think it's supposed to be that way. We ended up pouring the sauce from the agedashi tofu onto the rice and it made this taste a lot better (= I wouldn't order this dish again because it's so basic. Tempura Ice Cream (2 scoops deep fried green tea ice cream) $5.50 - What a nice way to wrap up a meal. I love ice cream, and I love deep fried stuff. This is enough for 2 people to share, but if you really enjoy sweets, 1 person could easily take the whole order ;)
(4)
Joe T.

Nice
(4)
Gillian W.

Now this is the Place you want to go if you want some great sushi / Japanese food. I've been here quite a few times in the last years and glad to see it's still here. I remember going in here many years ago when I first moved to Portland. I have to say the food is just amazing as well the service. I love going here and getting the Tekkadon spicy donburi.. It's spicy tuna over rice and delish! Hope you like raw fish! Yummers!
(4)
Ralph S.

Wow. What a wonderful place. Great atmosphere, fresh and creative dishes. Lovely staff.
(5)
Linda C.

The food here is excellent. I have eaten here a number of times and the food is consistently wonderful. We usually get sushi and an appetizer dish. The fish tastes fresh and the selection of sake is great! I have never been disappointed with the food here. We usually order the Dragon Roll, Rainbow Roll, and Rock n' Roll. Sometimes we mix it up with a new roll or dish. On a recent visit to this place, it was packed as it usually is when we go here. We were a party of three and one member of our party ordered a beef dish. We ordered our usual sushi rolls and the order was done all together. My only complaint is that the food isn't served at the same time. Or at least for us, it wasn't. Perhaps it was just this visit. We had our sushi rolls delivered to us one at a time and then we waited for another 10 to 15 minutes for the stir-fry beef dish. By that time, we were full and the third member of our party, who is allergic to shellfish, had to wait until the very end until he could eat. That's ridiculous. I would still go there again though. The food, again, is great. Our waitress was very nice but...service could have been a little better this time around.
(4)
Joe L.

Don't really understand the hype about this place. I've been twice and the sashimi and omakase were very expensive and pretty underwhelming. Tried one of their fancy rolls and it was also pretty meh. Service is fine although this place is small, loud and crowded. Maybe I'll try again at happy hour but for the price they charge here I am not impressed. There are better places in Beaverton not to mention Portland that are cheaper and tastier.
(3)
Ryan H.

Syun is awesome! They have lots of sake to try at decent prices. The sushi is very tasty and they have Japanese beer on tap. What a gem!
(5)
Bengal T.

I am a vegetarian so this review of this place is based on the vegetarian items I tried at this restaurant. We ordered vegetarian tempura. This item was basically fried okra, fried green beans, fried bell peppers...just too much of oil. Thereafter ordered the tofu steak. Again just tofu with sauce which was okay. Finally ordered vegetarian sushi and avocado sushi. These were good. Overall not a great place for a vegetarian. Service was very okay.
(2)
Peter C.

Awesome, gives Hillsboro some major street cred!
(5)
Keven W.

I have to admit the food quality is amazing, first Japanese restaurant I know of that is organic. Anyways I did not try the sushi, but I tried the scallops, clams, potato salad. Then I tried the tempura icecream which was great. I wish they had more food, but that is okay. It is nice to eat light after lots of food eaten.
(4)
Abby B.

New favorite sushi place!! As soon as we sat down, warm edamame hit the table. Then the waitress brought over a dry erase board with the specials and explained them, then left it on a chair next to us so we could continue checking it out. The place was pretty full when we arrived, but we were seated immediately. We happened to be there on their 16th anniversary. They had a really awesome dude playing the guitar, it was pretty amazing. Even the waitstaff were staring at him as he played. Note: I'm absolutely new to sake, but decided to give it a try here. Their sake menu is really great, educational and helpful. It describes the different types and how to tell the difference between a dry and sweet sake. The waitress brought me a taster of two sakes because they were out of the flower sake I initially wanted to order. I landed on a sweet sake and ordered it cold. It came in the coolest glass jar with a cubbie for the ice to keep it cool. I'm sure this contraption has a name, but again I'm no sake expert. They bring you a big basket and let you choose your sake shot glass too, which I think is just a really fun touch. We first ordered Yellow tail and scallion roll and the Mango Tango roll. The Yellowtail came out first. The fish was fresh, the scallion was a perfect touch. You could taste the flavors of the rice and smokey flavor of the nori. It was seriously the best simple sushi roll I've ever had. Then came the Mango Tango. Holy crap, ya'll. This roll was magnificent. It had thin slices of fish and mango on the outside with black roe on top. Inside it had fish, mango, cucumber and cream cheese. Each bite had so many flavors and each hit at just the right moment, it was really a beautiful roll. My spouse is quoted as saying, "Each piece is like an adventure." We decided to order another roll and landed on the Second and Lincoln roll. It was actually hugely disappointing compared to the Mango Tango. Not because the roll wasn't great, but because the Mango Tango was just ridiculously good. After the plates were removed we were given hot green tea while waiting on the check. The guitar player finished up and they started playing classical guitar versions of modern songs. It was pretty unique, and the waitresses were into it and singing the lyrics to the songs. I am going to back back soon and can't wait to sit at the sushi bar next time!
(5)
Snoodles D.

I'm writing an update to my last post to say that once again, this place was disappointing. The portion size was again much smaller and the presentation was just not that great in comparison to the many times I've been here in the past. They need to do better to be worth the prices they charge.
(3)
Amber L.

This place was okay. I was not a fan of the sushi. Wasn't as fresh as I'm used to. I've had much better omakase (Boxer and Tanuki) and sushi (Miyamoto and Bamboo) in Portland.
(2)
Brett L.

Happy to be the 200th reviewer for this place! I was blown away by how intricate this place is. You can tell that a lot of thought has been put into the details. Unique and quirky is what I like and Syun is both. For example most of the tables appear to be handmade and no two are the same. The building itself is really cool as well. Syun is located in what appears to be the basement. I came on a weekday for lunch and there were quite a few people there. I can only imagine what it would be like on a busy Friday night. The sushi was good. I was served by the only female sushi chef I have ever met.
(5)
Esther Y.

Tucked into a cute little neighborhood of downtown Hillsboro (I didn't even know there was a downtown Hillsboro until I came here) sits Syun Japanese Restaurant with its narrow entranceway leading into a very homey and well-decorated Japanese restaurant. I've been to Japan twice and many sushi bars there and in California, and this place had one of the best ambiances I've seen for a Japanese restaurant. I first found this place in AAA's Via travel magazine (online), and found that it had high ratings in Yelp too, so I dragged my visiting friends out here for dinner (after dragging them on a skytram/streetcar/walking tour of downtown PDX). Unfortunately, one friend doesn't eat seafood, and Japanese food contains a lot of seafood. We managed to get by ordering izakaya dishes (small plates like dim sum or tapas) with and without seafood: Oregon Salad - good mix of greens, the dressing is okay but not the best Japanese dressing I've ever had Yakiudon - delicious stir-fried udon noodles! Gyoza - pretty good, this one went pretty fast Okonomiyaki - I love okonomiyaki, but this version was a little too salty. But then again, very few places serve okonomiyaki, and the best I've had is still in Japan. Rock 'n Roll - sushi roll with avocado and unagi on the inside and topped with smoked salmon. This was pretty delicious. Rice balls - we got both kinds, the plum one and salmon. The salmon one was delicious, but the plum one was way too sour, similar to the plum candies. Our lips were puckered for a while after that. I love that the rice on the outside is slightly crispy. Extensive sake selection, which I didn't try. I'd come here again if it weren't so far away, I'd love to try their chirashi bowl and more seafood dishes!
(4)
Kari C.

This isn't $1.50 track sushi. So, this review is for those who appreciates quality, service, and ambience. If you have been to Japanese restaurants in downtown Portland that charges similar prices with sub par food, try this place and quickly realize what you've been missing. Love the ambience of this place. Feels authentic, superb food & service. Servers are prompt, helpful, and always pleasant. Rolls, salads, nigiri, and sashimi are all good here. A perfect stop after sake tasting at Sake One in Forest Grove. ;)
(5)
Jamie H.

This is my favorite sushi place. Syun is amazing! If you buy a bottle of saki Syun will store it on the shelf for future visits. I have dined at Syun multiple times. I have the fatty tuna every time and it always satisfies my craving. The uni is awesome and tastes like buttery sea and the octopus is always good. The saki sampler is a nice way to a start the evening and then I suggest switching to shochu on the rocks.
(4)
Marleen M.

Server was sweet and we got our food quick despite how full the place was for dinner. It's a very cute restaurant. Seemed pretty tight but the layout was comfortable. The food was excellent. The only thing I didn't like was they used sushi rice, instead of plain white rice, in the dish i ordered. Otherwise everything was flavored perfectly :)
(5)
Kal C.

I almost gave 3 stars, but it was 2.5 leaning more towards 2. I was SO excited to finally eat here, but I was beyond disappointed. People walk in and say they have reservations, but they don't check any sort of list. So I recommend you walk in, say you have a reservation even if you don't, and you'll be seated...in a while. There's no seating for people waiting, and the entrance is horrible. They have huge barrels where there could be a waiting area, instead of creating a fire code violation having people stand at the entrance by the bar. Drinks are $3.50 a piece, with NO refills and a shit ton of ice. My drink was watered down in 3.7 minutes. I seriously spent $10.50 on drinks, and none of them contained any sort of alcohol or magic fairy dust. I would've rather donated that to the Japan relief efforts. Sushi is the same as anywhere else comparable in Hillsboro, but more expensive and less "special." I paid $9.50 for the grilled seafood garlic special, which was cold and had 2 pieces of tiny shrimp, 2 small clams, 2 chewy scallops, 2 hard pieces of octopus and a little bit of mushroom. The only garlic I tasted was on the mushroom. They were completely out of 2 items we wanted, one being hamachi kama yaki, and one of the #1 reasons we came here. I'll let that go. We were left with empty drinks for quite a while. We ordered 2 miso soups that never came, and we were never checked on. I watched multiple parties show up 10 minutes after us and get food before we did. Some even ate more, paid and left before us. We waited FORTY MINUTES FOR THE CHECK, despite asking 2 different people for the check more than once, and it was not busy. UNACCEPTABLE. We had shit to do - it's the end of the week and I had a 12 hour day, dammit. We finally got hot green tea with our check. When all was said and done it was over $70 and I can't justify that. I was underwhelmed and upset, but I just tipped, left wondering WTF happened and will not be back. It's a shame, because I wanted to love Syun.
(2)
Tamsen G.

The last time I reviewed Syun, I gave it a 3.5 which was reflected as a 4, a la the Yelp system. I definitely would give it a one star upgrade this time. As a dinner destination, Syun had a surprisingly romantic appeal. My guy and I had cold sake, and they offer you a selection of cups in a basket - it was quaint and kind of cool to select the unique sake cup of your choice...service was very gracious and all of our selections came to the table quickly. Menus are presented on wood blocks, and more than a little daunting. Syun boasts Japanese pub fare, which normally I would have barely perused, but when I heard about the asparagus bacon, I had to check it out. It did not disappoint. Ordering a combination of sushi and pub fare, we wound up with a cacophony of flavors at the table. The "Second and Lincoln" roll was very good, and the spicy tuna hand roll was also very good. I really must say that the Asparagus Bacon was the big win. But then, it's bacon.
(5)
Feuy S.

I think I finally figured it out... why I never really enjoy my meals here: It never seems that busy. There are a good number of waitresses and hostesses running around. But they always seem to be in hurry! Every time I try to flag a waitress down to get water, to take my initial order, to order more drinks, to get the check.. they always just zoom by me and avoid any eye contact. It's like they're so flustered by SOMETHING!! It's frustrating and very off-putting. But hot damn, their sashimi is delicious.
(3)
Tani S.

We unfortunately weren't that impressed with Syun Izakaya vs the other glowing reviews here. It was fairly busy when we left and many patrons seemed to be regulars judging by the waitress' greeting so can't tell what we missed. We tried a gamut of dishes from across the menu... The bacon asparagus izakaya dish was good but a little on the oily side as was the miso eggplant (why so much oil?). The sake infused clams were good but quite small portion size for the price as opposed to when we've had that dish at Biwa. The fried squid was really disappointing with the squid chewy and the breading not light and airy as I had expected/hoped. The okonimayaki pancake was good but extremely small portion but the sushi was where I was most disappointed. The salmon wasn't a buttery texture as I was expecting and the rolls were just a bit meh (had the Hokkaido roll)... to be honest, we've had better sushi in Boston and Seattle for much lower price. So after our overpriced meal were just left wondering what we missed...
(3)
James L.

I'm not a big sushi eater - in fact I rarely enjoy it most of the time I try it. The exception is for Syun Izakaya - this is the only place where I actually found myself craving it. So, I don't know enough about Japanese cuisine to comment on how good or bad the food is technically. The only thing I know is that I really like it.
(4)
Erin O.

I am clearly in the minority with my opinion, but this is NOT a place I'd ever revisit. We were thrilled to find a sushi place open on a Sunday, and with the majority of yelpers loving it, I had high hopes. I'm wondering if I need to start drinking more to enjoy some of the highly rated places around Portland? I'll keep it short. We ordered our usual favorites. All of my nigiri tasted funny. I immediately ate something else when I got home to get the taste of this dinner out of my mouth. We also thought the miso soup was odd, and my daughter didn't finish her agedashi tofu nor her inari. We sat at the sushi bar (our choice). The two sushi chefs, even though not busy, never once said "hi." Not even a smile. We won't be coming back. Two more seats for the rest of you who seem to love it.
(2)
Joey Y.

Total surprise. When my brother and I arrived here, I thought my Apple map app was malfunctioning AGAIN. "Damn Apple," I thought to myself. "Instead of taking me to a sushi joint, it has led us to a small, historic building in downtown Hillsboro..." But who doesn't like surprises? Walked in. Took a sharp right into a narrow staircase down to Syun Izakaya. We ordered bento boxes in addition to two rolls. Pretty damn good rolls. Fresh fish and ingredients. The bento boxes were good but not something that I would remember in the long term. What threw me off was the background music that they were playing. (I know, I know... this may sound very shallow and irrelevant but talk to any restaurant experts. They will tell you that interior colors and music can make a huge difference in patrons' experience.) Pop music DID NOT help my taste buds and appetite. Seriously. Who wants to eat gourmet sushi rolls with One Republic in the background? Eating is not only about the food; the experience counts a lot as well. So... change your music Syun Izakaya!
(4)
Kai C.

Order the traditional sushi and today's special sashimi. If lucky enough try the Geoduck!
(5)
Melina H.

Thank you to all the fans of Syun...we would not have even come here without you! This is a fantatic little place - come early if you don't want to wait!! I am not an expert of Japanese like some of the folks reviewing, however I know what I like and this is absolutely delish. So many not-so-little tapa style plates to try. Hubby can't leave without having the pork belly or the asparagus. I am a sushi fan and quality, potion, and price do not disappoint. The staff is amazing - friendly, knowledgable, and attentive. They have many items as they come in season which I really appreciate...if they can't get it fresh and up to quality standards, they won't serve it to you. The restaraunt is bistro style so you will be cozy with your neighbor, and yet it is still intimate and, dare I say, romantic? Seriously, what else can I say that hasn't already been said. It's nummers....well, there you go!
(5)
Rob R.

This place is popular for a reason - great, fresh fish! The quality was excellent; prices were average; service was adequate. You can never go wrong with the Chef's pick or the rainbow roll. The chef was cool - and was discussing looking for a new knife - his currently one was ten years old! Be sure to make a reservation so that you don't miss out!
(5)
Dan P.

Ok I went back to Syun last night and had a much better experience. While there was still a wait at least HH started by the time we were seated. They had a variety of specials which were explained to us using a chalkboard tableside. By the time 9pm rolled (no pun) around the place was half empty and the atmosphere much more enjoyable. We ordered the SOS roll which was on special, a HH sashimi sampler, the chef's special roll and the fatty tuna nigiri. Everything tasted really fresh and the vegetables had a serious crunch. If I didn't enjoy the quality of the fatty tuna so much I might have fainted from the sticker shock - $15 for two pieces! Overall Syun has a great selection of both hot and cold plates but freshness is key to your meal, luckily they aren't shy to your verbal inquiries. To date I don't feel it's the best in Portland, especially for the money. We only ordered off the special and HH menus and for two people the bill totaled $80 after tip. For that much money I better leave with a happy ending!
(4)
Aprile P.

This is one of our favorite sushi bars right in the heart of Hillsboro. We go there for every special occasion and bring new friends all the time. LOVe their food. Friendly and clean.
(5)
Darron N.

If your in Hillsboro and looking for a great sushi bar then Syun is the place to be. High quality fresh fish and a good value.
(4)
Ed G.

We are so lucky here in hillsboro. We have a world class sushi restaurant right here! Always very courteous and friendly. The food is amazing and the sushi is phenomenal. We eat here once a week and are truly thankful for Syun. They have food for the nonfish eater so you have no excuse. You must give it a taste!
(5)
Bob M.

Well, I am going to kvetch here, but not about much. We had a very tasty meal. This is definitely moved onto our regular rotation and all of you downtown and east side folks can just bite your knuckle that this joint is within a mile of our pup tent. So what's to whine about? The service was pretty spotty. We were left hanging for an awkward while after we were seated. This began as a good thing as we really needed a little time to get a feel for the menu. They aren't kidding; this menu goes on and on. But then it was...a while...before we were greeted by our server. She was soft spoken with a heavy accent, but she seemed earnest as she explained the specials and we smiled and nodded as we thought would be appropriate. And so the evening went with this sort of non-communication with her. She would appear and then disappear. There are a couple of other dining rooms here, so maybe she had other tables to work. I dunno. The meal and the results of this were mostly successful despite this verbal non-interaction. The one significant failing was our order for the garlic and crab steamed dumplings; they sounded so good. We got them in the end after some gestures and whatnot but after all of that it was a disappointment and the only sour note in our meal. A shame as all the other items were magnificent. The dumplings were over-steamed, the garlic over-cooked, the crab mushy and flavorless. Pass on that one. For the sushi & sashimi shy, one can eat very, very well without the raw bits here. Very well indeed. There are so many others reviewers that have recommended dishes to try; do so. I squeal at the thought of working my way through the entire menu, with hopes that I have had the one clinker in all of it tonight. We had six dishes and all were delightful other than this. Neither of us are serious drinkers anymore, so all of the lovely sake is lost on us, but as former dedicated imbibers we would be amiss not to note that there is a full bar here and one could really get into mischief with that knowledge. Don't think we didn't ponder all of this. We have Googled the foot path to this lovely little establishment; it is in staggering distance. There is a question of money to consider here, too. A trip to Syun Izakaya is like a vacation; one shouldn't concern oneself with the dollars and cents of such an escape from the real world. I estimate that a serious evening of drinking and eating here would punch a hole in a couple of Hamiltons and quite easily more, to do it all up right, or one good whack with one's American Express. I would think for maximum enjoyment, one should allow one's companion the privilege of generosity. And should you find such a sugar daddy, keep your eyes out for us walking in the direction of Syun.
(4)
Shelly G.

Looooove this place. Set in an old library basement, we call it the 'Sushi Library'. Fresh, delicious, authentic. Great service, daily specials, large sake selection. Nice little party room in back. Love that it's near my house in a very unassuming building in a weird downtown location.
(5)
Scott K.

Located in downtown Hillsboro, this Izakaya estblishment has the feel of a typical japanese resturant. From the outside you would have never guessed that this authentic place for sushi and typical Izakaya food would even exist in Hillsboro. From walking in you will notice a clean sushi bar with seating for about 10. As you keep walking you will notice about 10-12 tables for dining with the family and with sake bottles lined on the outside. Coming from Hawaii where you will find many different Izakaya places to pick from, I was up for the challenge to see how this place compared. Once seated the waitress already comes with the water and is requesting your drink order. The service, I have to rate as 5 Star. The waitress do have the asian look with compliments the feeling like you are in Japan. The specials of the day are posted on a wrting board and the waitress comes over to explain in detail before you check out there 10 page menu. Natto....they actually had it here. It wasnt on the menu but they did have some in the back. It was fresh and the sushi chef did make it in the roll style. I really wanted just fresh natto with hot rice but I took what ever they had available. Tonkatsu.....with a miso sauce. I must say I love miso and I love tonkatsu sauce but I never really thought about putting it together. It was GREAT! I wil definetely have to try this in my own cooking. Asparagus Omelet....interesting in a different way. I had expected it to be alot larger but the flavor make me over look that. It was on the sweeter side with fresh aspargus placed in the center. Salmon.....fresh, fresh, fresh. Nothing like getting fresh fish that doesnt taste as fishy! I would have to give this place top ratings as Ive been to numerous Izakaya establishments and to find one in the heart of Hillsboro, Oregon just makes my mouth water. Reasonably priced meals and sake is affordable as well. I did notice the Nigori to be priced about $10 a bottle.
(5)
Scott W.

I like the underground feel of the place (literally, not culturally), the great food, and the friendly service. Probably the best atmosphere of any of the local Japanese restaurants I've been to. Whenever I've had sushi here, it's always been very good. I've liked everything I've eaten here, although I think it's pricier than Toshi, for example. I'll be back to try more on the menu besides the sushi.
(4)
Lia M.

My favorite Japanese food in the Portland area! Since I have moved away from Oregon, I have missed this food more than anything. The small plates and the sushi are amazing. They offer dishes that you will not find at most Japanese restaurants - some very traditional and some very creative and modern. You will feel like a judge on Iron Chef. The happy hour specials offer great items at amazingly low prices. The seafood is very fresh and the friendly servers will offer great suggestions.
(5)
Tim D.

Hands down, the best sushi in Oregon! There isn't really anything more to say.
(5)
Amber M.

This was a great choice, on a random Wednesday for lunch, nice feel, quiet and cozy. Loved the Miso Soup and small salad we got served first, that was a nice surprise. The green tea, was refreshing and calming. We got a variety of sushi rolls, all of them came out on one large plate. Not a one I disliked. VERY fresh, and perfect cruch and/or squish. If that makes sense.... Will be back for sure, great service as well!
(4)
Brian Q.

I was excited to try this place based on high rating, but left pretty disappointed. Perhaps I ordered the wrong items compared to the 5-star reviews so I'll go through everything I had. Braised Pork Belly - No way this was pork belly. More like dry, poorly-marbled chunks of pork shoulder. Didn't look very appetizing and certainly didn't taste very good. Gordon Ramsey would have surely spit this out and cursed out the cook! I also ordered a side of white rice to go with it and that was a bit soggy and overcooked. Niguri: Fresh-water Eel - Excellent; tender, moist, and nicely cooked. Wild Salmon - Two thumbs down. Salmon is usually my favorite, but this fish didn't have that rich, sweet taste I've come to expect. It was too lean and slightly chewy. Fatty Tuna - This special cost $15 for a couple pieces, but was not worth it. The tuna was indeed fatty, but striated with sinewy membranes making it quite tough to chew. I bit the inside of my lip while working on this one. I expected melt in your mouth goodness at that price! Amberjack - Good, no complaints here. Service: Slooooow. It started off good when the place was half empty, but once dinner peaked, my waitress was nowhere to be found. Unless you're looking for okanomiyaki, I recommend going to Bamboo Sushi instead.
(2)
Kelly S.

The closest to this good was in Vancouver B.C. a couple of years ago. When my friend told me of this place, out in the middle of breederville, I dismissed the idea. Then another friend told me about the place and I said: take me to this imaginary place in Hillsboro. Well, here it is. A real place, not imaginary. Located in the old library building, we walked in on a Wed. lunch time and the place is packed. Lucky for us, one table left. We ordered crab rolls, Nigiri combo, tuna roll, asparagus roll. It was SO amazingly good. I mean, worth driving from Portland to Hillsboro good. SO damned good that I think I will always drive to Hillsboro for Sushi now. Nothing in Portland compares, period.
(5)
Jessica D.

My husband and I moved to Hillsboro in 2010 and for about a year never realized we had this little jewel in our backyard. We have taken many of our friends and visitors from the east coast and the result is always the same..."best sushi we ever had." This place has great, fresh sushi and rolls. An awesome beer/wine/sake list, and the most amazing side plates ever. The asparagus bekon is by far our favorite and we get it EVERY time we go. Even if you don't like sushi, there are plenty of awesome Japanese style side plates to choose from. Seared beef, bacon wrapped scallops, amazing dumplings...just go. Trust me, you'll love it.
(5)
Troy T.

Very nice, cozy Japanese setting. Excellent food! The thin sliced beef was great. Not the fastest service
(5)
Matthew W.

The Portland Metropolitan Area is not a mecca for sushi, but it does have more than a few excellent establishments. Syun Izakaya is one of the best sushi restaurants in the area and, IMHO, it holds it own with others in the U.S. Set in an old library building kitty-corner from the Hillsboro Court House, Syun provides an authentic Japanese ambiance with Sake bottles on the walls and Japanese artwork dotted around the rooms. There is a sushi bar, seating in the main room and a noisy back room for groups or standard patrons (sometime a mix, which can get really loud if you are not with the group.) But forget about the setting. You're there for the food...and Syun delivers fresh, tasty and innovative sushi. They have a daily specials board usually containing limited-time nigiri, special rolls and hot dishes. I highly suggest ordering at least some of your dinner off this menu! We had an expensive order of Toro (fatty tuna) nigiri which was succulent and rich. My fiance and I shared a standard California roll, which was fresh and crisp, and a special "TNT" roll with spicy tuna and a subtly hot dressing (great for my taste, but too spicy for my fiance). I also ordered my favorite...the Sashimi Plate. For a reasonable price, you get a 23-piece variety of tasty fish, including wild salmon, octopus, albacore tuna and other standards. The fish is presented artfully in an iced bowl, rather than on a serving dish. Our only issue was being ignored for about 10 minutes once we got there. However, to the server's credit, there seemed to be a communication problem between her and the greeter and, once she realized the issue, our server worked hard to regain our satisfaction. In my other visits to Syun, the service has been good for a sushi restaurant (I don't think ANY sushi joint has great service) so I chose to overlook the initial issue when writing this review. Bottom line: The food is wonderful and worth the 5-star rating.
(5)
Anuj K.

So close to giving this place a 5 for a sushi restaurant in OR! The only thing holding me back is the outrageous prices (granted they're comprable to venues in LA or SF, but we're in Hillsboro gosh darn it! If things were .75 or even .8 the cost I'd frequent it more often. I came here on a Tuesday evening after work with an appetite and ordered the chirasi bowl (photo uploaded) - it was very good quality fish and it had some things I wasn't expecting - mainly the raw shrimp! It was interesting to say the least, and it wasn't my favorite but I enjoyed the experience. It had not a slimy texture, but it was sort of sticky and it felt like it was coating my whole mouth. Well, that said this place gave me enough mercury for the week in exchange for $20, and I'd gladly do it again in another month when I've saved up enough.
(4)
Julie T.

This is an underground getaway in Hillsboro where you'd find Japanese treasures and elegantly presented sushi. There are sushi specials (posted on a black board), saki, salads, fresh sashimi, and helpful staff. I'd come here with my classmates and find ourselves so satisfied from our selections. I feel as thought I was really selecting fish from a fish market - it's that fresh. The plates come out looking amazing and I can't get enough of it. The reason I don't give it 5 stars is because I have tried sushi rolls elsewhere that are even more flavorful, but this restaurant deserves raves for it's own tastes. The place is a little pricey, but you do get some quality dishes.
(4)
Ryohei A.

Before Yuzu, there was Shun(or Syun if you want to call that...there's not such word in Japanese. I think they made it Syun for American people to pronounce easier.) "Shun" means "in season" regarding certain food items... I first came here in 2003. This was the only Zagat rated Japanese restaurant at time. I thought this was the only legit place in the whole entire state of Oregon. I came 2-3 times a month for a good while. I do not know the actual owners, but they seemed to be owned by a Japanese family/group, and it shows on their food. In Portland, it's not difficult to separate the man vs boy in the Japanese restaurant field. As for the food, I noticed what makes this different then Yuzu. Shun seems to be more on a Western cuisine orientation. They seemed to favor the Kansai flavor (Osaka, Nagoya - They chicken wing gyoza is popular in Nagoya...well Nagoya itself is another monster in Japanese cuisine...) In western Japan, they favor more on a natural side. They use a lot of different form of dashi(Yes, there are MANY types of dashi *GASP*, and light on soy sauce. If they use soy sauce, they favor a light flavored/color soy sauce. Tokyo or Kantou, in general, favors complete opposite) For my taste, Shun matched me very well, even compared to Yuzu. I would say the taste here is more "Upscale" then Yuzu. ($$ too!) Sake list is pretty extensive. I had a pine mushroom!!!! in 10 years! ...Bummer that it was little less aromatic. I think it was frozen since we are passed the Matsutake season. (Explains why it was on a special menu.) On the side note, Oregon Matsutake is legit! The weather in climate really favors the mushroom here and it rivals the Japanese ones! Overall, the food was delish! The service was great, and I think the food has gotten better then few years ago. This is purely on own opinion, but really people, don't order sushi here or anywhere in Portland for this price. I know the vendors and the all get similar grade fish.(It can vary but not greatly enough for the inflated price.) The restaurant will charge you premium for your ignorance. FDA can suck it. 75% of fish you see on the market is frozen and it kills the true flavor of them. I was dumb enough to try their new menus and it sucked.(Albacore carpaccio) Did you know the highest grade Fatty tuna in West coast is frozen? It's just a restaurant standard. Not saying that they are all bad, but I can't justify the price I pay for the sushi here. To each of his/her own! I would easily give them 5 stars, but since this is in Hillsboro (Which is like 70000 miles away from us) I have to give them 4. But that's the only reason. I highly recommend this place. Go. And eat a piece of Japan!
(4)
Helen Y.

YES! I'm a fan of this place. This is the best Izakaya I have been to in Portland... I am loving this so far! Though it located in Hillsboro and kind of far from my area, I think it was worth the drive. I have tried both sushi and hot items when I was there last time (for the first time), and I really liked 'em. It was a great meal! The large selection of sake was awesome. I tried their flight (samplers) since I didn't know which sake I should ordered... And I liked all of them!! I wanted to try their dessert but I was too full, and the waitress suggested not to take it to-go.... I can't wait to go back and try more food from them.
(5)
Vu N.

Just had lunch here. Tasty Scallop, shrimp, egg fried rice with juicy chicken kaarage on the side all for $7.95. Also included miso soup, salad, and fresh fruits. What a deal! Perfect for lunch.
(5)
Elizabeth E.

Syun is one of the rare gems that I love to share with people: it is reasonably priced, many Portland still don't know about it, and it is some of the best sushi I've had anywhere in the world (yes, including in Japan and in very high end restaurants). Its places like Syun that make me love to be a Yelper - because I love the thrill of recommending a place that I think someone else will love. First off, the setting for such a wonderful restuarant is a little quirky: its located in the basement of a former library. When I first hear this, I was skeptical about eating my raw fish delicacies in a musty old basement. My fears were assuaged after my first experience: the atmosphere is anything but old and musty. In fact, Syun creates that lovely "Izakaya" atmosphere which is a welcoming place to share food and drink with friends over conversation. The menu invites its customers to order in the traditional style - that is throughout the meal, as your hunger and mood dictates - and not in the American style - ordering everything at the outset of the meal. Second, the sushi is top quality. I admit a more-than-strong preference for the Chef's Choice sashimi bowl - its reasonably priced, and the perfect portion for one person, plus it gives me a chance to enjoy my favorites (yes, TUNA!) and to try new and interesting things I wouldn't have known to order. If raw fish isn't your thing - Syun will not disappoint you. They have numerous other dishes and nightly specials that are always inventive and delicious. Third, there is a wide selection of Sake and the servers are eager to explain the different options and help you select something to match your taste-buds. I know I've never been a big fan of Sake, but as my friend pointed out, it might be because since I know nothing about Sake, I generally just try the cheapest one, which if you do that with American wine, well, you get what you pay for in most instances. Thus, I have enjoyed making use of the experienced servers at Syun and have since tried several reasonably priced, but delicious glasses of Sake. Finally, I adore the friendly and inviting service at Syun. I always feel warmly welcomed and tended-to graciously throughout the evening. So while good sushi is never as cheap as McDonald's or even a plate of pasta any given Italian restaurant, Syun is an incredible value and a wonderful experience.
(5)
kelly s.

One of my all time favorites!!! -Sweet ambiance that feels more authentic than most, real Japanese people working here, not to be racist, but I feel like it positively affects the preparation of the food. - Don't miss Halibut Tempura - Kabocha pumpkin dishes are awesome here, also the black tea flan is soo good - Only thing I wasn't super jazzed about was the yaki-soba, everything else is very authentic and fresh, this sort of felt like kikkoman supermarket noodles (everything else was very awesome though)! Don't miss the crab miso and very extensive Sake menu, freshest Sashimi I've had in Portland, and their volcano roll, or beaverton bomb, or something like that, basically spicy crab and avocado and other awesomeness is the BOMB!
(5)
Aaron L.

Overall: Cool little place in the basement of an old library. I cannot wait to go again! Ambiance: 2 - it is no-frills but that is not what you are there for. Decor: 2 - it is no-frills but that is not what you are there for. Food quality: 5 - I think the quality was good Food quantity: 4 - portions were decent for the cost. Food preparation: 5 - everything was perfectly cooked Service: 5 - no problems, very good service Fish is very fresh. Salmon is wild caught. They use real crab. Kotcha is a MUST get. It is light pudding made with earl grey tea... medium rich, not heavy, and slightly sweet. It could not have been better. I'm already planning my next visit... I may starve myself before I go!
(4)
Joseph H.

Syun is a great restaurant to get great food and not pay too much. My wife and I are regulars, and this is one of our go-tos for high-quality Japanese food. However, as others have noted, there are some things potential diners should be aware of. The pricing is irregular. The salmon teriyaki is very cost-effective, and the daily 3-course special for $10 is usually a steal. Some other dishes are prohibitive expensive, and may not provide the same bang-for-buck. That said, Syun does deliver on those cravings you'll have for authentic Japanese food that is hard to find elsewhere. Chicken Karaage here is great (especially with a beer), and the Okonomiyaki is affordable and fairly authentic.
(5)
Michael K.

Had great sushi but the portions were small... I ordered their biggest platter (states it was for 5-6 people) but it only seemed like a platter for 3-4.... great customer service and good choice of sake
(4)
Ed J.

Best sushi joint I've ever been to. Highly recommend the Tuna Carpaccio and, if you like spicy foods, the Ring of Fire roll. A tremendous selection of Sake as well. The only downside of this place is that they have TOO MANY must have items on their menu. I always end up ordering more than I can possibly eat.
(5)
Bronson J.

Best Japanese food in all of Oregon, hands down. Fantastic Izakaya fare, with a menu that goes on forever. Sushi is also exceptional. The fatty tuna is expensive at $15, but worth every penny. Their specials are always great. Sake list is nearly endless, with some very higher end options if you're inclined. Hillsboro is a long drive out, but Syun is worth the trip.
(5)
Mike D.

This place is great, it's some of the best sushi I have had! All the rolls we had were wonderful. I have to point out this may have been the best uni I have ever had it was delicious and uni is something that has to be extremely fresh to be as good as what they served! I had been wanting to try this place for a long time, I'm so glad my fiance and I went here to celebrate our one year together!
(5)
J W.

The best I have had. This is a must for me every time I am in the Portland/Hillsboro area. We sometimes stumble out for beers in the local downtime area when we finish as well. I really try to jump around the menu every time I go. So I don't have any single recommendation. I will usually start with sunomono as a light starter though and it is delicious here. The fish is just perfect. Since I believe many sushi restaurants source from the same vendors, I am puzzled by the difference, but it is just so much better here than any place at home. A word on the service though: I don't go here for the service. It is occasionally good but mostly just acceptable. Expect to have to flag the servers as they are not attentive and really miss quite a number of additional drink sales they could be making. The chefs though are great and I frequently sit at the bar. Start up a conversation and they will keep it going. Large parties may be out of luck without a reservation. The tables seem to turnover slowly and the hostess was less than accommodating for our group of 6 recently. So we just all sat at the bar. There is usually room there.
(5)
Well-Traveled I.

Intimate restaurant tucked into an old brownstone business building; if you blink, you'll miss its name on the sign that lists all the other tenants. Very fresh ingredients and ample portions of sushi. Care and detail given to the presentation of the sushi, so it's not your typical cookie-cutter experience. Extensive sake list, so if you want to imbibe, you won't have any problems. Very family-like, homegrown atmosphere and decor is very personal without seeming tacky like some sushi restaurants. People knock the suburbs, but I have found there are some restaurants that are on par with restaurants in "the city." This place gets packed, so if you plan on coming on the weekends, it is advised you make reservations. On your way out, don't forget to admire the small, intimate garden out front.
(5)
Caitlin W.

I should be embarrassed on how much food we ate here...but it was all so good I regret none of it. Sushi is good, crisp and yum! Veggie & Shrimp tempura was also delicious. Hot sake was good and our waitress was excellent about helping us pick one out. My surprising favorite was the beef and udon noodles which were the perfect cap to a massive meal. Since we live in the burbs, I am very excited to have found such an awesome gem so close to home!
(5)
Aaron S.

Came here for my wife's birthday. We've lived in Portland for about 5 years and kept hearing about "this little library in Hillsboro that is now a Sushi place". We kept putting it off until a few weeks ago. What a cool little spot! When you walk in you can still catch a whiff of old library books (they should make air freshener out of that stuff!). The dining room is lined with spent bottles of sake and other Japanese knickknacks. The wait staff was super friendly and very engaging. They accommodated us in every way possible. Now to the food... WOW! We usually order gyoza and it's funny to see how many different places have their own take on it. Syun blew everything out of the water. The dough melted away and the inside was as light as can be. Definitely a hand made little piece of heaven. We ordered an assortment of nigiri sushi, standard rolls, and specialty rolls. Everything was fresh and presented very well. If I had room I would have ordered next to everything on the menu. I guess we'll just have to back again, and again, and again...
(5)
Brittany M.

I adore this restaurant! Where we live, there is only one Japanese restaurant, that is extremely expensive, as well as very slow service. When I came here, I really was stunned! We had a California roll (real crab... Yay!), Ebi Nigiri, Miso soup, and Seafood Yakisoba. The California Roll was Oh-So-Good! It was perfect, compared to Safeway sushi; the only sushi I can get where I live. The Ebi was also delicious. Ebi is my favorite kind of sushi! I'd never had Miso soup before, but my mother went to Japan when she was a teacher, and said the Miso was very, very good. Although I had never had it, I also agreed. The Yakisoba was yummy! It had a unique, smoky flavor. Hard to describe, but awesome to eat! :) The last thing we ate, for dessert, was deep-fried green tea ice cream. I was not "wowed" by this dessert. The ice cream hardly tasted like green tea, and the consistency was icy. I only ate some of it, as it wasn't very delicious. Overall, dessert isn't what you're going here for! Get the sushi and other delicious items on their menu.
(4)
Kate P.

Free (delicious) miso and salad.. something I have missed in my recent visits to other sushi places.. the nigiri couldn't have been more fresh unless they'd gone out and caught the fish when we ordered. Thanks to all the yelpers who reviewed before we had a wonderful experience, I couldn't have found a better place if I had made one up myself!
(5)
Elle H.

Best sushi restaurant and it's not in Portland! This prior old library is a hidden gem in the suburbs of Hillsboro. The food is authentic, the sushi is fresh, and the service is great!
(5)
Coco L.

This is not my first time at Syun, but it's not one of the best experience - Salmon in Sake soup and pork belly appetizer were good - the waitress was friendly.. but slow ( It's a Friday night, and it wasn't packed, but the service was very slow) - The deep fried halibut was not as good as last time - the sushi was so thin that I can see thru it and see the rice... We drove almost an hr to eat at this place from Portland due to the traffic on Hwy 26... I don't think I will do this again..
(2)
T B.

Awesome, authentic, best in Portland. Go and be transformed.
(5)
Parantap R.

This place is Awesome...if you wanna try sushi and you end up in Hillsboro for whatever boring reason...you oughta make time for this place! The sushi platter and the desserts here are AMAZinggg!
(5)
Huong-Hung N.

We went there for dinner on early Sat. dinner. The place have quite a few guests already. We got in right away, didn't have to wait for table. We ordered some Cali & spider rolls, yakisoba, Japaneses fried rice, agedashi tofu and fried green tea icecream. Everything come out in good times but the taste is alright, nothing spectacular. The sushi was a little on the dry side, everything else is small for the price. Service was good.
(3)
Ann K.

Date Visited: Friday 9/24/10 (Dinner) I'm not a fan of Japanese food and now I know why. For some reason, a lot of it just isn't vegetarian-friendly. We were having dinner before a play and this was within walking distance of the Venetian Theatre. I'll give almost anything a try, so we ate here. I don't know if our server thought she was being funny or just obnoxious, but once we pointed out we were vegan and vegetarian, she pointed out obvious items that were edible for us. Whenever something was in question (a brown sauce (?) they make is apparently fish-based), she seemed stumped. I keep forgetting Hillsboro is vegetarian-stupid. In any case, we had a variety of different dishes, including the tofu steak, tempura, a salad, and maybe one or two other items. All were pretty disappointing. The tofu steak was the item I thought would hit the spot, but it was actually on the gross side. How can a Japanese restaurant do tofu wrong? First, add some weird white cream thing on it and then make it taste really bizarre. The tempura couldn't have been more greasy and I believe once I questioned the sauce that it came with, our server took it away, offering nothing in its place. I suppose this place is a sushi-lovers hotspot, but I don't care for sushi and I don't care to ever eat at this place again.
(1)
Steve W.

I don't think I am going to say much more than what has already been said. This restaurant is one of the best things about living in Hillsboro. Only five minutes away from some of the best sushi in the PDX metro area. I have yet to be disappointed, and the price really isn't too bad unless you add a bottle of Sake to the meal...which I usually do. But I have gone there for lunch and had a great bento box and split an order of spicy tuna rolls with tea for 20 bucks with a friend. Not too shabby for lunch! I have never been disappointed with the service. While not blazingly fast, it is efficient and friendly. The sushi is simply sublime. My favorite are the spicy tuna rolls, but the fatty tuna or albacore nigiri is also really good. The fish is very fresh tasting. I have taken multiple guests who all enjoy good sushi in Japan and they really love the place. I have never been to Japan, so I can't really speak to it. While there are a few restaurants I really like in the 'boro, this is one of those that I suggest to fellow PDXers as being worth the trip. Take the max and you are a short walk from the place.
(5)
Ron T.

If you can say you're looking for a needle in a haystack. Well in this case, it is finding Sushi (and etc) in a pile of taco stands. This is a rarity that you'll find an authentic Japanese restaurant in the middle of nowhere. And the City of Hillsboro represented with one great restaurant! Aside from the good sushi, noodles and appetizers they have, I think I would try the Tempura Ice Cream on my next visit. I might as well brave it and try the Uni sushi.
(5)
Sara B.

My husband and I went here on a Friday night; we were pleasantly surprised. The old library building it's in is neat and very Portland-y. There's something about getting high quality sushi in a strip mall that just doesn't mesh in my mind, but that's the food snob in me. The decor is simple and Japanese looking. The rooms are kind of tightly packed with tables, but it didn't bother us. However for people with a stroller or something it would be hard to do. Super clean bathroom and very friendly waitstaff. The reason it got 4 instead of 5 stars is the food quality. The fish was very fresh looking and tasting; I would definitely recommend getting rolls and such here. In fact, we will be going back for the rolls and such quite a bit. Even though the flavor is there, however, some of our sushi looked a little sloppily made. Granted, we were there at dinner time on Friday night; the place was packed. Again, the flavor was terrific. We also got a hot pancake type thing with yams, green onions and some other veggies in there. The pancake thing itself was good, but they loaded the top of it with some kind of mayo and teriyaki plus a pile of bonito flakes. I'm not a fan of mayo or bonito flakes, so that did dampen that dish for me. For dessert we had the tempura green tea ice cream. I loved it, although the green tea flavor didn't hold up well to the tempura batter. All in all, it's the best sushi place we've found out this way. It's not so outstanding that we'll stop trying other sushi restaurants in the area, though.
(4)
Matt W.

I have always loved Syun. The sushi is fantastic, but their hot plates are also very very good. Try the asparagus with bacon, you will be pleased. A great place to go for a date night, not great for little kids. It does get busy from time to time, so I would suggest reservations. This is far more than a sushi restaurant, everything that I have had on the menu is fantastic, and their sake selection is extensive. I highly recommend.
(5)
Ken M.

Honestly, I can say this is the best Japanese restaurant in the NW (I can say this because I've tried many restaurants in the Seattle and Portland area). The miso soup is organic. It's rich and creamy. Every dish is made fresh. Regardless of how busy they are they will always bring your food as fast as they can. The service is amazing! Humble and polite. The list can go on and on.
(5)
Ashley K.

I called during their earlier hours on Saturday and made reservations for 8 people. When we arrived that evening, the table was all ready for us. Our group ordered many things, and everything was absolutely scrumptious! This was my 3rd or 4th time at Syun, and every visit has been very enjoyable. The waitress was attentive, the atmosphere was great for hanging out with friends, and the food was amazing. It's always such a treat to eat there!
(5)
Ronald A.

This is one of my favorite restaurants and it is my favorite Japanese restaurants. Seven of us had a wonderful meal last night. They have spruced up the menu since our last visit and it is easier to use. They have lots of choices. This is a great place to order your own dish or order lots of dishes to share; we did a combination and that worked out well. The sushi was great, particularly the fatty tuna. We had two pork dishes and they did not over cook the meat; the yakiniku was also very flavorful. Rebecca always loves the Chawanmushi. We have gone many times in the past and will continue to go in the future. By the way, when we have friends over from Japan, this is their favorite place as well. It is a gem.
(5)
Lizzie V.

I like eating at this place. I feel good when I walk in and I feel good when I walk out. Like I did something nice for my body by going there. The sushi has a refreshingly clean feeling going down. As it should. Syun has a unique layout. It's in the basement of a historic library. When I went for the first time it was a little unclear as to whether I was going to the right place. So look for an old library. I am always satisfied with whatever I experiment with here. You really can't lose. I don't always encourage people to try a place at the end of the review, even if I like it, but this place has a different feel to it. I highly recommend it.
(4)
D W.

A sushi joint in Hillsboro...No way. A really, really, fantastic sushi place in Hillsboro...You've got to be joking. But believe me Syun Izakaya is a absolute gem! My boyfriend took me here for my birthday in April and I cannot wait to get back and try more things on their menu. The sashimi was heavenly, it just melts in your mouth . I nearly had a food orgasm when I tried the Albacore tuna pieces. And, with dozens of sake bottles lining the walls I had to take a look at the sake list. I've never been a huge sake fan but I always say "When in Rome..." The list of sake goes for days but one that mentioned hints of pineapple and honeydew caught my eye. The waitress suggested it be served cold and brought it out in a neat sake bottle that held the ice separate from the actual sake (ingenious). The sake was delicious, surprisingly refreshing, and tasted exactly as described. Give this place a chance and don't be surprised if you start having visions of sashimi dancing in your head!
(5)
Jolt G.

We were a party of five who are all seasoned consumers of nihon shoku. Syun Izakaya was my granddaughter's jewel of a find in Hillsboro. We sat at an amazing table made from a varnished tree slab which then proceeded to hold many tasty dishes. We had everything from gyoza, tempura, udon (but not in a broth), Gyuniku Ninniku, numerous types of sushi, and lots more. All were delicious and I got so full that I couldn't try the tempura ice cream! Guess I'll just have to go back. Take a minute to look in the entry way of the Carnegie Library that houses Syun. There is a small display of old photos.
(5)
Cindy I.

Not a sushi eater but went here with my husband because he likes sushi. All I can say is... Halibut Tempura!! I don't know if I will ever have better fried halibut anywhere. Fish and Chips just won't stand up to this tempura. Oh and yes my husband says the sushi was great too. I forgot to add how reasonably priced everything was!
(5)
Ann V.

After having heard such rave reviews about Syun Izakaya, I decided to check it out during my weekend vacation at Cannon Beach. I was quite disappointed with the service. One of the thing I notice of Japanese restaurants is the excellency in service. It doesn't matter if I was at the fast sushi restaurant with conveyor belt such as Sushi Sakura or upscale organic sushi restaurant such as Bamboo Sushi; there was always somebody with a smile greeted me and asked what I like to drink. I got very different service with Syun Izakaya. We came in for dinner yesterday at around 6 pm and stood in line and finally was lead to a table by an older waitress. After we seated, she left without saying anything to us. She did not return for a long time; when she returned, she had a black board with her; on it was the appetizer for the day and the information about the appetizer. She left again and returned with our utensils, water and menus. We looked at the menu and decided on the Super Deluxe Sushi Plate Chefs choice for $28.95 and the black board's appetizer "Special Izakaya Set $10.95 -Grilled egg plants w/bonito flakes on top -Deep fried potato patty and -sauteed shrimps mushroom in butter and for dessert tempura fried banana. It took a long time for the waitress to return to take our order. After we ordered, our dishes came very quickly. First the special of the day appetizer then the Super Deluxe Sushi Plate Chefs choice and the dessert tempura banana. The appetizer came with three separate small square dishes. The egg plants w/bonito was a little on the salty side; the deep fried potato patty did not taste like potato and had a hard to describe consistency, the sauteed shrimps was good it was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The Deluxe Sushi plate came with various nigiri sushi and rolls. The fishes used for the sushi were fresh. The sushi were good but not excellent. The rolls were okay but nothing special. The most unique sushi was the sushi that had the silvery smoked fish. It was very good and unique. The sushi and rolls were good but were a little over priced. The best dish of the night was the tempura fried banana. It came in three pieces of deep fried battered bananas with powder sugar springled on top and slices of mandarin oranges and strawberries. The tempura bananas was crunchy and slightly sweet offsetting by the tangy of the mandarin orange and strawberries. This dessert was simple but very good. Overall the food was good but not excellent as I was expecting; the service was poor and need improving.
(4)
Jon C.

Visited on the evening of 5/26. Didn't make reservations but there were several spots available. Service was prompt and helpful. The food was outstanding - I had miso soup and an assortment of sushi and sashimi. The sake collection was extensive and my server was very knowledgeable about the different varieties. Overall it was a great meal and I will certainly be visiting this place again.
(5)
Meruti S.

Great sushi, great service. Its just great period.
(5)
Kenny H.

This place is authentic as it gets. And, by that measure, vegetarian/vegan cuisine is a privilege, not a right, when it comes to Japanese food place that aims to be authentic (i.e., you're at the wrong place). Located way out (but no penalty for that), this place is really the goods. Spendy, but you get what you pay for. Possibly the best place in PDX for Japanese food. I first visited in 1999 with my girlfriend (at the time) who was Japanese and she mentioned, "I am going to take you somewhere amazing, but don't tell non-Japanese about it," and it was almost all Japanese ex-pats there. I get the feeling they didn't see many non-Japanese. A few months later, we broke up, and needless to say, I told everyone I knew about the place.
(5)
ashley o.

Absolutely love this place, authentic, friendly, and refreshingly delicious! Whenever I find myself in Portland, I make the extra trek to Hillsboro and get my fix! Oh, did I mention the staff is super nice?
(5)
Layla P.

Syun is awesome - like a little Sushi paradise in old town Hillsboro - who would have known? The Saki bar is awesome and the food is magically delicious.
(5)
Jeanne F.

By far the best Japanese restaurant around this part of the state- maybe more. The menu is HUGE, with lots of variety. They have a number of dishes for those that aren't big sushi fans- my personal favorite is the garlic beef. They have many exotic delicacy's on the menu, all fresh and flavorful. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu!
(5)
KAREN P.

I will come here anytime! though it is a bit of a drive from SW Pdx.. the menu has something for everyone and is consistently good. Halibut tempura, beef with garlic shoots, tofu dishes. Charming service- can get hectic- go at 5pm on a Sunday!!
(4)
Crosby L.

I hate sounding like a snob. I will try a street vendor oddity to any 5 star strange creation... but when it comes to sushi, I am a little strict on my standards. I have eaten sushi all my life all over the states and in Canada... and Syun left me disappointed. With all the good reviews my bf and I were very excited to go. Octopus very chewy. Too much rice on their rolls, boring creations (even their Cali roll was lacking) and their quality of fish wasn't impressive. I hate to be the bad guy. I gave it an extra star just because anything non-corporate chain in Hillsboro is hard to come by.
(3)
Chris C.

After having fallen in love with the Japanese style pub food Izakaya while traveling across Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara, I was eager to find anything similar upon returning home. I was thrilled to find an almost authentic Izakaya experience in the middle of downtown Hillsboro of all places. I appreciate the constant presence of Shiso leaf in my Sashimi, the fine cuts of Horse Mackerel and wide variety of Sake of the finished vintages. Syun can do no wrong.
(5)
Brian M.

This is the most authentic Japanese I've been to since Japan. It is actually closest to what you'll find in Japan not only for food but Izakaya restaurant style serving lots of different small dishes then ordering a final meal at the end.
(5)
Phillip B.

Hands down the best sushi I have ever had, and it's hidden in the middle of nowhere in Hillsboro Oregon. I spent a couple of weeks in San Francisco recently and a friend took me 6 different sushi restaurants - not one of them was as good as Syun.
(5)
Andrew W.

After reading the reviews we went on Saturday night @ 5:30pm. The trip to Hillsboro from Gresham was worth the trip even with I-405 all screwed up with construction. Was seated promptly and the adventure began! We are normally sushi junkies, but the vast selections from the menu took us off course, much to our delight! I don't remember all the names but each item ordered was a treat! Especially the bacon wrapped scallops! We ordered a shrimp tempura sushi that we usually use as a standard and it was perfect!! The only negative is that all the other places we haunt now suck in comparison. :O)
(5)
Inge J.

Really, really, really great sushi! Fresh, big pieces. Reasonable prices too. The waiting staff is very friendly as well. We were just traveling through Portland and made this great find!
(5)
Michael H.

Excellent food. Prices at lunch are pretty good, amazing for the quality. I really like that they bring you miso soup and a little salad when then bring you the menu. As far as I know these are free as long as you order a dish. Specials at dinner are not cheap but in my experience they are the best quality to be had in Oregon. SakÃ© lovers will be very happy here I think.
(5)
Chris K.

Had the great fortune of having a client introduce me to Syun while in the Portland area. Great, reasonably priced Japanese restaurant with knowledgeable wait staff and outstanding sushi.
(4)
A C.

I just don't understand the big deal here. I've had 1-4 star experiences here. Mostly lately it's tended towards crazy salty. Sometimes the sushi is exquisite, sometimes I wish I'd saved some coin and gone to Taco Bell. But the service is what trips them up. Sometimes. . . you don't get any. We took some visiting friends here, and we had a permanently physically and mentally absent waitress. She never showed us the special board. Man, that would have been a nice treat, to know what was fresh and inventive. And it took, count them, FOUR requests for water. That was just to get the glass. And way more for refills. It was comically bad--we actually wanted dessert, had a conversation with the waitress about it--and then she brought us the bill. Permanently out of my rotation.
(2)
Catherine D.

I looovvveee this place. so why 4 stars instead of 5? Coz it can be pricey esp for people who eats a lot like me. This is probably one of the few places that I'd take my out of state friends to eat when they're visiting. Last time me and my friend went... we got ourselves one of the special, a rockn'roll roll, a rainbow roll, a plate of gyu tataki (awesomeness), salmon sashimi (mm mm mm) and ends it with the fried green tea ice cream (never can go wrong with this). We left very happy and very satisfied after we wipe the plates clean.. except for the garnishes of course. We were so happy that not even the pouring rain can dampen our mood.
(4)
Per H.

This is our local sushi place in Hillsboro, it is actually more like a Izakaya that has more than sushi and good drinking opprotunities, the only thing missing is seating without chairs. Order a few samples from the sake list and a few different items from the food list and enjoy. This place can get crowded even for lunch, and for dinner get a reservation. It is worth it.
(5)
Max P.

I was really excited to eat at this place after reading all of the great reviews, though it took me awhile to finally commit to eat ting at this place because it was just so far from where i live, i finally tried it. In the end, i thought it would have been much better. This place didn't really do it for me, especially for the price i paid. The service was nice, the lady was extremely friendly, but the food didn't "wow" me. I went with two other people, and ordered a variety of food (miso, tempera, sushi, noodles, katsu, some sort of pancake, ice cream, sake). The bill ended up being over $100 for the 3 of us, and to be honest, i wasn't really that full. The food wasn't awful or bad, but it wasn't superb. They do have a wide range of Sake, if you are into that, but I am not much of a drinker. Maybe it was all the hype i read and how i thought it was going to be the best i ever had, but overall it wasn't and I most likely wouldn't come back.
(3)
William S.

The food here is really good. This place isn't that large and tends to fill up fast on a Friday or Saturday night. Also, reservations are iffy and there's really no foyer in which to wait. All that said, it's worth the trouble if you like super Japanese food.
(4)
Jay K.

Really great place... certainly the best food in Hillsboro. All the good stuff that's been said is right on. Great food, fresh fish, friendly staff, cozy atmosphere. Seems to be authentic too - there's always a table or two of Japanese expats who work in the local semiconductor industry. My wife and I go here about once a month... we like it better than any place we've tried in Portland or the SF Bay Area. I shouldn't be adding to the praise, or the normally minimal-to-non-existent wait could get more like one of those trendy placed in Portland.
(5)
J K.

My favorite Japanese restaurant since arriving in Portland/Beaverton area. Pretty brash to say since it was just one visit. Yes, but I know what I like. I had heard many recommendations for Syun but still didnt know what to expect. What I got was exceptionally fresh fish, lovely presentation, quick, great service, and able to get a reservation without a problem. I was especially happy with the generous serving of fresh chirashi. Salmon was exceptional that night. My daughter loved her Japanese style hamburger steak with sweet potato fries. We both ordered dessert as well. I loved my fried tempura bananas. My daughter's green tea icecream dessert (can't remember the name) had a little bit of everything. I savored it all with Kurasawa sake. I think we will be making our way to Syun regularly...maybe next time for Happy Hour. So happy to have listened to the advice of Syun's loyal peeps.
(5)
Thuy D.

I was happen to be in the area and remember of this place. Been 10 years since I've eaten here and everything was still top notch! The restaurant was bustling on a Saturday evening, we didn't have reservation but were lucky to grab a spot at the sushi bar right away. We were not super hungry so we decided to get a few izakaya small dishes. Below are some of the food we had: Clams miso soup - Clams was sweet and fresh, miso soup was a touch on the salty side Gyu tataki - Very good! light ponzu sauce that brought out the flavor of the meat perfectl Sake yakionigiri - Good! had just the right amount of sweet savory soy sauce. It would've been perfect if it was more crispy on the outside. Assorted nigiri - Uni was very good. Tai, hotate, amai ebi, anago were also good and fresh. Fried calamari - Good dish, but I felt I had better Service was good, they were very busy so we had to wait a while for some of the dish. Our waitress although busy did check back to see if we needed anything which I really appreciate. Definitely one of my favorite Japanese restaurant in Oregon. Love that it's an izakaya and not just another sushi restaurant. Can't believe I haven't been back here for so long, but will go back here for sure next time when I'm back in Oregon.
(4)
Ninette C.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect eating sushi on a hot summer day in a suburban city in Oregon but Syun was an enjoyable lunch! Our whole group got the $15.50 lunch special. It came with two choices plus rice, salad and miso. I chose the sashimi and shrimp and veggie spring roll. The sashimi was fresh and cut nicely. The spring roll was way too large and fell apart but the ingredients were fresh. This space is nice and clean. My only other complaint would be that it's more a sushi restaurant, not an izakaya. There weren't a lot of izakaya-like dishes on the menu.
(4)
Gar S.

This place is amazing! A small sushi place with some outside seating when weather permits. The staff is super friendly and the the food is about as fresh as you can get. They will start you out with soup and a small salad, then you can tell the waitress what you want (they don't have those sheets of paper where you mark what you want). You can also tell the guys behind the counter making the sushi what you want. Not much more to say except get over when you get the chance because it's totally worth it.
(5)
Erin S.

I love this place. The sushi rolls are so incredibly fresh and delicious and the presentation of each are beautiful. Service is always friendly and fast. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of good that you get. Restaurant inside is quaint and cozy. My favorite Japanese/sushi restaurant in the PNW!
(5)
Yan L.

Came here for a friend's birthday. We ordered a variety of dishes to share. Everything was consistently high quality and delicious. Most of the dishes had an authentic home-cooked taste to them. The portions were a bit small though. They have a variety of choice sake and served them in fancy artistic glass containers with an indentation that separates the ice from the sake. Service was friendly but a bit slow because of the crowd.
(4)
Corey S.

One of the best around and so authentic and the staff is so nice. We love coming here and we live in WA. The volcano roll is the best sushi roll I have ever had and I have eaten all over, the favors were amazing. This place will not disappoint, we travel an hour on date night just to have the best.
(5)
Patti H.

You never know when you're visiting what you'll get. Especially with sushi. First of all, let. Me start by saying the staff couldn't be nicer. This place is always busy, but we called when we were 5 min away and they were so accommodating and set a table for us right away. Everyone is extremely pleasant from the time they greet you until you leave. Then, the sushi. Def some of the best I've ever had. Don't let this sleepy old, library building fool you. The foods amazing.
(5)
Marina D.

Amazing place with amazing service, sushi presentation and atmosphere. I would never think that we could find something like that in Hillsboro. Slightly pricy but well worth it!!!
(5)
Rudrajit D.

Tuna nigiri - okay Fish egg nigiri - different, taste of fish egg is distinct Chef's choice sushi roll (fried eel) - spicy, fried, tasty Strawberry shortcake - fluffy, light and delicious Pear tart - good Still one of the best sushi places around.
(4)
Christina B.

Super delicious chirashi and Saba misoyaki. The fish was super fresh and really tasty. Very cozy atmosphere and cute and homely tea cups.
(5)
Ryan Y.

Their sushi is good like usual. Since it was a special occasion, I decided to try their $50 omakase set. I was not impressed. Omakase is supposed to be the chefs special 5 course meal. It didn't have a wow factor like other Japanese restaurants in Portland. It lacked presentation. It was strictly seafood and sashimi. It would have been nice to see vegetables and meat incorporated in the dishes. Then to end with some frozen mochi ice cream was a let down. Really slow service. Probably 10 minutes to order. 30 mins to get food. Restaurant was fairly empty. One waitress is not enough for the entire restaurant. If they were any closer to Portland, they would be out of business.
(3)
Chris O.

Pretty good food and a ton of authentic Japanese food options. I'd say the sushi was good overall but they use too much rice on the nigiri. None the less they have some wild fish options like the salmon which I appreciate vs the farmed junk. They had some good rolls too, I liked the Zen Garden. Good service for the most part although they could have been better about showcasing what we ordered like when we got the special 3 types of seared nigiri and didn't know which was which. The atmosphere is very cozy yet the place is big, lost of cool decor too, felt almost like I was in Japan. Oh and I didn't get too adventurous but they have an amazing sake list to sample from.
(4)
Gibsonflood ..

Came here with my friends from bay area CA and they said it's the best sushi they've ever had and I agree!! And who would would have thought it would be here in our little town of Hillsboro!
(5)
Cory A.

This is a family owned restaurant and is one of the best Authentic Japanese Izakaya around! People from all over the world hear about this place and come to try it out. TRUST ME, you will not regret it as long as you keep these things in mind: 1. This place is a tiny restaurant which truly represents an authentic Izakaya ( pub-like) 2. They serve Small Dishes and are meant to be eaten "family style." Many of the dishes do not come with rice so if you know you want this make sure to ask. However, there is the option to order a combination dinner which is $22 (This is more of a full meal and very traditional) - Located on the seasonal menu. 3. Like many of the regulars will tell you this place can get packed! Be patient... the waitresses and workers truly care about you and your visit. :) 4. ALWAYS ASK ABOUT THE SEASONAL DESSERT! A Few of my Favorites: KITCHEN--- Oregon Salad, Hamachi Kama, Kanpachi Kama, Tempura Appetizer, Nasu Miso, Miso Tonkatsu, Katsu Kare, Nabeyaki Udon, Seafood Okonomiyaki, Chawanmushi, Sake Chazuke and ANY DESSERT! SUSHI--- Spicy Oregon, Uni Hand roll, creamy scallop hand roll, Boston bay (twist on a spider roll...so good!), Premium California Twist , TNT roll and OMAKASE ROLL (Sushi chef surprise!) DRINKS--- Glamour Girl, Mascato, STARS sake. (Ask your waitress about sake though...they have a whole menu!!!)
(5)
Daniel M.

Fish collar is not on the menu, but they were more than happy to prepare a whole kampachi collar for me. It was amazing. Perfectly seasoned, grilled well with a fresh taste. Service was great. Not overly busy when we went on a week day. Ordered a bottle of sake off their extensive list. Tried a little of everything from albacore to uni nigiri as well as some basic and specialty rolls. Not perfect but extremely good. Only complaint is a little too much wasabi, but probably won't bother most people. Not much to detract from overall experience.
(5)
Nicole Y.

I found this place when I googled "best restaurants in Hillsboro" and this among other Japanese restaurants came up. I decided to come to this place since it got great reviews! Upon walking in the restaurant was decorated very cutely. I love how the menu is on a slab of wood with a chopstick holding the papers on top. The service was really really great, our waitress was very attentive and made great recommendations. I did not get a chance to try any of the rolls this time but I would love to go back and try them! They all looked so unique! We had the chicken skewers, the mackerel and eggplant. We also had the 18 piece assorted sashimi platter. It was all delicious! The glamour girl martini I had was on point as well!
(4)
Perfectly Imperfect A.

Not worth the money, everyone says how amazing this place is. But when i went i didnt think it was rly that good or worth the money at all
(1)
Scott M.

After months of listening to a friend rave about this place, I finally decided to try it. I wish I would have gone sooner, as this was one of the best Japanese restaurants I have ever eaten at. We arrived around noon and were seated promptly. Our server, Cory was wonderful! Polite and very attentive! Will most certainly be back.
(5)
Tony P.

Me and my girlfriend came here to celebrate a special night out for the first time. We saw the ratings and it did not disappoint at all. Seriously best Japanese restaurant I've been to. Its a little pricy, but all sushi usually are. Everything was great from start to finish. I'm just curious why I haven't heard of this place sooner. I came home and was still in awe. A complimentary salad was served and was very tasty. For our meal we got: -Seafood japanese pancake. This was my girlfriends favorite of this course. Very unique and with lots of seafood. Cant forgot the dried squid sprinkled on top. They also have a beef option which I would try next time. -Pork belly that literally feel apart by the touch of my fork. Probably my favorite dish because Im a fan of meat. Especially tender, juicy, and sauce that was out of this world. -Boston roll. Very tasty. I would prefer salmon so next time ill probably get the hwy 26 roll which is basically a oregon roll. -Volcano roll (more spicier than a medium). My girlfriend wanted this because its the prettiest dish there and it surely was. She didnt even want to eat it because it was so pretty. The taste was as good as it looked. I was a big fan of this because the jalapenos they used were hotter than most places. -Dragon roll. My girlfriend didnt want to eat this either because she didnt want to ruin the art. Wasn't on the menu but still made it for us. Fire breathing dragon. Literally. For dessert we had: -Tempura green tea ice cream. That's right I said it. I have no idea how they do it but its room temperature on the outside but neatly frozen ice cream in the middle. -The special of the day. Mixed fruit, ice cream, whip cream and their famous custard which is amazing! Overall great experience and we'll be there for another special day
(5)
C. S.

Excellent! A little pricey, but I enjoyed the Philadelphia roll that I ordered. The servers were very nice and the place has a hole in the wall feel to it.
(4)
Kelsey N.

I've been here a few times for lunch. Customer service is friendly. The sushi itself is pretty good amd tjey jave good lunch deals. It gets very crowded around lunch time (12 to 1) but after that it slows down a lot. Biggest complaint is that the shrimp for tempura isn't deveined. Technically since it's fried it's ok to eat, but to me it's rather off putting. I haven't had any of their non tempura shrimp.
(3)
John P.

Good sushi. Great patio seating. Lots of sake choices. Friendly staff.
(4)
Hy H.

I ordered the chef special choice sushi roll. Some of the choice made by the chef wasn't tasty, normal sushi nigiri roll. It wasn't special for $20, basically $2/piece.
(3)
Rajesh K.

I wanted to really like this place but was not very impressed with the sushi. The fish didn't taste very fresh. On the plus side the yakisoba noodles was good. The service is also a bit slow.
(3)
Jack O.

Hillsboro - it's not just a place for going to die anymore! I, kid, I kid. There's also The Venetian, another very nice restaurant. So here's the deal with Syun Izakaya. It's truly one of the best sushi joints in the entire Pacific Northwest, and oddly, it's buried in the basement of an old library on the outskirts of Hillsboro's Main St. Life is funny that way sometimes. This place is great for a date, better for a group outing, and best for anyone who loves sushi / authentic Japanese dining. Saying Syun is a diamond in the rough is the understatement of the year. From the outside you're going to seriously wonder if you're at the right place. From the inside you're going to know that you definitely are. That's just the way it is. I wish there was a better explanation for this, but there isn't. You just need to be willing to take my word on traveling to Hillsboro to eat library basement sushi if you don't want to miss out.
(5)
F. B.

Tasty food, terrible value -- even during happy hour.
(3)
Aimee P.

Clean. Friendly staff. Good tastin' food. We had the following Pint of Asahi on draft - YUM! Cucumber Salad - delish. They used petite cucumber and the rice vinegar sauce was on point Asparagus and Bacon - just how it sounds. It was appealing, but had anticipated more complexity. Spider Roll - nothing out of this world, but wasn't terrible Spicy Tuna Double Crunch - the tuna tasted fresh, complemented by the asparus (one complaint is that when this didn't have the *crunch* panko like coating on the outside as anticipated, we had asked the very nice server for a like item and was told there was nothing with a crunchy like coating. Definitely would be a good date night location. They do have outside, romantically lit seating/tables 5 * Rating Overall - 4 Originality - 5 Atmosphere - 5 *You wouldn't guess the inside by looking at the outside Menu Variety - 4 *Plenty to choose from! Drink Variety - 4 *Big book to choose from.. by the glass or by the bottle! Food Quality - 4 *from the minimal selection that we had Service - 5 *Very friendly, very easy to ask questions to.Very accomodating. Wait Time - 3.75 *It was not that busy, maybe 4 tops top, but there was a pause here and there in service, but food came out rather quickly! FOH Cleanliness *5 BOH Cleanliness *4 Couldnt see very much of BOH Value *4 Bang for your buck! Return Potential *4 would go out of my way for this sushi!
(4)
Bob H.

I have eaten at Syun 25 or 30 times since the original review and they are still the best lunch in Hillsboro. IMHO-the Best by far!
(5)
Lorisin W.

We decided to repeat our date from last valentines day and come here again. We lucked out and got a small table in the bar area. The couples that came in after us had to be turned away. Make sure you make a reservation if u plan to come here for valentines day! We had the very flavorful miso to start, and shared three different rolls. The oregon roll was absolutely delish!!We also had the volcano roll again. I highly recommend both of those. Cant wait to come back!!
(5)
Lin H.

My friend told me about this place and it instantly topped my "to try" list despite it being in Hillsboro. I instantly nabbed a friend who was also down with traveling there for an adventure in sushi and we were not disappointed. We got reservations, mostly because so many reviews said the lines are intense here. It was a Sunday night, however, and almost no one was there. We had two delightful sakes -- my friend liked hers so much, she took a photo of it off the menu so she could get it again. Geoduck and fatty tuna were on the specials tonight, and I felt like I lucked out! My friend recommended getting a yakisoba to go on account that it warms up well, and we couldn't resist. We got one each. I also got a deep fried green tea ice cream, a taste of my childhood! Our server was so kind and polite. Additionally, as everyone else noted, the fish was not only fresh, but beautifully prepared on our plates. This is truly a world class restaurant worth the drive. The one ding really was that they never refilled our water. The food was so good, we hardly even noticed. We spent a nice, leisurely dinner enjoying each other's company over sake, fresh sashimi and in a beautiful old building. I really can't fault the place. It's right up there with the best sushi places I've ever been to in the U.S.
(5)
cathy s.

I would give this place 6 stars if I could! My husband and I found this place on Yelp during our house hunting trip and we were surprised that they could squeeze us in without a reservation (would not recommend that). During our first visit we stuck to rolls and miso. The rolls have local names and were fantastic and appealing to the eye. On our second visit we got Okonomiyaki, rolls, and sashimi. On our third visit, we took our son and daughter in law who have visited Japan many times and are about to embark on a 2 year assignment there. My son ordered a dish that was native to the town they will be living in and was very impressed. We all tried it and agreed it was delish. (Wish I could remember name). The restaurant is always busy and crowded so do not go if you want fast service or a quiet atmosphere. DO go if you want an excellent Japanese meal!
(5)
May C.

One of my favorite sushi restaurants! The fish is always fresh and delicious. My favorite is the yellowtail sashimi. It's always buttery and melts in my mouth! YUMMMMMM!!! I love how they serve miso soup and salad with every meal.
(5)
Melanie Y.

Maybe it's because everyone built it up to be the BEST sushi in "Portland," that I wasn't THAT impressed. It's good and seems authentic, but not anything that you can't get at other sushi restaurants that are actually in Portland.
(3)
Rena J.

I love coming here. The fish is incredibly fresh and delicious. The sushi rolls and nigiri are always tasty and formed well. My nigiri doesn't fall apart when I pick it up! I wasn't super impressed by some items from their kitchen (kimchi pork stir-fry - meh) but I enjoy stuff from the grill. Sapporo on draft. Fried yams covered in caramel and whipped cream. Incredible uni. Beware, the service can be inefficient and not very attentive when they're busy.
(5)
Anna B.

Went back for some sushi the other day and when I got my plate it was decorated with fall leaves that I'm guessing were from the tree in front of the business, although I thought it was very pretty, I soon found out (after two pieces of sushi) that the pretty decor they put on my FOOD was covered in aphids. When I let the waitress know, the staff tried to tell me it was "dirt" when it was very apparent that there were bugs crawling all over these leaves. Who I'm assuming is the owner came to our table and greatly apologized. They removed the meal from our tab and gave us a gift certificate for next time. Yes, disgusting about the bugs but in the end it was taken care of the best way it could've been. They still have some of the best sushi I've ever had, I will go back, but next time I'll ask for the leaves to be left out.
(3)
Yelp H.

Amazing sushi and sashimi. Its such a great location and the prices are very reasonable for what you get. I've gone here 10 times and am always happy.... This is a somewhat traditional izakaya. You have many traditional and contemporary options to choose from. Identical/ similar to izakaya cuisine in tokyo. This time. ... Buttered mushrooms Negitoro handrolls Scallops Baby octopus nigiri Its a bit pricey but very comprable to any other quality sushi restaurant or real izakaya. I love the quality
(5)
Kaushikd D.

This place never disappoints. All of their items on the sushi menu are excellent. My personal favorites are : snapper, unagi, ikura and yellowtail. The Hokkaido Chirashi bowl is excellent too with lots of fish and a side of miso soup. The only not so exciting part of the menu for me is the actual Izakaya which although very good, is not as exciting as some of the other places in Portland. Service is warm and prompt. Highly recommended and will keep coming back.
(4)
Tien D.

I came here with a group of 21 people for my friend's birthday. The staff seemed very accommodating to our table, making sure everyone had a menu. The menu was displayed on wooden boards, which I thought was a nice touch. My fiancÃ© found it bothersome though. We went at 8:30 pm, which was around happy hour, where you can order off their happy hour menu as long as you purchase a drink. Ended up getting the Spicy Oregon roll and from their happy hour menu, Todays Seared Nigiri Trio. Not everything at the table was served at the same time. Some people got their orders after people who ordered earlier. But I suppose that is expected of a larger group. The sushi tasted good. I wouldn't go far as to say it was super fresh, like most reviewers said about this place, but it beats conveyer belt sushi by far (and I guess the price reflects that). Yama sushi will probably remain my favorite sushi when it comes to freshness, but service here was good. I had my water refilled multiple times by the attentive staff. Oh yes, and the bathroom looked pretty nice and spacious too.
(3)
Annie H.

This place seemed a bit dirty to me. I saw a squid on the counter there it was not even on ice. I'm sure there are a lot of people who like this type of food and but I just was not that comfortable in there. Not sure I would recommend this place. I really like a clean restaurant
(1)
Donald S.

Just got back from there. The service is very top notch. Upon arriving i was seated and served delicious edamame pods. My overall experience was very positive. The server assigned to me was a very kind and sweet lady. I am a sushi buff and i love sushi like no other. I have a rule when it comes to reviewing a sushi bar. You can always tell the quality of the sushi by their salmon Nigiri. A cheap cut of salmon can be expertly handled and made to taste divine. This was no exception. Their wild salmon or Sake nigiri was top notch! The proportion of the cut to rice was perfect. The color was much richer then what you see in lower quality sushi bars. The taste was very fresh! I ordered the Izakaya Set which was Burdock Root & Carrots (very sweet and had a good tenderness) Asparagus wrapped in pork (mildly spicy but delicious overall) Clams & Miso soup (the clams were so perfectly cooked. Their insides popped out of the shell with little to no effort. The miso was positively divine. It wasn't too overwhelming with the green onion like at some places) Overall my order cost roughly 19.45. They tacked on $2 for the rice bowl i asked for. The rice was very well done and wasn't too bland. It had some flavor.
(5)
Sophie L.

To those who thinks Bamboo sushi in Portland is the best sushi in town, please come and try Syun instead. Their menu is more extensive, their sushi is definitely fresh, and their rice (which is the number one ingredient when it comes to sushi) is actually soft and tasted perfect every time. They also have a booklet of their amazing collection of Sake, that won't break your wallet like Bamboo would. Sake flight option is available if you are interested. Their special change frequently depending on what they have on hand for the evening, which means only the freshest ingredients are made each day. I came here for dinner and happy hours before. Happy hour is great, but since the price is not bad for the regular dinner menu, we ended up ordering more items off the happy hour menu. Please remember to reserve your table, because this place is popular, so there's always a wait. Or you can come at a later time around 9 pm when their late night happy hour starts.
(5)
Ehow C.

I arrived 10 minutes before happy hour ended, so I was able to get some cheaper eats at this cute Japanese restaurant. The veggie roll (made without rice) was probably my favorite of all of them, followed by the crispy salmon sticks and the seared nigiri. The roll had a lot of interesting textures and flavors, while the other items were pretty good for what they were. Leaning into regular hours, I decided to order a mini-chirashi bowl because I was really craving some salmon. (And if you've read my reviews, you know I love my salmon.) I was severely disappointed by it: the salmon itself didn't taste fresh and the rice was a little hard and overpowering in seasoning. It's too bad, because I really wanted to like it. Other than all that, service was good. I don't know if I would come back for their regular menu, based on my mini chirashi experience. Plus, $3.50 for a Sprite? That's pretty much highway robbery. I guess they have to charge more to make up for the happy hour prices.
(3)
Melody P.

Just had the New Years Eve dinner there and was disappointed. I think this might have been the worst meal I've had in Portland. Pros: had no problem getting a dinner reservation on NYE at 8:30pm, Cons: what we ordered was not great. Everyone talked about their sashimi and that's one thing we didn't get-so maybe we just didn't order the right things. Here are what we had: 1. Slice beef with garlic stems Super sweet and salty, the stems are chewy with a lot of fibers. Beef is over cooked. 2. Whole grill squid Not grilled at all-boiled with zero seasoning. Worst dish of the night 3. Smoked baked scallops with miso Pretty good-scallops are small (bay scallops) and over cooked. Flavor is good. 4. TNT roll This was the special and we thought it was a dynamite roll which commonly used shrimp tampura. However it was a mixture of cooked seafood that tasted like canned tuna. 5. Alaska roll Pretty standard and probably one of the better things we ate. Service was decent given it was a busy night but the food simply just was mediocre.
(2)
Jae A.

This place is really pretty good. I just didnt give it 5 stars because it didnt top my favorite place. But ill definitely be back. Sushi was fresh
(4)
Greg D.

Awesome quality & ambiance, excellent service and very good prices. I work nearby and don't have a long lunch, yet I was able to walk over, eat & get back to work on time. Their sushi rolls are very delicious and the fish is super-fresh. Great variety. I'll be back over & over.
(4)
Furious G.

Probably the best restaurant in Hillsdale but with many new places opening up here, it has got competition. I used to really like this place until it got really popular and super-crowded for lunch. The sushi is still good, but I used to like it a lot better. Not sure if the food's not as good as pre-2012 or if the competition around this place has just re-leveled the playing field.
(4)
Sheila S.

The best sushi we have ever eaten. Fresh fresh fresh!!! Great ingredient pairings in the rolls. Had the mango salmon roll taste amazing with sake. Great service even when it was getting very busy. This was our first time here we are new in town. We plan to make this restaurant a regular. Amazing sake menu too!!! Don't bother with the happy hour menu unless you're only having 1 thing. We figured would have been better deal to order a couple items to share and a bottle of sake. Again, must go again soon very soon!!!
(5)
Lindsey M.

My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary. We were seated immediately and a woman came over to show us the specials shortly after, even after we said that we were planning on ordering off the main menu, she insisted on leaving the specials menu, so that if we wanted to change our minds, we could. What makes this place stand apart is that they genuinely care about you having a great visit. They were so sweet, and even offered to refill my water after we got our bill. I ordered the tako nigiri, the yellowtail sashimi, my girlfriend got the spicy Oregon, and the Rock'n'roll. We ended up sharing everything. It was SO GOOD.
(5)
Elisa S.

The sushi and service is amazing. They have some really unique rolls. Definitely going back for more!
(5)
Stacey L.

This place is pretty legit. It's located in the very deserted downtown of Hillsburo. My friend happens to live in Hillsburo so we decided to check this place out after exhausting our food journey is Portland. My friend has visted Japan recently and says that this place is pretty comparable to the food in Japan. I will start with the environment. It is located inside an old library. I think it's totally cool. The place is decorated with all different types of sake bottles which is cool. They have a separation between the top floor (which is like a step) with a bamboo fence. I totally got the feel of japan when I ate there. All the food that my friends and I got was great. They even start you off with a nice bowl of edamame. We got the rock and roll roll, the vegetarian combo, mini chirashi bowl, and some type of soup and rice dish. Whatever the vegetarian combo is, it was amazing and perfect for my friend who doesn't like fish. Everything on the plate was wonderfully presented and delicious. I loved my roll it was fresh and very pleasing to my pallet and my friend loved the dishes he got. I hope this place gets more recognition because it's a true gem and worth the drive from Portland if you want good authentic Japanese food.
(5)
Karli S.

This place is so amazing, they have a great atmosphere and the service is excellent. The quality of the fish is amazing and every roll tastes so great. They deserve 10 stars and more, I was just visiting and it was a recommendation which I am so happy I asked because I can't wait to come back it's so good!
(5)
Phi H.

Never got disappointed with this place! Arigatogosaimas!! Extremely friendly staff an the food is superb! Definitely my go to place when i want to wow people with sushi or just want to feel awesome with great food! Ring of fire and highway 26 are my two favorites.
(4)
Tami R.

Excellent!! I love sushi! Quality is very important when it comes to fresh ingredients and presentation. This hidden whole in the wall, is something special. I've come for lunch and dinner. They are very conscience of the time sensitive schedule people are on. Very efficient service. They aim to please and all staff have the same goal. Each lunch guest is served a bowl of miso, tiny salad and green tea while waiting for your order. Homemade miso served nice & hot. Our group ordered 3 sushi rolls. Lots of flavor and served with extremely tender cuts of fish. If I had more time to hang at lunch I would have, but dinner is nicely lit. Dinner ambiance has dim lighting, which makes it feel like you are in a special corner of Portland. Too make it more interesting, it's located in the historic downtown of Hillsboro in the basement of an old school library. Take your chances on coming out to a great sushi experience.
(5)
Heather C.

Best kept secret of the West side, so I almost hate to write a review. But, it is some of the best Japanese food I've found. Even my Japanese mother was surprised at how good it was. I only wish the tables were larger because I've ordered enough food sometimes where it didn't all fit. Maybe I shouldn't admit that. Great outdoor seating in nice weather.
(5)
Janice L.

The chirashi bowl and nabeyaki udon we had were really good, but service was not good because they were so busy!
(4)
Steve E.

Love the place. Great food all around I have never had a bad meal here. Give it a try. You will be happy you did.
(5)
Mark P.

This place is really a surprise! My wife is Japanese and we have been looking for a place to ease her homesickness, and this does it. When you walk in, it feels remarkably like a nice Izakaya in Japan. The service is excellent for a busy place, and the food is wonderful and authentic. I'm sure you can find some better Japanese food somewhere, but it would probably be twice the price. For a reasonable price, the food is really excellent! What a find!
(5)
Eric N.

I am a frequent visitor, almost going every week. I noticed the taste could vary from day to day, you may meet the right one if you are lucky. It is time for them to review their chefs.
(3)
Brandon W.

If you cannot head to San Francisco to hit the Sushi in the Japanese Cultural Center this is as good as you can get. My introduction was when Syun staff came to Ronler Acres Intel to run lunches once a month, they served several types of rolls and it was impressive for not a lot of dollars. It then took me several years to get my wife, an avid raw seafood avoider, much like the Anh I work with, to take me there. (Sorry Anh!). Little did she know that the food was going to know that she was going to love the food. Sushi ands Sashimi were excellent, the rolls were superb. Any of the entrÃ©e items were excellent, and I took the wife, an extremely picky lady, and our daughter who is also very picky. They both had to "suffer" since this was a birthday pick. We arrived early on Saturday right before the opening for dinner, and the staff were excellent. The restaurant was impeccably clean, and the the atmosphere, in the bottom floor of an old Carnegie Library, was quiet and pleasant. The old granite and concrete entryway leading down to the hardwood floors of the restaurant was a great site for impeccable sushi. Food was made quickly and was a delight to the eye upon arrival. The dinners ranged from teriyaki, Salmon fillet, sushi rolls and Sushi, and several bento boxes. All were beautiful and well presented in a simple and yet very wonderful presentation. This is one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to, it is a little on the pricey side but that is not a bad thing, considering how busy they are it appears that the folks that visit them all agree the price is fair for the level of food that is presented. I suggest going early and or getting a reservation if you plan to dine in a prime time, but it is well worth the wait if you have to wait, For sushi or sashimi, sit at the bar and watch the foodie show as they make a salmon skin roll or amaebi. This is a full treat not just the food but watching the presentation and the final act of consummation when you are allowed to taste of the beautiful things set in front of you. Spend the time and money and relax and enjoy the treat that is in store for you on visiting here!
(5)
Sean B.

Probably the finest sushi experience I have ever had. We told our sushi chef that we were more into traditional sushi then rolls, what he unleashed was just so insanely good, and authentic, I was blown away. So many different fish, and all of them were incredible. We went in at the end of their lunch shift but they still took excellent care of us. Highly recommend, that you let them just do their thing and feed you some of the finest sushi I have had outside of Japan.
(5)
Trimaine B.

Recently ate here. Good service and environment. We were able to modify a dish that was not precisely as offered on the menu so that was positive. Price points are typical of the Portland area for these style resturants
(4)
Matthew R.

great food and service. I will go there again.
(5)
Amy L.

One of my all time favorite sushi restaurants in town. They use the freshest fish and seafood selections. Huge list of sake local and from Japan. All the food that came out are nicely decorated and looks like a work of art. Keep in mind this place isn't cheap. It's a wonderfully little place kept in the suburbs. Best reserved for special occasions. I went on a girls night out and we ordered: Oysters on half shell: super fresh and tasted like buttery goodness. Sashimi: Every piece of fish we tried was very fresh definitely high quality Okonomiyaki: Very delicious, I do make this regularly at home tastes just the way I like it Sushi Omokase: Very delicious, love every piece of seafood on the plate. Place looks like a izakaya, can be a bit loud cause of the popularity. Once you get seated food comes out relatively quickly. Service is very friendly.
(5)
Bryan J.

The Boston and volcano roll were delicious and fresh. The ingredients were of high quality. The yakiudon tasted pretty good, however, it was a little salty. The servers were nice!
(5)
Carl T.

We went with a large group of about 15. We called and made reservations. If you have never been here before in the back room there are two long tables that accommodate groups. I don't know what the other group did to receive great service but they had three waiters hovering their table the whole time I was there and I couldn't get anyone to take my order much less refill my beer glass. PFFT after almost two hours YES two hours I received my food. Nothing tastes good after I have to drive all the way over to Hillsboro in rush hour traffic and listen to my in laws bicker at a table for two hours while all the while waiting to get some RAW fish. You don't even have to cook what I order just slice it up throw it on a cold plate and I'll do the rest. If my wife even suggests this place in the future she's in for a battle. We wont be back. The good food doesn't even come close to making up for the snotty service I received from the waitress. I don't have any idea why everyone rates this place so well. Maybe they were having an off night? I don't know but it was BAD. Give it a try just don't go there with a group maybe that's the key.
(1)
Michael L.

This is so far the best sushi joint I have tried on Oregon. The seating is great and the outside seating is very inviting. Inside the massive collection of sake bottles makes it quite interesting and gives a feel you're in a Japanese restaurant. I ordered the whole fried ika squid and it was more steamed them fried but taste okay. The grilled saba was perfectly cooked as it was moist and soft with a crispy skin. Ordered the Chirashi bowl and there wasn't nothing special, the price was $4 more than Yuki's but was good. Only saving grace of this place is it's menu selection.
(3)
Phong D.

In a land of sushi-go-rounds, it was refreshing to go to a Japanese restaurant. Things that I did well: 1. I called ahead and made reservations. This place filled quickly. 2. I tried the sashimi platter ($25). It's the perfect amount of fish and EVERYTHING was fresh, clean, tender, and divine. If you've had good sushi, this place will make it better. What impressed me the most was the octopus - it was delicate (not tough or chewy) and the lemon undertones really brought out its flavor. 3. I tried the chicken wing. Imagine a deboned chicken wing, filled with pot sticker filler, and fried. It was a little salty, but fun, nonetheless. 4. I tried the braised pork belly. Tender chunks of pork in appropriately salty soy sauce - reminded me of my mom's cooking. 5. I tried the tempura banana. The banana was warm and soft and cloaked in a thin layer of tempura, topped with sweet bean paste - a truly East meets West experience. What I did wrong: 1. I got full. 2. I did not try the sake. I can't wait to go back to undo my wrongs!
(5)
Sudipto G.

I'm no sushi expert but I like the sushi here. A huge variety was ordered (we went there for an official lunch yaay!) and everything tasted good. The soup was excellent too, and def. save room for the tempura ice cream! It is the proverbial cherry on top of the cake.
(4)
Lindi M.

When I have a craving for sushi, I am only referring to Syun! It blows all other sushi restaurants, in the Portland area, out of the water... Ahem, sorry about the pun. There are no belts here unless you count the ones holding people's pants up! No "Krab", only crab and the salmon/sake is like butter. I have tasted several of their entrees and they have all been great but I can't come here and not feast of sushi. This is a mom and pop, pub style, Japanese restaurant so it isn't glitzy but it feels authentic. The staff is friendly and I have always had acceptable service. They have a full bar but they may not always know how to make what you want. Years ago, my dad asked for a gin martini with an olive and they brought out a HUGE glass off gin with a black olive in it. We still get a kick out of that story! It's also located in the daylight basement of the old Hillsboro library so it may hard for you first-timers to find. Keep looking! It's worth it!
(5)
Pj W.

Best sushi in Hillsboro!
(4)
Taryn K.

One of the best Japanese restaurants I have eaten in Oregon! It's a little hidden gem that you would never guess is a restaurant. Very authentic Japanese food. The portions are a little small but it is definitely worth it and everything is really tasty! Some of the dishes we got were the miso eggplant, gyoza, okonomiyaki, udon, chawanmushi and others but I don't exactly remember. If you are ever in Hillsboro make sure to stop here.
(5)
Iris C.

Food is good but the place is awfully small and cramped in the basement. Feeling suffocated inside.
(3)
Rich T.

We've been here there times and love mainly the family feel. The sushi is super fresh and they have those items that the "advanced" sushi lover adores. The monk fish liver, the white king salmon, was wonderful. and the sake was great. We love the atmosphere here. It feels like ur in a little hole in the wall in japan except of course 5x bigger than a tokyo sushi bar.
(5)
Pavel L.

Perfect little Izakaya. I've brought out-of-town guests here several times. Most have either told me they don't like Japanese food or have never had it. All have consistently told me they want to come back.
(5)
Wes B.

Update 5/18/2014: After experiencing Syun a few more times I am sad to report that for the quality of Sushi has gone down, and I can say now that Syun is far overpriced. I've spent less at Bamboo which is by far higher quality than Syun. That being said, it's still quality sushi, it's just that there are far better options in the Portland metro area. Original Review: Quite honestly, Syun is a treasure. I am a native born-and-raised Southern Californian, eating sushi for 26 of my 28 years. I've been what seems like hundreds of sushi restaurants. Americanized, traditional, in-between, I love it all. So take me seriously when I tell you that Syun is the best Sushi you can get in the Pacific Northwest. The fish quality is comparable to some of the most respected Japanese restaurants I've ever been to. Everything was just spot-on. The Mackrel was mild and rich, the Yellowtail melted in your mouth, the Amberjack was clean and ultra-fresh. Of the 7 types of fish we sampled, not a single piece of fish was "okay" or "off", it was all just perfect. The rolls we also excellent with a proper ratio of rice to ingredients. The soft shell crab was fresh and crispy. The pricing is perfectly acceptable for the quality, I've paid more for lesser quality. Only one or two places best Syun, and they are both in Southern California. Service was stellar. I will definitely be back, with friends, again and again.
(3)
DJ M.

Slow service. Easiest part of order (Nigiri) didn't show up until almost entire meal was done.even though it was ordered at same time. Portions are small. Spicy tuna hand rolls were patheticly small. Half the size of other restaurants versions. Not worth the trip. Take the time and drive to Sherwood, stop in to see Moon at Crazy Sushi.
(2)
David P.

A great izakaya with an amazing array of sakes for all tastes in a very cozy environment: think Japanese Cheers. [Syun Izakaya is the actual name of the place (izakaya = pub). Yelp will hopefully eventually change their profile.] Wait staff very friendly if not very knowledgeable about the sakes they serve or other questions I had. Japanese owner was always watching on and quickly backstopped the staff on my special requests. The place works much better as a pub than a sushi-ya. Menu is extensive with all the standard Japanese restaurant items, but I get the sense its all just window dressing for the round eyed masses. Fresh fish selection was limited and one of the sushi chefs stuffed my temaki with too much rice. To his credit, he went out of his way to find a jar of pickled plums to fulfill my special request for a ume (plum) -shiso hand roll.
(5)
Violet T.

I went here last Friday with two girl friends and enjoyed Saki for my first time. I have had Saki in the past, apparently never at the right place, and disliked it. Here we got a small craft of Saki and it was amazing. We had several rolls, ginger beef, a green salad, and the bowl of sampler sushi. It was all very good. The only reason why I do not give it 5 stars is because I am a big time water drinker, and there was a lot of moments when I was out of water. One really amazing perk is the hot tea they served at the end. Without asking, they just brought hot green tea. It was the perfect end to the meal and helped as the three of us shared a bit of Saki. The chocolate strawberry mousse dessert was excellent as well! I will be back and hopefully give it 5 stars.
(4)
Julia F.

...as someone originally from Hawaii, I have rather high standards for Sushi. This place is amazing, the food is fabulous, some of the freshest selection of fish I've had in a while, wonderful staff, insane selection of sake. The space is wonderful too, it takes you out of Hillsboro and into its own little sushi world. perfect ambiance. I have taken all of my friends, family, acquaintances and I am working on my enemies next. Everyone needs to experience this place. P.S. try the Aga dashi Tofu.. simply divine.
(5)
Lauren G.

I can't say enough about this place. Still baffles me that the best sushi in portland is actually in hillsburo. Fantastic quality sushi, great service. We took some friends visiting from Austin and they were blown away. Thanks Syun!
(5)
Chiemi N.

Syun is one of my most favorite Japanese restaurants in Oregon. The food is fresh...and they use the best rice, miso and green tea! You can definitely tell the difference! I love the atmosphere of the restaurant, and the natural wood shapes of the tables. My favorite dish there is the Buta Kimchi. I also like the gyunikku ninniku. My mother's favorite dish is the Chirashi deluxe. Don't be in a hurry when eating at Syun's. The service tends to be on the slow side, no matter when I've been. It's not very kid friendly either. I once took a toddler. She was hungry, and it took forever to get the edamame appetizer! She wouldn't have been as squirmy if they brought that right out.
(4)
Simone C.

One of my favorite sushi restaurants! Very traditional style and excellent quality.
(5)
DJ G.

For Portlandites, if you fight traffic, boredom and old age to make the trek to Hillsboro for Syun, you're in for a treat. I'll continue the rumor that the upper-echelon of Intel brought in top sushi talent from Japan to satisfy their craving...because that's what I heard whispered from a guy in the shadows. If you ask me, if there is one cool spot for sushi in Hillsboro, underneath the old library is it. Be sure to check out the Sequoia Holy-Crap-They're-Tall-Giganteum near the courthouse when you're walking off the sake wobbles. Our waitress was completely attentive, friendly and totally on it. She'd instantly pop out of the wood work when my water glass ran low (which was frequently). I wasn't lucky enough to sample any sake. However, the array on the menu and displayed prominently on the wall spoke volumes and my table enjoyed theirs. Next time, cold, unfiltered sake it shall be. My party did try a big fat platter of sashimi, which was perfect. Excellent cuts of fish, great presentation and as tasty as can be at a good price to boot. The tofu platter sauce and consistency was quite good as well, although the mountain yam topping didn't quite stimulate my taste buds. The eel and salmon rolls were fabulous, as were all the other rolls chopsticked down our gullets. Another top review for Syan. Make the trek to Hillsboro, it's worth it!
(5)
Kate F.

I have heard this is the best Japanese restaurand around Portland, so I tried. This is "Izakaya" Style restaurant, that means everything is small portion. We ordered several dishes include Sake. Everything was really good. If you really like Authentic Japanese food, I recommend this restarurant. But if you want a relaxing dinner, I don't recommend. The waitress kept coming to pick up the plates and asking what we want to next. She brought a bill right away after we told we were done. I felt like we have to go right now.
(4)
Tom P.

I took my wife here on a hot date last Saturday night after reading such great reviews here on Yelp. It definitely lived up to the hype. First, we had reservations for 6:30 and the place was not full, so we *could* have walked in off the street. However, it did fill up by 7:00 so I'd still recommend reservations on a weekend night. We were seated in a cozy back corner of the joint. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful, i.e. brought the wipeoff specials board to our table and rattled off that evening's fare. Not being a huge sake fan--I think I've only tried the rotgut $5 stuff, both cold and hot--I decided to give the Syun flight a go, given their enormous collection of imported sakes from Japan. The "cloudy" nigori was a clear winner in my book. Great to go along with the complimentary edamame starter. We ordered about 5-6 small dishes, mostly hot items like yakitori (awesome), okonomiyaki (why do the bonito flakes dance around like they're alive?), yam tempura (yum), tako-yaki (octopus balls). I also had some hotate (scallop) and sake (salmon) nigiri sushi, great stuff. We left completely stuffed with no room for dessert. The total bill for 2 was under $60. Mind you, this included my $12 sake flight. That is a bargain in my book. Definitely would like to return, perhaps with another couple to share in the fun-ness!
(5)
Cedric Douglas C.

Nice to ahve a sushi option that is a step up in atmosphere and quality, providing a nicer place to have a good meal, without the excessive cost. Good folks here, good food, lovely atmosphere.
(5)
Ludo N.

I agreed to go here with a sushi loving friend and husband, and it was a total nighmare for me. I hate all seafood, and not that this really changed anything, but I'm a vegan. So, I got the tofu steak. Gross. My husband thought he liked sushi, but after eating it here he felt sick and has lost any yearning for sushi he once had. We got wine per the happy hour price, but they charged us full price. I have NOTHING good to say about this place. Bleh.
(1)
Rebecca H.

It was worth the traffic. Went to visit a cousin and her in laws in Hillsboro and Syun was recommended. We haven't found a Japanese place we love yet in PDX, and figure this can't be worse than what we've tried. It was excellent. Fabulous. The saba I've been craving, the sashimi I needed. The dishes are savory, well balanced, and presented nicely. The staff is friendly and helpful. I liked that we could order a few dishes and then, when we decided we were still a tiny bit hungry and wanted to try more things, could order more. There was no rush to get us out and we lingered over a nice dinner. Granted, it was a week night and not crowded. I would definitely go back if I ever end up in Hillsboro again. My only dislike are the tables; the interior is lovely but the tables are weird burl sculpture things with little leg room. This made for an uncomfortable seating experience. However, the food was so good, so what if the table sucked. Still gets 5 stars.
(5)
John R.

Fantastic! I've tried a lot of different things on the menu and enjoyed all of it. Explore your pallet with these guys, because you'll find yourself coming to Hillsboro after a visit here!
(5)
Hendry H.

Really and truly the best. I've never been disappointed with anything I've gotten here, but the sashimi platter in my mind deserves special mention. Although I didn't think it possible, in recent months they've upped their game a notch. The food and service just seem to be even better.
(5)
Andy K.

I am not big on Japanese Food, but tried it anyways for lunch. I ordered seasoned beef (not sure exact name) from the lunch menu. It was served with rice. Food tasted good. I like the miso soup. Service was fast and friendly.
(4)
Denise M.

Was disappointed with Syun Izakaya last night. Love the ambiance of the place and their service is usually good but last night I was disappointed with their food. I know, I know... can already hear you. But listen, If this had been the first sushi rolls I'd ever tried, I would never have tried sushi again. Here's the deal, if you're going to use real crab, it shouldn't taste like you just dumped it out of the can. At least rinse it. And if it was fresh, it didn't really taste fresh... tasted like fishy, salty "crab" rolls. When I go out, I expect to be served delicious food. I want pleasing textures, fresh and creative flavors. I'm not a foodie but when I spend my money, I won't return to places that disappoint.
(2)
Jason W.

I dont know what you guys are smoking but im from seattle/everett where we have consistently good sushi. I have high expectations for sushi. for instance, salmon should be orange color with a creamy texture that melts in your mouth satisfying your taste buds in an omnidirectional behavior! I ate here expecting a quality based on the standards that people on this website had reviewed it. I had a nigiri salmon and sea eel. the salmon was a deep red with a flatharder texture with a less than mildly satisfying taste. the eel was dry tasted more like a piece of dry cod than good eel should taste. I then had a ring of fire roll which was "so-so". The crab salad that filled teh inside was virtually tasteless, the HWY 26 roll was "better" but yet again fel short of great flaovor and the mango that accompanied the roll on top was not anywhere closet o being ripe and ready. it was tart, hard and lacked the good sweet flavor that mango should have. it was pale in color almost aslight whitish green color to it proving it was not ripe. The service was good atleast and the atmosphere was a 7 out of 10. I sure hope Oregon has better sushi to offer than this otherwise im going to have to drive up to seattle to get decent sushi. Im sooo sorry ya'll have not tried decent sushi to the people that rated this place a 5 star joint. you are both misled and uneducated when it comes to quality sushi. I need to find a joint with the orange creamy textured salmon that is the first clue your ina good sushi joint :) hope people read this post adn take my word for it, I am an experienced sushi eater adn this is just not where you need to go for a quality sushi. wayyyyy over priced too. the plum wine I bought was 7dollars a glass for about 2 ounces. total rip off. you should get a decent glass 4-6 ounces for 4.50 or so....
(2)
Catherine F.

"Hey, I'm in Beaverton!" I tell my friend John T. "C'mon over!" he graciously invites me. After the directions to his place, the long trip into the BF western boondocks, the obligatory 10-cent house tour, and some hanging out and geeking together, I realize I'm famished. John decides to take me to one of his favorite places for a quick nibble (we're waiting for another friend to finish work; dinner with him was already planned). It's in an old public library building! No, really! I find myself automatically lowering my voice as we enter its venerable hallowed halls -- then we take an immediate right off the quiet lobby, descend into the basement, and enter a traditional Japanese restaurant! My brain needed a minute or so to shift gears. As soon as we were seated, we were greeted by our efficient server, who recommended a few of the specials, and really impressed me as being knowledgeable about the menu, as well about the food (was she one of the owners?). Since Syun *is* an izakaya, and we needed to save room for whatever dinner plans eventually happened, we chose several small plates -- a couple of specials, a couple of John's faves, and a couple of things that looked too good to miss on the regular menu. The sabayaki, a marinated grilled mackerel fillet drizzled in sauce, was tender, flavorful, and had that lovely grilled-almost-charred flavor I love; the marinated grilled pork belly was spectacular. Everything else (which I don't recall as well -- forgive me; I've allowed some time to pass before writing this up) was perfectly tasty and much-enjoyed. John, as is his wont, spoiled me by grabbing the tab (he didn't even let me see it). I would love to spend more time here, settled in for an evening of drinking and eating multiple small plates, chatting with friends.
(4)
Melinda A.

Love, love, love this place! I'm not giving it 5 stars because I'm a very picky Japanese food connoisseur, but this place comes very close to being perfect in my book. First, I'm a librarian, so I absolutely adore that this place is in an old library building! It excites the nerd in me. :) The service is excellent. The waitress brought out our warm edamame right away and make sure to refill our waters the entire time we were there. We didn't need reservations on a Saturday night, which was great, too, since we were just passing through town. I'm pregnant, so I'm not supposed to eat raw fish, but Syun Izakaya has an excellent large vegetarian platter. The deep-fried tofu in miso sauce was to die for! It also came with cold noodles in some sort of tangy sauce, a veggie handroll (sweet rice, spinach, avocado), etc. I longingly looked at my husband's albacore rolls, which he said melted in his mouth...I must come back here after the baby's born so that I can eat the raw fish, too!
(4)
Karin W.

I had heard so much about this restaurant, especially where it is located (part of the old Hillsboro Library, quaint), but lunch was.....just okay. Perhaps I need to go there doing dinner, and see if there's a different menu. Right now, I'm still favoring Sushi & Maki.
(3)
Trieste L.

Why haven't I rated this place yet? I am bar far a Sushi snob, but I could tell right away that I was about to be part of something very special upon walking into Syun for the first time. Luckily every visit back has been just as stellar. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
(5)
Jake J.

This is a hidden gem in hillsboro, and I am surprised when we take people there, they have rarely heard of it. The sake selection is awesome, the service is impeccable and the food is second to none. It may be hard to find, but is well worth the hunt. Dont forget to call in advance and get a reservation for dinner you'll need it.
(5)
Dan R.

I was visiting Hillsboro on business and needed to eat something good. Syun did not disappoint. Good service and incredibly fresh, artfully cut fish.
(5)
Jack L.

My parents live near Hillsboro and we go to Syun every time I visit. It's kind of an unspoken agreement that my visiting means a night of awesome sushi. I LOVE this place. So much, I don't quite know where to begin. Suffice to say, I've had a lot of sushi all over the West Coast and this is still among the top 5 places I've eaten. I am especially fond of their sake tasting flights, the sushi is fresh and the staff are always friendly with good suggestions when we are overwhelmed by the menu.
(5)
Jennifer T.

We've been to dozens of sushi / Japanese restaurants; San Francisco, Marin County, Seattle and points east. But outside of going to Japan, I think we have a winner. The specials are just that - SPECIAL - as in hubby's foursome yesterday of tempura fish cake, seared tuna slices, octopus in kim chee sauce with cucumber, and finally, a richly seasoned dish of lean, tender beef cubes. Every single dish on the beautiful square plate was fresh and clean and individual, yet they built a classy, delicious lunch. Served with perfect rice, soup, salad and mochi ice cream. $20, and well worth it. Of course, there are many low-cost specials as well. We just like to splurge here! I chose the tempura special lunch with 6 PERFECTLY FRIED, light and airy pieces of luscious shrimp, at least 5 inches long, zucchini, yam, onion ring. Outstanding fry cook - how does he/she do it? Served with 11 pieces of sushi - including my favorite amber jack, as well as tuna roll (6 pieces), two beautiful white fish, a fresh cooked shrimp, slice of incredibly fresh salmon and the miso soup and mochi ice cream. I kept stealing bites of hubby's octopus salad, it was so good. I got iced tea and it was fantastic - strong and dark. We've eaten here at least 6 times now since we moved to this area back in October of 2008. We've NEVER had an off moment, a bad meal, poor service or less-than-fresh food. Everything is always right here at the Syun. Thank you, thank you!
(5)
Lucia C.

Syun just made hillsboro worth living in. I've been to sushi bars all over california and was starving for quality fish in oregon. Syun did not disappoint. Their fish has been fresh each time I've gone and the service is also very friendly. Other things I really like are their udon and "rice soup in stone pot". Their dinner specials are also really good. The pork belly melts in your mouth!! So freaking gooddd. Luckily for me, there has never been a very long wait to get a table. But on holidays, I would definitely recommend calling for a reservation.
(5)
Johnny U.

Not only is this a great Japanese restaurant, this is my favorite restaurant in all of the Portland area. The food is flat out great. I've read a lot of critiques of the service, and do not agree. Sometimes there is a bit of a wait to get a server's attention, but that's b/c this is an amazing restaurant that's almost always busy, and it's worth it. The sushi is great, but don't overlook the hot plates on the front page, especially the asparagus with bacon (and the pork belly, and the beef with garlic buds, etc...). I almost always get the special roll, and have never been disappointed. Also, their late night happy hour is a good deal and was always fun. I moved away from Oregon this year, and this restaurant is one of the things I'll miss most.
(5)
Jeff M.

Of the izakayas I've tried in PDX, this is my favorite. They have tons of selections to choose from, including sushi (some izakayas don't have much sushi). If you stop in for lunch, you get to choose from standards like donburis. When I've come here for dinner, I've usually ordered too much food and overeaten. Still, my wallet wasn't hurt too much. I've always had good service here and the wait staff has been genuinely friendly. Too bad it's so far out in Hillsboro. It's close to MAX, though--the last stop.
(5)
Kay G.

Good food. Nice plate presentation. Hidden location.
(4)
Todd V.

Atmosphere and service were awesome. It's warm and homey with great decor and plenty of staff to take care of you. The menu is really extensive, with everything you'd find at a full-service Japanese restaurant except yakitori items. The food is authentic and tasty, but only the cold soba dipping sauce was a knock-out tastiness-wise. The miso eggplant and shio-yaki saba were really delicious, but both were quite oily; especially for the eggplant, that made it pretty hard to finish by the end. Asparagus bacon was also delicious, but very light on the 'gus compared to the hefty chunks of bacon. Usually it's the other way around, but a better balance would have made it a great dish. Unfortunately we didn't try any sushi or sashimi. The servings of morokyu (cucumber with miso dip) and shishamo (little fish, only three of them despite our party of four), were unfortunately small, especially for the price. The beer selection is pretty good, but they pour their American beers with a Japanese head. I just wanted a full beer! Overall I had an excellent experience here. I will have to try Biwa again, but I suspect that despite Syun's reputation much of the food is of similar quality. Oh, and a note to the diner at the next table: DON'T USE YOUR FORK TO CUT YOUR SUSHI ROLL! They are biteable for a reason. That is all, thank you.
(4)
Melisa V.

the computers where my husband works were down, so he could take an "extended lunch." after loving our meal here several years ago, we decided to try it out for lunch (especially knowing there wouldn't be a crazy-long line). we arrived and were seated immediately. they have a very limited lunch menu in comparison to dinner, but there were a lot of great choices still. since we're still in the midst of our gluten-free challenge, any noodles or tempuras were out so we decided on sushi. before the waitress even returned to take our order, another waitress brought miso soup and a salad. we ordered edamame and sushi and it was all wonderful. the freshness could definitely be tasted. we did have to cheat on our challenge a little bit because they didn't have any gluten-free soy sauce. it also took our waitress a while to refill my water after I went a little overboard on the wasabi.
(4)
Mary B.

Fortunately, Syun is a short 20 min. MAX ride from my house, so I'm there fairly often. Sweet little izakaya tucked into downtown Hillsboro (so much like the '50s quintessential downtown America I remember from my childhood) - Syun is in the basement of a former library building across from the Washington County courthouse. Syun never fails to please, from the sushi (lovely plates, often with amberjack nigiri), good udon, an astonishing array of pickles, and my personal favorite: tempura-fried Japanese pumpkin (kabocha). I don't have to spend a lot of money here to eat royally. Best of all, Syun is open for lunch, so you get to eavesdrop on the lawyers lunching there during their courthouse break. (not that you'd want to, understand?) Took a friend for her birthday, and the owners presented us with candied slices of yam, garnished with black sesame seeds and whipped cream: an unusual and delicious dessert! Buy your own sake bottle and it will be waiting for you to finish when you return....and return you will. Syun is high on my list of "PDX Places to take family/friends from out of town".
(4)
Brian A.

This unassuming door to a hole in the wall has great food and a extremely extensive sake assortment. What is great is that they are additionally well versed in their knowledge of sake and can help you sort through all the different ones in their menu. A buddy and I used to go after work for some appetizers and drinks. An excellent place to do so. The ambiance is a bit dark, but good for a place to eat and drink. You would never think that this gem of a place would be located in Hillsboro, OR! Still shocking to me! Parking is along the street, on the verge of a quiet neighborhood.
(4)
Erin M.

Syun gets a lot of really good reviews, and yelpers seem to like it. I've been searching for a good japansese/sushi restaurant around Portland with no avail. Sure, they are decent, but none that blow me away. My first visit to Syun, I thought this could be it. The rolls were excellent, service great, etc. Unfortunately, our repeat visit last weekend wasn't quite as impressive. The service was slow, despite the dinning room being 1/4 full. The rolls had too much rice, not enough fish, and lacked flavor. I couldn't even taste the salmon on our nigiri, and the miso soup is.... not good. Tempura, however, is excellent- but I'm not sure that's a hard feat. I'm pretty disappointed. I'm wondering, did I go on an "off" night? Was I expecting more than I should? Why can't Syun deliver consistently? ...and on continues the search for good Japanese food...
(3)
Pete F.

Been going here for years, taste always good, fresh fish, great sake selection. more expensive then others, but their sushi selection is more unique.
(5)
Mari T.

Syun is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Oregon and even though it is a really far drive, I make it a point to bring family and friends here as often as possible. Their Okonomiyaki is my absolute favorite dish, though the kinoko bata (mushrooms sauteed in butter) is a close second. They have excellent sashimi (raw fish) and sushi (Their Dragon Roll is cute and fabulous to eat!) as well as having a wide variety of small dishes that encourage sharing. The bad thing is that we usually want to try so many different items! The sake selection is really extensive and they carry a good variety that range from sweet to dry and they will serve it hot or cold. The service is usually good, though if you are in a rush, you may want to ask for the check when you get your last dish.
(4)
Erin C.

Yum- having lived in Japan, I can see that this place really tries to replicate the authentic izakaya feel. Great okonomiyaki and nigiri sushi. A bit pricey for everyday but a great cultural and date-night experience for a special occasion.
(5)
Thomas M.

Best rated restaurant in Hillsboro huh... I can not speak for the dinner here as I have only eaten lunch here twice. To be honest I don't get the hype at all, its not bad by any means but did not live up to my expectations. There are many sushi places in the area that I will be returning to before this spot again.
(3)
Kate M.

Yummy Yummy Yummy. I work right down the street from this place and usually twice a month I meet up with someone to have lunch here. The always serve you salad and miso soup (which I don't usually drink) The veggie rolls are good - I'm not a huge fan of avocado though. The shrimp roll was delish - one of my personal favs In my opinion though, the best thing on the menu is the super tasty teriyaki chicken. My mouth waters when I think about it. It usually comes with all good, non rubbery chicken. Also comes with fruit, rice and usually "something extra." All super delish and reasonably priced. The servers are very nice and come by the tables all the time asking how you are doing. Worth a trip out to the burrito, if you're not from here. and if you DO live here... you must go and try something! It's also neat that it's inside the old Hillsboro library.
(4)
Dr X.

Always a fresh authentic sushi experience. A definite must!
(5)
Evan R.

So, I love sushi, my step mother was one of the first women to be trained as a sashimi chef a long time ago. So I know my fish even though I really didn't start liking sushi until about 15 years ago. Anyway by far this is my favorite sushi Restaurant in all of Oregon. If it were not so far from my house I would eat there once a week. The prices are amazing for the freshness and quality of the food. The rice is perfectly seasoned. The fish just the right size for the rice. The rolls are excellent and none of it is so mind bogglingly huge that I feel I need to throw the filet size slab of fish grill like a certain unnamed sushi restaurant in SE Portland. They have a real selection of Sake and you can even keep your bottle on the wall so you can drink it as you please over the your many visits. They have good beer on tap too and the lunch specials are huge and an incredible deal. Ok I have to stop I am writting this review at 11:15 and starting to think about driving out there for lunch.
(5)
P H.

Our go-to-place for sushi in the greater Portland area. Fresh, large pieces, good service, authentic atmosphere. More traditional, won't find fusion dishes here. For sushi it's one of the better places in the NW. I don't think there is anywhere downtown that can beat it.
(5)
Phil M.

Had a very good meal here last week. Service = bad, really. Very inattentive to our table. Ambiance = great Prices = great Food = great. We had a wide variety of things from the various categories on the menu and nothing was disappointing. It's a long trek to Hillsboro - we won't have much opportunity to visit again, but if we lived closer, it would be in the regular rotation, for sure.
(5)
Dave C.

One of the best Japanese restaurants in the Portland area hands down. Sushi is really good but the star of the menu is the izakaya fare. Lunch time @ 12 can be really busy so if you plan on going with a group get there early. For dinner the weekends are always pretty busy starting at 5:00 and starts to slow down after 7:30. Order a bunch of the tasting plates and share you won't be disappointed. My personal favorites are the grilled hamachi collar, butakimchi, eggplant miso and the chicken karaage. The kitchen specials are usually very good as well and I suggest that you order one assuming they don't run out.
(5)
Edward J.

When I was stuck in Vancouver BC before new year I found a great Japanese bar. I wondered why Portland doesn't have a Japanese bar that serves your favor authentic Japanese bar food? Well, Syun answered my craving. So, its way the hell out at Hillsboro, and the drive is not pleasant since I live in Portland. I really wish someone in Portland would open up a Syun a-like bar/restaurant. 'cause I can tell you now I will visit it once a week. Here're my reasons for the awesomeness of Syun. 1. Great environment, very friendly Japanese staffs. 2. Get the okonomiyaki. 'cause no where else in oregon you'll find this, at least to my knowledge. 3. Get the japanese eggplant stuffed with shrimp. again, that's rare in PDX. 4. Get the rice, it reminds me of Japan and Taiwan. Short grain white rice, not too sticky and not too brittle. 5. Get the Chawanmushi, egg custard with fish cake & shrimp & shitake mushrooms. This is a rare find. 6. Get the cold Soba. I think they made the noodles themselves, or else they imported it from Japan. 'cause it didn't taste like it was dried before. 7. You have to save room for dessert. I recommend the Matcha pudding with sweet red beans (azuki, anko). Its amazingly good. My boyfriend said it reminded him of Japan. We didn't get any sake 'cause I wanted to be able to drive home without risking the fog and the snow. Seriously folks, this is a real authentic Japanese place. Why is it so authentic? Apparently the chef is imported from Japan by rich Japanese Intel employees in Hillsboro. WOW! Talk about desperate home cooking. I would do the same if I was rich and powerful. Kombai to that! PS: And its not all that expensive, if you don't get the sushi. Seriously, stick with the authentic food. Japanese don't eat sushi often, its actually pretty rare. Get the ramen!
(5)
Eric C.

Friends brought me here for lunch one day. I ordered the chirashi and I was pleased. Definitely a popular lunch destination (but it's good because the turnover is high and the food is fresh). I'd definitely come back again.
(4)
Songphon M.

We went for a lunch on a weekday and the restaurant was jammed pack! The salad and miso soup that served before the meal was fantastic. I ordered sashimi plate and it was one of the best sashimi I have ever tasted outside of Japan. Sashimi was as fresh as it could be. It was literally melt in my month. The only complain I had for this visit was that the service was quite slow but It's understandable as the restaurant was full with people waiting to be seated.
(4)
Sung L.

I would say this is the best Japanese restaurant I've tried in Oregon. The people seem really nice, the atmosphere is lively without being too loud and the food is authentic. We've tried some sushi, yakiudon, and some broiled mackerel. Everything was delicious. We don't drink, but they have an amazing selection of Saki. We don't live anywhere near this part of town and rarely pass through this area so sadly we don't get to eat at Syun very often.
(5)
Alec F.

Excellent, authentic Japanese food to the tune of J-Pop in a cute little restaurant hidden in the dead center of Hillsboro. Chopstick skills are required, as the restaurant adheres to many of Japan's cultural quirks - even the bathrooms obey Feng-Shui! I'm only in Oregon for the summer, but this was the best food I've have yet.
(5)
Doug H.

My son and I came to Syun Izakaya for my birthday, and the atmosphere, the service, and, most especially, the food made this experience unforgettable! Before we were seated, we discerned an ambiance that was authentically Japanese, intimate but still welcoming. The whole menu, with incredibly diversity, is perhaps the greatest challenge: how could we possibly eat all of the food to which we were attracted?? All of our favorite dishes were listed, covering a plethora of regions and tastes. Equally diverse, and certainly as appreciated, was the choice of sakes, both hot and (properly) cold! We truly could not ask more from a restaurant. We guard our recommendations, as they are a reflection of who we are; we recommend Syun Izakaya unhesitatingly and with complete confidence that we are well represented. We hope you try it and are as blessed as were we.
(5)
Jenner P.

Best green tea, miso soup, rare beef salad, and homemade pork gyoza!!! For reference, I am Asian and grew up a slave to my mother's sushi cravings. While the sushi here can be lukewarm, it is fresh and well-cut. Share the chef's choice platter with friends. -Definitely the best Japanese food I've tried in the Northwest -VERY reasonable prices -Great service -A little out of the way for East-siders and, charmingly, a bit hard to find
(5)
Susie K.

Not bad overall. One of the first places I found for sushi when i first moved to Hillsboro. The staff is very friendly although they seem to have a hard time handling large parties. They also never have enough wine for our group, but then we are a larger group...and we really like our wine! Of course, we should probably be drinking the sake, but wine is the big winner with the majority of our group...until they tell us that they are out....which is everytime we go. I just realized that this could be their method of cutting us off! Anyway, the sushi is ok. I find the rice to be a bit overseasoned for my taste. I like the small dishes like the braised beef, kimchee pork and beef with garlic buds. It's fun to order a few dishes and share over a glass of wine or sake!
(3)
John T.

At night it's hard to see this place since the area isn't well lit. but after not having good sushi in oregon this place is a godsend. I walked in and i felt like i was in the movies where you wander into a sushi restauant but then the first person i see is a guy name Daniel. He's blond so i'll let you guess his ethnciity. The guy spoke japanese to me, was it accurate? hell would i know i don't speak japanese. So i go with his recommedation and get this huge thing of sushi to go. it's good, the biggest downfall of other sushi places up here have been the rice. The other thing is they didn't go cheap on the sushi and give you thin slices of fish. So comparing this place to my previous sushi experiences, this place is awesome and i will be coming back very soon.
(5)
Krissy N.

Went to Syun for dinner and it was great. The hostess and waitress were very friendly. I liked the Japanese izakaya atmosphere. The place is in the downstairs of an old library building which I thought was pretty neat. We ordered the sushi dinner special (chef's choice) and it came with about 14 pieces of nigiri and a full roll for around $28, which is a pretty reasonable price for the amount and quality of sushi that was given. I had the miso soup, zaru soba (cold buckwheat noodles) and shrimp tempura roll. The miso soup was good and a pretty standard miso soup. The noodles were really good and did not taste like the frozen or dried packaged type of noodles. The tempura roll was good and a pretty standard tempura roll as far as they go. For dessert we had the banana tempura with azuki on top which I really enjoyed! Their menu is pretty large and they have a large variety of Japanese dishes. They have many interesting sounding daily specials that you should take a look at too (I'm gonna try the avocado tempura next time!). There was a previous review that said something about small portions. Izakaya style dishes are meant to be small and are supposed to be shared by a group. So if you are looking for a Japanese food buffet or huge combo dinner plate that could probably feed two people then you probably shouldn't be looking for an izakaya restaurant to eat at in the first place. The quality of the food was great and even though it was a little spendy, but if you really love good Japanese food and good sushi then it is worth it! They are open for lunch and may have lunch specials if the cost is an issue for you. Next time we may swing by for lunch and check that out too! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Mike C.

After enduring the suburban blight of Beaverton eateries for a few nights, we happened upon SI. Out-of-the-way, and hard to find....but worth every minute and mile.... We'll be back here on our next trip to Portland..
(4)
Chris C.

I live on the westside and this place is a trek even for me. but what a payoff. not many japanese restaurants can boast having a Sake Brewery 5 miles away. But Syun enjoys having the Sake One Brewery in Forest Grove nearby. They feature their sakes as well as a whole host of other japanese sakes. Unless you're ordering the cheap stuff, don't embarrass yourself here by trying to order it hot. I've never had fresher raw fish than at Syun. we all have our favorite hole in the wall japanese joints that sell "sushi", but its not unitl you have the real good stuff that you're reminded that in the other places, as long as the fish is passable - of OK quality, the bottles of asahi will make up for it. This place get 5 stars for the saba alone.
(5)
Sophie M.

Sushi was very good. I can't say i haven't had better because i have but in Hawaii. The owner/server was kind of spooky weird and keeping track of stuff, i didn't feel very relaxed, but food was good.
(4)
Anyong N.

When my friends took us here as 'the best Japanese in Hillsboro' and I saw "Izakaya" on the window, I was already excited. So as others have said, an izakaya is like a... pub with dim sum. Order the little dishes, drink some booze, have a good time shooting the breeze. And this place delivered. It looks very nice inside, larger than I expected with an extra room. Our waitress was Japanese and very sweet as she read us the specials for the day. Two important notes on Japanese food: 1. If you want cheap excellent food, you're not looking at Japanese food for that night beyond ramen. 2. GENERALIZATION: Japan, like China, has a hard time with the idea of 'vegetarian' or even further 'vegan'. "What do you mean you don't eat meat? Ok, here's some fish. That's not meat, right?" If it's not expressly a vegan/vegetarian restaurant, you're going to have a hard time ordering. Luckily, I do not have this limitation! My friend and I shared a sparkling sake that came in a blue bottle. "Flowers" is what they called it. I knew it was the fru fru female sake and I didn't care. It's a good, soft introduction. With sake, you've got 'rubbing alcohol' on one end and smooth sailing on the other, based on how much you're willing to pay. We had (this is not my most detailed of descriptions as it was a few days ago): -smoked mackerel: probably not my favorite, but still quite good. It had small bones... but I'm a little upset when the fish doesn't have them. -braised pork belly: yesss, yesssss. -beef with garlic buds: delicious! I closed my eyes and pointed randomly to this one on the menu. Excellent choice. -fried something and pumpkin cakes. they were fried with panko. I was hoping for some sweet black sesame paste in the middle, but alas none to be found. Still good and piping HOT when they arrived. -yaki onigiri with pickled plum: yay! A little salty from being grilled with soy sauce, just the way I like it. Pickled plum is an acquired taste but it works very well with onigiri. -pumpkin... cheese cake (?) it was a special for the day. Very mellow. My friends ordered some sushi rolls as well and were happy with them, but I just stuck with the above. I'm only sorry I didn't eat myself into more of a food coma.
(5)
Adrienne S.

This is by far the best sushi place I've been to in Portland area. Yes, it's a bit more expensive than, say, Sushiville, but you also won't find brown spots on the salmon nigiri here. Even on the busiest nights--and I've been here at 6 pm on a Friday when there's a line going out the door, and I've waited an hour for a table--the service is always quick, gracious and attentive. The specials are tasty and huge, and the fish is clean, quickly prepared, and almost pillowy in texture. It's delicious! If the prices for dinner seem a bit steep for some, there's always happy hour (every day, 8:30 to close!) and the lunch specials are also exceptionally reasonable. And seriously--going to a sushi restaurant and complaining that their vegan and vegetarian entrees are lacking is kind of like going to Five Guys and complaining that their peanut butter sandwich isn't prepared with enough care. It's a SUSHI PLACE. If you don't like sushi, then GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I didn't even want to give a good review because then it'd be even harder to get a table on busy nights...but I live in Hillsboro and I can pop in whenever, so I guess that's fine.
(5)
Chris B.

Possibly the best sushi I've had. Excellent.
(5)
Chris E.

All around excellent. Wonderful, fresh Sushi. Great Saki selections. Service very good. Casual, comfortable atmosphere. No complaints.
(4)
L E I.

OK, I must be a dingbat....we've always been here for lunch & I didn't even realize that at dinner is where they have all those little pub dishes that I had first heard about! (it's like dim sum japanese style) OK, so this food is AMAZINGLY good! We had the asparagus & bacon, a super yummy miso cod, the yakibifun (rice noodles), bacon wrapped monster scallops, halibut tempura, etc... yeah, we had a lot of food on that little table and it was ALL GREAT!
(5)
Paul G.

The sushi was good. The variety of food on the menu was appealing. Great small dishes to share including Yakitori; Salmon; Mackerel; Tofu dishes; tempura; and nice draft beer. I found the wait staff friendly and efficient. Even though the restaurant was full all night they reserved 6 seats at the sushi bar for us. That was pretty cool of them to do. Great Japanese food option in Hillsboro of all places. Cool library setting, gives the restaurant a unique vibe.
(4)
Rick P.

Service and food at Syun used to be energetic. In the past year, portions have become smaller and the staff have lost the sense of mission.
(3)
Ashley C.

The wait can be a bit long, but it's well worth it. They really take their time to get the food right. The staff are extremely friendly and they go that extra mile to get your service. Don't believe me, try it for yourself.
(4)
Ta-na W.

GREAT ATMOSPHERE!!! GREAT SERVICE!!! What more can you ask for from this small Japanese restaurant in Hillsboro. I have been to Japan and this place is pretty close to the real deal. The prices for the fish (sashimi/sushi) are great. It is cheaper than Hawaii but the same freshness and great taste. Every time I am craving Japanese food this is the place I choose. :)
(4)
Bert H.

Very good sushi!
(4)
Andrew C.

You can get sushi anywhere. Why not the best; here? I saw they were rated in the top 50 sushi places in the country. I gave it a shot. No lie. This *is* the place! Price range, you can go nutty if you want, like me. Otherwise, if you're a light eater, you can get out of this place reasonably well. Service is good, considering they're always slammed. Everything I've tried is absolutely delicious! Sake selection is unsurpassed.
(5)
Michael P.

This place is very good. They have really good seafood yakisoba, I highly recommend it. Their sushi is good too, but I would expect more considering the price. Great place to eat in Hillsboro
(4)
Marc W.

It's not like I need to write another review - with 18 reviews, most giving a 5 star rating - you get the idea - this is a wonderful place. I've been living here for 11 years and I can't believe I haven't been to Syun until now. I must be the last person that knows about this place. When I try a new sushi place, I use the Himachi Sashimi and Miso Soup as my baseline for tasting and comparing to other restaurants. As soon as I had my first taste of the soup - I knew this place was a winner. Best miso soup I have ever had. So full of flavor. Then, when I put the first slice of himachi in my mouth - the buttery smoothness again told me - WINNER! That's all I wanted to say - this is now my #1 Sushi place!!
(5)
Beerboy M.

The Portland area needs more restaurants like this. Excellent authentic izakaya food, reasonable prices, plenty of sake to accompany the food from an encyclopedia-like menu. By the way, Syun is pronounced "shoon". Went on a Saturday in a party of 4 and had the following dishes (pardon my spelling limitations): okanomiyaki- savory pancakes with cabbage, pork, and topped with tonkatsu, mayo, and bonito flakes. Smaller than traditional, about 6 inches in diameter, but damn tasty and something you won't find frequently. Yaki-udon- wide noodles with grilled beef. Yakisoba- better than what you get other places with a variety of seafood with the noodles. Naruto-yaki- grilled beef in a vinegar/soy sauce with sliced raw onions, very good and the onions are milder than you expect with the vinegar. Chawamushi- egg custard with veggies. Novel. I've only had it for New Year's, very good version, worth trying. Spring rolls- they were a special. Decent, but nothing special compared to other places. Sushi- rock 'n roll with smoked salmon, unagi, avocado, teriyaki-ish sauce, very good. Maguro nigiri, great cut of fish but rice was slightly too sweet. Keppa maki, cucumber rolls are hard to be exceptional at. Futomaki- gigantic roll, probably 2.5 inches in diameter, tasty. Plus, they have a massive selection of sake and shochu. I'd recommend the Momokawa Pearl, it's a cloudy, smooth sake made in Oregon. Overall, great place to go. More than worth trying. Now the negatives: long drive from Portland to Hillsboro, the place is small and fills up easily, and reservations are taken loosely. Reservation for 6:30 ended up getting us a table at 7 because earlier parties were not leaving quickly enough.
(5)
Ezra H.

So the story goes that Syun was opened in the basement of the old Hillsboro Library by a group of Japanese HP/Tectronix executives working in Hillsboro who wanted a private dinner club where they could get the food and drink they wanted served in a traditional Japanese pub atmosphere; so they all collaborated to open Syun. Supposedly the fish was flown into Hillsboro every day from Japan and everyone kept his favorite Sake bottles (still tru to this day) on the shelves lining the pub. Truth or urban myth Syun is AMAZING (especially in this one horse taco stand of a town). yeah, the sushi is all really delicious and fresh but what stands out are dishes like the soy marinated baked mackeral and the braised pork belly with traditional mustard. Let me say that again BRRAISED PORK BELLY! it's amazing and making me hungry as I write this- so take the Max to Hillsboro and order more plates than you think you can eat off the small plates menu and wash it down with some karatamba, Masumi or Ichinokura sake or one of the other 40 or so they have at your disposal! Kanpai!!!
(5)
Kevin H.

I have had sushi all around the USA and Canada and I can honestly say this is the best Sushi I have ever had on the North American Continent. It is also worth noting that it is extremely reasonably priced. I live in central Portland and yet when I am in the mood for truly top notch sushi I make a pilgrimage out to Hillsboro to enjoy the greatness that is Syun!
(5)
Rex S.

Hands down, this is the most consistently good Japanese restaurant around. I shouldn't even be writing this as I don't want anyone else to know about it, but the secret has been out awhile. Perfect sushi, perfect service, the prices are decent, not great. The Sake! More varieties of Sake then your local 7-11 has of beer. The service is always top notch, I just can't say enough of this place. Over the course of a couple years, I continue to be impressed by Syun.
(5)
Salman M.

Yes...sushi place in Hillsboro and guess what...It's one of the best. If you like sushi then you must check out this place. Little expensive but I love it.
(5)
Pauline M.

when i went to oregon for a business trip, i honestly did not expect there to be a great japanese restaurant. i stand corrected. everything syun izakaya broughtout was FANTASTIC. owned by japanese, very very fresh and tasty. had some sashimi, had some izakaya.... eggplant, sushi.... this place is seriously seriously a gem in the middle of nowhere. super authentic.
(5)
Steve P.

I discovered Syun when they replaced the Mexican restaurant that had previously been a favorite. Syun continues to be one of our family favorites and we often chose them for family gatherings of sushi lovers. They will make special rolls for us and the presentation at dinner is always superb. The wait staff is very friendly and several of them have been there from the beginning. They are very accommodating recognize regulars. However, success has its price and it can be difficult to get in, especially on short notice. Cutting the fish for sushi is an art and one should look at the meal before eating to honor the workmanship. I took a class to learn to prepare my own fish (and yes I have a subzero to safely eat wild fish) and have learned it is difficult to consistently make an attractive cut. Syun seems to have difficulty keeping a long lasting lunch sushi chef and the last few lunches offered pretty ragged cuts of fish.
(4)
Laura W.

This restaurant offers a thoughtful, authentic experience for a wide range of Japanese food. They try to consider sustainability and present very well selected and cut sushi. Not every flavor is to my personal taste, but it is all very well done and overall the best Japanese experience in the area.
(4)
Alex G.

Another place I went to while on a business trip in Hillsboro, Oregon. If you want good Japanese food in Oregon, go to Syun!!! Very good sushi and Japanese food in general. It can get very very busy at lunchtime, but it does get quiet after 1:00 PM.
(4)
Brenden S.

In reality, pretend I gave this place three and a half stars. The food is excellent, the service was great. No problems there. The miso soup is so different from what I'm used to but was delightful. Everything tasted good. The food rocks! Now here are the problems with this place. My biggest problem is that they are not ADA compliant, and we brought our grandmother, so we had to sit outside on a windy day, the sun did come out every now and again but it was cold. The menu is confusing if you haven't been here before! A lot of the items on the Kitchen side of the menu aren't portioned to their price and you have to guess if the item is an appetizer or an entree, which caused us to spend about twenty dollars more than we meant to. Overall the food was excellent, but I know some excellent sushi restaurants already without the problems of this place. If you are the area I would highly recommend this place above anything else, unless you happen to be confined to a wheelchair.
(4)
Alexandra A.

This place has amazing sushi. It is fresh and the presentation is gorgeous. They have quite an array of variety of sushi, sushi rolls, sashimi, udon & a wide variety of dinners. The sushi rolls are soooo good! And the specials are always amazing. It's one of the best sushi places I have tried and all my out of town friends always want to go here. it's located in downtown Hillsboro so don't let the location throw you. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Karyn R.

This place is outlandishly good Japanese. Not the cheapest, but price SHOULD go with quality. The fish is always super-fresh. I LOVE their California rolls and their Udon noodles. They don't make bad drinks either. Highly recommend.
(5)
Gail P.

Lots of reviews so I will keep it short. Best sushi since my trip to Okinawa. Wonderful atmosphere and fantastic and extensive menu. Menu and decor authentic Japanese. Fresh sushi where they let the fish shine. Worth the drive from anywhere. Like being in Okinawa again.
(5)
jason b.

Awesome sushi and the largest selection of sake I've ever seen. This includes Seattle and San Francisco.
(5)
Jeff Y.

I felt compelled to update my review. Last visit, we ordered more hot items, less sushi. BIG mistake. This time, we ordered more sushi and the sushi was a religious experience. The hot food was still OK, but the sushi was the bomb! Not since the old Sumida's Restaurant in the 80's have I tasted sushi like this!
(5)
Emi K.

The best Japanese restaurant that I've been in Oregon. I took my father, who is very picky about fish (we are a Japanese family), LOVED this place. He currently lives in Toronto, but wishes that there was a restaurant just like Syun in Toronto. The food at Syun is very authentic. The sushi there is fresh and delicious, but I'd also recommend ordering other great dishes on the menu. My husband loved the chicken wing gyoza, and I loved the roasted egg plant. Everything here is authentic, including the atmosphere, the language..etc that the 2 times I've been there, it always makes me miss Japan. If you are trying to get some real Japanese food, you should check it out. But better get a reservation, because it seems to be packed even on weekdays.
(5)
Jay C.

Syun is the best Japanese restaurant I've been to. The menu is extensive and authentic. The wait is often VERY long, but I've never felt hurried out of the restaurant by anyone. I love coming here and trying something new... usually it pays off, sometimes not so much, but that's just because of my american tastebuds, not the quality of the food. Oh, and the small outdoor seating area in the summertime is divine.
(5)
Vinay P.

Syun has the best Sushi I have had in the Beaverton / Hillsboro area. If it wasn't for the reviews on Yelp that I read before I visited this restaurant I probably would have just passed it by. From outside, the restaurant doesn't really look very inviting, and actually looks quite nondescript. The experience is quite the opposite once you're inside though. I was pleasantly surprised to hear one of the waiters converse with a patron in Japanese. The reason I was surprised is because the waiter was white! The hostess was friendly and gave us adequate attention. The food (we had Tuna Sashimi, Unnagi, and Teriyaki grilled chicken) was awesome. Yeah, we'll be back!
(4)
Jesse H.

I have traveled in search of great sushi all over the world and in my opinion Sushi does not get much better than this. I grew up around Hillsboro and it is amazing to have this little gem in my backyard.
(5)
T B.

This is the best homestyle Japanese food I've found in the metro area. Their sushi is great, but what sets them apart is that they offer bar type Japanese food you don't normally see in the States like okonomiyaki. Their teriyaki salmon is great and I highly recommend their black tea pudding (kocha purin). Make sure to make reservations as they fill up fast. Plan to order a bit of sushi and try some of the other small plates to share!
(5)
Heidi S.

I moved to Hillsboro a year ago and this is by far my favorite place to eat. It's clean, reasonably priced and SO delicious.
(5)
Anna Marie C.

so authentic. so japanese. so it's a little out of the way place in hillsboro--great for those jones farm intel employees. the staff is excellent, the decor of the place is home-y. and as for the food? so tasty. i got the lunch special katsu kare (katsu with curry) and it was excellent. they've got an extensive sushi and sashimi menu. long sake menu. sometimes they've even got chawanmushi. you can't beat that! it's like a little piece of japan in hillsboro.
(5)
natalie c.

I feel a little biased writing this review because my backyard is practically connected to Syun and during the summer I can open my window and get an instant craving for tempura.. ..but they have never led me astray. The sushi is good, but I would recommend sharing a few small plates with the table. The waitresses are super friendly and are eager to give suggestions if you're not sure what to order. The tofu steak is my current favorite, but I'm sure my taste buds will be turned on to something new and delicious during my next visit.
(4)
Sangorama s.

Date: June 2007 (we go almost monthly) Who: 5 adults Bill: ~$225 Pretty darn good izakaya in the middle of nowhere (no offense to those who live in Hillsboro). Extensive sake menu with a legend on how to decide which one to order. I prefer beer when I graze Japanese style and they have a couple of different beers on draught. They have Kirin so I'm happy. They also have frosted mugs (that alone in a Japanese restaurant was worth 1/2 of a star right there). Syun really is meant to be enjoyed with a group. You want to order lots of dishes to get a taste everything (well, not everything, the menu is pretty darn big). The base menu is nice but definitely take a look and consider the specials. Get the uni when it's on special - you can pass if it's not. We go there about once a month with a group of 5 and the bill is consistently about $200. We eat a lot and have about 3 pitchers of beer. First round is about 4 or 5 specials, second round is typically 4 to 5 orders of sushi rolls + some nigiri, third round is 3 or 4 menu items and then we end with 3 desserts. It's not cheap but we are usually pretty darn happy.
(5)
Courtney M.

I LOVE SYUN :] Nothing could be more surprising than to drive across the agricultural fields of a BORING Portland suburb and find yourself in a spot that seems right out of the Ginza in Tokyo! The sake menu is very extensive. If you're still having difficulties deciding ask any of the staff, as they're incredibly friendly and helpful :] The sushi is heaven. Period. Melt in your mouth. Squeal in delight. Heaven. [can I add a 6th star, please?] We ordered a lot of different dishes, some traditional, and some not-so-traditional. All were amaaazing. Damn, if I could remember the name of the chicken and kimchi dish we ordered ... The group of people I was with really heightened the experience. There is nothing like eating and drinking with a group of good people. Syun does it perfectly. I don't want to know how much our bill came to at the end of the night; but ordering $125 bottles of a reserve label sake will make it creep up, eh?
(5)
gladys g.

kinda traditional japanese restaurant. Food are very fresh and tasty. The service is good.
(4)
Bob M.

Wow! One of the best Japanese restaurants I have ever eaten at, plus it is in the basement of a cool old renovated library. We got their 5 minutes before they closed between lunch and dinner, yet we got great service, and amazing food. Free salad and miso for just sitting down. The seafood Yaki soba was delicious-- generous portions of scallops and shrimp. I had three rolls-- rainbow, crab, and shrimp tempura, all of which did not disappoint-- their pickled ginger is not pink (which i usually dont like) but rather the color of ginger and is very spicy and good. Their suggested plum wine was great, as was the Nigori sake I got. I cant wait to go back, just sucks its all the way in Hillsboro
(5)
Miwako T.

OK so maybe I'm missing a lot because I don't drink and this is izakaya? We were there for a weekend lunch. Well, the place was nice.. as nice as other Japanese places I go to (Sambi, Toshi).. but otherwise it was just, well, ordinary. I think they got a huge selection of food (pages after pages of menu), though, and that's always good.
(4)
ToriDawn S.

I was 'thisclose' to giving 4 stars based on two things: 1. Hillsboro is not nearly close enough to my place to allow the kind of frequent patronage to Syun I so desperately desire 2. They were out of Toro! I had it on my first visit and it was part of my pressing need to return. I'll admit I took the delcious tuna for granted, just assumed it would always be there for me. I walked in with a wet lap (from drooling with anticipation during the long drive there) and was slapped in the face with the sad, bitter truth. The fresh, fatty, quality fish is sometimes not available...so call ahead if you want to try it. Alas, I wouldn't want to lead yelpers astray with a 4 star rating. Syun is hands down a 5 star establishment, and anyone who enjoys Japanese, sushi, and sake, must make it here at some point. The food is authentic and carefully presented...there wasn't a dish I didn't enjoy. And of course, the sake can not go unmentioned. Hearing of their selection and flights was what first prompted me to go. Our waitress was very knowledgable in the different bodies and flavors, we tried all three flights and then a bottle of our favorite. I learned alot about the styles of sake that I prefer, that alone is worth the drive.
(5)
Shawna N.

Syun Izakaya is lovely in it makes me forget I'm stuck in Hillsboro. I love walking down the stairs into a simply decorated restaurant with different woods and sake bottles lining the walls. That is what I like about the restaurant. It gets cramped in the restaurant quickly. When my in-laws are on this side town, we go to Syun. They do have a couple of vegetarian options, but only a couple, and edamame doesn't count as a vegetarian meal with their prices. They will leave out soy sauce for the wheat intolerant, but I wouldn't consider this place vegetarian or wheat intolerant friendly. I can't say anything for their seafood and other meats but my Asian husband and his family love it. This place is a must for his parents. When his dad orders sake; we are all happy. If it were not for the sake, atmosphere, and my father-in-law's insistance in buying dinner; this vegetarian would go elsewhere.
(3)
Andrea S.

YUM! The first time I went, we chose a few things that weren't my favorite, but everything was still good. I went back and ordered things I knew I would like and was extremely happy with my choices. I can't wait to go again!
(5)
g y.

Sooooo many choices....went with 5 people and made everyone take order a different dish....a total 20 different dishes/nigiri/rolls...from buta to yellowtail cheeks..raw to seared to deep fried, from shrimp and crab to fish and squid, to pork belly and simple seared beef. Forgot, even cold somen and frozen tempura bananas! all good...starting off, know that this is a japanese restaurant, not vegan, not vegetarian and all healthy and you can enjoy your meal. why complain if you knew the info entering the door? the staff was very friendly and attentive even on a busy Saturday! so, good service, good food, interesting location...not a drinker so can't comment on the huge sake selection but overall a definite top list place.
(4)
R T.

We've been sampling various japanese foods in the area and finally have found a place worth the price. Excellent quality, pleasurable service and unusual offerings made our meal outstanding.
(5)
Jin C.

Food was good, and the wait staff was great. One star docked because there were no high-chair or booster seat for my son.
(4)
foodfoodfood f.

Finally, some truly good sushi in the Portland area. Scallop sushi was sweet and pristine, and there was a good variety of sushi in the dinner plate. Miso soup can be ordered with asari clam or nameko mushrooms, there is a ton of interesting stuff on the menu, even okonomiyaki. There is both something for the purist and something for the "crazy Philadelphia Alaska dragon scorpion fireworks seahorse roll" lover Just wish Syun weren't so far from downtown Portland.
(4)
Andrea F.

this place is amazing, i have been to japan and this restuarant is just as amazing.
(5)
Carson Y.

After reading all these good reviews, I decided to give it a try and I wasn't disappointed. It took me almost 2hr to get there from Eugene, and I was kinda surprised that I could find a real Japanese restaurant there. They serve lots authentic Japanese dishes, and premium Daiginjo sake like Kubota. Took them less than 10min to bring all of foods we ordered to our table. Wait staff was very nice too. I gave it 4 stars b/c I thought they put too much vinegar in sushi rice, and rice was a little too hot for nigiri.
(4)
Ed D.

Best in town (meaning metro area). Huge menu, everything is great here!
(4)
Deren T.

This is the best japanese restaurant in the greater portland area... period. The sushi, and sashimi are some of the best in Portland, and yet are completely overshadowed by an extensive menu of small cooked plates. We've been there at least a half dozen, times to taste our way through the menu, and it's all pretty spectacular. However the gyu tattaki, agedashi tofu, and the korroke absolutely should not be missed. After driving into portland to eat all the time, it's nice to have a reason for my portland foodie friends to drive out to hillsboro :)
(5)
customer s.

With all of the sushi places I've been to, this is still one of my favorites. I felt I had to write a review today since it's been over two years since I've been here. I try sushi everywhere I go (all over CA since I grew up there, lived in OR for 12 years so tried everything here, WA, MT, TX, AZ, NV, ID, UT, CO, TN, MS, the list goes on). I've probably been to more than a thousand sushi restaurants. Anyway, nothing tops the fresh fish you get here (well, just in the states). If you like to just enjoy your fish and not a bunch of sauces, this is the place for you. Perfect in everyway. Miss you guys!
(5)
A T.

Stopped here for dinner on our way out to the coast. Huge selection of food on the menu as well as some daily specials. Tip - even if you haven't figured out your full order, order the couple things you've decided on when the waitress first comes by because otherwise your stuff will come all at once. We had: - steamed egg custard with shitake mushrooms - one word: YUM - amberjack sashimi - also YUM. very fresh - salmon nigiri - not so yum or fresh, and it was an oddly bright orange (i had asked if amberjack or salmon was fresher and the waitress said both the same - i had hoped she would tell me the truth...) -chicken wings stuffed with dumpling fillng - interesting combo - how can it not be yummy with chicken wing skin? =P - okin - sake zuishi - bit on bland side, ate with okin The bathroom smelled funny but was clean-looking, except the floor which was sticky. If I lived in Portland, I might have the urge to come out here once in a while, but I think it'd really be once in a great while...
(4)
Diana H.

Took my husband here for his birthday. Best sushi in Oregon period!!! Tuck away in downtown Hillsboro. The volcano sushi and sashimi is amazing! Will definitely come back and try other items on their on menu.
(5)
Adam G.

The best kept sushi secret in Portland is not actually in Portland. In downtown Hillsboro, what used to be the old Hillsboro Library, lies Syun. It was twice voted Portland's top sushi restaurant, once in '03 and just recently in '06. And the best part is, you can make it back in time for your 1pm. Syun takes full advantage of the quaint nooks the former library offers. Traditional Japanese lanterns, hand crafted wood tables, add charming character. The rows of large Sake bottles seem like a strange deviation from the traditional dcor, but that's because you can order a bottle of sake from their menu and if you don't finish it, they will hold on to it for you for 90 days. So no pressure to guzzle down a great bottle of sake in one sitting. (Although I am often guilty as charged) The sushi chef's are friendly and open to requests. They also prepare a chef's special and have over 70 appetizers on a daily basis which gives great opportunity to try something you've never had, even if you are an experienced sushi eater. I also think that Syun's tempura udon is the best of any restaurant in Portland. They usually add some fresh clams, or mussels as well which is a nice twist.
(4)
Michael J. Smith S.

My partner and I celebrated the two year anniversary of our engagement by dining at this excellent establishment. I first was introduced to Syun by a good friend in 2005, now my partner and I try to make it out to this little slice of heaven on the corner of 2nd and Lincoln in Hillsboro, OR at least twice a year. Excellent all around, it is truly my favorite restaurant in Oregon.....Period!!!!! Situated in an old public library building, nicely decorated, simple if not understated, the hostesses are very kind, patient, and knowledgeable and the food is always excellent. Now to the details about this wonderful meal..... We typically order an appetizer, sushi/sahimi, salad, an entree and always ask for miso soup to begin the meal. Syun miso soup is flavorful with strips of mushroom and a tasty but not overly salty broth served with crispy, fresh, and flavorable edamame. We next enjoyed a deep fried tofu appetizer called "agedashidofu" which are lightly breaded cubes of tofu deep fried and served in a flavorable broth of mostly soy sauce. I ordered a seared tuna sashimi (superb tuna sashimi!) salad with an incredible spicy dressing and my partner ordered a rice dish that was like fried rice but far more flavorable. In addition we ordered a naturally colored & fresh salmon sashimi that was served with shredded radish, extra fresh ginger & wasabi. One very small complaint, it would be great if they served lowered sodium soy sauce, but no-harm, no-foul here. All of the food was cooked to perfection and prepared with utmost care...you can tell with every bite. Now for the awesome dessert!!!!! Tempura green tea ice cream! My gosh....this is uniformly excllent, two scoops of ice cream covered in tempura served with a touch of powdered sugar. 10+ out of a possible 10...nuff said! We also enjoyed kiwi, orange, pinapple, and banana served with plum wine.....my word...we were in heaven! With a generous and well deserved tip, we got away for under $63! Can't say enough good things about this place, our server was excellent & everyone from this server to the owner bid us farewell on our exit! We simply can not wait until the next time we dine here!!! BTW, after living in Los Angeles for 25 years and traveling to virtually every major U.S. city, I consider this THE BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT especially for the money (sure, you can have equivalent quality in L.A.'s Little Tokyo...but you will easily double your bill!).
(5)
Ray C.

Taking down 1 star due to undercooked sushi rice during my last visit. :( Fish was still excellent though..
(3)
Jeff T.

I can't say much more about how great this place is. Just a really unique place in downtown Hillsboro. It's not just sushi, but amazing Japanese food. Break out from the regular and check Syun out. Friendly staff and a great meal.
(5)
J B.

You folks have got to get out more! When I first moved here, I was told that this was the best sushi place around. Ummmm....if this is the best, you're in deep yogurt, Portland. The service wasn't great, the decor reminds me of a made-over bomb shelter, and the sushi was awful. I've been to other sushi restaurants since this one, and have yet to find anything decent. I'm not a sushi snob, but I know when I'm eating bad sushi and this place is just that - bad. Oh....and it's all the way out in Hillsboro.
(1)

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Address : 209 NE Lincoln St
Hillsboro, OR, 97124
Phone (503) 640-3131
Website https://www.syun-izakaya.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Syun Izakaya

209 NE Lincoln St, Hillsboro, OR, 97124

Syun Izakaya Menu

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