Ive been here many times throughout the last few years and it was a two 1/2 to three star place at best. The miso soup is one of the best I've tried. Still, it was usually mildly annoying with the table arrangement and at times, bored seeming servers. Last night I went and it seemed a different spot entirely. The salmon sushi was perfect and outstanding quality but the best part was really the server. Friendly, infectious mood - someone who clearly enjoys her job and took the time to explain anything I had questions about. This kind of service has just been absent of late in some of the more supposed high end places in Portland. And I am fed up with it. My experience here last night was a reminder of how much I personally dislike a snobby attitude from waitpersons. I don't care how good your good and drink may be, if you're a wanker you won't get another chance with me as a customer- back to Koji, extra star for improved quality of food and a thank you to the super lady who has so much passion and self awareness in making dinner a great time. I am grateful.
(4)
Chuck N.
Going downhill fast. We have eaten at Koji for years, but tonight we were served old, dried out fish that was terrible. I returned my anago nigiri (the first time I have ever returned food there) only to receive equally bad unagi nigiri. Chicken on the donburi was dry and old tasting. They must have changed to frozen fish or something, but it was a horrible meal for us all. They just gave up caring.
(1)
Chad B.
I was in town for a single evening and wanted to indulge my love of sushi. This was close to my hotel and was recommended positively by the staff. I was pleasantly surprised to find a quaint atmosphere with no wait on a Tuesday night. Sitting at the bar I tried the Angry Dragon roll (awesome!) and the spider roll (boring and not something I would have again here). I also had an order each of the maguro, tobiko, and unagi. The unagi was my favorite of those three. To close it out, I had the vanilla tempura ice cream. The staff was attentive but not overbearing and very accommodating. I'd be back on my next trip!
(4)
Ryan Y.
It's okay. They have a wide variety of sushi and other Japanese dishes. But I immediately lose all interest for sushi that has cream cheese in it. I'm sorry, but I really don't think it belongs. It removed any ounce of freshness and clarity that the sushi originally had, and I think of it as a cheap filler. For authentic sushi, I would go to Daruma. The experience is more personalized and I leave the place feeling refreshed and astounded. Unfortunately, Koji doesn't do the same thing for me.
(3)
UJ W.
There are tons of sushi places in this neighborhood and I've tried a few of them, but I keep coming back to Koji because I like theirs the best. This is not a fancy restaurant; pretty basic little place on the corner, but the food is great; service is very friendly - all of which has been very consistent over my multiple visits. Even though the restaurant itself may be "basic", the sushi chef's pride in their work still shows in the pieces of artwork that always appear on my plate.
(5)
Bob R.
This is a wonderful, inexpensive sushi restaurant. I like to go for the Happy Hour Menu which is offered from 3-6 daily. There are many items offered that are fantastic. I like the Sushi Sampler B which has tuna, salmon and I think it's yellowtail for $4. The tempura roll is excellent for $5. They have gyoza (pot stickers) for $4-5? terrific!!! The staff is friendly and usually attentive except when they are really busy, the food is terrific for the price and overall I have had a great experience there. Bottom line, you can get better sushi elsewhere but you're going to pay a lot more for it.
(5)
Robert H.
Koji's okonomiyaki starts with a melt in your mouth almost souffle-like egg base with crunchy grated red prepared ginger. On that is a mild mayonnaise and an oyster sauce that is a little sweeter. The unique aspect of Koji's take on the dish is the topping of nori and fish flakes. The heat puts the fish flakes in motion. You have to see it to believe it! It's haunted! Koji serves solid J-food at moderate prices in an authentic Japanese way. I also love their chirashi sushi. Yum!
(4)
Mario M.
I thoroughly enjoyed their niku beef, truly a tasty dish, it is however a little more expensive then the average sushi place
(4)
Brian R.
I enjoyed the sushi here. It's a tight space to walk through, but small and manageable. Looked clean, food was tasty. The Donburi (ribeye and onion rice bowl) I had reminds me of some good southern cooking, with an Asian twist, (if your bringing someone not too sure about sushi, that's a good filling recommendation). To think, I biked past this place so many times, (it's on Weidler, a main bike path). Would for sure go back.
(4)
Matthew H.
Nothing is fresh all frozen. Chicken is par cooked ending up dry, the Japanese noodles are actually spaghetti noodles with maple syrup on them to sweeten. Insider knowledge this place is a cut corners joke of a true Japanese restaurant.
(1)
High S.
I prefer this Koji to the other locations. The asparagus roll is to die for. The staff is always accommodating. It's centrally located. No complaints.
(4)
Frank S.
Can never go wrong with the sushi at Koji's! Favorite location, though parking could be hard to find. Very friendly service too.
(5)
Monica A.
Great business hours, affordable prices, and great menu! This is my favorite go to Japanese restaurant. I love the udon and love the tori karaage. This is comfort food for me. What's better than crunchy, well seasoned pieces of chicken and a hot bowl of noodle soup?! When I'm in my lighter food mood, I really love their spicy tuna roll and hat roll. I love tuna so the chunky pieces of tuna hits the spot. I also like how they use onions and spicy oils instead of siracha and a mayo base for the spicy part. Mayo in sushi is not a good combo to me. The hat roll is habachi, maguro, and tuna. Good size rolls for the price. I've never been disappointed the many times I've been here. Another reason I give them 5 stars is because this is one of the few sushi places that is open on a Sunday that doesn't cost an arm and a leg! Love it!
(5)
Dawn R.
Koji's is one of our favorite regular Japanese food joints. Speaking as a former Japan resident, their menu is the real thing and it's nice to be able to order the normal chicken karaage but also get to have some ika sugata yaki or shishamo. Their sushi is good, too, and laced with some interesting and unique roll choices. Yummy!
(5)
Tana J.
I like the food here but the staff is mediocre and charging plus incredibly the prices of food is not great for business. First this is a small spot so eating there can be difficult and also very noisy at times. So who the heck cares of we wanna get it to go we are still guy in from you so the charge is not only not great for clients like me who regular this spot weekly but it's just plain ridiculous. The food portions have gone way down also :(. Pretty ludacris!
(1)
Chae Hee L.
What happened to that old skinny tanned skin Japanese chef that used to work there? I don't see him anymore. He was the best chef there. Other than him being gone, this place is not bad. I agree they cut corners to serve the masses. The donburis can be better. Their katsu don was missing something. I tried a katsu don at Yuzu, and it was how it would taste if you had one in Japan. If you want real authentic food, go to Yuzu in Beaverton, or Toshi's in Hillsboro.
(3)
Dan H.
Went to Koji with friends for a birthday dinner Friday night. I do not like sushi so I orders the steak. It was not good! Tasted like a piece of leather as it was very tough! Add to the fact it was $21 and I will never go back
(1)
Lynn E.
I'm a fan. I've been eating at various Koji locations over the years. The prices are fair for the quality and quantity of food. The sushi is always fresh and beautifully presented. The staff is friendly and gladly answers questions with a smile. The udon, curry and rice bowls are also well done and tasty. I'll admit that periodically I'd like a little more zip in the flavor profile -- but I think that's my jalapeño tainted palate at work. For the best service befriend your wait-staff or the sushi counter guru chat them up for suggestions and details on the dishes. Don't forget to order green tea!
(4)
Elisabeth B.
Note: I am a non-seafood consumer, so only ordered the chicken teriyaki and salad. The chicken teriyaki was not the classic kind you get at a decent teriyaki/japanese restaurant. The chicken was very very lightly marinated in teriyaki sauce, and there was no additional teriyaki sauce with which to pour over the chicken and rice. Also, there was dried seaweed and egg in the teriyaki bowl....not my style...as an individual who doesn't eat seafood. Will try a different japanese restaurant in search for some good and nearby teriyaki.
(1)
Whitney H.
I really enjoyed my lunch here. I've been trying different bento lunches in the area, and for what I like, this is the only place I would come back to. Lunch specials are until 3pm. I got the combination bento for $10.50 which gave a choice of two things. I picked tempura and teriyaki salmon. The miso soup came out first, it had a really great flavor, but they don't give you a spoon, so just pick up the bowl :) The bento comes with rice and a green salad with carrot and cucumber and some cabbage. I liked the dressing, there wasn't really enough in my opinion. The tempura had two shrimps, broccoli, sweet potato, zucchini, onion, and what I think was white sweet potato. It was perfect, and so was the dipping sauce. The salmon teriyaki was served over a bit of noodles and had some cold veggies on the side. The sauce was good but the salmon was a little dry. The skin had a nice flavor.
(4)
Ben B.
Used to come here all the time for sushi. Went a few weeks ago after a few years away and was extremely underwhelmed by my order. BBQ eel on top of the Osaka Maki roll was pale and cold, tempura shrimp roll seemed like it had been sitting out for a while.. Bottom line, not at all worth what they're charging. Too bad...
(2)
Tony T.
Ramen was quite Salty. I had an egg and chicken donburi which was decent, nothing memorable. I also got a Unagi / Avocado roll which was ok. The only thing I thought was better than average was the tempura and maybe it was because it was the first thing I got to put in my mouth after the long wait for food. Needless to say, the service was a bit slow. I would have given them the benefit of the doubt if it was really slammed busy but the restaurant was maybe 1/3 full. When we finally got our appetizers (tempura and roll), we had about 2 minutes to eat them before our Ramen and Donburi were ready. I may go back but mostly to try some more sushi. I would definitely give Happy Hour a shot though.
(2)
Ken B.
This is one of my favorite eateries in Portland. I love their okonomiyaki, but recently I've discovered their excellent Ninja Roll that has to be tried at least once; guarantee you will come back ordering this dish again. I know I did. :)
(5)
Janet M.
When I worked over in this part of the universe, I ate here for lunch quite a bit. So I ducked in recently thinking, MISO. ( It's something that my brain does relatively often). My husband doesn't really enjoy sushi ( really, this should have been a deal breaker early on) so lunch is an excellent opportunity for me to inhale the stuff without him. I love the miso here, it's yummy. I like the sunomono too, although I prefer straight cucumber without any fishy add ons.They added shrimp, the little ones, not my bag. Sushi? well, the rolls are good, the unagi was spot on, and the salmon and tuna nigiri were just fine. Not HUGE pieces of fish, but not tiny, and not big hunks of rice. The cold soba noodles and curry dishes, the noodle soups, are all good. That said, it's not cheap. But it's a nice little Japanese spot and I like the servers. When I was in here last week they were just kind and nice on a blustery day.
(3)
Veronica V.
I had an excellent meal, with wonderful service. I recommend sitting at the bar and trying the specials.
(5)
Jake P.
Koji is apparently one of those rare places in Portland that actually does business between the hours of 3pm and 5pm -- which just happened to be when the GF and I decided to go looking for sushi. Seriously, every single place I looked up on this side of Burnside was closed for at least a few hours during this time... and there were at least 5 I looked at before settling on a slightly longer drive over to Koji. I'm not saying this little fact makes or breaks the place, but seriously, having so many places closed at the same time is a phenomenon I never experienced back east or down in SF. I really didn't think the prices were out-of-this world, and certainly not for what you get. To give a comparison, I've paid WAY more for sushi in cities like Boston and Washington, DC -- and only slightly less for sushi in Providence, RI. We started off with a very pleasant and hearty miso soup that had some serious flavor. Then I moved on to a house special roll (Angry Dragon -- Unagi with a spicy sauce over a roll of ebi tempura), while my GF chose to go with a small plate of nigiri. Her fish was extremely fresh and significant in portion size, and my roll was very artful, flavorful, and also large enough to make up a full (if not quite gut-busting) meal. The hot green tea was also made stronger than most places (something I like), and came with free refills. If this is what keeps the gigantic crowds away -- higher-than-conveyor-belt prices, good service, nice jazz music on the radio, and great food -- then I hope Koji keeps it up. Completely will be worth going back to try some of their hot entrees under the excuse of updating this review!
(4)
JW R.
These dinner combos are a ton of food. They better be for $20 and sho nuff, they are. I got the fried pork stuff and the teriyaki chicken. Everything was really good. Um, yeah. Hit it up.
(4)
Greg B.
I stumbled on this place while looking for a quick bite to eat. I was amazed by the quality of the katsu. Usually the chicken in the breaded cutlet does not have width and quality. This place does have it. The cooks do layer the dish with some type of egg mixture that enhances the taste as it sits on a bed of rice. The miso soup is especially light and not that salty. It strikes the tongue as something warm and tasty. This is all at a cheap price. I did order take out. It was quite fast and I would recommend coming here.
(4)
Ame P.
The Kojis resturants are honestly my favorite and number one go to for authentic Japanese food. I'm not really a huge fan of sushi, I'm more into everything else, but what I have tried is delicious. I love getting the udon noodles and the tempura anything makes me drool. The service is always great and really friendly. They get the food to you quick. It's never been too busy when I've gone. I love Kojis and remain an avid patron.
(5)
Mikhail H.
Good sushi you can get anywhere. This is where you go to get amazing Japanese food. Their chicken katsu is outstanding, They use a perfect mix of red and white miso which is fantastic and I cannot stress how wonderful their sesame salad dressing is. I have eaten at this location several times and have had consistently good service and food quality. The restaurant is usually pretty busy too!
We only went here because Sushi-Land down the road was packed on a Saturday. It took us a while to get seated and some people before us left in a huff because we were just standing at the very small entrance with no room to move and no one acknowledging us. Once we did get seated, I found the chairs to be uncomfortable and the meal to be less than memorable. It was also on the pricier side. I got the sushi assortment plate. Way too much wasabi used on it. Not my cup of tea and I won't return, but I guess it's nice to try new things once in a while.
(2)
Wolf L.
It was pouring rain when I picked up my kid from work. We were hungry on a Monday afternoon and decided to get some conveyor belt sushi before heading home. We walked over to the cheapo sushi joint and damn if every hipster in Irvington didn't have the same idea we did. The place was packed to the rafters and all I see are pairs of skinny-jeaned legs and thick-framed spectacles lined up waiting for a spot at the sushi bar. Grrrr. I noticed Koji down the block and decided to see if we could get a table there instead. Yup, the place was practically empty. When I perused the menu, I immediately noticed that the prices are certainly not in the conveyor belt range. That explained why all those broke-ass hipsters were jamming the bargain restaurant down the street instead of this place. Hey, I'm a man of means (right after payday) so I figured I'd pay the premium for not having to wait for a table. I just hoped the food was worth the scratch I was about to plunk down. We only ordered sushi. I got the Mothra roll, spicy tuna, and a yellowtail/onion roll. The girl got several vegetarian rolls. The sushi looked marvelous upon presentation. Generous pieces of fish in my rolls, too. Certainly not conveyor belt quality. The fish tasted fresh and I was pleased with every bite. The couple at the table next to us ordered curry bowls. They looked and smelled wonderful (the bowls, not the couple). I have to bring my wife and the boy back to Koji for the curry. They love that stuff. Good service. Good sushi. Just a tad pricey. No wait. Best of all, no hipsters.
(4)
Jon L.
Had a late dinner here. It was almost 9 pm on Sunday evening, so I was fortunate that Koji was still open. It was either Koji, Applebee's or Sushiland. Given these options, of course I came here. It is part of a chain, which until recently had a Seattle location. I did not go to the Seattle branch before it shuttered, so it made sense to try Koji to see if it was even worth trying. Seating consists of a sushi bar and several regular dining tables. The menu at Koji consists of a mix of sushi, sashimi and standard Japanese classics/comfort foods. This is however a step up from the teriyaki joints that are ubiquitous in the Seattle area. The sushi and sashimi sets were interesting, but I really wanted the okonomiyaki ($6.95) so I ended up getting a teriyaki salmon donburi ($8.50) to pair. I always wonder whether quality gets worse as dinner service ends, so I was a little skeptical about what to expect. I got the okonomiyaki first. This dish is essentially a pancake with a mix of ingredients. I thought it was fairly good. It kind of tastes like eating Chinese dumpling filling to me. I did not like the sweet teriyaki sauce that was doused on top and the shreds of seaweed was kind of distracting. Still the filling was overall good which is where the strength of the dish is. As for the salmon donburi, the salmon was really good. The teriyaki glaze really helps to make the fish takes better than it should be. The tender flavor of the salmon is nice. I have a hard time grilling salmon as well as this. As for the rest of the dish, it was a little of a disappointment. The rice is sushi rice so it kind of got a bit heavy. The small bits of egg that were thrown in were fine, but they kind of exacerbate the nastiness of the rice. The green onions on top were nice, but I think this dish could have used some ginger. Prices here are pretty good and the hours are as well. Based on the situation, Koji was just about the best I could expect for a nice place to eat on a late Sunday evening. Not great, but reasonably good. There were a just few touches that distracted from the greatness in each dish.
(3)
Vinh N.
Decided to check into this place breaking my usual rule about not eating sushi on a Sunday and Monday when the fish may not be so fresh. Noted that the prices were higher than the ones listed on their website by 2 or 3 dollars for the dinner entrees. Guess they haven't updated the site. Still it was relatively cheap in line with hole-in-the-wall sushi houses. Had the Jo Chirashi Donburi. Chirashis are usually the ultimate test of the chef's skill and artistry. This one passed with flying colours although he put in some octopus when I asked for a shellfish-free bowl due to allergies. I've known several other chefs who make the same mistake so I just removed it from the bowl and took my chances. The fish was fresher than expected for a Sunday and the rice was excellent. Slightly sweet without being mushy or crumbly. Good miso soup. Confused that they didn't give me a spoon so I just sipped it from the small bowl, figuring it was a regional thing. 2 hour later, still alive.
(4)
Jens J.
I was thrilled to see that they had Kakifurai (breaded oysters) on the menu because, a couple weeks earlier at the Koji on Broadway downtown, I had had them and they were fabulous. So I ordered them today. The oysters (which were much larger than the ones I had two weeks prior) were horribly fishy. I could taste them hours later, even after I tried to blunt that obnoxious aftertaste with a pint of milk and a Reese's Fast Break candy bar. I also had the Hirame salad containing cucumber, octopus in a light tangy sauce. The salad was delicious. The octopus was fresh and perfect. It's the only seafood I will eat raw. JP had the assortment sushi platter that he enjoyed. We also ordered hot tea. Two thoughts. First thought: though the tea had color, it didn't have any flavor. It was like sipping hot water. Second thought: there may be something to do with authenticity in serving hot tea in a cup without a handle, it still burns the fingers. Despite the disastrous oysters, I will go with three stars because I suspect it was just a bad batch, and I have had excellent oysters at Koji before. I really liked the friendly service from our waitress and the quick time it took to get our orders.
(3)
Anuj K.
I have to admit, I was wary at first. I went in after getting a haircut next door at Phagan's because I had spilled my lunch all over the floor at work, and was starving. The lunch specials ended up being not super expensive and I ordered the mini-don with the soba noodles. For $8 I was pleasantly surprised. The quality of the fish was good, not too cold and it was the kind that melts in your mouth. My only complaint was the rice. It was too sweet and too cold for me. I like my rice slightly warm to pair well with the fish. Good experience overall, and I would come here again.
(4)
Nik R.
Gluten Free Options: GF Tamari Happy Hour: 3-5 & 9-Close Monday-Thursday Well, hm. When I'd just started out eating sushi and I thought the dollar sushi-go-rounds were all that, Koji was some high falutin' food. As my exposure to sushi - both good and bad - has increased, so have my standards been raised. Ah, for the halcyon days of ignorance! Alas, I have returned to Koji to find that it just wasn't as good as I'd remembered. Where hast thou gone, oh Tasty Sushi of My Dreams? You now live with Santa Claus and Elvis, traveling out to new star systems, and your replacement is just not the same. I long for your crisp taste and pleasant saltiness - instead I am left with mediocrity and mush. Meh. The service was good, though it felt like it took a bit longer than I am used to for our order to arrive. Presentation was good. My greatest disappointment was in the taste. We had ordered hot sake, and the taste was strange - leaving a flat aftertaste in my mouth that was rather unpleasant. The sushi itself was so pedestrian in taste and texture as to be unremarkable. Overall, I'd give Koji 2.5 stars, and rounded up to three for good memories.
(3)
Karl W.
I was really not impressed by this place. I felt like the sushi was just OK and everything was over priced for the quality. The staff is friendly enough I guess but that doesn't really make up for the overwhelmingly unimpressive selection and taste. Sushi land across the street is a quarter of the price and taste considerably better for cheap sushi. We tried something new in the Portland sushi scene and we were let down. I won't be going back and I won't be recommending this place to anyone.
(2)
Elizabeth R.
Koji's sushi is consistently good. I live in the neighborhood and have been here over 20 times. It is a reliable place to go. I usually get miso soup, seaweed salad and an assortment of sushi. My kids get noodle soup.
(4)
Jacky A.
KOJI!!! I love Koji osakaya...Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour, You Call it, You Eat it. I used to eat alot when they still had a branch located in seattle, but it closed down half year ago. My favorite rice bowl in this restaurant is Miso Donburi, It serve with Miso sauce + 5 pork cutlet over rice. I really love how salty it is and the little pieces of dry seaweed on top. Other than that, their rolls are awesome, I remembered one time when I was having lunch in their seattle branch, I ordered 5 rolls just for myself... Although the bills seems quite high for a individual customers, but I certainly think that it worth it. The service wasn't excellent but the quality of food, I can say is wonderful. Price isn't that expensive, as you can see from other reviews, but whenever I come to portland, I will always visit Koji Osakaya.
(4)
Tess B.
Went in for lunch today (Sunday) and thoroughly enjoyed it!!! My partner is a vegan and I am Mostly....we decided to let our guards down and had killer sushi here. We had salmon and unagi and both were delish. Super fresh!!!!!!!!!! Came with empty bellies and we were very satiated and happy when we left!!!!!!!!! Didn't catch our server's name but she was very on top of it..both when we got there and it was slow through our meal when the place started to fill.
(5)
Harrison M.
Best Japanese in Portland Koji Osakaya is one of the best Japanese chain restaurants I've been in the US. The quality and the availabilities of varieties are exceptional. I never thought I would have a traditional dish like yamekake soba (ground mountain yam cold buckwheat noodles) in the USA. Even living in Richmond, BC, Canada (a VERY asian city) I cannot find a restaurant which serve this dish. I came here after a high appraisal from my friend (I think he also wrote a review LOL). At first, I thought it was just mediocre Japanese food as it is in a Caucasian neighbourhood. The result was different and I was impressed. Service and pricing is VERY acceptable and affordable here. I returned to another branch during another stay in Portland and Koji has became a place where I would link to whenever I return to Portland.
(4)
Naomi W.
Went tonight with my boyfriend. I haven't had sushi since I started the old gluten free thing in January--I hate calling and asking places if they have gluten-free tamari and they never list it on the menu, and I'm certainly not to the stage of bringing my own giant bottle of soy sauce in my purse. I called due to a comment here saying they had gf tamari and because the craving was stronger than my pride (after gardening--okay ripping out some weeds--for the first time in a year) and they were very nice on the phone and assured me it was indeed true. Right off, when I mention the gluten thing the waitress was really great. I started by just ordering sushi (so sad to not be partaking in tempura, miso soup, anything with sauce including agedashi tofu) and then asked as she was leaving if anything with perhaps chicken might possibly be gluten free (I knew I'd start weeping when my boyfriend's gyoza arrived if I didn't have something else planned) and she said they could make me a teriyaki sauce out of gf tamari and sugar over rice--a way simplified version of something my bf was ordering--perhaps the Oyako Donburi? I thought about it and decided that based on the fact that my sole nourishment of the day was gluten free corn chex and an Americano I'd take the dumbed down chicken dish. My Maguro Tuna was super fresh and delicious as was my shrimp, avocado and cucumber roll (not on the menu, just my fave). But, man, what I thought was going to be a boring grilled chicken was actually really delightful. The sauce was just right, not thick and sticky or overpowering and the seaweed over the rice gave a nice complexity. She also brought me a salad--since the miso soup had regular soy sauce-- with bowls of rice vinegar and chili sesame oil (she said chili oil, but it wasn't spicy, so I think it was either chili sesame or just sesame, not sure, either way, that was the winner). This is a really long review, but I really had such a delightful meal and have missed going out for sushi so much. This was high quality sushi, without too much rice that gives you a stomach ache afterward, and the prices were very reasonable. For the two of us, it was $30, plus tip. The sad part was that my boyfriend did not really enjoy his Donburi--he said it tasted fine, but smelled of a barnyard. Not sure what else to say about that as I didn't taste it, but he's happy to go back with me again, although, I'm pretty sure he'd accept sushi from a bearded stranger on a boxcar.
(5)
Tyler A.
Caveat - I did not try the sushi. And quite frankly surprised at the joint's low ratings. We wanted ramen. It's literally at the corner of my new place so I went. We saw a huge menu, real Japanese people working on the floor and behind the line, and there was all the great japanese dishes that I love. We went for ramen, got that checked off. There was also katsu curry, we split it for the table. Didn't need all that food. but all of it was delicious and affordable. I am thrilled I can get a huge bowl of ramen with the pork and all the fixings (including black mushrooms which is a must!) for less than $9. Hollah!
(5)
Sophie M.
I really love this place. Friendly, efficient staff, good atmosphere, and great sushi! These guys are great!
(5)
Whitney S.
Allow me to start with the positive because this place isn't awful, I've just experienced better (as 2 stars indicates). The service was great, and the staff weren't bothered with us sticking around after closing to finish up our drinks. They definitely get a 5 star for service :) Now the not so great: probably the most mediocre sushi I've ever had. I am by no means a sushi snob (heck, I even like the pre-fab rolls from Costco) but the sushi at Koji simply wasn't noteworthy. They have a variety of rolls which is certainly a positive. However, their quality and freshness is lacking. Granted, we were there late in the evening so had we come earlier in the day it very well could have been much more fresh. Also, my boyfriend and I felt jipped as far as the amount of ingredients in the roll--just specks of cream cheese, avocado, and the other ingredients. Now the ends of the rolls had plenty of ingredients but the 4 to 6 pieces in between the ends were severely disappointing. This was our second time going out for sushi in Portland and of the other place we tried (also in the Sullivan's Gulch/Lloyd Center/Broadway area), you'd do better at Yuki. So, if you want to pay for service and enjoy mediocre sushi Koji is your place. Or, if you prioritize taste in your dining out experience, I'd recommend somewhere else.
(2)
Michael J. Smith S.
Solid place! My partner and I dined here two nights ago and for me this is the best of the chain's restaurants. I've visited on two other occasions over the past 3 years and the same gentlemen run the sushi bar.....a very good sign of consistency and quality. We ordered a spicy tuna roll and one specialty roll and both were outstanding. My wife ordered shrimp curry and it was average (I'm a spoiled L.A. "Curry House" fan), but my chicken udon soup was flavorful and full of just the right amount of dark meat to add some fatty goodness! The udon noodles were perfect, very "slurpable" and firm but not too limp. We ordered ka-arage chicken and it was dry and over cooked, but our other appetizer, agedashidofu was absolute perfection! The tofu was perfectly firm while the broth was outstanding. Some of their items are hit and miss, but the hits are real 5 out of 5 level quality, namely the sushi and many of the appetizers such as the agedashidofu. From other visits I can also recommend their noodle dishes or the udon soups! This particular Koji has excellent servers which the other locations tend not to have. Not spectacular, but darn good Japanese food!
(3)
Pough K.
I go here every thursday after judo. they have a great variety of traditional and new age japanese cuisine. I would recommend this place to any of my out of town japanese relatives.
(5)
Rachel I.
I am a hopeless sushi addict. The rolls here are worth the cost. With crappy little Sushiland across the street, Koji is usually pretty quiet. Quiet works for me, though, because that means my sushi comes out handcrafted and beautiful! The nigiri is around $2-6 a pop, but the pieces of fish are quite generous. I am a sucker for the House Special (2 pieces, $4.95). Two huge mouthfuls of rice, avocado, 3 kinds of roe, and topped with a quail egg. Omg so freaking good. I went last night and had the House Special, and three rolls that I shared with my boyfriend. We had the Oregon (8 pieces, $7), which is tuna and salmon with cucumber and spicy sauce.. yummy. I think I like the Tempura Albacore better though. It's hard to beat fried Albacore. We also ordered the spider roll (6 pieces, $6.95). The spider roll is probably one of my all time favorite rolls at any given restaurant.. so long as they use soft shell crab. Once someone served me a spider with Krab and I was like, WHAT IS THIS?! Never went back. But they stuff a whole, perfect baby crab inside. It was hard to share. Lastly we had the angry dragon (8 pieces, $8.95). Eel, cucumber, shrimp tempura, topped with spicy sauce. Eight pieces of heaven. I could have eaten the whole tray by myself.. but that would be embarassing. I only do that when I order takeout.. after saying, "Yes, I'd like two pairs of chopsticks, please."
(5)
Jen E.
I have only eaten at this one once..... as I usually eat at the one downtown. The service was great ad the sushi ........FANTASTIC. I loved all the weird rolls they had listed. The one with lobster in it..... wonderful. I shared it with the 2 others that I was with and they liked it too. The miso is probably one of the ones I love the most. It is the perfect combo of white and red. The service was good.
(4)
Acacia P.
Best spicy tuna EVER. Seriously. I moved away 7 years ago and spent the whole time craving it. The first thing i did when I moved back (literally, I went there the night I arrived) was go to Koji and order spicy tuna donburi. It's made with a soy and chili oil marinade instead of with mayo. SO AMAZING! Also delicious and distinctive: salmon box sushi. Their sushi, in general, is good, but the above two are what makes it stand out as a place I trek across town to eat at over and over.
(5)
KC K.
Good. Nothing mind blowing. Prices are appropriate for the experience.
(3)
Eugene O.
I recently went vegetarian, so coming here was a concern. My brother and I ended up having a good meal, great service and reasonable prices in a very charming atmosphere. What more could a starving guy ask for? I had the vegetarian curry with a side salad. All was delicious, hearty and plentiful. They do curry right, just like KFC does their chicken. I had to ask the waitresses to stop asking me for re-fills (in a nice way, of course). They're that persistent and attentive. FYI - sit at the bar if you're ever here. It's entertaining to watch sushi-men in action.
(5)
Mitch M.
Man, this place has really tanked! Sure, Koji's was never a super star sushi house. But this used to be my go-to spot for a reliably decent meal of gyoza (and the spicy chicken wings they've taken off the menu), nigiri, and a roll. The sushi chef that was there for years is gone, and the quality coming out of the new guy and the kitchen now is a major let down. Gyoza are smaller, with a filling that tastes of paste. Nigiri serving size is significantly reduced - even the little wad of rice under the fish is dramatically smaller (how much money can you save on freakin rice?). I used to go ga-ga (or more like, yum-yum!) for their angry dragon roll. Size, variety of ingredients, quality, and taste have all dramatically deminished. Now it's more like a sad dragon. I'm done with this place.
(1)
B. C.
Koji serves Japanese comfort food. Restaurant space is efficient with dining tables on left and sushi bar on right. Service was decent with busy but friendly staff tending to mostly couples and families. Menu features a variety of Japanese favorites with a seasonal menu hanging above sushi bar. Food presented and proportioned well. Fresh tasting seafood and steaming bowls of ramen makes Koji a winner.
(3)
Habibti D.
As an out of control sushi addict with an "enabler" partner, we go here about every other week. The sushi is very tasty. The miso soup is probably one of the better ones I've ever tasted in restaurants. Since we can't afford my rather expensive sushi habit and there are few alternatives (I've tried snorting wasabi - it's just not the same) :) We discovered Sushi Donburi. Which is in essence a giant bowl of rice with either sashimi or tempura on top. Really delicious and affordable. I always have an order of Uni on the side, but that's a different story. It's delicious though! Koji Osakaya on Weidler has become my favorite Japanese restaurant in the city, and we've tried quite a few.
(4)
Willow W.
Koji Osakaya is pretty authentic Japanese food and drink in a no-nonsense kind of way. It's a local chain, which at first disappointed me, but when I'm in the mood for some reasonable sushi, correctly flavored udon or soba, and pleasantly steeped tea to match my meal, this is a simple solution. I've always had good service and the sushi chefs give me the typical standoffish glances when I watch them. (To be a sushi chef, one must have a slightly intimidating glint, it seems.) Not breathtaking, but definitely comforting.
(4)
Lilly J.
We've been hitting up Koji (mostly for to go orders) for years. It's steady and predictable and we've always been happy with the quality of the sushi. It's also on my way home . . . . so I often just can't resist that easy dinner!
(4)
K L.
Had a few rolls - (spicy tuna, dragon, some poke special), soybeans and miso soup. If this is supposed to be amazing sushi... then you need to head further South. I guess for Portland the sushi is not bad. The miso soup was OK but had some kind of fried something floating in it (on purpose). I was hoping for better based on reviews
(3)
Jeannie J.
Not being a sushi fan, I can't tell you whether this a good place to get it. However, I do love salmon, and their teriyaki salmon is excellent! It's usually three small pieces served over buckwheat noodles. In another compartment you have white rice, and yet another a green salad with some of my favorite dressing anywhere. If you like that kind of thing, give it a whirl!
(4)
Terry W.
mmm, never had much luck here. Nearly everything I have ordered here is, well, pretty ordinary. The rice tastes a bit chunky, like it has been sitting too long, the fish not all that fresh. After 3 trips here that were pretty much the same, I now pass and go somewhere else. I really wish at least one of the many sushi places near NE Broadway was a step above ordinary, but no such luck. It's really tough finding a REALLY good sushi place in Portland, other than Hiroshi, Murata or maybe Masu East.
(2)
Joe H.
I heard about Koji from a friend and decided to check it out while I was visiting Portland this week. The nigiri sushi was excellent in quality and flavor, the portion sizes quite reasonable, and the prices quite good. They had quite a diversity on the menu - although I only tried the sushi and had a donburi while I was there. I'm definitely tucking this place away in the "go there again" pile for good quality sushi and attentive service. I'd easily recommend it to someone else looking for a japanese meal.
(4)
Hailey H.
This is average sushi
(3)
Tommy T.
I love sushi and this Koji Osakaya was my second choice when I ate last night... but not after eating and entire "Angry Dragon" roll. It was spicy, exactly as it was described on the menu but most of all DELICIOUS! I highly recommend Koji Osakaya... Great food and very attentive wait staff!
(4)
Gail B.
I LOVE this Koji's. I used to go here with my son's father when we were in love. I must say that the food is still up to par and the service is good. I think they need to expand and have a wall knocked out because it is TINY! Loves the food, though.
(4)
Angela R.
Warning: this place can become addictive. Despite its small, incredibly cramped seating area, this place has become a regular for a friend and I. We typically meet at Peete's on 15th and Broadway, swearing that we will only buy coffee and not splurge on sushi AGAIN...but it never works. Yes, the meals can be a little spendy, but if you just get the basics, it's decently priced. No, the service isn't great but it's not bad, and I've never been in there when it's not super busy, so maybe they're just overwhelmed and under-staffed, which is a problem I don't think they'll ever get past. I don't think they could squeeze another server into that tiny little place if they tried. And I'm pretty convinced they have a size requirement for their current servers. I'm not a big girl, but even I have to sqeeze by to get to my chair. These little ladies weave in and out like nobody's business. Anyways, Osakaya is good eats. In the Lloyd District, waiting for a movie, or just hanging with friends, it's a good place to stop by.
(4)
Sweet P.
I'm a fan of sushi. As a veggie [&seafood eater] I look to japanese food to provide creative vegetarian meals that stay in the realm of normal. The menu is incredibly extensive and as authentic as they usually get. The waitress clearly speaks Japanese given her thick accent and cultural demeanor. I had the tempura maki roll...delish...perfect portions for me...probably not an entire meal for others. Their main entrees are huge though. The donburi was on point and the udon looked pretty inviting from the table next to us. Overall, huge menu selection, great sushi variety, fast and friendly service and excellent prices!
(4)
Adam B.
prices werent too bad and the sushi was good..too bad they didnt have some of my favorites...
(3)
Kim C.
Go there and try the Dragon Roll. Yum! This is a great place to take someone to try raw sushi for the first time.
(4)
R R.
I thought this place was really, really barely average. We ordered a shrimp and cucumber salad, and the bay shrimp were still frozen and sort of freezer burned. GAH! Bad. The gyoza were slick with grease. The service was god awful. We waited like a half hour after eating for our check, and no one walked by. In the end, my friend literally had to grab the waitress by the arm to get her to pay attention...so weird. Was she stoned? The rolls were good, though. We had the hat roll and the dragon roll. But I will not return.
(2)
Aimee L.
While I've never seen this place busy, I think this is actually one of the better sushi joints in town - and it's a chain! I remember Koji from the 80's on Macadam and always was a fan of going there with my family and watching sumo wrestling from the sushi bar - back before sushi was a mainstay in the urban diet. Koji has changed a lot over the years and their prices are somewhat high, but man the sushi chef does it right. Albacore, simple and good. Salmon skin hand roll, nice and crispy with the right amount of vegetables. Spicy scallop hand roll (my favorite favorite favorite), perfect amount of spice - just enough to make the lips tingle and to contemplate tears, without a full breakdown, and the scallops were good, not overloaded with mayo. And the surprising best? The spicy tuna hand roll. Usually this gets thrown together at most sushi joints, but this one was unique. Mixed with sauteed onions and a little more subtle on the spice, it was so good I could call it dessert. The service is pleasant and efficient. My only reason for not giving it a 5? Besides paying $20 for my lunch (cough!), the layout in this particular Koji, similar to the downtown one, is poor. However they designed these restaurants, anyone who sits at the sushi bar is in the direct line of cold air every time someone enters or exits the restaurant. But I'll be back, for sure.
(4)
Michael G.
Great flavor and spice. Also, beer on tap.
(4)
Natalie B.
Like it like it like it. We like to get things from the special board like the Dynamite Roll and the Tsunami Roll. However, the best of the best is the angry dragon, which has eel and tuna and avocado and cucumber and it is huge and well worth the $11. Get it!
(4)
Justin R.
Poor service, bad atmosphere, mediocre food. We were seated, then ignored. Ordered food, and when it was brought the hot tea and hot soup was served over our three year old's head, when my partner went to take the tray to pull the scalding hot water away from the kid, the waitress actually fought him. We asked for a spoon and were told it was coming, yet it never did. The sushi was nothing special and the grilled squid was downright bad, perhaps it was old. We will never go back, there are way to many great places to settle for this.
(2)
Willus W.
We go here quite a bit, when in the mood for sushi. Tonight, we went to see a movie, but had an hour and a half to kill. Some raw fish, rice, miso soup and sake, filled the time nicely. I would have never thought to go here, but my husband, who used to live in that neighborhood, took me there, and we have gone many times since. The service can be a bit slow, but go when not many people are there, and it is quick as can be.
(4)
Brandy S.
Good, moderately priced sushi. This location is a bit larger than the one downtown and this is a good place to grab a small bit to eat when you are waiting for a movie to start at Lloyd Center.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jenny P.
Ive been here many times throughout the last few years and it was a two 1/2 to three star place at best. The miso soup is one of the best I've tried. Still, it was usually mildly annoying with the table arrangement and at times, bored seeming servers. Last night I went and it seemed a different spot entirely. The salmon sushi was perfect and outstanding quality but the best part was really the server. Friendly, infectious mood - someone who clearly enjoys her job and took the time to explain anything I had questions about. This kind of service has just been absent of late in some of the more supposed high end places in Portland. And I am fed up with it. My experience here last night was a reminder of how much I personally dislike a snobby attitude from waitpersons. I don't care how good your good and drink may be, if you're a wanker you won't get another chance with me as a customer- back to Koji, extra star for improved quality of food and a thank you to the super lady who has so much passion and self awareness in making dinner a great time. I am grateful.
(4)Chuck N.
Going downhill fast. We have eaten at Koji for years, but tonight we were served old, dried out fish that was terrible. I returned my anago nigiri (the first time I have ever returned food there) only to receive equally bad unagi nigiri. Chicken on the donburi was dry and old tasting. They must have changed to frozen fish or something, but it was a horrible meal for us all. They just gave up caring.
(1)Chad B.
I was in town for a single evening and wanted to indulge my love of sushi. This was close to my hotel and was recommended positively by the staff. I was pleasantly surprised to find a quaint atmosphere with no wait on a Tuesday night. Sitting at the bar I tried the Angry Dragon roll (awesome!) and the spider roll (boring and not something I would have again here). I also had an order each of the maguro, tobiko, and unagi. The unagi was my favorite of those three. To close it out, I had the vanilla tempura ice cream. The staff was attentive but not overbearing and very accommodating. I'd be back on my next trip!
(4)Ryan Y.
It's okay. They have a wide variety of sushi and other Japanese dishes. But I immediately lose all interest for sushi that has cream cheese in it. I'm sorry, but I really don't think it belongs. It removed any ounce of freshness and clarity that the sushi originally had, and I think of it as a cheap filler. For authentic sushi, I would go to Daruma. The experience is more personalized and I leave the place feeling refreshed and astounded. Unfortunately, Koji doesn't do the same thing for me.
(3)UJ W.
There are tons of sushi places in this neighborhood and I've tried a few of them, but I keep coming back to Koji because I like theirs the best. This is not a fancy restaurant; pretty basic little place on the corner, but the food is great; service is very friendly - all of which has been very consistent over my multiple visits. Even though the restaurant itself may be "basic", the sushi chef's pride in their work still shows in the pieces of artwork that always appear on my plate.
(5)Bob R.
This is a wonderful, inexpensive sushi restaurant. I like to go for the Happy Hour Menu which is offered from 3-6 daily. There are many items offered that are fantastic. I like the Sushi Sampler B which has tuna, salmon and I think it's yellowtail for $4. The tempura roll is excellent for $5. They have gyoza (pot stickers) for $4-5? terrific!!! The staff is friendly and usually attentive except when they are really busy, the food is terrific for the price and overall I have had a great experience there. Bottom line, you can get better sushi elsewhere but you're going to pay a lot more for it.
(5)Robert H.
Koji's okonomiyaki starts with a melt in your mouth almost souffle-like egg base with crunchy grated red prepared ginger. On that is a mild mayonnaise and an oyster sauce that is a little sweeter. The unique aspect of Koji's take on the dish is the topping of nori and fish flakes. The heat puts the fish flakes in motion. You have to see it to believe it! It's haunted! Koji serves solid J-food at moderate prices in an authentic Japanese way. I also love their chirashi sushi. Yum!
(4)Mario M.
I thoroughly enjoyed their niku beef, truly a tasty dish, it is however a little more expensive then the average sushi place
(4)Brian R.
I enjoyed the sushi here. It's a tight space to walk through, but small and manageable. Looked clean, food was tasty. The Donburi (ribeye and onion rice bowl) I had reminds me of some good southern cooking, with an Asian twist, (if your bringing someone not too sure about sushi, that's a good filling recommendation). To think, I biked past this place so many times, (it's on Weidler, a main bike path). Would for sure go back.
(4)Matthew H.
Nothing is fresh all frozen. Chicken is par cooked ending up dry, the Japanese noodles are actually spaghetti noodles with maple syrup on them to sweeten. Insider knowledge this place is a cut corners joke of a true Japanese restaurant.
(1)High S.
I prefer this Koji to the other locations. The asparagus roll is to die for. The staff is always accommodating. It's centrally located. No complaints.
(4)Frank S.
Can never go wrong with the sushi at Koji's! Favorite location, though parking could be hard to find. Very friendly service too.
(5)Monica A.
Great business hours, affordable prices, and great menu! This is my favorite go to Japanese restaurant. I love the udon and love the tori karaage. This is comfort food for me. What's better than crunchy, well seasoned pieces of chicken and a hot bowl of noodle soup?! When I'm in my lighter food mood, I really love their spicy tuna roll and hat roll. I love tuna so the chunky pieces of tuna hits the spot. I also like how they use onions and spicy oils instead of siracha and a mayo base for the spicy part. Mayo in sushi is not a good combo to me. The hat roll is habachi, maguro, and tuna. Good size rolls for the price. I've never been disappointed the many times I've been here. Another reason I give them 5 stars is because this is one of the few sushi places that is open on a Sunday that doesn't cost an arm and a leg! Love it!
(5)Dawn R.
Koji's is one of our favorite regular Japanese food joints. Speaking as a former Japan resident, their menu is the real thing and it's nice to be able to order the normal chicken karaage but also get to have some ika sugata yaki or shishamo. Their sushi is good, too, and laced with some interesting and unique roll choices. Yummy!
(5)Tana J.
I like the food here but the staff is mediocre and charging plus incredibly the prices of food is not great for business. First this is a small spot so eating there can be difficult and also very noisy at times. So who the heck cares of we wanna get it to go we are still guy in from you so the charge is not only not great for clients like me who regular this spot weekly but it's just plain ridiculous. The food portions have gone way down also :(. Pretty ludacris!
(1)Chae Hee L.
What happened to that old skinny tanned skin Japanese chef that used to work there? I don't see him anymore. He was the best chef there. Other than him being gone, this place is not bad. I agree they cut corners to serve the masses. The donburis can be better. Their katsu don was missing something. I tried a katsu don at Yuzu, and it was how it would taste if you had one in Japan. If you want real authentic food, go to Yuzu in Beaverton, or Toshi's in Hillsboro.
(3)Dan H.
Went to Koji with friends for a birthday dinner Friday night. I do not like sushi so I orders the steak. It was not good! Tasted like a piece of leather as it was very tough! Add to the fact it was $21 and I will never go back
(1)Lynn E.
I'm a fan. I've been eating at various Koji locations over the years. The prices are fair for the quality and quantity of food. The sushi is always fresh and beautifully presented. The staff is friendly and gladly answers questions with a smile. The udon, curry and rice bowls are also well done and tasty. I'll admit that periodically I'd like a little more zip in the flavor profile -- but I think that's my jalapeño tainted palate at work. For the best service befriend your wait-staff or the sushi counter guru chat them up for suggestions and details on the dishes. Don't forget to order green tea!
(4)Elisabeth B.
Note: I am a non-seafood consumer, so only ordered the chicken teriyaki and salad. The chicken teriyaki was not the classic kind you get at a decent teriyaki/japanese restaurant. The chicken was very very lightly marinated in teriyaki sauce, and there was no additional teriyaki sauce with which to pour over the chicken and rice. Also, there was dried seaweed and egg in the teriyaki bowl....not my style...as an individual who doesn't eat seafood. Will try a different japanese restaurant in search for some good and nearby teriyaki.
(1)Whitney H.
I really enjoyed my lunch here. I've been trying different bento lunches in the area, and for what I like, this is the only place I would come back to. Lunch specials are until 3pm. I got the combination bento for $10.50 which gave a choice of two things. I picked tempura and teriyaki salmon. The miso soup came out first, it had a really great flavor, but they don't give you a spoon, so just pick up the bowl :) The bento comes with rice and a green salad with carrot and cucumber and some cabbage. I liked the dressing, there wasn't really enough in my opinion. The tempura had two shrimps, broccoli, sweet potato, zucchini, onion, and what I think was white sweet potato. It was perfect, and so was the dipping sauce. The salmon teriyaki was served over a bit of noodles and had some cold veggies on the side. The sauce was good but the salmon was a little dry. The skin had a nice flavor.
(4)Ben B.
Used to come here all the time for sushi. Went a few weeks ago after a few years away and was extremely underwhelmed by my order. BBQ eel on top of the Osaka Maki roll was pale and cold, tempura shrimp roll seemed like it had been sitting out for a while.. Bottom line, not at all worth what they're charging. Too bad...
(2)Tony T.
Ramen was quite Salty. I had an egg and chicken donburi which was decent, nothing memorable. I also got a Unagi / Avocado roll which was ok. The only thing I thought was better than average was the tempura and maybe it was because it was the first thing I got to put in my mouth after the long wait for food. Needless to say, the service was a bit slow. I would have given them the benefit of the doubt if it was really slammed busy but the restaurant was maybe 1/3 full. When we finally got our appetizers (tempura and roll), we had about 2 minutes to eat them before our Ramen and Donburi were ready. I may go back but mostly to try some more sushi. I would definitely give Happy Hour a shot though.
(2)Ken B.
This is one of my favorite eateries in Portland. I love their okonomiyaki, but recently I've discovered their excellent Ninja Roll that has to be tried at least once; guarantee you will come back ordering this dish again. I know I did. :)
(5)Janet M.
When I worked over in this part of the universe, I ate here for lunch quite a bit. So I ducked in recently thinking, MISO. ( It's something that my brain does relatively often). My husband doesn't really enjoy sushi ( really, this should have been a deal breaker early on) so lunch is an excellent opportunity for me to inhale the stuff without him. I love the miso here, it's yummy. I like the sunomono too, although I prefer straight cucumber without any fishy add ons.They added shrimp, the little ones, not my bag. Sushi? well, the rolls are good, the unagi was spot on, and the salmon and tuna nigiri were just fine. Not HUGE pieces of fish, but not tiny, and not big hunks of rice. The cold soba noodles and curry dishes, the noodle soups, are all good. That said, it's not cheap. But it's a nice little Japanese spot and I like the servers. When I was in here last week they were just kind and nice on a blustery day.
(3)Veronica V.
I had an excellent meal, with wonderful service. I recommend sitting at the bar and trying the specials.
(5)Jake P.
Koji is apparently one of those rare places in Portland that actually does business between the hours of 3pm and 5pm -- which just happened to be when the GF and I decided to go looking for sushi. Seriously, every single place I looked up on this side of Burnside was closed for at least a few hours during this time... and there were at least 5 I looked at before settling on a slightly longer drive over to Koji. I'm not saying this little fact makes or breaks the place, but seriously, having so many places closed at the same time is a phenomenon I never experienced back east or down in SF. I really didn't think the prices were out-of-this world, and certainly not for what you get. To give a comparison, I've paid WAY more for sushi in cities like Boston and Washington, DC -- and only slightly less for sushi in Providence, RI. We started off with a very pleasant and hearty miso soup that had some serious flavor. Then I moved on to a house special roll (Angry Dragon -- Unagi with a spicy sauce over a roll of ebi tempura), while my GF chose to go with a small plate of nigiri. Her fish was extremely fresh and significant in portion size, and my roll was very artful, flavorful, and also large enough to make up a full (if not quite gut-busting) meal. The hot green tea was also made stronger than most places (something I like), and came with free refills. If this is what keeps the gigantic crowds away -- higher-than-conveyor-belt prices, good service, nice jazz music on the radio, and great food -- then I hope Koji keeps it up. Completely will be worth going back to try some of their hot entrees under the excuse of updating this review!
(4)JW R.
These dinner combos are a ton of food. They better be for $20 and sho nuff, they are. I got the fried pork stuff and the teriyaki chicken. Everything was really good. Um, yeah. Hit it up.
(4)Greg B.
I stumbled on this place while looking for a quick bite to eat. I was amazed by the quality of the katsu. Usually the chicken in the breaded cutlet does not have width and quality. This place does have it. The cooks do layer the dish with some type of egg mixture that enhances the taste as it sits on a bed of rice. The miso soup is especially light and not that salty. It strikes the tongue as something warm and tasty. This is all at a cheap price. I did order take out. It was quite fast and I would recommend coming here.
(4)Ame P.
The Kojis resturants are honestly my favorite and number one go to for authentic Japanese food. I'm not really a huge fan of sushi, I'm more into everything else, but what I have tried is delicious. I love getting the udon noodles and the tempura anything makes me drool. The service is always great and really friendly. They get the food to you quick. It's never been too busy when I've gone. I love Kojis and remain an avid patron.
(5)Mikhail H.
Good sushi you can get anywhere. This is where you go to get amazing Japanese food. Their chicken katsu is outstanding, They use a perfect mix of red and white miso which is fantastic and I cannot stress how wonderful their sesame salad dressing is. I have eaten at this location several times and have had consistently good service and food quality. The restaurant is usually pretty busy too!
(4)Del R.
Its been quite interesting to see how my feelings about some of my old Portland sushi standards have changed since starting my "every sushi joint in Portland project." It has really changed my idea of what good sushi means. Koji was a place I would frequent when I used to live in the Sullivan's Gulch district and I recall thinking they were pretty decent. Of course I had to give them a visit to include them in my project. Sadly, my opinion of them has changed. Sushi Standards Rating Scale: What we ordered: futo maki, unagi avocado, caterpiller, rainbow roll, large hot sake. Total Cost: $34.85 (before tip) Décor: The décor is pretty plain. The only thing that really stands out in my mind are the string of lantern lights. [2 stars] Creativity: As far as sushi goes, there many is fairly minimum. Of an approximately 10 page menu, only two are sushi related. There focus seems to be primarily on bento and bowls. [2 stars] Presentation: Sadly, they are yet another restaurant that really missed the opportunity to put artistry into their sushi presentation. Not horrible, but definitely not memorable. [3 stars] Freshness: It was OK, but as my date noticed, every roll seemed to oddly be sweating as indicated by the moisture left under the roll when removed from the plate. [2 stars] Taste: Again, it wasn't bad, but nothing memorable. Flavors were not distinctive. I was especially disappointed with the rainbow roll, in that every bite tasted like every other. [2.5 stars] Sustainability: Yet another sushi restaurant still using the break apart wooden chopsticks. There is also no mention of the sustainability of any of their fish. [0 stars] Service: This was the main highlight of the visit as it was both quick and friendly. [5 stars] Bang for your buck: The price seems a bit out of line with the quality, so I would say its too high. [2 stars] Overall: This was definitely a lesson in you don't know what good sushi is, until you've had it. Sadly, I would no longer consider Koji in my list of good places to get sushi. I would highly recommend checking out the plethora of other sushi offerings in this town, especially for the price you would pay here.
(2)J S.
We only went here because Sushi-Land down the road was packed on a Saturday. It took us a while to get seated and some people before us left in a huff because we were just standing at the very small entrance with no room to move and no one acknowledging us. Once we did get seated, I found the chairs to be uncomfortable and the meal to be less than memorable. It was also on the pricier side. I got the sushi assortment plate. Way too much wasabi used on it. Not my cup of tea and I won't return, but I guess it's nice to try new things once in a while.
(2)Wolf L.
It was pouring rain when I picked up my kid from work. We were hungry on a Monday afternoon and decided to get some conveyor belt sushi before heading home. We walked over to the cheapo sushi joint and damn if every hipster in Irvington didn't have the same idea we did. The place was packed to the rafters and all I see are pairs of skinny-jeaned legs and thick-framed spectacles lined up waiting for a spot at the sushi bar. Grrrr. I noticed Koji down the block and decided to see if we could get a table there instead. Yup, the place was practically empty. When I perused the menu, I immediately noticed that the prices are certainly not in the conveyor belt range. That explained why all those broke-ass hipsters were jamming the bargain restaurant down the street instead of this place. Hey, I'm a man of means (right after payday) so I figured I'd pay the premium for not having to wait for a table. I just hoped the food was worth the scratch I was about to plunk down. We only ordered sushi. I got the Mothra roll, spicy tuna, and a yellowtail/onion roll. The girl got several vegetarian rolls. The sushi looked marvelous upon presentation. Generous pieces of fish in my rolls, too. Certainly not conveyor belt quality. The fish tasted fresh and I was pleased with every bite. The couple at the table next to us ordered curry bowls. They looked and smelled wonderful (the bowls, not the couple). I have to bring my wife and the boy back to Koji for the curry. They love that stuff. Good service. Good sushi. Just a tad pricey. No wait. Best of all, no hipsters.
(4)Jon L.
Had a late dinner here. It was almost 9 pm on Sunday evening, so I was fortunate that Koji was still open. It was either Koji, Applebee's or Sushiland. Given these options, of course I came here. It is part of a chain, which until recently had a Seattle location. I did not go to the Seattle branch before it shuttered, so it made sense to try Koji to see if it was even worth trying. Seating consists of a sushi bar and several regular dining tables. The menu at Koji consists of a mix of sushi, sashimi and standard Japanese classics/comfort foods. This is however a step up from the teriyaki joints that are ubiquitous in the Seattle area. The sushi and sashimi sets were interesting, but I really wanted the okonomiyaki ($6.95) so I ended up getting a teriyaki salmon donburi ($8.50) to pair. I always wonder whether quality gets worse as dinner service ends, so I was a little skeptical about what to expect. I got the okonomiyaki first. This dish is essentially a pancake with a mix of ingredients. I thought it was fairly good. It kind of tastes like eating Chinese dumpling filling to me. I did not like the sweet teriyaki sauce that was doused on top and the shreds of seaweed was kind of distracting. Still the filling was overall good which is where the strength of the dish is. As for the salmon donburi, the salmon was really good. The teriyaki glaze really helps to make the fish takes better than it should be. The tender flavor of the salmon is nice. I have a hard time grilling salmon as well as this. As for the rest of the dish, it was a little of a disappointment. The rice is sushi rice so it kind of got a bit heavy. The small bits of egg that were thrown in were fine, but they kind of exacerbate the nastiness of the rice. The green onions on top were nice, but I think this dish could have used some ginger. Prices here are pretty good and the hours are as well. Based on the situation, Koji was just about the best I could expect for a nice place to eat on a late Sunday evening. Not great, but reasonably good. There were a just few touches that distracted from the greatness in each dish.
(3)Vinh N.
Decided to check into this place breaking my usual rule about not eating sushi on a Sunday and Monday when the fish may not be so fresh. Noted that the prices were higher than the ones listed on their website by 2 or 3 dollars for the dinner entrees. Guess they haven't updated the site. Still it was relatively cheap in line with hole-in-the-wall sushi houses. Had the Jo Chirashi Donburi. Chirashis are usually the ultimate test of the chef's skill and artistry. This one passed with flying colours although he put in some octopus when I asked for a shellfish-free bowl due to allergies. I've known several other chefs who make the same mistake so I just removed it from the bowl and took my chances. The fish was fresher than expected for a Sunday and the rice was excellent. Slightly sweet without being mushy or crumbly. Good miso soup. Confused that they didn't give me a spoon so I just sipped it from the small bowl, figuring it was a regional thing. 2 hour later, still alive.
(4)Jens J.
I was thrilled to see that they had Kakifurai (breaded oysters) on the menu because, a couple weeks earlier at the Koji on Broadway downtown, I had had them and they were fabulous. So I ordered them today. The oysters (which were much larger than the ones I had two weeks prior) were horribly fishy. I could taste them hours later, even after I tried to blunt that obnoxious aftertaste with a pint of milk and a Reese's Fast Break candy bar. I also had the Hirame salad containing cucumber, octopus in a light tangy sauce. The salad was delicious. The octopus was fresh and perfect. It's the only seafood I will eat raw. JP had the assortment sushi platter that he enjoyed. We also ordered hot tea. Two thoughts. First thought: though the tea had color, it didn't have any flavor. It was like sipping hot water. Second thought: there may be something to do with authenticity in serving hot tea in a cup without a handle, it still burns the fingers. Despite the disastrous oysters, I will go with three stars because I suspect it was just a bad batch, and I have had excellent oysters at Koji before. I really liked the friendly service from our waitress and the quick time it took to get our orders.
(3)Anuj K.
I have to admit, I was wary at first. I went in after getting a haircut next door at Phagan's because I had spilled my lunch all over the floor at work, and was starving. The lunch specials ended up being not super expensive and I ordered the mini-don with the soba noodles. For $8 I was pleasantly surprised. The quality of the fish was good, not too cold and it was the kind that melts in your mouth. My only complaint was the rice. It was too sweet and too cold for me. I like my rice slightly warm to pair well with the fish. Good experience overall, and I would come here again.
(4)Nik R.
Gluten Free Options: GF Tamari Happy Hour: 3-5 & 9-Close Monday-Thursday Well, hm. When I'd just started out eating sushi and I thought the dollar sushi-go-rounds were all that, Koji was some high falutin' food. As my exposure to sushi - both good and bad - has increased, so have my standards been raised. Ah, for the halcyon days of ignorance! Alas, I have returned to Koji to find that it just wasn't as good as I'd remembered. Where hast thou gone, oh Tasty Sushi of My Dreams? You now live with Santa Claus and Elvis, traveling out to new star systems, and your replacement is just not the same. I long for your crisp taste and pleasant saltiness - instead I am left with mediocrity and mush. Meh. The service was good, though it felt like it took a bit longer than I am used to for our order to arrive. Presentation was good. My greatest disappointment was in the taste. We had ordered hot sake, and the taste was strange - leaving a flat aftertaste in my mouth that was rather unpleasant. The sushi itself was so pedestrian in taste and texture as to be unremarkable. Overall, I'd give Koji 2.5 stars, and rounded up to three for good memories.
(3)Karl W.
I was really not impressed by this place. I felt like the sushi was just OK and everything was over priced for the quality. The staff is friendly enough I guess but that doesn't really make up for the overwhelmingly unimpressive selection and taste. Sushi land across the street is a quarter of the price and taste considerably better for cheap sushi. We tried something new in the Portland sushi scene and we were let down. I won't be going back and I won't be recommending this place to anyone.
(2)Elizabeth R.
Koji's sushi is consistently good. I live in the neighborhood and have been here over 20 times. It is a reliable place to go. I usually get miso soup, seaweed salad and an assortment of sushi. My kids get noodle soup.
(4)Jacky A.
KOJI!!! I love Koji osakaya...Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour, You Call it, You Eat it. I used to eat alot when they still had a branch located in seattle, but it closed down half year ago. My favorite rice bowl in this restaurant is Miso Donburi, It serve with Miso sauce + 5 pork cutlet over rice. I really love how salty it is and the little pieces of dry seaweed on top. Other than that, their rolls are awesome, I remembered one time when I was having lunch in their seattle branch, I ordered 5 rolls just for myself... Although the bills seems quite high for a individual customers, but I certainly think that it worth it. The service wasn't excellent but the quality of food, I can say is wonderful. Price isn't that expensive, as you can see from other reviews, but whenever I come to portland, I will always visit Koji Osakaya.
(4)Tess B.
Went in for lunch today (Sunday) and thoroughly enjoyed it!!! My partner is a vegan and I am Mostly....we decided to let our guards down and had killer sushi here. We had salmon and unagi and both were delish. Super fresh!!!!!!!!!! Came with empty bellies and we were very satiated and happy when we left!!!!!!!!! Didn't catch our server's name but she was very on top of it..both when we got there and it was slow through our meal when the place started to fill.
(5)Harrison M.
Best Japanese in Portland Koji Osakaya is one of the best Japanese chain restaurants I've been in the US. The quality and the availabilities of varieties are exceptional. I never thought I would have a traditional dish like yamekake soba (ground mountain yam cold buckwheat noodles) in the USA. Even living in Richmond, BC, Canada (a VERY asian city) I cannot find a restaurant which serve this dish. I came here after a high appraisal from my friend (I think he also wrote a review LOL). At first, I thought it was just mediocre Japanese food as it is in a Caucasian neighbourhood. The result was different and I was impressed. Service and pricing is VERY acceptable and affordable here. I returned to another branch during another stay in Portland and Koji has became a place where I would link to whenever I return to Portland.
(4)Naomi W.
Went tonight with my boyfriend. I haven't had sushi since I started the old gluten free thing in January--I hate calling and asking places if they have gluten-free tamari and they never list it on the menu, and I'm certainly not to the stage of bringing my own giant bottle of soy sauce in my purse. I called due to a comment here saying they had gf tamari and because the craving was stronger than my pride (after gardening--okay ripping out some weeds--for the first time in a year) and they were very nice on the phone and assured me it was indeed true. Right off, when I mention the gluten thing the waitress was really great. I started by just ordering sushi (so sad to not be partaking in tempura, miso soup, anything with sauce including agedashi tofu) and then asked as she was leaving if anything with perhaps chicken might possibly be gluten free (I knew I'd start weeping when my boyfriend's gyoza arrived if I didn't have something else planned) and she said they could make me a teriyaki sauce out of gf tamari and sugar over rice--a way simplified version of something my bf was ordering--perhaps the Oyako Donburi? I thought about it and decided that based on the fact that my sole nourishment of the day was gluten free corn chex and an Americano I'd take the dumbed down chicken dish. My Maguro Tuna was super fresh and delicious as was my shrimp, avocado and cucumber roll (not on the menu, just my fave). But, man, what I thought was going to be a boring grilled chicken was actually really delightful. The sauce was just right, not thick and sticky or overpowering and the seaweed over the rice gave a nice complexity. She also brought me a salad--since the miso soup had regular soy sauce-- with bowls of rice vinegar and chili sesame oil (she said chili oil, but it wasn't spicy, so I think it was either chili sesame or just sesame, not sure, either way, that was the winner). This is a really long review, but I really had such a delightful meal and have missed going out for sushi so much. This was high quality sushi, without too much rice that gives you a stomach ache afterward, and the prices were very reasonable. For the two of us, it was $30, plus tip. The sad part was that my boyfriend did not really enjoy his Donburi--he said it tasted fine, but smelled of a barnyard. Not sure what else to say about that as I didn't taste it, but he's happy to go back with me again, although, I'm pretty sure he'd accept sushi from a bearded stranger on a boxcar.
(5)Tyler A.
Caveat - I did not try the sushi. And quite frankly surprised at the joint's low ratings. We wanted ramen. It's literally at the corner of my new place so I went. We saw a huge menu, real Japanese people working on the floor and behind the line, and there was all the great japanese dishes that I love. We went for ramen, got that checked off. There was also katsu curry, we split it for the table. Didn't need all that food. but all of it was delicious and affordable. I am thrilled I can get a huge bowl of ramen with the pork and all the fixings (including black mushrooms which is a must!) for less than $9. Hollah!
(5)Sophie M.
I really love this place. Friendly, efficient staff, good atmosphere, and great sushi! These guys are great!
(5)Whitney S.
Allow me to start with the positive because this place isn't awful, I've just experienced better (as 2 stars indicates). The service was great, and the staff weren't bothered with us sticking around after closing to finish up our drinks. They definitely get a 5 star for service :) Now the not so great: probably the most mediocre sushi I've ever had. I am by no means a sushi snob (heck, I even like the pre-fab rolls from Costco) but the sushi at Koji simply wasn't noteworthy. They have a variety of rolls which is certainly a positive. However, their quality and freshness is lacking. Granted, we were there late in the evening so had we come earlier in the day it very well could have been much more fresh. Also, my boyfriend and I felt jipped as far as the amount of ingredients in the roll--just specks of cream cheese, avocado, and the other ingredients. Now the ends of the rolls had plenty of ingredients but the 4 to 6 pieces in between the ends were severely disappointing. This was our second time going out for sushi in Portland and of the other place we tried (also in the Sullivan's Gulch/Lloyd Center/Broadway area), you'd do better at Yuki. So, if you want to pay for service and enjoy mediocre sushi Koji is your place. Or, if you prioritize taste in your dining out experience, I'd recommend somewhere else.
(2)Michael J. Smith S.
Solid place! My partner and I dined here two nights ago and for me this is the best of the chain's restaurants. I've visited on two other occasions over the past 3 years and the same gentlemen run the sushi bar.....a very good sign of consistency and quality. We ordered a spicy tuna roll and one specialty roll and both were outstanding. My wife ordered shrimp curry and it was average (I'm a spoiled L.A. "Curry House" fan), but my chicken udon soup was flavorful and full of just the right amount of dark meat to add some fatty goodness! The udon noodles were perfect, very "slurpable" and firm but not too limp. We ordered ka-arage chicken and it was dry and over cooked, but our other appetizer, agedashidofu was absolute perfection! The tofu was perfectly firm while the broth was outstanding. Some of their items are hit and miss, but the hits are real 5 out of 5 level quality, namely the sushi and many of the appetizers such as the agedashidofu. From other visits I can also recommend their noodle dishes or the udon soups! This particular Koji has excellent servers which the other locations tend not to have. Not spectacular, but darn good Japanese food!
(3)Pough K.
I go here every thursday after judo. they have a great variety of traditional and new age japanese cuisine. I would recommend this place to any of my out of town japanese relatives.
(5)Rachel I.
I am a hopeless sushi addict. The rolls here are worth the cost. With crappy little Sushiland across the street, Koji is usually pretty quiet. Quiet works for me, though, because that means my sushi comes out handcrafted and beautiful! The nigiri is around $2-6 a pop, but the pieces of fish are quite generous. I am a sucker for the House Special (2 pieces, $4.95). Two huge mouthfuls of rice, avocado, 3 kinds of roe, and topped with a quail egg. Omg so freaking good. I went last night and had the House Special, and three rolls that I shared with my boyfriend. We had the Oregon (8 pieces, $7), which is tuna and salmon with cucumber and spicy sauce.. yummy. I think I like the Tempura Albacore better though. It's hard to beat fried Albacore. We also ordered the spider roll (6 pieces, $6.95). The spider roll is probably one of my all time favorite rolls at any given restaurant.. so long as they use soft shell crab. Once someone served me a spider with Krab and I was like, WHAT IS THIS?! Never went back. But they stuff a whole, perfect baby crab inside. It was hard to share. Lastly we had the angry dragon (8 pieces, $8.95). Eel, cucumber, shrimp tempura, topped with spicy sauce. Eight pieces of heaven. I could have eaten the whole tray by myself.. but that would be embarassing. I only do that when I order takeout.. after saying, "Yes, I'd like two pairs of chopsticks, please."
(5)Jen E.
I have only eaten at this one once..... as I usually eat at the one downtown. The service was great ad the sushi ........FANTASTIC. I loved all the weird rolls they had listed. The one with lobster in it..... wonderful. I shared it with the 2 others that I was with and they liked it too. The miso is probably one of the ones I love the most. It is the perfect combo of white and red. The service was good.
(4)Acacia P.
Best spicy tuna EVER. Seriously. I moved away 7 years ago and spent the whole time craving it. The first thing i did when I moved back (literally, I went there the night I arrived) was go to Koji and order spicy tuna donburi. It's made with a soy and chili oil marinade instead of with mayo. SO AMAZING! Also delicious and distinctive: salmon box sushi. Their sushi, in general, is good, but the above two are what makes it stand out as a place I trek across town to eat at over and over.
(5)KC K.
Good. Nothing mind blowing. Prices are appropriate for the experience.
(3)Eugene O.
I recently went vegetarian, so coming here was a concern. My brother and I ended up having a good meal, great service and reasonable prices in a very charming atmosphere. What more could a starving guy ask for? I had the vegetarian curry with a side salad. All was delicious, hearty and plentiful. They do curry right, just like KFC does their chicken. I had to ask the waitresses to stop asking me for re-fills (in a nice way, of course). They're that persistent and attentive. FYI - sit at the bar if you're ever here. It's entertaining to watch sushi-men in action.
(5)Mitch M.
Man, this place has really tanked! Sure, Koji's was never a super star sushi house. But this used to be my go-to spot for a reliably decent meal of gyoza (and the spicy chicken wings they've taken off the menu), nigiri, and a roll. The sushi chef that was there for years is gone, and the quality coming out of the new guy and the kitchen now is a major let down. Gyoza are smaller, with a filling that tastes of paste. Nigiri serving size is significantly reduced - even the little wad of rice under the fish is dramatically smaller (how much money can you save on freakin rice?). I used to go ga-ga (or more like, yum-yum!) for their angry dragon roll. Size, variety of ingredients, quality, and taste have all dramatically deminished. Now it's more like a sad dragon. I'm done with this place.
(1)B. C.
Koji serves Japanese comfort food. Restaurant space is efficient with dining tables on left and sushi bar on right. Service was decent with busy but friendly staff tending to mostly couples and families. Menu features a variety of Japanese favorites with a seasonal menu hanging above sushi bar. Food presented and proportioned well. Fresh tasting seafood and steaming bowls of ramen makes Koji a winner.
(3)Habibti D.
As an out of control sushi addict with an "enabler" partner, we go here about every other week. The sushi is very tasty. The miso soup is probably one of the better ones I've ever tasted in restaurants. Since we can't afford my rather expensive sushi habit and there are few alternatives (I've tried snorting wasabi - it's just not the same) :) We discovered Sushi Donburi. Which is in essence a giant bowl of rice with either sashimi or tempura on top. Really delicious and affordable. I always have an order of Uni on the side, but that's a different story. It's delicious though! Koji Osakaya on Weidler has become my favorite Japanese restaurant in the city, and we've tried quite a few.
(4)Willow W.
Koji Osakaya is pretty authentic Japanese food and drink in a no-nonsense kind of way. It's a local chain, which at first disappointed me, but when I'm in the mood for some reasonable sushi, correctly flavored udon or soba, and pleasantly steeped tea to match my meal, this is a simple solution. I've always had good service and the sushi chefs give me the typical standoffish glances when I watch them. (To be a sushi chef, one must have a slightly intimidating glint, it seems.) Not breathtaking, but definitely comforting.
(4)Lilly J.
We've been hitting up Koji (mostly for to go orders) for years. It's steady and predictable and we've always been happy with the quality of the sushi. It's also on my way home . . . . so I often just can't resist that easy dinner!
(4)K L.
Had a few rolls - (spicy tuna, dragon, some poke special), soybeans and miso soup. If this is supposed to be amazing sushi... then you need to head further South. I guess for Portland the sushi is not bad. The miso soup was OK but had some kind of fried something floating in it (on purpose). I was hoping for better based on reviews
(3)Jeannie J.
Not being a sushi fan, I can't tell you whether this a good place to get it. However, I do love salmon, and their teriyaki salmon is excellent! It's usually three small pieces served over buckwheat noodles. In another compartment you have white rice, and yet another a green salad with some of my favorite dressing anywhere. If you like that kind of thing, give it a whirl!
(4)Terry W.
mmm, never had much luck here. Nearly everything I have ordered here is, well, pretty ordinary. The rice tastes a bit chunky, like it has been sitting too long, the fish not all that fresh. After 3 trips here that were pretty much the same, I now pass and go somewhere else. I really wish at least one of the many sushi places near NE Broadway was a step above ordinary, but no such luck. It's really tough finding a REALLY good sushi place in Portland, other than Hiroshi, Murata or maybe Masu East.
(2)Joe H.
I heard about Koji from a friend and decided to check it out while I was visiting Portland this week. The nigiri sushi was excellent in quality and flavor, the portion sizes quite reasonable, and the prices quite good. They had quite a diversity on the menu - although I only tried the sushi and had a donburi while I was there. I'm definitely tucking this place away in the "go there again" pile for good quality sushi and attentive service. I'd easily recommend it to someone else looking for a japanese meal.
(4)Hailey H.
This is average sushi
(3)Tommy T.
I love sushi and this Koji Osakaya was my second choice when I ate last night... but not after eating and entire "Angry Dragon" roll. It was spicy, exactly as it was described on the menu but most of all DELICIOUS! I highly recommend Koji Osakaya... Great food and very attentive wait staff!
(4)Gail B.
I LOVE this Koji's. I used to go here with my son's father when we were in love. I must say that the food is still up to par and the service is good. I think they need to expand and have a wall knocked out because it is TINY! Loves the food, though.
(4)Angela R.
Warning: this place can become addictive. Despite its small, incredibly cramped seating area, this place has become a regular for a friend and I. We typically meet at Peete's on 15th and Broadway, swearing that we will only buy coffee and not splurge on sushi AGAIN...but it never works. Yes, the meals can be a little spendy, but if you just get the basics, it's decently priced. No, the service isn't great but it's not bad, and I've never been in there when it's not super busy, so maybe they're just overwhelmed and under-staffed, which is a problem I don't think they'll ever get past. I don't think they could squeeze another server into that tiny little place if they tried. And I'm pretty convinced they have a size requirement for their current servers. I'm not a big girl, but even I have to sqeeze by to get to my chair. These little ladies weave in and out like nobody's business. Anyways, Osakaya is good eats. In the Lloyd District, waiting for a movie, or just hanging with friends, it's a good place to stop by.
(4)Sweet P.
I'm a fan of sushi. As a veggie [&seafood eater] I look to japanese food to provide creative vegetarian meals that stay in the realm of normal. The menu is incredibly extensive and as authentic as they usually get. The waitress clearly speaks Japanese given her thick accent and cultural demeanor. I had the tempura maki roll...delish...perfect portions for me...probably not an entire meal for others. Their main entrees are huge though. The donburi was on point and the udon looked pretty inviting from the table next to us. Overall, huge menu selection, great sushi variety, fast and friendly service and excellent prices!
(4)Adam B.
prices werent too bad and the sushi was good..too bad they didnt have some of my favorites...
(3)Kim C.
Go there and try the Dragon Roll. Yum! This is a great place to take someone to try raw sushi for the first time.
(4)R R.
I thought this place was really, really barely average. We ordered a shrimp and cucumber salad, and the bay shrimp were still frozen and sort of freezer burned. GAH! Bad. The gyoza were slick with grease. The service was god awful. We waited like a half hour after eating for our check, and no one walked by. In the end, my friend literally had to grab the waitress by the arm to get her to pay attention...so weird. Was she stoned? The rolls were good, though. We had the hat roll and the dragon roll. But I will not return.
(2)Aimee L.
While I've never seen this place busy, I think this is actually one of the better sushi joints in town - and it's a chain! I remember Koji from the 80's on Macadam and always was a fan of going there with my family and watching sumo wrestling from the sushi bar - back before sushi was a mainstay in the urban diet. Koji has changed a lot over the years and their prices are somewhat high, but man the sushi chef does it right. Albacore, simple and good. Salmon skin hand roll, nice and crispy with the right amount of vegetables. Spicy scallop hand roll (my favorite favorite favorite), perfect amount of spice - just enough to make the lips tingle and to contemplate tears, without a full breakdown, and the scallops were good, not overloaded with mayo. And the surprising best? The spicy tuna hand roll. Usually this gets thrown together at most sushi joints, but this one was unique. Mixed with sauteed onions and a little more subtle on the spice, it was so good I could call it dessert. The service is pleasant and efficient. My only reason for not giving it a 5? Besides paying $20 for my lunch (cough!), the layout in this particular Koji, similar to the downtown one, is poor. However they designed these restaurants, anyone who sits at the sushi bar is in the direct line of cold air every time someone enters or exits the restaurant. But I'll be back, for sure.
(4)Michael G.
Great flavor and spice. Also, beer on tap.
(4)Natalie B.
Like it like it like it. We like to get things from the special board like the Dynamite Roll and the Tsunami Roll. However, the best of the best is the angry dragon, which has eel and tuna and avocado and cucumber and it is huge and well worth the $11. Get it!
(4)Justin R.
Poor service, bad atmosphere, mediocre food. We were seated, then ignored. Ordered food, and when it was brought the hot tea and hot soup was served over our three year old's head, when my partner went to take the tray to pull the scalding hot water away from the kid, the waitress actually fought him. We asked for a spoon and were told it was coming, yet it never did. The sushi was nothing special and the grilled squid was downright bad, perhaps it was old. We will never go back, there are way to many great places to settle for this.
(2)Willus W.
We go here quite a bit, when in the mood for sushi. Tonight, we went to see a movie, but had an hour and a half to kill. Some raw fish, rice, miso soup and sake, filled the time nicely. I would have never thought to go here, but my husband, who used to live in that neighborhood, took me there, and we have gone many times since. The service can be a bit slow, but go when not many people are there, and it is quick as can be.
(4)Brandy S.
Good, moderately priced sushi. This location is a bit larger than the one downtown and this is a good place to grab a small bit to eat when you are waiting for a movie to start at Lloyd Center.
(4)